"It looks like without Tessaiga's special move, I won't emerge victorious in this battle."
After calming his breathing, sensing his remaining Reiryoku, Ailin shook his head slightly.
Although his Shunpo could currently touch a captain's threshold, lacking sufficient Reiatsu was still his fatal weakness. Without powerful enough Reiatsu, even if his Shinigami skills were stronger, he couldn't exert appropriate might.
Between a third seat officer and a captain-level lieutenant, their Reiatsu intensity differed by over ten times.
Having been Second Division's Vice-Captain for nearly two hundred years, Marenoshin Ōmaeda's own strength was already honed to its peak.
After releasing his Zanpakutō, Marenoshin Ōmaeda's Reiatsu, while perhaps not comparing to a captain's usual state, wasn't too far off either.
If the captains didn't release their own blades, wishing to resolve Marenoshin Ōmaeda quickly in a short period wasn't an easy matter.
Ailin had utilized Reiatsu Eruption earlier as a technique. If he didn't defeat Marenoshin Ōmaeda while still having ample Reiryoku, once his energies were exhausted, he would be like a fish on a chopping block, ready for slaughter.
"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, next I'll be using my Zanpakutō's special move. I haven't displayed this outside since initially completing its training. Furthermore, this move packs substantial might. Please be careful, Vice-Captain Ōmaeda."
"What? Your Zanpakutō's special move?" Hearing Ailin's words caused Marenoshin Ōmaeda's pupils to constrict.
Every Shinigami would learn of their Zanpakutō's name after reaching a certain degree of resonance. Then by calling out their blades' names, Shinigami could achieve initial release. This was a Zanpakutō's Shikai.
A Zanpakutō's special move was something only wielded by powerful swords. Especially since even someone of Ailin's level claimed it had tremendous power. This clearly wasn't any ordinary technique. Marenoshin Ōmaeda didn't dare be negligent whatsoever right now.
Boom!
Monumental Reiatsu erupted from Marenoshin Ōmaeda. He had utilized Reiatsu Eruption as well. Between Reiatsu Eruption and his Zanpakutō's initial release amplifications, Marenoshin Ōmaeda's Reiatsu had reached a lieutenant's second class level.
"Come!"
"Very well!"
Seeing Marenoshin Ōmaeda prepared, Ailin didn't hesitate anymore. Most of his Reiatsu poured from his body into Tessaiga in his right hand. Strands of wind swirled around Tessaiga's blade. Next, facing Marenoshin Ōmaeda's direction, Ailin suddenly swung his Zanpakutō down.
"Wind Scar!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three substantial wind blades seemingly tore space itself asunder, bringing peerless momentum towards Marenoshin Ōmaeda.
"Haaa!"
At the same time, Marenoshin Ōmaeda's Reiatsu also entered his Zanpakutō, activating his strongest technique.
"Drunkard - Rampage!"
Boom!
Marenoshin Ōmaeda unleashed his giant mace, smashing fiercely against the three oncoming wind blades.
Creak Creak!
Rumble Rumble!
"So heavy!"
Marenoshin Ōmaeda gripped his wolf fang mace tightly. Drunkard's Rampage was his Zanpakutō's ultimate move. However, even his most powerful special move could only barely block Ailin's attack.
The subsequent stronger slashes still forced Marenoshin Ōmaeda's bulky frame backwards. Both his feet gouged long furrows across the training grounds.
"No good. Can't block it!"
After persevering a few seconds, Marenoshin Ōmaeda exhausted Drunkard Rampage's remnants. He couldn't obstruct Wind Scar anymore.
At the last moment, Marenoshin Ōmaeda only managed to shield his vitals with Gegetsuburi before getting swept up by Ailin's technique completely...
"Ahhhh...!"
Marenoshin Ōmaeda's wails had just sounded out when Ailin glimpsed Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara materializing amidst the grounds in the next instant. In Kisuke Urahara's hands was the bloodied Marenoshin Ōmaeda.
"So fast!" Ailin was astonished internally.
Although aware Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara were powerful, knowing and personally experiencing were different matters.
However, Ailin had witnessed a captain unveil Bankai before. Moreover, neither Yoruichi or Urahara had released Reiatsu. Hence the pressure they exuded didn't exceed Ailin's sensations when facing Yamamoto Genryusai previously.
Instead, beyond pressure from their strength, greater apprehension stemmed from Ailin's own heart. Nonetheless, catching a glimpse of their capabilities relieved some of Ailin's nerves.
In that instant earlier, Yoruichi had directly severed Wind Scar's remnants while Urahara dashed in front of Marenoshin Ōmaeda, pulling the latter from Wind Scar's trajectory.
Both their actions seemed casual. Urahara hadn't released his Zanpakutō either, same with Yoruichi not utilizing Shunkō.
Clearly, neither Ailin or Marenoshin Ōmaeda currently warranted seriousness from Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara.
"Lady Yoruichi, 3rd Seat Urahara." Ailin reverted his materialized Tessaiga back into its tattered form, sheathing it by his waist. He bent down to salute Yoruichi and Urahara. With these two's intervention, his challenge could be considered concluded.
"Cough Cough! Ptooey!"
After being rescued by Kisuke Urahara, Marenoshin Ōmaeda coughed out mouthfuls of blood.
However, despite heavy injuries, Marenoshin Ōmaeda didn't conduct himself without dignity. Instead, he gave Ailin a thumbs up, laughing loudly.
"Hahaha! Not bad brat! I admit defeat this round!"
Although everyone realized this bout's outcome already when the pair unleashed their Zanpakutō's special moves, personally hearing Marenoshin Ōmaeda acknowledge his loss still felt like fantasy for the spectators.
"Wow..."
"I'm not dreaming right?"
"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda actually lost?!"
This battle gave Second Division's members a rollercoaster of emotions.
From Ailin initially suppressing Marenoshin Ōmaeda, to Marenoshin Ōmaeda gaining advantages after releasing his Shikai, finally culminating in their ultimate moves' confrontation...
None could determine the victor until the very end. But regardless of whether it was Ailin or Marenoshin Ōmaeda, the capabilities exhibited by both during this fight let everyone accept either as Second Division's Vice-Captain without complaints.
For Shinigami, background meant nothing without sufficient personal strength to convince their subordinates.