In the distance, a Quincy watching from afar had injected Blut beforehand, which prevented him from immediately falling unconscious like the others.
The instant he was struck, he immediately understood he couldn't interfere in this level of battle, so he stood by here.
However, upon seeing what Yamamoto Genryusai called Bankai, he was instantly stunned.
Bankai...?
That small scorched blade, like flames burned to exhaustion... was Bankai...?
He truly couldn't understand why this Bankai seemed even less aggressive than Shikai.
But at this moment, on the battlefield, Yhwach's expression darkened slightly.
Having witnessed Yamamoto Genryusai's Bankai a thousand years ago, he naturally wouldn't underestimate this blade.
He knew the so-called Zanka no Tachi... was a Bankai that sealed all of Ryujin Jakka's flames within the blade.
Its first strike... was the "final" strike.
A sword of magnificent flame that completely incinerated everything it struck with explosive fire!
Seeing Yhwach's expression opposite, Yamamoto Genryusai slowly raised his eyes:
"A thousand years ago, you already witnessed this Bankai... Yhwach."
"So now, is it still the same?"
Speaking, Yamamoto Genryusai slowly raised his blade horizontally before him:
"As for whether it's still the same as a thousand years ago, experience it with your own body."
As his words fell, Yamamoto Genryusai heavily stepped forward, lunging ahead!
BOOM!
The ground beneath cracked. Yamamoto Genryusai swung that scorched blade, slashing straight forward!
Facing such a Bankai, Yhwach naturally wouldn't take it lightly. He immediately narrowed his eyes, rapidly retreating to dodge.
However, his dodging speed was ultimately half a beat too slow!
The black cloak behind him was directly struck by Zanka no Tachi's tip, instantly creating a gap.
Seeing this, Yhwach's expression immediately darkened.
It struck...
But didn't release any flames...?!
What's happening?
Could his Bankai truly be different from the Bankai of a thousand years ago...?
But logically, there shouldn't be any Zanpakuto whose Shikai and Bankai powers were completely unrelated...
So his Bankai's power was still flames—this absolutely couldn't be wrong!
Then... where did the flames disappear to...?
In just the instant of retreating, Yhwach's thoughts rapidly turned, considering various possibilities.
After creating distance and steadying himself, Yhwach looked forward again.
He saw Yamamoto Genryusai slowly raise his blade:
"Zanka no Tachi, East: Kyokujitsujin."
"It concentrates all my flames' thermal energy... upon the blade's edge."
"Neither burning nor releasing explosive flames."
"Merely what the blade tip touches will vanish without trace!"
"Even you Quincy's mastered defensive Blut technique is completely useless here!"
Yamamoto Genryusai spoke decisively.
Hearing this, Yhwach finally understood. He opened his mouth, speaking flatly:
"...Utterly boring."
"In other words, as long as I don't let your sword touch me and... directly kill you, that's enough!"
As his words fell, he instantly used Hirenkyaku!
SHING!
Yhwach's figure directly appeared behind Yamamoto Genryusai. His broad blade instantly swung out!
BOOM!!!
That black blade undoubtedly slashed directly across Yamamoto Genryusai's back.
But the next moment, Yhwach's breathing immediately stopped.
The broad blade in his hand... had somehow been reduced to half!
The portion that touched Yamamoto Genryusai had completely vanished!
Only then did Yamamoto Genryusai slowly turn his head, watching Yhwach coldly:
"Naive!"
"Yhwach, when others speak, you must listen carefully."
"I already said—this is... Zanka no Tachi, East...!"
"If there's East, there must be West."
"No choice—let me show you... what it looks like."
As his words fell, explosive sounds immediately erupted from around Yamamoto Genryusai!
BOOM!!!
Yhwach rapidly retreated, but upon seeing that sight, he froze.
Around Yamamoto Genryusai's entire body, intensely dazzling blazing flames suddenly appeared!
Above those flames, rising heat waves were endless, actually stirring up massive storms around him!
"This..."
Yhwach was slightly stunned, narrowing his eyes. He finally knew why his blade vanished.
Yamamoto Genryusai spoke slowly:
"This is Zanka no Tachi, West: Zanjitsu Gokui!"
"Its heat is genuinely... fifteen million degrees!"
"You can consider me after Bankai as... body and blade both cloaked in the sun itself."
"Don't even think of touching me."
Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes were deep. In those weathered eyes, faint flames seemed to burn.
Hearing this, Yhwach completely froze.
At this moment, on another side of the sky above, a shadow gate suddenly opened. A pure white figure walked out.
Haschwalth.
The instant he emerged, he immediately saw Segawa Shigure high in the sky, Yhwach below, and Yamamoto Genryusai bathed in flames after Bankai.
In fact, he'd also heard Yamamoto Genryusai's words.
The instant he saw these flames, Haschwalth immediately narrowed his eyes.
Flames...
Fifteen million degrees...
Flames approaching such extreme temperatures shouldn't be visible to the naked eye...
So... was this an illusion?
No...
Was it because his Reiatsu was so powerful it produced pressure like a physical entity, making that Reiatsu appear like flames...?
Thinking this, Haschwalth raised his eyes again, looking toward Shigure on the other side.
But Shigure didn't look at him at all, merely calmly watching Yhwach and Yamamoto Genryusai below, expression tranquil.
Haschwalth slightly lowered his eyes. For some reason, he took no action, like Shigure, calmly watching below.
At this moment, Yamamoto Genryusai bathed in flames raised his blade again.
Watching Yhwach ahead, he slowly opened his mouth:
"Come..."
"It's time to end this, Yhwach."
"If we don't end this quickly, I and Soul Society... will burn to nothing along with you!"
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