Hasumi Ren's gaze narrowed slightly.
Zaraki Kenpachi.
The name instantly surfaced in his mind.
The future Captain of the Eleventh Division, a monster of pure stats, and the undisputed master of self-imposed seals.
The names of the two men behind him were also on the tip of his tongue.
The bald one was Madarame Ikkaku, whose specialty was a one-time-use Bankai.
The long-haired man beside him was naturally Ayasegawa Yumichika, the bald man's closest friend.
His Zanpakuto could absorb the spiritual pressure of others, producing spiritual energy fruits that could replenish himself and his allies. It was certainly an impressive trick.
During the Blood War, the two of them would form a duo with both high endurance and damage output, successfully surviving the chaotic melee to the very end.
For now, however, they had not yet joined the Gotei 13; they were merely vagabonds wandering the outer edges of the Rukongai.
But their strength was unquestionable.
Ren's gaze swept over the battle scars littering the ground, then glanced at the fragments he had just absorbed.
The group of Hollows here had most likely been wiped out by these few people.
Ren withdrew his gaze, his face completely devoid of expression.
He simply stood quietly in place, watching the strangers before him like an ordinary Fourth Division member.
But he failed to notice that Aizen's hand had quietly rested on his Zanpakuto.
Not far away, Zaraki Kenpachi's gaze swept over the group in front of him.
Then, his eyes landed on Kiganjo Kenpachi.
The arrogant-looking man standing in the center of the crowd with his Zanpakuto resting on his shoulder.
Zaraki Kenpachi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Heh..."
"Are you the strongest one here?"
Kiganjo Kenpachi froze for a moment.
Immediately after, his face darkened, and a surge of inexplicable rage rushed straight to his head.
"What did you say?!"
Ever since he became a Captain, very few people had dared to speak to him with such direct provocation.
Not to mention, the person in front of him looked like nothing more than a Rukongai street thug.
Kiganjo took a step forward, his spiritual pressure erupting instantly.
The violent spiritual pressure spread outward like a physical weight, suffocating the surrounding squad members and causing their breath to hitch.
"I am the Captain of the Eleventh Division, Kiganjo Kenpachi! Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?"
"Kiganjo... Kenpachi?"
Hearing this, Zaraki Kenpachi smacked his lips.
Then, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
A certain light began to flicker in his eyes.
It was the thrill of encountering prey.
The next moment, Zaraki took a step forward.
That single step caused the atmosphere of the entire group to instantly freeze.
Everyone felt it.
The overwhelming, undisguised lust for battle rushing toward them.
A violent spiritual pressure, accompanied by a pure and naked aura of wildness, exploded outward, not a bit weaker than Kiganjo's.
It was like a slumbering beast had suddenly awakened.
Ren's pupils contracted slightly.
He saw numerous fragments of spiritual power bursting from Zaraki's body.
*Are they about to fight?*
*Zaraki and Kiganjo?*
*If they really fight...*
His gaze swept over the surroundings.
The Eleventh Division members had already gripped their swords, the Fifth Division members were backing away, and the Fourth Division members were being protected in the center.
*As for Kiganjo...*
Ren looked at him, then secretly shook his head in his mind.
Kiganjo's spiritual pressure was indeed strong, strong enough to suffocate ordinary squad members.
But his stance and the way he held his sword were full of openings in Ren's eyes.
If a fight really broke out, he would absolutely be no match for Zaraki.
But just as he was thinking, a prompt suddenly flashed before Ren's eyes.
Ren was stunned when he saw it.
The moment he saw the system prompt, a giant question mark popped up in Ren's mind.
*???*
He stood frozen in place, momentarily forgetting the tense situation in front of him.
*What is this, Soul Splitting?*
*It can split a soul into independent entities?*
He subconsciously raised his head and looked at the few people in front of him.
Zaraki Kenpachi, carrying his jagged sword, exuded a beast-like aura.
On his shoulder, the pink-haired little girl was swinging her small legs, her big, round eyes curiously observing the crowd.
Memories regarding her instantly surfaced in Ren's mind.
Kusajishi Yachiru, whose true identity was actually Zaraki Kenpachi's Zanpakuto.
More accurately, during the period of Zaraki Kenpachi's self-imposed seal, a part of his soul had transformed into an independent entity.
A literal manifestation of a Zanpakuto spirit.
She could even possess her own Zanpakuto and achieve Shikai.
One could only say it was incredible.
Then, the corners of Ren's mouth twitched slightly.
He now understood the new ability the system had analyzed.
The 'Brand New Soul State' detected by the system was this special coexisting form—the materialization of a Zanpakuto, a split entity of the soul.
Zaraki Kenpachi and Kusajishi Yachiru were prime examples.
By the same logic, there was another extreme example in his memories.
Coyote Starrk.
The future Primera Espada, a Vasto Lorde whose spiritual pressure was so immense that he naturally became an Arrancar.
He had also split his own soul, allowing the other part to transform into a separate entity named Lilynette, who followed by his side.
Ren took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.
Soul Splitting meant that from now on, he would have a helper capable of independent action.
Or a clone that could share the burden of danger for him.
If the clone could also inherit the system's abilities, then the potential of this skill was virtually unfathomable.
If utilized properly, it might become one of his greatest trump cards.
Afterward, Ren adjusted his emotions and once again focused his gaze on Zaraki Kenpachi and Kusajishi Yachiru.
The two of them were still standing in place, one carrying a sword, the other sitting on his shoulder.
At this time, Yachiru looked to be only five or six years old, very young.
She seemed to sense something and suddenly turned her head to look at Ren.
A trace of curiosity flashed in those big, round eyes.
Then, she grinned.
The smile was innocent and naive, yet it carried an indescribable hint of slyness.
Seeing Yachiru looking over, Ren gave her a nod.
Subsequently, he could feel that Yachiru seemed to have developed a slight interest in him, as she waved her hand at him.
However, Ren did not respond further; after all, the situation unfolding before him was the main focus he needed to pay attention to.
He cast a slight sidelong glance at Zaraki Kenpachi.
That overwhelming, undisguised lust for battle caused the atmosphere of the entire group to instantly freeze.
Then, Ren saw the scene before his eyes tear slightly.
He was no stranger to this feeling; this was...
Kyoka Suigetsu.
The next moment, Zaraki Kenpachi roared and turned around, slashing madly at the empty air to the side, bellowing in excitement as he gradually walked further away.
Meanwhile, in front of them, a translucent illusion of Zaraki Kenpachi appeared.
The illusory Zaraki suddenly looked into the distance, then led the similarly illusion-generated Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa running off into the distance.
The Eleventh Division members in front of them were all stunned, staring blankly in the direction the illusions had left, unclear about what had just happened.
Ren stood in place, watching all of this unfold, then slightly shifted his gaze.
He saw that the Zanpakuto in Aizen's hand had been unsheathed at some unknown point.
At this moment, countless thoughts surged in Ren's mind.
*Why would Aizen suddenly make a move?*
*Is he trying to... prevent a conflict between Zaraki and Kiganjo?*
And at this moment, Aizen also noticed his gaze, turning his head slightly with a profound look in his eyes.
"What is it, Ren?"