Nanatsuki dispelled the Flamebound Armor of Dust, and the golden flame giant instantly crumbled into fragments of molten stone.
After Hollowfying, and then stacking Flamebound Armor of Dust on top of it, the power behind Nanatsuki's Getsuga Tenshō had reached unimaginable levels.
With just a single strike—all the Gremmys were erased.
But such a move came at a heavy cost. Even he couldn't use it repeatedly.
Nanatsuki swept his gaze across the battlefield.
After eliminating Pepe, he directed his three shadow clones to converge on Driscoll, Schrift 'O'. Driscoll's ability scaled with his kill count, empowering him the more he slaughtered. But Nanatsuki's clones didn't give him the chance—he was taken down before he could even begin ramping up.
Yoruichi was still locked in battle with Jerome, Schrift 'R'.
Genryūsai Yamamoto had already slain Nianzol Weizol, Schrift 'W', who had foolishly approached him. He continued clashing with the twin mimics Loyd and Royd—both in the form of Yamamoto.
Meanwhile, Kyōraku Shunsui, Kuchiki Sōjun, Muguruma Kensei, Shiba Isshin, and Yadōmaru Lisa had also joined the fray.
Sōjun was up against Äs Nödt, Schrift 'F', who wielded Fear.Kensei had chosen to fight the bizarre duo Mask De Masculine and James, Schrift 'S'.Mayuri, Shunsui, Isshin, and Lisa were all fighting Sternritter Schutzstaffel—the elite guards.
Their pressure was mounting—the Schutzstaffel were even stronger than regular Sternritter.
"Shunsui can't use the Katen Kyōkotsu, so it'll be tough for him to defeat Schrift 'X'—but he should be able to hold out for a while."
"Mayuri going up against the Soul King's Left Arm? That's actually a great match."
"Lisa's fighting Gerard Valkyrie, Schrift 'M'. His Miracle power lets him grow stronger with each defeat—but as long as she doesn't kill him too many times, she should be able to manage."
"The real issue is Isshin. The Deathdealing is too bizarre. Even I would need to be cautious."
With that assessment, Nanatsuki made his decision—to assist Shiba Isshin.
Isshin's opponent, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Schrift 'D', was a twisted Quincy with an ability that manipulated lethal thresholds—turning anything, even harmless substances, into poison. The young Isshin wouldn't last much longer without help.
—
Elsewhere, Kensei had found a battle he'd been waiting for.
Thanks to the intel Nanatsuki had provided in advance, the captains had a full dossier on Sternritter powers. So Kensei had chosen the opponent he'd been itching to face.
"My teacher already beat someone that strong—I need to step it up too!"
He pointed toward the strange man with the star mask.
"You're fighting me—Muguruma Kensei, Captain of the 9th Division!"
"A captain, huh? I was getting tired of cleaning up the small fry anyway."
Mask De Masculine dropped the unconscious Shinigami soldier he'd been toying with and landed in front of Kensei.
"Come on then—give me a good show!"
"Don't worry. I won't waste your time. I'll beat you quickly,"
Kensei replied calmly.
He hadn't lost his habit of cocky pre-fight declarations, even after all these years.
But in truth, he wasn't underestimating his foe.
"Bankai—Tekken Tachikaze!"
His arms wrapped in treads forming armored gauntlets, which linked across his back. Armor plates formed over his shoulders, and he wielded two serrated trench blades.
"Quite the entrance. I'll take… ten seconds to end this!"
Mask De Masculine flung off his cape and launched into a flying kick.
"This weak garbage is what you're so proud of?"
Kensei blocked the kick with his forearm.
His right-hand gauntlet retracted—forming a spiked knuckle guard.
Then—bam!—he drove a crushing punch into Mask's gut.
Mask's face twisted in pain. The moment their bodies touched, Kensei's Reiatsu-infused strikes began tearing into him.
Tat-tat-tat-tat—BOOM!
Kensei retracted, concentrated Reiatsu in his fist—and fired another blow.
Mask De Masculine was sent flying.
But Kensei didn't pursue.
Instead, he turned toward the sobbing fat child in the distance.
James.
In truth, James was the true core of Schrift 'S'.
Mask De Masculine was merely a personification of James' power.
As long as James continued cheering, Mask would keep getting stronger—reviving endlessly.
Defeating Mask did nothing. With James screaming in support, he'd come back tougher each time.
Kensei needed to eliminate the root.
And what's worse—as long as either one lived, they could revive the other. Time was of the essence.
"Mask! Get up! You're not done yet!"
James screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Shut up already."
Kensei appeared behind him.
His fist blurred into a storm of blows, raining down on the boy.
Bam-bam-bam-bam!
Stone and sand exploded. James was crushed.
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!"
A bolt of lightning incinerated what remained.
"James!!!"
Mask De Masculine rose to his feet once more—but without James, his revival would now take much longer.
Flash!
Kensei used Shunpo to appear behind him and threw another punch.
"Stop whining. You can join him now."
Smack—!
But this time—Mask caught his fist.
"What?!"
Kensei's eyes widened.
Even with just one cheer, his opponent's power had skyrocketed.
"Hero's Knee Smash!"
Mask drove a crushing knee into Kensei's stomach.
"Ghkk—!"
Kensei nearly vomited up dinner.
"Hero's Headbutt!"
Mask grabbed Kensei by the head—slamming him repeatedly.
"Don't get cocky!"
Kensei's Reiatsu erupted.
Flames ignited across his body—followed by arcs of thunder.
The temperature around him soared—warping the air with sheer heat.
His flesh cracked under the pressure as lightning and fire danced across him.
He had activated his master's secret technique:
Thunderfire Wild Blaze.
With Raikiri and Crimson Tide stacked simultaneously, his explosive power reached new heights.
He broke Mask's grip and charged forward—
Headbutting him back.
Mask was the one knocked away this time.
Then—another punch.
His gauntlet surged with thunderfire energy, blasting into Mask's chest.
A thousand punches per second!
And the moment that energy reached critical mass—
BOOM—!!
Mask's body detonated—charred chunks flying in all directions.