The sight before Shimo completely exceeded his expectations.
He had a hypothesis about Zommari's transformation.
But at this moment, what Zommari was showing still wasn't enough to fully prove it.
As Zommari's words fell, he raised his right arm high—then, to Shimo's surprise, drove it into his own chest at terrifying speed.
In the next instant, he tore out a still-beating heart, its surface trailing vein-like strands.
And then—Zommari's reiatsu began to climb violently again.
It was as if he'd injected himself with some insane stimulant. The change in his spiritual pressure was already beginning to approach the level Mantikor had reached.
And Mantikor had only gotten that far after devouring Shimo's thunder cannon.
Not to mention Mantikor had been under the tenfold amplification of the Hollow-Soul Barrier.
Yet even with all those boosts, he was still being caught up to by Zommari.
There was only one explanation—
Zommari's own potential was terrifying.
"So this is 'love' taken to its absolute extreme…?"
Shimo's eyes flickered. He was now certain of his earlier suspicion.
Second Resurrección.
A monstrous power gained only after offering one's entire self as sacrifice.
Rejecting everything one once was, awakening the Hollow's primal essence again—then performing a second release.
In Shimo's perception, Zommari—holding his own heart aloft—was like a meteor streaking across the sky.
Smart…
But only for an instant.
Zommari lifted the heart even higher, then crushed it without hesitation.
Blood exploded outward. A deep violet, grotesque aura seeped out in waves.
Yet under Shimo's watch, that violet presence did not attack him.
Instead, it wrapped around Zommari himself.
Under its influence, black sun-like sigils spread across Zommari's body.
He'd already been dark-skinned—now he barely looked humanoid at all.
After absorbing every trace of that violet aura, a chaotic chorus of low chanting rose around him.
It wormed into the ear and stirred the mind.
Restlessness surged in Shimo's heart—
Only to be purged the next instant.
Still, Shimo's face showed a hint of surprise.
"After a Second Resurrección… his power has reached this level?"
Zommari looked utterly crazed as he shouted:
"Second Resurrección?
No, hatred is the true extreme!"
All the eyes across his body snapped shut at once, but the malice within him slammed toward Shimo like a tide.
"Let's die together, Shinigami!
Let your death become the finest gift to Lord Aizen!"
Zommari threw his arms wide, as if embracing the world—
And then blinding violet light erupted around him!
Cursed Spirit Burst Bomb!
Power beyond the limit—gained by sacrificing himself.
Zommari's goal was simple:
To drag Shimo down with him.
Sensing that intent, Shimo shook his head in disappointment and said calmly:
"If you truly gained power by denying your past…
Then you should have denied everything."
"Your faith in Aizen makes this power imperfect."
"So…"
Shimo lifted the Zanpakutō in his hand. His gaze sank.
"Feel the power of space."
As he spoke, Akatsuki fell with it.
From a visual standpoint, that strike shouldn't have been able to reach Zommari at all—
Yet in the next instant, the radiance on Zommari's body cut off abruptly.
As Shimo's reiatsu continued to rise, the light was forced back—pressed into Zommari's body as if crushed by an invisible weight.
"Accept reality."
Shimo stared at him coldly.
"The gap between us isn't something you can close by releasing again."
Sword Art: Mōgū Kūnen! (Delusionless Empty Thought)
The moment the blade fell, it was as though mountains itself began pressing down beside the enemy.
That immobilizing force was unavoidable—unless one's reiatsu exceeded Shimo's by an overwhelming margin.
And for Zommari…
That was nothing but a fantasy.
As if seized by a formless hand, Zommari's body twisted grotesquely.
Power he could no longer release raged and collided inside him.
Then—
Like an overripe melon smashed by a heavy club—
BOOM!
Purple-black spirit particles scattered, returning to Hueco Mundo.
The Sixth Espada, Zommari, is dead!
...
With another Espada's death, the situation inside the barrier finally collapsed.
Yoruichi began trying to interfere in others' battles.
Aside from one beast utterly addicted to slaughter, she used her Shunpo advantage to continuously guide the flow of combat for the others.
But what puzzled Shimo was this—
The other Zommari did not seem to perform a Second Resurrección like the one he fought.
Under Byakuya's Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Zommari was completely crushed.
And thus—whether split soul or main body—
The being who had only just risen to Sixth Espada was erased from Hueco Mundo entirely.
"I-I just can't stand you Shinigami and your arrogance!"
"L-Lord Aizen… long live Lord Aizen—AAAAAAAH!!"
His final scream echoed across a vast distance.
Unfortunately, even such "loyalty" would never reach Aizen's ears.
Perhaps… Zommari's death wouldn't matter to him at all.
From beginning to end, Zommari Rureaux had only ever been a blind, foolish believer.
A creature covered in eyes—
Yet the most truly blind existence in Hueco Mundo.
—
"Fu… hah… HAHAHAHA!"
Kenpachi Zaraki's exhilarated laughter rang out.
"This is what I love!
This is the slaughter I've been craving!"
At this point, his wounds were the worst in the domain by far.
His straight-ahead fighting style was beyond comprehension.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez had already begun to consider retreat, but Kenpachi clung to him, leaving no chance to escape.
