Various Spirit Pressures intertwined in the air, making it thick and oppressive.
Without hesitation, Kaelith Yurei drew his asauchi, channeling his Spirit Pressure as he swung it in a wide arc.
A massive crescent-shaped shockwave tore through the barrier, creating a gash.
Though the barrier began to repair itself almost immediately, the overwhelming surge of Spirit Pressure had already spread across half of the Seireitei before it could fully recover.
After signaling for help, Kaelith immediately used Shunpo to dash toward the Correction Corps' command center.
Having familiarized himself with the Second Division's layout earlier in the day, he navigated the area with relative ease.
In a matter of moments, he arrived near the command center.
What he saw made his pupils contract sharply.
A towering, broad figure lay in front of the command center.
Kaelith landed beside him in a flash.
It was Ōmaeda Marenoshin.
Deep gashes exposing bone covered Marenoshin's body, and his side bore a wound that looked like it had been blasted apart.
Sensing someone approach, Marenoshin barely managed to open his eyes.
Seeing Kaelith, he forced his mouth open with effort.
"Quick… Lady Yoruichi… the prison… go…"
Hearing this, Kaelith's expression turned grim.
Without sparing another moment, he dashed toward the direction of the Maggot's Nest at full speed.
While he hadn't entered the prison earlier that day, he at least knew its location.
The closer he got to the prison, the more Correction Corps corpses littered the ground.
Suddenly—
*Boom!*
A dense, oppressive Spirit Pressure descended from the sky.
The very air seemed to tremble under its weight.
Kaelith's eyes widened in shock.
This was Captain-level Spirit Pressure.
---
**Second Division, Prison**
Dozens of Correction Corps members formed a defensive formation, their eyes locked on the figure in the distance.
Though the opponent stood alone, their power was overwhelming.
These seasoned executioners, usually well-trained and efficient, found themselves as helpless as infants in the face of this man.
Behind them, Yoruichi stood motionless.
Even knowing she was no match for him, even knowing what awaited her if she stood her ground, her gaze held no fear.
"Takada Tai… Captain of the Ninth Division."
"To think you, too, would be swayed by their words," she said calmly.
Under her piercing gaze, the towering man known as Takada Tai slowly spoke:
"Shihōin Yoruichi, as the head of one of the Five Noble Families, you should know better than anyone whether their words hold truth."
"In the name of the Shinigami's honor, of a warrior's honor, I ask you—is what they say true?"
Yoruichi's brow furrowed slightly.
She was silent for a few moments, not answering his question. Instead, her gaze shifted to the figure hanging limply in Takada Tai's hand.
Seeing her refusal to respond, Takada Tai felt his resolve solidify.
With renewed determination, he followed her gaze to the young man in his grip.
The disheveled blonde hair and lanky frame made it clear—this was Kisuke Urahara.
Clutched tightly by Takada's massive hand, Kisuke had already lost consciousness.
Raising Kisuke slightly, Takada remarked, "He's young, but clever."
"When faced with a sudden attack, he didn't foolishly confront me. Instead, he tried to break the barrier to draw outside reinforcements."
"If it had been anyone else, he might have succeeded."
"But in the end, it wasn't enough."
Turning to Yoruichi, he asked, "What's this? You seem to care about him."
Yoruichi smirked faintly. "Idiot. We're the Stealth Force. Caring isn't in the job description."
"To complete the mission, any one of us could die—myself included."
She meant it.
Her attention to Kisuke was primarily because of Kaelith's apparent interest in him.
Takada Tai wasn't surprised by her response.
To him, the Stealth Force truly seemed like that kind of organization.
He tightened his grip, preparing to crush Kisuke's neck.
At that moment, Yoruichi's figure blurred as she suddenly appeared before him.
Her leg shot out straight, crackling with electricity as it whipped toward Takada Tai's head—
*Boom!*
Takada raised an arm, blocking the blow beside his head.
Yoruichi's foot connected, leaving faintly flickering sparks and a charred mark on his arm.
At the same time, his other hand flung Kisuke aside and drew his blade, slashing toward Yoruichi.
Despite her preparations to retreat, the attack still managed to graze her shoulder, drawing blood.
"Lady Yoruichi!"
Shaolin Fēng's eyes widened as she charged toward them with all her might.
The remaining Correction Corps members followed suit, rushing forward with a collective roar.
Takada Tai hesitated, choosing to deal with the reinforcements first.
"Envelop me, Ōyamatsumi!"
Takada Tai raised his Zanpakutō. With a blinding flash of light, his form transformed.
When the light faded, he stood as a towering figure made of solid rock.
Thick slabs of stone covered his body, and tufts of grass and branches jutted from the gaps, lending him an odd yet harmonious natural beauty.
Now encased in his rocky armor, Takada Tai clenched his massive fists and slammed them together with a resounding thud.
Then, he charged at the Correction Corps.
"Protect the Commander!"
The Correction Corps roared in defiance, wielding their short blades as they rushed forward.
In an instant, five or six of them were sent flying, their chests crushed and spraying fragments of organs as they fell.
The others pressed on, determined to encircle him from all sides.
Their training as recruits had included techniques for dealing with armored opponents.
As long as they could drive their blades into the gaps of the armor, they could inflict massive damage.
Their short blades were designed precisely for this purpose.
Through the sacrifice of their comrades, one member managed to leap onto Takada Tai's shoulder.
His eyes gleamed with resolve as he gripped his blade with both hands and drove it into the gap in Takada's neck armor.
But as the blade sank in, he froze.
It felt as though the blade had disappeared into a void, with no resistance or feedback.
Instinctively, he tried to pull it out.
When he succeeded, the front half of the blade was gone.
As he stared in shock, a massive stone hand reached for him, gripping him tightly.
"Fool. Even recklessness has its limits."
With a sickening crunch, the Correction Corps member was snapped in two.
Leaning against the prison door, Yoruichi clutched her wounded shoulder, her eyes fixed intently on Takada Tai.
In front of her, Shaolin Fēng stood with her short blade, every muscle taut.
She had already resolved to die.
As a member of the Fēng family, her mission was to protect Lady Yoruichi.
If dying for Yoruichi's sake gave her life meaning, she was ready to pay that price.
But… even if she died, it wouldn't change the outcome.
The realization filled her with despair.
Under Shaolin Fēng's watchful gaze, Takada Tai casually flung away the Correction Corps members who clung to him.
Then, he turned his gaze toward her.
Shaolin Fēng clenched her teeth and reversed her grip on her Zanpakutō.
The next moment, the massive figure charged at her like a runaway war chariot.