บท 80: Chapter 80 - Caught red handed
With a fierce determination, Nadare released his own Bankai.
The transformation of the Zanpakuto into Bankai resulted in a pair of regal, metallic, gauntlets. The gauntlets were made of a shimmering metal that glowed with a bright blue hue, giving them an otherworldly appearance.
The gauntlets were encased in ice that sparkled like diamonds, making them look both regal and menacing. The ice was thick and sturdy, protecting Nadare's hands and wrists from harm during combat. The gauntlets themselves were streamlined and sleek, fitting Nadare's hands perfectly for maximum maneuverability.
Etched into the metal of the gauntlets were intricate, swirling patterns that glowed with an inner light. The patterns were reminiscent of snowflakes and ice crystals, further emphasizing the gauntlets' icy nature.
The frost that surrounded his Brass Knuckles intensified countless times over as it pushed back the heat of Yamamoto's sword.
With a roar, Yamamoto lunged forward, unleashing Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin. His blade, now imbued with immense heat, sliced through the air, leaving a trail of scorched air in its wake. Nadare, however, was prepared. With the speed and grace of a skilled warrior, he dodged the lethal strike, his frost-covered brass knuckles barely missing the searing heat.
Nadare countered with a powerful right hook, the frost on his gauntlets intensifying as it met the fiery blade. Yamamoto deftly parried the blow, the clang of metal resonating through the battleground. As their weapons clashed, the fierce heat of Yamamoto's sword met the bitter cold of Nadare's gauntlets, creating a violent explosion that echoed like thunder.
Nadare swung his fist, sending a blast of sheer cold energy toward Yamamoto. The older warrior swung his katana in a wide arc, intending to counter Ryu's attack with his intense heat. The two attacks collided in a fierce explosion that sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
The two warriors continued to clash, each one determined to emerge victorious. Nadare launched a flurry of punches, each one packed with more power than the last. Yamamoto deflected each blow with his katana, the intense heat riveling the immense cold of Nadare's blows.
Yamamoto activated Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui, his body engulfed in a cloak of roaring flames. The heat radiating from him was so intense that the very air around him seemed to distort and shimmer. Nadare, however, remained steadfast, his icy gauntlets emitting a cold aura that seemed to neutralize the flames, maintaining a delicate balance between fire and ice.
Nadare pressed forward with a lightning-fast jab. Yamamoto blocked the punch with his katana and countered with a quick slash toward Nadare's midsection. Nadare ducked under the blade and responded with a swift uppercut that Yamamoto sidestepped to avoid.
Nadare unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks that Yamamoto narrowly deflected. Yamamoto then launched a series of counterattacks, his katana moving in swift and precise motions. Nadare dodged the strikes and responded with a left hook that connected with Yamamoto's shoulder.
Yamamoto grunted in pain but quickly recovered and launched another attack, his katana moving in a blur of deadly steel.
As the two warriors continued to clash, the effects of their battle became increasingly intense. The air around them crackled with energy, and the ground beneath their feet trembled with the force of their blows.
Yamamoto's guttural shout echoed through the air as he unleashed Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin. The ground cracked open, and from the fiery fissures, an army of skeletal warriors emerged. Their bones burned with intense heat, their eye sockets glowing like miniature suns, casting eerie shadows as they advanced toward Nadare.
Nadare, standing his ground, took a deep breath and focused his energy. The air around him grew colder, frost forming on the ground beneath his feet. With each step the skeletal warriors took, the temperature dropped further, creating a visible barrier of ice and snow that separated the two opponents.
As the first wave of skeletons reached the icy barrier, they were met with a forceful gust of freezing air. The intense cold clashed with the searing heat of the skeletons, causing their flames to sputter and flicker. But the warriors pressed on, relentless in their pursuit of Nadare.
Nadare clenched his fists, the intricate patterns on his gauntlets glowing even brighter. With lightning-fast reflexes, he launched a flurry of ice-imbued punches that shattered the brittle bones of the oncoming skeletons. Fragments of ice and ash flew through the air, the remnants of their once-fiery forms.
But more skeletons emerged from the fissures, their numbers seemingly endless. Nadare continued to fight with unmatched grace and agility, dodging the fiery slashes and thrusts of the skeletal army. His icy aura intensified, the frost on his gauntlets spreading to the air around him, creating a protective shield of cold.
