[At this moment, Aizen truly wanted to avenge Captain-Commander Yamamoto!]
[Aizen Sosuke: As long as I take action, there's definitely a chance to deal fatal damage to this Yhwach.]
[Aizen Sosuke: The next battle will surely involve me soon. At that time, you'll be able to witness the final result!]
Compared to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Aizen naturally held deep disdain for Yhwach's methods.
Ichigo's Guilt and Remorse
[Meanwhile, Kurosaki Ichigo was grieving while feeling tremendous guilt.]
[He gripped the corners of his clothes tightly and lowered his head, not wanting those around him to see his expression.]
[Kurosaki Ichigo: Damn it! This is my fault—I'm always one step too late! If I had arrived at this place earlier, I could have fought alongside Captain-Commander Yamamoto, and he wouldn't have been given the opportunity to be secretly manipulated. If only I could have reached Soul Society sooner... why am I always just one step behind?]
[Hitsugaya Toshiro: Kurosaki Ichigo, we're already incredibly grateful that you came to Soul Society to help us. There's no need to blame yourself so much.]
[Matsumoto Rangiku: The people who should be blaming themselves are us in Soul Society—we're the ones who always need your help.]
[Orihime Inoue: But I believe in the future, you'll definitely have the opportunity to fight alongside our Captain-Commander Yamamoto.]
[Kuchiki Rukia: Exactly! At that time, let him understand that the combined power of the new generation and an experienced captain is absolutely impossible for him to resist.]
[Shiba Isshin: Hey, and if I were there, I could also provide crucial combat support! I will never again watch this detestable Yhwach harm the Shinigami of our Soul Society.]
[Shihouin Yoruichi: That's right! It's absolutely intolerable for him to overcome us through such underhanded means.]
[The Shinigami of the Gotei 13 united in their condemnation of Yhwach.]
[Gerard Valkyrie: Hehe, what's underhanded about it? Your Captain-Commander Yamamoto isn't worthy of our Majesty's serious attention, so sending just one subordinate was sufficient.]
[Jugram Haschwalth: Even one subordinate was enough to occupy you completely. After spending so much time fighting for so long, you still couldn't see through the deception that this was our comrade—truly a manifestation of your stupidity.]
[Lille Barro: Even if we didn't use this method, there are other ways to target you.]
[Pernida Parnkgjas: Even if our Majesty employed conventional combat methods, he could easily defeat you. But there's no need for such effort.]
[Gerard Valkyrie: The only people who can make our Majesty serious are individuals like Kurosaki Ichigo and Aizen. An old man like that isn't worthy at all.]
[At this moment, both sides desperately cheered for their respective camps, determined to damage the opposing side's morale regardless of the truth.]
[In the projection, Yhwach revealed to Captain-Commander Yamamoto what he had been doing previously.]
[Yhwach: "I went below to seek out Aizen. However, he rejected my offer, so I came here to deal with you instead."]
[He spoke with cold mockery.]
[Yhwach: "Tell me—when you fought that impostor just now, you didn't exhaust all your strength, did you? How much power do you still possess?"]
[Captain-Commander Yamamoto was furious, attempting to continue using his Bankai to eliminate this true Yhwach once and for all.]
[But just as he was about to activate his technique, he discovered the power within his body was rapidly disappearing.]
What?!
[He witnessed his own Bankai being absorbed by the Yhwach before him.]
This truly enraged him beyond measure.
How is this possible? Can my Bankai technique also be absorbed by him? This should be impossible!
[Yhwach mocked coldly.]
[Yhwach: "Your Bankai is not impossible to steal. It's simply that this technique of yours is too powerful—only I am qualified to master it. Other Quincy aren't worthy of wielding such power."]
[His tone was deliberately cutting.]
[Yhwach: "Don't take yourself too seriously."]
What he was mocking was Captain-Commander Yamamoto's earlier statement that their Bankai hadn't been witnessed by the Quincy, making it impossible to absorb.
[With Yhwach now in complete control, he could devastatingly attack Captain-Commander Yamamoto's faith, destroying him in every aspect—body, mind, and spirit.]
[Yhwach: "Hehe, that's precisely why I instructed him not to engage you seriously before—there was no need to fight until I returned."]
[His laughter was cruel and anticipatory.]
[Yhwach: "Hahaha, what do you think I should do next? If I use the power of your Bankai to awaken the bones of your subordinates... that would be quite a pleasant spectacle, wouldn't it?"]
[The expression on his face was utterly detestable as he contemplated this cruel irony.]
[Upon hearing Yhwach's words, every Shinigami in Soul Society erupted with fury, beginning to curse vehemently:]
[Hitsugaya Toshiro: How is this possible?! He can't absorb our Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Bankai! Our Captain-Commander is so powerful—how could he be absorbed by this bastard?]
[Matsumoto Rangiku: This is absolutely detestable! It must be because Yhwach used that fake earlier to deceive our Captain-Commander's techniques, giving him the relevant information.]
