At the edge of this chaotic battlefield, the order of the Soul Society was undergoing an unprecedented trampling.
Those Captains of the Death Gods, once insufferably arrogant in their high positions, were now stunned to discover that their Spiritual Pressure appeared utterly ineffective before these people calling themselves Witches.
Boom—!!!
A loud explosion broke the dead silence within the ruins. It was the wild Spiritual Pressure belonging to the Captain of the 11th Division, Zaraki Kenpachi, going berserk.
Laughing maniacally, his tattered and chipped Zanpakuto whipped up a howling wind that tore through the atmosphere, hacking heavily towards a female figure.
"Hahahaha! I don't care if you're a Witch or whatever the hell you are, try taking this cut!"
Zaraki Kenpachi's pupils burned with an extreme thirst for battle. That single slash was enough to cleave through mountain ranges and create vacuum faults in the atmosphere.
However, what awaited him there was not the blood-pumping head-on collision he had envisioned.
The [Witch of Sloth] Sekhmet was lying lazily on her side in mid-air, her long purple hair spreading out casually like silk.
"Sigh... so tired. Why move so fast...?"
"Clearly, as long as one lies down, even breathing can become a superfluous thing, right...?"
As her voice, devoid of any motivation, fell, countless Unseen Hands possessing immense strength reached out from the void without warning.
These were Unseen Hands far exceeding the number possessed by the Sin Archbishop of Sloth; this was the Authority of the Witch of Sloth, capable of driving a dragon beyond the Great Waterfall.
Every single Unseen Hand held the weight of a thousand jun. They did not attempt to cut or pierce Zaraki Kenpachi, but simply pressed quietly against the joints and spine of that battle maniac.
"What is this... heaviness?!"
Zaraki Kenpachi's strength, enough to split anything apart, felt as if it had sunk deep into a bottomless swamp the moment it touched these palms.
That absolute heavy pressure, which made every bone in his body creak, instantly slowed his movements as if he were mired in deep mud.
"Too heavy... It's too heavy!! Hahahaha!! This feeling is just right!!"
Even though he was crushed until his legs sank into the earth's surface, Zaraki Kenpachi's ferocious face showed only fanatical joy.
He even voluntarily tore off the eyepatch used to seal his spiritual power, fully liberating that Spiritual Pressure enough to change the colors of heaven and earth, attempting to forcibly break free from this physical suppression of Sloth.
However, Sekhmet's "hands" were inexhaustible.
When Kenpachi broke free of ten hands, one hundred hands would reattach themselves;
When he severed one hundred hands, one thousand hands would drag him down.
This absolute grinding down of strength plunged Zaraki Kenpachi into an unprecedented bitter struggle, and also caused a chill to rise in the hearts of the other Captains.
Of course, the battles of the other Captains were not going any better.
Whether it was Mayuri Kurotsuchi, easily suppressed by the myriad magics cast by the [Witch of Greed] Echidna;
Or Soi Fon, struggling bitterly against the pain of torn body and mind added by the child-like [Witch of Pride] Typhon;
Or the [Witch of Gluttony] Daphne, who drove the illusory White Whale and Black Snake, holding off both Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro alone.
This was a one-sided war.
Inoue Orihime's palms were full of cold sweat.
Originally, she was worried that following these people into the Seireitei might drag them down. But now it seemed her thoughts were somewhat laughable.
Those Death God Captains, any single one of whom would be enough to put Kurosaki Ichigo in a hard fight, appeared to have no power of resistance before these Witches.
Especially...
Inoue Orihime looked to her side at the [Witch of Vainglory] Pandora, who had not joined the battle and stood beside her, seemingly responsible for protecting her or simply interested in her.
This Witch, capable of instantly killing a Captain-class Death God with just a lift of her hand, was gazing at everything with a faint smile.
Moreover, there was the Great Witch Tsukishiro Yuki, whom the Witches called their leader. It was unclear if she was waiting for the enemy to exhaust themselves or simply felt no need to take action.
"Um, Miss Carmilla..."
Inoue Orihime cautiously looked at the [Witch of Lust] Carmilla beside her, who appeared even shyer than herself and had also not joined the battle, and asked carefully:
"I wonder if Kurosaki-kun and the others are now..."
"Y-Yes! I'm here!"
"Please rest assured, Miss Orihime. Lady Great Witch and Mr. Suke have already instructed me!"
"Your friend Kuchiki Rukia has not met with any mishap. She has already been found and protected by our companions who went to the Senzaikyū (Shrine of Penitence)..."
Carmilla responded hurriedly:
"But regarding the two gentlemen Miss Orihime named Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryu, we indeed have not yet found their tracks..."
"We may still need to ask you to wait patiently, Miss Orihime..."
The conversation between Inoue Orihime and Carmilla continued, but the unease in the young girl's heart did not fade.
Suke watched this scene and shook his head helplessly. In fact, he had deliberately kept an eye out for Kurosaki Ichigo's existence. After all, that young man was a fairly important figure among the Death Gods.
