Chapter 240: Zanka no Tachi
White smoke sizzled. Upon the devastated street, walls had collapsed, ground lay shattered, and upturned rocks had completely obstructed the pathway. Zaraki Kenpachi—whom Yhwach gripped by the neck—sighed speechlessly.
"Zaraki Kenpachi, one of the Special War Powers, ended up like this. So fragile."
Yhwach positioned beside him regarded his hand—which had completely rendered Zaraki unconscious with rolled-back eyes—and spoke lightly:
"It appears I overestimated you considerably."
"Sleep peacefully. Soul Society is finished..."
BOOM—
After Yhwach's voice concluded, a tremendous fireball descended from the sky and materialized directly behind him. The terrifying Reiatsu and scorching flame temperature made breathing feel suffocating.
"Yo..."
"It's been one thousand years, Yhwach."
"Allow me to sever you completely."
Yamamoto Genryūsai gripped Ryūjin Jakka within his hand. The overwhelming flames behind him had completely blocked the entire street. Sensing the killing intent from behind staring at him, Yhwach slowly turned around and discarded Zaraki Kenpachi in his grasp to the side.
Yhwach had just prepared greeting this ancient enemy he hadn't witnessed in one thousand years when suddenly three figures materialized from the sky and attacked Yamamoto Genryūsai below.
Facing the enemies above him, the Gotei 13 Captain-Commander's figure didn't shift a single step. He simply swung the blade within his grasp slightly. A tremendous flaming tornado instantly materialized in the air and directly engulfed a Sternritter member.
"Jōkaku Enjō!"
As Yamamoto's voice concluded, the flaming tornado spun and shot straight skyward. The entire Seireitei became aware of the battle transpiring here. The Sternritter members proved so easily defeated.
It appeared he didn't concern himself with these minor existences. After repelling the three's assault, Yamamoto Genryūsai didn't select finishing them. Rather, he approached Yhwach's position ten paces at a time.
"Idiots!"
Witnessing the three subordinates' defeat, Yhwach felt no sympathy. Rather, he felt dissatisfied they'd intervened in his battle without authorization. After all, if individuals cannot correctly comprehend the strength disparity between enemy and ally, such rash behavior constitutes nothing but stupidity.
Listening to Yhwach's remarks, Yamamoto Genryūsai tilted his head, then glanced toward the other party. His gaze regarded the opponent as though observing a corpse.
"What? That expression—do you possess something to state?"
The distance between both proved less than one body length. As the leaders of both forces, the battle between them would inevitably affect the entire battlefield's situation.
SWISH—
After approaching Yhwach, Yamamoto—consumed by fury—didn't speak whatsoever. He raised his hand and swung the flame blade within his grasp heavily.
CLANG!
The unanticipated attack directly severed Yhwach's left wrist. Had he not activated the Quincy's exclusive Blut Vene at the final moment to successfully defend, his left hand would have been severed by that strike just now.
"You haven't changed whatsoever, Yhwach. Just like one thousand years ago—despising your subordinates represents such deplorable behavior..."
"Come now, cease here!"
Listening to Yamamoto Genryūsai wishing to preach toward him, the Wandenreich Emperor—who thought extraordinarily highly of himself—simply smiled indifferently: "I'm exhausted hearing such antiquated words."
"You've grown old, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni!"
"However, this rage-possessed figure appears to be reemerging from the past."
Observing Yamamoto Genryūsai's aged figure—although he'd witnessed it multiple times through intelligence—witnessing it personally brought different sensations.
"Nonsense!"
Regarding the irony within Yhwach's words, Yamamoto could naturally perceive it. He slashed upward forcefully. Tremendous flaming sword energy pierced the ground, directly obliterating the adjacent street completely.
The torrential air wave made Haschwalth—who was observing the battle—extend his hand to shield his eyes.
To resist this strike's aftermath, Yhwach had to draw his sword and select engaging even after avoiding the sword energy's frontal assault.
"Are you finally willing drawing your sword?"
Observing Yhwach's embarrassed posture, Yamamoto Genryūsai walked slowly, approaching Yhwach.
"As though you've been awaiting me drawing my sword."
Yhwach injected Reiatsu into the blade and prepared counterattacking, but suddenly sensed something profoundly wrong.
Witnessing Yamamoto's indifferent eyes, he addressed him with grave voice: "Do you believe I can afford waiting?"
"Simply to crush your flesh, sword, and even your soul into fine powder!"
With the final two words, Yamamoto almost completely vented his suppressed killing intent. At this moment, the street surrounded by flames became extraordinarily quiet. The fire wall behind Yamamoto Genryūsai had vanished without trace.
The flames... disappeared...
Yhwach stared blankly at Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni before him. He suddenly felt extraordinarily ominous.
"Bankai—"
"Zanka no Tachi!"
At this instant, the Bankai that once nearly destroyed Karakura Town reappeared within Seireitei. Haschwalth—witnessing this scene for the first time—regarded the Zanpakutō with charred blade within Yamamoto Genryūsai's grasp, muttering with confusion:
"Bankai? The blade resembles traces remaining after flames have condensed. That scorched blade constitutes Bankai?"
"Don't underestimate him!"
Witnessing Haschwalth's confusion, Yhwach urgently addressed him: "[Zanka no Tachi] represents a Bankai that seals all flames within the blade. Once swung, it marks the end."
"A flaming sword that incinerates everything it contacts with explosive flames."
Hearing Yhwach explaining to the subordinate positioned aside, Yamamoto Genryūsai didn't rush attacking. Rather, he inquired with considerable interest: "Speaking of this Bankai, you've already witnessed it once one thousand years ago, correct? Why don't you speculate—is the current Bankai still identical to before?"
As he spoke, he positioned the scorched blade before his body, releasing his killing intent: "Then utilize your flesh and blood body experiencing it—whether it proves identical to the Bankai from one thousand years ago."
At this moment, all captains still capable of fighting throughout Seireitei raised their heads and gazed skyward simultaneously. At this instant, an identical thought manifested within their hearts simultaneously:
My lips... feel so parched...
Within the Fourth Division's barracks, as the sole captain who hadn't deployed, Unohana Retsu regarded the plants positioned within the vase. Unspeakable concern appeared within her eyes.
Because presently, the plants within the vase displayed withering signs. Yet not a single water droplet remained within the vase at this moment.
Captain-Commander... Please determine the victor swiftly.
Before Soul Society... is destroyed by your own power.