If it were an ordinary stray cat, it would have fled in terror long ago on a battlefield surging with such intense Spiritual Pressure.
But this cat was different.
It sat elegantly on the roof tiles. Its golden eyes revealed a scrutinizing gaze... one that belonged only to those in high positions of power.
What alarmed Toshiro the most was the faint fluctuation of Spiritual Pressure emanating from this black cat.
That was not the Spiritual Pressure of a beast. It was forged through countless trials, surpassing that of an ordinary Seated Officer... It was Captain-class Spiritual Pressure!
"Who is that?" Toshiro muttered, his fingers subconsciously tightening around the hilt of Hyorinmaru.
His intuition told him that the orange-haired boy might just be the visible blade, while this black cat was the hand truly wielding it.
As if sensing Toshiro's gaze, the black cat turned its head, meeting his eyes across the chaotic battlefield.
Immediately after, the corners of the cat's mouth curled up slightly.
It actually revealed an incredibly human-like smile, one that could even be described as brimming with provocation.
A deep, magnetic female voice echoed directly in Toshiro's mind.
'Is this a one-way transmission from [Bakudo #77・Tenteikura]?'
'No, it's a much purer Spiritual Pressure communication technique!'
Toshiro furrowed his brows, locking his gaze on the black cat. "Who are you? Are you an accomplice of the Ryoka?"
The black cat licked its paw and stood up gracefully. "Since you are the Captain of the Tenth Division, does that make you Isshin Shiba's successor?"
At the mention of the name Isshin Shiba, Toshiro's eyes instantly turned ice-cold.
"You know Captain Shiba? Just who exactly are you!"
The black cat let out a soft chuckle and slightly bent its hind legs.
The entire cat transformed into a streak of black lightning, instantly vanishing from its spot, leaving behind only an afterimage as it darted toward the woods on the outskirts of the Seireitei.
"Don't even think about escaping!"
Toshiro did not hesitate for a single moment.
Compared to these few Ryoka who were already surrounded by the main force, that mysterious black cat was clearly a greater threat and was much more likely to hold the behind-the-scenes intelligence regarding this invasion.
"Tenth Division, hear my orders! Capture the Ryoka with everything you have! I am going after the enemy commander!"
Leaving behind that command, Toshiro erupted with Shunpo, turning into a streak of white light as he chased closely after the black cat.
With the Captain's departure, the battle in front of Hakutoumon became even more chaotic and violent.
"Kurosaki! We're being suppressed! If we don't break through soon, we'll be worn down to death right here!" Uryu shouted loudly.
Ichigo swung Zangetsu with a fierce burst of strength, forcing Ganju and his boar back several steps.
He glanced back at his friends' predicament, his heart burning with extreme anxiety.
Chad was trapped in a quagmire, struggling to bombard the ground with his giant arm; although Orihime's shield was sturdy, it was tottering under the pincer attack of two Seated Officers; Uryu's forehead was completely covered in cold sweat.
"Damn it... I came here to save Rukia... How can I let myself be stalled here!"
The look in Rukia's eyes when she was taken away flashed through Ichigo's mind, along with the regret of his own powerlessness on that rainy night.
Old Man Zangetsu's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a hint of confusion.
Ichigo's gaze instantly changed.
That deep-seated obsession hidden at the very bottom of his heart—the desire to protect everything.
In this moment, it transformed into a boiling power that surged outward!
"How could I ever... lose in a place like this!!"
Hum—!!
A terrifying Spiritual Pressure suddenly erupted from Ichigo's body.
A profound blue aura surged around him, its light instantly sweeping across the entire Hakutoumon plaza.
"Wh-What?!"
Ganju, who was just preparing to charge, was deterred by this sudden imposing aura. The boar beneath him, Bonnie, let out a terrified squeal and backed away uncontrollably.
"This Spiritual Pressure... Is this kid a monster?!" Fifth Seat Sasaki's expression changed drastically.
He could feel that his Tsuchigumo was actually beginning to crumble under the impact of this Spiritual Pressure.
Ichigo abruptly raised his head, his originally brown pupils now seemingly burning with blue flames.
He gripped Zangetsu tightly with both hands, and the massive blade let out an excited hum as it was infused with his Spiritual Pressure.
"Boar rider! Get out of my way!!!!"
With a furious roar, Ichigo's figure instantly vanished from his spot.
It was not Shunpo, yet it surpassed Shunpo!
It was extreme speed brought about by a pure explosion of power!
"Oh no! Bonnie! Defend quick—"
Before Ganju could finish his sentence, Ichigo had already appeared right above his head.
Carrying a world-cleaving momentum and wrapped in a storm of blue Spiritual Pressure, Zangetsu slashed down heavily!
Boom—!!!
The halberd in Ganju's hands was severed the instant it made contact with Zangetsu.
Immediately after, that unrivaled, immense force slammed into him without reservation.
"Waaaaaah!!"
Screaming miserably, Ganju and his boar were blasted away together, crashing heavily into the Soul Reaper formation behind them and instantly knocking down a large swath of squad members.
With just this single strike, a massive gap was forcibly torn open in the Tenth Division's formation.
"Now's the time! Everyone! Charge with me!!"
Ichigo did not linger to fight. Taking advantage of the chaos, he took the lead and charged into the enemy ranks.
"Chad!"
He swung his blade at the quagmire trapping Chad, his violent Spiritual Pressure directly overturning the patch of earth.
Suffering the backlash, Fifth Seat Sasaki spat out fresh blood and flew backward.
Freed from his trap, Chad immediately swung his giant arm, blasting away Sixth Seat Takeuchi who was attempting to sneak attack Orihime.
"Let's go!"
The four-person squad formed a sharp spearhead, carving a bloody path through the Tenth Division, who had lost their commander and were intimidated by the Spiritual Pressure Ichigo had unleashed.
"Stop them! Don't let them get away!"
A few fearless squad members tried to block their path, but they were met with Uryu's precise arrows of light and Chad's heavy iron fists.
In the blink of an eye, Ichigo and the others broke through the encirclement, sprinting wildly toward the intricate, maze-like streets inside the Seireitei.
"Cough, cough... That orange-haired brat!!"
Ganju struggled to climb out of the rubble, his face covered in blood.
As he watched the retreating backs of Ichigo and his group, the fury in his eyes burned even brighter.
"Listen up, boys! Stop lying around playing dead! After them! We absolutely cannot let them keep running wild!!"
Hearing Ganju's roar, the squad members who had been knocked down by the impact struggled to their feet one after another.
Although they were injured, their pride as the security force made it impossible for them to tolerate the intruders swaggering away just like that.
"Chase them!!"
Dozens of Soul Reapers regrouped. With bloodshot eyes, they gripped their Zanpakuto and prepared to chase in the direction where Ichigo and the others had disappeared.
However.
Just as they had taken a few steps.
...
An extremely faint hum, like rippling water, suddenly echoed in the air.