A relentless chain of attacks pressed down on Yamamoto without pause.
At the same time, the drifting "cloud fragments" floating in the air ignited with violet flames. The spikes they carried continued to extend, further compressing Yamamoto's space.
Tsunayoshi's tonfa burned with Cloud Flames as he thrust forward in a fierce straight strike aimed directly at Yamamoto's chest.
If Yamamoto still refused to show his true strength—then Tsunayoshi wouldn't hold back.
Along with the incoming strike, eight spikes descended from above and behind Yamamoto. If he failed to block this, severe injury would be the best possible outcome.
Good. This is how it should be.
Even now, Yamamoto still had the composure to evaluate.
He showed no concern toward the all-encompassing assault.
With a swift motion, Yamamoto reversed Ryūjin Jakka and traced a vertical arc before him at lightning speed. As he deflected Tsunayoshi's attacks, the flames rapidly intensified as the circle closed.
"Ennetsu Taiyō!" (Blazing Sun)
At that moment, Yamamoto became like a burning sun.
No—not like one.
He was a sun born of his own flames.
Blazing heat radiated outward with Yamamoto at the center. This technique combined both offense and defense—the extreme core temperature nullified incoming attacks, while the expanding flames devoured everything nearby.
Typically, opponents either retreated immediately—or were consumed.
Even if they managed to endure it, they would have no strength left to continue fighting.
Retreat?
Absolutely not.
This Cloud Attribute Bankai excelled most in close combat. Having already entered his ideal range—there was no reason to withdraw.
Tsunayoshi was instantly swallowed by the flames.
From within the blazing core, Yamamoto could clearly sense his presence.
Strange…
Tsunayoshi's abilities didn't seem defense-oriented.
So why take such an extreme approach?
Was he planning to switch abilities?
The radiance of the Blazing Sun began to dim.
Yamamoto's figure gradually reappeared—
But before the flames could fully fade—
The fire in front of him suddenly split apart.
As if something had sliced through it horizontally.
What emerged—
Were chains.
Rotating horizontally, countless iron chains tore through the flames. Their ends were connected to Tsunayoshi's tonfa, forming a protective web around him.
He had danced through the inferno itself.
Breaking free from the flames, Tsunayoshi attacked again.
One tonfa's chain wrapped around Ryūjin Jakka.
The other extended sharp spikes—
And his forearm smashed toward Yamamoto.
A direct opening.
This strike would land.
But Yamamoto—
A master who had refined Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō to their absolute limits—
Even if he was treating this as a test, it didn't mean he was careless.
Against close-range combat—
Nothing was more efficient than Hakuda.
His free hand gathered Reiatsu instantly—
And he threw a punch straight into the incoming spikes.
"Genryū—Ikotsu!" (First Bone)
The clash of fist and tonfa detonated a burst of Reiatsu, clearing an entire zone of flames.
With a sharp cracking sound—
Tsunayoshi was sent flying.
His entire right arm went numb.
The spikes on his tonfa were shattered.
As expected of Yamamoto's Hakuda—had this been Bankai, that single punch might have ended everything.
But Tsunayoshi hadn't come away empty-handed.
Around his now-useless right arm—
A black ring had appeared.
A chain extended from it—
Connected directly to Yamamoto's wrist.
Alaude's Handcuffs.
This was why the Cloud Attribute was Tsunayoshi's strongest state—
Because within it, he could seamlessly wield Shinigami powers, Fullbring, and Hollow abilities together.
His arm might be unusable—
But Reiatsu was enough.
Flipping backward midair, Tsunayoshi stabilized himself.
A violet flame chain surged along the handcuffs toward Yamamoto. As the Cloud Flames spread, the restraints rapidly multiplied—
In an instant, they covered Yamamoto's entire forearm.
Yamamoto's gaze sharpened.
Flames erupted from his arm—
But Ryūjin Jakka's heat had no effect on the restraints.
He simply grabbed the chain and pulled.
Chains… could be used both ways.
Yet Tsunayoshi offered no resistance.
He allowed himself to be dragged forward.
Yamamoto glanced at him once and immediately understood—
There was no force behind it.
Trying to bind him with such means?
Ridiculous.
But Tsunayoshi had no such naïve expectation.
With a sweep of his left arm—
Countless rice-sized spiked spheres appeared.
With a flick—
They were launched forward, gaining immense momentum from the tonfa.
These were all Koyuki.
Given acceleration—
They became piercing projectiles.
A storm of spiked bullets.
