The strongest.
Who is the strongest in Soul Society?
Some say that the strongest in Soul Society must be Kenpachi, the captain of the 11th Division 11th Division, who is like a god of war and invincible. He is known as Kenpachi strongest Soul Reaper in Soul Society!
Some say that Kenpachi is merely the strongest Soul Reaper of our time, but this "time" does not include Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who has stood in the Seireitei for thousands of years and has served as the captain of the Gotei 13 First Division and concurrently the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 since its Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai —a man who holds the title of the strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years.
Kenpachi's "strongest" is not as prestigious as Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's. It's like Hyōrinmaru encountering Ryūjin Jakka. Ryūjin Jakka Hyōrinmaru turned into water.
However... while everyone thought that Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai was the strongest Soul Reaper in Soul Society, many people disagreed. They believed that Sōgo Shihoin, who currently stands at the pinnacle of power in Soul Society and enjoys countless privileges, is Soul Reaper strongest Soul Society. Their reasoning was that if Sōgo Shihoin wasn't strong, he would have been killed long ago if he were as arrogant as him.
That makes sense. If Sōgo Shihoin were even slightly weaker, not too weak, but if Sōgo Shihoin only at the level of Kensei Muguruma, and still acted so arrogantly, he would have been killed long ago. Therefore, the view that Sōgo Shihoin is very strong has been recognized by countless Soul Reaper.
However, when Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai met Sōgo Shihoin, countless people compared their strength, plunging many Soul Reaper into a dilemma. Furthermore, the relationship between Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai and Sōgo Shihoin was always in a very delicate balance; they respected each other, avoiding violence whenever possible, and trying to persuade each other with words. This situation further piqued the curiosity of countless Soul Reaper, yet Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai century-long peace between Sōgo Shihoin made it impossible to determine who was stronger... until today...
A vast sea of fire engulfed half of Soul Society.
" Zanka no Tachi - South - Kaka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin!"
Like a god-king ruling over all living beings in a myth, the fire spirit swung its Zanka no Tachi and slashed at the ground beneath its feet.
The next second, the earth was cleaved and melted, turning into countless boiling magma bubbling with eerie bubbles. From the magma, pairs of skeletal hands emerged, and bizarre creatures, fully armed and roaring, crawled out of the magma and surged towards the Ikomikidomoe.
These bizarre creatures are all the souls of those who perished under the blade of Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai over the past thousands of years. After being killed by Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, their souls were permanently imprisoned within Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai blade, never to be reborn. Forever they will fight to defend the rights of the Soul Society and the justice in Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's eyes. They will die again and again, crawling out of the molten lava again and again, fighting and fighting without end!
That molten lava pool was like the gates of Hell opened by the fire spirit, allowing countless dead monsters to World of the Living!
"You think you're the only one with underlings?"
Facing the mountain of corpses, Ikomikidomoe massing troops, right? It's not some high-difficulty ability. Anyone can do this basic skill, right?"
"Come forth, my children, and overthrow them!"
As he gradually Sōgo, the Ikomikidomoe shouted loudly and summoned several smaller Kiba, each the size of a Xiao Jiba bear and possessing the strength of Adjuchas- level Menos Grande, who charged towards the mountain of corpses and the sea of corpses.
"Kill them!!"
"Roar!!"
The two sides clashed instantly, countless skulls were smashed, and countless Jiba were chopped off; the battle was extremely fierce.
"Hmph~ Interesting."
Sōgo Shihoin and the Fire Spirit wielding the Zanka no Tachi stood like commanders of two armies, facing off against each other in the sky.
"Let's see if you can handle this move?"
Sōgo Shihoin gently patted Ikomikidomoe's head, channeling Spiritual Pressure into it.
"Ah~ Ah~"
"I can't take it anymore~"
"I can't hold back anymore..."
"It's... it's about to launch!"
Ikomikidomoe felt the Spiritual Pressure that Sōgo Shihoin was injecting into his body, his body immediately turned bright red. He opened his blood-red mouth, and endless red light continuously gathered in his mouth.
"Boom!"
Every now and then, a beam of light as thick as a mountain shot out from the mouth of Ikomikidomoe, splitting the sky and the earth apart, and crashing into the invincible fire spirit who was holding the Zanka no Tachi.