The battle raged on, a mesmerizing dance of fire and ice. Nadare's precise strikes and evasive maneuvers were a stark contrast to the relentless, unyielding assault of Yamamoto's skeletal warriors. The area had become a battleground of clashing elements, the very air crackling with the energy of their epic confrontation.
Despite their overwhelming numbers, the skeletal warriors could not break through Nadare's icy defenses. For every fiery strike that came his way, Nadare had a cold, calculated counterattack.
Nadare, his eyes narrowed in determination, knew that he had to act quickly to neutralize the remaining skeletal warriors. His icy aura swirled around him, the frost on his gauntlets glistening with an intensity that signaled an impending surge of power. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, feeling the cold energy coursing through him, preparing to be unleashed.
With a powerful, primal shout, he threw his arms wide, releasing a colossal wave of icy energy that erupted from his gauntlets. The wave surged forward, a massive wall of glittering ice and snow that seemed to stretch on for eternity. As it barreled through the battleground, the temperature plummeted, frost forming on every surface it touched.
The advancing skeletal warriors had no chance to react or escape. As the wave of ice washed over them, their flames were instantly extinguished, snuffed out by the overpowering cold. Their burning bones were encased in thick layers of ice, transforming the once-fiery horde into eerie, frozen statues.
The wave continued its unstoppable path until it reached the far end of the battlefield, where it finally dissipated in a swirling cloud of snow and frost. The silence that followed was deafening, the battlefield now a frozen wasteland of shattered bones and icy sculptures.
Sensing that the battle was nearing its climax, Yamamoto unleashed Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin. Raising his blade high above his head, he brought it down with a force that seemed to shake the very foundations of the battlefield. A wave of destruction followed, incinerating everything in its path.
But Nadare was ready. With a surge of icy power, he created a towering wall of ice that absorbed the brunt of the attack. As the wall began to crack and crumble under the onslaught, Nadare leaped high into the air, narrowly avoiding the scorching wave that swept beneath him.
The two warriors, now battered and exhausted, locked eyes once more. Yamamoto's blazing fury met Nadare's icy determination, neither willing to concede defeat. With a final, desperate effort, they charged at each other, their weapons raised in a last bid for victory.
As their weapons collided, an explosion of fire and ice erupted, engulfing the entire battleground in a cataclysmic storm of energy. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the air around them crackled with power. At that moment, time seemed to stand still, the fate of the battle hanging in the balance.
Through the chaos, Yamamoto and Nadare pushed against each other, their strength and determination unwavering. The flames of Zanka no Tachi and the icy energy of Nadare's gauntlets roared around them, an elemental tempest that threatened to consume them both.
For a moment, it seemed as though the two warriors were evenly matched. But then, with a sudden burst of energy, Nadare unleashed a final punch that connected with Yamamoto's chest. The force of the blow sent Yamamoto flying backward, bearly staying on his feet as he skid across the ground.
But before Yamamoto could regain his stance, Nadare appeared in front of him in a flash, his fist drawn back to deliver a devastating blow. With Yamamoto having no room to defend, Nadare's devastating haymaker struck true at the Head Captan's jaw, making his head whiplash backward before he fell to the floor.
As the unconscious Yamamoto hit the ground, Nadare stood over him, ready to finish him off. But as his punch descended, a hand gently and effortlessly caught his strike.
"Stop, you've won. Give him dignity in front of his people," Ryu said as he motioned to the captains that froze in place as they looked at their fallen leader.
The captains of the Gotei 13 stood in stunned silence as they witnessed the unthinkable. Their leader lay defeated on the ground, his commanding aura nowhere to be felt as he sprawled across the ground.
Shunsui was the first to break the silence, his voice shaking with disbelief. "How is this possible?" he murmured, his eyes fixed on the fallen Yamamoto.
Hitsugaya stepped forward, his expression was grim. "I don't know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But we need to think about our next move. Yamamoto was defeated, can we even continue without him?"
Kurotsuchi, usually the most composed of the group, was visibly shaken. "This is unprecedented," he muttered, his eyes darting around the battlefield. "This power, it's unlike anything I've seen! I doubt we can do any meaningful damage on our own right now."
Komamura clenched his fists, his expression darkening. "For now we have no choice but to negotiate. Let us see what they want," he spoke with dismay in his voice.
