"Guu—"
Two rows of sharp white teeth parted, wisps of vapor escaping between them as a ferocious, grotesque smile spread across the bone mask, unleashing unbridled killing intent. Ink-like streams of light flowed and surged across Akira's body.
Everyone present stood paralyzed by his demeanor, unable to regain their composure.
Aizen was the first to react, casually casting an incantation-less Hadō.
⤫ Hadō #63: Raikōhō ⥤ Thunder Roar Sear! ⤬
Brilliant golden lightning streaked across the night sky, crashing into Akira's body. Massive electrical arcs surged outward, nearly engulfing him.
Genryūsai furrowed his brow, studying Aizen in the distance.
As a master of the Zankensoki (Four abilities), judging Kidō proficiency came naturally to him. One glance told him his wayward disciple's friend had achieved perfect mastery of Raikōhō — even Tessai Tsukabishi couldn't have done better.
Yet the attack failed to inflict any real damage on Akira.
The white haori disintegrated to ash amid the electrical storm, leaving only a faint scorch mark on his skin that vanished moments later.
Everyone was stunned by this recovery ability, suspecting that beneath the God-King's Shinigami exterior lay a Hollow core.
"What are you waiting for?" Aizen's brow creased, "Don't worry about hurting Akira — focus on depleting his Reiatsu. This will be a fierce battle."
None understood his abilities better than Aizen. After all, he had helped develop and teach those Didō patterns.
The Hollows maintained their faith in his commands.
Akira had never been one to manage affairs — all matters in Las Noches, great and small, passed through Aizen's review, much like Jugram of the Wandenreich.
At his words, the Hollows snapped to attention, unleashing furious Ceros. Brilliant, colorful energy pillars lit up the night sky like neon lights in a human city.
Grimmjow's expression brightened with excitement as he spread his right hand's fingers. Sky-blue light condensed between them, twisted serrated patterns appearing along the edges of his Cero.
⤫ Gran Rey Cero ⥤ King Hollow Flash! ⤬
He had awaited this moment — to fight someone as strong as the God-King. Even death would be worth the price!
BOOM!!
Thunderous explosions rang out as massive shockwaves rushed outward, their pressure crushing the silver sand until it creaked and groaned.
A Cero's power, being concentrated Reiatsu, varies with its user's strength. The greater the Reiatsu, the more devastating the Cero.
Starrk led the assault. Though typically lacking fighting spirit and prone to laziness, he showed no hesitation in this crucial moment.
Cero after Cero erupted and exploded, forming an azure canopy that engulfed Akira.
Just as Starrk contemplated using his self-developed Resurrección, something changed.
BOOM!!
A muffled explosion burst from within the endless Ceros like heavenly drums in chaos. The silver desert trembled violently, countless grains of sand rising into the air, quivering with unease.
Heavy clouds shrouded the moonlight and stars as Reishi density surged in the atmosphere.
As the first ice-cold drop of Reishi-formed rain fell from the clouds, the Hollows sensed the awakening of a sleeping beast.
The wind began to rise. Reiatsu settled, flowing like mercury in a vast, slow surge. As the wind speed climbed rapidly, a sandstorm brewed in the desert, capable of sweeping away everything in its path. Silver-white sand danced frantically, blotting out sky and sun.
Looking at the apocalyptic scene before them, everyone's expressions froze, their pupils filled with primal fear.
This wasn't about friend or foe, life or death. It was the instinctive terror that grips those of lower status when facing their superior.
Akira tore through the curtain of Ceros, revealing a demon-like grin. His golden vertical pupils rotated frantically in their sockets, searching for prey. He had completely lost consciousness, acting purely on instinct.
Seeing this, Genryūsai placed his right hand on his sword's tsuba, about to draw when Aizen stopped him.
"Captain-Commander, please remain calm."
His tone was so casual it made the situation sound trivial. As Genryūsai noted, not a trace of emotion crossed Aizen's face.
"Let's leave the early stages to Starrk and the others. They've been cooped up in Las Noches so long their joints are getting rusty."
As the words fell, Akira struck. Using Sonído, he seemed to teleport through the air, materializing before Grimmjow.
