As Kūkaku Shiba finished chanting, the Captains inside the False Tenchūren suddenly felt a powerful thrust beneath their feet, and they were launched upwards like cannonballs.
Here at Omotesandō riddled Omotesando, Ōetsu Nimaiya was nailed to a half-broken pillar. The spot where he was struck by the Lanza del Relámpago was precisely where the Hollow Hole in Ulquiorra's chest was.
Senjumaru Shutara was torn into more than a dozen pieces by Picaro, his body scattered all over the ground, and his blood was carried away by the calm seawater, splashing down into the Seireitei from both sides of the Omotesandō.
Tenjirō Kirinji brutally crushed Grimmjow's heart, and his arrogant laughter Omotesandō, as if proclaiming the power of the Pantera.
As for Kirio Hikifune, there was only a skeleton on the ground, its flesh and blood completely Respira away by Baraggan's aging ability.
Logically, nothing should be left, but the bones of the Zero Division members, modified by the Soul King's Power, are completely above the rules of the Three Worlds and are very difficult to destroy.
A golden Cero out, scattering Kirio Hikifune's skeleton but not destroying it. Tier Harribel exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be... they didn't die?"
"Haha, without flesh and blood, how could it possibly still be alive? These bones, like the ones in my body, are all Ōken modified by Reishi Arts, their sturdiness far surpasses others."
Baraggan, possessing the Ōken Bone, dispelled Tier Harribel's doubts. Baraggan knew how strong the defensive power of his golden skull was; it could even block his own Death Breath.
A Death Breath transformed into a sparrow and flew toward a piece of bone. Baraggan wanted to prove that his ability could still Respira this bone... A minute later, the bone dissipated a little.
"It's pathetic that the Zero Division only has this much ability!"
After expressing his regret, Baraggan gave up on completely Respira the small section of finger bone, because at this rate, it would now take his abilities an hour to completely remove it.
The rumbling Reiatsu not far away attracted Wuwu. Just as they were about to walk over together, a dozen enormous Second-Class Divine Soldiers, leading hundreds of first-level Divine Soldiers, stood in front of them.
"We will absolutely not allow you to disturb Hyosube."
A Second-Class Divine Soldier with a booming voice raised its greatsword and slashed down. Sensing trouble, Baraggan released a massive Death Breath, causing the Divine Soldiers to scream in agony, but they were utterly helpless...
After clearing away the Divine Soldiers, the group was about to go help, but a "seal" character blocked their way. The Monk had left this character while being repelled earlier.
This is the only remaining battlefield of the Soul King Palace.
After realizing that his conventional abilities could no longer reach zero, the Monk Shikai, allowing his Zanpakuto to transcend its conventional state of being able to cut off half a name and enter Shikai state capable of erasing the names of things.
The brush in the Monk's hand had its bristles transformed into blades, yet upon closer inspection, they reverted to bristles capable of writing—a very strange sight... Moreover, Zero no longer sensed any Reiatsu or anything like that emanating from him.
'No Reiatsu? Is it a dimensional difference in power? It doesn't feel like it...'
Zero couldn't figure out what was going on with the Monk's Zanpakuto; he could only conclude that the power system was likely different in the era in which such ancient creatures existed.
Just as Soul Reaper and Hollows use their power from the inside out, Quincy control external Reishi as their own power—these are completely different systems.
"..."
Zero opened his mouth, trying to glean some information about the Monk's power, but found that he couldn't make a sound.
"Can't tell if it's a pen or a knife? And can't speak anymore? You kept calling my name, and now my name has ruined your voice."
As the Monk spoke, he swung his sword, "Ichimonji," and ink splashed towards Zero from all directions. Zero dodged the ink using his Sonído state, then closed in on the Monk and slashed down with Blood Drink.
Blood Drink once again crossed paths with the brush, and Zero Sword slashed the Monk's shoulder, while Zero Sword was also slashed on the shoulder.
Zero could tell that the Monk had clearly increased his power, because his ability had been unable to harm him while he was protected by his Reiatsu shell, but now it could.
"I can have a voice whenever I want, but has your change after your Shikai been so drastic? That's enough to hurt me."
The Hōgyoku fulfilled Zero's wish, restoring his voice and instantly healing the wounds he had suffered.
"So that's how it is. Did that thing in your chest help you recover? A replica of the Soul King's Power, something that doesn't even know what it is, and yet you still interfered in this battle to protect the Soul King."
The Monk's expression was grim and terrifying. As soon as he finished speaking, Zero felt the Hōgyoku in his chest tremble, as if refuting the Monk.
'I am the Hōgyoku, I am not matter, I serve the new master of the future world.'
Only Ling could hear Bengyu's roar, and Ling smiled slightly and said, "Bengyu doesn't agree with what you said, I'm too lazy to talk nonsense with you, swastika..."
Zero's smile froze. When he raised the Blood Drink in his hand, intending to activate its Bankai, he discovered that the Blood Drink had become an Asauchi style sword, with only the hilt being red.
This was his Zanpakuto's normal form back then. Ever since he met Yanis, this Zanpakuto had maintained its Greatsword form and had never returned to its normal form.
