"Your blade is broken, true. So all that's left… is your bow, isn't it?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai sneered as he taunted Yhwach.
With those words, Yamamoto raised his spiritual pressure once more and charged.
Yhwach, undeterred, thrust out his left hand and shouted,
"Don't think the Quincy only rely on crosses and Heilig Pfeil!"
From his fingertips, countless pentagram-shaped spells burst into the air, forming a brilliant fortress of light.
"Sanctus! Heiliges Loblied!"
This was a supreme Quincy technique—a sacred sanctuary of offense and defense. Any enemy who stepped into the domain would be pierced by endless Heilig Pfeil.
And yet, even before this colossal defense, Yamamoto Genryūsai did not falter.
With a fierce roar, he leapt into the air and plunged his blade into the ground.
"Spirits of the dead, I grant you the joy of battle! Zanka no Tachi—Minami: Kakka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin!"
In an instant, the heat of his Bankai reanimated the charred skeletons of all those he'd once slain.
An army of the dead surged toward Yhwach, surrounding him within the radiant fortress.
Yhwach laughed bitterly.
"How pitiful. The Head Captain of the Shinigami… stooping to reanimating the dead. I underestimated your kind's depravity, Yamamoto Shigekuni!"
"But such tricks won't stop me!"
With that, he soared upward and charged.
But before he could even reach Yamamoto, the skeletons of fallen Quincy clawed him down.
And crawling atop them all—he saw the face of his former subordinates.
The sight made him break into a cold sweat.
Yamamoto slowly turned and walked away.
As he strode forward, he spoke:
"Are you regretting it now? Regretting not stealing my Bankai immediately?"
"I know you didn't choose not to steal it… you couldn't steal it."
"If I'm right, your ability only lets you steal what you understand. That's why you're wary of Ichigo Kurosaki—his Bankai is still evolving."
"In contrast, mine has never been truly revealed in a thousand years. Unknown powers… cannot be taken. That's the simplest truth."
"This ends now, Yhwach."
With that, Yamamoto released all his latent power.
Seeing Yhwach pinned down by the skeletons of those he'd once commanded, Yamamoto's voice came like a blade:
"It seems you've lost the hearts of men."
Rage overtook Yhwach.
With a surge of energy, he shattered the skeletal grip of his former allies.
"You don't know anything! This won't stop me!"
But Yamamoto stared at him unshaken.
"Don't lie to yourself. I saw the tears in your eyes."
"You hate this, don't you? You can't reach me without destroying their bones."
"So hate me. Hate the one who brought the dead back to the battlefield."
"But your hatred… is nothing compared to the agony and wrath of the Shinigami you've slaughtered!"
"Zanka no Tachi—Kita: Tenchi Kaijin!"
The ultimate technique of his Bankai.
Heaven and Earth vanished in a blinding white slash.
Yhwach collapsed, his body broken in the wind-swept ruins of the Seireitei.
Countless skeletal hands crawled toward him—ready to rip him apart.
But just before they reached him, Yamamoto dispelled his Bankai.
The charred blade faded.
The oppressive heat lifted—and for the first time in ages, rain fell in the Soul Society.
Steam rose from Yamamoto's burning body as the rain hit him.
He looked at the fallen Yhwach.
In his gaze—something close to… pity?
"Too weak... Is that it? My apologies, Yhwach," the defeated figure whispered faintly, as if he was the one apologizing.
Even Yamamoto was confused. Haschwalth, watching nearby, was utterly stunned.
Suddenly—
Boom!
An explosion erupted behind Yamamoto.
He turned to see the First Division barracks consumed in flames.
Unohana Yachiru's expression darkened.
"Heh… attacking my barracks, huh?"
Her killing intent burst out uncontrollably.
A massive Reiatsu descended.
Yamamoto turned—Yhwach stood behind him, completely unharmed.
The one he'd slain was… a fake.
The Yhwach that had been cut down was actually Royd Lloyd, the Quincy defeated earlier by Zaraki Kenpachi—his ability: "Yourself."
Yhwach stepped forward and praised Royd:
"You've done well."
Royd smiled weakly.
"To be praised by Your Majesty… is a lifetime of honor."
But then—Yhwach formed a tiny Heilig Pfeil on his fingertip and obliterated Royd in a flash of holy fire.
Yamamoto's eyes widened.
"You damnable coward… what have you been doing all this time?!"
"What indeed?" Yhwach smirked.
"What lies beneath the First Division barracks?"