Whether it was the Zanpakuto "Zangetsu" he held, or the mixed characteristics of Death God, Hollow, and even Quincy powers within his body, this boy was destined to be extraordinary from the very start.
However...
Suke recalled the plot of Bleach. He suddenly remembered a theory he had seen before transmigrating.
Why was Kurosaki Ichigo the only one who could defeat Yhwach after his revival in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc? It wasn't just a plot device kill; it was because Kurosaki Ichigo's positioning was that of the "Holy Spirit."
The Soul King is the "Holy Father," Yhwach is the "Holy Son," and Kurosaki Ichigo is the "Holy Spirit."
Although the plot of the Soul Society Rescue arc had been completely overturned the moment their group descended upon the Soul Society, the fact that no trace of Kurosaki Ichigo had been found until now...
Could that hot-blooded idiot have already been grabbed by Yhwach and instantly refined?
"Animus, the aura of this world has shifted."
Tsukishiro Yuki, holding a teacup in her hand, slowly raised her head. She noticed the space where the Soul King Palace was located, hidden in the void above the Seireitei.
The Spirit Particles in the air were involuntarily converging towards that place, gathering into a rotating vortex, seeming to herald the descent of some existence!
Sensing this shift, even Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who was planning to release Bankai and fight to the death against Tripoka, could not help but pause his movements.
Tripoka did not take the opportunity to pursue. Instead, under Suke's instruction, she stopped her hand, focusing her attention on the heights together with them.
"This aura is..."
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, having just caught his breath from the fierce battle, returned to his senses. The old man's pupils contracted abruptly, his vision becoming sharper than ever before!
It was hard to imagine exactly what kind of thing could make this dignified and prudent Captain-Commander reveal such a composed expression.
"Squad Zero? No..."
"Answer this old man! Since you are Death Gods, why do you stand in service behind that traitor...?!"
"Yhwach—!"
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni let out a roar, mixed with ferocious Spiritual Pressure, and charged without reservation towards the existence walking out of the vortex to kill him!
He did not dwell on when Yhwach had broken free from the seal, nor did he question how he had revived.
As a nemesis, the only thing Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni could do the moment the other party appeared was to strike him down!
The unsheathed Ryujin Jakka changed its target. A majestic fire tornado caused the heavens and earth to lose their color!
But this fire tornado was extinguished before it could even touch the location of the man on the throne.
He simply flicked his finger, even stopping his subordinate, Ichibe Hyosube, who wanted to perform the sealing act on the name of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's Zanpakuto.
"One thousand years... no, it has been a long time, Yamamoto Genryusai."
"I have pondered for a long time. My use for you ends here."
"As the 'Lord of Hosts' who wins every battle, I must personally slay both nemeses and villains to manifest the divine might befitting my status."
Sitting upon the throne, surrounded by Squad Zero, a middle-aged man of plain appearance descended upon the Soul Society.
"I must admit, I still underestimated you Death Gods. I originally thought every one of you was a marionette I could manipulate at will."
"But I didn't expect that among you, someone could actually see through my arrangements and choose to jump out of the chessboard, avoiding becoming a part of my great power."
"Although his appearance is quite wretched, I have to say he is an excellent talent."
"Much smarter than you, old geezer, Yamamoto Genryusai."
The middle-aged man did not immediately move to engage Tripoka and the others. Instead, he spoke condescendingly to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, as if reprimanding him:
"I remember his name. It is Aizen Sosuke, correct?"
The Captain of the 5th Division who faked his death, Aizen Sosuke!
Hearing Yhwach's words, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni remained silent and speechless, but Suke in the distance somewhat understood the situation.
No wonder Abigail sent a message saying Kuchiki Rukia was detained in the 5th Division, yet the Hogyoku inside her body had not been removed.
Suke had found it a bit strange. Although the plot had changed, Aizen didn't seem like the indecisive type to leave meat by his mouth uneaten.
Now it made sense. Connecting it to the "Pseudo-Soul King" status Aizen attained after fusing with the complete Hogyoku, Suke could only marvel that Boss Aizen was indeed the peak of intellectual battles.
Did he actually anticipate even the possibility of being treated as "material" and instantly refined?
Of course, perhaps it was also due to the descent of their group, which caused Yhwach's layout to be a bit more hasty.
But one had to say Aizen had skills. As long as he maintained his "Style Points," he would forever be that undefeated peak intellectual villain.
"Yhwach! This old man could slay you once a thousand years ago, and today I can naturally slay you a second time!"
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni roared. Although he didn't know why Squad Zero stood on Yhwach's side, the justice this old man protected would not tolerate blasphemy!
Aside from defecting to Yhwach, Central 46 was just under any circumstances.
Because the old man, who was his nemesis, knew that this King of Quincies never had anything to do with the word "Justice" at any time!
