At this moment, several more figures arrived, including Shiba Kūsei and Unohana, who had been healed, and Kasumioji Yakumo, who had completed the mission of apprehending the criminal.
This time it's another group of Captain-level; it seems like this is never going to end.
When Kensei, Urahara, and Yoruichi charged forward together, Kongqing also released his Zanpakuto, which transformed into a Zanpakuto with Lightning Hammer.
However, Kasumioji Yakumo's Zanpakuto transformed into Great Bow, about to fire a massive Reishi Arrow at Zero, but Zero dodged it by shifting his body slightly.
Marechiyo Ōmaeda, who was looking for an opportunity to unleash his Bakudō from afar, was instantly pressed to the ground by Zero's single glance and Reiatsu, rendering him unable to move.
If it weren't for Kasumioji Yakumo shooting another arrow, forcing Zero to dodge, Marechiyo Ōmaeda would probably have fainted on the spot...
Even so, he now fully understood that the Vice-Captain couldn't interfere in battles of this level, unless it was someone like the Third Seat of the team whose actual strength was equivalent to the Captain's...
Seeing the group attacking again, Zero smiled slightly, bypassed Yoruichi and Kensei at the front, and cleaved Urahara in the middle with a single sword strike. The powerful sword energy even grazed Urahara's face.
'What immense power!' Benihime cried out in anguish... Even after all this progress, is the gap still so vast?
Urahara had already Shikai, was unable to completely block the sword. He was also shocked to his own eyes, as he had sensed the difference in Reiatsu. After all, this guy had learned Bankai in just three days through the Tenshintai.
At that moment, Zero was surrounded by the four Captains. He raised his hand and aimed at Kensei, who was closest to him, and then his Reiatsu, like an extended arm, was about to lock his throat.
"What is that?!"
Startled, Kensei raised his right hand and threw a punch at the Reiatsu Arm, but the Reiatsu Arm twisted and coiled, changing its target and completely wrapping around his right arm.
Yoruichi had already moved behind Zero. Her Zanpakuto had somehow Shikai form, and steel gloves resembling cat paws had appeared on her hands.
While Zero was locking down Kensei, she also swung her claw at Zero, but saw Zero's profile with a slightly terrifying smile...
"Miss Yoruichi, get out of the way!"
Urahara suddenly roared, and as his Reiatsu Arm extended, he sensed something was wrong; it was filled with violent Reiatsu.
"Hadō #90, Ittō Kasō!"
A red pillar of Reiatsu, over a hundred meters in diameter, shot into the sky, unleashing a torrent of energy. Kensei, who was locked in place, was the first to be hit, followed by Kongqing and Zero, who had already approached.
As for Yoruichi, who was closest, she reacted incredibly quickly, running out the moment she was alerted. However, she was also filled with lingering fear: Nangong Ling's ability to abandon incantation and use such a powerful Kidō was terrifying.
This is the non-destructive 'Ittō Kasō' developed by Zero; the only damage caused by the explosion was to the Reiatsu Arm. Since Zero didn't create enough distance this time, it was naturally also engulfed within the attack...
When the red flames dissipated, Kensei over his body. If it weren't for the defensive power of his Bankai, he might have been crippled.
Kongqing was affected when he was only about twenty meters away. With the help of the Thunder and Lightning from his Zanpakuto, he was still conscious when he fell to the ground.
While panting heavily, he glared fiercely at Zero... who had already been instantly killed twice...
Yoruichi looked around and, upon realizing that only she and Yagumo remained, her expression darkened slightly.
Yagumo said, "The only Bankai. At a time like this, worrying about damaging the Seireitei or implicating our comrades is tantamount to courting death."
"Um..."
Yoruichi had just expressed her agreement when, suddenly, Yama-jii's Reiatsu, which had been dormant in the First Division, surged.
Zero, sensing that Yama-jii was growing impatient, gleamed with excitement, and Yama-jii's Reiatsu arrived in a few flashes...
