Fantasy Library.

Chapter 222 The True Final Form

At this moment, countless Shinigami in the Gotei 13 felt the spiritual pressure rising into the sky.

“This spiritual pressure…”

"It's the guy from the third squad!"

"It's Captain Aize!"

Many Shinigami who had felt Aize's spiritual pressure at close range realized who the owner of this spiritual pressure was, which alarmed them all.

Especially Rukia, who was still in the Sixth Division's barracks. She was originally a little overwhelmed by the sudden disappearance of Aze and the other person. As soon as she felt Aze's spiritual pressure, she immediately looked in that direction.

"Is this Captain Ai's spiritual pressure?"

Although the distance was not close, Rukia felt as if a monster appeared in front of her and was roaring at her, making her hug her arms.

"Why does Captain Ai emit such a strong spiritual pressure?"

"He's fighting?"

"With... my brother?"

Rukia's expression changed several times in just a few seconds.

She wanted to rush over and stop the fight, but she found that her feet were completely out of control. They kept shaking and she couldn't move forward at all.

It's not just Rukia. Many Shinigami who feel Aize's spiritual pressure are like this. They want to go over to check the situation, but their bodies' instincts stop them from getting close.

Even captain-level Shinigami would feel pressured by the spiritual pressure that Aize released with all his strength, let alone those Shinigami who were far from the captain level.

Therefore, they did not dare to get close to the spiritual pressure that was rising into the sky. Only a few people like Kenpachi Zaraki were not frightened, but instead seemed to be stimulated and approached it.

As for Byakuya Kuchiki himself, who was facing this spiritual pressure directly, he was like encountering a storm, his pupils shrank to the size of a needle tip, and an expression of shock appeared on his face.

“This spiritual pressure…”

Feeling the spiritual pressure that Aize was releasing with all his strength at close range, Byakuya Kuchiki was shocked. He didn't even care about the fact that the blade of Senbonzakura was blown away by the spiritual pressure. He just stared at Aize, whose whole body was bursting with golden spiritual pressure, in shock.

In this situation, Aize, bathed in golden spiritual pressure, slowly raised the Zanpakuto in his hand.

"Aha!"

He slashed forward with all his might, and golden spiritual pressure immediately flew out from the blade of his Zanpakutō, transforming into sword pressure, like a golden torrent, advancing forward and crushing Kuchiki Byakuya.

Wherever the golden sword passed, the ground was destroyed, the cherry blossoms floating in the wind were torn into pieces, and even the cherry trees were blown away, making the originally pleasant wilderness become a devastated place.

"The pride of heaven, the iron walls, the march of dragons, the roar of lions, the howling of tigers, the running of wolves, cut off the heaven and earth before they collapse!"

Without even thinking, Byakuya Kuchiki stretched out his hands and chanted Kidō loudly.

"The Eighty One of the Binding Dao: Duan Kong!"

A transparent protective wall suddenly rose up and stood in front of him, blocking the surging golden sword pressure.

"boom!!!"

The golden sword pressure immediately hit the transparent protective wall, causing a deafening roar.

Suddenly, a strong wind arose, and golden spiritual pressure rolled in the air.

The spirit particles were burned, the ground was destroyed, and the golden sword pressure crushed everything it touched. It was powerful and terrifying.

"Kacha kacha kacha..."

The transparent protective wall became shaky under the impact of the golden sword pressure, and cracks began to appear on the surface, causing Kuchiki Byakuya's expression to change again and again.

“Duankong actually…!?”

He didn't quite want to believe his eyes.

Duan Kong, who claimed to be able to perfectly defend against breaking attacks below level 90, actually began to show signs of collapse under the impact of the golden sword pressure.

"Senbonzakura!"

Kuchiki Byakuya waved his hand, and countless cherry blossom petals flew over and landed on the bladeless hilt in his palm, transforming into the blade of his Zanpakuto again.

He swung his Zanpakutō, seemingly wanting to use sword pressure to cut off the golden sword pressure that was colliding violently with the transparent protective wall.

"Shh!"

However, a figure appeared behind him without warning, forcing him to turn around without hesitation and slash at it with a knife.

"Qiang!"

Amid the crisp sound of metal clashing, a Zanpakuto appeared out of nowhere and collided with Kuchiki Byakuya's Zanpakuto.

"Pfft!"

Just when Byakuya Kuchiki thought he had blocked the attack, he suddenly found that the Zanpakuto had disappeared and instead fell on his side, leaving a big gash on it.

"Qiang!"

"Pfft!"

Kuchiki Byakuya ignored the wound on his side and turned the blade of his Zanpakutō to meet the Zanpakutō that was suddenly coming at him from another direction. However, the Zanpakutō danced with sparks the moment it was blocked and came at him again from the opposite direction, leaving a big gash on Kuchiki Byakuya's thigh.

"So fast……!"

Kuchiki Byakuya took several steps back as if struck by lightning, his handsome face turning slightly pale.