" Zanka no Tachi ·Xi- Zanjitsu Gokui!"
Faced with Cero that had surpassed even the Cero, an invincible beam cannon capable of destroying an entire district of Rukongai with a single shot, Fire Spirit simply held the Zanka no Tachi in front of his chest.
The next second, endless flames, like armor, covered his entire body. At this moment, the fire spirit truly resembled a natural sun, radiating boundless light and heat, shining brilliantly!
"Boom!"
The beam cannon successfully hit its target, transforming into a blazing sun that illuminated the entire Soul Society's fire spirit. However, its effect was negligible. The invincible beam cannon was burned to ashes before it could even touch the fire spirit's true form, turning into countless Reishi that became nourishment for the Soul Society.
"Buzz!"
As the light beam dissipated, countless Grim Soul Reaper within the Seireitei gazed at the sunlight overhead in astonishment.
They looked at the sight above them in disbelief.
Two enormous suns appeared in the sky that day?!
"A pair of suns born in the same day?!"
"It's Yama-sama's Ryujin Jakka that's really unleashed its power!"
Shunsui Kyōraku felt his throat was hoarse and his mouth was bitter. The temperature in Soul Society was getting higher and higher. If this continued, before the battle between Sōgo Shihoin and Ryūjin Jakka was over, they, the Soul Reaper, would die from dehydration.
" Bankai..."
" Resurrección..."
Just as Shunsui Kyōraku was feeling bitter, endless streams of water suddenly filled the streets of Soul Society.
Kaien Shiba and Tier Harribel are using the properties of their Zanpakuto to create water as if it were free.
We're saved.
Shunsui Kyōraku breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the water that was above his feet. With this water, they could at least hold out for a while longer. Otherwise, if the Seireitei's barrier broke, they could protect themselves, but they would have difficulty protecting those weak Soul Reaper.
"Freeze it for me!"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya wasn't idle either. Taking advantage of the air being filled with water molecules, he used his Hyōrinmaru to create countless ice blocks, as if covering the walls of Seireitei with a layer of white armor, successfully helping to lower the high temperature of Seireitei.
"Thump."
Having done all this, Tōshirō Hitsugaya also successfully exhausted all his Spiritual Pressure. He was forced to withdraw from Bankai and sat down heavily in the shallow water.
"It feels so comfortable and cool."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya sat in the water, a happy smile on his face. As an ice-attribute user, he was naturally afraid of the heat, and just now he almost died from the heat, just like his Zanpakuto Hyōrinmaru.
Lying in the water now, doing absolutely nothing, is pure bliss.
"The rest is up to you, Sōgo Shihoin."
Perhaps Tōshirō Hitsugaya himself didn't realize that, at some point, he had begun to rely on Sōgo Shihoin as the guardian deity of Soul Society.
Not only him, but all the Seireitei who saw Sōgo Shihoin summon the towering Mikado that was taller than the Ikomikidomoe mountain in Soul Society already Sōgo Shihoin as the guardian Soul Reaper of Soul Society.
Meanwhile, Sōgo Shihoin was observing the Fire Spirit, who was clad in scorching armor, with great interest and excitement.
Sōgo Shihoin admits that he is a god, but he is not a guardian deity loyal to Soul Society. He is a guardian deity with thick, short silver hair, who acts out of interest!
"..."
While Sōgo Shihoin sizing up Fire Spirit, Fire Spirit was also sizing Sōgo Shihoin. Fire Spirit quietly watched Sōgo Shihoin, waiting for him to make his move. As for worrying whether Sōgo Shihoin's Sōgo Shihoin would hurt him... he had no such concerns. It was because in this state, he would transform his Spiritual Pressure into armor of fifteen million degrees. Fifteen million degrees... that was the temperature that rivaled the core of the sun! Fire Spirit was confident that no one could break through his armor and harm him in this state.
"That's interesting."
Sōgo Shihoin to himself as he drew his other Zanpakuto, the Sayafushi, capable of severing everything in this world.
Today, Sōgo Shihoin will sever the flames!
"Um!?"
Fire Spirit frowned as he looked at the Sōgo Shihoin's hand, which was Sayafushi an eerie cold light in his haste. He instinctively sensed that the Sōgo Shihoin had just drawn Zanpakuto danger to him.