A bald old man with a cane appeared, his white beard and the Captain's Haori moving without wind, his aura instantly filling the entire area.
"What a bunch of good-for-nothing team members. It seems that a few decades of comfortable life have made you forget what the Gotei 13 is all about."
Yama-jii reprimanded the dozen or so Captain in a deep voice. None of the standing men dared to meet his gaze, while those who were prostrate on the ground were filled with shame.
"Indeed, it's because of our comrades! Everyone is afraid to go all out, which is a real shame. I was really looking forward to seeing the Bankai of each Captain!"
Zero claimed he wanted to see the Captains ' Bankai, but from the very beginning of the fight, he didn't hold back. Instead, he took advantage of their reluctance to use Bankai to severely injure them.
Although it seemed like he only took one Kensei and his own Kidō, only Zero knew that he hadn't had an easy time and had expended a great deal of energy. If he hadn't taken the opportunity to plunder a lot of Reishi while injuring them, he probably wouldn't have been able to maintain his condition...
The Gotei 13 he fought was different from the weakened Gotei 13 that Aizen later used Kyōka Suigetsu to finish off.
He was the only enemy among the Gotei 13, and he was defeated even when everyone was at a normal physical level, and both of them were in their Shikai state... If they had all fought using Bankai, the outcome might not have been the same.
"Nangong Ling, you sinner, I have indeed misjudged you. After possessing considerable Soul Reaper power, you actually colluded with Hueco Mundo. What exactly are you after?"
Yama-jii started asking Zero directly, not expecting an answer, but just wanting to buy some time.
At this time, Yoruichi, Urahara, Kasumioji Yakumo, and Kirio Hikifune all began collecting the wounded and placed them with Unohana for her to treat.
Zero had already seen through Yama-jii's delaying tactic. He scoffed, "You're wrong about colluding with Hueco Mundo. I'm not colluding; I've already conquered Hueco Mundo..."
Upon hearing this, Yama-jii's gaze sharpened. No wonder he had always sensed Zero's arrogance; it turned out that Zero had hidden forces behind him.
"What? They conquered Hueco Mundo?"
"No wonder he kept heading towards Hueco Mundo, so that explains it. But it's unbelievable that he managed to subdue a bloodthirsty Menos Grande! How did he do it?"
"Given his strength, it's not surprising. Menos Grande possess intelligence, and with intelligence comes fear. He can single-handedly defeat the pinnacle of Soul Society, which means he can subdue the Menos Grande and make them serve him..."
Upon hearing this, the people not far away were all shocked. Urahara, who had followed Zero Urahara, was surprised and curious. He didn't understand how Zero had done it, but Unohana analyzed it.
Zero ignored the group's surprise and continued speaking to Yama-jii, "As for what they're after? A few dozen worthless bastards trying to manipulate my fate are just like a bunch of comical clowns."
"Don't be so quick to say I'm inherently sinful. In the two thousand years since the Gotei 13 was founded, haven't you committed any sins? If they stood in front of you and said they wanted to execute you, wouldn't you find them ridiculous?"
Upon hearing this, Yama-jii broke his silence. "That was in the past. Now, protecting Soul Society is justice, and you are someone who neglects justice..."
Zero interrupted him, "Justice? The rules created by Central 46 are utterly unfair, only executing commoner Soul Reapers while giving lenient treatment to Soul Reaper of noble birth... Without fairness, where does justice come from?"
Currently, those around here are all high-ranking members of Soul Society. Each of them has their own views, but their ultimate goal is to protect Soul Society.
They had also hated the Respira system, but ultimately chose to remain silent.
"Further words are pointless. Your actions of massacring the Central 46 and colluding with Hueco Mundo can be classified as an attempt to overthrow Soul Society. Therefore, you are our enemy..."
After rambling on for so long, once the Barrier in front of Unohana was set up and the healing of the Captains began, Yama-jii took off his Captain's Haori and shirt, revealing his upper body covered in scars. He stretched out his cane and it began to dissipate, revealing the hilt of a sword inside.
