Shimiya Takeru remained unmoved, instead saying coldly, "Is this body the result of your ability to devour metal?"
"Oh, so you heard my conversation with that Shinigami earlier too? Then I definitely can't let you go."
"Before considering such things, why don't you reflect on yourself?"
"Huh?"
Number Two didn't quite understand what Shimiya Takeru meant.
"I'm saying…"
Mid-sentence, Shimiya Takeru abruptly sheathed his sword, turned, and delivered a whip kick directly to Number Two's abdomen, sending him to the ground.
Then, looking down at Number Two amidst the dust, he slowly spoke:
"Gaining a special form with greatly increased defense by devouring metal, and then, on that basis, devouring a Zanpakuto to gain vitality surpassing defense, allowing you to substitute death and split into multiple bodies of equal strength—all of this seems perfect."
"Precisely because of this, you relaxed when Ōmaeda rejected you. At such a close distance, there was clearly a risk of being counter-killed, yet you didn't enter this form."
"That's why I, who snuck up behind you, was able to stab you with a single strike."
"From this perspective, you are not wise."
"How dare a half-baked person like you mock me?"
"?!"
Number Two's heart flared with anger, but before he could speak, Shimiya Takeru continued to add fuel to the fire.
"The most crucial thing is that I can feel it: you've lived for a long time, yet you're not even a Vasto Lorde. You actually claim you want to become the King of Hueco Mundo. Does Baraggan know you're this arrogant?"
"A mere brat actually knows Baraggan… That guy is just a fake. The true King is someone else, and I am his successor!"
Number Two's unexpectedly intense reaction made Shimiya Takeru pause slightly.
"The true King… huh?"
"Exactly! That was a noble person who once left the Soul Society helpless, far more brilliant than a decaying old man like Baraggan! I came to the Soul Society precisely to find his legacy and inherit his will! Vasto Lorde or whatever can't stop me! The Seireitei is the same!"
"…Doesn't sound like you're talking about my teacher, so it doesn't matter."
"What did you say?"
Number Two looked at Shimiya Takeru, who seemed satisfied at having successfully obtained crucial information, and only then realized he had apparently been tricked into talking.
Just as he was about to explode in anger, Shimiya Takeru raised the Zanpakuto in his hand, its tip pointing upwards directly at the moon above.
"—Also, let me correct one more thing."
"I haven't given up thinking, as you claimed."
"Not leaving my companions to help was simply because I'm not as careless as you, nor am I… as weak as you."
"Your boasted ability, the power you always talk about, all your reliance and pride, are insignificant to me. Now, let me show you what… a ruler's power should be."
At this moment, Shimiya Takeru's spiritual pressure converged intensely, as if concentrated at his Saketsu, making his entire body feel empty, with only a single point at the very center, like a star, filled with infinite radiance, and after he softly chanted his release command, an incredible change occurred.
"Eight Phases Manifestation… Endonemī."
Boom!
The contained spiritual pressure, like a supernova explosion, instantly filled his entire body. The vast torrent of spirit particles did not spill out even a trace, firmly locked within his seemingly slender frame.
Thus, high-concentration, high-density spiritual power underwent internal combustion and pressurization, transforming Shimiya Takeru into a luminous body, even his flowing hair becoming as translucent as Colored Glaze.
A man-made sun appeared in the night sky, creating a terrifying spectacle of sun and moon shining together.
Number Two felt his body trembling.
No! It wasn't a feeling.
Including his body.
The atmosphere and the ground, everything composed of spirit particles, was buckling under the unbearable weight of an additional celestial body.
Every spirit particle within Shimiya Takeru's body was fissioning, fissioning, fissioning, as if endlessly creating a chain reaction, ultimately forming an astronomical scale.
This result was also reflected in his spiritual pressure.
In just a few seconds, his spiritual pressure surged a hundredfold!
Just by standing there, his "spiritual pulsation" was enough to kill any nearby souls. Even a Menos Grande would struggle to bear this weight.
Approaching would mean death, so what about attacking?
Number Two only saw an extremely brilliant light descend from the sky. When he reacted, the part of his body below his chest had already vanished—not flown somewhere, but simply erased from existence.
His special form, known for its defense, had been completely useless.
The ground where he stood was also cut open, forming a canyon hundreds of meters long and unfathomably deep, with incredibly neat edges, clearly cut by something sharp. Such a landscape was undoubtedly visually stunning.
Furthermore, the aftershock formed visible ripples that spread backwards, uprooting and shredding entire swathes of trees, leaving no single object larger than a finger.
"What… is this?"
Even with Ultra-Regeneration, he couldn't recover.
All the spirit particles in his body were undergoing varying degrees of dissolution.
Number Two clearly realized that his soul was gradually melting…
"It's just ordinary sword pressure."
Shimiya Takeru floated down lightly, stirring up a little dust.
Although his body was still glowing, his spiritual pressure had diminished to its extreme.
"Monster… No wonder those two brats were jealous of you."
Number Two, in despair, couldn't help but laugh.
"But they were still too foolish, fantasizing about surpassing you with that thing."
Those two academy students were said to have gone missing without a trace, but they certainly didn't just happen to come to Junrinan and get caught by Kexi.
