Kurotsuki Renya and Yamamoto Genryūsai followed Aizen Sōsuke and Wonderweiss Margela into a desolate wilderness far from any settlement. No human lived here, and even souls rarely wandered into this forsaken land. Tall weeds swayed beneath them, rising to nearly half a knee in height.
The four figures hovered above the ground.
A faint smile curved Aizen's lips.
"Is this place acceptable?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai's expression darkened.
"More than sufficient," he said coldly. "It will serve well as your grave."
"Perhaps," Aizen replied calmly, "you will fall here instead."
Aizen slowly drew Kyōka Suigetsu from its sheath.
At once, Yamamoto turned his head slightly.
"Renya," he said in a low voice, "avoid my flames."
As his words fell, Yamamoto Genryūsai clenched his Zanpakutō. In the next instant, scorching flames surged forth, wrapping around the blade.
Ryūjin Jakka
Flowing like fire.
Yet the moment the flames manifested, Renya's pupils contracted sharply. He sensed something wrong.
Without hesitation, he drew his Zanpakutō and burst forward.
Boom!
Renya's blade was intercepted mid-strike by Aizen, who blocked him effortlessly, a mild smile on his face.
"What are you attempting?" Aizen asked.
Renya was forced back and reappeared beside Yamamoto Genryūsai. The flames on the Captain-Commander's blade had already vanished.
At the same time, Wonderweiss Margela stepped forward.
His Hollow mask framed a twisted face, his torso unnaturally lean, limbs elongated and distorted. His Reiatsu surged with instability.
Renya's expression sank.
He understood now.
Wonderweiss Margela was not merely a weapon,
he was a countermeasure.
Wonderweiss's existence was designed to seal Ryūjin Jakka's flames inside his own body.
The instant Renya realized this, he had already moved to strike, intending to eliminate Wonderweiss before the seal could be completed but Aizen had intercepted him.
Yamamoto frowned deeply.
"This is…?"
Aizen smiled faintly.
"If I can create an Arrancar that neutralizes lightning-based abilities," he said calmly, "then creating one that seals fire is hardly difficult."
He glanced toward Yamamoto.
"And you, who possess the strongest Zanpakutō of fire should fear him most."
"Seal my Zanpakutō?" Yamamoto repeated.
His gaze locked onto Wonderweiss.
So this was it.
Not nullification but containment.
Then
"I will kill you first."
In a flash, Yamamoto appeared before Wonderweiss and drove his fist forward.
Wonderweiss roared and punched back.
Their fists collided.
In that instant, Wonderweiss's entire right arm and shoulder were obliterated.
But almost immediately, flesh twisted and regenerated, restoring his body.
Wonderweiss was powerful
Even without reason, even without intelligence.
In the past, he had shattered Hitsugaya Tōshirō's Hyōten Hyakkasō, gravely wounded Ukitake Jūshirō, and overwhelmed Kensei Muguruma.
Yet before Yamamoto Genryūsai, he was nothing more than a blunt instrument.
Wonderweiss screeched and slashed wildly with both arms.
Yamamoto caught one arm, exerted pressure, and tore it off.
But at that moment, Wonderweiss's shoulders split apart, additional arms erupting outward, fists raining down upon Yamamoto.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shockwaves tore through the land.
When the dust settled, Yamamoto stood unmoved.
"As expected of the Captain-Commander," Aizen said softly.
Then he spoke calmly:
"Wonderweiss. Stop."
A pause.
"Detonate."
Wonderweiss's body suddenly began to swell.
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed.
He moved to retreat
But Aizen's voice cut in.
"His ability does not erase your Zanpakutō," Aizen said lightly. "It seals your flames inside his body. Once released… the result should be obvious."
Yamamoto's expression turned grim.
He knew his flames.
Even a fragment of Ryūjin Jakka, released unchecked, could annihilate multiple districts entire cities the size of Karakura Town.
Without hesitation, Yamamoto surged forward and embraced Wonderweiss.
BOOOOM!
A cataclysmic explosion erupted.
Flames consumed the heavens.
Renya and Aizen retreated instantly, escaping the heart of the blast.
When the fire faded, Yamamoto Genryūsai crashed heavily into the ground.
Silence followed.
Aizen turned his gaze to Renya.
"Now," he said calmly, "only the two of us remain."
Renya tightened his grip on his Zanpakutō.
Had Yamamoto's flames not been sealed, Aizen would already be dead.
Renya was fast, fast enough to exploit even the smallest opening.
But Yamamoto had fallen.
Yet Renya was not surprised.
This outcome lay within his calculations.
He exhaled slowly and spoke in a low voice.
"Nine Heavens respond
Primordial Thunder,
Manifest, Celestial Sovereign."
Aizen raised an eyebrow.
"Bankai already?" he asked lightly.
With a casual wave of his hand, crimson mist spread across the battlefield, swallowing his figure.
Behind Renya, a colossal thunder giant rose, stepping forward and merging into his body.
Boom.
Renya vanished.
He pierced through the mist in an instant, blade driving straight through Aizen's torso.
"Have you forgotten my Bankai?"
Aizen's voice sounded from behind him.
Renya turned and slashed.
Puff!
Aizen's body was cleaved in two
And dissolved.
"You can't hit me."
Aizen reappeared nearby.
Renya struck again.
Another illusion.
Again and again
Each strike missed.
Kyōka Suigetsu.
Complete hypnosis.
Aizen appeared behind Renya and slashed downward.
"Got you," Renya muttered, turning
But once more, the body vanished.
This time, Renya stopped attacking.
He stood still.
Aizen paused.
"Why not strike?" Aizen asked.
Renya said nothing.
Aizen appeared behind him and slashed.
The blade cut into Renya's back.
Blood spilled.
Renya turned.
"This one is real."
He struck
Aizen's head fell.
Silence.
Then
Aizen's voice echoed.
"Because I once said illusions cannot convert Reiatsu into force… you assumed pain confirmed reality."
Aizen stood in the distance, smiling.
"I lied."
"That was not an illusion," he continued calmly. "It was a mirror manifestation identical in form, power, Reiatsu, and ability. It can attack, cast Kidō, and fight freely."
"But while it exists," Aizen said softly, "I cannot use my own Reiatsu."
Renya's expression darkened.
The thunder around his body began to fade.
His power strained his flesh from within.
Twenty seconds.
That was his limit.
Aizen smiled.
"Time's up," he said. "Without Bankai, you cannot defeat me."
Renya lifted his head.
"Who told you," he asked calmly, "that was my full Bankai?"
Aizen frowned.
Renya tightened his grip on his Zanpakutō.
"Nine Heavens Responding Thunder," he said slowly,
"is merely the first phase."
His Reiatsu surged violently.
"As for my true Bankai"
His eyes blazed.
"Destroy—Shenxiao."
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