"Rank doesn't matter. Gender doesn't matter. Draw your blade—and fight me properly!"
Kenpachi Zaraki lifted his Zanpakutō.
A savage aura surged skyward, and his Reiatsu spread across every corner of Systai Island like a crushing storm.
A murderous presence radiated from his body—like a bloodthirsty demon crawling out of hell.
Bzzz—
The air screamed under the pressure.
Cracks began to form beneath his feet, spreading outward like a spiderweb until the entire port was covered in fractures.
"…Just his presence alone is cracking the ground?"
Momousagi's face turned pale. Under that overwhelming pressure, even her body trembled slightly.
"What are you waiting for?" Kenpachi grinned. "I don't have much patience."
"…Now I understand why Fleet Admiral Sengoku insisted on recruiting Death…"
Her heart shook.
"It's not him he fears—it's all of you!"
The thought of challenging the Shinigami Pirates earlier now felt almost laughable.
Reality was brutal.
Any one of the three captains—
could completely overwhelm her.
"If you want to see Ren Kuro…" Kenpachi's grin widened, eyes burning with excitement, "then you'll have to defeat me first."
He had already marked her as prey.
"…Don't get ahead of yourself!"
Momousagi bit back, forcing her composure.
"Even if you're as strong as an Admiral, I—"
Her pupils shrank suddenly.
Kenpachi had vanished.
Instinct took over.
She drew her blade—
Konpira.
Her intuition screamed at her:
If you don't react now—you'll die.
The moment she raised her sword—
Kenpachi appeared in front of her.
His chipped blade rose high into the air.
"Come on!" he roared. "Show me how strong you really are!"
Slash—
Golden sword pressure tore down from above.
"Armament Haki!"
In that split second, Momousagi coated her blade in Haki. Konpira turned pitch black, gleaming like hardened steel.
But—
even that wasn't enough.
Clang—!
A deafening impact rang out.
Her body was forced backward, her feet grinding against the ground, carving deep marks as she slid.
"…What terrifying power…"
She had blocked it—
but barely.
Her arms were numb.
Her face had gone pale.
"Ha! You blocked it?" Kenpachi laughed wildly. "You really didn't disappoint!"
He raised his blade again.
BOOM—
The ground trembled like waves crashing in a storm.
A pillar of golden Reiatsu erupted from Kenpachi's body, shooting into the sky.
With a casual swing—
half the port was split apart.
Spiritual energy gathered overhead, forming something like a torrential rain of power, falling endlessly onto the earth.
The air grew heavy—
overwhelming—
suffocating.
"…This can't be real…"
Momousagi froze.
"His presence… is affecting the weather itself?"
Surrounded by that ocean of spiritual pressure, she could barely breathe.
She didn't even dare look up.
"…You spaced out."
Kenpachi's voice came from right beside her.
Before she could react—
he was already there.
His blade rose again without mercy.
Slash—
A golden arc cut through the air—
far stronger than before.
This time—
luck wasn't on her side.
Even though she reacted instantly—
her body was still sent flying.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
She tumbled across the ground, blood spraying as a deep, brutal wound tore across her body.
Her grip loosened.
Konpira slipped from her hand.
Momousagi—
could no longer fight.
"Tch… Only this much?"
Kenpachi raised his blade again, disappointed.
"Boring."
He was about to bring it down—
when a familiar voice stopped him.
"Kenpachi Zaraki—stop."
Ren Kuro arrived.
Behind him—
Gin Ichimaru, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Yachiru Kusajishi.
"…Tch."
Kenpachi clicked his tongue in irritation, but lowered his blade.
"Fine. I'll spare her this time—for your sake."
"Admiral candidate… Momousagi."
Ren Kuro stepped forward, immediately recognizing her.
"…Death."
Momousagi forced herself to stand despite her injuries.
"That last strike… almost killed me."
"Coming all the way to Systai Island…" Ren Kuro looked down at her coldly. "You didn't come here just to die, did you?"
"…Of course not."
She steadied herself, though her eyes still held a trace of fear when they glanced at Kenpachi.
"I came under Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders."
Her voice turned firm.
"Death, to stabilize the seas, the Marines have decided to cooperate with certain pirates."
"We call it the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"If you accept, you will become one of the seven pirates officially recognized by the World Government."
"You'll gain freedom, status, and authority—"
"But in return, you must help the Marines suppress other pirates."
She locked eyes with him.
"Based on Marine Headquarters' decision…"
"…you are invited to join the Seven Warlords."
In her mind—
this was irresistible.
No pirate would refuse such power.
But—
she had misjudged Ren Kuro.
"…Sorry."
His answer came instantly.
"I'm not interested in the Marines' offer."
He didn't hesitate.
Not even for a moment.
"Seven Warlords?"
Ren Kuro's gaze turned sharp.
"I don't think much of it."
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