Boom.
Kurotsuki Renya's fist met Hiyori Sarugaki's kick midair. The collision rippled through the underground training grounds, shaking the earth and sending waves of dust spiraling outward.
Crack!
Both their Hollow masks shattered simultaneously, the dual echoes of breaking glass fading as they let their Hollowfication dissipate.
"Not bad," Yadōmaru Lisa commented with a smirk from the sidelines, arms folded. "Just raw Hakuda strength alone — you're matching Hiyori's kicks head-on."
Hiyori frowned, brushing dust from her leg. "Tch… Renya, you've gotten too strong. I can't even knock you off balance anymore."
Renya smiled faintly. "Ten years, Hiyori. It's bound to happen eventually."
It had indeed been a full decade since Kurotsuki Renya began living among the Visoreds in the Human World. In that time, his body had been hardened through constant sparring, Kidō training, and countless sessions of Hollow control.
Thanks to daily combat against Hiyori and the others, as well as the magnetic field training Yoruichi had devised, his skin and muscles had achieved a resilience akin to pseudo-iron skin — a defensive state nearly comparable to an Arrancar's Hierro.
If he continued refining it, Renya believed he could manifest a true Hierro within another twenty years, making most Zanpakutō slashes ineffective against his body alone.
From nearby, Yoruichi Shihōin observed the aftermath of their clash, her golden eyes glinting. "Your Shunpo's improved too, Renya. You've nearly perfected the Raijū Senkei — your movements are sharper than ever."
Over the years, Renya's mastery of Shunpo had grown tremendously. With Yoruichi's guidance — and the incorporation of Quincy movement principles like Hirenkyaku — his flash steps had evolved to rival even Yoruichi and Soifon's. His own advanced technique, Fūrai Shunko, was nearing completion.
"And his Kidō's no joke either," said Hachigen Ushōda from the far end, adjusting his spectacles with a calm smile. "He's mastered high-level Hadō and Bakudō incantations… some without even chanting."
Under Hachi's mentorship, Renya had achieved the ability to cast advanced Kidō like Hadō #88 – Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō at half power without incantation, while maintaining 60% output in his Bakudō techniques.
However, certain advanced spells such as Hadō #63 – Raikōhō and Hadō #90 – Kurohitsugi still required chanting for full potency.
Yadōmaru Lisa tilted her head, evaluating him. "Your Hollow control matches Hiyori's, your Shunpo rivals Yoruichi's, and your Kidō's good enough to make Hachi proud. Not bad at all."
Then, she smirked. "Let's test your overall combat ability. I want to see exactly where you stand."
Renya blinked, intrigued. "How do you plan to test it, Lisa-san?"
Lisa clapped her hands sharply. "Come on out."
From the far side of the chamber, several figures emerged — Love Aikawa, Kensei Muguruma, Rose Otoribashi, and Hiyori once again, each radiating controlled Reiatsu.
Kensei cracked his neck, grinning. "We'll be your opponents, kid. Let's see if you can back up all that progress."
Renya's smile widened slightly. "I wouldn't mind that."
"Who wants to start?" Lisa asked.
Kensei stepped forward. "I'll take the first round. The rest of you, stay back — I might need to go Bankai."
The others immediately retreated toward the barrier edge. Even among the Visoreds, Kensei's Bankai could level an entire district if left unchecked.
Hachigen nodded, extending his palm as multiple layers of golden seals formed around the field. "Just in case," he muttered. "Best to keep the collateral damage contained."
Watching their preparation, Renya felt his Reiatsu stir instinctively. Despite years among them, Kensei Muguruma was no opponent to underestimate.
"Please, Kensei-san," Renya said calmly, unsheathing his Zanpakutō. "Let's begin."
Kensei gripped his blade tight. "Don't hold back, brat."
In an instant, Renya vanished.
His blade flashed toward Kensei's back — clang! — only to meet steel. The point of Renya's sword halted mere centimeters from Kensei's cheek.
"…Close," Kensei muttered, slightly startled. The boy's speed had far surpassed normal perception — even for a former captain.
"Shikai — Tachikaze!"
Wind exploded outward as Kensei's Zanpakutō transformed into a short blade, whirling with compressed air. "Flash to ash and dust! Tachikaze!"
He swung, and a condensed wind blade surged toward Renya, detonating midair.
Renya countered, parrying the gust with a crackling blade enveloped in lightning — Hadō #11: Tsuzuri Raiden! The explosion that followed filled the arena with smoke and pressure.
Kensei's Shikai ability — to compress and detonate wind — was a deadly technique that converted every slash into a potential explosion. Renya evaded the follow-up, but threads of wind twisted around him, forming a lethal cage.
"What a terrifying control," Renya murmured, leaping backward — only for Kensei to appear behind him, blade thrusting forward.
Trapped by the wind net, Renya reacted instinctively — lightning flared across his body. "Raijin no Shunpō!"
With a thunderous crack, he disappeared, reappearing far beyond the trap.
Kensei smirked. "Fast. Faster than Soifon, even."
Renya didn't respond. He couldn't afford to waste energy on words.
Again, Kensei charged — short blade whistling through the air, trails of detonating wind following. Renya's body blurred; he inverted midair, thrusting downward in a spinning strike.
The impact detonated — boom! — sending whirlwinds howling around them. At the heart of the storm, Renya's sword pressed down on Kensei's, forcing it dangerously close to his shoulder. The wind burst broke apart — leaving a shallow, bleeding line across Kensei's arm.
"Impressive," Kensei muttered, stepping back. "Your control's ridiculous, kid."
He was only using Shikai, but even so — few could fight Kensei Muguruma on even ground like this.
From the sidelines, Shinji Hirako folded his arms. "Not bad. He's managing to suppress Kensei's Shikai with only Shunpo and base strength."
Love Aikawa nodded. "And he's still holding back. I can feel his Hollow energy building — he hasn't even used his mask yet."
Rose added quietly, "He's terrifying. If he's holding back now, then in full release… even Kensei's Bankai might not be enough."
Renya exhaled softly, steadying his Zanpakutō. "Kensei-san," he said, eyes narrowing. "Let's take it up a notch."
"Fine by me."
Wind howled around Kensei as he reached up — a white mask forming over his face. His Reiatsu spiked violently, shaking the barrier.
The Visored duel had only just begun.
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