When Mantikor died, Grimmjow realized something immediately:
This extermination battle against the invading Shinigami had already entered its final act.
And the loser would undoubtedly be Hueco Mundo.
So Grimmjow let go of everything.
He treated this fight as the last battle of his life—and pushed himself beyond his limit.
After releasing, he became a panther-like warrior.
His streamlined body let him drive his speed advantage to its peak—
Carving terrifying wounds across Kenpachi's body.
Blood ran down Kenpachi's chest. A feral grin twisted his face, making him look downright monstrous.
"What a madman…"
Even Grimmjow, who had abandoned hope of living, was still shaken by Kenpachi's way of fighting.
A battle that ignored injury entirely.
You cut him—
He must cut you back.
In Grimmjow's eyes, this massive Shinigami wasn't enjoying combat.
He was enjoying pain.
Grimmjow spread his hands. Enormous blue claws extended, seeming to cover the sky.
Panther King's Claw!
CLANG!
A strike that could tear the everything—blocked dead by a battered, jagged Zanpakutō.
"Hah! A worthy opponent!"
"Too bad your potential is trash!"
Kenpachi seemed to see through Grimmjow's limits.
Just then, a familiar voice reached his ear.
"If you don't end this soon… I'm stepping in."
Kenpachi's face immediately twisted with displeasure.
"Oh.
You annoying bastard!"
"I really want to chop you down right here!"
Shimo glanced at him calmly, not worried in the slightest about provoking him.
"Too bad."
"You can't beat me."
Kenpachi fumed. The force behind his swings instantly increased.
Grimmjow's pressure skyrocketed.
"This guy… does he have no limit?!"
"Why does he get stronger every time I injure him?"
"And he's bled this much and still isn't dead—what kind of monster is he?!"
The Panther King roared, throwing his head back.
Reiatsu surged between his claws, bursting with terrifying force.
"Rend the soul!"
With a roar, Grimmjow unleashed his strongest technique.
Kenpachi's eyes lit up.
He gripped his Zanpakutō with both hands and raised it high.
Terrifying golden reiatsu became tangible, surging into the sky!
A massive skull-like face appeared above him.
Zanjutsu: Twin Severance.
The only Zanjutsu Kenpachi had mastered—shown to Grimmjow for the first time.
And for the last.
As the dazzling golden slash fell, the crushing reiatsu followed—
Annihilation swallowed Grimmjow whole!
The Fifth Espada, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez—is dead!
...
Not long earlier, Yammy hadn't even had time to fully erupt his power—
Before he was judged by Nel's weapon.
A high-speed rotating double-headed javelin instantly pierced through Yammy's forehead!
The emptiness in his eyes went dull.
No life remained.
The next instant, he dissolved into scattered spirit particles—vanishing into Hueco Mundo.
Shimo swept his gaze across the area and realized—
Only one battle remained.
Unohana Retsu vs Ulquiorra Cifer.
Ulquiorra had already released, becoming the black-winged demon.
His wings blotted out the sky like despair itself.
His white robe only added to his cold pride.
Among the Espada, Ulquiorra's presence and strength were undeniably exceptional.
And his opponent—
Was a legend within Soul Society.
The woman known as a monster without equal…
The first Kenpachi.
Unohana had already undone the braid over her chest.
Her hair flowed freely, adding a strange, dangerous beauty.
In her hands, swordsmanship—meant for killing—
Looked like art.
Her graceful form flickered beneath the rain of black reiatsu.
Each of her strikes threatened Ulquiorra.
But for some reason, even at this point—
Unohana still hadn't used her release.
And Ulquiorra didn't seem to have entered a Second Resurrección either.
Perhaps she still hadn't pushed him far enough…
Or perhaps he hadn't grasped it.
When every other battlefield ended—
Unohana sensed the gaze that concerned her most.
She used high-speed movement and oppressive sword pressure to force Ulquiorra back—
Then withdrew from the battle entirely.
"Shimo-kun."
Returning to Shimo's side, Unohana's hair was loose and her body carried streaks of red—
Yet her beauty hadn't diminished in the slightest.
If anything, in this state…
She looked even more haunting.
Shimo's gaze lowered. A faint smile curled at his lips.
"Hana-ne, why stop?"
"If you want, we can wait for you over there."
Rare hesitation appeared on Unohana's face.
She looked toward Ulquiorra, regret flashing in her eyes—
But soon she shook her head gently.
"No."
"This hollow is strong… but he isn't a swordsman."
"And besides…"
Her gaze lingered on Shimo's face for a moment before shifting away.
Shimo understood at once.
She didn't want her personal duel to interfere with his decision—or his plan.
With that realization, Shimo let out a quiet sigh.
"Then let's end it quickly."
His figure vanished from where he stood.
Ulquiorra stared warily at the man before him. The "moonlight sword" in his hand gleamed even brighter.
Shimo looked at Ulquiorra's guarded stance and said calmly:
"Let's continue our battle in the Human World."
"Fourth Espada, Ulquiorra Cifer."
----------------------------///
Advance Chapters on Patreon!
p(a)treon(.)com/HudaLin
-Remove the parenthesis to access patreon normally
Thanks for the Support!