Seeing Aize suddenly appear in front of him with golden spiritual pressure surging all over his body and raising his Zanpakuto again, Kuchiki Byakuya stretched out his finger.

"Sixty One of the Binding Dao: Six-Stand Light Prison!"

Six smooth and regular pieces of light suddenly flew in from all directions and clamped around Aize's waist.

However, when the six pieces of light were about to touch Aize, the spiritual pressure on his body exploded again, and actually shattered the six pieces of light directly.

"The Sixty-One Binding Technique: Six-Stick Light Prison." Then, Aize also stretched out his fingers and activated the same binding technique, causing six pieces of light to fly from all directions and lock up Byakuya Kuchiki.

“Shit…!”

Feeling that he couldn't move, Byakuya Kuchiki's expression changed immediately.

"Shh!"

Aize took a quick step and came in front of him in an instant.

"Pfft!"

The noble and gorgeous Zanpakuto slashed down violently, penetrating into Byakuya Kuchiki's shoulder and cutting all the way to the bottom.

"------"

Kuchiki Byakuya's eyes widened, his expression frozen, and the spiritual pressure on his body weakened rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

That scene looked like a sign of impending death.

Unfortunately……

"Who are you trying to fool?"

Aize swung his Zanpakutō, and the frozen Byakuya Kuchiki immediately disappeared like a phantom, leaving only a white sleeveless haori in place, which was cut in half by Aize's Zanpakutō.

Only then did Aize turn around and look behind him.

There, Kuchiki Byakuya, who had taken off his white captain's haori, was breathing slightly, looking at Aize as if he was looking at a monster.

"The third of the four secret steps, the empty cicada."

Aize spoke lightly.

"Use instant acceleration to quickly leave the spot, leaving the outer garment behind, so that the enemy will mistakenly think that the body was hit, but in fact only the clothes were hit. Not bad, quite practical."

Aize's words made Kuchiki Byakuya's expression become very unpleasant.

He actually doesn't like to use this trick.

Because, this move was learned by Byakuya Kuchiki from an annoying guy when he was a child.

That guy has now betrayed Soul Society, making Byakuya Kuchiki, who already hated him, even more disgusted with him.

Therefore, Byakuya Kuchiki rarely uses this trick because it reminds him of that annoying guy.

"I see, is this your true strength?" Kuchiki Byakuya whispered, "No wonder you were promoted to captain even though you can't even use Bankai like that rude guy."

"Even if you only rely on this powerful spiritual pressure, you can have the strength of a captain."

"With this power that can rival Bankai, it doesn't matter whether you can use Bankai or not. This should be what Captain-General Yamamoto thinks, right?"

In response to Byakuya Kuchiki's statement, Aize remained noncommittal.

Indeed, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni promoted him to the captain of the third division because he possessed the strength of a captain, ignoring the unspoken rule that the captain must master Bankai.

But in addition to this, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni should also be looking forward to the fact that this overly young genius Aize can show more possibilities in the future.

After all, unlike that freak Kenpachi Zaraki, although Aize has been a Shinigami for a short time, he is a being who can perform the Shikai of his Zanpakutō within just a few days of acquiring the skill.

Such a person can be regarded as a brilliant talent in the history of Soul Society, who dares to say that he will not master Bankai in the future?

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni believed that a mere Bankai would not be enough to defeat Aize.

By then, he will become stronger than he is now, and will become one of the best captains of the 13th Division, even to the point of being on par with himself.

Byakuya Kuchiki did not think of this, or rather, most of the captains did not think of this. They all thought that Aize did not master Bankai, so they equated Aize with Kenpachi Zaraki, thinking that the two of them were exceptions and could not master Bankai.

Only a few shrewd people, led by Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, thought of this matter after careful consideration and felt fear or expectation for Aize's future.

Of course, even Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni would not have thought that Aize had actually mastered Bankai a long time ago, and it was completed at the same time as he mastered Shikai, the moment he came into contact with Asauchi.

If Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni knew about this, even he would not be able to remain calm, right?
But Aize would naturally not publicize this kind of thing everywhere.

He just looked at Byakuya Kuchiki and said.

"Is this just the tip of the iceberg of power that people like me will never understand? It doesn't seem that great!"

Hearing this, Kuchiki Byakuya became furious.

"...I admit that I underestimated you."

Kuchiki Byakuya took a deep breath and tightened his grip on his Zanpakutō.

Originally, he just wanted to teach Aize a lesson and a warning, and was not prepared to go to this extent.

But now, if we don’t give it our all, it’s no longer possible.

"Well, let me show you what this power really looks like."

Kuchiki Byakuya raised his Zanpakutō once again.

However, this time, instead of raising the blade with it pointing upwards, he let the blade hang downwards and held the Zanpakutō upside down.

"Engrave this scene in your eyes and soul and remember it forever."

"Remember that this is a power that can only be mastered by the Shinigami who are recorded in the history of Soul Society and stand at the top of Soul Society."

"This is the true final form of your Zanpakutō."

Kuchiki Byakuya chanted in a low voice.

"Swastika..."

(End of this chapter)