Yamamoto's pupils contracted sharply.
As a grandmaster of Kido, he understood better than anyone what this meant.
A single Itto Kaso had enough power to completely erase several city blocks from the Soul Society, leaving not even the foundations behind.
Three hundred released simultaneously… that was already a scale beyond 'destruction'.
"Enough," Yamamoto's voice was like ice.
His cane thudded heavily. His aged hands tore through the void.
Space ripped open like cloth, revealing a massive, black, irregular opening.
"Your battle would level the entire Seireitei," Yamamoto looked at the two. "Fight inside the Garganta. There, you can exert yourselves to your heart's content."
Many were inwardly startled. Gargantas could only be opened by Hollows. Shinigami generally needed special devices to open them. They never expected the Captain-Commander could do such a thing with his own power.
Azashiro didn't hesitate. All three hundred clones simultaneously leaped into the Garganta. Setsuna followed closely behind.
Inside the Garganta was a chaotic space of imaginary numbers. There was no concept of up, down, left, or right… only endless darkness and drifting Reishi Currents.
Here, even the most powerful attacks wouldn't affect the Soul Society.
Three hundred black flame giant blades formed within the Garganta, each stretching a hundred meters.
Anything struck would be instantly incinerated to ash, not even spirit particles remaining.
Three hundred giant blades descended simultaneously.
In that instant, even the Garganta's inherently unstable spatial structure began distorting, collapsing.
Reishi Currents evaporated. Nothingness was cleaved. Darkness was illuminated and devoured by flames, as if the entire world would end under this single strike.
Even the Captains cautiously observing from the Garganta's edge couldn't help but feel appalled.
In terms of pure destructive power, even Kuruyashiki, whose Bankai was forbidden near the Seireitei, probably fell short of the current Azashiro. This level of might perhaps ranked only below Yamamoto.
Facing this world-destroying assault, Setsuna simply sighed softly.
"After all, I'm not a true mage," He flexed his wrist. "The Kido exchange earlier was already my limit."
"So," Setsuna's body sank slightly, assuming a basic boxing stance. "I'm going to start fighting seriously."
[Ten Thousand Times Sonic Punch!]
Though not reaching the speeds from the Saint Seiya World yet, it was already one percent of Lightspeed.
Within one second, Setsuna threw millions of punches.
Each punch was the simplest straight punch… no technique, no variation, no Kido enhancement. But each punch carried the accumulated kinetic energy of ten thousand times the speed of sound.
A single strike's power was inferior to Hado #1. But when 3.4 million such attacks stacked in an instant, their destructive force already surpassed Azashiro's comprehension.
A continuous series of explosions erupted within the Garganta.
Every punch hitting an Itto Kaso flame giant blade triggered a spirit particle annihilation reaction.
Not neutralized, not shattered, but 'eroded'… like grinding steel into powder with sandpaper, worn down into Reishi Dust by millions upon millions of relentless, consecutive blows.
Blood sprayed from Azashiro's entire body. His body flew backward like a broken kite, passing through the Garganta's exit, crashing heavily into the center of the 11th Division's plaza.
He lay in the crater he made, a massive hole caved into his chest. Blood gushed out, soaking the rubble beneath him.
"So brutal!" The 11th Division's members felt a pang of sympathy. Though they disliked Azashiro, he had already become the official Kenpachi, the rightful Captain of the 11th Division.
Seeing their Captain beaten to such a state naturally left them with complex, indescribable feelings.
The Garganta slowly closed, and Setsuna walked out.
Looking at the fallen Azashiro, Setsuna couldn't help but marvel at the power of his Zanpakuto. Physically, he was even weaker than an ordinary Shinigami. Yet because of his fusion with the Seireitei, he could distribute the injuries he sustained. His current injuries only looked severe.
However, he seemed to have lost all vitality. His eyes were vacant. "I truly cannot take revenge. Kill me."
Setsuna wasn't surprised by Azashiro's reaction.
He possessed immense power but lacked a strong spirit.
In the original work, during his battle with Zaraki, Zaraki expressed confusion, asking Azashiro why he thought himself weak.
And Azashiro admitted he was merely a small dog barking loudly to conceal his own cowardice. Moreover, the target of his furious barks was actually himself.
"If you're this cowardly," Setsuna's voice was calm, almost cold. "Then Kuruyashiki Kenpachi died for nothing."
Azashiro's eyelashes trembled.
"And your sister," Setsuna continued. "Also died for nothing."
Azashiro murmured, "Nee-san..."
Setsuna looked at him, his tone turning commanding. "Since I defeated you, you're now my subordinate. Step aside. Another challenger is coming."
Those watching couldn't help but inwardly criticize: 'Azashiro Soya was severely wounded, near death. How could he possibly 'step aside' on his own? Wasn't this new Kenpachi too cold-hearted?'
But the next moment, they saw Azashiro stand up as if nothing was wrong, blood still spraying from him.
Seeing this, everyone was speechless.
'This guy was indeed a monster too, able to stand with such severe injuries.'
Just then, a wild, unrestrained laugh came from afar.
"Hahahaha! Seems I've arrived just in time!"
Everyone turned to look. A man with a spiky hair like a sea urchin strode in.
His gaze fixed directly on Setsuna. "We agreed to fight after you graduated. I originally planned to defeat you, then challenge Kuruyashiki Kenpachi. Never expected he'd die. But this way, defeating you accomplishes both goals simultaneously."
His Reiatsu began climbing. Not the precisely controlled Reiatsu of Azashiro, but a pure, savage, primordial beast-like oppressive force.
Setsuna nodded. "The Soul Society isn't suitable for our fight. Let's go to Hueco Mundo."
He casually swiped his right hand through the void, as easily as tearing paper.
The recently closed Garganta tore open again.
Inside emanated the unique, unsettling Reishi Fluctuations of Hueco Mundo.
The 11th Division's members' eyes widened.
"Captain Setsuna can also open Gargantas?"
"How reliable is Shin'o Academy's textbook, really?"
A member couldn't help but complained. The textbook clearly stated: [Hollows can tear open Gargantas, but Shinigami cannot open them on their own… they must rely on devices.]
Yet Yamamoto could open them. And the new 11th Division's Captain could open them. Was this textbook lying to them?
"Let's go," Setsuna ignored the members' shock, stepping into the Garganta first.
Zaraki laughed wildly, following closely. "Fighting in Hueco Mundo, no one will interfere now."
The Captains looked at each other, then followed one after another.
They also wanted to know: between these two monsters among monsters, who would be the final Kenpachi.