Chapter 174 The Man Who Reached the End of the Path of Soul Reaper! (Please Subscribe)
"Clang!!"
Kikōō roared in fury. He could not tolerate that anyone in this world could stop him from executing Ichigo. Only by burning Ichigo Kurosaki to ashes could he demonstrate his supreme divine power to these fools who dared to violate the laws of Soul Society.
"Boom!"
Unfortunately, before the Kikōō could launch a new attack on Ichigo Kurosaki, who stood arrogantly on the executioner's block and didn't even bother to dodge, his body was destroyed by several attacks from below.
"Okay, that's enough."
Before anyone knew it, Shunsui Kyōraku, the captain of the Eighth Division, had already Shikai his Zanpakuto. He left the captains' formation and came directly below the Kikōō. The attack that had just shattered the Kikōō Zanpakuto a powerful slash from his Zanpakuto called Bushōgoma.
"Clang clang!"
Enraged by Shunsui Kyōraku's slash that shattered his body, the Kikōō, formed from flames, quickly restored his tattered body to its original state. He then roared at Shunsui Kyōraku Shunsui Kyōraku, bewildered as to why this man, who appeared to be a squad leader, would attack him.
"So it really won't work?"
"It seems I still need your help..."
Shunsui Kyōraku looked at the Kikōō, who had easily recovered from his injuries, and helplessly pursed his lips. Although he had long anticipated that his attack might not be able to harm the incorporeal Kikōō, it still hit him hard when it actually happened.
"Leave it to us!"
"Isn't this exactly why we came here?"
The person who responded to Shunsui Kyōraku was a man with long, snow-white hair that flowed in the wind, a handsome face, and an air of nobility.
At this moment, the long-haired nobleman held a huge shield bearing the mark of the Shihōin Clan and aimed it at the Kikōō high in the sky.
"Clang!!"
The once arrogant Kikōō felt an unprecedented sense of crisis after being locked onto by that shield. He had a premonition that if this continued, he would surely die here.
"Huff huff..."
Ignoring Ichigo Kurosaki standing on the executioner's block, and disregarding Shunsui Kyōraku who had deliberately injured him, the Kikōō simply flapped his wings, intending to escape from this dangerous place.
"Oh no, that guy's trying to escape."
Shunsui Kyōraku, watching the ever-rising Kikōō, sensed something was amiss.
"Don't worry! He can't get away!"
However, compared to the slightly nervous Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake was much calmer.
"Let the water and sky reverse, Nejibana!"
Sure enough, the moment the Kikōō took flight, an endless sea of water fell from the sky and drenched Kikōō completely.
"Clang clang!"
This caused the Kikōō to fly back in pain.
Just then, Jūshirō Ukitake, who was holding a shield, got a direct hit.
"Boom!"
As Jūshirō Ukitake activated his shield, countless rays of light pierced through the body of the Kikōō in mid-air. The next second... the Kikōō transformed into a broken spear amidst its furious howl.
Faced with the divinely bestowed weaponry of the Shihoin Family, even the mighty Kikōō had no choice but to meet his demise on the spot.
"Oh my~"
"I didn't expect even you to come?"
"As the head of the Shiba Clan, are you really sure you're okay leaving the Shiba Clan like this?"
Shunsui Kyōraku looked at Kaien Shiba, who had just ambushed the Kikōō and was now calmly descending from the sky, and asked.
With everyone at home keeping watch, nothing can go wrong.
"But here, if I weren't here, things could really get messy."
When Kaien Shiba heard Shunsui Kyōraku mention the Shiba Clan, he smiled confidently. He had great confidence in his wife, after all, she was a former vice-captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division. It would be a waste of her talents to have her oversee the Shiba Clan Shiba Clan ensure that it would not be invaded by thugs from Rukongai.
"We do need your help here. After all, we're going to be challenging a man who has stood at the Soul Society for a thousand years, pushing the path of Soul Reaper to its extreme, and possessing overwhelming power that is unimaginable to ordinary people."