It's time to start the classic showdown with a knife!
The hilt of Eastern Purple Flash's sword was revealed first. As soon as Yama-jii grasped the hilt, the blade erupted in a raging inferno. He uttered in a deep voice, "All things in the All Creation return to dust— Ryūjin Jakka!"
The surrounding shattered buildings were ignited by Ryūjin Jakka, the flames covering tens of thousands of square meters, and the entire Seireitei could feel the intense heat.
The Shikai of Ryūjin Jakka has a flame temperature like the surface of the sun, while the Bankai is equivalent to the core of the sun. If it lasts long enough, it can even evaporate the Soul Society.
"How many years has it been? Has the Captain-Commander personally taken action again? Nangong Ling is truly formidable; it seems none of the other Captains can match him."
Kiyoki Shihoin, who was enjoying his retirement at home, looked surprised. He had thought that Captains would use their Bankai to kill Nangong Ling together, but he didn't expect the Captain-Commander to personally take the field...
"Is this... the Captain-Commander's Reiatsu?"
"The Captain-Commander actually went to the front lines personally? That's quite unexpected."
"This also shows that the situation has deteriorated to the extreme; perhaps the Captains have already been defeated by that man..."
When Yama-jii unleashed his full Reiatsu, ninety percent of Seireitei was engulfed within it. The Vice-Captains went from initial surprise to breaking out in a cold sweat after realizing their Captains had been defeated.
After a closer inspection, they discovered that while the Captains ' Reiatsu was weak, it was still fluctuating, which relieved them slightly...
Meanwhile, in a distant tower, Aizen was observing the battlefield. The immense power Zero displayed against the Captains secretly alarmed Aizen; it was far stronger than when they had fought before.
Aizen had long since awoke from the excitement of toying with Zero using Kyōka Suigetsu, and he was able to recognize his own place in the game.
As for Captain-Commander Yamamoto, who arrived later, Aizen judged from his Reiatsu that his direct combat power might be even stronger than that of Nangong Ling.
"Actually, even without this accident, I would have challenged you soon. After all, now that I've become the Captain-Commander, I should be able to use force to slightly modify the rules."
Zero was also releasing his Reiatsu at full power, both in their Shikai state, but it only reached Eleven Cars; the opposing Yama-jii's Reiatsu reached Thirteen Cars... If he were to become enraged, it could continue to rise.
The main reason is that Yama-jii believes the strength he has displayed is enough to defeat Zero. If he continues to increase his Reiatsu, it may cause soul damage to those ant-like Squad Member and nobles.
"Kid, come on! Let this old man see if you have the ability to change the rules."
"Snort!"
Faced with Yama-jii's concession, Zero snorted and Shunpo moved with lightning speed. Shunpo is a high-speed movement, and this speed was no match for Yama-jii, unable to deceive his vision.
Clang! Boom boom boom...
Blood Drink, imbued with crimson Sword Aura, clashed with Ryūjin Jakka, blazing with intense heat. Their Reiatsu surged back and forth, neither able to suppress the other.
The sound of metal clashing rang out several times, and the Reiatsu from the crushing and colliding caused the Seireitei to rumble. The nobles who were not Soul Reaper were all in a panic and sent people to investigate the situation.
"Using Sword Aura energy to protect yourself from burns? You've got some skill. In the last thousand years, you're the first person to dare to clash head-on with Ryūjin Jakka."
"The Ryūjin Jakka — Pine Torch!"
Yama-jii praised Zero's technique, but then his tone changed. Ryūjin Jakka, flames surrounded Zero, forming a fiery tornado that spun and burned, trying to incinerate Zero.
"Blood-Coagulating Slash!"
A blood-red slash shot into the sky, tearing apart the fire tornado. Zero's sleeves were already burned, and the Sword Aura formed from his Reiatsu was barely able to protect him. The high temperature of Ryūjin Jakka was constantly consuming his Reiatsu.