Whoosh!
Hozukimaru leaped, his spear thrusting towards Kirikaze, who was as tall as a small building.
Kirikaze swung his massive sword, matching his size, at the attacking Hozukimaru.
Clang!
A loud metallic clash rang out. Hozukimaru was sent flying backward by the immense force.
However, the repelled Hozukimaru stabilized himself in mid-air and, showing no fear, charged again.
Seeing Hozukimaru's relentless pestering, Kirikaze didn't directly counter this time. Instead, his figure wavered and he turned into a mass of gray mist.
Whoosh!
Hozukimaru's spear thrust into the gray mist, not only failing to harm Kirikaze but causing Hozukimaru himself to be enveloped by the mist.
"What! So this is the mist ability!!"
Hozukimaru exclaimed in shock.
"Scatter..."
Seeing Hozukimaru about to be devoured by Kirikaze, Senbonzakura immediately activated his Shikai.
Whoosh—
Countless tiny blades, like pink cherry blossom petals, swept in, the wind they created scattering the gray mist enveloping Hozukimaru.
Although Senbonzakura had helped Hozukimaru out of trouble, Hozukimaru didn't appreciate it.
"Don't do unnecessary things!"
Hozukimaru flashed back to the group of Zanpakuto, glaring angrily at Senbonzakura.
Although Senbonzakura had saved him, being trapped in danger and needing a companion's help to escape was, in the proud Hozukimaru's view, simply unbearable.
"Enough, Hozukimaru. Given the situation just now, this is no time for such words."
Senbonzakura, however, didn't mind.
While Hozukimaru and Senbonzakura were talking, the mistified Kirikaze reformed and prepared to attack them.
"Everyone, this is no time for arguing. Let's attack together!"
Tobiume shouted loudly and bravely charged forward.
However...
Clang!
Tobiume was sent flying by a single slash.
Then Haineko, Wabisuke, Kazeshini, and others who charged were also sent flying by Kirikaze's immense power.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
No matter who charged, they were either knocked back or sent flying by Kirikaze.
Without any superb swordsmanship, Kirikaze just wildly swung his giant sword, preventing the Zanpakuto from getting close.
"Damn it! This guy is so strong!"
Hozukimaru said angrily.
"Heh heh, to deal with this guy, it seems you'll have to rely on me after all."
Ruri'iro Kujaku suddenly spoke up.
With that, a colorful light emitted from the blade in Ruri'iro Kujaku's hand. The colorful light formed vines that wrapped around Kirikaze's body.
"Heh, absorbing Reiatsu isn't your unique skill. Today, let this senior teach you how to absorb Reiatsu more efficiently!"
Ruri'iro Kujaku said proudly.
Then Ruri'iro Kujaku instantly activated his ability, absorbing Kirikaze's Reiatsu through the colorful vines wrapping around him.
Absorbing Reiatsu was also an ability Ruri'iro Kujaku excelled at. However, to avoid being disliked by the violence-oriented 11th Division, Ruri'iro Kujaku's master, Yumichika, had always deliberately hidden this ability.
So, among the Zanpakuto present, few had ever seen Ruri'iro Kujaku's ability.
"Roar!!"
Feeling his Reiatsu continuously drained, Kirikaze let out a huge roar.
Seeing this, Ruri'iro Kujaku couldn't help but say disdainfully, "What? So useless. It seems there really was no need for everyone to come and deal with you together. If I'd known, I would have stayed away like Hyorinmaru..."
"Ugh aaaah—!!!"
A scream suddenly rang out, but this time it wasn't from Kirikaze, but from Ruri'iro Kujaku himself.
"Hey! What's wrong, Ruri'iro Kujaku!!"
Kazeshini shouted loudly.
"Rei... Reiatsu... he's absorbing my Reiatsu!"
Ruri'iro Kujaku said with difficulty.
"Idiot! Let go of the technique quickly!"
