The one who witnessed the remnants of the past at this moment wasn't only Yamamoto.
When Yhwach saw that figure wrapped in flames, slowly walking out like a demon...
His pair of thick black eyebrows also rose uncontrollably at this moment.
Extremely detestable memories.
"Lingering undead spirit..."
Why couldn't he just disappear honestly?
He had clearly come today to sever the past, yet all these phenomena and everything currently happening gave Yhwach the urge to grit his teeth.
The shadows of the past showed no sign of dissipating, but rather intensified at this moment.
Annoyance, anger...
Such emotions churned in his chest, as if his intestines were being twisted together.
Causing the enraged tyrant to slightly widen his eyes and let out a fierce shout at this moment.
"Ignorant youngster!!!"
His right hand swung down heavily.
The crescent moon above manifested, blooming with incomparable brilliance.
Light arrows fell from the sky like torrential rain, washing over the ground, as if to cleanse all evil and disdain in an exaggerated manner.
Yhwach looked down at everything before him from on high.
His expression was extremely ferocious.
Just someone whose age doesn't even reach one-tenth of mine.
Life, experience, knowledge... what is there worth taking seriously?
Why...
"Even lowering myself to recruit such trash, you still want to stop me completely?!"
Soul King!
To what extent do you want to humiliate me!
The surge of emotion directly reflected in the manifestation of his power at this moment.
Increasingly dense arrow rain washed over the entire land.
The old man who could still observe earlier now also grabbed Chōjirō, like the royal guard before...
Creating a relatively safe distance.
"Yamamoto-sama, that Arima-kun..."
"Stay calm."
It wasn't that he wasn't worried.
Even at this very moment, Yamamoto's inner tension was no less than his subordinate's.
But those in high positions must have confidence.
Moreover...
He could also truly feel the changes on the other side through sensing his own Zanpakutō.
No problem.
Like this... it hadn't even reached the limit yet.
As if confirming Yamamoto's thoughts, in this blue sea that seemed to wash away sins and introspection, suddenly, abruptly...
A bright and vivid golden yellow color appeared.
It twisted and protruded, stubborn like a mountain stone, standing proudly in place within this force, withstanding tremendous pressure.
Until it began the process of spreading.
Fire.
Inherently possessed absolute 'infectiousness.'
And at this moment, it displayed an absolutely undeniable presence.
Brilliant firelight scattered and burst forth, dispersing everywhere like a rebellious army rising up, launching a desperate charge at this moment!
The blue sea boiled in an instant.
Blazing fire completely swallowed and melted the holy light.
The rising light and heat stirred Yhwach's clothes at this moment, forcing him to continue creating distance...
Only then could he barely preserve his attire.
"..."
The silent tyrant just stared straight at the man walking through fire.
Exactly the same.
Whether strength, presence, methods, or sensation...
That sword demon from a thousand years ago seemed to have 'come alive' at this moment.
Yhwach suddenly felt his heart being tightly gripped. His brow furrowed unconsciously as he raised his right hand at this moment.
Gently pressing it down.
Where did this uneasy premonition come from?
Like heart palpitations before death, it made Yhwach involuntarily recall that bloody night from a thousand years ago.
Impossible.
He instinctively responded to his own speculation.
For the current Yhwach, he had absolutely no possibility of defeat—the opponent was merely a shadow of a past undead spirit, a petty person borrowing Yamamoto's power.
Having accumulated a thousand years of experience, suffered so many losses, and made such preparations.
How could he possibly lose in such a place?
Yhwach watched the figure below slightly crouch, suddenly stomp the ground, shooting up like a rocket toward him at this moment...
He also showed an extremely ferocious expression at this moment.
Come, continue the slaughter.
Let me settle the grudges from a thousand years ago and put an end to past failures.
The two figures collided violently.
Bright yellow and pale blue clashed fiercely in the air, intertwining, with intense buzzing sounds coming from above the Soul Society, completely shattering the accumulated thunderclouds.
However, rainwater wouldn't disappear in this way.
Soon... a torrential downpour engulfed the entire Soul Society at this moment.
Water screens connecting heaven and earth covered everything, yet still couldn't conceal that magnificent spiritual pressure.
Those fighting.
Those resting.
Even those severely wounded and dying...
Regardless of faction, right or wrong, origin.
Soul Reapers and Quincies all made the same reaction at this moment.
They all raised their heads.
Under the sky called the Soul Society, two people were frantically competing at this moment... spiritual pressure as vast as an abyss tore at each other, displaying terrifyingly extreme power.
Ōmaeda, who was treating Sui-Feng's wounds, anxiously raised his eyes. His gaze was as careful as a thief's, also appearing hesitant to speak.
Although Sui-Feng was also looking up at the sky, she seemed able to read her subordinate's mind, saying without turning back:
"Hurry with the bandaging... after we're done, come with me."
Where to?
The answer needed no elaboration.
Naturally to the best 'viewing point' of this battle!
At the same time.
Inside the 5th Division barracks, chaos also reigned.
Shinji, who was already overwhelmed, grimaced while continuously directing squad members to treat the wounded. His face was full of impatience, yet he felt helpless at the same time.
No choice.
Someone had to do these things.
And at a time like this, they couldn't contact the 4th Division... it was giving him a splitting headache!
And speaking of which.
"Where the hell did Momo go?!"
Shinji, on the verge of breakdown, let out a desperate cry, but this commotion didn't last long.
Because another person rushing by seemed quite dissatisfied with his slacking behavior, taking time to lift her leg... directly kicking him sideways!
Bang!!!
Shinji flew head-first, sliding along the ground for several meters before finally collapsing limply.