Before even engaging the silent, bald old man wielding a scepter, Shunsui Kyōraku had already begun boasting about the old man's strength. To be honest... if there were any other path to take, he would never have considered fighting such a monster.
" Kyōraku..."
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai opened his narrow, long eyes, a sharp, divine light flashing within them. At the same time, a suffocating Spiritual Pressure rose from his body. Everyone knew that the strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years had been enraged!
"Well done, Kyōraku!"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai glared at Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, Kaien Shiba, and Kūkaku Shiba, but secretly gave his good apprentice a thumbs up. With Shunsui Kyōraku causing this commotion, he could continue his act.
" Shunsui Kyōraku! Are you planning a rebellion?"
Before Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, Sajin Komamura, the captain of the Seventh Division, had already drawn his Zanpakuto from his waist.
" Bankai: Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
Without wasting any words, Sajin Komamura drew his Zanpakuto and completed its Bankai Zanpakuto.
A towering, helmeted, and powerfully built samurai suddenly appeared behind Sajin Komamura. His imposing figure and arrogant demeanor resembled that of an invincible, dignified king from mythology. This giant king, seemingly emerging from mythology, was about to bestow upon those who dared to offend him and provoke his wrath the cruel punishments of the Black Rope Hell as divine retribution.
" Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
Byakuya Kuchiki drew his Zanpakuto from his waist, easily letting Zanpakuto fall to the ground. The next second, countless seas of flowers swept across the entire area, blocking the path of the invincible Myō-ō.
" Byakuya Kuchiki! What are you doing? Get out of my way! Don't get in my way of dealing with traitors, or... are you a traitor too?!"
Sajin Komamura roared angrily at Byakuya Kuchiki, who was blocking his way.
"I am not a traitor."
Byakuya Kuchiki answered Sajin Komamura's question with incredibly simple words, but he only answered Sajin Komamura's question and had no intention of explaining Sajin Komamura to him.
"Then get out of my way!"
After hearing Byakuya Kuchiki's reply, Sajin Komamura spoke in a cold voice.
"..."
Despite hearing Sajin Komamura's words, Byakuya Kuchiki remained defiant, blocking Sajin Komamura without showing any intention of backing down.
" Byakuya Kuchiki! Do you really intend to betray the honor of your clan?!"
Sajin Komamura stared at the sea of flowers blocking his path, his eyes, hidden beneath his mask, twitching slightly.
"I would never do anything to betray the honor of my family."
When confronted by Sajin Komamura, Byakuya Kuchiki answered him quite calmly, as if he genuinely felt there was nothing wrong with what he was doing.
"Obstructing execution and hindering my trial of traitors—aren't these two things enough to tarnish the honor of the Kuchiki Clan?!"
" Byakuya Kuchiki, I'll ask you one more time, and this will be the last time: are you going to move aside or not?!"
Sajin Komamura didn't rush to make a move; he planned to give Byakuya Kuchiki one last chance to repent.
"..."
Sajin Komamura 'Byakuya Kuchiki silence was once again the only response to Komamura Sajin. He answered Sajin Komamura with his actions, and the cherry blossom rain, under Byakuya Kuchiki's control, shot straight towards the attack of Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō like a sharp arrow.
" Byakuya Kuchiki... it seems you've chosen the worst answer."
Sajin Komamura's face was ashen. Although it was hidden by a mask, although his face was covered with fluffy yellow hair, and although his appearance would not change no matter what his mood was... Sajin Komamura's face was still ashen.
"Yeah?"
I don't think I made the wrong choice.
Byakuya Kuchiki remained unfazed, still exuding an air of absolute confidence.
"Hahaha! Great!"
"I will show you with my skills that you chose the wrong team."
Sajin Komamura laughter, his seemingly innocent eyes flashing with a fierce light, like a husky seeing a sofa, inspiring fear in those around him.
" Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, I'll take care of Byakuya Kuchiki."
Sajin Komamura cold laugh and asked Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
Go fight somewhere else.
