BANG—!
The massive fist collided with the three-dimensional polygonal greatsword, and an indescribable shockwave spread out. Centered on the point where that enormous fist landed, endless cracks burst across the entire void.
The atmosphere shattered and spread upward, as though the end of the world had arrived. Under the tremor, all of Marine Headquarters began to split apart.
Crack—!
A crisp sound rang out. Kenpachi Zaraki's pupils shrank slightly as he looked at the cracks gradually appearing across Nozarashi, shock inevitably surfacing on his face.
His Zanpakuto...
Had actually shattered?
Yet as he watched the cracks steadily spread, there was no fear on his face. Instead, his expression grew increasingly fervent.
This man was simply too strong.
With nothing but a body on the verge of withering away, he could still unleash such terrifying power.
If this continued, his Zanpakuto would not hold out for long. Without it, if he faced this man with his body alone, defeat would be almost certain.
Normally, the best course of action now would be to pull back.
But the terrifying tremors beneath Whitebeard's fist continued to spread. The shattered atmosphere, like glass, seemed to form a spider's hunting web, locking him tightly within it.
Without his Zanpakuto to resist it, it would be far more than merely being "locked" in place. That terrifying vibration could instantly shatter his materialized spiritual pressure defense and strike his body.
"This is the end..."
But at that moment, Whitebeard's voice abruptly cut off, and a pained expression suddenly appeared on his face.
Even the force behind the fist hurtling toward Kenpachi Zaraki weakened. The sudden disappearance of that terrifying impact did not give Kenpachi Zaraki, who had been searching for an opening, time to notice that something was wrong with Whitebeard.
He instinctively launched an attack. Both