That knife... is dangerous!
"Stop right there. After I'm done chopping, I can go buy you two pounds of oranges."
Sōgo Shihoin smiled slightly, then flashed forward and pounced in front of the Fire Spirit, brandishing his sheathed Sayafushi, aiming straight for the Fire Spirit's life.
"Boom!"
The fire spirit, who had been calm and composed, standing in the air like an invincible god, slashed a ball of flame at Sōgo Shihoin and took the opportunity to increase the distance between Sōgo Shihoin.
What is he afraid of?
Sōgo Shihoin glanced at the flustered Kareem and smiled slightly.
"I am not afraid."
"But there's no need for me to stand still and withstand an attack I could have easily dodged."
Huo Ling's gaze remained calm; his composure was not shaken by Sōgo Shihoin's words.
"And you will ultimately fall beneath my blade!"
" Zanka no Tachi - North - Tenchi Kaijin!"
Taking advantage of the distance between himself and Sōgo Shihoin, Kaguya Zanpakuto.
The next second.
The world has lost its color!
A white light flashed across the sky, dimming the surroundings. Countless eyes were fixed on the battle, but all they could see was darkness, except for the dazzling light of the sword unleashed by the Fire Spirit!
Everything will eventually fade away, everything will eventually burn out!
"Before this strike, turn to ashes! Sōgo Shihoin!"
Fire Spirit was very confident in his strike; he was certain that everything would be reduced to ashes by his attack.
"Yeah?"
"But even the hottest flames eventually die out!"
"Your swordsmanship is still far inferior to mine!"
Faced with the overwhelming Sōgo Shihoin remained unmoved. He Sayafushi in his hand and gently lowered it.
The next second, a bright silver light shone between heaven and earth, and a slash carrying boundless power aimed directly at the heart of the Fire Spirit.
Just then, it collided with the Tenchi Kaijin that the Fire Spirit was slashing at Sōgo Shihoin's chest!
When the blazing white light that can melt everything collides with the cold silver light that can cut through everything, the one with stronger Spiritual Pressure wins!
The cold silver light instantly severed the white light and headed straight for the fire spirit.
"..."
Fire Spirit seemed to have been prepared; the bones on the ground leaped high into the air, blocking the attack for him.
"See, you lost."
Sōgo Shihoin smiled slightly at Kareem, proving that his sword was indeed much sharper than Kareem's.
"Loss! Not yet!"
Fire Spirit did not give up just because his moves were being countered one after another; he still had a fourth move.
" Zanka no Tachi - East - Rising Sun Blade!"
This is the fourth move of the Fire Spirit Zanka no Tachi, a technique that fuses all Spiritual Pressure into the blade to deliver a powerful, deadly strike. This move is usually used in conjunction with Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's invincible swordsmanship. While Fire Spirit's version is slightly weaker than Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's, it's just right against Sōgo Shihoin, whose swordsmanship is clearly not very strong either.
"That's an interesting move!"
Sōgo Shihoin immediately recognized the power of Fire Spirit's fourth sword strike. He knew that Fire Spirit was preparing to fight him head-on, relying on its elemental form...
However, Sōgo Shihoin wouldn't fall for it... The Fire Spirit is the Zanpakuto Ryūjin Jakka. The Fire Spirit is merely a manifestation of the consciousness of the Zanpakuto Ryūjin Jakka. Even if the Fire Spirit is cut into countless pieces by him, it will be meaningless, because the Fire Spirit's true form is the Zanpakuto that the Fire Spirit holds in its hand!
Therefore, as long as he cuts the sword in the Fire Spirit's hand, this battle will come to an end!
"Do you really dare to clash your knife with mine?"
Do you dare?
Sōgo Shihoin smiled, Sayafushi, and Zanka no Tachi in Kareem's hand.
"Um!?"
Fire Spirit instantly realized Sōgo Shihoin's purpose. He frowned and immediately retreated.
Yes, he didn't dare to clash his sword with Sōgo Shihoin's; he was afraid! His sword would break!
Where are you going?
Sōgo Shihoin had no intention of letting Karin off the hook and pursued her relentlessly.
" Zanka no Tachi - North - Tenchi Kaijin!"
As Fire Spirit watched Sōgo Shihoin approach, he frowned and swung his Zanpakuto Tenchi Kaijin!
