Yamamoto couldn’t help but think of his young disciple—the one who, despite being a Shinigami, possessed overwhelming strength.
He had miraculously broken free from the limitations of the Shinigami and reached a realm untouched by any of their kind. Perhaps he truly had a way to resolve this crisis.
No—there had to be a way. Yamamoto had no choice but to believe it.
As long as even a sliver of hope remained!
Right now, he had to stop these damned nuisances!
He glanced at the long blade in his hand, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
"Ennetsu Jigoku!"
He swung his sword upward into the sky.
Flames erupted, forming a towering pillar of fire that pierced the heavens and earth, instantly engulfing over a dozen Hell monsters and Togabito.
"Excellent, Captain-Commander-sama. That’s the spirit."
"But with that aged body of yours, how long can you hold out without Bankai?"
"So... don’t you dare die on me!"
With a bright, carefree smile, Chika Shihōin assumed a ready stance.
Yamamoto blinked, momentarily dazed by the sight—then gave a confident smile.
"It’s you who should be careful. I’ll personally drag all of you bastards back to Hell!"
Amid the chaos, the fighters locked eyes—then charged at each other all at once.
A violent wave of Reiatsu exploded outward!
As they clashed, the surrounding space began to distort and warp, struggling to contain the sheer force of their power.
Yamamoto’s gaze hardened. Gripping his blade tightly, he radiated a force that was simply overwhelming.
Chika Shihōin still wore that same sunny smile, but a sharp gleam flickered in his eyes.
With a sudden flash, he became a blur of light, streaking toward Yamamoto at an astonishing speed.
The distance between them vanished in an instant, and just before they collided—
Yamamoto swung his sword in a blazing arc, unleashing a scorching wave of flame straight at Chika.
Chika dodged with ease, tilting his body to avoid the blast. At the same time, his blade shimmered faintly as he countered with a fierce slash toward Yamamoto.
Yamamoto grunted and raised his sword to parry.
Their weapons clashed with a harsh, metallic clang.
Then the two plunged into a brutal close-quarters fight.
Each clash of blade, fist, and foot erupted into sparks and waves of crushing Reiatsu.
At the same time, the other First Generation captains launched coordinated attacks, attempting to break through Yamamoto’s defenses from all sides.
But Yamamoto displayed unmatched combat prowess and razor-sharp reflexes. Wielding the fearsome Ryūjin Jakka—untouchable by any—he deflected every strike with unrelenting ferocity.
As the battle raged, Yamamoto steadily gained the upper hand.
His sword strikes grew fiercer, each one carrying immense power that left his enemies reeling.
But Chika Shihōin and the others refused to back down.
Their bodies were battered and broken, only to regenerate and surge forward again with reckless abandon.
For now, the battlefield was locked in a dead heat—neither side yielding, neither able to claim victory...
...
Kensei Muguruma, Shinji Hirako, and several other captains stood not far away, their gazes fixed solemnly ahead.
In the dim light, their white uniforms stood out starkly against the chaos.
A tense, volatile atmosphere hung over the battlefield. The opposing sides locked eyes, and it felt like sparks could fly at any moment.
In that charged silence, Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake exchanged a glance—an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Ukitake gave a subtle nod, and without hesitation, Kyōraku dashed straight toward the chaotic melee consuming the Gotei 13.
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