"Torch!"
This was a technique that encased the enemy in a tornado of flame, causing the fire to spin and burn simultaneously, not dispersing until the target had been reduced to ash.
When this move was unleashed by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the flaming tornado erupted from Sōkyoku Hill like a volcanic explosion. It spiraled and burned as it surged into the sky, so large that even those tens or hundreds of kilometers away could clearly see the towering column of flame—it was an extraordinary sight.
Under the ferocious and magnificent swirl of flames, all of Sōkyoku Hill was engulfed in searing heat. The gathered Captains and Lieutenants were panicked and shocked—some even abandoned their battles and fled backward in haste, only then escaping the scalding core.
"W-What is that thing?!"
Ichigo Kurosaki, witnessing such a scene for the first time, was dumbstruck, feeling his Zanpakutō in his hand become unbearably hot.
This was a power beyond his comprehension—it was no surprise he was so astonished.
"The Captain Commander is still as strong as ever... like a monster."
Yoruichi Shihōin also used Shunpo to withdraw from the center of the flames, clicking her tongue as she gazed at the rising tornado of fire.
"Captain!"
Momo Hinamori cried out in grief and even looked as though she was about to charge into the flames.
"Don't be reckless!"
Rangiku Matsumoto hurried behind her and held her back.
"Tch… Hyōrinmaru's power is actually being suppressed?"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who had retreated alongside Gin Ichimaru using Shunpo, looked at his Zanpakutō and couldn't help clicking his tongue as well.
Looking closely, the cold air emitted from Hitsugaya's Hyōrinmaru had indeed been weakened, almost imperceptible now.
Hyōrinmaru's ability relied on atmospheric moisture, but the moisture around Sōkyoku Hill had been evaporated by Ryūjin Jakka's searing heat, drastically weakening its power.
"Truly terrifying..."
Gin Ichimaru, bathed in the hot wind and feeling the oppressive flames, opened his eyes wider than usual.
He seemed to understand now why that man dared not act recklessly in Soul Society.
Because within the Gotei 13, there was still power even he couldn't confidently defeat.
Now, that power had appeared at Sōkyoku Hill.
Faced with such power, even those engaged in battle nearby had no choice but to cease fighting temporarily and distance themselves from the heart of the flames.
So what about Kaiser?
As the one directly facing this power—how was that man faring now?
The answer revealed itself shortly.
"Boom!"
From the center of the rotating, expanding tornado of flame, a figure bathed in golden Reiatsu violently burst out.
He was completely enveloped in fire, scorched all over, with charred patches on his body. Even his Reiatsu had been burned away significantly—he had nearly failed to protect his physical form.
"Trying to escape, brat?"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's voice rang out immediately.
"Weren't you just bragging a moment ago? Then why try to flee?"
Standing in the sea of flames like an ancient flame god, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stepped forward through the fire, holding his flaming Zanpakutō, and swung it at Kaiser with brute force.
"Boom!!!"
Where the flaming blade swept, fierce flames surged forth like a blazing wave, evaporating the air and sweeping toward Kaiser.
"Bakudō #81: Dankū!"
Kaiser instantly extended his hand, casting a transparent, dense barrier.
"Boom!!!"
The next moment, the surging flames crashed against the barrier like crimson waves slamming into a rocky cliff. Blocked, they split and spread to both sides.
"Hadō #91: Senju Kōten Taihō!"
After blocking Ryūjin Jakka's flames, Kaiser immediately cast a Hadō. Countless light cones formed quickly, launching from the sides of the transparent barrier and blasting toward Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
This scene not only changed the expressions of everyone present—even Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's pupils contracted.
"A Hadō in the 90s… and he cast it without an incantation?!"
This was not something to be overlooked.
Casting without incantation was only possible for Shinigami with sufficient power. The higher the level of the Kidō, the harder this feat became.
Generally speaking, being able to cast even a spell in the 60s without incantation was an incredible achievement—many Captains might not even manage it.
And for Hadō in the 90s, being able to cast them without incantation—throughout the history of the Gotei 13, there were only a handful capable of such a feat.