A familiar image surfaced in Yamamoto's mind—
The Central Underground Prison of the Shinō Academy.
Where all the most dangerous Shinigami were locked away.
Including—Aizen Sōsuke.
"I came for him. I wanted Aizen to join me."
But Aizen had refused.
Too proud. Too disdainful of Quincies to ever bow.
Yamamoto's expression darkened.
He realized he'd been fighting a decoy the entire time.
He gripped his sword again—ready to re-activate Bankai.
But Yhwach merely reached into his robe—about to take something out.
Before anything could happen, a figure flashed between them.
Unohana Yachiru.
She stood between the two with cold eyes.
"That's enough, former Captain-Commander."
Yamamoto blinked.
"Unohana...?"
"I'll take care of Yhwach. I'm the Captain-Commander now."
She radiated power—spiritual pressure no weaker than Yamamoto at his peak.
Yamamoto looked into her eyes… and slowly released his grip on the sword.
Yhwach narrowed his eyes, staring at the woman in front of him.
"You… you're that madwoman from a thousand years ago?!"
That's right.
Back then, Unohana had slain just as many Quincies as Yamamoto had.
Yhwach turned his gaze back toward Yamamoto.
"You've fallen, Yamamoto Shigekuni! Letting a weakling inherit your mantle!"
Yamamoto sneered.
"Fool. Do you really believe I'd entrust that role to someone weaker than myself?"
Yhwach froze.
Before he could react, Unohana surged forward.
Her blade was already drawn—its spiritual pressure overwhelming even Yhwach's expectations.
This was not the same Unohana as a thousand years ago.
Thanks to the Royal Seal, Unohana had surpassed the limits of all Shinigami.
She even bore three spiritual seals on her body, just to prevent her Reiatsu from accidentally killing every other Shinigami in the Seireitei.
Even the entire Royal Guard wouldn't stand a chance against her now.
Not even Ichibē Hyōsube.
Her Zanpakutō had undergone a second evolution—entirely beyond the comprehension of even the oldest Shinigami.
Even a fully awakened Yhwach would only go fifty-fifty against her.
Now, even he grew serious.
He raised his Quincy cross and summoned a massive Heilig Pfeil above his head.
A giant spirit arrow took form—he drew it like a greatsword and charged.
BOOM!
The shockwave from their clash rocked the entire Soul Society.
"That Reiatsu… is that Unohana-taichō?!"
Shinigami all across the Seireitei were stunned.
But also confused—
"Didn't the previous Captain-Commander already kill Yhwach?"
Why was there another one?
That didn't matter anymore.
The enemy commander was fighting their new leader.
It was time to fight with everything they had!
Yhwach stared at the small woman before him.
She had been formidable a millennium ago—but this? This was impossible.
Unohana's blade swept forward—and sent him flying.
From the sky, Yhwach turned to Haschwalth.
"Send the order. Begin the extermination of Soul Society!"
Haschwalth immediately relayed the command.
Across the Seireitei, Quincy soldiers poured in through shadow portals.
The Seireitei was engulfed in screams and blood.
But Yhwach had no time to admire the chaos.
"The Gotei 13 is nearly finished. The Royal Guard will arrive soon. Let's retreat before they do."
As his voice fell, a new pressure tore open the skies above.
It was a spiritual energy unlike anything before.
Like Unohana's rage—but even more intense.
Every Shinigami and Quincy felt it.
And then—it vanished.
In the darkness, lying in blood, Byakuya Kuchiki opened his eyes.
"...Rukia... Renji... Are they safe?"
"Yes. They're both alive."
Byakuya smiled faintly.
"I won't last much longer."
"A Captain who failed to protect Soul Society. Who watched his comrades die. I feel nothing but shame."
"...But you—should never have been dragged into this war."
"And yet... allow me this final selfish plea. Please... protect the Soul Society for me."
"Ichigo Kurosaki!"
Ichigo said nothing.
But his eyes were unwavering.
Byakuya understood—Ichigo had accepted.
"This spiritual pressure… it's Ichigo Kurosaki?!"
Yhwach sensed it—and made his decision.
Yamamoto still stood.
Unohana was too strong.
And now—Ichigo had arrived.
This invasion was a failure.
But—
Too late!
A black blade, etched with the symbol of Bankai, fell from the sky—slamming down in front of Yhwach's path.
The blade of Tensa Zangetsu.
Moments later—
Ichigo Kurosaki descended from the heavens.
His hand gripped the sword.
He had arrived.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]