"The one who stands taller wins."
"Generally speaking, the rule-based Zanpakutō is the most difficult. Even the sword wielder has to abide by its rules, but I really want to know one thing. If the gap between the two Reiatsu of the people participating in the game is too wide, can they be forcibly removed? Are the rules offset or even destroyed?"
"Does the one on top win?"
Unohana Yachiru looked up at the sky falling from above. After being bound by the rules of Katen Kyōkotsu, her Reiatsu surged wildly. She did not choose Shunpo to dodge, nor did she try to seize a higher position from Kyōraku Shunsui. She did not even draw her Zanpakutō. She directly slid the scabbard back into its sheath.
Then, she stretched her left hand toward her face, placing five delicate jade-like fingers on her forehead.
"I do not believe."
The words had not yet finished.
Unohana Yachiru's left hand, which was placed in front of her forehead, pulled down as though she were about to place something on her face.
Boom.
As her majestic Reiatsu burst out like a torrent, her face was already covered by a tiger-striped mask.
From a distance, it looked like she was wearing the mask of a white tiger.
"Hollow!"
This scene stunned almost all the Shinigami present.
It was surprising enough that Unohana Yachiru chose to side with Aiyan, but no one thought she would actually reveal the power of a Hollow.
"Captain Unohana, you are actually…"
When Kyōraku Shunsui saw this scene, his eyes widened in shock, and his face was filled with horror.
"Sorry."
"Forgot to tell you."
"I am Aiyan Sōsuke's supreme masterpiece."
Just as he was struck with horror and disbelief, Hollowfied Unohana Yachiru had already raised her right hand. With her five fingers spread and slightly curved, it resembled a tiger's claw.
The terrifying Reiatsu burst forth, rushing into her palm. In an instant, it condensed into a sphere of white brilliance. Then, before Kyōraku Shunsui's blade pressure could fall, it transformed into a blazing white Cero that tore apart the Seireitei sky, splitting the air as it rose.
Whoosh!
Within the realm of Katen Kyōkotsu's Shikai, where the rule is that the one in the higher position wins, Unohana Yachiru refused to play along. Instead of following Kyōraku Shunsui's rules, she remained below and counterattacked directly with Cero.
Boom!
Before countless disbelieving eyes, Cero and Kyōraku's strike collided in mid-air, erupting into an earth-shattering Reiatsu storm. The blast ripped the execution platform from the ground and hurled it into the air. Even those who had already been knocked unconscious earlier by Aiyan's overwhelming Reiatsu were thrown about like rag dolls. All two thousand Shinigami lying on the ground were swept away.
"How is this possible?!"
"You are clearly standing beneath me, but you are ignoring the rules of the new game!"
"No, no, you didn't ignore it."
Kyōraku Shunsui watched in shock as the sword pressure he had released was dispersed by Unohana Yachiru's Cero. His pupils shrank to pinpoints.
The reason a rule-based Zanpakutō is so terrifying is because rules are above everything else. Of course, there are no absolutes in battle.
In the end, Shinigami combat is ultimately a contest of Reiatsu. No matter how heaven-defying a rule-based ability might be, if the gap in Reiatsu is too vast, it becomes meaningless—like when Aizen effortlessly nullified Suì-Fēng's Shikai. Reiatsu alone erased her two-hit kill.
But Kyōraku Shunsui is different. He is a Shinigami second only to the First Generation Gotei Captain, and a direct disciple of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Regarding Reiatsu, he surpassed even Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru before they ascended to the Royal Guard. Compared to most of the First Generation captains, his Reiatsu was second to few.
It is absolutely impossible to simply imitate Aizen and crush Katen Kyōkotsu's rules with Reiatsu alone.
"That's right."
"Although there is a huge difference in Reiatsu between you and me, it is not so vast that I can ignore the rules of Katen Kyōkotsu's game.
"'The one who stands taller wins'—this rule still applies. Otherwise, the Cero I struck with Reiatsu many times stronger than yours would not have merely offset your slash."
Unohana Yachiru nodded slightly, acknowledging Kyōraku Shunsui's words.
"The rules of the game still apply to you and me."
"When you stand at a high place, the power of your slash is doubled. When I stand below, I must use a Cero several times stronger than your slash just to offset it."
"If Katen Kyōkotsu's rules did not work, it would not be as simple as being on equal footing."
She shook her head, seemingly dissatisfied with her own strength. Even after using Hollowfication, she still could not completely break the rules of Katen Kyōkotsu's game.
"Five times, and ten times more."
In the distance, Kurotsuchi Mayuri's eyes flashed with deep thought, and then he voiced two numbers.
"Five times Kyōraku Shunsui's Shikai Reiatsu can offset the rules of Katen Kyōkotsu, and double that can trample all of its rules, correct?"
After hearing Aizen's words, Shihōin Yoruichi, Tōsen Kaname, and Kuchiki Byakuya silently shook their heads.
Five times greater than Kyōraku Shunsui's Reiatsu was almost impossible—let alone ten times. After all, Kyōraku Shunsui's Reiatsu was among the highest of all Gotei captains.
In other words, it was impossible to rely on sheer Reiatsu to crush Katen Kyōkotsu's rules.
At least, that was how it seemed to them.
"Don't forget, Kyōraku Shunsui knows Bankai," Shihōin Yoruichi said seriously.
"Yes, this value only applies to Kyōraku Shunsui's Shikai. After Bankai, his Reiatsu would increase at least tenfold, possibly even more. Secondly, after Bankai, Katen Kyōkotsu's rule-based restrictions would also be greatly enhanced. Bankai's rules are far stronger than those of Shikai, and coupled with multiplied Reiatsu…"
Aizen smiled faintly. Though he was explaining the terror of Kyōraku Shunsui, his voice carried only disdain.
"Let's put it this way. To trample Katen Kyōkotsu's Shikai rules, one needs Reiatsu ten times greater than Kyōraku Shunsui's. But to ignore its Bankai rules, you would need at least thirty times—no, even fifty times greater Reiatsu."
Hearing Aizen reveal such a terrifying value, Shihōin Yoruichi, Kuchiki Byakuya, and the others could not help but turn their eyes toward him and Aiyan.
It was not that they looked down on themselves, but Kyōraku Shunsui's strength was too great, and the rule-based Zanpakutō too troublesome.
Without knowing its depths, even a stronger opponent could be overturned.
Even though Unohana Yachiru had revealed her Hollow power and managed to counter one of Kyōraku's attacks, they still did not believe she could claim victory with certainty.
Only these two men could defeat each other without injury.
"Captain Aiyan, do you need me to assist Captain Unohana?"
Matsumoto Rangiku directly applied to intervene.
When Aiyan heard this, he only smiled without answering.
On the other side—
"Captain Unohana, Is this why you were tamed by Aiyan?"
"The titles of First Generation Kenpachi and Gotei Captain—are these things worth only a Hollow's power in your eyes?"
Kyōraku Shunsui took a deep breath, suppressing the oppressive impact of Unohana Yachiru's Hollowfication. But when his eyes fell on the mask covering her face, the respect in his gaze was gone, replaced only by a chilling resolve.
"If that's the case, then I will destroy all the Hollow power you gained by betraying the name of First Generation Kenpachi and the title of Gotei Captain."
He landed on the ground and stabbed both Zanpakutō into the earth. From the blades as a center, several black pine trees and needles extended outward. At the same time, a female shadow composed of Reiatsu appeared behind him, so chilling that all who saw it shuddered.
"Bankai!"