After hearing Sajin Komamura's words, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai remained completely uninterested, like an adult watching children's commotion. He calmly uttered five words, but these simple five words felt like the Buddha's Five Finger Mountain, pressing down on Sajin Komamura and Byakuya Kuchiki, making it hard for them to breathe.
"Yes, sir!"
Sajin Komamura nodded Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, who had agreed to his request, his extremely respectful posture resembling that of a Shiba Inu loyal to its master.
" Byakuya Kuchiki, let's go fight over there."
Sajin Komamura Byakuya Kuchiki with his finger, signaling Byakuya to leave with him.
"Good."
Byakuya's answer was straightforward; even he didn't want to have any avoidable or unavoidable friction with Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai while he was at the height of his Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
After reaching a consensus, the two used the Shunpo technique to quickly arrive at a distance of about a thousand meters from Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai and the others, where they faced each other.
Just as the two were leaving, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, who had remained silent all along, made a move!
He walked forward step by step, and at the same time, the cane in Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's hand transformed into a samurai sword radiating raging flames.
Yamamoto, sword in hand, walked step by step toward Shunsui Kyōraku and the others. No one dared to stand up and stop him. They stood still, their eyes fixed on Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, not daring to breathe.
Especially those like Shunsui Kyōraku, who were firmly locked onto by Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's gaze, felt as if they were the ones outnumbered and at a disadvantage, even though there were four of them in total.
"There are still too few people."
Shunsui Kyōraku pressed down on his straw hat, gave a bitter smile, and knew he wouldn't be confident of defeating Yama-jii without at least ten or eight Captain-level!
By the time Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai reached Shunsui Kyōraku and the others, he had already removed his white haori and the upper garment of his Shihakusho, revealing his muscular upper body covered in countless sword scars. Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's posture indicated that he had fully entered battle stance.
"Oh dear..."
" Yama-jii is furious!"
Shunsui Kyōraku watched as Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai entered battle mode, and Shunsui Kyōraku secretly scoffed.
"Are you little brats ready to get a beating?"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai narrowed his eyes slightly. At the moment when he was about to fight Shunsui Kyōraku and the others, he instead restrained his overwhelming anger and earth-shattering aura. He smiled with narrowed eyes like an ordinary, kind old man, and said words that made people's hair stand on end.
"Are you saying... we've already lost?"
Shunsui Kyōraku scratched the back of his head. Although he knew that it would be difficult for him and his group to win, he would honestly lose face if all four of them lost together.
You can't win.
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai calmly looked at Shunsui Kyōraku, declaring that Kyōraku and the others would definitely not be able to defeat him. Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's voice was very calm, without the slightest ripple, because he was simply stating a fact.
"Four people really can't win, can they?"
"But what if we add one more person?"
Shunsui Kyōraku smiled slightly at Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, and the next second, Hōshō Ryo, who had been standing still and observing, suddenly appeared beside everyone.
"Um?"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the suddenly appearing Hōshō Ryo. Even for a Bankai of Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's caliber, Hōshō Ryo's Bankai was still a threat. Faced with this lineup, he probably couldn't afford to be careless...
" Little Nanao! Please!"
Just as Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai was simulating the outcome of the battle between the two sides in his mind, Shunsui Kyōraku took off his floral overcoat and threw it to Nanao Ise behind him.
"Good."
Nanao Ise gave Shunsui Kyōraku a deep look, picked up Shunsui Kyōraku's coat, and used Shunpo disappear into the distance.
They stopped only when they were a thousand meters away from Kyōraku and the others, quietly sensing the Spiritual Pressure emanating from Shunsui Kyōraku and the others.
"Today, the five captains of our Gotei 13 will challenge you, the ultimate master!"
Shunsui Kyōraku removed the straw hat from his head, letting it flutter in the wind. His eyes were sharp as steel blades. Facing Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, a man who had reached the end of the path of Soul Reaper, Shunsui Kyōraku dared not be the slightest bit presumptuous.
