Kūgo Ginjō's expression darkened to the extreme.
He had envisioned countless possibilities and predicted every possible outcome.
Except for what was happening right now.
He had just hunted a Shinigami and absorbed his spiritual pressure, ready to enjoy the post-battle peace.
Returning to the warehouse, Tsukishima prepared sukiyaki, and the two happily envisioned a bright future.
Then someone tore off the roof.
White hair, black Shihakushō, and an overwhelmingly terrifying spiritual pressure.
A captain among Shinigami, the highest combat power in the Soul Society!
Realising that today wouldn't end well, Kūgo Ginjō exuded almost tangible killing intent, and the temperature in the warehouse plummeted.
Tsukishima also stood beside him, spiritual pressure surging, his right hand clutching his pocket watch.
"You can try to struggle."
Tokikaze calmly looked down at the two, his eyes filled with indifference.
At this moment, Kūgo Ginjō hadn't become the first Substitute Shinigami, nor had he had any contact with the Soul Society.
This mission, originally meant to be handled by Jūshirō Ukitake, was handed to Tokikaze due to the incident with Kōga Kuchiki.
Tokikaze had no interest in letting this murderer of countless Shinigami become the first Substitute Shinigami in the Soul Society.
Control this guy to be an asset to the Soul Society?
The Soul Society might lack high-end combat power, but they wouldn't accept just anyone.
The fact that Kūgo Ginjō hunted Shinigami and absorbed their spiritual pressure to strengthen himself was enough to sentence him to death.
Perhaps this wouldn't matter much to someone like Jūshirō Ukitake, who seemed pure but was dark inside.
"Ginjō..."
Tsukishima's single eye stayed on Kūgo Ginjō, seeking his opinion.
However, his response was the same explosive, tangible spiritual pressure, instantly lighting up.
Kūgo Ginjō yanked off his cross necklace, spiritual pressure pouring into it. As it transformed, he held a giant two-handed sword.
The exaggerated hilt even surpassed the guard, with a red gemstone in the centre of the crossguard emitting an eerie glow. The sword's blade, near the guard, was hollowed out and adorned with golden fittings, giving a sense of overwhelming power.
On the other side, Tsukishima stopped holding back, immediately activating his pocket watch. Blue-green light danced around them.
"For fish unwilling to take the bait, a little lesson is needed."
Tokikaze descended from the sky, the wind howling around him, appearing above the two instantly.
Kūgo Ginjō was shocked by his speed, his pupils shrinking as he instinctively swung the Executioner's Cross upwards.
The heavy power erupted, making a tearing sound in the air.
Boom!
To Kūgo Ginjō's disbelief, the powerful slash landed in Tokikaze's palm.
But the Executioner's Cross, which had always been unstoppable, didn't break the skin.
"With just this strength, you dare to recklessly slaughter Shinigami and absorb their spiritual pressure?"
Tokikaze maintained his stance, looking at Kūgo Ginjō with disdain.
"You are truly audacious..."
"Kūgo Ginjō..."
Though unsure how Tokikaze knew his name or exhibited such terrifying prowess.
Kūgo Ginjō knew that he would be killed on the spot if he fell into Tokikaze's hands today.
The surging killing intent almost solidified.
As the two faced off, Tsukishima's usual elegance gave way to a sinister expression, his single eye filled with greed and arrogance.
"Arrogant fool, you will pay dearly for underestimating me!"
Numerous blue-green digital symbols fell from his pocket watch, rushing towards Tokikaze at lightning speed, spiritual pressure brewing on them.
"Bakudō #81: Dankū."
Tokikaze's gaze remained on Kūgo Ginjō, lips parting lightly as spiritual pressure erupted.
A massive transparent barrier formed, blocking the blue-green symbols.
Boom, boom, boom!
Continuous explosions rang out, leaving no mark on the Dankū barrier.
Tsukishima's expression froze. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead down his sinister face, soaking his collar without him noticing.
This was his most powerful attack, yet it couldn't break Tokikaze's casual Bakudō defence.
The Shinigami he had killed before at most used Bakudō or Hadō in the thirties.
Tokikaze starting with Bakudō #81 felt both flattering and shocking...
Not really!
Seeing this, Tsukishima's internal alarm rang loudly. Ignoring Kūgo Ginjō, he turned to escape.
Monsters of this level were beyond his ability to handle.
"What a despicable display."
Tokikaze said calmly, "Someone like him is just a waste of spiritual particles."
Dankū shattered into countless pieces.
Tokikaze raised his left hand, pointing at Tsukishima's escape route, and whispered:
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō."
Brilliant golden light burst forth like a blazing sun.
Boom!!
The violent thunder drowned out the howling wind, a blast of lightning tearing through the air, striking Tsukishima's fleeing back.
Terrifying heat spread instantly, the shockwave collapsing the surrounding warehouses, raising dust clouds, leaving devastation in its wake.
The air smelled scorched, filled with the stench of burnt flesh.
As the arcs of electricity faded and the dust settled, only a charred, unrecognisable shape remained at the impact site.
A single strike, instant kill.
Kūgo Ginjō was stunned by this overwhelming display. Fear gripped him as icy coldness spread from his spine to his skull.
Just then, Tokikaze's voice came again:
"Isn't that right, Kūgo Ginjō?"
Extreme fear sparked a burst of potential in Kūgo Ginjō; wild green, spiritual pressure erupted from the Executioner's Cross, pushing Tokikaze's hand away.
"Die, Shinigami!"
Kūgo Ginjō roared, the Executioner's Cross glowing bright green as all his spiritual pressure surged into it.
With the giant sword's swing, a crescent-shaped sword pressure several meters high slashed across the ground, scattering debris, the shockwave spreading like a tide.
In Kūgo Ginjō's hopeful gaze, the sword pressure engulfed Tokikaze!