After Koga's Zanpakuto ability was activated, the originally orderly battle formation instantly showed massive weaknesses and internal chaos.
Some were busy suppressing their own rebelling Zanpakuto, others had to guard against the suddenly controlled blades of their companions beside them. The offensive and coordination immediately fell into great disorder.
Zaraki seized this fleeting opportunity, laughing wildly as he charged even more fiercely.
Azashiro's manipulated Reishi Attacks, like sharks smelling blood, drilled into every chaotic gap, causing even greater casualties and panic.
Just three people!
One used the Seireitei as his body, manipulating the environment, ubiquitous, impossible to defend against.
One used brute force to overcome skill, pure violence, disrupting formations, attracting the vast majority of frontal firepower.
One had a bizarre ability, specializing in weapons, creating chaos, dismantling teamwork.
Without even much verbal communication between them, they formed a nearly perfect, complementary tactical coordination.
They forcibly and firmly blocked the main force of the Gotei 13, which intended to charge into the courtroom to reinforce, on the periphery.
Not only blocked them, but even faintly showed a trend of counter-pressing and disrupting.
"How is this possible?"
"Just three people, holding back so many of us?"
"Is the 11th Division a division of monsters?"
The Captains of the Gotei 13 watched this scene in disbelief. Just three people had actually held back most of the Gotei 13.
At the edge of the battlefield, in the shadows.
Yoruichi's eyes almost spit fire, staring fixedly at Aizen blocking her path: "Aizen, move! I have to help Setsuna!"
Aizen gently shook his head. "This is Setsuna-nii's arrangement."
"Chiaki's arrangement?" Yoruichi frowned.
"Correct." Aizen nodded. "Before the operation, Setsuna-nii spoke to me alone. He said he was not certain whether this operation could be 100% successful."
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto's strength is unfathomable, the Zero Division's attitude is always ambiguous, and the noble power is deeply entangled. Pulling one thread affects the whole body. There are too many variables."
"But 'before considering victory, first consider defeat'. Setsuna-nii has already prepared for the worst-case scenario."
Aizen's gaze swept over the fiercely fighting trio, Kenpachi, Azashiro, and Koga: "He ordered me to ensure, regardless of circumstances, that you, I, Tosen Kaname, as well as Urahara Kisuke and Kurotsuchi Mayuri, do not directly get involved in this frontal conflict."
"If the operation ultimately fails, we should exist as forces lying in wait in the shadows of Soul Society, preserving ourselves, continuing Setsuna-nii's unfinished plans, and waiting for the next opportunity."
Yoruichi's frown deepened. "Then... what about Setsuna himself? And Kenpachi, Azashiro, Koga? Are they just supposed to fight to the death?"
Aizen smiled slightly. "Setsuna-nii naturally long ago prepared a retreat. Do you still remember that Vasto Lorde-class Hollow named Szayelaporro?"
Yoruichi suddenly understood. "That weakest Vasto Lorde-class Hollow?"
Aizen chuckled. "That's him. Setsuna-nii used some special means to completely control and enslave him. Szayelaporro is currently lurking in the gap between Hueco Mundo and Soul Society, awaiting orders."
"Once the battle situation becomes unfavorable, Szayelaporro will immediately open a Garganta at the designated location and use Negacion to receive them and send them to Hueco Mundo..."
As they whispered to each other, the flame collision at the core battlefield reached a new climax.
"Bankai, Zanka no Tachi!"
As if angered by Setsuna's endless bizarre abilities and seemingly infinite karmic flames, Yamamoto finally unleashed the ultimate form of Ryujin Jakka.
It was no longer flames, but the ultimate 'heat' and 'stillness' of holding the sun's core in one's hand.
The temperature in the courtroom instantly skyrocketed to unimaginable levels. The space around the blade showed an extreme distortion and nothingness.
Facing this world-destroying strike that seemed capable of ending all things, Setsuna, at the core of the attack, also appeared unable to withstand it.
That brilliant Phoenix Cloth began to melt and fracture.
"It's over!" A noble representative watching from afar murmured, his face showing ecstatic relief.
"The Captain-Commander is truly invincible." Some Gotei 13 soldiers whispered, their eyes full of regret and sorrow.
"Hmph, an overreaching rebel, finally reduced to ashes under the Captain-Commander's divine might!" More nobles cheered and rejoiced, believing this subversive nightmare was finally about to end.
However, just as everyone thought Setsuna's body and soul was about to be annihilated by Zanka no Tachi...
A calm voice sounded from within the sun's fire:
"Eternally Enduring, Endlessly Generating, Transform into the Endless Reincarnation, Phoenix!"
Under the gaze of countless stunned eyes, the fragments of the sacred cloth that had mostly melted and fractured, along with Setsuna's spiritual body that seemed on the verge of annihilation, bathed in the sun's fire and returned.
The scorched marks faded, the melted parts restored, becoming even more brilliant and condensed, filled with a certain immortal divinity.
The Phoenix Cloth shone brightly. The flame patterns on it seemed to come alive, flowing with the radiance of eternal inextinguishable light.
Just as Setsuna had initially predicted, his Bankai was the Phoenix God Cloth.
"Im... impossible!!"
"Reborn under the Captain-Commander's [Zanka no Tachi]?"
"What kind of ability is this?"
"Monster! Is he an unkillable monster?"
The Gotei 13's Shinigami and the watching nobles were all incredulous.
What is a miracle? Rising from the dead is a miracle!
Even Yamamoto was extremely surprised, unable to resist asking: "What ability is this?"
Setsuna smiled faintly. "This is the ability of my Zanpakuto's Bankai, the Phoenix's Swan Song. Simply put, as long as my soul is not extinguished, I am reborn through nirvana."
"As long as my will has not yielded, no matter what devastating blow my soul suffers, I can, from the ashes and nothingness of destruction, return again and again."
Everyone listened, stunned speechless. In this soul-based Soul Society, isn't an indestructible soul equivalent to an immortal body?
How can you fight that? He's literally an enemy that fundamentally cannot be killed!
"Don't be afraid! I don't believe his immortality comes without any cost!"
"Correct! As long as the Captain-Commander kills him a few more times, he can completely kill him!"
As if fearing Yamamoto would retreat, some nobles shouted encouragement.
However, a weak voice shattered their hopes.
"But I heard that Captain Chiaki's Shikai seems to be unlimited stamina?"
Hearing this, the bodies of the nobles instantly froze.
As the Gotei 13's Captain they paid most attention to, Setsuna's Shikai ability was naturally no secret.
It was already an extremely powerful ability, but they never imagined that Setsuna's Bankai ability could coordinate with his Shikai ability.
Unlimited stamina + Immortal body + Transcendent realm, they couldn't help but despair. Who in this world could defeat Setsuna?
Even Yamamoto couldn't help marveling inwardly: 'No wonder he dares to enter Hell alone. With such a powerful ability, perhaps he really can sweep away the darkness in Hell!'