"Vice Admiral Onigumo… that Devil Fruit is mine."
Facing Onigumo's hostility, Ren Kuro calmly reversed his grip on his Zanpakutō.
His fingers tightened around the hilt.
The moment he felt the searing heat flowing from Ryūjin Jakka, the smile on his face grew even brighter.
Ryūjin Jakka—
The Zanpakutō of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, Captain-Commander of the Gotei Thirteen.
As the weapon wielded by the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, its power needed no exaggeration.
The strongest fire-type Zanpakutō.
That alone said everything.
Even in its Shikai, it could unleash flames reaching temperatures of 6,000 degrees, enough to burn everything in heaven and earth to nothing.
And more terrifying still—
Once released into its Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, flames of 15 million degrees would cloak the wielder's body like a blazing sun itself.
Where the flames passed—
Nothing remained.
That was the true power of Ryūjin Jakka.
Thanks to his beginner bonus, Ren Kuro could fully unleash its power.
And that—
was the source of his confidence.
"Steal the Devil Fruit? Keep dreaming!"
Onigumo drew his blade. His feet kicked off the air in rapid succession—
And his figure vanished instantly.
Rokushiki: Soru!
"Fast…"
Ren Kuro stood where he was, but before he could even finish speaking—
Onigumo appeared directly behind him.
"Brat, you're far too arrogant!"
His blade slashed down in a clean, merciless arc aimed straight at Ren Kuro's back.
Slash—
The strike pierced cleanly through—
But Onigumo's expression immediately darkened.
Because—
It wasn't real.
It was an afterimage.
"An afterimage?!"
His pupils shrank.
And before he could react—
A cold voice sounded beside his ear.
"You're fast… but not fast enough."
Ren Kuro had already appeared behind him.
His Zanpakutō rested against Onigumo's heart.
Shunpo—taken to its extreme.
The marines on deck were completely stunned.
They hadn't even seen Ren Kuro move.
"Vice Admiral Onigumo… lost?"
"That speed—he was invisible—and he still lost?"
"Was that… teleportation?!"
Shock froze them in place, a chill creeping into their bones.
"What are you…?"
With Ren Kuro's blade at his back, Onigumo clenched his teeth.
"Who exactly are you?!"
"You can call me…"
Ren Kuro's lips curved slightly upward.
"Death."
"Death…?"
Onigumo frowned. The title meant nothing to him.
Instinctively, he dismissed Ren Kuro as some unknown upstart pirate.
"Hand over the Devil Fruit," Ren Kuro said quietly, his voice lowered. "You don't have any chance to resist."
"…Is that so?"
A sharp glint flashed through Onigumo's eyes.
Then he roared—
"All units—fire!"
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
At his command, every marine pulled the trigger.
A storm of bullets tore through the air, all aimed at Ren Kuro.
"…Troublesome."
Ren Kuro sighed softly.
A cold light flickered in his eyes.
Then—
He began to chant.
"Heaven's proud children… iron-walled fortress… dragon's march, lion's roar, tiger's cry, wolf's run… sever heaven and earth before collapse—"
"Bakudō #81: Dankū!"
In an instant—
A massive transparent barrier rose around him.
Like an unbreakable wall between worlds.
Hundreds—no, thousands—of bullets slammed into it—
And stopped.
Not a single ripple.
"What…?!"
The marines stared in disbelief at the bullets clattering uselessly to the ground.
Even Onigumo couldn't hide his shock.
"What kind of power is this…? A Devil Fruit ability?"
A bad feeling rose in his chest.
"Time's up."
Ren Kuro slowly turned Ryūjin Jakka in his hand.
His aura surged.
Climbing higher—
And higher—
"All things in creation… turn to ashes—Ryūjin Jakka!"
The ancient chant echoed once more.
And in that instant—
The world changed.
A suffocating spiritual pressure descended like a mountain, crushing down on everyone present.
The air itself began to boil.
The ancient blade erupted with blinding light.
Flames roared to life—thick, heavy, violent—like a raging storm.
They surged upward—
Transforming into towering pillars of fire.
Under the intense heat—
The deck blackened at a visible speed.
The air warped.
The temperature skyrocketed.
Even the clouds above seemed to freeze in place.
BOOM—!!!
The flames danced wildly—
And the very moisture in the air evaporated in an instant.
The world twisted under the unbearable heat—
As if reality itself couldn't withstand the power of Ryūjin Jakka's release.
A colossal curtain of fire rose into the sky.
The heavens were set ablaze.
"What… is that sword…?!"
Onigumo's face turned pale.
The aura radiating from Ryūjin Jakka felt like a living nightmare—
Haunting every marine on deck.
Fear spread.
Despair took root.
In the face of that overwhelming heat—
They felt it instinctively.
This power could not be fought.
"Onigumo… farewell."
Ren Kuro's voice was cold.
Final.
Like a death sentence.
His arm moved.
And the burning blade cut through the air.
In that instant—
A blazing slash tore across the battlefield.
Onigumo didn't even have time to struggle.
His body was swallowed by flames—
And in a scream of despair—
Reduced to ash.
All things in creation… turn to ashes.