Yamamoto smiled again.
That was correct—never give your opponent room to counterattack.
Unfortunately—
His opponent was Yamamoto.
Flames surged from Ryūjin Jakka, wrapping around his body.
Layer upon layer—
Forming nearly solid armor of fire.
At the same time, the restraints on his arm melted away.
This—
Was Yamamoto's true defensive trump card.
Armor forged from flame—
The foundation that had carried him through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
The earlier "Blazing Sun" had merely been a wide-area technique.
This armor—
Allowed him to fight freely at full force.
Its temperature was so extreme that even Yamamoto kept it slightly off his skin.
As it formed—
His haori instantly turned to ash.
Fortunately, the Shihakushō designed by Senjumaru Shutara possessed exceptional durability.
Otherwise, a thousand years ago—
This technique might have left him… exposed.
Yamamoto ignored the incoming projectiles entirely.
They could not break his armor.
Instead—
He raised Ryūjin Jakka and thrust downward.
A surge of danger exploded in Tsunayoshi's senses.
He immediately stopped.
Bringing both hands together—
A small Koyuki formed in his palms.
Cloud Flames surged into it—
It rapidly expanded—
Transforming into a massive spiked sphere that enveloped him entirely.
Inner Sphere Form—Modified.
Originally a technique to trap enemies for one-on-one combat—
Now adapted into a defensive form.
At the same moment—
Yamamoto drove his blade into the ground.
"Bankai—Blade of Infernal Flames: Magma Hell!"
Dozens of crimson magma pillars erupted skyward.
Even stronger than when he fought Aizen—
Because this time, the barrier could withstand greater pressure.
In an instant—
Sōkyoku Hill was consumed by molten lava.
Completely destroyed.
After this—
There would be no restoring it.
"The real show begins now."
Urahara murmured, lips curling slightly.
This wasn't just for the Captains watching—
But also for the Kidō Corps maintaining the barrier.
They could already feel the strain.
The magma pillars collapsed inward—
Like a blooming lotus of fire—
Crushing toward Tsunayoshi's purple sphere.
Yamamoto knew—
Tsunayoshi still possessed a Hollow Zanpakutō.
This attack was meant to force it out.
Bankai alone—
Would not be enough to survive this.
Suddenly—
Dozens of green streaks shot skyward, wrapped in violet flames.
They coiled around the magma pillars—
Though they began to burn upon contact—
It didn't matter.
They multiplied endlessly.
One became two—
Two became four—
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes.
Those weren't beams—
They were creatures.
Green, serpent-like Hollows.
This was Tsunayoshi's Resurrección—
Thorn Dragons.
Infinite division.
Relentless growth.
Tsunayoshi had already activated it while protected within the sphere.
The magma pillars, though powerful, were finite.
After countless divisions—
The Thorn Dragons forced them apart.
Sōkyoku Hill now resembled a half-bloomed, charred lotus.
Tsunayoshi slowly rose into the air.
His hair had turned green, extending down into the lava below—
From which massive Thorn Dragons emerged.
Though the magma burned them—
Their rate of regeneration far exceeded the damage.
By the time Tsunayoshi reached midair—
The entire battlefield—
Except for the small space where Yamamoto stood—
Was filled with colossal dragons.
Like a god commanding an army—
Tsunayoshi surrounded Yamamoto completely.
"…Terrifying."
Kyōraku removed his hat, watching intently.
"I want to cut him so badly…"
Kenpachi's voice trembled.
He was suppressing his excitement.
This—
This was what a true opponent looked like.
Everything before had been nothing but trash.
His desire for battle surged uncontrollably—
But his strength was no longer enough to match it.
His instincts screamed—
Fight them, and you will die.
But still—
He wanted it.
A hand rested on each of his shoulders.
Komamura.
Hitsugaya.
They had been placed beside him specifically to restrain him.
Even so—
Neither of them took their eyes off the battlefield.
They imagined themselves in the fight—
Running through strategies in their minds.
Kenpachi wasn't the only one excited.
Unohana Retsu had once again taken on that rare, ominous demeanor.
Her eyes locked onto Tsunayoshi.
Shinigami power—
Hollow power—
She had seen this combination before.
Against her, it had barely been enough.
Against Yamamoto—
It was far from sufficient.
But she didn't believe Tsunayoshi's confidence was an act.
Her gaze carried nine parts anticipation—
One part amusement.
Show me…
Sawada Tsunayoshi—
What other trump cards do you have?
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