[Soi Fon: Everything was part of his calculation! He doesn't dare face our Captain-Commander head-on, so he can only resort to such insidious methods.]
[Zaraki Kenpachi: Hmph! I've never seen anyone as shameless as him! If our Captain-Commander could fight him with full strength, he definitely wouldn't be able to dodge—he'd be cut down by our Captain-Commander in a single strike.]
[Kyoraku Shunsui: A thousand years ago, he fled like a coward, and even now when making his comeback, he only dares use methods that villains employ. This truly makes us look down on him.]
[Ukitake Jushiro: But as long as your scheme is exposed, we'll have countermeasures. We won't allow you to use such strategies again.]
[Kyoraku Shunsui: Next time, we must let you witness the true strength of our Captain-Commander and make you regret opposing Soul Society.]
The Shinigami of Soul Society were indeed extremely angry, denouncing Yhwach both to damage the enemy's morale—letting the world know Yhwach was a sneaky villain who only used underhanded tactics—and to find justification for their Captain-Commander's failure. Otherwise, they would truly be unable to accept the outcome.
[The Wandenreich members responded with equal vehemence:]
[Gerard Valkyrie: Hehe, stop making excuses for yourselves! Even if our Majesty didn't use such methods, he could easily seize your Captain-Commander's Bankai.]
[Lille Barro: Isn't it just some flames? Do you really think that could harm our Majesty? His Majesty could block it casually—as long as he blocks your attack and then absorbs it, it's simply effortless.]
[Jugram Haschwalth: Our Majesty is invincible. Even relying purely on raw power, you cannot defeat him.]
[Pernida Parnkgjas: Not to mention the so-called Gotei 13—even Squad Zero couldn't cause us significant damage.]
[Askin Nakk Le Vaar: Sooner or later, you'll discover how powerful our Majesty truly is. Even if every Shinigami in your entire Soul Society attacked together, it would be impossible to defeat us. There's absolutely no doubt about it.]
The Final Execution
[The footage continued its live broadcast.]
WHOOOM!
[At this moment, Yhwach quickly summoned a new Quincy sword of destruction.]
[He spoke casually to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.]
[Yhwach: "Farewell, Yamamoto Shigekuni!"]
[Subsequently, he executed the most ordinary horizontal slash.]
SHING!
[The blade cut Captain-Commander Yamamoto cleanly in two.]
[Captain-Commander Yamamoto seemed to understand that having his Bankai stolen meant he was definitely no match for Yhwach... So to maintain his dignity, there was no point in further resistance.]
Besides, he was indeed exhausted... and he didn't want to witness his subordinates being summoned by Yhwach using his stolen Bankai. That would enrage him beyond measure.
[His upper body separated at the wound, the torso falling directly to the ground while his lower body remained standing upright.]
This was the final proud defiance of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni—even in death, he would die standing! Not even Yhwach could make him fall completely to the ground.
[Yhwach simply smiled coldly and spoke with indifference:]
[Yhwach: "Even the leader of the Shinigami meets such a miserable end. How truly pathetic."]
[He turned to leave.]
[Yhwach: "Let's go, Haschwalth..."]
The Captain-Commander's Final Defiance
[But as Yhwach prepared to depart, he discovered that Captain-Commander Yamamoto's right hand was still grasping the corner of his robe, unwilling to release its grip.]
It seemed that even in death, Captain-Commander Yamamoto could not forget his hatred for Yhwach. He still remembered his mission to protect Soul Society and could never forget it—his grudge was truly difficult to dissipate.
[Yhwach sneered again.]
[Yhwach: "Hehe, even in death, you won't let me leave this place? How tedious."]
[He glanced down at Captain-Commander Yamamoto's severed hand with cruel interest.]
[Yhwach: "You probably don't understand why I didn't classify you as a Special War Power, do you?"]
[His tone became more mocking.]
[Yhwach: "Why didn't you treat your left arm? If you had let that human woman heal it, it should have been cured completely. But why didn't you do so?"]
[His smile grew more vicious.]
[Yhwach: "I know! How ridiculous—you avoided using human power, refusing to let humans help you! Your pride prevented you from accepting aid from those you consider beneath you!"]
[The final insult echoed across the devastated battlefield as the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years lay broken, his era truly ended.]
The Chat Group's Devastation
The reactions were immediate and overwhelming:
[Hitsugaya Toshiro: Captain-Commander... no... this can't be real...]
[Ukitake Jushiro: The cornerstone of Soul Society... how can this be happening?]
[Kyoraku Shunsui: Old man... you deserved so much better than this...]
[[Ichigo Kurosaki]: DAMN IT! That bastard! I swear I'll make him pay for this!]
[Aizen Sosuke: Your cruelty knows no bounds, Yhwach. But this transgression will not go unanswered.]
[Yhwach: Witness the fate of all who oppose me. Your precious Captain-Commander was merely the first to fall.]
[The death of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni marked the end of an era and the beginning of Soul Society's darkest hour.]