'That move just now was really rather insidious!'
Toshiro silently complained.
Detonating the flames surrounding oneself the moment an enemy closes in… if caught off guard, almost no one could dodge that.
"To have survived unscathed after being caught in my Ennetsu Jigoku... Your performance makes me more and more satisfied."
Yamamoto praised.
"Is that so? But I won't be content just because I survived your attack. I'll only feel proud after defeating you."
Toshiro said solemnly.
"Hahaha, brat! Wanting to defeat me is impossible!"
"...Well, at least for now, it's impossible."
Thinking of Toshiro's monstrous talent, Yamamoto couldn't help but add.
"Is that so?"
Toshiro said noncommittally.
"Hah, if you don't believe it, then come and try for yourself."
Yamamoto said.
With that, Yamamoto launched an attack.
"Ennetsu Jigoku!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Pillars of flame surged upward, surrounding Toshiro from all sides.
"You're very fast, right? Well, now I'll leave you nowhere to dodge. So, what will you do now?"
Yamamoto said gravely.
"Well, in this situation, there really is no dodging."
Toshiro glanced at his surroundings.
Yamamoto's Ennetsu Jigoku was very similar to Toshiro's Thousand-Year Ice Prison, though Toshiro's skill came from his Bankai.
"Then, take this, Toshiro!"
Yamamoto said.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the dozens of heaven-piercing flame pillars encircling Toshiro rapidly converged towards the center where he stood.
"However, if I can't dodge, then the only option is to fight head-on!"
Toshiro declared.
"Ice Dragon Flash!"
The surging, ocean-like Reiatsu within Toshiro's body rapidly compressed and converged into his Zanpakuto.
"Ha!"
Before Yamamoto's dozens of flame pillars could converge, Toshiro shouted. Ice Dragon Flash transformed into an ice-blue slash, flying towards Yamamoto.
In an instant, Ice Dragon Flash pierced through the flame pillar in its path and struck at Yamamoto.
Simultaneously, the remaining dozens of heaven-piercing flame pillars closed together, trapping Toshiro within.
Then, with a deafening roar, the dozens of converging flame pillars triggered a violent explosion.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Yamamoto's heaven-piercing flame pillars exploded one after another.
The explosive force affected an area nearly a hundred kilometers in radius.
On the other side, Toshiro's Ice Dragon Flash struck Yamamoto.
When everything finally settled, the area within a hundred-kilometer radius of Toshiro and Yamamoto's battle was left utterly devastated.
Cough, cough...
Suddenly, coughing came from the center of the fiery explosion. There stood Toshiro, his body showing signs of burns in multiple places, his Captain's Haori tattered and torn.
Toshiro surveyed his surroundings. Within a hundred-kilometer radius centered on him, everything had been reduced to ashes, except for himself.
Toshiro exclaimed in awe, "Incredible! Cough, cough..."
With a single move, everything within a hundred-kilometer radius had been annihilated. And this was just the power of his Shikai. How formidable would Yamamoto be if he used Bankai?
Earlier, if Toshiro hadn't used his ability to create a half-dome of ice crystals to shield himself during the explosion of those dozens of flame pillars, he wouldn't have escaped with minor injuries… he might have been severely wounded.
"Haha... Toshiro, your strength is nothing to scoff at either."
Yamamoto's voice suddenly rang out.
Toshiro turned to see Yamamoto, who also sported a not-so-shallow wound. It seemed he wasn't faring much better than Toshiro.
Although Toshiro was caught within the explosive force of Yamamoto's flame pillars, Yamamoto also couldn't evade Toshiro's full-power Ice Dragon Flash in Shikai state, thus sustaining considerable injury.
"Toshiro, the strength you've shown so far is very satisfying. However, next, let me see your Bankai. Otherwise, you still have no chance of winning."
Yamamoto said with a serious expression.
Toshiro also replied gravely, "Perfect. I also wish to witness Genryusai-sensei's Bankai."
"If you can force me to use Bankai, then naturally I'll let you see it."
Yamamoto said.
"Then, prepare yourself to face my Bankai."
Toshiro declared solemnly.
"Bankai, Daiguren Hyorinmaru!"
Toshiro chanted softly.
"Boom!"
Toshiro's Demigod-level Reiatsu, vast as an ocean, erupted without restraint.
Moreover, Toshiro's Reiatsu carried boundless chilling intent, as if wanting to freeze the entire Dangai.
Toshiro's body also rapidly grew, transforming into his young adult form.
"Oh? Even his physical appearance changes? Truly an interesting Bankai."
Seeing Toshiro transform into a young adult, Yamamoto couldn't help but express surprise.
Come to think of it, this was Yamamoto's first time seeing Toshiro's Bankai.
Whether it was Toshiro's immature Bankai at Captain-level or his complete Bankai after breaking through to Advanced Captain-level, Yamamoto had never witnessed it firsthand.
During the Captain Proficiency Test earlier, Toshiro passed without even using Bankai.
Although typically, becoming a Captain required demonstrating one's Bankai, Toshiro was already at the peak of Advanced Captain-level at the time. His Reiatsu after Bankai would have been too powerful, and Yamamoto feared causing too great a disturbance within the Seireitei.
So, he didn't make Toshiro demonstrate his Bankai. Thus, this was Yamamoto's first time seeing Toshiro's Bankai with his own eyes.
"I have released Bankai. Now, let me witness your Bankai, Genryusai-sensei!"
With that, Toshiro controlled his Reiatsu, pressing it towards Yamamoto.
"Hmm... Truly formidable Reiatsu. It seems I cannot win against you without using Bankai."
Even Yamamoto couldn't help but change expression upon directly withstanding Toshiro's Reiatsu.
"Toshiro, this is the first time in a thousand years I am using Bankai. Watch closely!"
Then, Yamamoto chanted softly: "Bankai, Zanka no Tachi!"
Boom!
A Reiatsu even slightly stronger than Toshiro's erupted with a roar.
Simultaneously, unbearably scorching high temperatures began to permeate the space the two occupied. The previously frigid space, chilled by Toshiro's Reiatsu, began to heat up.