Bankai: Zanka no Tachi

Resistance seemed meaningless!

Just as the Soul Reapers' morale had nearly fallen to rock bottom, and even Soul Reapers like Ōmaeda Marechiyo had begun looking around, preparing to slip away in the most suitable and inconspicuous manner.

An extreme heat...

Suddenly spread from the very center of Karakura Town!

"Bankai: Zanka no Tachi."

An ancient, imposing voice reached the ears of every Soul Reaper, causing a glimmer of hope to rise once more in the eyes of countless despairing Soul Reapers.

Lord Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the thousand-year Soul Reaper who bore the title of "Strongest Shinigami" and Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Divisions, is still here. We... have not lost!

Yet, as he watched the change in the Soul Reapers' gazes, Aizen Sōsuke's smile grew ever broader.

Why had he killed Wonderweiss, who had originally been used to seal Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's Zanpakuto?

Because it was all for Makoto's plan!

Perhaps Wonderweiss had indeed been the best way to eliminate Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the pillar of the Thirteen Divisions. Without the support of his Zanpakuto, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni might still have been far stronger than an ordinary captain, but the difficulty of dealing with him would undoubtedly have dropped by several orders of magnitude.

However, before the power Makoto had drawn forth, Aizen Sōsuke no longer needed Wonderweiss.

Or rather, if Makoto was to control the entire Seireitei more conveniently in the future, then Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's thousand years of accumulated prestige needed to be shattered in the most direct way possible.

And only after going from despair to seeing hope could they fall into even deeper despair, could they not?

Skilled at toying with human hearts, Aizen Sōsuke ignored Kurosaki Ichigo and slowly turned to look at Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

At that moment, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's appearance had changed drastically...