Petty Head Captain Yamamoto
Inside the Theseus Dojo, which had been rebuilt countless times.
Two figures of vastly different statures stood facing each other. As their eyes met, faint arcs of electricity seemed to clash between them, the crackling sound echoing throughout the spacious environment.
Standing outside the dojo, Sasakibe Chōjirō looked at Yamamoto. He opened his mouth, hesitating to speak.
As the right-hand man who had followed Yamamoto for thousands of years, he knew the old man's temperament perfectly.
Though he seemed to have changed a lot over the years, deep down, he remained incredibly stubborn.
Once he made up his mind, no one could persuade him otherwise—except for Naraku Sora.
Would fighting the leader of the Zero Division really not cause any issues?
After all, Hyōsube Ichibē was the strongest in the three realms—oh, wait, he should be the second strongest now.
The miserable sight of him being beaten up by a certain someone not long ago had been witnessed by many Soul Reapers.
Even so, Sasakibe Chōjirō still lacked confidence.
Although his Head Captain had lived for thousands of years and was the oldest existence in the Soul Society, in the eyes of Hyōsube Ichibē, who had lived for millions of years, he was no different from a babbling infant.
It was common knowledge.
With the exception of a few heaven-defying individuals, the older an existence was, the stronger they were.
"Can he win?"
Okikiba Genshirō asked worriedly from the side, "Should we go notify Mr. Naraku? What if the Head Captain is at a disadvantage?"
Sasakibe Chōjirō took a deep breath and replied without looking back, "This is Genryūsai-sama's decision. It's best if we don't interfere."
"However, this is the Soul Society, not the Soul King Palace."
"Even if Genryūsai-sama is outmatched, nothing major will go wrong."
"After all, Lord Naraku is here."
Unknowingly, Naraku Sora's immense strength had been etched into the hearts of every Soul Reaper.
Turning the tide time and time again had practically made him the symbol of the Soul Society.
If there was any debate before, Naraku Sora, who had defeated Hyōsube Ichibē head-on, had undoubtedly become the strongest existence in the Soul Society.
*Hmm, Genryūsai-sama should probably rank third, right?*
Looking at the relaxed expression on Hyōsube Ichibē's face, an inexplicable ball of fury ignited in Yamamoto's heart. His already exaggerated muscles continuously bulged and surged, as if they had a life of their own.
He knew very well that Hyōsube Ichibē had definitely not told the truth during their conversation just now.
Or rather, it was a mix of truth and lies.
Since he dared to scheme against Naraku Sora, he had to pay the price.
It was also the perfect opportunity to test the recent improvements in his own strength.
Most importantly, what kind of teacher would he be if he couldn't vent his anger on behalf of his foolish disciple?
Watching Yamamoto's aura continuously skyrocket, Hyōsube Ichibē couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
The sight before him inevitably reminded him of Naraku Sora.
In terms of temperament, this master and disciple were surprisingly similar.
They truly were cut from the same cloth.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Yamamoto's eyes suddenly widened, a flicker of burning flame flashing through his pupils.
"You dare get distracted while fighting me?!"
His voice boomed like thunder, and his fist erupted with a scorching gale.
He stepped forward abruptly, his robust body lunging forward without warning, kicking up a suffocating hurricane.
As that steel-like heavy punch was thrown, a deafening sonic boom reverberated, bringing with it an overwhelmingly scorching brutality.
Hyōsube Ichibē's pupils shrank; he actually sensed a trace of danger from this strike.
*How is this possible?!*
*When Yamamoto Shigekuni said his strength had improved slightly, did he actually mean he broke through the original limits of a Soul Reaper's soul?*
Boom!!
The two iron fists collided. A dull, heavy thud shook the dojo, causing the entire building to tremble violently. The Kidō barrier covering the inner layer rippled in concentric circles.
Feeling the terrifying power transmitting through his arm, Hyōsube Ichibē confirmed his earlier suspicion.
Yamamoto Shigekuni, who had stagnated for a thousand years, had actually broken through to the realm of a Transcendent!
*How on earth did he do it?*
Unlike Naraku Sora in the past, the current Yamamoto was able to perfectly conceal the Hollow reiatsu within his soul.
Unless he actively revealed it, even Hyōsube Ichibē would find it difficult to detect.
The two separated the moment they clashed, leaving only visible ripples undulating in the air.
Looking at Hyōsube Ichibē, who had stumbled back a few steps, Yamamoto grinned, revealing a ferocious smile. His bones and sinews shifted, and his muscles twitched slightly, like hard blocks of iron grinding against each other. A scorching heat surged and erupted from within him, much like an active volcano on the verge of eruption.
*Is this the so-called leader of the Zero Division?*
*Without using his rules, he seems rather ordinary.*
*He doesn't bring anywhere near the pressure that my foolish disciple does.*
Golden branch-like patterns flashed across Hyōsube Ichibē's thick arms. A heavy Reiatsu erupted instantly, wrapping around his entire body. While forming a defense, it also became the perfect offensive weapon.
He didn't dare hold back anymore.
If every one of Yamamoto's strikes could unleash that level of power, continuing to hold back would likely result in him being pounded into minced meat by those iron fists.
Although he could resurrect, dying in the Soul Society would be far too humiliating for the Zero Division.
Faintly, ink flashed between his fingers. It shot out straight from Hyōsube Ichibē's hand—a concentrated beam of Reiatsu fluctuation.
