Bleach: Drinking Makes You Stronger

As for Kiganjō Kenpachi...

Neither Yoruichi nor Unohana Retsu had much connection with him. Even after Kiganjō Kenpachi's death, it didn't stir much emotion in their hearts.

Meanwhile, nearby, a bespectacled man with a scholarly demeanor, Aizen Sōsuke, stood silently. A faint, intriguing smile played at the corners of his lips.

From a young age, Aizen knew he possessed unparalleled talent, one that set him apart from ordinary people—a different kind of existence altogether.

However, Bai Ye now gave him a sense of finding a "kindred spirit."

Even so, Aizen gently shook his head.

What a pity.

The seat at the top, the "Throne of Heaven," only has room for one.

Recently, Soul Society has produced quite a number of geniuses. Whether it's Bai Ye or Ichimaru Gin, they're all rising stars.

Moreover, the old generation of powerhouses, such as Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and Kyōraku Shunsui, are still alive and well, with no signs of decline. At this rate, the strength of Soul Society will only continue to grow—a development that poses a significant obstacle to his plans.

It seems adjustments to his strategy are necessary.

At the same time, within a small tavern in Seireitei, the clinking of glasses and the boisterous chatter of patrons filled the air. Hours later, the lively sounds gradually subsided.

Now, inside the tavern, bodies were sprawled all around. Faces flushed and reeking of alcohol, the drunken figures were scattered across the room.

A handsome young man, holding a sake gourd in one hand, lounged lazily on a soft sofa. Resting heavily atop him, sound asleep from intoxication, was none other than Matsumoto Rangiku.

Nearby lay others: Yadōmaru Lisa, Sarugaki Hiyori, Hisagi Shūhei, and Ichimaru Gin—all classmates from their academy days.

This gathering marked the first time the group had reunited since Bai Ye defeated Kuchiki Byakuya.

As for Ichimaru Gin…

Bai Ye glanced at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

At this moment, the ever-smiling poker face that Gin usually wore was gone, replaced by a drunken, childlike expression as he snored on the floor.

He still bore a youthful innocence.

This boy would one day become the Captain of the 3rd Division, wielding the Zanpakutō Shinsō, hailed as the longest and fastest blade in Soul Society.

When fully released in its Bankai form, Shinsō's blade could stretch and retract at speeds 500 times the speed of sound, capable of shattering everything in its path with immense force. Additionally, the blade would disintegrate into dust upon retraction, leaving behind a deadly poison that could dissolve cells and linger in the enemy's body.

In the original timeline, Gin was Rangiku's childhood friend.

To reclaim the piece of Rangiku's soul stolen by Aizen, Gin joined Aizen's forces, ultimately attempting to assassinate him in a moment of betrayal.

If not for Aizen's fusion with the Hōgyoku, Gin might have succeeded in killing him.

However, in this new reality...

Since Bai Ye's arrival in this world, Rangiku spent her days drinking with him rather than fostering a childhood bond with Gin. Their relationship was now nothing more than casual acquaintances.

As a result, Gin had no reason to join Aizen's ranks.

Reflecting on this, Bai Ye took a sip of his sake.

Ding.

Congratulations, Host, for drinking with classmates.

Your Kido proficiency has increased! You can now completely bypass incantations and instantly cast all Kido you've learned with no reduction in power!

You have also unlocked a Kido Forbidden Technique: Dual Casting! You can now cast two Kido simultaneously.

Instant-cast Kido. Dual Casting.

Bai Ye nodded in satisfaction.

Kido, divided into destructive arts (Hadō), binding arts (Bakudō), and healing arts (Kaido), has many uses, especially in combat.

In the original timeline, even Aizen Sōsuke, a Kido master, required incantations to fully unleash the power of a spell. Casting without incantation reduced the effectiveness significantly.

Only by completing the full incantation could one release Kido at its full potential.

Now, however, Bai Ye could entirely bypass incantations!

With just a thought, he could instantly cast spells—and even dual Kido simultaneously, effectively doubling his destructive capabilities.

"Not bad," Bai Ye thought, satisfied.

While he had previously unlocked instant-cast Kido, there was always a slight delay during activation. Now, with this newfound ability, casting Kido was seamless and instantaneous.

Without warning, Bai Ye's thoughts shifted...

Suddenly, two pale flames ignited at Bai Ye's fingertips, causing the room's temperature to rise dramatically. The immense energy contained within the flames could easily annihilate the entire tavern in an instant.

Moments later, the flames at his fingertips slowly dissipated, as though they had never appeared.

Hadō No. 33, Sōkatsui…

In Bai Ye's hands, its power rivaled that of spells ranked above Hadō No. 80!

While Bai Ye and his companions indulged in their drinks, the news of Kiganjō Kenpachi's death at Bai Ye's hands spread like wildfire throughout the entirety of Seireitei.

The shock caused by this news was no less than the uproar from Kuchiki Byakuya's death. In fact, it was even more sensational!

After all, this time, it was a genuine Captain who had died—a symbol of the Gotei 13, the contemporary Kenpachi!

All civilians who had witnessed Bai Ye's battle now regarded him as a godlike figure. They eagerly shared their experiences in taverns and restaurants, recounting the events they had seen with awe.

"That Bai Ye is truly defying the heavens!"

"Killing Kenpachi! This is an earth-shattering feat in the history of Soul Society..."

The discussions were fervent and unending, with every word filled with reverence for Bai Ye's strength.

Even though the civilians couldn't fully comprehend the power of Bai Ye's strike, the undeniable fact was that Kiganjō Kenpachi—despite using his Bankai—had been killed with a single blow. This only further underscored Bai Ye's overwhelming power.

"Wait, wasn't Bai Ye sentenced to 100 years of imprisonment by the Central 46? How is he walking freely in Seireitei and even killing Kenpachi?"

Someone raised the question.

"It's rumored that Bai Ye has a good relationship with the young master of the Shihōin family and even has a Captain for an elder sister…" someone whispered quietly.

Unlike commoners who could only rely on their own efforts, Bai Ye had extraordinary backing.

His connections were no less formidable than those of the late Kuchiki Byakuya—perhaps even more so.

Hearing this, the crowd's reverence for Bai Ye grew even deeper.

A prodigy with unparalleled talent and a remarkable background… If nothing unexpected happens, Bai Ye will likely carry the banner of Soul Society's strength after Captain-General Yamamoto retires.

At the same time, the True Spirit Arts Academy, the Central 46 Chambers, and the Gotei 13 were all shaken by the news that swept through Seireitei like a storm.

Bai Ye?

Could he truly achieve such a feat?

As the Central 46 reviewed the footage of Bai Ye's battle, the sages and judges alike were left utterly stunned.

"This… this is an entirely new form of power!"

Bai Ye's ability to execute such feats shocked them to their core.

Wasn't Bai Ye's power supposed to be ice-based? How could he manipulate space as well?

This defied all reason!

Even Ōetsu Nimaiya's Sayafushi, the legendary swordsmith, couldn't achieve such feats!