Esteban Confronts the Original Kenpachi

Meanwhile, on the other side, a bit earlier, as their battle raged on, Esteban couldn't land a single blow on Unahana. Esteban's Cero blasts, powerful as they were, simply couldn't touch Unohana. Every attempt was either elegantly dodged or gracefully deflected by the calm and composed Shinigami.

Growing frustrated, Esteban decided to switch tactics. Using his superior speed granted by Sonido, he closed the distance between them, hoping to press her in close-quarters combat which was a big mistake he realized. Unohana didn't hesitate to respond in kind, meeting his speed with her own using Shunpo, the Shinigami's equivalent high-speed movement technique.

They danced around each other, a dangerous ballet of blades and raw power. Unohana's sheer mastery of the sword was like nothing he had ever encountered. Each movement was measured, and each strike was precise. It wasn't long before the Hierro, the spiritual iron that fortified Esteban's skin, started to falter under Unohana's relentless onslaught.

The reason was clear: Unohana's knowledge and mastery of Zanjutsu were second to none. So vast were her skills that she had earned the title of "Yachiru," denoting the 8000 sword styles she had mastered. Each technique was a culmination of her centuries of battle experience and a testament to her expertise.

Esteban was pushed back, a fresh wound opening every time Unohana's blade found its mark. She was a force of nature, as serene as she was deadly, and the fight soon took on a new rhythm. An involuntary smile crept onto Unohana's face,

"What happened to your energy from before? You may have experienced some initial luck in your Hollow evolution, boy, but you can't surpass skill honed by centuries. You are a disappointing opponent. For me to come out of my shell after so many centuries just for this level of ordinary Arrancar?",

Unohana's eyes held an unwavering focus, cold and analytical. The very same eyes that once held warmth and empathy now radiated an icy determination. They were the eyes of a predator, constantly assessing, always calculating.

Each movement, each stance, each attack, she analyzed with ruthless efficiency, identifying patterns, predicting outcomes, and adjusting strategies. There was a ruthlessness there, an unyielding resolve that made her all the more fearsome.

The tilt of her lips held an edge of cruelty. Once a healer, now a dealer of death. A transformation so drastic, it sent chills down the spines of those who knew her. A haunting testament to what the title of Kenpachi could do to a person.

Beneath the calm demeanor, a monster lay dormant. Each slash of her blade was an elegy to the enemies she had faced, each battle a symphony of bloodshed she composed with unparalleled skill.

Esteban could feel the sweat trickling down his brow, the cool drops a stark contrast to the inferno blazing within him. His chest heaved, and each breath was drawn with effort as if the very air had turned heavy, intent on smothering him.

His muscles ached, his bones thrumming with an echo of pain that sang through his veins. It was as though he was trying to hold back a tsunami with a mere shield. The weight of her attacks was relentless, battering against his defenses like a storm against a cliffside.

But it was not just the physical strain. It was the creeping shadow of uncertainty, a pressure that was slowly but surely creeping into his mind. He could feel it, the lingering doubt that gnawed at his confidence, whispered in his ear that he was outmatched, outclassed, outmaneuvered.

It felt like he was fighting against the tides themselves, each wave of her attacks more powerful, more precise than the last. The sheer skill and power that Unohana displayed were daunting. It was like trying to reach the moon when every step forward felt like a step back.

He could feel it, the exhaustion seeping into his limbs, the strain in his muscles growing ever more pronounced. But more than that, he could feel the pressure of Unohana's presence. It was an aura of overwhelming might, a tidal wave of power that threatened to crush him under its weight.

The harder he fought, the stronger she seemed to become. Every parry, every dodge, every counter-attack only seemed to stoke the fires of her strength, fueling an unstoppable force that threatened to consume him whole.

And yet, he stood. Despite the weariness that threatened to buckle his knees, despite the pain that throbbed in his limbs, despite the overwhelming sense of dread that gnawed at his resolve, he stood. There was no surrender in his eyes, no capitulation in his stance.

'Damn...', Esteban cursed inwardly, 'She's not just an old woman, she's a match for me. My physique, something I've always taken pride in can't even compete with her level of mastery.'

His gaze fell on Unohana, her aura terrifying, 'Her Reiatsu is astonishing, though mine is greater. Still, the manner in which she utilizes it is superior to mine... She is currently probably only below only Aizen and Yamamoto of all the Soul Society Captains currently.'

It started making sense to him, 'No wonder she's so formidable...', He conceded while remembering some information from the original series of his previous life, 'She truly lives up to the reputation of the original Gotei 13, the fabled strongest lineup of all time...', His mind flitted to the title she held, 'The First Kenpachi, the strongest warrior of her era, the strongest era...',

'She's a survivor of the era that birthed Yamamoto...', He recalled, 'She stood alongside him in his band of outlaws, carving a name for herself even before the Gotei 13 was formed and before the first Zanpakuto was even created...", The gravity of the thought made him shiver.

As Esteban crossed swords with the ferocious Unohana, his sharp instincts were drawn to a distant fluctuation of power. His senses had picked up on the eruption of Ukitake's Bankai, its force stirring the horizon, violently thrusting Aura into the unfathomable depths of the sea.

Understanding dawned upon him, painting a clear picture of the urgency of their situation. Their struggle was intensifying, the clock was ticking, and he needed to expedite his strategies.

In the face of Unohana's terrifying prowess, Esteban was forced to admit a bitter truth. In a straight battle of brute strength and skill, he was outclassed. He would have to rely on his unique arsenal of hax abilities, the wildcard that could potentially give him the upper hand.

Inside his head, strategies and tactics clashed, molding into a precarious gambit. A plan hatched from desperation that, if executed correctly, could catch her off guard, tipping the scales towards his victory. The window to put it into motion was narrowing down, and he knew he must seize the opportunity before it shut completely.