Zero instantly entered his Inner World, but it was pitch black, with only a black figure standing there, its mouth moving but no sound coming out... It was his Zanpakuto, but Zero had forgotten its name.
The Monk, on the contrary, said smugly, "Were you just about to say Bankai? What's wrong? You don't even know the name of the sword in your hand, yet you want to activate Bankai? How ridiculous."
In the instant of their clash, Ichimonji had already erased the name of Blood Drink. This was Ichimonji's ability: 'to cut the name but not the flesh.' Even after his Shikai, he could still manage to cut flesh.
"It doesn't matter that the sword has no name; with my power... I can easily defeat you!"
Zero's eyes narrowed, and his previously restrained Reiatsu burst forth, forming two red wings of light behind him. The sword in his hand also began to grow larger, a power evolved after merging with the Hōgyoku.
He had long since passed the cradle stage of fusion with the Hōgyoku, but because he used the power of the Hōgyoku to escape the Dangai for a long time and did not engage in any life-threatening battles, he did not over-evolve.
The Monk's eyes widened at the speed of the slash, which resembled a streak of light. He tried to block with Ichimonji, but Zero still managed to send him flying, pen and all. The Reiatsu covering the sword surged out, Monk barely managed to dodge it.
Crash! Boom!
The flying Reiatsu cleaved a small half off the nearest Zero Division Detached Palace.
Another slash came down, and while the monk blocked it, a large amount of ink was thrown out, forming the word "trap". Zero was imprisoned for less than a second before the word collapsed, and the ink was also stained on his body.
The Monk stepped back to create distance, and black Reiatsu gathered around him from all directions. He then blocked the third slash with his brush knife.
Zero was incredibly surprised. He hadn't expected the Monk to suddenly be able to withstand his attacks again. Had he not used his full strength to block earlier? Or had he suddenly used Bankai but hadn't revealed Bankai name?
The Monk stretched out his hand and said coldly, "What an arrogant fellow! You think you can defeat me, who has been a personal guard of the Soul King for tens of thousands of years, with a nameless sword? You have no idea why I was suddenly able to block your attack, do you?"
"My power is 'black.' Regardless of life or death, wherever I am, anything in the world that contains 'black' will become my source of power. Compared to you, who relies solely on your own strength, my power is inexhaustible."
Zero suddenly realized, "I see. No wonder my Inner World is all black. It was stained black by your Ink, which is why I can't remember the name of my Zanpakuto?"
This Monk's power has exceeded the limits of the rules; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as God-Class. Zero began to use his Reiatsu to try and erase the black stains on his body, feeling that leaving them would cause problems.
"It was right not to touch it at first, but now you want to erase the 'blackness'? It's too late, look..." The Monk pointed at Zero himself, "Your body is being stained black, and now even your name is gone..."
The blackness spread rapidly, and the Ink Monk had splashed continued to cover Zero's body. His scarlet armor, formed by Reiatsu, was completely stained black, leaving only his eyes and teeth untouched.
Zero One glared, "Damn it, I forgot, I can't remember my own name."
Recalling the past, in the scenes of memory, people's names were censored, and Zero couldn't remember his own name at all.
"Can't remember, can you? Things without names have no power. You must be in pain without a name! How about I give you a name?"
The Monk twirled the brush in his hand, then, with the blade facing down, said in a deep voice, "For real, White Brush Ichimonji!"
Seeing the confusion in Zero's eyes, he continued, "Right, in modern terms, it's Bankai!"
The Monk waved the white pen tip, and a circle of white appeared above his and Zero's heads, completely opposite to the black from before.
As the pen flew across the paper, two white characters appeared on the blackboard: 'Maggot'.
"This name suits you well, doesn't it? As Maggot on the giant's body in Soul Society, you've devoured some of the rotten flesh, but you've also made the raw flesh rot, and you even want to devour the giant itself."
"But you've forgotten that your current strength is as weak as Maggot. Even if you transform, you'll still be nothing more than a fly. It would be too easy for a giant to crush you to the ground..."
You can't kill me!
"Can't kill you? The Soul King's original decree was to seal you away, but since you're so ashamed that you want to die, then so be it."
Zero's sudden reply caused the Monk to grin maliciously and extend his right foot as if to stomp. With the 'Thousand-Mile Heaven-Piercing Palm,' there must also be the 'Thousand-Mile Heaven-Piercing Kick.'
A large, barefoot foot with hairy feet descended from the sky, instantly shattering the road as it struck Zero, who then fell into the Soul King Palace District below.
"You'll regret it! You shouldn't have come here!"
The Monk clasped his hands together, pressing down with both large palms, and Zero was slapped into his palms.
Several Espada couldn't get over and could only watch from afar. That word 'seal' caused Baraggan's invincible aging ability to fail for the first time, unable to break the Sealing; it was a difference of dimensionality.
When the Espada first saw Zero gain the upper hand, they felt it was normal, after all, Nangong was so strong.
When they saw Zero being completely overwhelmed, the Espada felt a sense of fear. The Monk, like an unbreakable 'seal'...
"Heh... heh heh, I... I'm not dead yet!"
As the Monk loosened his grip, Zero's faint laughter still reached Monk ears. The Monk raised his hand, and the instantly unleashed Hado 91 'Senju Kōten Taihō' flew towards the falling Zero.