Sōkyoku Hill. The dust completely cleared.
Muramasa lay on his back among the rubble, hands gripping the ground tightly, chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
Images flashed rapidly through his mind.
From first entering Shigure's Zanpakutō space and meeting Candle Dragon, to Candle Dragon's manifestation afterward, to just now—Shigure's two attacks...
Each scene he recalled deepened his shock.
This moment, he finally understood.
Segawa Shigure with Candle Dragon was flawless, was the strongest.
But even separated, even with both their powers greatly reduced, they were still...
Two 'strongest' beings!
This strength couldn't be summed up in words!
Even facing Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto with Ryūjin Jakka, Muramasa had never felt this way.
Wait... Genryūsai Yamamoto?!
The instant this thought struck, Muramasa's expression suddenly froze.
Countless thoughts rapidly spun through his mind!
His original plan had been interrupted... but now, he had a new method!
Realizing this, excitement began appearing in the depths of his gaze.
The two strongest?
This... wasn't this exactly what I was searching for?!
As long as they have this kind of power... as long as I use this power...
Then... with Genryūsai Yamamoto...
Thinking this far, a savage smile suddenly appeared on Muramasa's pale face.
Everyone high above saw this smile and froze slightly.
He was smiling?
At a time like this... he could still smile?
The Zanpakutō's expressions grew puzzled. The Soul Reapers' expressions were equally strange.
But just then, Muramasa slowly closed his eyes. His smile began fading, finally returning to cold indifference.
After a long while, he opened his mouth, speaking slowly as if to himself:
"I truly miscalculated..."
"I never imagined that Candle Dragon, possessing such great power, would truly submit to a Soul Reaper..."
"Nor did I imagine that after losing your Zanpakutō, you'd still have this level of power, Segawa Shigure."
Speaking, he slowly raised his eyes toward Shigure.
"However, don't think this degree can stop me."
"Wuhook... Jōchū!"
The words fell. Suddenly, a massive ice dragon appeared, instantly flying before Muramasa.
This moment, countless ice crystals began appearing throughout heaven and earth. Dark clouds gathered in the sky. The surrounding temperature instantly dropped.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya and several others' eyes contracted. Hyōrinmaru's power?!
Just then, a violent storm of cherry blossoms like ocean waves suddenly appeared again.
Under the moonlight, these petals began reflecting cold light like blade fragments!
The next moment, purple poison gas, black-red whirlwinds, orange fireballs, crimson beams—all began appearing!
All the Zanpakutō, at this moment, attacked simultaneously again!
However, their target wasn't Shigure and the others!
But the people below waiting for treatment!
That was Retsu Unohana's group, plus the severely wounded and unconscious Sajin Komamura and Chōjirō Sasakibe!!
Seeing this, all the Soul Reapers' hearts jumped.
In this state, Retsu Unohana alone couldn't possibly respond!
This moment, without any communication, Hitsugaya and Byakuya Kuchiki immediately moved to rush downward.
But just then, sudden change erupted again!
"Ryōheki Hyōjin."
A cold voice came from the green-haired man nearby. His expression indifferent, he swung his blade down.
BOOM!!
Massive cold air burst from the blade. Instantly, all moisture in the air froze completely!
A huge ice wall appeared instantly, forming a cylinder that completely enclosed all the Soul Reapers!
Moreover, inside this ice wall, all the cold air began rapidly closing in on them!
Seeing this, Shigure's eyes moved slightly.
Hyōrinmaru truly deserved being called the strongest ice-snow Zanpakutō. This move already possessed tremendous oppressive force.
"Hey hey... Captain Hitsugaya, your blade seems particularly out of control..."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi nearby immediately laughed strangely.
Tōshirō bit his teeth, looking through the ice wall at the cold, green-haired man outside.
Shunsui Kyōraku's face grew serious as he said quietly:
"Captain Kurotsuchi, this isn't the time for jokes. Your Ashisogi Jizō... its poison gas is about to spread through this entire area..."
The words fell. Kurotsuchi and the others' eyes jumped. Somehow, Ashisogi Jizō's massive body had appeared directly above them, spewing downward!
Seeing this, Kurotsuchi immediately showed extreme displeasure.
"Tch... lacking discipline!"
Speaking, he leaped up, charging directly upward.
Tōshirō also charged toward the ice wall at the same instant!
Though they normally didn't get along, right now they had only one goal—
Deal with their own rebellious Zanpakutō.
Seeing this, Shunsui was about to warn them when he suddenly noticed the girl behind Shigure slightly raising her hand.
She smiled lightly, looking down, saying:
"Shigure, don't you find this a bit stuffy?"
"The moonlight's blocked. I can't even see your face clearly..."
The words fell. Suddenly, countless cracks appeared on all the surrounding ice walls!!
BANG!!
The next moment, the massive ice wall enclosing the Soul Reapers shattered!!
The floating cold air and poison gas were instantly blown away by the explosion's shockwave!
Tōshirō and Kurotsuchi, who'd charged out, froze simultaneously.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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