Sora, holding Yoruichi, burst out of the dust cloud.
"That Cero was so fast!" Yoruichi was still dazed. Her reaction speed could no longer keep up with the 'Gran Rey Cero.' If the professor hadn't pulled her away in time, she would have been hit.
"This is an ancient Menos Grande. In its prime, its strength was likely no less than that of a 'Vasto Lorde'," Sora said. Sensing the change in the ancient Menos's spiritual pressure, his heart was set. Its condition was poor. After firing one 'Gran Rey Cero,' its spiritual pressure had dropped significantly.
Ancient Menos were extremely rare; there were probably only a few left in all of Hueco Mundo. Sora didn't want to miss out on this rare specimen.
"Regarding the use of 'Nekonaki,' I also have an idea," Sora said, putting Yoruichi down. "Watch closely, Yoruichi!"
A thought flickered in Sora's mind, and he activated his shadow ability.
Behind him, a black shadow with a long ponytail slowly emerged.
Yoruichi found the silhouette and shape of this shadow to be abnormally familiar.
The shadow took a step forward, covering Sora from behind and merging with his body.
Sora grasped the shadow's Zanpakutō.
"Enter the Shadow, Follow the Form: All Manifestations Shadow Garment!"
Holding the shadow sword, Sora softly recited the release command for 'Nekonaki.'
"Shine, Nekonaki!"
It wasn't until the shadow sword's form changed into a short blade that Yoruichi realized the black shadow just now must have been her own.
After releasing 'Nekonaki,' Sora switched to using the lightning it created to unleash his 'Shunkō: Raikiri' form.
Even though the ability he replicated wouldn't exceed five-tenths of the original's power, it was still stronger than the lightning created by Kidō.
When using lightning from Kidō, he had to consider his body's tolerance, so he could only use the power of a low-level spell to augment himself.
But the lightning released by a Zanpakutō would not harm its master. Sora's 'Shunkō: Raikiri' form was greatly enhanced.
The torrent of spiritual pressure from his back intertwined with the lightning, transforming into wings of thunder.
Sora glanced at the ancient Menos. It was gathering another 'Gran Rey Cero,' but its speed was much slower this time.
"Yoruichi, watch closely. I think 'Nekonaki' can also be used like this."
A brilliant light flared in Sora's hand. High-voltage electricity coiled around the jet-black short blade.
With a clap of thunder, a bolt of lightning streaked across the shadow space.
Raikiri: Ryūkō Gyorai-ken! (Lightning Cutter: Flowing Light Imperial Thunder Sword!)
The jet-black short blade, wrapped in arcs of lightning and a spiritual pressure edge, struck the ancient Menos's skeletal jaw in an instant.
It directly shattered the bone and then slammed into the 'Gran Rey Cero' inside its mouth.
The mostly formed 'Gran Rey Cero' exploded violently.
BOOM—
The ancient Menos's body could not withstand such an explosion. The cracked bones all over its body shattered.
Countless bones rained down from the sky.
For a moment, it was as if a storm of bones was falling within the shadow space.
"What sword technique was that just now, Professor? It was amazing! Its power must be much greater than 'Ryūkō,' right!" Yoruichi asked excitedly.
"This is a usage I just thought of. Let's call it 'Raikiri: Ryūkō Gyorai-ken'," Sora explained. "This move's power is quite a bit stronger than 'Raikiri: Ryūkō,' as it is supported by the Zanpakutō itself. Compared to a 'spiritual pressure blade,' it can withstand more spiritual pressure and more lightning power."
"It seems this sword technique is very suitable for a Zanpakutō that can command lightning, like 'Nekonaki'..." Yoruichi said thoughtfully. She then asked, "Is this your Bankai's ability, Professor? To be able to use 'Nekonaki's' power?"
"Yes. I can use my Bankai to imitate a portion of others' abilities," Sora smiled faintly. "However, I haven't used this ability in front of anyone else yet. An information gap is a factor that can influence the outcome of a battle. Yoruichi, can you help me keep this secret?"
"I will definitely keep the professor's secret!" Yoruichi nodded repeatedly, very happy that her professor would share a secret with her.
Her affinity level with Sora had long since been maxed out; he didn't have to worry about her leaking it.
The Wandenreich might possess reishi technology that could steal Bankai. Before finding a countermeasure, Sora didn't want to expose his own Bankai's ability, lest it be stolen when he faced them in the future.
Their method of stealing a Bankai required complete information on all of its abilities to work.
"Damn you, Shinigami! You've ruined my grand plan!"
An angry roar came from the sky.
The two looked up. The immense skeletal Menos had already crumbled to the ground, but a glowing thorn jungle was still floating in the air.
Sora's eyes narrowed. He realized his previous judgment was wrong.
This glowing thorn jungle was the Hollow's true body.
The skeleton of the ancient Menos was likely just something it was controlling.
No wonder it had seemed all for show—slow-moving and fragile. Its displayed strength was far from what was expected.
The thorn jungle in the air unfurled, turning into a long, thorny strip, looking like a caterpillar covered in bone spikes.
The thorn-jungle Hollow was an 'Adjuchas'-class Menos. After discovering the ancient Menos's skeleton, it had attached itself to it, hiding deep in the Forest of Menos, continuously nourishing the skeleton with the flesh, blood, and reishi of other Menos.
Given enough time, it could have taken over the skeleton completely. The ancient Menos's foundation was excellent; it even had a high chance of allowing it to evolve into a 'Vasto Lorde'-class superior Menos.
But the appearance of the Shinigami had shattered its dream. The skeleton had been dismantled, and all its efforts were wasted.
The thorn-jungle Hollow was filled with rage, vowing to tear the Shinigami before it to shreds.
Its caterpillar-like form vanished in an instant. The next moment, it appeared above Sora and Yoruichi, rapidly pressing down on them.
After detaching from the skeleton, the thorn-jungle Hollow's speed had returned to the level expected of an 'Adjuchas.'
It had not fully fused with the skeleton before, so it couldn't control it with the same dexterity as its own body.
Sora swung his sword, kicking up a violent heatwave.
Standing next to her professor, Yoruichi instantly felt her mouth go dry. Her skin became parched, and even the tips of her hair curled slightly.
Then, sand and rock rolled through the air, merging with the heatwave, rapidly melting and then fusing together.
A giant, golden-flamed arm appeared in the air. It held a long golden flame sword and swung it fiercely at the descending thorn-jungle Hollow.
Dust-Binding Lightning-Flame Armor!
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