Face-to-face with that demonic visage, the cat hollow felt fear — yet a powerful desire welled up from deep within his heart—
To defeat the man before him!
"Grind…"
⤫ Resurrección: Pan—
Before he could complete his Resurrección command, with his Reiatsu only half released, an arrow-quick killing blow struck his chest.
The terrifying force and suffocating wind pressure slammed into Grimmjow's body, launching him skyward with an explosive boom into the sandstorm.
His vision went black as blood erupted from his mouth. Like a rag doll, he was swept away by the fierce wind, trailing light before vanishing from sight.
This display of raw power left everyone dumbfounded. They knew Akira was strong, but hadn't imagined such overwhelming might.
Though Grimmjow ranked lowest among the Hollows, he was still an Arrancar with tremendous potential. His Reiatsu was formidable, his combat power fearsome. Against the 9th Division Captain — that living dynamometer — he would have been victorious in moments.
Yet even such a warrior was nearly killed by a single casual strike from Akira.
Heavy curtains of rain-laden silver sand swept through the fierce wind. Having witnessed Grimmjow's fate, the others abandoned all carelessness and prepared their full strength.
"Kick About…"
⤫ Resurrección: Los Lobos ⥤ Returning Blade: Pack of Wolves! ⤬
Starrk showed rare enthusiasm as he completed his Resurrección first, though differently this time — his flintlock pistol transformed into a Gatling gun.
⤫ Cero Metralleta ⥤ Infinite Ammunition Hollow Flash! ⤬
Blazing muzzle flashes erupted in rapid succession as countless Ceros burst forth.
After releasing his Resurrección, his power alone surpassed what all the other Arrancar had managed earlier combined.
After being ravaged by Akira, plus Starrk's own development, these bursting Ceros gained the special effect of breaking through Reishi defenses.
Unfortunately, such effects proved useless against the beast. Thousands of Ceros striking his body only managed to tear apart the outer layer of his Shihakushō, leaving white marks on his muscular form. Nothing more.
Watching Akira approach step by step, Starrk felt his scalp tingle. Unlike Grimmjow, he lacked proficiency in close combat.
At the crucial moment, help arrived from the others. Thunder spears wreathed in lightning and jade spears carrying wind pressure struck Akira's back with precision. The powerful impact made him stagger, nearly falling to the ground.
But what followed was his savage counterattack.
Sonído activated.
Layers of white bone material covered his body, forming a streamlined shape to reduce air friction during high-speed movement. The Hollowfication deepened, evolving him into a form better suited for battle.
Akira appeared before Ulquiorra and, without a word, unleashed a punch of pure violence!
BOOM!!
At the critical moment, Ulquiorra barely managed to cross his arms and wings before him, forming multiple layers of defense.
But against Akira at full power, such protection was like paper. As his fist connected, lightning and flames erupted — the terrifying force not only shattered both wings but completely engulfed him in the aftermath.
The others seized this opportunity to release their Resurrección while simultaneously launching their strongest attacks.
Endless torrents of water surged forth to imprison Akira's body, while jade spears locked onto the front and Starrk aimed from behind. Their coordination was flawless, as if rehearsed countless times.
In fact, it had been. Due to someone's erratic tendency to bring Quincy to invade Hueco Mundo and attack Las Noches, the Lanza teaming up to raid dungeons and fight their God-King as the final boss had become commonplace.
What struck them as strange was that although their lord had become extremely violent, with sharp and decisive attacks and terrifying combat power, his fighting style remained largely unchanged.
Could this be what they called instinct?
The rampaging Reiatsu torrents washed over that demon-like figure, causing him to halt momentarily, unable to dominate the battlefield as before.
"Rot..."
⤫ Resurrección: Arrogante ⥤ Returning Blade: Grand Emperor of Skulls! ⤬
Baraggan, who had been providing rear support, performed his Resurrección. The elderly man instantly transformed into a skeleton, pointing his finger as thick black mist erupted before him.
⤫ Respira ⥤ Breath of Death! ⤬
It surged majestically toward Akira, engulfing him directly. Within the black mist, the power of time continuously ravaged his body, heralding death's arrival.
Watching the figure struggle in the black mist, Baraggan felt his skull tingle.
