Perhaps it was as Kensei Muguruma said.
His Bankai was very strong.
But, no matter how strong, you wouldn't know until you fought.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi quietly watched him, and beneath his seemingly ordinary expression, he had already taken Kensei Muguruma seriously.
He just rarely showed these emotions.
Hoo…
A faint wisp of air escaped his lips, mercilessly dissipated by the strong wind.
In his red, moon-like eyes, the scene of Kensei Muguruma stomping the ground, raising his Zanpakuto high, and quickly charging power was clearly reflected.
Kensei Muguruma gathered green spiritual pressure at the tip of his blade, emitting a piercing hum, drawing attention like a storm.
After a brief moment.
Immediately!
The surging torrent of spiritual pressure instantly transformed into a roaring giant dragon, charging forward with an unstoppable momentum!
The giant dragon bared its fangs and claws, as if it wanted to devour everything.
The surrounding air was crushed and pushed away, creating a heart-stopping explosive sound.
The ground instantly exploded and scattered, with dirt and rocks flying like rain!
The immense display of power left even the observing Shinigami wide-eyed and speechless.
Some Shinigami tightly gripped the objects beneath them, barely avoiding being swept away by the shockwave.
However, many Shinigami still felt difficulty breathing, their faces as pale as paper, their bodies swaying precariously, almost fainting.
"So…so terrifying!"
Is this a Captain?
The abyssal spiritual pressure pressed down on their hearts like an inverted tide, making them feel incredibly heavy.
The gap between them was almost like a chasm, and the difficulty of crossing it was despair-inducing.
Some Shinigami imagined themselves in Tsugikuni Yoriichi's position, facing this attack, only to find that they had no strength left to resist.
Captain Kensei is going all out like this…
And Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who is directly in front of him, still isn't releasing his Zanpakuto?
Is this confidence…
Or…
"Sorry." A calm voice rang out against the strong wind, and though it was immediately swallowed by the wind, Kensei Muguruma in front still heard some of it clearly.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi slowly raised his eyes, and with a casual wave of his Zanpakuto.
Whoosh!
It was as if an invisible wall instantly appeared, forming a vacuum that completely annihilated all the spiritual pressure wisps blowing in from all directions.
"Although my actions may have angered you, as a Captain, you should understand that in battle, any weakness is fatal."
"Your Zanpakuto is very strong, no doubt about it."
"But…"
Bang!
A wisp of flame burst forth from the blade, reflecting his red eyes.
Yoriichi raised his Zanpakuto, and as a powerful airflow escaped his lips, he faced the explosive spiritual pressure that was about to make contact with him.
He slowly said:
"The Shinigami's battle is a battle of spiritual pressure, a battle of skill."
"Solely relying on the Zanpakuto's inherent abilities is an overly extreme approach."
[Sun Breathing…]
He exerted force with one arm, and the immense spiritual pressure, with its transformed attribute, was infused into the sword, causing the dark red blade to instantly erupt with fierce flames that incinerated the surrounding air!
[Third Form…]
Boom!
The roaring wind swept in, and the dazzling slash, like the sun, instantly transformed into a magnificent light that illuminated the entire area!
Everyone felt a momentary blur before their eyes.
[Raging Sun Mirror…]
In an instant.
Whoosh!
The torrent of spiritual pressure unleashed by Kensei Muguruma's Bankai seemed to be cut apart by something, instantly breaking into several sections and dissipating with the wind.
The explosive power only lifted the ground a few centimeters before losing all its remaining force.
Hoo…
Like a soft murmur after a curtain call, after the intense wind dissipated, everything in front completely vanished without a trace.
This sudden change left the latter in a daze.
—What…happened?
Kensei Muguruma stared blankly at the blade in his hand, its light already dim.
Looking up again at Tsugikuni Yoriichi not far away, his eyes were filled with confusion and shock.
—My attack, it was cut?
Impossible!
That was clearly "wind"!
All slashes unleashed by the Zanpakuto are "wind"!
Wind cannot be cut!
But why… Kensei Muguruma's eyes were blank, unable to comprehend what was happening before him.
Just then, he suddenly remembered what Tsugikuni Yoriichi had just said…
A difference in skill?
He began to understand the meaning of that statement.
But… understanding is one thing, is such a huge gap reasonable?
Hoo… Taking a deep breath, sensing the tension of the situation, Kensei Muguruma quickly gathered his thoughts.
He unconsciously tightened his grip on the blade, and loudly asked, "Tsugikuni Yoriichi, what kind of technique was that?"
"Your Bankai?"
"Or, Shikai?"
"Neither." Yoriichi replied calmly, "It's merely pure swordsmanship combined with spiritual pressure…"
"There is nothing in the world that cannot be cut; if there is, it is only the slash itself."
"Do you have any other techniques? Bring them all."
He had already witnessed the long-range burst, which was far inferior to Yamamoto Genryusai's Ryujin Jakka.
After Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka's Shikai, the flames he unleashed could engulf an area of five hundred meters in all directions.
The flames possessed life, and no living creature could escape them.
Kensei Muguruma secretly gritted his teeth; such a calm description was too vague.
However, considering the observing Shinigami, he ultimately couldn't continue to question him.
Suppressing his frustration, he clenched both fists, assumed a stance, and growled, "You said it! Even I am afraid of close-quarters combat, so be careful!"
"Hmm." Yoriichi nodded lightly, then adjusted his breathing.
His breathing was steady and long, as if he was merging with the surrounding environment.
This scene, in Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes, made him feel that teaching this disciple was not in vain.
Although his spiritual pressure in his normal state was not as strong as those long-established masters, his swordsmanship…
It was certainly enough to guide these Captains.
Kensei Muguruma instantly vanished from his spot, as swift as lightning.
The blade, like a gauntlet, collided head-on with the Zanpakuto swung by Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion sounded, and after only one second of contact, Tsugikuni Yoriichi felt the difference between Kensei Muguruma's Bankai and his Shikai.
His strength increased, his power increased, and his attack range expanded; if the previous dagger was a kitten's bite, now, it was a fierce tiger's pounce.
The transmitted force caused the blade to tremble slightly, but it was only a tremble.
Yoriichi lightly swung, and Kensei Muguruma's weak point during his attack was directly hit.
The tip of the blade tapped his shoulder, which was protected by iron armor, making a crisp sound. The difference in spiritual pressure caused his defense to be instantly breached.
And then…
Bang!
Kensei Muguruma felt as if he had been struck by a dinosaur; the pain of the blade piercing through flesh and blood traveled from his shoulder throughout his body, his feet uncontrollably left the ground, and he was sent flying horizontally.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
In the air, the scenery on both sides and the undisguised expressions of shock in the eyes of some Shinigami came into view, and a strange emotion made him feel irritable.
He gritted his teeth, barely adjusted his landing posture, and landed without looking too bad.
But even so, he rolled a few times before slowly getting up.
He took a few deep breaths and regained his composure.
He looked down at the damaged mark on his shoulder and the bit of blood flowing from the wound.
Recalling the scene from just now.
Although he had expected it.
Yet…
It was still hard to believe.
—I… was KO'd by one strike again?