SPLURT.
Blood sprayed into the air, staining the pristine white stones of the Seireitei.
Renji Abarai collapsed into the rubble, his eyes wide with shock.
One strike. It was over in a single strike.
"W-What was that?" Ichigo stood frozen, his jaw on the floor. "Did she just one-shot a Lieutenant?"
Renji, lying in the debris, felt it more viscerally than anyone. His physical defense had been useless. The moment that silver blade touched him, his strength evaporated. It wasn't just a cut; it felt like a chunk of his very soul had been carved out.
Keqing flicked the blood off Tenseiga, her expression thoughtful. "It absorbs spiritual energy on contact... interesting. If Su Han hadn't forbidden me from killing, I could have drained his soul entirely."
In Teyvat, "Erosion" was a plague. If Tenseiga could harvest this pure soul energy, it could save many Adepti. But she had her orders: Don't go overboard.
"Let's move," Keqing commanded.
The group advanced, heading towards the gleaming white tower in the distance—the Senzaikyu (Shrine of Penitence).
However, their path was blocked once again.
A man in a pink floral kimono and a straw hat stood casually in the middle of the street, adjusting his hat brim.
"Ma'am... causing such a ruckus isn't very polite, don't you think?"
Shunsui Kyoraku. Captain of the 8th Division.
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy. Despite his relaxed posture, the pressure radiating from him was suffocating—far denser than Renji's.
Shunsui glanced at the unconscious Renji and sighed. Seeing the intruder hadn't killed him, he offered a lazy smile.
"Miss, your swordsmanship is quite elegant. Why don't we have a little spar? As for the others... you can wait until we're done, or try to slip past me. But be warned: if Old Man Yama hears Renji lost this fast, he'll send even scarier people. So, if you can pass me, I suggest you hurry."
In truth, Shunsui hated this execution. Like many Captains, he felt Rukia's sentence was unjust. He was looking for an excuse to let them pass, provided they proved their resolve.
Keqing took a deep breath, her eyes sharpening. "Very well. I won't hold back!"
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
Countless purple flower petals materialized in the air. In the next instant, hundreds of Electro slashes erupted from within the storm of petals.
Clang.
Shunsui drew his dual blades—Katen Kyokotsu. With a single, fluid motion, he blocked the barrage. But his lazy expression vanished instantly.
Heavy.
"Oh my... this little lady is dangerous," Shunsui muttered, dodging rapidly.
The air around him was filled with afterimages of Keqing. Electro energy mixed with razor-sharp petals, creating a omni-directional kill zone.
"This feels similar to Byakuya's Senbonzakura," Shunsui commented, ducking under a lethal strike. "But your sword... it gives me a very bad feeling. I can't let it touch me."
He could sense the soul-severing nature of Tenseiga.
Nearby, his Lieutenant, Nanao Ise, adjusted her glasses and signaled to the group with her eyes: My Captain is distracted. Go now!
Hu Tao and the others didn't hesitate. They sprinted past the duel.
"My, my... I've been bypassed," Shunsui sighed theatrically, but made no move to stop them. He looked at Keqing. "Little lady... can you show me something stronger? I'm curious to see what a human of your caliber is truly capable of."
"Fine! Prepare yourself!"
Keqing halted. A surge of verdant Wood Element energy erupted from her, causing flowers to bloom across the stone pavement for hundreds of meters.
"Thousand Flowers: Sky-Piercing rush!"
Her body dissolved into petals. Suddenly, hundreds of Keqings materialized from the flower field, each wielding a blade, striking from every angle simultaneously.
It was a storm of sword intent.
Shunsui was forced to get serious. His spiritual pressure exploded to match her output.
The street became a blur of steel and light. Shunsui, a master of dual-wielding, parried and dodged, but the sheer volume of attacks was overwhelming. He was being pushed back.
Worse, he realized something terrifying.
"My strength... it's draining?"
The flowers beneath his feet were siphoning his Reiryoku.
"I cultivate the Wood Element," Keqing's voice echoed from the storm. "My passive ability drains the energy of my enemies. Release your Shikai, Captain. Or you will lose."
Shunsui paused, seeing the resolve in her eyes. "Alright. As you wish. You are a swordsman worthy of respect."
He held his blades together.
"Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer. Katen Kyokotsu!"
The massive scimitars transformed. The aura of the battle shifted instantly.
"Welcome to my game," Shunsui warned. "Takaoni (High Demon). Whoever is higher strikes harder. Watch out!"
BOOM.
Two massive white slashes descended from the sky. The flower field trembled.
But instead of being crushed, Keqing leaped. Or rather, the flowers launched her upward.
"What?" Shunsui looked up, blinded by the sun.
Keqing was above him, her blade pointed down.
"My power includes seeing one second into the future," Keqing stated calmly. "Observation Haki. I saw your attack before you swung."
"Starward Sword: Void Cutter!"
She didn't use Tenseiga for this strike. She used her own mastery.
A beam of purple starlight descended, faster than Shunsui could Shunpo.
CRASH.
The impact cratered the street. When the dust settled, Shunsui stood with cuts on his arms, breathing heavily.
"Heh... beautiful and deadly. Let's continue. Next game: Kageoni (Shadow Demon)."
Shunsui vanished into the shadows on the ground.
The rule: Whoever steps on a shadow loses.
His blade erupted from Keqing's own shadow, aiming to pierce her heart. A fatal, zero-distance strike.
But the moment the blade pierced "Keqing," her body exploded into flower petals.
Elemental Substitution.
Keqing reappeared ten meters away, Tenseiga ready.
"Tricky games," she remarked. "But useless if you can't hit me."
Further Ahead: Third Division Barracks
As the group pushed forward, another Captain blocked Ichigo's path.
A small boy with silver-white hair and a massive sword strapped to his back. The air temperature plummeted instantly.
Toshiro Hitsugaya. Captain of the 10th Division.
"You've made quite a mess," Toshiro said coldly, his hand on Hyorinmaru. "With Kenpachi stalled and Shunsui engaged, the Commander is furious. I have no choice but to stop you here."
Ichigo gritted his teeth. "Another Captain? Are they all coming out of the woodwork?!"
He looked around. Yae Miko had vanished (likely sneaking ahead). It was just him, the masked woman (Rosalyne), and the humming girl (Hu Tao).
Rosalyne stepped forward, staring down the boy Captain. "Hu Tao, you handle Byakuya when we find him. This child... is mine."
"Okay! Have fun, Rosalyne!" Hu Tao waved and dragged Ichigo away.
"Wait! Is she going to be okay?" Ichigo shouted, looking back. "That kid is a Captain! His pressure feels like ice!"
"Don't worry," Hu Tao chirped. "He uses Ice? That's cute. He's about to face the Crimson Witch of Flames."
As she spoke, a terrifying heat wave erupted behind them.
ROAR.
The street where Toshiro stood was instantly transformed into a hellscape of liquid fire.
"Shatter, Hyorinmaru!" Toshiro yelled, summoning an ice dragon.
"Burn... Liquid Fire!" Rosalyne countered.
The collision of Ice and Fire twisted the air, creating a fog that blinded the entire district.
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