Rumble!
A violent explosion erupted in the First Division's meeting hall, and fierce flames surged in every direction.
The surrounding walls, the roof overhead, and even the wooden floor beneath their feet were instantly blown apart by the violent impact.
Then came the merciless flames, burning everything in their path.
Facing the explosive wave of fire rushing toward him, Yamamoto changed the trajectory of his raised Zanpakuto and swung it horizontally before him.
Boom!
Surging flames burst from the blade, forming a thick wall of fire in front of them that enveloped Yamamoto and all the captains behind him without leaving the slightest gap.
Feeling the scorching heat in the air, they knew that if the people present had not all been captains of the Seireitei, they would have been unable to endure it long ago.
If an ordinary spirit body had been here, it would not even have been able to approach before being roasted dry by the heat.
Yet even with Captain-General Yamamoto protecting them, the lieutenants' mouths went dry and their lips cracked at once.
Shin'emon Maeda stood at the edge of the crowd.
The instant the flames erupted, he appeared before the two wounded men, Kyōraku and Ukitake, and spread his arms.
Looking at the raging flames just inches away, he saw even the air distort beneath the intense heat.
Shin'emon's expression relaxed slightly.
Fortunately, the Captain-General had reacted in time, so they had not been caught up in it.
Nor had he truly been forced to become a human shield for Kyōraku and Ukitake.
"Whew... Good thing we have the Captain-General. Otherwise, that would have been dangerous."
Iba Chikane, standing nearby, did not look pleased.
"But the enemy's Zanpakuto ability is simply too powerful. We still haven't figured it out, and the situation remains unclear."