In an instant, all color was stolen from the sky and the earth, and the world seemed to be in a state of primordial chaos, with everything shrouded in gray.
Only the Fire Spirit's blade light is the only bright radiance in this world!
"You can't use the same trick on me twice! Don't you know that?"
Sōgo Shihoin cleaved the Tenchi Kaijin in a single strike, then continued forward.
"Call..."
The two of them went around in circles, chasing each other for hundreds of miles.
It ran, he chased... it ran, he chased again, and finally he successfully blocked it... it stopped running!
"The final move."
Fire Spirit knew he was doomed to lose, but he remained calm, as if he still had some deadly move up his sleeve.
"Come."
"I'm giving you time to use this last resort."
Sōgo Shihoin watched the Fire Spirit with great interest, anticipating what interesting experiences it would bring him.
This move wasn't aimed at you.
"This move is aimed at the entire Soul Society!"
" Zanka no Tachi - Convergence of the Four Directions - Burning Heaven and Earth!"
Fire Spirit raised the Zanka no Tachi in his hand, and in an instant, the molten lava on the ground stopped rolling, the dead bones stopped reviving, the fire clouds in the sky disappeared, and the heat wave that had been constantly pounding the Seireitei and plundering the lives of the Rukongai residents stopped surging!
Everything seemed to have frozen in time!
However, Sōgo Shihoin was not blinded by the calm before his eyes. He knew that this was just the calm before the storm, and the most terrifying thing was yet to come!
"Boom!!"
Just as Sōgo Shihoin had predicted, the next second, flames shot into the sky, reaching the heavens and the earth, connecting the entire world like a bridge!
The earth turned into molten lava at a visible speed, and the sky was dyed red by the flames!
This is the end of the world! The end of Soul Society!
That fire spirit actually wanted to destroy the entire Soul Society all by itself!
"Come on! Sōgo Shihoin, since you claim to be invincible in this world, why not try to stop me from destroying it!"
At this moment, the Fire Spirit stood in the center of the sea of fire, truly becoming the world-destroying demon king from the legendary tales!
"World destruction?"
"You? Did you even ask the sword in my hand? Did she agree?"
Sōgo Shihoin sneered. Destroying the world was fine, but he'd have to ask the sword in his hand first.
"You can't stop me. Even if I die, this attack will continue."
"This is a unique technique that integrates the four moves of the Zanka no Tachi: East, West, South, and North!"
"This is an invincible move."
The Fire Spirit stood calmly amidst the sea of fire. This was a final strike that Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai had cultivated specifically to counter Yhwach, whom he had failed to kill a thousand years ago. If Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai failed, he would use this move to destroy everything, including the Soul Society and Yhwach! Even if it meant destroying the Soul Society Soul Society, he would never allow it to fall into Yhwach's hands.
The Soul Society has been destroyed, and there is still a possibility of reunification even after a thousand years. However, if it falls into Yhwach's hands, that will be the end for the Soul Reaper.
"Invincible? As long as I'm alive, no one else can be called invincible!"
Upon hearing the word "invincible," Sōgo Shihoin immediately smiled. As long as he Sōgo Shihoin Sōgo Shihoin, was alive, the word "invincible" was exclusive to him and could not be used by anyone else.
" Bankai!"
Sōgo Shihoin, holding the Sayafushi, lightly uttered two words.
Outside the Soul Society, in the pitch-black space, a Zanpakuto the size of the entire Soul Society stood horizontally in the void. The next second, it gently slashed towards the Soul Society!
With a single swing, the world fell silent! The flames died! The fire spirit was dead! All the Zanpakuto spirits returned to their respective masters' Zanpakuto at this moment, even Muramasa was no exception!
This single strike brought peace to all the turmoil in the world.
"Alright, now we can talk."
Sōgo Shihoin looked at Pernida, who was trembling in a black robe, and gave her a kind and friendly smile.
"I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it..."
Pernida stared at Uncle Zangetsu, who had somehow already fled, and the Zanpakuto spirits that had been completely Zanpakuto by Sōgo Shihoin, and remained rooted to the spot.
Thank you to reader koonshun527 for the 100-point reward! This chapter will continue with 5,000 words!
(End of this chapter)