A miracle!
This was Gerard’s ability—The Miracle!
The power to reverse any negative event that befalls him, transforming it into a positive one.
"That thing is really tough," Masatsuki Aozaki remarked.
Just moments ago, when Gerard’s body had been split apart, a Quincy Cross had emerged at the center of the rupture.
That was Gerard’s core.
Destroying the Quincy Cross would be the key to killing him.
Masatsuki hadn’t held back—he had even secretly released his Zanpakutō, channeling the power of the Bōkunchō to amplify his slash.
The entire Ice Palace had been cleaved in two, yet the Quincy Cross remained completely unscathed.
"No matter how powerful your attack is, it’s useless! Pain only makes me stronger—makes me even bigger!" Gerard roared, reaching out toward Masatsuki with his massive hand.
"O insignificant Shinigami, bow before the scales of my god!"
Masatsuki stared at him for a moment before letting out a sigh.
It was time to switch targets.
Though Gerard had grown into a towering giant, his abilities enhanced in every way, Masatsuki could tell that—for now—his own power still surpassed Gerard’s in terms of Reiatsu, speed, and raw strength.
However, Gerard’s ability was simply too broken.
The Miracle allowed him to grow stronger the more he was struck down. Continuing to engage him head-on would only put Masatsuki at a disadvantage.
He needed a new strategy.
His gaze shifted to a far easier target—Pernida, the Soul King’s left hand.
...
At that moment, Pernida suddenly felt a chilling sense of crisis.
Like prey caught in the sight of a predator.
Its body trembled instinctively.
Masatsuki paid no attention to the massive hand Gerard had swung toward him.
In an instant, his figure blurred and disappeared, moving toward Pernida at a speed too fast for the naked eye to track.
Sensing the threat, Äs Nödt reacted immediately, stepping forward to block Pernida’s path.
"Vollständig: Tatarforas!"
Äs Nödt shouted.
Having witnessed Masatsuki’s battle with Gerard, he didn’t hesitate for a second—he activated his strongest form.
Even without considering the Schrift abilities, his raw strength was far below Gerard’s.
And since Gerard had been taken down in an instant, Äs Nödt wasn’t about to take any chances!
He removed his mask, revealing a ghastly, tooth-baring grin.
A glowing purple five-pointed star formed above his head, ringed with numerous sharp, spiked halos.
Fresh blood trickled down from beneath his eyes.
His upper body took on a skeletal appearance, and his arms grew long, blackened extensions.
His tight-fitting white robe stood out starkly against his eerie form, while behind him, two thorn-like Reishi wings unfurled.
A thick seam of stitches ran from his throat all the way down to the hem of his robes.
With that monstrous appearance, he could walk onto a horror movie set without any makeup.
Masatsuki silently mused at the sight.
But he didn’t flinch.
He had slain too many, seen horrors far worse than this.
If something like this could still shake him, Yamamoto would have laughed him out of Soul Society.
But Äs Nödt’s power clearly wasn’t just for show.
Masatsuki’s vision suddenly turned blank.
Not just people—everything was gone.
Not even a grain of sand, not a single speck of dust remained.
An all-encompassing loneliness engulfed him, sending a chill down his spine.
A familiar sensation...
An utterly loathsome feeling...
Äs Nödt’s ability, was it?
How utterly revolting.
What one fears—must be destroyed.
He swung his blade.
A slash!
In the blink of an eye—
The blank void vanished, and the world returned to view.
Right in front of him—
Haschwalth had appeared without warning.
One hand gripping Äs Nödt’s shoulder, while the earth beside them lay torn asunder.
"Does this guy feel no fear?"
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