That heavy spiritual pressure nearly crushed the breath from everyone. Wave-like flames enveloped the surroundings, and even knowing they would not be caught in it, the sight before them still made their hearts race and their breathing quicken.
At that moment, however, everyone's attention was focused more on Kenpachi, whose throat Yhwach held in his grasp.
After lifting Kenpachi with one hand, the Quincy King did not even seem to have gained a single wrinkle in his clothes.
The scalp-haired Kenpachi was clearly far stronger in spiritual pressure than the Kenpachi standing beside them now.
That sight alone was enough to offer them a glimpse of Yhwach's terror.
The flames vanished in an instant. After carving two straight trails across the ground, everyone saw the old man who had saved Kenpachi.
Sister Hana froze slightly. Looking at the Captain-Commander, who had chosen to save someone first, she could not help recalling the Sword Demon from a thousand years ago. If it had been the Captain-Commander of that era, he would surely have cut down without hesitation rather than saving Kenpachi. It seemed that over the span of a thousand years, the Sword Demon of old had shed that blood-soaked outer shell.
Kenpachi merely rested his blade on his shoulder as he watched, then glanced at Captain-Commander. His eyes seemed to hold some indescribable emotion.
The towering flames seemed like power from another dimension. Everyone could not help looking at the old man standing at the front of the group. That terrifying strength stood in stark contrast to his usual gentle demeanor.
As they watched the one-armed old man battle Yhwach, both Shunsui and Jushiro Ukitake wore grave expressions. As Captain-Commander's disciples, they knew Old Man's strength better than anyone. Yet judging from Asano Kiyoshi's words earlier, Captain-Commander had most likely