James stood still for a second, then raised his hand. Shadows burst from the ground around him like black geysers. "All units—attack!" he commanded coldly.
Dozens of shadows roared forward toward Renji.
Renji smirked. "So, the battle begins. This will be over quickly."
The shadows lunged—but Renji didn't flinch. With raw, effortless speed and brutal precision, he punched, kicked, and tossed the shadows like ragdolls. His body blurred between them, and disintegrating shadows before they even touched him.
Sophia watched in stunned silence. "The Kagami clan... they were wiped out years ago. Said to have wielded one of the most powerful Celestial magics. If this man carries their blood and power... we're in serious trouble."
She struck, sending a bolt of lightning straight at Renji—but he leaned to the side with inhuman reflexes. The bolt scorched the ground behind him.
Renji muttered, "Relying too much on magic makes you weak."
James gritted his teeth and summoned stronger shadows. Sophia gathered electricity in her palm, crackling with energy.
Renji dashed forward, weaving through Sophia's lightning strikes. He twisted, ducked, and leapt—each motion fluid, deadly. Lightning crashed around him, shadows surged forward, but he tore through them, using one to block a bolt.
Sophia's attacks grew erratic. Frustration twisted her face. James backed up, summoning eight elite shadow guards in desperation.
Renji faced them alone. Calm. Cold.
The clash exploded—punches, kicks, and counterattacks flew in a blur. Renji fought like a storm. Shadows were crushed, flung away, evaporated on impact. Each of Renji's movements shattered the battlefield's air like thunder.
Sophia growled, "He's not even using magic... How is he this strong?!"
Enraged, she formed a massive lightning bolt and hurled it.
Renji raised his hand.
The lightning twisted, bent, and spiraled into his palm—absorbed. Crackling energy wrapped around his arms as he redirected it and hurled it back.
Sophia gasped and blocked the bolt, but the explosion lit up the field. Smoke filled the air.
"He really has the Kagami bloodline's power," she whispered, fear in her eyes.
James summoned a towering shadow soldier, its body reinforced with dark armor. Renji stepped through the smoke like a phantom.
The giant charged. Renji clashed with it, fists colliding . Their speed was blinding—every strike shattered air. A brutal right hook landed on the shadow's face, sending it staggering.
Sophia yelled, "Try handling this, Kagami freak!"
A gigantic lightning strike surged down.
James shouted, "Fall back!" The shadow soldier leapt away.
The lightning hit.
A blinding flash.
Silence.
Sophia smirked—but then her smile vanished.
Renji stood—untouched—electricity crawling across his body like living armor. His eyes glowed faintly.
James froze. "H-He's still... standing?"
Renji moved. In a blink, he was in front of the shadow soldier. His fist, now glowing with electric energy, slammed into the creature's chest. A pulse of thunder erupted. The soldier exploded into black mist.
James stumbled back, trembling.
"I can't… I can't summon more… I can't…"
Renji grabbed James by the head.
Electricity surged from his palms—brutal, unforgiving.
James screamed. His body convulsed as the electricity ravaged him. Then silence. He collapsed, smoking.
Renji didn't stop.
He turned to Sophia.
"No… stay away!" she screamed, flinging dozens of lightning bolts. Renji walked through them, absorbing them with his bare hands.
With the gathered energy, he forged a gleaming electric blade.
Sophia stumbled back, eyes wide. Renji was on her in an instant.
Her scream echoed—then silence.
Blood splashed. Her head hit the ground.
Renji stood still, face blank. A streak of blood slid down his cheek.
Then, Ren entered the scene, staring at the carnage.
He looked Renji in the eyes.
"...Are you one of the commanders?"