SWNOVELXO Chapter 54: CHAPTER 54:Kenpachi Is Defeated and Promoted to Captain
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Zaraki Kenpachi's Zanpakutō shattered, fragments scattering across the ground. Scarred and worn, it could no longer endure the overwhelming power—it was the final note in the song. Kenpachi stared at the bare hilt in his hand, expression unreadable.
"You… you kid… you're a terrifying existence…" he rasped, voice like rust scraping metal. In over a thousand years, only one man had ever made Zaraki Kenpachi feel fear—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni. Now, there was another: Su Li.
Raising his bloodshot eyes, Kenpachi locked onto Su Li's face as if to burn it into memory—then collapsed, unconscious. The undefeated beast, the strongest active captain, the terror of all who faced him, had been defeated. And not just defeated—utterly overwhelmed. By a 16-year-old boy.
Unohana Retsu watched in silence, memories flickering like distant shadows, and sighed.
"Zaraki Kenpachi… defeated!!" Sasakibe's voice echoed across the field, thick with disbelief.
All eyes turned to the lone figure still standing. No one spoke. No one could process what they'd just witnessed. The battle between monsters had ended, and the victor was Su Li. It felt surreal; the martial arts field lay in eerie silence.
A small figure stepped forward. Yachiru Kusajishi crouched beside Kenpachi and gently lifted his massive form onto her back. Though tiny by comparison, she bore his weight without complaint. She turned to Su Li, smiling sweetly. "Thank you, little Susu." Whether she was thanking him for giving Kenpachi the ultimate fight—or for something else entirely—no one could say.
Su Li gave a soft nod in return. Her smile brightened, and she turned away, carrying Kenpachi off the field. Under the sunlight, their contrasting figures looked surreal… yet natural, perfectly balanced.
The spectators slowly emerged from their daze.
"Did you see that last move?!"
"No—it was too fast!"
"Was that… Cero?"
"Idiot. Su Li's a Shinigami—he can't use Cero."
"Maybe Hadō? But it didn't feel like Reiatsu…"
"You really think Su Li couldn't suppress his Reiatsu if he wanted to?"
Speculation spread like wildfire. Excitement rippled through the captains and seated officers, and gradually, one conclusion emerged: Su Li had hidden his Reiatsu. No one could sense anything during the final blow—and that said everything.
Su Li nodded to himself. Good. No explanation was needed.
In truth, it had nothing to do with Reiatsu. That final strike was fueled by Qi—power delivered to him by the frog cub and refined through a month of training. It had become something far more potent, far more alien to Soul Society.
Yamamoto studied the young man standing on the battlefield, pride and affection in his eyes. Even he had failed to detect any Reiatsu during that final moment—but he didn't care. Everyone had their secrets. And Su Li was loyal—to Soul Society, to the Gotei 13. That was enough.
What Yamamoto was curious about… was something else.
"A Li, before we make anything official, I have a question," he said calmly, and the crowd quieted instantly.
Su Li looked up, composed.
"…Who is Awei?"
Faces turned, puzzled. Su Li blinked. Apparently, they thought "Awei's Eighteen Forms" came from some legendary master.
"Ahem. Awei isn't anyone. He's… the name of a frog I raised," Su Li replied without hesitation.
"…So Awei's Eighteen Forms are techniques you created yourself?" Yamamoto's tone carried clear intrigue.
"Yes. I just couldn't think of a name at the time, so I used that."
The crowd erupted. Disbelief, awe, and admiration swept through them. He'd created an original martial technique—after mastering double bone structure and Ultra Instinct. His talent wasn't just rare—it was unnatural.
"Awei's Eighteen Forms? 'One Shot into the Soul' was just the first?" Kyoraku Shunsui scratched his chin, a grin spreading. "Now I'm really curious about the other seventeen, hehe."
Yamamoto chuckled softly and shook his head. This child was full of surprises. Learned double bones in a day. Created a Hakuda style. Yamamoto wondered—did Su Li even have a limit?
"All right. Let's make it official," he said, smiling.
Sasakibe stepped forward.
"Captain qualification test—passed! Su Li, former Vice-Captain of Squad Two, is hereby promoted to Captain of Squad Two, effective immediately!"
A genuine smile spread across Su Li's face. He had worked for this. Fought for it. And now, he stood where he belonged—Captain of Squad Two, Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō.
Thunderous applause burst from the crowd. Cheers rang out across the field. Matsumoto Rangiku clapped wildly, throwing teasing glances at Shiba Isshin, who sulked beside her—his expression screaming lock your heart and seal your emotions.
Kyoraku and Ukitake beamed like proud older brothers. They had watched Su Li rise. And now, they watched him ascend.
After today, no one doubted him. Su Li wasn't just strong—he was a monster. But he was their monster. And that thought filled the entire Gotei with a strange, comforting pride.
An unspoken understanding settled over them all:
Su Li—the youngest, and most terrifying, Captain in Soul Society's history.
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