No one could have imagined that at this moment, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's Ryūjin Jakka (Flowing Blade-like Flame) would reappear in the world.
Moreover, the flames erupting from that long blade and the aura it radiated were in no way inferior to those of the former strongest Shinigami.
Ryūjin Jakka had been reborn!
For the Shinigami of the Nie Kingdom, this was undoubtedly a disaster.
But for the Shinigami of Soul Society, it was like a powerful shot of adrenaline.
"Good heavens, that's Ryūjin Jakka!"
"It can't be mistaken, it's the Captain Commander's Zanpakutō!"
"The Zanpakutō has actually revived, and it's in that man's hands!"
Every Shinigami present was filled with excitement. And when they learned that this man was their ally, they became even more emotional, barely able to contain themselves.
The man in the battlefield held the sword in one hand and slowly advanced.
"Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth. In life, you bathed in flames; in death, you shall become a star."
As Qin Yi spoke, he suddenly swung his long blade.
Whoosh!
Flames swept out like a raging wind, instantly engulfing Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's body, reducing it to ashes that scattered amidst the fire.
Since he had been the strongest fire-type warrior in life, then after death he should naturally cross to the other shore through flames.
Step by step, Qin Yi entered the battlefield.
The pressure he exerted upon everyone present was overwhelming.
The aura around him grew stronger and stronger. Once it reached its limit, the flames on the blade transformed from gentle flickers into violent infernos, as though fierce winds were blowing behind him. His robes fluttered wildly, billowing nonstop.
Accompanied by the sound of his footsteps, Qin Yi steadily advanced toward the front ranks of the Nie Kingdom Shinigami.
"Kill him!"
"He's the king of the enemy nation! Slay him here!"
"For our king! For the Ideal Homeland!"
Roars echoed one after another.
The Nie Kingdom Shinigami charged fearlessly. Not only did they show no fear, but they launched a direct assault on Qin Yi. In an instant, several hundred of them rushed forward.
Without question, on this battlefield, Qin Yi was the greatest focal point. He alone drew nearly a third of everyone's attention.
Seeing enemies rushing toward him, Qin Yi slowly raised the blade that had been pointed at the ground.
The crimson flames on the sword grew fiercer and hotter.
Then, with a sudden motion, he swung forward.
"Fuzhan!"
A terrifying sword-pressure burst forth instantly.
One-tenth of the several hundred charging Shinigami suddenly realized, while still running, that their bodies had stopped moving.
They had been split in half.
A silent terror filled them, yet they could not even cry out.
Less than a breath later, sizzling sounds rang out. Flames spiraled from the severed sections of their bodies, igniting them and turning them into ashes.
After delivering that strike, Qin Yi stood with his robes fluttering, his gaze cold and stern.
Then he accelerated his pace and continued forward.
The Nie Kingdom Shinigami did not stop.
No danger, no matter how great, could shake their hearts. They were all people of unwavering faith.
"Shōmei!"
While advancing, Qin Yi swung his sword once more.
The moment this strike was unleashed, the oxygen in the air suddenly thinned, and even space itself began to distort.
Then a flame appeared ahead, spinning and expanding as it rapidly rose into the sky.
Its temperature climbed ever higher.
Its color grew increasingly brilliant.
Its range expanded without end.
In the blink of an eye, it had engulfed hundreds of Shinigami, swallowing them whole.
The gigantic tornado-shaped inferno swept across the battlefield like a raging storm, twisting and spiraling as it surged forward.
Only after devouring several hundred more Nie Kingdom Shinigami did it gradually subside, crashing to the ground and continuing to burn.
Qin Yi's pace quickened further.
The next moment, he had already plunged directly into the ranks of the Nie Kingdom Shinigami.
Naturally, his overwhelming strength attracted even more enemies.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The long blade flashed three times.
Thirty Shinigami who had charged at him were cleaved apart in a single stroke, their bodies transforming into flames and dispersing into the air, leaving behind only ashes.