Though this opponent had demonstrated an unreasonably overwhelming defense before, no one had warned him it had become even more ridiculous.
Watching the Hollows display their might, Genryūsai's expression grew complicated.
Compared to Las Noches' Arrancar, Soul Society's Captains seemed rather weak. If Shinigami Captains were to join this battle, they would likely suffer casualties in the first round.
"How much longer will this last?" He asked in a deep voice, "The boy won't be in danger, will he?"
Seeing the old man clearly concerned about his disciple yet trying to maintain an air of indifference, Aizen's lips curled into a smile as he replied:
"The duration depends entirely on him. There's no danger to his life — at worst, his soul and body will suffer severe damage, but some rest afterward will fix that."
Hearing this, Genryūsai's worried heart temporarily settled.
But just then, Aizen suddenly warned, "Captain-Commander, prepare for battle. Starrk and the others have reached their limit."
As the words fell, Akira tore through the Hollows' defense line, charging into the crowd and rewarding each with a Ryūsei Ken (Meteor Punch).
Flesh split and bones shattered as they plummeted from the sky like fallen stars, creating deep craters in the desert.
In the next instant, the terrifying figure wearing a white bone mask materialized before Aizen. Golden vertical pupils stared at the man, yet surprisingly held back from immediate attack.
Just as everyone thought their friendship had affected Akira's rationality, a punch burst forth without warning, exploding into white waves in the air — a strike without restraint.
BOOM!
⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Kūhaku Hakai ⥤ Origin Style: Single Empty Destruction! ⤬
⤫ Genryū: Ikkotsu ⥤ Elemental Style: Single Bone! ⤬
Their fists collided, sending shockwaves skyward.
Watching the two clash, Genryūsai's face darkened. This reckless kid truly held nothing back, even teaching Aizen the Ikkotsu technique.
The powerful Reiatsu compensated for the difference in Spiritual Body, resulting in a momentary stalemate.
But Aizen knew well this equilibrium was temporary. Lacking lethal techniques, he couldn't match the current Akira. Only the old man watching from the side could truly face him head-on.
And mastering the power of Hollowfication would still depend on Akira himself.
⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬
Inner World.
When Akira regained consciousness, he found himself at his origin point — his former home.
76th District of Rukongai, Sakahone.
Heavy moisture permeated the air as endless black clouds descended, an indescribable oppression weighing on the heart. Not far away stood the old Sakahone shrine, its empty grounds stirred by stuffy winds that swirled at its corners as if searching for their source.
As Akira approached the shrine, ink-like shadows flowed from within once he crossed an invisible threshold, quickly spreading to the limits of vision.
The shadows rose gradually and, under his gaze, condensed into a figure identical to his own.
Looking at the form standing in the ink, he felt an odd sensation. It was like gazing into a contaminated mirror — everything matched perfectly, from the tattered clothing edges to the dust coating the body.
"Everyone else's is pure white." Akira said with distaste, "Why did mine turn pure black? This is blatant discrimination!"
The other showed no interest in conversation, simply drawing an ink-colored long sword from the scabbard at its waist.
Heavy Reiatsu locked onto Akira as shadows flowed freely, spreading and staining toward distant places, as if trying to dye the entire world black.
Seeing the other's appearance, he seemed to realize something and asked in surprise, "Is that you, Kūkan Mukai?"
Hearing that bastard call his name, Kūkan Mukai paused briefly before unleashing unbridled killing intent. Bone-chilling cold erupted within the shadows, raising layer upon layer of rippling waves.
Akira recalled Aizen's instructions and his understanding of hollowfication-related information.
Without doubt, the shadow figure before him was the Hollow portion. Defeating him would mean mastering Hollowfication.
As he pondered, Kūkan Mukai's form blurred into motion, his ink-colored blade slicing down toward Akira's head.
CLANG—
Steel met steel with a shower of sparks, the impact sending shockwaves through the air.
Akira, Zanpakutō firm in his grip, flashed a fierce grin. Through their crossed blades, he locked eyes with his opponent and asked:
"Kūkan Mukai... What's the difference between a king and his mount?"
⤫⤬⤫
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