Not to mention the Gotei 13—even within the Kidō Corps, where the most elite spellcasters resided, very few Great Kidō Chiefs could manage this.
Just as Captains were the strongest in the Gotei 13, the Great Kidō Chief was the leader of the Kidō Corps—and even among them, few could do this.
This showed just how difficult it was to cast a Hadō above #90 without incantation.
And yet, Kaiser had done so with ease—and judging by the power of the spell, even without incantation, its might had barely diminished.
Unfortunately...
"Ryūjin Jakka's power… is not something a mere incantationless #91 Hadō can match."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto waved his hand casually, and flames erupted in full force, devouring the incoming light cones and burning them all to nothing.
"Shup!"
Immediately after, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto vanished with Shunpo, appearing before Kaiser in a flash, raising his flaming blade high, and slashing down with deadly force.
"Clang!"
Kaiser raised his Zanpakutō without hesitation and blocked the overhead strike.
"Boom!!!"
But Ryūjin Jakka's flames erupted on contact, blasting Kaiser's entire body away.
"Is this all you've got?"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto vanished again with Shunpo, ghostlike, catching up to the blasted-away Kaiser, eyes fierce.
"Or is your power only good for throwing Soul Society into disorder?"
As he spoke, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka surged with flames, as if wielding an entire sea of fire, and brought it crashing down on Kaiser mercilessly.
"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!"
Kaiser raised his palm and cast the spell just in time—six beams of light flew in from all directions, striking Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's waist and freezing his movement.
"Bakudō #63: Sajō Sabaku!"
A second binding spell followed—thick chains of light shot out and tightly wrapped around Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
"Bakudō #79: Kuyō Shibari!"
Kaiser didn't stop. A third binding spell was cast—nine black orbs of light appeared around Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, immobilizing him.
The seamless use of three high-level Bakudō stunned the onlookers, and many were shocked.
"Tricks!"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sneered, Ryūjin Jakka's flames surging, enveloping his entire body.
As the flames burned, black smoke rose from him, but the bindings were incinerated, restoring his freedom.
"Boom!!!"
The sea of fire he had raised came crashing down, striking Kaiser directly and engulfing him in flame.
Within the surging inferno, Kaiser quickly cast defensive Bakudō, forming a circular shield before him.
However, Ryūjin Jakka's flames were far too overwhelming—the shield held for less than a second before shattering.
Fortunately, it bought just enough time for Kaiser to use Shunpo, vanishing from his original spot and dodging the oncoming blaze.
"Shup!" "Shup!" "Shup!" "Shup!"...
Using Shunpo, Kaiser kept flashing and disappearing around Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, disrupting his perception.
"I told you—these are mere tricks."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto remained still, only his eyes darting about, watching the flickering figure. Then, he abruptly swung Ryūjin Jakka in a direction, releasing a torrent of flames.
"Shup!"
Kaiser happened to appear there and collided directly with the oncoming flames, his pupils contracting sharply.
This time—he couldn't dodge.
"If I can't dodge—"
Kaiser's Reiatsu erupted violently.
"Then I'll break through head-on!"
Golden Reiatsu gathered in his Zanpakutō, making it gleam.
In the next moment, Kaiser swung his sword, unleashing golden Sword Pressure. The beam of golden energy shot forward and clashed with the incoming flames.
"Boom!!!"
Golden Sword Pressure and crimson flames collided, triggering a deafening explosion that rocked Sōkyoku Hill, sending shockwaves and violent winds roaring through the sky.
"…My full-powered strike could only barely cancel it out?"
Seeing this, Kaiser finally gave a bitter smile.
Ryūjin Jakka—the strongest and oldest Fire-type Zanpakutō—had shown its power before Kaiser without reservation.
Unlike Tōshirō Hitsugaya's still-developing Hyōrinmaru, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had fully mastered Ryūjin Jakka through two thousand years of war, elevating it to an unparalleled peak and earning its title as the strongest.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto—his title as the strongest Shinigami was well-deserved.
Kaiser wore a bitter smile, but in his eyes, a fierce fighting spirit surged forth, and his will to battle ignited.