[Bankai · Zanka no Tachi]
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni released his Bankai without hesitation. The kyomurasaki haori and the great coat he wore burned away instantly in the solar flames!
The moment the Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, was unsheathed, it was as if the entire Soul Society had been placed inside a massive furnace—
All the Captain-class Death Gods began to sweat, and the Vice-Captain-class Death Gods simply fainted, unable to withstand it!
But Yhwach merely watched this scene quietly.
Seeming to ponder what kind of curtain call would be worthy of the grievances between him and this nemesis.
[Bankai · Zanka no Tachi · North · Tenchi Kaijin (Heaven and Earth Turn to Ash)]
The move was a killing blow!
The flames that incinerated all things gathered at the tip of the blade. With a strenuous swing from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, a long-distance slash capable of turning everything to flying ash struck out!
"I say, all miracles shall belong to me."
But with just a light sentence from Yhwach, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's slash vanished once again.
The high temperature between heaven and earth also dissipated in an instant.
Even Ryujin Jakka, which had already released Bankai into Zanka no Tachi, suddenly returned to peace. Its spiritual power turned inward, appearing as if it had become the most ordinary Asauchi Zanpakuto.
"?!"
The Death God Captains, who had long stopped fighting the Witches, were horrified beyond words. They only saw Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's figure suddenly plummet from the high sky.
Even that vast Spiritual Pressure that had been protecting everyone vanished without a trace!
But in the next moment, seeming unwilling to give his nemesis a chance to breathe, Yhwach spoke again:
"I say, those who oppose me shall suffer containment..."
"And subsequent destruction!"
"Old man... Ugh—!"
The infinite Spirit Particles seemed to gain a spirituality of their own. Even the Spirit Particles Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni had cultivated for a thousand years no longer obeyed his manipulation, turning instead to bind and lock him as if they desired to be his enemy!
The chains tightened inch by inch, seemingly wanting to squeeze this withered old man's body until it exploded alive!
"Not good! Captain-Commander (Teacher)!"
At this moment, no one cared about Witches or Ryoka anymore.
Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro wanted to fly up to rescue Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, but in this instant, they discovered they could no longer manipulate even Spirit Particles.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's bones had begun to shatter. No one knew what kind of pain this old man was enduring.
But within a few breaths, he would surely return to the Yellow Springs!
Swish—!
However, just when all the Captains thought a tragedy was about to occur,
Under the glimmer of the red moon, the scythe blade swung by the white-haired girl cut the Spirit Particle links sealing the old man in the blink of an eye!
Letting the old man, who had lost the ability to manipulate Spirit Particles, fall like a kite with a cut string, to be hurriedly caught by the Captain of the 4th Division, Unohana Retsu!
"Regretting a move isn't a scene that should exist in a fair game, Saint Witch."
"As a fellow contender for that great power, do you feel no shame at all for your behavior?"
Yhwach narrowed his eyes. It was also at this moment that he looked towards the Great Witch who was leisurely arriving at the horizon, arm in arm with a man who looked like her lover, standing together with Tripoka.
He clenched his fists, having never felt such resentment!
Although Yhwach still hadn't figured out how the opponent, whom he had defeated, managed to retrieve those "essences" he had won away.
It didn't hinder his humanity from being more abundant than ever at this moment; he even had the impulse to shout profanities in the street!
Being favored by such great power from Him, how could she do such a shameless and cunning thing!
"Your Holiness."
Seeing Tsukishiro Yuki holding onto Suke's arm, Tripoka raised her eyelids, then unhesitatingly reached out to hold Suke's other free arm.
She stared at Suke with a complaining gaze, then locked eyes with Tsukishiro Yuki, who was supported by him, sparks seemingly flying between them.
Suke: ...
Stared at by countless pairs of eyes on the ground, Suke actually felt quite awkward.
I say, logically speaking, shouldn't the appearance of the Final Boss be incredibly hot-blooded and serious?
What is with this development that feels like a temporarily inserted romantic comedy?
"To dare ignore me!"
"Those who ignore the Lord's glory shall not receive His favor! Saint Witch, I do not know where you invited these reinforcements from, but in all the heavens, only the Lord is Supreme!"
Evidently, Yhwach, as the Big Boss, received a "Rage" status buff.
As his voice fell, it seemed as if the Spirit Particles of the entire Three Worlds were gathering towards him, becoming a part of his power to crush and destroy the enemies before him!
But when a door suddenly opened in the void, and a patch of wriggling, creeping chaotic gray fog appeared on his other two sides unknowingly—
Yhwach suddenly felt the process of the Three Worlds' Spirit Particles gathering abruptly freeze.
Squad Zero stood guard around Yhwach, but only Yhwach knew that at this very moment, even his refined essence, which had reached the Trinity, could not help but feel the pressure!
One, two, three, four...
Supreme Divinities... and there are four of them!
Yhwach: ...
The middle-aged man's expression gradually solidified, then became complicated and wordless.
Is it too late for him to return to the Soul King Palace now?
____
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