Chapter 417: Triple Crown King Shadow Snake
A radiant red light enveloped Aizen.
The captains and officers observing from the sidelines stared in awe as the glowing orbs condensed and surged toward Unshō.
A singular thought gripped most of their minds.
Captain Unshō would not be beaten to death!
In the training of Shinigami, mastering the most efficient use of spiritual power to unleash strength was a fundamental lesson. The pinnacle of this efficiency was the Zanpakutō.
However, for those who mastered high-ranking Kidō, formidable combat power could be achieved even without a Zanpakutō.
Clearly, Aizen's Hadō, surpassing level 90, was so extraordinary that many captains and vice-captains could not help but fix their attention on it.
The Shinigami spectators were no less captivated.
Across from Aizen, Unshō faced an onslaught of relentless red light. He could sense the terrifying force of the attack. Had he attempted to withstand it in such a confined situation, he would likely have been incapacitated on the spot.
Was this man trying to kill him?
"Bankai…"
A tremendous rumble echoed through the heavens.
The fierce wind pressure accompanying the raging red light drowned out his voice.
Boom! Boom!
The entire Seireitei trembled.
A blinding light erupted, accompanied by a powerful gust that swept across the surroundings. Even students at the main campus and branches of the Spiritual Arts Academy in Seireitei could not resist glancing toward the fifth division's battlefield.
They gazed at the red light glowing in that direction.
Many students began to whisper among themselves. That day, they had naturally heard of the significant event: the captain of the fifth division had been challenged. The news had spread even to Rukongai's streets.
Of course, they were well aware of it.
The commotion now had to be the clash between Captain Unshō of the fifth division and Aizen, a newly graduated student.
What incredible power!
At that moment, many students, observing the distant radiant light and feeling the vibrations around them, were not only shocked by the spectacle but also filled with yearning and envy.
When would they wield such strength?
The battlefield of the fifth division grew calmer.
The dazzling light began to fade, and the fierce winds gradually subsided. As the swirling yellow sand settled, the Shinigami watching from the battlefield's edge lowered their hands, which had shielded them from the wind and sand.
Their eyes burned with anticipation as they peered into the arena.
The dust cleared, revealing the scene within.
Unshō, the captain of the fifth division, no longer appeared pristine. His clothes were tattered, not quite resembling a beggar's rags but far from presentable.
Moreover, his body bore numerous injuries.
Drip. Drip.
Bright red blood trickled from his wounds, staining the sand beneath him crimson. The injuries were the result of the terrifying Kidō he had just endured. Had he not defended himself in time, his condition would have been far worse.
Unshō flicked his right hand, shaking off the blood dripping from his arm, now wrapped in shredded cloth.
"That was truly dangerous. I nearly died!" he said in a teasing tone, his eyes briefly flashing with solemnity as he glanced at Aizen's reflective glasses across the field. Despite his injuries, he maintained an air of nonchalance.
The Zanpakutō in his hand had vanished.
In its place, a massive black python with three heads loomed around him, each head adorned with a crown of dark light. Black rays emanated from the crowns, absorbing the surrounding light.
The battlefield grew dim and somber, as if cloaked in darkness.
This was none other than Unshō's Bankai: the Triple Crown King Shadow Snake. (Sankan'ō shadōsunēku)
"Is this your Bankai? It looks truly formidable, Captain Unshō," Aizen remarked, observing the darkened surroundings and the colossal creature encircling Unshō with a look of intrigue.
The captains and officers watching nearby also gazed at the creature with curiosity. The serpent, one meter thick and twenty to thirty meters long, bore three snake heads at its forefront.
It was indeed a monstrous sight.
Many captains and officers of the Gotei 13, even those familiar with Bankai, had never witnessed Unshō's Bankai. As one of the earliest captains to master Bankai, Unshō had displayed it only before the head captain and the reviewing captain when he assumed his position.
There was rarely a need to use it otherwise.
Thus, the unveiling of Unshō's Bankai was a spectacle that left the other Shinigami in awe.
A terrifying Reiatsu surged through the air. Some lower-ranking officers felt their bodies grow heavier, their faces etched with shock. Most of the senior officers remained solemn.
Yet, their focus was not solely on Unshō's formidable Reiatsu or his Bankai. No matter how impressive his Bankai was, it could not erase one undeniable truth.
Aizen, a newly graduated student, had forced him to this point.
The chief officers had heard of Aizen's genius in the past two days. But now, this man had compelled a captain to unleash Bankai using only Kidō.
Even with Bankai, Unshō had not escaped injury.
Was this man even human?
"Jie luo luo luo! Unshō looks utterly pathetic!" Captain Gero exclaimed, unable to suppress his laughter at Unshō's disheveled state.
"This fellow won't hold out much longer and lose, will he?"
"A captain challenged by a newcomer, how amusing!"
"Why not join my squad after he loses? He can serve as my vice-captain," Gero added with a grin, though a trace of solemnity lingered in his eyes.
Despite his occasional recklessness, Gero understood the gravity of the situation. He had not anticipated that Aizen would be this extraordinary. Challenging a captain from the outset showed remarkable audacity.
Gero's gaze lingered on the giant python emitting black light, his thoughts drifting in silence.
"Captain Gero, Captain Unshō hasn't lost yet! You're already casting him aside?" an older man with long black hair tied loosely, his appearance somewhat unkempt asked in a teasing tone. He was the captain of the eighth division, known for his divisive reputation.
"Jie luo luo, let's tear into you!" Gero shot back as he and Captain Ryukaze bickered.
Meanwhile, the battle resumed.
Unshō gestured toward Aizen. The enormous serpents surrounding him vanished abruptly, only to reappear beside Aizen in an instant.
This was the ability of the Triple Crown King Shadow Snake: shadow teleportation. Within a five-hundred-meter radius, it could cast shadows and teleport freely within them. As it moved, the shadows shifted, allowing near-infinite teleportation.
Combined with its immense size, this ability could decapitate enemies with ease.
Hiss!
A massive shadow loomed over Aizen. Three enormous snake heads materialized before him, lunging with ferocious intent. Despite the fierce assault, the air remained eerily silent.
All that could be seen were the dark, glistening snake scales drawing closer.
Yet Aizen remained composed, calmly adjusting his glasses with one hand.
As he did, an immense invisible barrier materialized before him.
"Bakudō no. 81: Airtight." (Dankū)
( End of this Chapter )