"Bring it on!"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai saw Shunsui Kyōraku become serious, he simply said, "Come on."
"Null!!"
In an instant, an astonishing Spiritual Pressure surged into the sky!
"Flowers flutter in disarray, the flower goddess weeps, the heavenly winds rage, the heavenly demon sneers, and the Katen Kyōkotsu!"
"All flowing waves, become my shield! All lightning bolts, become my blade! Sōgyo no Kotowari!"
"Let the water and sky reverse! Nejibana!"
"Dance wildly with the sea breeze, Kyōran!"
" Sting All Enemies to Death! The Suzumebachi!"
The moment Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai uttered the words "Say it out loud," five Zanpakuto were unleashed right before his Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai!
"Interesting!"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai gazed with admiration at the various Zanpakuto releases before him, nodding slightly in approval. These Shikai were indeed quite mature; truly worthy of being the Shikai of the captains and former captains of the Gotei 13.
"Then it's time for me to Shikai."
" Ryūjin Jakka!"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai lightly swung his Zanpakuto, releasing it in an instant!
In an instant, endless flames erupted from Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's side, soaring hundreds of feet high!
Clusters of blazing flames, like subjects, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai in the center. At this moment, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai was the monarch of flames, the king of flames!
"Is this definitely not Bankai?!"
Kūkaku Shiba stared dumbfounded at the endless sea of fire before her. She knew Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai was very strong. From a young age, she had heard her family talk about how powerful Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai was, how he entered the Seireitei alone, and how he forced the Five Great Noble Clans to lower themselves and cooperate with him. At the time, Kūkaku Shiba had just scoffed, thinking that what her family said was too exaggerated. No matter how strong one person was, it was impossible to force the Five Great Noble Clans, who combined had the strength of more than a dozen Captain-level, to bow down...
But now it seems that her family elders were being modest; this old man is simply a monster. His Spiritual Pressure is about ten times that of Captain-level (yes, that's right, it's my great-uncle Kensei Muguruma!).
"Forehead..."
Standing a kilometer away, Nanao Ise felt the overwhelming Spiritual Pressure and terrifying heat emanating from Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, which seemed to scorch the entire cliff. She felt completely exhausted. As the vice-captain, standing a kilometer away, she couldn't even watch the battle unfold. The difference in their strength was simply too great...
" Little Nanao! Come here! Come here!"
Just as Nanao Ise felt like she was about to evaporate, a soft female voice entered her ears.
" Captain Retsu Unohana!?"
Nanao Ise heard the voice calling her repeatedly, turned around, and saw Captain Retsu Unohana using Kidō to block the Ryūjin Jakka for the group of vice-captains.
" Captain Retsu Unohana!"
When Nanao Ise saw Retsu Unohana, it was as if she had seen an angel. She flew behind Retsu Unohana and joined the other lieutenants of the other divisions.
"This level of combat is far too early for you."
Retsu Unohana smiled slightly and spoke to the people behind her.
" Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya "
"Please go and stop that Ryoka who rescued Rukia."
Retsu Unohana Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who was dazed and slightly open his mouth, and said softly.
"Um?!"
Hearing Retsu Unohana's call, Tōshirō Hitsugaya turned his head, staring at her with a bewildered look. He was completely stunned by the Spiritual Pressure emanating from Retsu Unohana Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai. The power of Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, who seemed to be a blazing sun from mythology illuminating the world, surpassed Tōshirō Hitsugaya's imagination, constantly drawing his eyes and senses in. As a result, his attention was entirely focused on the radiating heat from Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai Tōshirō Hitsugaya the distance, and he didn't hear Retsu Unohana's words at all.
"I said... Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya! Go and deal with that Ryoka who's blocking Sōkyoku! You're the only one left here with any fighting ability."
Seeing that Tōshirō Hitsugaya hadn't heard her at all, Retsu Unohana frowned slightly, pretending to be a little angry, and said angrily.
This chapter continues with another 5,000 words~
(End of this chapter)