The Road to Promotion

Gradually, Cracks spread across the blade of Ryūjin Jakka, Then, with a bang, Ryūjin Jakka's blade shattered.

What erupted along with the fragments was an immensely powerful surge of energy!

Rolling waves of heat surged outward. Empowered by the God Tree, Ryūjin Jakka unleashed its final brilliance.

The temperature at its core was no lower than the temperature of Yamamoto Genryūsai's Bankai!

In an instant, more than half of the surrounding seawater evaporated, creating a massive vacuum.

The seawater farther away continued to evaporate as well, bubbling under the extreme heat.

The temperature was so high that even Nara Dan frowned, unable to resist draping layer after layer of Chakra cloaks over himself for protection.

Likewise, beneath temperatures comparable to the core of the sun, the Dharma Blade placed at the center of the heat began undergoing a different kind of transformation.

Under the extreme heat, the Dharma Blade, tens of thousands of times harder than diamond, finally began to melt.

Bit by bit, inch by inch.

Its blade, neither wood nor metal, slowly turned liquid and dripped down, Forming a writhing, luminous sphere in midair.

"The second step,"

Nara Dan said, "requires adding other materials..."

"To make it more advanced."

Immediately afterward, Nara Dan took out the Hōgyoku and the Spirit King's remains.

The Hōgyoku had been removed after Renji Abarai completed his Bankai training.

"In theory, the Hōgyoku possesses unimaginable abilities..."

"It can break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollows."

"It has the potential to advance into the Transcendent..."

"Though Aizen seemed never to have succeeded..."

"But this Hōgyoku of mine..."

"Has passed through several hosts—Rukia, Sōsuke Aizen, and Renji Abarai..."

"They were all individuals on the level of Children of Destiny."

"They possessed extraordinarily special or exceptional qualities."

Nara Dan thought to himself, "Especially Renji Abarai. I