Zaraki's Reiatsu climbed once more.
The air grew viscous, light began to distort, as if the entire world trembled before this power.
Zaraki growled, "I'm getting serious!"
He gripped his sword with both hands, raising it high overhead.
Countless fine cracks spread across the blade, as if something was about to break free.
"Slash!"
With that single word, the blade fell.
This slash held no fancy technique, only pure Reiatsu.
Where the blade passed, space was torn, leaving a black fissure.
Setsuna brought his hands together, fingers aligned. Golden light spread along his arms, solidifying into tangible blades.
"Excalibur - Twin Fangs!"
Two golden sword beams slashed out crosswise, forming a perfect cross in the air.
Where the sword beams passed, the air was cut with clear trails, as if even time had momentarily halted.
Golden and black light collided, producing a deafening roar. Yoruichi and the others felt their eardrums sting sharply.
Before they could even react, the two at the center of the battlefield clashed again.
Zaraki's swordsmanship became even more savage. His fighting style held no particular form, relying entirely on battle instinct.
This instinct differed from the 'returning to simplicity' instinct of Ultra Instinct. Its essence was talent surpassing realm.
Setsuna's Excalibur, however, was more refined. Every strike was precise and timely.
Golden sword beams crisscrossed within the dojo, colliding with black sword auras to create dazzling sparks.
Their figures moved too fast for the naked eye to follow. Only flashes of light and the tremor of space could be seen.
"Slash! Slash! Slash!" Zaraki roared madly, each strike of his blade heavier than the last.
"Excalibur - Wild Dance!"
Innumerable golden sword beams erupted from Setsuna's palms, like a blossoming sun.
Each beam shot accurately toward Zaraki's vitals. Zaraki whirled his blade into a curtain of black light.
But there were too many sword beams. They poured down like a torrential rain.
One beam pierced through the defense, stabbing into Zaraki's shoulder.
Another pierced his thigh.
A third, a fourth...
Hiroshi watched in disbelief, 'Was that battle maniac actually being pushed back?'
He hadn't measured Zaraki's Reiatsu, but just from that oppressive force, he knew Zaraki's Reiryoku was at least second-class.
A Shinigami's battle was a battle of Reiatsu. Yet Zaraki had stronger Reiatsu, and was still being suppressed?
Only now did he understand that third-class Reiryoku was perhaps the most insignificant aspect about Setsuna.
Flowers of blood bloomed across Zaraki's body, yet the smile on his face grew ever brighter.
"This is it! This is it!" He laughed wildly, disregarding his injuries, and pounced at Setsuna again.
He abandoned defense entirely. Every strike was a life-or-death gamble.
His Reiatsu burned like flame, growing stronger the more he fought.
His wounds healed rapidly under the effect of his Reiatsu, only to be injured again, and heal once more.
Setsuna's Excalibur grew increasingly fierce. Because of his limitless stamina, he could use his ultimate moves without restraint.
The two fought from the dojo to the courtyard, from the courtyard into the air.
Every collision caused space to tremble. The Shin'o Academy's barrier teetered on the verge of collapse under their battle.
Yoruichi stared fixedly at the battlefield, her nails digging deep into her palms.
She finally understood. The gap between her and Setsuna wasn't talent, nor effort, but something more fundamental.
It was a genuine 'strength', tempered through countless life-and-death struggles, forged in blood and fire.
"Hahaha! I can finally hear its voice!" Zaraki laughed uproariously. "Drink, Nozarashi!"
Upon release, the Zanpakuto in his hand transformed into a massive cleaver.
Hiroshi stared, dumbfounded. "This monster... didn't even know his sword's Shikai before?"
Setsuna was also somewhat surprised. Zaraki's Zanpakuto had long been in a semi-released state. In the original work, it wasn't until the Thousand-Year Blood War, after special training with Unohana, that he truly mastered Shikai.
He never expected that, under his stimulation, Zaraki would master Shikai so much earlier.
Zaraki grinned. "Be careful. What comes next... is the real fight."
"It's fine. Come on," Setsuna replied calmly. Although Zaraki's Reiatsu was strong, his fighting style was too crude, relying entirely on instinct.
Against those not skilled in close combat, his pressure was indeed overwhelming. But for a martial arts master like him, the threat was ordinary.
Just as the two were about to clash fiercely again, an elderly, imposing figure appeared silently between them. It was none other than the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
He didn't release his Reiatsu. Yet, merely standing there, he was like an insurmountable mountain, forcibly separating the two's violent fighting spirit.
"Enough," Yamamoto's voice was calm. "Your battle has already affected the stability of the Seireitei. If you wish to fight, go to the Rukongai."
Setsuna thought to himself, somewhat sarcastically: 'They really don't treat the 'souls' in the Rukongai without Reiryoku as people.'
But he wasn't particularly surprised. For example, in the original work's Thousand-Year Blood War arc, to maintain the Soul Society's stability, Kurotsuchi Mayuri unilaterally erased 28,000 residents of the Rukongai.
And while Yamamoto was dissatisfied with Mayuri's actions, his primary criticism was why Mayuri acted without authorization, not the act itself.
Although Mayuri's purpose was to maintain the balance of the three worlds, this style of action showed the attitude of Shinigami toward Rukongai's residents.
Zaraki seemed somewhat dejected. He looked at Setsuna. "I can sense that you don't seem to be at your peak right now. And my Reiryoku isn't fully unleashed either. After you graduate, let's find a chance to fight in Hueco Mundo. There won't be any busybodies there to interfere with our battle."
Yoruichi's heart shook, 'This level of battle... wasn't even their limit?'
She even suspected that her father might not be a match for them either.
Setsuna nodded slightly. "Agreed."
At the same time, he reflected inwardly: 'Ninety percent of my combat power lies in my physical body. Now, with only my soul left, my strength is greatly diminished.'
Of course, Setsuna didn't underestimate himself.
Before entering the Saint Seiya World, he hadn't even deliberately trained his soul. It wasn't strange that his Reiatsu couldn't match a monster like Zaraki.
Yamamoto looked at Setsuna with a complex expression. He never thought there would be a day when his judgment was off.
He had previously used Zaraki's feats to admonish Setsuna. Yet, Setsuna, with third-class Reiryoku, had fought Zaraki, with second-class Reiryoku, to a standstill.
'Perhaps only when Zaraki completely removed his self-limitations, restoring his strength to first-class Reiryoku, or mastered Bankai, would he have a chance to truly defeat Setsuna.'
Yamamoto sighed inwardly. Solemnly, he said, "With your strength, you can apply for early graduation."
"I do intend to apply for early graduation, but not now." Setsuna smiled faintly. "At the very least, I need to learn Kido first."
Yamamoto chuckled inwardly, 'With his strength, even the Kido Corps' Grand Kidō Chief might not be his match.'
But Yamamoto said no more. He gave a slight nod and vanished.