"Ennetsu Jigoku (Flames of Hell)!"
Qin Yi suddenly halted and gave his sword a sharp shake.
Within the formation of the Nie Kingdom Shinigami ahead, dozens of colossal pillars of heavenly fire erupted skyward.
In an instant, the temperature of the surrounding air rose by several hundred degrees.
Within a radius of several kilometers, everything was plunged into a sea of flames.
This was a condensed, compressed attack.
If unleashed to its fullest extent, this technique could reduce hundreds of kilometers of land to scorched wasteland.
"AAAAAH!"
Under this large-scale assault, vast numbers of Nie Kingdom Shinigami perished, utterly unable to withstand such an attack.
Qin Yi continued moving forward.
He had not even released the true power of the Zanpakutō in his hand yet.
"Torch!"
"Jōkaku Enjō (Fortress Blaze)!"
Clusters of flames erupted across the battlefield.
Even though Qin Yi was deliberately restraining the power of his fire attacks, within only a dozen or so breaths, the number of Nie Kingdom Shinigami had already been reduced by nearly thirty percent.
The strongest offensive Zanpakutō truly lived up to its reputation!
Before this blade, which possessed the power to burn the world itself, no one could survive for even a single moment.
"All Soul Society Shinigami, gather at the center!"
Standing at the center of the formation, Urahara Kisuke shouted loudly.
He knew that the best opportunity for retreat had arrived, and naturally he had no intention of letting it slip away.
As a result, large numbers of Shinigami broke free from their entanglements with the Nie Kingdom forces and began converging toward the center.
"Coyote, I'll have to trouble you and the Arrancar army to quickly open a passage to Hueco Mundo!"
Hirako Shinji rapidly said to the nearby Coyote.
"Of course, Captain Hirako. However, I'm afraid you'll have to deal with my opponents for me."
Coyote replied with a smile.
He was a gentle and sincere person with an easygoing temperament. In the short time since joining, he had already become familiar with the rest of Qin Yi's subordinates.
"Leave it to us, the Visoreds!"
Hirako Shinji answered immediately.
The seven figures behind him quickly gathered together. A breath later, skull-like masks appeared on all of their faces.
"So now Shinigami and Hollows are one big family?"
Coyote laughed, finding the sight somewhat amusing.
Even so, he did not slow down. Retreating quickly, he contacted the other Espada.
"Grimmjow, stop enjoying the fight and start constructing the passage. Don't forget His Majesty's orders!"
"Ulquiorra… oh, you've already started. Sorry for bothering you!"
"Nelliel, get moving immediately." Coyote loudly issued commands.
All of the Arrancar ceased fighting and began constructing the gateway.
Black-red light gradually intensified.
Tiny cracks began appearing in space.
"They're trying to escape!"
The expressions of the Nie Kingdom Shinigami changed as they prepared to charge forward and stop them.
However, in the next instant, flames exploded behind them, covering the heavens and once again annihilating large numbers of Shinigami.
"We can't stop him! That man is too terrifying!"
Everyone trembled in fear at the power Qin Yi possessed.
It was a force far beyond their level.
With a casual swing of his sword, thousands upon thousands of their comrades could be wiped out.
Qin Yi stood amidst the battlefield, flames swirling around his body.
Sweeping his gaze across the surroundings, he saw that under the coordination of Urahara Kisuke and the others, the Soul Society Shinigami had already begun their withdrawal.
The objective had been accomplished.
Moreover, the Nie Kingdom Shinigami had been frightened out of their wits by him alone.
Yet at this moment, he had no intention of leaving.
"Chengdui."
His eyes lifted toward the sky, where King Chengdui and Li Yuanli were locked in an intense battle.
"This opportunity to kill you..."
"...I will not let it pass."
At this moment, the Nie Kingdom Shinigami had fallen into a disadvantageous position, and their reinforcements had yet to arrive.
This was the perfect chance to kill King Chengdui!
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395