Chapter 26 – The Fall of the Strongest Shinigami
The city was in ruins—engulfed by a sea of flames and rivers of magma. Towering buildings, once proud and steel-forged, had begun to melt under the suffocating heat, turning into molten metal and twisted wreckage.
And in the heart of this fiery crucible stood two men—bodies wreathed in flames reaching millions of degrees, swords in hand, exchanging blow after blow without pause.
— — —
Tachibana Kyūjō pivoted swiftly to the side, narrowly dodging a blazing slash from Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
With a precise counter, he drove his Zanpakutō straight into Yamamoto's gut.
But the old man refused to yield.
Even with the sword impaled through him, and even as his flesh scorched under the unbearable heat, the Captain-Commander gritted his teeth and pressed on.
With his left hand, he gripped Tachibana's arm tightly, locking the blade in place. And with his right, still holding Ryūjin Jakka, he poured every ounce of spiritual power into the weapon.
He swung.
A diagonal arc aiming from shoulder to hip.
"Ryūjin Jakka: North – Tenchi Kaijin!"
"Heaven and Earth, reduced to ash!"
— — —
As Tachibana's body began to crumble into cinders before his eyes, Yamamoto let out a long breath, murmuring softly to himself:
"…It's finally over."
"What a terrifying opponent…"
"But thank the heavens... I've won. The Three Realms can rest in peace once more..."
— — —
Clap… Clap… Clap…
Suddenly, the sound of slow applause echoed from above, rippling through the scorched sky.
"Tachibana Kyūjō?!"
"How... How are you still alive?!"
"I hit you square on with that strike! You should've been completely incinerated by Ryūjin Jakka!!"
Yamamoto shouted in disbelief, eyes wide and bloodshot. He had no explanation—no logic could justify what he was witnessing.
He was sure the body he struck was the real Tachibana.
But the man floating above him now… was perfectly unharmed.
Not a single burn, not even a scratch.
Tachibana Kyūjō lowered his hands and replied calmly, his voice carrying through the molten air.
"I must admit, your Zanpakutō truly lives up to its name, Captain-Commander. It really is the most powerful fire-type blade among the Shinigami."
"But unfortunately… you still don't fully understand the nature of my world—Infinity World."
"The foundation of this domain isn't just physical force… it's Reishi."
"Yes, you did kill me just now… but only the me from thirty years ago."
"I simulated that version of myself using my Zanpakutō's power. After all, you enjoy battle, don't you? Then let's fight until you've had your fill."
Without giving Yamamoto time to respond, Tachibana dived toward him like a shooting star, blade poised to strike.
The Captain-Commander's face twisted with shock.
He already thought it was ridiculous that Tachibana could mimic other people's Bankai—but now he could recreate versions of himself from the past… as fully functional warriors?
Was such an opponent… even killable?
Just what kind of Zanpakutō was this…?!
But Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni wasn't one to tremble before an impossible foe.
He was the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years.
And if he could cut down a version of Tachibana from the past—
Then surely, he could defeat this one too!
— — —
Once again, the skies ignited.
This time, Tachibana didn't rely on Ryūjin Jakka.
He fought purely with his own spiritual pressure, coupled with swordsmanship refined across millennia.
Each slash tore through the flaming heavens.
Their duel raged on, burning through time and space.
Three days passed.
And Yamamoto's body was now shredded with deep gashes. Blood stained his robes, soaked his skin, and pooled around his feet.
Even his mighty Ryūjin Jakka had cracked.
Despite kneeling on one leg, the old warrior laughed with wild satisfaction.
He had won again.
He, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, the God of Death, undefeated for a millennium—
Had slain Tachibana Kyūjō once more!
— — —
Or so he thought.
Because that all-too-familiar clapping echoed again.
Yamamoto's expression collapsed into despair as he looked up.
"…Why… aren't you dead yet…?"
His voice barely left his throat before fresh blood gushed from his lips.
Above, Tachibana Kyūjō stood tall and unbothered, shaking his head softly as he replied:
"Captain-Commander… You really do love fighting, but you're terrible at listening."
"Very well. I'll keep fighting."
"That one just now was me from twenty years ago. This next one—will be me from ten years ago."
"Are you ready?"
With that said, another Tachibana descended from the sky like judgment itself.
— — —
Tired.
So, so tired.
Not just his body.
But his mind, his soul, his very being.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, the strongest Shinigami of the past thousand years, had been drained completely.
As the tip of Tachibana Kyūjō's Zanpakutō pressed against his throat, the old man closed his eyes.
"Are you finally satisfied… Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni?"
— — —
The old warrior didn't answer.
Seeing this, Tachibana exhaled quietly, then slowly sheathed his blade.
The moment his Bankai—Infinity World was released, the artificial domain of fire and molten ruin dissolved into fragments of light.
And just like that, everything returned to normal.
Hueco Mundo reappeared, vast and bleak as ever.
The Shinigami, the Arrancar, and the Hollow—all of them had returned.
Now, on the white desert plains, hundreds of Hollow with intact minds gazed upon the back of Tachibana Kyūjō with utter reverence.
Meanwhile, the Shinigami could only stare, eyes heavy and uncertain.
At the center of it all stood two figures:
One—radiating presence and authority, blade still drawn—was Tachibana Kyūjō, the King of Hueco Mundo.
The other—bloodied, beaten, kneeling with a broken sword—was Yamamoto Genryūsai, the Captain-Commander, the strongest God of Death… defeated.
Even though they had seen it all with their own eyes, many still refused to accept the truth.
But not Zaraki Kenpachi.
"YAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
The wild scream tore through the air.
Zaraki launched forward like a missile, his blade raised high.
He didn't care about rank.
He didn't care about honor.
He only cared about the thrill of battle!
"I'M COMING FOR YOU!!"
But Tachibana didn't even draw his sword.
With a single well-timed punch, he sent Zaraki's massive frame flying thousands of kilometers across the desert—vanishing over the horizon.
No one knew where he landed.
— — —
But that reckless act instantly shifted the atmosphere.
The Arrancar roared in outrage, eyes blazing with fury.
Dozens of powerful Hollow prepared to strike, ready to tear down anyone who dared touch their king.
In the blink of an eye, the battlefield teetered on the edge of full-scale war.
But then—
Yamamoto Genryūsai rose once more.
Barely standing, blood still dripping from his wounds, he held up his broken sword—
And placed himself between his comrades and the Hollow army.
Even if his legs trembled.
Even if his will was exhausted.
He would protect his men.
Until the very end.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
🎉 NEW YEAR SPECIAL! 🎉
🔥 20% OFF first month — Limited Time Only! 🔥
Join my Patreon here:
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
👉 Use code: NEWYEAR26
✅ Enjoy 115+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ 2 new chapters every day (Monday–Saturday), exclusive on Patreon
✅ Be the first to experience Arc 8 and the new season before anyone else!
📖 The first chapter of Arc 8 is now live!
You can read it right now on Patreon~
🌙 Note: Sunday is a rest day, so there will be no updates tomorrow. Regular uploads resume as usual on Monday.
Let's keep this adventure alive, together chapter by chapter! 💖
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —