No choice but to use my ultimate move.
"Bakudō #21, Sekienton!"
After releasing a smoke bomb, Yamabuki Chidori rapidly retreated to a temporarily safe spot and pressed both hands to the ground.
"Hadō #99, Goryū Tenmetsu!"
Chapter 91: Bankai, Kajōtenketsu
The ground of the Seireitei trembled slightly. After a brief delay, the earth split apart, and five silver-gray dragons soared into the sky. Their Reiatsu instantly shook every Soul Reaper in the Seireitei.
The Soul Reapers watching from afar were all stunned by the five dragons. Those fossilized old nobles were so frightened their mouths hung open.
"Is this the Chief Strategist of the Gotei 13?" A Gotei 13 member gazed toward Central 46 with worshipful eyes.
In everyone's mind, a staff officer was merely an ordinary civil servant, and Yamabuki Chidori had never displayed his strength before the rank-and-file.
To most members, Yamabuki Chidori was just a somewhat capable Soul Reaper in charge of logistics, nowhere near the level of the Captains.
After all, sending a staff officer onto the battlefield to kill enemies was just ridiculous.
Just imagine Zhuge Liang beating Lü Bu one-handed while fighting three heroes with the other. What an utterly insane scene that would be!
The five silver-gray dragons circled in midair before finally diving down. In an instant, the entire Seireitei seemed to suffer a magnitude-ten earthquake. Everything within ten miles was leveled, every building reduced to rubble!
The sages who had escaped from Central 46 went pale at the sight. Just moments ago, they had still been thinking about how to bypass Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and deal with Yamabuki Chidori!
Now it seemed there was nothing to deal with! Even all of Central 46 put together would not be enough for one of his hands.
As the surging Reiatsu gradually dispersed, Yamabuki Chidori stood amid the ruins, panting heavily. Releasing Hadō #99 directly was still somewhat difficult for him—meaning without an incantation and cast instantly—and consumed an enormous amount of Reiatsu. He was rapidly devouring the surrounding Reishi to replenish himself. Please let that attack finish Unohana. Please don't come bouncing back out again.
"Boom!!!"
A figure leaped rapidly out of the ruins. It was Unohana. She had indeed been injured by taking Hadō #99 head-on, but her injuries were not severe.
"So this is a Soul Reaper's spell? Indeed, it's rather interesting. But if you want to defeat me, you are still far from it." Unohana steadied her breathing, and the killing intent in her eyes surged.
She was simply too satisfied with this opponent. Since her birth, she had never encountered anyone who could make her feel this good.
She had to kill him with a heart full of gratitude. Only then would this trip have been worthwhile.
Give it everything! Killing an enemy with all one's strength was the true form of respect.
Unohana reached out and covered her blade, saying in a low, sinister voice, "Bankai! Kajōtenketsu!"
Blood-red Reiatsu erupted, and Unohana's Reiatsu explosively increased. As everyone knew, a Bankai was five to ten times stronger than a Shikai. Soul Reapers with Bankai and those without were simply not on the same level.
Yamabuki Chidori's face twisted like a bitter gourd. I swear to heaven, if I ever raise a death flag before a fight again, may lightning strike me five times.
Unohana's Reiatsu was now completely different from before. At this moment, she was even more bizarre, even evil.
The Zanpakuto in her hand had turned into a curved blade that continuously dripped blood. Not only that, the surrounding environment was constantly seeping blood as well.
Yamabuki Chidori felt as if he had fallen into Hell.
"Flying Sword!" With a wave of Yamabuki Chidori's hand, five Flying Swords shot out at incredible speed. Yet Unohana merely swung the blood-red blade in her hand once. The moment the Flying Swords touched blood, they seemed to encounter their nemesis and instantly collapsed.
Unohana approached Yamabuki Chidori step by step. Her previous madness was gone, as was her earlier wildness. All that remained was boundless strangeness and dread!
Unohana gently raised Kajōtenketsu. As though responding to her movement, the blood began to pulse. She lightly swung her blade, and a sea of blood rushed toward him.
Every hair on Yamabuki Chidori's body stood on alert. He immediately used Spatial Movement to transfer himself away, but even so, one of his fingers accidentally brushed a drop of blood.
The next second, Yamabuki Chidori's finger turned directly into bone. He did not even feel pain!
Yamabuki Chidori's face filled with horror. What was going on? He swung his blade and severed his own finger before retreating continuously. Although the severed finger regenerated through Super-Speed Regeneration, he could not avoid the fear in his heart.
If one had to name the most mysterious Bankai in the Gotei 13, it was undoubtedly Unohana's. Everyone had clearly seen her use Bankai, yet both in and out of the story, no one knew what her true Bankai ability was.
"Is it... corrosion? Does this blood have corrosive properties? The moment my body touches it, it corrodes my flesh?" Yamabuki Chidori made his judgment based on what had just happened. But if it possessed corrosive power like sulfuric acid, he should have felt pain.
Yet just now, he had not felt even a trace of pain before the flesh on his finger had already collapsed.
Unohana gave him no time to think. She raised her blade and slashed. Yamabuki Chidori was analyzing her ability, but when experts clashed, life and death were decided in an instant. Seeing that he could not dodge, he could only raise his sword to block. In the next moment, Kajōtenketsu splashed a massive amount of blood onto him, and his flesh began visibly collapsing and rotting away.
"Could it be... excessive healing?" Yamabuki Chidori rapidly retreated, cutting flesh from his own body as he ran and gouging away every spot touched by blood. The pain nearly drove him mad.
Excessive healing could also cause cells to collapse. He had studied medicine, so he understood that principle. Tenjirō Kirinji's Blood Pool Hell worked on the same principle.
"No, that's not it. I understand the sensation of cells being healed better than anyone. If Kajōtenketsu's ability truly were excessive healing, I would definitely be able to feel it. I'm an expert in Kido! But when that blood touched me, there was no feeling of healing at all." Yamabuki Chidori knew that analyzing his opponent's ability at a time like this would expose an opening, but if he did not analyze it, he had no way to defeat her.
Unohana appeared before Yamabuki Chidori like a ghost and struck again. Her blade pierced his shoulder. Yamabuki Chidori could clearly feel his flesh rotting, decaying, and finally vanishing entirely at incredible speed.
Gritting his teeth, Yamabuki Chidori swung his blade and cut off half his shoulder. Blood sprayed out like a fountain. Fortunately, he had awakened a Hollow's Super-Speed Regeneration. Otherwise, he would have bled to death from such an injury. Kido healing had its limits.
"I... I think I know what your ability is!" Yamabuki Chidori said with difficulty. At the same time, his shoulder regenerated at tremendous speed.
Unohana knew perfectly well that he was stalling for time, yet she did not expose him.
"Acceleration! You accelerate the decay of flesh, right?" Yamabuki Chidori asked.
"You are half right. More accurately, it is the acceleration of causality. A person's birth is the cause, and death followed by becoming dust is the effect. My blade does nothing at all. It merely speeds up that process." Unohana said calmly, "Your shoulder is nearly healed. Let's continue!"
"You still want more?" Yamabuki Chidori said bitterly. "No choice. At this point, I can only bring out the real thing!"
"Perfect Sanctification, release!"
Chapter 92: Kajōtenketsu vs. Perfect Sanctification
Unohana's Reiatsu far surpassed his own. To contend with Kajōtenketsu's Bankai, Yamabuki Chidori could think of only this one method.
Fortunately, no one remained within fifteen miles now. No one could see this form of his!
The surrounding Reishi began to tremble. A pentagram-shaped halo appeared above Yamabuki Chidori's head, while a pair of pale blue wings of light emerged from his back. He looked like an Angel from legend, and his Reiatsu rose to a terrifying height, not the least inferior to Unohana's after Bankai.
"This is your strongest form, isn't it?" Unohana asked.
"That's right. This is my strongest form! If you can defeat me in this form, then I'll no longer have the ability to stop you from destroying the Seireitei." Yamabuki Chidori said calmly as he released his Zanpakuto as well. "Reverse, Silver Radiant Angel."
Perfect Sanctification could greatly increase Reiatsu while also strengthening the abilities one already possessed.
For example, what Yamabuki Chidori had strengthened was his Space Ability.
Once he activated Perfect Sanctification, his control over space would rise to an entirely new level!
"Watch out!" Yamabuki Chidori flapped the wings behind him, and his body instantly vanished from where he stood. This was no longer a speed that Flash Step or Hirenkyaku could achieve. In an instant, Yamabuki Chidori's blade was pressed against Unohana's neck, and without the slightest thought of mercy, he thrust it fiercely forward!
Unohana dodged rapidly, but she did not evade completely. A shocking wound was left on her neck!
The more pain Unohana felt, the happier she became. Kajōtenketsu lightly swung in her hand, and blood condensed into a sharp blade that instantly sliced off one of Yamabuki Chidori's wings. However, the wing itself was formed from Reishi. Even if it was damaged, it could be repaired quickly and would not cause Yamabuki Chidori much harm.
"Holy Spirit Arrow!"
A massive Reishi Arrow descended from the sky. Unohana slashed it apart with a backhanded strike, then kicked Yamabuki Chidori in the stomach. He felt an entire row of ribs shatter at once, the broken bones piercing his internal organs and causing severe internal bleeding!
"How gentle was Unohana when she fought Kenpachi before he awakened his power? That kick could kill someone! If she were wearing white stockings... Cough, cough. I can't think about that during a fight! Super-Speed Regeneration!" Yamabuki Chidori retreated while using his Hollow ability to heal his wounds.
Yamabuki Chidori also discovered that Unohana's Bankai did not destroy objects or bodies, but causality.
Therefore, ordinary Reishi attacks were ineffective against her as well!
Unohana grew increasingly excited, and her sword strikes became increasingly violent!
Every strike carried killing intent like a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!
"Space Erasure!"
Yamabuki Chidori directly activated Silver Radiant Angel's ability. Everything within a radius of over a hundred meters was destroyed along with the disappearing space. Unohana sensed the danger in advance and retreated with Flash Step.
