The Foolish Younger Brother, Civil War in the Ukitake Clan!

Indeed.

Shunsui Kyoraku, who stood on equal footing with Jushiro Ukitake, could be considered one of the strongest captains beneath Yamamoto Genryusai.

So, even if his record was unimpressive, he still could not be underestimated.

But just as Nanao Ise had said, Jushiro Ukitake's body simply could not withstand excessively intense combat.

After gaining control over the remaining Soul King's Power, his older brother's Spiritual Pressure alone had already reached captain-class.

Combined with this bizarre ability, he was more than qualified to hold a place among the current captains.

Within the wasteland, black patterns spread like ink beneath a brush, crisscrossing and weaving into a net that gradually compressed Jushiro Ukitake's room to move to its limit.

"My foolish younger brother, even after becoming the captain of the Thirteenth Division, even after receiving Yamamoto Genryusai's teachings."

Above the shadow, countless eyes opened, radiating an eerie glow.

"You are still as naive as you were in childhood!"

Jushiro Ukitake lightly tapped off the ground, leaving an afterimage behind that was instantly shattered by two black patterns.

His expression remained calm and his gaze resolute as his Spiritual Pressure completely locked onto the shadow's location.

His unyielding will even temporarily suppressed his illness and frailty.

After slipping past two more black patterns, the blades of Sogyo no Kotowari were already closing in on the shadow. Its face, covered in pupils, was reflected in the cold gleam of the blades.

"Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!"

Countless pupils widened as Spiritual Pressure erupted. The giant black net abruptly contracted as well.

The patterns that had nearly covered an area hundreds of meters wide directly formed an enormous sphere, sealing Jushiro Ukitake within.

"Hado #63: Raikoho!"

Facing the overwhelming attack, Jushiro Ukitake showed no panic. He held a blade horizontally before him in his right hand, and dazzling golden lightning burst from its edge.

The thunderous blast echoed across the wasteland, annihilating the converging black patterns with overwhelming force.

It was as though a torrential black rain had fallen from the sky, countless drops of ink pouring down and merging into the battered ground.

"Cough, cough cough!"

Jushiro Ukitake stood in place, his body slightly hunched as violent coughs tore from him, as though he were about to cough up his lungs.

He should have been recuperating at Ugane Hall today, but the squad members assigned to watch the Ukitake Clan had informed him that his older brother had begun the ritual.

Thus, he could only endure his ailing body and follow him into Nigoku District.

This was a stain upon the Ukitake Clan, and only he could personally wash it away.

Bzzzz—

The ground emitted a powerful tremor. Rubble and soil continuously bounced, as if an earthquake could strike at any moment.

Jushiro Ukitake, who had been catching his breath where he stood, was suddenly struck by intense alarm. Ignoring his exhaustion, he immediately used Shunpo again and moved elsewhere.

Riiip!!

The hardened ground was torn apart by solidified black Spiritual Pressure. As though it had been injected with the Reishi Growth Hormone researched by the Department of Research and Development, it instantly transformed into a colossal black arm dozens of meters tall.

The ground in other directions likewise burst open in succession. Massive creatures erupted from the wasteland one after another, occupying the entire battlefield like bamboo shoots after rain.

Some noble clan members were even struck directly by black palms because they failed to evade in time. Their bodies were flung into the air as blood poured from their mouths.

In merely a few breaths, towering black arms filled the eye's reach. Huge single eyes opened upon the backs of their hands, casting eerie gazes in every direction.

"An ability that has never appeared in the intelligence records..."

Tension appeared in Nanao Ise's eyes behind her glasses. "Judging from their Spiritual Pressure alone, nearly every arm has reached Fourth-Class Spiritual Might, perhaps even Third-Class Spiritual Might."

"Their states are astonishingly stable. Even when attacking, they do not seem to expend any Spiritual Pressure."

Rangiku Matsumoto instinctively widened her eyes, her lips parting slightly. Her exquisite face was filled with shock, and her body unconsciously moved closer to Su Feng.

"The Soul King's Power actually created monsters of this level..."

A forest of enormous arms stood within the wasteland, bringing unimaginable shock to their hearts.

Even though they had carried out numerous missions and had even faced powerful Menos head-on.

Before this boundless black forest, however, they still felt an indescribable sense of oppression.

It was as though a giant hand were loosely gripping their hearts. It only needed to tighten slightly for their hearts to burst apart completely!

The shadow stood in place with both arms spread wide, as if embracing the entire world. An intoxicated, obsessed expression appeared upon his face, which had become indistinct beneath the dense black patterns.

"So this is the legendary Soul King's Power. What wonderful power!"

"It is truly a waste for Mimihagi-sama's power to be used to sustain your lowly, pitiful life."

"My foolish younger brother, hand that power over."

"I will make proper use of it and lead the Ukitake Clan to unprecedented heights!"

Holding Sogyo no Kotowari, Jushiro Ukitake stood in place with an expression of utmost gravity.

"One who steals the Soul King's Power and seeks to disrupt the peace of Soul Society—even if you are my older brother, I will not hold back in the slightest."

"Hado #78: Zanka no Tachi!"

Vast Spiritual Pressure surged through Sogyo no Kotowari as Jushiro Ukitake wielded his twin blades and slashed in every direction.

Massive ring-shaped blades of light instantly spread outward. Like crops being harvested, the tree-like black arms fell in response, turning into black patterns that once again sank into the earth.

Yet at the same time, other arms descended upon Jushiro Ukitake from angles that defied the limits of their joints.

Palms and fists alike slammed fiercely into the ground.

Jushiro Ukitake evaded with Shunpo, his comparatively small figure always dodging the attacks through delicate, almost miraculous timing.

Even when he had no time to dodge, Sogyo no Kotowari would unleash incomparably sharp Sword Pressure, severing the attacks directly.

He appeared to be at a disadvantage, but in truth, they were evenly matched.

The only flaw was that Jushiro Ukitake's body simply could not sustain a prolonged battle.

And he was clearly well aware of that.

Thus, after Jushiro Ukitake used the blade in his left hand to sever another descending arm, the Sogyo no Kotowari in his right hand suddenly bloomed with an azure radiance, illuminating the dark sky like a star.

The five tags on the rope connecting the hilts clinked together, playing the final notes of a melody.

Jushiro Ukitake raised his right hand and pointed into the distance, toward where the shadow stood. His vast Spiritual Pressure surged forth like an ocean, completely covering the wasteland.

Boom boom boom!!

An incomparably massive pillar of inky blue light erupted from the blade. Like a burst dam, it crushed everything ahead with overwhelming momentum.

Before that mighty attack, the black forest was completely shattered and obliterated in an instant, leaving no trace behind!

In the distance, the shadow's eyes flashed with undisguised horror. He instinctively mobilized all his strength to defend himself.

Dense black patterns suddenly formed an enormous shield beneath the clouds.

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