Chapter 498: Void Volcano Group, Aizen's Conclusion
Rumble!
Nine Tails charged forward.
The ground shattered under its weight, breaking into countless tofu-like chunks that scattered.
Its speed was astonishing.
Ordinary people within a kilometer wouldn't catch a glimpse.
From a wider perspective, only a purple afterimage lingered.
The broader the view, the quicker it escaped the human eye.
Of course, this assumed the target was large enough to be seen.
Nine Tails' inherent strength was formidable.
Now, amplified by Madara's enhancements, its power was even greater.
Despite its massive, dozens-of-meters-long body, it moved with agility, not bulk.
Zhurong could see its terrifying speed.
So large, yet so nimble.
What a challenge.
He had planned to capitalize on their weakened states after their battle.
With their auras depleted, he thought he could strike swiftly.
But he hadn't anticipated their seamless alliance.
Nor had he expected their strange combined form.
This boost in combat power was no small matter.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As Nine Tails sprinted, Susanoo's hands, extending from its back and controlled by Madara, swung powerfully.
With a single motion, two giant Susanoo swords slashed, unleashing blazing pillars of fire that crossed in the air.
The fusion of wind and fire amplified their might.
During these slashes, Nine Tails' nine tails whipped wildly.
Nine streams of fire lashed out from the tips, like fiery tentacles twisting across the sky, enveloping Zhurong.
Facing this dual assault, Zhurong's expression grew grave.
This was difficult.
Rumble!
Several massive magma pillars, hundreds of meters tall, erupted like volcanoes.
They surged toward Madara and Nine Tails, swallowing their attacks.
Red magma splashed, coating the chaotic ground.
It resembled an underground magma pool.
Zhurong formed a seal, his face solemn as he surveyed the scene.
Three enormous volcanic heads emerged from the black mist above him.
Endless magma poured forth.
The explosive impact shattered and dispersed everything in its path.
It nearly breached the Bright Lake Forest's boundary but was halted by a sudden barrier.
Across Mythical Beast Island, barriers separated each area, activating as needed.
Today's situation triggered one.
Rumble!
Three magma pillars continued their relentless horizontal eruption.
But Zhurong frowned.
His attack was halted.
As the eruption ceased, the three craters extinguished, releasing thick black smoke.
A layer of dark smoke blanketed the sky.
Combined with the fiery glow, the scene was striking.
Drip! Drip!
In this environment, Zhurong clearly saw the armored giant before him.
Nine Tails' nine flames wove into a flame shield, its limbs gripping the magma-soaked ground.
Half its body was submerged.
"Damn it! Is your attack done?" Nine Tails growled.
"This level is just a scratch!" it said, baring its teeth.
The earlier impact had hurt, despite Susanoo's armor.
It felt like iron mountains had slammed into it at high speed.
The force pierced through its body, numbing it.
Without clinging to the ground, it would have been thrown back.
But even in pain, Nine Tails refused to show weakness. Admitting it would be too humiliating.
"Is this the demon apostle's strength?" Madara asked.
"It seems decent."
Standing on Nine Tails' forehead, he controlled the two giant swords, crossed defensively before him.
He looked at Zhurong in the nearby crater, a hint of seriousness in his eyes.
Truthfully, if he relied solely on his usual Susanoo, such a divine attack might have shattered it.
The combination of extreme heat and terrifying impact could reduce someone to ashes.
Fortunately, his Fire Style defense and fire resistance in this form were exceptional.
Otherwise, continuous hits might have been fatal.
While Madara felt cautious, Zhurong was equally solemn.
His recent move was no ordinary attack; it was a specialized use of his domain.
By sacrificing the domain's versatility, he enhanced mobility and attack power.
Infused with immense magic power, it surpassed his standard techniques.
It's called the Void Volcano Group, it is a high-density magical volcano cluster.
Its magma, a blend of fire and earth, was extraordinary.
Zhurong's earth and stone were of superior quality, resisting vaporization even at tens of thousands of degrees, only melting slightly.
His fire, paired with it, was no ordinary flame.
Together, they formed magma reaching tens of thousands of degrees.
Yet, temperature wasn't the primary threat.
Even natural elements like wind or water could be lethal at high speeds.
Zhurong's magma, propelled by volcanic eruptions, carried devastating force.
Its immense quality delivered unparalleled impact.
The magma continuously scoured its target.
Within moments, the high temperature transferred, stacking upon itself.
The contact surface could reach hundreds of thousands, even millions, of degrees.
Moreover, the high magic concentration corroded spiritual bodies.
Its mental impact on living beings was profound.
This combination of impact, temperature, and magical properties defined Zhurong's terrifying power.
Among apostles, only Hongliu, master of thunderstorms, rivaled him in attack strength.
What troubled Zhurong now was that his opponent withstood his magma torrent.
Such resilience made continuing the fight seem unwise.
Zhurong pondered this.
Madara, sensing his hesitation, wouldn't let him retreat.
He needed Zhurong to refine his coordination with Nine Tails.
Without it, he lacked confidence against that man.
After all, that man had defeated a demon apostle.
How could Madara challenge him if he couldn't do the same?
"Come on, Nine Tails!" Madara commanded.
"Damn it, I told you I have a name!" Nine Tails retorted.
Amid its complaints, the battle resumed.
Elsewhere, in the Thousand-Year Forest Ridge, Aizen, fighting Bullet, overheard the broadcast about Madara's clash with the apostle.
He adjusted his glasses slightly.
It seemed the game was over.
He glanced at the colossal figure attacking him again.
Using Shunpo, he swiftly left the spot and calmly drew the Zanpakutō from his waist.
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
( End of this chapter )