"So this is your Zanpakuto's true ability! Manipulating space! A very troublesome ability!" Unohana said calmly.
Yamabuki Chidori discovered that Unohana's own body was beginning to decay from the power of her Bankai as well. Moreover, the greater the area of decay, the more her Reiatsu increased!
"Space Severance!"
Wherever the blade passed, all things were silently cut apart, while the attack's range reached an astonishing three hundred meters!
In his Perfect Sanctification state, Yamabuki Chidori's attack power and range had increased by more than tenfold compared to when he was in Hueco Mundo!
Unohana again dodged the Space Severance in advance. At this point, nothing remained of her body except a skeleton, and her Reiatsu had reached its peak!
The Reishi wings behind Yamabuki Chidori began frantically devouring the surrounding Reishi to raise his Reiatsu.
Although Unohana said nothing, he understood what she meant. Unohana wanted to decide victory and defeat in a single move.
He had nearly exhausted all his trump cards as well!
Even if he lost, Old Man would still cover for him.
"Hollowfication!" Yamabuki Chidori lightly brushed his left hand across his face, and a Hollow mask appeared. At the same time, he poured all his Reiatsu into his blade.
This was the ultimate attack, fusing the powers of Soul Reaper, Quincy, and Hollow.
A massive amount of Reiatsu condensed, and a Cero formed upon Yamabuki Chidori's blade!
Unohana also gathered every drop of blood seeping from the surroundings onto her blade!
Victory or defeat would be decided by this single strike!
Both charged toward each other at top speed!
Two world-destroying powers collided!
White and red Reiatsu twisted and entwined, instantly piercing through heaven and earth!
Fifteen miles away!
Those with slightly weaker Reiatsu were directly knocked unconscious by the terrifying pressure. Only Captain-level powerhouses could remain calm.
Then the storm of Reiatsu swept through everything, reducing all places reached by the shockwave to ruins!
Fortunately, everyone within fifteen miles had already evacuated. Otherwise, those nobles would never have survived such terrifying power.
After a long time, the rampaging Reiatsu finally calmed.
Yamabuki Chidori and Unohana's bodies were pressed tightly together, their posture resembling an embrace.
At this point, her Bankai had been released, and Unohana had returned to her flesh-and-blood form.
Yamabuki Chidori's blade had pierced Unohana's abdomen, its tip emerging from her back.
Unohana's blade had also stabbed into Yamabuki Chidori's stomach.
The two remained locked in that position.
"What a perfect battle!" Unohana's tone returned to its usual gentleness and calm. With difficulty, she pulled out her blade and casually tossed it to the ground.
Blood began spurting from Yamabuki Chidori's abdomen, but his expression remained unchanged. He pulled out his own blade as well. Unohana revealed a satisfied smile, gently closed her eyes, and fell backward. Yamabuki Chidori reached out and caught her, preventing her from hitting the ground.
"What a dangerous battle!" Yamabuki Chidori looked at the wound in his stomach. His Reiatsu was now exhausted, forcing him out of his Perfect Sanctification state.
Though there was a hole in his stomach, his injuries were not actually severe. Under the effects of Super-Speed Regeneration, the wound closed in less than ten seconds.
Moreover, their final exchange should have resulted in mutual destruction. Neither of them had gained an advantage.
Just as Unohana's blade was about to pierce Yamabuki Chidori's body, he awakened the abilities of Hard Skin and Blut Vene.
Under that double defense, Yamabuki Chidori's injuries were not fatal. Otherwise, if Unohana had pierced his body with her blade and then activated her Bankai's ability, his organs would have completely decayed. Not even Super-Speed Regeneration could have saved him.
At the final moment, Yamabuki Chidori's sword could have pierced Unohana's heart, but he shifted it slightly by two inches and chose to pierce her abdomen instead. That was why both of them survived!
Unohana lay on the ground, feeling her life force slowly drain away. Suddenly, a pair of hands touched her body, and a warm current flowed into her wound. The pain gradually faded, and the bleeding stopped. She slowly opened her eyes and found Yamabuki Chidori treating her injuries.
Chapter 93: Spoils of War, Sister Hana
"Aren't you going to give me the final blow?" Unohana asked.
"Why would I give you the final blow? You're my spoil of war! I got nothing from fighting you. If I lose even my spoils, I'll be taking a huge loss! And when Old Man gets back, he'll definitely give me an earful! Sigh! You wasteful woman!" Yamabuki Chidori wore a sorrowful expression.
Yamamoto had left him behind to watch the house, yet now he had practically torn the house apart himself!
Looking up, there was not a single intact building within fifteen miles. He had no idea how much repairs would cost!
Yamabuki Chidori slung Unohana over his shoulder and walked step by step away from the battlefield.
When the comrades waiting outside saw their Chief Strategist carrying out the enemy, cheers instantly erupted.
The old men of Central 46 looked at Unohana with terror on their faces. Compared to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's invincible strength, this woman's lawless personality frightened them even more.
"Yamabuki Chidori, what are you doing? Kill this woman immediately! This is an order from Central 46! Hurry!" A sage roared at the top of his lungs.
Hearing someone speak, the others began echoing him as well.
Before you continue