"I accept your challenge," Sui-Feng declared coldly. "Defeat me, and the position of Second Division Captain is yours."
The statement sent a shockwave through the crowd.
"No way! Did Captain Sui-Feng just accept the challenge?!"
"The graduation exam turned into a captaincy battle?! This is insane!"
"Fresh graduate challenging a current captain?! Is this even real?! Su Li's completely mad!"
"He's got the strength to back it up! One kick took out a vice-captain—would you try that?"
"I'd say he's already at vice-captain level… maybe even captain-level!"
"When did the academy produce such a monster?! Why haven't we heard of him before?!"
Excited chatter rippled through the student stands. Up in the elevated seats, Gotei 13 officers were equally stirred.
"Did anyone even see what that kid did just now?!"
"No! It was too fast—Omaeda was down before I could blink!"
"There wasn't even a hint of Reiatsu before the strike. He felt like a civilian…"
"But his kick destroyed Omaeda's Zanpakutō like it was glass!"
Expressions across the Gotei were grim and fascinated.
"This kid's a perfect fit for the Eleventh Division," Ikkaku muttered, eyes gleaming.
"Tsk. Kenpachi has to hear about this," Yumichika said with a smile, pulling out his communicator.
All eyes turned toward Su Li, curiosity turning into desire. He was too valuable to ignore. The captains and lieutenants began quietly plotting how to recruit him.
The sudden shift in atmosphere didn't escape Sui-Feng. Her face tightened.
She knew what these people were thinking.
But no one would interfere. Not until she finished what she'd started.
"Hey, boy. I accepted your challenge. Cat got your tongue?"
"Or are you just all talk? A coward who can't back up his mouth?"
She stood with her arms crossed, sneering coldly. Su Li only smiled.
"Let's begin, Captain Sui-Feng."
Her eyes lit up. The fire of combat sparked to life.
"Good. I like fighters with a spine."
The entire arena went silent. No one expected an actual fight.
"Your specialties are Hakuda and Shunpo, right? Same here."
"If you're leaving your Zanpakutō out of this, then so will I. Fair's fair."
"Let's see the strength of this so-called perfect-score genius."
Sui-Feng assumed her stance, her tone razor-sharp.
"Oh, and one more thing."
A smirk curled on her lips.
"Crushing Omaeda with one hit means nothing. His strength is the lowest of all vice-captains."
"Right now, you're facing a real captain."
"If you get lucky, you'll still lose badly. I won't be pulling punches."
"Bring everything you've got."
Su Li remained calm. "Thanks for the warning."
There was a chill in Sui-Feng's heart. His composure was eerie.
Then, without warning—she vanished.
Shunpo.
She reappeared directly in front of Su Li, faster than a heartbeat.
No signal. No buildup. Just raw speed.
She struck with brutal precision. The air trembled with the force behind her punch.
Everyone gasped.
In that moment, they could already see the boy crumpling like paper and flying across the ring.
Some even turned away.
But then—
Her fist hit nothing but air.
Sui-Feng's eyes widened.
She stared at the empty space ahead of her, stunned.
Then her gaze snapped behind her—Su Li stood there, perfectly composed.
Sui-Feng's mind raced.
My Shunpo is the fastest among active captains… but he outsped me?!
She twisted mid-air, lashing out in a powerful strike toward his back.
Again—he vanished.
She hit air.
He reappeared five meters away, smiling faintly.
Sui-Feng's anger flared.
She vanished again, faster this time.
Su Li vanished once more.
In a blur, their silhouettes flickered across the stage.
In less than ten seconds, they'd used Shunpo hundreds of times.
The audience was overwhelmed.
They couldn't even follow the movement anymore. The two figures were indistinguishable—just flickering shadows crossing paths like lightning bolts.
Only Sui-Feng's voice pierced the chaos.
"Damn it! Just running?!"
"Fight me head-on if you dare!"
She was burning with frustration.
Despite pouring every ounce of her Shunpo mastery into the chase, she couldn't even touch his sleeve.
Only one person ever made me feel this powerless…
Her thoughts drifted to the woman she once revered.
Yoruichi-sama… Has his Shunpo reached her level?
The crowd was just as stunned.
"Holy—Captain Sui-Feng can't even keep up!"
"This is what a perfect Shunpo score looks like?!"
"Wait—is he toying with her?! Look at her face—she's losing it!"
Su Li stopped.
Just like that, the chase ended.
Sui-Feng nearly stumbled into him and had to catch herself.
She glared at him, breath heaving. Then noticed his lips moving.
"Speed and reflexes are syncing up nicely. Now for power…"
He was analyzing himself.
Sui-Feng didn't catch it all, but his calm irritated her even more.
Why did he stop?
Then, she saw him raise his fist.
Her heart raced.
Finally, a direct fight!
She grinned and lifted her own fist. This was what she'd wanted.
Then—
Boom.
A dull, clean impact.
Su Li's fist drove straight into her chest.
She hadn't even registered the motion before pain exploded through her body.
Pfft—
Blood burst from her lips.
Her body flew like a ragdoll across the arena.
She landed outside the ring, unconscious before she hit the ground.