Captain Retsu Unohana, the most composed of the group, was the first to take action. "We must tend to the Head Captain's wounds," she said calmly. "While he isn't dead, he suffered severe trauma in the fight,"
The other captains nodded, as Shunsuni stepped forward to negotiate.
But before the conversation could begin, a confusing sentence made everyone freeze.
"Hey, if you touch one of those Zanpakutos, I'll decapitate you," Ryu casually warned, causing everyone to tilt their heads in confusion as he appeared to speak to empty air. "Aizen, right? I don't like coming off as an idiot, so why don't you make yourself visible before I get angry?" Ryu addressed the seemingly vacant space.
While everyone else fell victim to Aizen's Zanpakuto, Ryu's divinity made him immune to such tricks. Just as a fire god can't be burned, an illusion god can't be deceived by illusions— at least not illusions of this caliber.
Both the Protectors and Captains exchanged puzzled glances between Aizen, who was standing beside the other captains, and Ryu, who was staring at thin air.
"Yeah, that's right. Your little toy doesn't affect me," Ryu said, smirking condescendingly at something unseen. "So...are you going to reveal yourself, or do I need to eliminate you for being a nuisance?" Ryu asked, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
"..." The air shimmered as Aizen revealed himself to the rest of the group, wearing his usual warm smile. "Aizen? How did you...?" Kurotsuchi asked, bewildered.
"You know my Shikai creates a mist that causes confusion, right? Well, I can also use it to hide myself, even if it's spread thin. But I didn't think someone could see through it," Aizen said calmly, examining Ryu with a look that didn't match his composed tone.
Upon hearing Aizen's words, Ryu let out a strong cough. "Are you alright?" Nadare inquired, still puzzled by the situation. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just allergic to BS, that's all," Ryu quipped, causing a vein to bulge on Aizen's arm before he quickly concealed it behind his back.
"Alright, let's get serious now," Ryu dropped his smug expression. "Let me make one thing clear. The Protectors are under 𝐦𝐲 protection. And since your grand plan will harm them, I can't really let that happen. I'm warning you now. Either make some serious revisions to it or abandon it entirely," Ryu spoke with a bone-chilling tone.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Aizen replied, maintaining his calm demeanor.
"Fine, if that's how you want to play it," Ryu retorted as he unleashed his divine aura.
Aizen was immediately struck by Ryu's aura. His once-smooth features were now slowly twisting into a grimace of dread as he gazed up at Ryu's figure. He tried to maintain his calm expression, his poker face, but it was futile. The pressure was so immense that Aizen felt as if his bones were being crushed by an invisible weight.
Aizen tried to move, but his body refused to obey him. He could feel the sweat running down his face as he struggled to take a step forward. His heart was racing in his chest, and his breathing became shallow as he realized the full extent of his helplessness. This was a feeling he had never experienced before, and it was terrifying.
Ryu took a step forward, and Aizen felt as if the ground beneath him was threatening to swallow him whole. The pressure grew stronger, and Aizen's knees buckled. He fell to the ground, unable to withstand the sheer force of Ryu's aura. Aizen gasped for air, feeling as if his lungs were on fire. He tried to crawl away, but Ryu merely lifted a hand, and Aizen felt a force like a hurricane slamming into him, pinning him to the ground.
"I believe this is enough, right?" Ryu asked in a commanding tone, receiving a frantic nod from Aizen. But that nod, it wasn't honest. Even after experiencing the difference between the two of them, Aizen still didn't back down from his plan. His mind was working overtime, trying to find a way out of this predicament.
"Honestly, I'm impressed by your willpower. To be able to stick by your intentions even after what I put you through. Sadly, that was your final warning," Ryu spoke solemnly as he increased the pressure of his divinity, ripping Aizen to shreds.
"So, you said you wanted to negotiate?" Ryu said as turned to the stunned Shunsui.
Shunsui had just watched as Aizen, his ally and fellow captain, was crushed under the weight of unimaginable power. His eyes widened as he beheld the spectacle, his heart pounding in his chest with fear and disbelief.
At first, Shunsui could not comprehend what he was seeing. He had never witnessed such a display of pressure before, and the sheer force of it left him reeling. He just watched a fight between the Head Captain and someone who matched and even exceeded his level, yet the aura that this person released in a casual manner far outclassed what the two of them released together.
"...Yes," Shunsui said as he gulped nervously.
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