The Challenge Begins  

Marenoshin Ōmaeda was the family head of the Ōmaeda, a lower noble clan.

At the inception of Soul Society, the Ōmaeda were merely an average family. However, tremendous changes occurred for the Ōmaeda after Marenoshin Ōmaeda's birth.

Firstly, Marenoshin naturally possessed outstanding aptitude, graduating top of his class from the Spiritual Arts Academy.

Secondly, upon joining the Second Division, Marenoshin Ōmaeda immediately leveraged the full might of his clan in pledging loyalty towards the Shihōin. The Ōmaeda offered their centuries of established business channels in providing immense aid for the Shihōin, becoming retainers as the Shihōin clan leader Chika Shihōin elevated the Ōmaeda into lower nobility.

Thirdly, Marenoshin Ōmaeda personal strength grew swiftly. In less than a century, he had already become an indispensable right hand man for Chika Shihōin as Second Division's Vice-Captain.

After Chika's resignation, Marenoshin Ōmaeda continued serving Yoruichi Shihōin loyally.

Even when his childhood friend Kisuke Urahara surpassed Marenoshin Ōmaeda in strength, Yoruichi Shihōin didn't replace him from the vice-captain seat. Of course, Kisuke Urahara's own reluctance to accept the position also factored into this arrangement.

However, occupying the vice-captain office for nearly two hundred years didn't cause Marenoshin Ōmaeda to become arrogant whatsoever. On the contrary, this period made him utterly cognizant of his limits.

Until now, Marenoshin Ōmaeda didn't have the faintest clues on manifesting his Zanpakutō's spirit. Furthermore, his Reiatsu ceased growing a century ago. Hopes for attaining Bankai were zilch. Estimated another few decades and retirement would be forthcoming. Before then, Marenoshin Ōmaeda still hoped to pave the path ahead for his son.

This brat called Ailin wasn't very old, supposedly not even forty yet, but his notoriety was already substantial enough to be considered a worthy investment target. After discovering Ailin's intentions to challenge him, Marenoshin Ōmaeda esteem rose even higher instead.

Other than an utter fool, anyone daring enough to contend for the vice-captain seat must have at minimum already attained their Zanpakutō's initial release, Shikai. Moreover, their manifested sword's capabilities would need to be exceptionally powerful too.

If one's Zanpakutō was weak after releasing, even winning a seated officer position would be difficult.

Initially, Marenoshin Ōmaeda harbored thoughts of going easy on Ailin to grant the latter a dignified defeat. But after meeting Ailin face to face, Ōmaeda realized even preserving his own prestige would be hard if he didn't utilize everything at his disposal.

After centuries as a Shinigami, while Marenoshin personal growth stagnated, his discernment remained sharp as ever.

From Ailin, he vaguely sensed traces reminiscent of the bearings exhibited by Lord Chika, Lady Yoruichi, and even that damnable Third Seat Kisuke Urahara!

Those three individuals...

Good heavens! Could this Ailin brat be of similar ilk?!

Entertaining such notions nearly caused Marenoshin's footsteps to falter. Nonetheless, as someone long accustomed to the grand stage, he swiftly stabilized his state of mind.

Halting ten meters away from Ailin, Marenoshin turned around with both arms crossed and silently awaited Captain Yoruichi Shihōin's arrival alongside Ailin.

Sensing Vice-Captain Ōmaeda's appearance, the other spectators promptly quieted down while keeping their eyes glued towards both parties.

They didn't need to wait long. Shortly after a breeze blew past, Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara manifested amidst Ailin and Marenoshin before vanishing again, their forms flickering as they relocated themselves outside the premises, opening up space for the upcoming confrontation.

"Lady Yoruichi."

"Lady Yoruichi."

Including Ailin, everyone present bowed respectfully at Yoruichi Shihōin.

"Hahaha, it appears we didn't arrive late," commented Yoruichi amusedly after laughing loudly with hands akimbo. Her expression quickly turned grave as she glanced over Ailin and Marenoshin.

"Ailin, I ask again for confirmation from both parties. Do you still wish to proceed with the challenge?"

"Lady Yoruichi, I choose to contend."

"Very well. Good luck to you then."

"I hereby declare this duel for Second Division's Vice-Captain seat between squad member Ailin and current Vice-Captain Marenoshin Ōmaeda officially underway!"

"Whoosh!"

After finishing her proclamation, Yoruichi and Urahara's figures flickered once more as they withdrew beyond the training grounds' perimeter, opening up space for Ailin and Marenoshin's confrontation.

"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, please guide me!" As the challenger, Ailin took the initiative by unsheathing his Zanpakutō first.

"Oh?" At the sight of Ailin's manifested blade, Marenoshin's countenance grew even more grave without the slightest shred of negligence. His sword left its scabbard as well in a flash.

All Zanpakutō generally resembled each other in sealed state regardless of whatever fantastical powers they later gained upon release. Yet astonishingly, the blade in Ailin's hand instead exuded an air of "archaism" and "damage".

Its tattered form and serrated edges... If not for the seriousness of this battle, everyone present would likely have mocked Ailin's sorry excuse for a Zanpakutō!

But in such a confrontational context, none of the watching Second Division members dared belittle Ailin. His blade's dilapidated appearance hinted at some sort of special ability instead.

"Come!"

"Raaah!" Marenoshin Ōmaeda bellowed fiercely as towering Reiatsu erupted from his body, shrouding him in flickers of white light.

"Huh?"

"How strange. Vice-Captain Ōmaeda is actually taking this so cautiously right from the start?"

"He's utilizing full power from the get go already?"

Witnessing Marenoshin Ōmaeda's state astonished all observers. Having one's Reiatsu leak externally represented only the lack of released Zanpakutō. Clearly, Marenoshin was prepared to stake everything on this battle.

"Boom!"

Matching Marenoshin Ōmaeda, Ailin unleashed his Reiatsu as well.

"This..."

"Unbelievable... Ailin's Reiatsu is actually evenly matched with Vice-Captain Ōmaeda's..."

Ailin's eruption similarly surpassed everyone's predictions. After Ailin's rising reputation, all were aware that he had only been in Second Division for thirty years.

Attaining the sixth seat officer's level of Reiatsu within a mere half century - Ailin's talents were genuinely freakish.

"Whoosh!"

In the spectators' eyes, Ailin and Marenoshin's silhouettes vanished in the next instant.

Boom!

Clang!

Clang Clang!

Clang!

Rumbling rang out as sparks scattered while clear sounds of weapons clashing finally entered their ears.

"Such speed!" Someone involuntarily cried out.

While perhaps lagging behind other areas, any Shinigami's Shunpo capability from Second Division was guaranteed to meet stringent benchmarks. Yet astoundingly, many couldn't even glimpse Ailin and Marenoshin afterimages in this intense melee.

Clearly, both Ailin and Vice-Captain Marenoshin Ōmaeda's Shunpo far exceeded everyone present.

These observers could only depend on the erupting sparks and intersecting weapons to ascertain Ailin and Marenoshin's positioning.

However, whenever their sight landed towards the scattering embers' origins, the dueling pair had invariably shifted elsewhere instead.