Shimiya Takeru had intended to ask what "that thing" was.
But Number Two had already breathed his last.
So he could only temporarily suppress this question in his heart and investigate it later.
"…It hurts a bit. That guy wasn't wrong after all; it really takes an extraordinary mindset to master this power."
Shimiya Takeru clenched his fist. Recalling the Mushroom Woman's words, he couldn't help but feel a greater sense of agreement.
"Endonemī."
—That was the true name of his Zanpakuto.
Its ability was to cause a fission effect in all the spirit particles of his body within the next eight seconds, thereby generating dozens, even hundreds of times, the amplification of spiritual pressure.
Therefore, it could also be called "Spirit Particle Fission."
Although it brought a huge burden to the body, and even the danger of soul suicide, the power possessed within those short eight seconds was truly terrifying.
A hundred times the spiritual pressure of a Lieutenant level, concentrated in a single strike, could easily obliterate a powerful Adjuchas.
Regardless of whether he attacked or not, it would forcibly deactivate after eight seconds, and then he would fall into a weakened state.
Although it couldn't be said that he couldn't move, the empty feeling in his body was real, and he truly didn't have much fighting power left.
Because all of his existing spiritual pressure had been completely expended, like all the blood in his body flowing out, he could only wait for his body to create new blood.
Currently, it would take several hours to recover.
As his own strength grew, the time would further increase.
Plus, the destructive power was truly astonishing.
Such a Shikai was really not suitable for use when there were many allies present.
Speaking of such an extreme power appearing at the mere Shikai stage…
Even Shimiya Takeru found it perplexing. Did his true nature really seem that extreme?
But no matter what, the promised task was completed.
—The rest is up to you all."
Shimiya Takeru sat down cross-legged, his gaze directed towards the distance. The spiritual pressure clashes there were also very intense, clearly reaching a critical moment. He just wondered if Kexi Number Three, with only one life left, would have other ideas.
For example… a strategic retreat.
If you were to ask if Kexi Number Three wanted to escape.
He certainly hadn't considered it before, but now… he was indeed starting to panic.
Less than a kilometer away, that terrifying spiritual pressure descended, engulfing him, making his vision go black, his body and mind trembling uncontrollably. To resist this external force, his stamina burned fiercely.
Although his opponent seemed even more pathetic, having received the memories of Number Two's death, Number Three now had only one thought: to escape, to escape far, far away, and absolutely not be fooled by the brat's seemingly exhausted state!
It had to be admitted, Number Three had developed a certain degree of psychological trauma regarding Shimiya Takeru.
"This spiritual pressure…!"
If Number Three could still hold on, Ichigo and the others almost buckled and fell to the ground, cold sweat pouring down, their hands and feet trembling slightly.
"You've got to be kidding!"
They stared dumbfounded in the direction of the spiritual pressure explosion.
They certainly wouldn't mistake their comrade's spiritual pressure, and it was precisely because of this that they felt such shock.
This invisible blade, capable of slowly weakening and killing a person, was quickly returned to its sheath by its wielder.
In their perception, everything returned to quiet.
Another Hollow's spiritual presence quickly extinguished.
Ichigo and the others couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Th-that spiritual pressure just now was Shigong's…?"
Hachihara stammered, his face still showing traces of shock.
"Ah, if I'm not mistaken, it's his Shikai. There's no other explanation. Although I don't know what kind of ability it is, at least his side is finished."
Ichigo quickly calmed down, his voice firm, gripping his sword hilt.
Shiba Kūkaku also murmured, "I imagine that brat doesn't have the strength to support us anymore. In fact, I hope he doesn't push himself."
However…
Shiba Kūkaku frowned, looking at the grayish-blue dog-headed Menos Grande, feeling a headache.
Its defense was too strong.
With such defensive power, it was inherently invincible. Their side could only counter it with well-coordinated teamwork. Even a slight oversight would lead to them being defeated one by one.
"There's no perfect defense; there must be a weak point we don't know about. That brat might know, but there's no chance to ask now."
Just as Shiba Kūkaku was considering a strategy, Number Three suddenly gathered a Cero in his mouth.
"Oooooooh—!"
Ichigo roared with full momentum, charging forward, intending to interrupt the opponent's Cero.
Unexpectedly, Number Three caught the blade with his bare hand, spun it several times with force, throwing Ichigo away, then fired another Cero, forcing Shiba Kūkaku to use "Bakudo Number 81: Dankū" to protect her companions.
"Hey, kid, are you alright!"
Ōmaeda agilely caught the thrown Ichigo, striking a proud pose as if to say, "Good thing I was here."
But Ichigo completely ignored thanking him, instead anxiously shouting, "Miss Kūkaku! My sword…!"
"I see it!"
Shiba Kūkaku glared at Number Three, gritting her teeth, "This guy wants to run!"
This statement was actually redundant.
Because Number Three had already opened a Garganta right in front of everyone.
Clearly, having suffered several major losses, Number Three no longer wanted to fight and was preparing to cut his losses and retreat, so he feinted before leaving, snatching Ichigo's Zanpakuto.
"We will meet again. When we do, I will kill two of you to compensate for my losses."