Facing Toshiro's attack, Yamamoto's instincts screamed warnings.
Yamamoto could sense that Toshiro's move this time was even more powerful than the previous Thousand Years' Ice Prison.
Yamamoto was correct. Four Elements Freeze was an ability Toshiro mastered after breaking through to Advanced Captain-level and his Bankai fully maturing.
In the direction of Toshiro's blade, everything within forty meters would be frozen.
Moreover, after Toshiro's breakthrough to Demigod-level, the power of Four Elements Freeze increased dramatically. Although its range remained forty meters, its potency was incomparable. Now, when unleashed, everything within that forty-meter space, including time and space, would be frozen.
As Toshiro closed in on Yamamoto, the power of Four Elements Freeze erupted.
Crack! Crack! Crack!!
Everything in the surrounding space instantly froze, then spread towards Yamamoto.
"Zanka no Tachi, East: Kyokujitsujin!"
Yamamoto roared, concentrating all of Ryujin Jakka's fiery heat onto the tip of his blade, meeting Toshiro's attack.
Crack! Crack! Crack!!
When the power of Toshiro's Four Elements Freeze reached Yamamoto, a thin layer of ice immediately formed on him. The entire person, along with the surrounding space, was frozen.
"Success?"
Toshiro said, looking at the frozen Yamamoto.
Crack!
As soon as Toshiro spoke, fissures appeared in the ice encasing Yamamoto.
Boom!
The ice layer on Yamamoto shattered completely. Then, he lightly swung his Zanpakuto at the surrounding space.
"..."
Yamamoto's action was utterly silent. Yet, within the forty-meter radius frozen by Toshiro's Four Elements Freeze, a dark rift appeared, clearly revealing chaotic spatial currents within.
With a single strike, Yamamoto had burned through the very fabric of space!!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Yamamoto's blade light flashed repeatedly, and the space frozen by Toshiro's Four Elements Freeze was completely burned into nothingness.
Yamamoto slowly spoke: "Your move just now was indeed formidable, even capable of freezing space. However, my 'Zanka no Tachi, East: Kyokujitsujin' concentrates all of Ryujin Jakka's fiery heat onto the blade's tip. It doesn't burn or release explosive flames, but erases everything it touches without a trace… space is no exception!"
"Yare yare, so that move is so powerful? This is really troublesome!"
Toshiro said with a grave expression.
"Be careful, Toshiro. I'm attacking!"
As soon as Yamamoto finished speaking, he thrust the blade tip, concentrated with all the fire's heat, towards Toshiro.
"Perfect timing! Let me see if this move truly can erase everything without a trace!"
With that, Toshiro gathered all his cold onto the tip of his Zanpakuto, meeting Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka.
Clang!
The tips of Hyorinmaru and Ryujin Jakka touched.
Hiss, hiss, hiss...
The moment ultimate high temperature and ultimate low temperature met, a massive surge of steam instantly boiled forth.
The Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto and the Strongest Fire-type Zanpakuto seemed locked in a struggle to the death, locked in a stalemate.
However, the result remained that neither could overcome the other.
"Ha!"
Toshiro shouted, his power erupting instantly, forcing Yamamoto back.
"Genryusai-sensei, I have one more newly developed technique. Please give me your opinion!"
"Great Crimson Lotus Hell!" Toshiro chanted softly.
Boom! Rumble!
As Toshiro's voice fell, the entire Dangai shook momentarily.
Then, a massive fissure appeared in the void. An ice hell abruptly manifested beside Toshiro.
Within this ice hell, countless ice-blue skeletal figures were visible, and large crimson lotus flowers bloomed everywhere.
However, Toshiro knew those weren't real crimson lotus petals. They were sinners within the Great Crimson Lotus Hell, frozen until their skin split, their flesh torn, their entire bodies stained red with blood.
This technique, Great Crimson Lotus Hell, was an ability Toshiro had just mastered after his recent breakthrough.
Toshiro's Bankai was called [Daiguren Hyorinmaru]. Initially, Toshiro didn't understand the true meaning behind his Bankai's name. Only after his breakthrough and mastering Great Crimson Lotus Hell did he truly comprehend the meaning of Daiguren Hyorinmaru. (T/N: Great Crimson Lotus Hell is Daiguren Jigoku in Japanese.)
In Buddhism, there are the Eight Cold Hells and the Eight Hot Hells. Great Crimson Lotus Hell is the highest level among the Cold Hells.
'Daiguren' means that the suffering sinners, due to extreme cold and agony, have their skin and flesh freeze and split, their entire bodies turning red, resembling a great crimson lotus flower.
So, the things in Toshiro's Great Crimson Lotus Hell that look like crimson lotus flowers are actually sinners frozen until their skin split, flesh torn, bodies stained red with blood.
Toshiro's Great Crimson Lotus Hell isn't the actual Great Crimson Lotus Hell. It's a projection formed by Toshiro using his Reiatsu to draw upon the power of the real Great Crimson Lotus Hell.
Even so, this technique possesses unfathomable, ghostly power.
After using this technique, Toshiro can directly summon the grievously sinful, immensely powerful souls from the real Great Crimson Lotus Hell to fight for him.
"Then, Genryusai-sensei! Take this!"
With that, Toshiro swung his Zanpakuto, pointing at Yamamoto.
The army of souls within Great Crimson Lotus Hell, as if receiving a command, immediately sprang into action.
Roar! Roar! Roar!!
These ice-bound souls roared and howled, brandishing icy swords, rushing towards Yamamoto in a frenzy.
Seeing this, Yamamoto immediately swung his Zanpakuto, destroying the ice souls nearing him.
Swish! Swish! Swish!!
Yamamoto unleashed flame slash after flame slash, felling swathes of ice souls. However, these ice souls seemed endless. The rate Yamamoto destroyed them was far outpaced by the rate they appeared.
Seeing this situation, Yamamoto ceased his futile efforts. Instead, he reversed his grip and plunged his Zanpakuto into the ground, shouting: "Zanka no Tachi, South: Kaka Juman'okushi Daisojin!"
Boom!
A sea of flames abruptly appeared on the ground. Then, countless charred skeletons emerged from the earth.
Roar! Roar! Roar!!
These charred skeletons let out tremendous roars and howls.