The dignified 5th Division Captain now looked as pathetic as a troublemaking thug, making people sigh with emotion.
Covering the wound on his face and staggering to his feet, Shinji began shouting again.
"You... actually attacking me... do you know what you're doing?!"
The latter was completely dismissive, just looking at him with considerable contempt.
"Of course I know! You're just a captain, right? Similar to our Espada nature, right? Anyway, I'm not under your system's management, so don't try to pressure me with such things!"
Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck.
Former Espada No. 3, after receiving Seiya's help and Mayuri's research, she had long since restored her cracked mask and gained the ability to freely change her form.
As indispensable combat power, she had also been arranged into the Soul Society operation.
As a member accompanying the divisions, her task was to act jointly with Shinji and others... but from the results, it seemed both sides weren't very satisfied with this arrangement.
Mutual displeasure described exactly this situation.
Shinji seemed to have no good feelings toward these Arrancar. Having suffered a loss, he began muttering to himself.
Saying things like 'I'll show you later' and 'just wait and see,' making the already ill-tempered 'Antelope Knight' develop veins on her forehead.
The observing squad members felt their scalps tingle. No one wanted to see internal fighting at such a time...
They all stepped forward to explain.
"Lieutenant Hinamori left just now..."
"We saw the Lieutenant leave in this direction."
"Now... it's probably too late to catch up, right?"
This direction?
Shinji rubbed his swollen cheek, looking in the direction the other pointed.
Seeming to understand something, he silently glanced up at the sky. Once again witnessing the two sides fighting and tearing at each other.
He seemed to sigh helplessly.
"...That idiot."
Nel finished arranging the wounded's destination, now coming forward to stand beside Shinji.
She also looked up at the sky, her gaze uncontrollably drawn to the two's battle.
"This battle... Arima-sama can win, right?"
Shinji let out a light snort.
"Calling him 'sama' directly now? That guy seems to have lived quite comfortably in Hueco Mundo~"
"You! Don't speak of Arima-sama in such a rude tone!"
Hollows' worship of power was instinctive.
Moreover, the other possessed part of a 'Hollow soul.'
Not only had he helped her, but he had also become the founder of Hueco Mundo's order.
Nel, as a native, shared many views with Harribel.
This was precisely why she respected Seiya so much.
Shinji glanced at her imperceptibly, then withdrew his gaze, gently pressing the gradually subsiding wound on his face.
"Well... although I'm speaking from a Soul Reaper's perspective."
"So I really hope that guy Arima can win."
"But... sometimes, things just don't go as one wishes."
Nel looked toward him, seeming confused and puzzled by Shinji's defeatist statement.
But soon.
Reality confirmed that his thinking had no problems at this moment.
Accompanied by a violent roar.
The bright yellow light mass was suddenly pulled away, rapidly bouncing down from high altitude...
Looking from afar, they could only see light and shadow bursting like bullets, raising dust waves as vast as mountains after hitting the ground.
He had landed, but not in a victor's posture.
This was...
Nel's pupils contracted uncontrollably.
Did this mean Seiya was at a disadvantage?
"But this shouldn't be..."
"What's wrong?"
Nel quickly organized her words, finally saying with a furrowed brow:
"The current Arima-sama is using your strongest Soul Reaper's Zanpakutō, right? If that's the case, then he shouldn't be able to lose!"
A perfected Arrancar, royal guard-level Quincy, the strongest Soul Reaper's blade.
Combining these three powers, Nel couldn't imagine Seiya losing at this moment.
However, Shinji could.
His lips pressed slightly, as if feeling quite helpless... he sighed softly at this moment.
"It's precisely because he picked up that blade that problems arose."
...
"Cough, cough cough..."
Short coughing sounds spilled from his mouth as Seiya slowly stood up from the ruins in a disheveled state.
The dullness in his body was obvious. Although no visible injuries could be seen, the spiritual pressure consumption was very real.
Simply adjusting his condition, he confirmed his situation.
He could still fight.
But... under this trend of one side waning while the other waxed, if he couldn't find an opportunity to turn things around, defeat would just be a matter of time.
"How ugly, Seiya."
Yhwach's voice came from ahead.
Seiya calmly raised his gaze, looking toward the other.
Bathed entirely in blue flowing light, his hands making lifting gestures... the current Yhwach was like some divine being descended to earth, his entire body radiating an undeniable divine presence.
However.
The words he spoke completely shattered this strange atmospheric feeling.
Heh...
The corner of his mouth rose uncontrollably.
This expression itself meant Yhwach's control over the current situation and his extremely pleased state of mind.
He had thought it was the shadow of a past undead spirit, but in reality...
It was merely Yhwach's one-sided fantasy.
"Wanting to defeat me without releasing full power?"
"How arrogant... even Yamamoto back then needed to pay the price of his comrades' lives..."
"What about you? Don't want to sacrifice anything? Such greedy behavior is truly pitiful."
Moreover.
Yhwach even had the leisure to make provocative gestures at this moment.
"How about this, I'll give you a chance."
"Ten seconds... release the power of Zanka no Tachi."
"How about a life-or-death speed contest?"
Whoosh...
Blue light spheres appeared on Yhwach's hands, burning flames like sacred fire... illuminating his features.
"Will your flames burn me to ashes first? Or will the entire Soul Society be evaporated by you first?"
"..."
Seiya made no response.
Rather than issuing a challenge, this was more like mockery.
Zanka no Tachi alone might be able to take down this tyrant after a thousand years, but if it came at the cost of the Soul Society, it would be completely meaningless.
Therefore...
He needed to think of other methods.
Fortunately, Seiya's preparations went far beyond just this one move.
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Powerstones?
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