Kazeshini roared.
Whoosh!
With that, Kazeshini immediately slashed and cut the colorful vines connecting Ruri'iro Kujaku and Kirikaze, barely stopping Kirikaze from continuing to devour Ruri'iro Kujaku's Reiatsu.
Seeing how troublesome Kirikaze was, everyone joined forces again and charged at him.
Whoosh—
Kirikaze mistified once more. The gray mist raged violently, forming a violent hurricane that blew everyone away again.
"Damn it. I didn't expect Kirikaze's strength to have increased to this level."
Haineko said angrily.
Seeing the strength Kirikaze displayed, the other Zanpakuto also looked dejected.
Actually, it wasn't that Kirikaze's strength was that great.
Although Kirikaze had devoured quite a few Sword Beasts' Reiatsu, he was originally just an ordinary Zanpakuto of an ordinary Shinigami.
Although he possessed the abilities of mistification and devouring other Zanpakuto's Reiatsu, the Sword Beasts he devoured were also ordinary Zanpakuto. Their Reiatsu wasn't very powerful.
So, despite devouring quite a few, Kirikaze's strength was only at the Lieutenant level. Even if his mist ability made him a bit stronger in combat, he hadn't reached Captain-class.
The reason he appeared so overwhelming was simply that the current Zanpakuto were too weak.
Remember, the Zanpakuto present were consumed to the point where they could barely maintain their materialized forms.
So, although it looked like a large group of Captain-class, Lieutenant-class, and even beyond-Captain-class Zanpakuto were gathered, they were just empty shells now, with very little power left.
"Roar!"
Kirikaze roared again and swung his giant sword, slamming it into the ground.
Boom!
The earth split open. Soil and debris, like an earth dragon turning over, swept towards the group of Zanpakuto.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Although they tried their best to dodge, several of them were still hit by Kirikaze's attack and slammed heavily onto the ground.
Whoosh!
Kirikaze flashed, instantly appearing before the fallen Zabimaru, and swung his sword.
"Oh no!"
The baboon and snake parts of Zabimaru closed their eyes in despair.
But at the critical moment, Renji, Zabimaru's master, suddenly appeared and grabbed them, evading Kirikaze's attack.
No, it wasn't just Renji who appeared.
"Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!"
Kira's voice also suddenly rang out, and a golden chain bound Kirikaze.
"I've temporarily sealed his mistification ability."
Kira glanced at Wabisuke beside him and said.
Sode no Shirayuki exclaimed in surprise, "Lieutenant Kira, Lieutenant Abarai, how did you... Rukia-sama, you've come too!"
As Sode no Shirayuki spoke, she saw Rukia also appear on the scene. No, not just Rukia. Rangiku, Momo, Nanao, Hisagi, and other Lieutenants had also rushed over.
"Hey, cheer up, get up. A face this cute would be wasted otherwise."
Rangiku, with rare gentleness, wiped the dust from Haineko's fallen face.
Haineko: "Rangiku..."
"Tobiume, are you alright?"
Momo walked over to Tobiume, her expression concerned.
Tobiume: "Momo..."
"Did you think we wouldn't notice anything?"
Nanao helped Kyokotsu up, then said to Katen.
"Idiots! What are you doing here?"
Kazeshini looked at Hisagi, who had walked up to him, and turned his head away tsunderely.
"Who's the real idiot here? Injured like this and you still dare to say that? Your Reiatsu has obviously reached its limit, yet you still push yourselves so hard."
Hisagi's tone was somewhat reproachful.
Hearing Hisagi's words, not only Kazeshini, but the other Zanpakuto also fell silent.
Hisagi was right. Their Reiatsu was already very low, barely able to maintain materialization. After this fierce fight, they had consumed even more.
If originally they could have maintained materialization until tomorrow, now they couldn't even last an hour. They would soon run out of Reiatsu, return to their swords, and revert to their original forms.