The captains gripped their blades tightly.
Though right now, having lost their Zanpakutō powers, these were just nameless Asauchi.
But they remained their primary combat tools.
And Muramasa's current stance clearly indicated he was preparing to attack.
After experiencing that previous setback, the captains naturally stayed on full alert.
But just then, Shunsui Kyōraku slowly turned his head.
He first glanced at Candle Dragon seemingly casually, then looked at Shigure and smiled lightly:
"Though I don't know what you two still have to chat about..."
"Right now isn't the time for casual conversation."
"That guy seems about to reveal some unknown trump card."
Hearing this, the surrounding captains' expressions didn't change. They kept watching ahead.
But Shigure's eyes moved slightly. Then he looked at Candle Dragon.
She still wore that smiling expression, impossible to read in detail.
In truth, Shigure had quite a few questions about her manifestation.
But as Shunsui said, now wasn't the time for chatting.
So he slowly turned his gaze back to Muramasa.
Candle Dragon still smiled mysteriously, flying to the high space behind Shigure, looking down at the Zanpakutō ahead from above.
Just then, Muramasa across from them suddenly raised his hand slowly.
He first gently wiped away the deep red blood tear sliding down his cheek.
Then spiritual pressure burst from his hand, instantly evaporating the bloodstain.
Only then did he raise his head, looking back at Candle Dragon and Shigure.
After that earlier madness, his gaze now was unexpectedly calm.
No violence or unease remained, but there was an unusual coldness.
He looked at Shigure indifferently and said coldly:
"Originally..."
"I didn't plan to use this move at this moment."
"After all, before completing my long-cherished wish... I didn't want to become that form."
"But now..."
"Hm?!"
His words were only half-finished when sudden change erupted!
This moment, a sonic boom suddenly rang through the night sky!
Shigure, who'd been standing across from him, actually vanished from his spot!
The next instant, he appeared directly behind Muramasa!
What?!
Muramasa's pupils contracted sharply. His heart seemed to stop.
His pale face instantly filled with shock. His mind went completely blank!
He hadn't seen Shigure's movement at all!
Without any spiritual pressure shift, he'd simply disappeared from his spot and instantly appeared behind him!!
This... what kind of speed was this?!
Was this the speed that attacked Sakanade earlier?!!
Cold dread rose up Muramasa's back. He didn't even have time to turn around. With just peripheral vision, he saw Shigure rapidly raise his hand.
Deep blue spiritual pressure gathered in that hand!
Just then, the nearby Zanpakutō and Soul Reapers also froze completely.
No one expected that while Muramasa was mid-sentence, this Segawa Shigure would directly flash-step over and attack!!
Forget Muramasa—even they couldn't react at all.
Who attacks while someone's talking?!
This moment, even Soi Fon and Retsu Unohana, who'd always thought they understood Shigure, were completely stunned.
This crude style—if it happened with someone like Kenpachi Zaraki, they could understand...
But happening with Shigure was too strange!
Not just strange! Completely unreasonable!!
However, amid all the shocked gazes, Candle Dragon high above still wore her smile.
Having walked this path with Shigure, she naturally knew he'd never been one to follow conventions.
In battle, he could do far too many unexpected things.
Back in the Zanpakutō space, she and Shigure had fought countless times.
So on this point, she was confident—no one understood better than her. Naturally, no one understood Shigure better than her.
So just now, the instant Shigure moved, she understood his purpose.
This moment, Shigure stood behind Muramasa and struck directly with his palm.
No technique. Purely a strike infused with spiritual pressure. Yet—
Just this ordinary strike, before even touching Muramasa, already made him cough up blood!
"Pff!!"
The compressed air blast from that spiritual pressure had already attacked his back!
Seeing this, everyone's gazes filled with shock.
This... just an attack of gathered spiritual pressure could reach this level?!
However, they didn't know—
This was naturally no ordinary spiritual pressure, but Shigure's gathered charged Annihilation Reiatsu!
BOOM!!
The charged spiritual pressure directly hit Muramasa, instantly sending him flying backward into the boulder cluster!
CRASH!!
The boulder cluster Muramasa had raised—at this moment, completely shattered!!
Sand and stone flew. Dust filled the sky!
The chain reaction of collapsing boulders created tremendous noise that made all of Sōkyoku Hill clamor.
Everyone froze.
Only Candle Dragon smiled radiantly.
Because she suddenly recalled being beaten this way by Shigure in the Zanpakutō space.
Back then, Shigure was still fighting her to learn her true name.
Now seeing someone other than herself get pummeled by Shigure this way, she naturally found it quite interesting.
After a moment, the dust cleared, revealing Muramasa's appearance below.
Right now, he no longer had any of his previous cold arrogance or elegance.
Instead, he lay somewhat disheveled in the stone ruins, looking up with terrified eyes, completely dazed.
What situation was this?
Hadn't he lost his Zanpakutō's power?!
Having lost part of his soul... his strength should be greatly reduced, right?!
Without Candle Dragon, his power should drop significantly!!
Wasn't the Zanpakutō the source power Soul Reapers relied on most?!
What was happening now?!
This man... why was he so strong?!
Muramasa's perception was completely shattered in this moment.
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