By intertwining three completely different types of force, he unleashed a terrifying power several times greater than his own.
Although he rarely wasted time on training, he had, after all, lived for millions of years. Even dedicating an insignificant fraction of that time to honing his skills was enough to perfect the basic combat arts of Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō.
His massive, pot-sized fist thrust forward, his wrist twisting in tandem.
It was as if an invisible floodgate had been wrenched open. The air wailed and shattered, countless piercing sounds overlapping and bursting in all directions like sharp blades.
In the next second, Hyōsube Ichibē's figure flashed, appearing right in front of Yamamoto, and he swung his exponentially empowered fist forward.
Facing an attack that could instantly reduce an ordinary Captain to a mist of blood, not a trace of fear could be seen on Yamamoto's face. The corners of his mouth curled into a grin, blending ferocity with a hint of solemnity.
Then, his body paused slightly as his berserk Reiatsu surged out entirely, his fists erupting forward like the horns of a bull.
"Sōkotsu!"
A terrifying storm raged wildly inside the dojo. The multi-layered composite Kidō barrier tottered on the verge of collapse, and the ground continuously cracked open, resembling the gaping maws of monsters.
As he grew accustomed to Yamamoto's strength, Hyōsube Ichibē began to feel increasingly at ease.
He had only been caught off guard at the beginning, which was why he had fallen at a disadvantage.
But once he regained control of the rhythm, the outcome of the battle would be his to decide.
"Genryūsai-dono, your title as the strongest Soul Reaper in the Soul Society is indeed well-deserved."
Hyōsube Ichibē pressed forward, his burly physique withstanding the raging gales like a towering mountain.
"But unfortunately, I am not a resident of the Soul Society."
"Likewise, I am not a Soul Reaper."
Faced with the provocation, Yamamoto bared his neat white teeth, his smile growing ever more savage. "Is that so?"
As soon as the words fell, his five fingers clenched tightly. A concussive sonic boom rang out as scorching heat wrapped around his arm, and he leaned back in the opposite direction.
He unleashed his full power once again in the stance of Ikkotsu.
Two apocalyptic shockwaves collided fiercely. Space itself seemed to tear apart at this moment, and the violent air currents spread wildly, nearly leveling everything in sight.
Looking at their clashing fists, a flash of astonishment crossed Hyōsube Ichibē's eyes.
*Something is wrong.*
*Something is very, very wrong!*
From the start of the battle until now, he had continuously squeezed out his own power, and he was currently using one hundred percent of it. Yet, Yamamoto, who was being suppressed, had not only failed to collapse...
Instead, his strength was also rising in tandem.
*Does this old man have no limits?*
The moment this thought arose in his mind, a familiar streak of black-and-red lightning flashed past the corner of his eye. Hyōsube Ichibē's pupils instinctively contracted.
*What is—this?!*
In the next instant, the muscles on Yamamoto's arm suddenly bulged, veins popping out.
As his movements shifted, a rumbling roar erupted from within his body, as if a dormant volcano had completely erupted, unleashing a terrifying wave of heat.
Then, ferocious black-and-red arcs of electricity suddenly began to crackle and spread outward from between his fingers, instantly distorting space.
"Black Flash・Ikkotsu!"
Hyōsube Ichibē's eyes widened as he finally recognized the technique.
*Isn't this the technique Naraku Sora used when fighting me earlier?*
*Why does Yamamoto Shigekuni know it too?!*
It was impossible for a technique developed by a normal Soul Reaper to escape his eyes.
Unless it was someone like Naraku Sora, who wielded power from beyond this world.
Then there was only one answer.
*Naraku Sora taught this to Yamamoto Shigekuni!*
As if sensing Hyōsube Ichibē's thoughts, the corners of Yamamoto's mouth curled into a ferocious arc, and his fist, brimming with terrifying power, abruptly blasted forward.
Crack!!
In an instant, thick black-and-red lightning erupted, twisting the space it passed through into pitch-black fissures. The fist broke through the boundaries of space and solidly smashed into Hyōsube Ichibē's hastily crossed arms.
Crunch—
The sound of shattering bones echoed throughout the dojo. The silhouette of destruction unfolded as the dojo was instantly annihilated in the aftermath of the collision. Even the Kidō barrier failed to last a single second.
The burly figure was instantly sent flying backward by the terrifying impact, crashing through dozens of buildings in succession and kicking up a towering wave of dust within the barracks.
Amidst the ruins, Hyōsube Ichibē struggled to his feet. His arms were fractured, covered in bloody gashes, and the flesh was torn to shreds, hanging limply at his sides.
They had clearly been completely shattered.
Accompanied by a surge of scorching heat, a relatively short figure suddenly appeared before him. Hyōsube Ichibē opened his mouth, just about to say something, when he suddenly saw Yamamoto raise both hands.
Black-and-red lightning, resembling giant pythons, instantly burst forth, tearing apart the surrounding space.
Hyōsube Ichibē's scalp went numb, and he hastily cried out, "I surren—"
Before he could even utter the last syllable, two fists wreathed in black-and-red lightning completely engulfed his entire field of vision.
"Black Flash・Sōkotsu!"
In the next instant, the world lost its color!
The world seemed to stand still. A terrifying pillar of light shot straight into the sky like an orbital strike, instantly obliterating the thick clouds above.
Standing under the eaves of the corridor, Naraku Sora looked toward the direction of the erupting pillar of light and couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration. "Brilliant!"