Chapter 260 – 260 ⥤ High-Stakes Battle

“Instinct.”

When he heard this answer, Akira was stunned.

This was the first time he had heard his Zanpakutō speak, and its response was concise, cutting straight to the core of the matter.

“I have to admit, as my Zanpakutō, you do possess some intelligence.” He grinned, “But that’s not the right answer. It’s actually quite simple — the strong rule, and the weak should bow down and become their steeds!”

As his words fell, his form flashed, suddenly appearing before his opponent. Like a bolt of cold lightning, he raised his blade high and brought it down without hesitation.

In that split second, Kūkan Mukai raised his sword to counter, blade-light bursting forth as their weapons crossed.

As Akira’s Zanpakutō, he was no inferior to his opponent in combat technique or instinct. In fact, because of his intimate understanding of himself, Kūkan Mukai could make excellent use of his abilities.

For instance, Reiatsu suppression!

When their blade-lights clashed, he unleashed his ability to its limit, causing countless chain-like patterns to materialize on Akira’s body. In that moment, his Reiatsu weakened to its extreme.

Just when Kūkan Mukai thought he had succeeded, a fist the size of a clay pot came crashing from the side, striking him square in the face.

⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Yōso Gōsei ⥤ Origin Style: Element Synthesis! ⤬

The violent force tore through his defenses like paper, instantly sending him flying. Like a shooting star, he traced across the gloomy sky before plummeting to earth with a thunderous explosion.

Akira stood in place, blowing on his fist as if clearing away nonexistent gunsmoke, his lips curling into a smile.

“Clearly… in both strength and wisdom, I far surpass you! Bow down and become the king’s steed!”

Kūkan Mukai flash-stepped into view, ink-black streaking across the heavens. Pure black flames ignited along his chains, giving him an eerie appearance — like a burning stick figure.

This time he decided not to engage in conversation. After this lesson, he had recalled certain traits of Akira’s.

This fool excelled at turning his enemies into equally brainless beings, then overwhelming them with his rich experience. To avoid becoming like that certain someone, Kūkan Mukai decided not to speak another word.

His blade fell in a slash, sword pressure tearing through the air, everything before him shattering like bubbles.

Akira smiled confidently, “The same tricks won’t work on me!”

He raised his sword to meet the attack, unleashing the same sword pressure.

At the moment of collision, light scattered. Countless arcs of radiance filled the shadow world, presenting a dazzling brilliance. Both forms drew close, using no technique but rather the most brutal methods.

Strength against strength!

Scorching aftershocks erupted in their clashes. Wild power surged within the blade-light as shadows rose like ocean tides, rushing up to the heavens, connecting the mental world’s sky and earth.

Heavy clouds flowed like mercury, their massive forms creating a vast vortex — like an indifferent eye watching the battle below.

Man and sword faced each other with intense focus, pushing their abilities to the limit.

After his earlier setback, Kūkan Mukai grew warier of Akira, constantly guarding against sneak attacks. Yet through several exchanges, the fool showed no sign of using Hakuda.

The moment Kūkan Mukai’s guard dropped, a fist burst from his blind spot, striking his head with deadly accuracy.

Shadows exploded outward like scattered brain matter.

In the next instant, Kūkan Mukai’s form sank into the shadows, emerging on the opposite side. Dark tendrils crawled upward, reconstructing his shattered head. As his eyes reformed, a familiar Zanpakutō whirled toward his face.

Before he could react, that person’s mad, triumphant laughter rang out.

“Kekeke, eat my—”

⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Shunsen Senren ⥤ Origin Style: Instantaneous Thousand Strikes! ⤬

Countless shadow fists rained down, engulfing Kūkan Mukai’s form.

Through the overwhelming pain, only one thought remained.

This guy actually grew a brain?!

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After a single exchange with the now-berserk Akira, Aizen flash-stepped aside, avoiding further close combat.

One clash was manageable, but prolonged engagement would be too risky — even for him. This opponent’s durability defied logic.

Draw sword, strike. The invisible sword pressure connected with a thunderous impact, sending Akira’s body flying backward and exploding into white waves across the sky.

Genryūsai’s eyes widened slightly, surprise crossing his aged features.

The younger generation of Soul Society had far exceeded his expectations. Aizen’s power surpassed all Captains save himself and his wayward disciple.

The young were indeed promising.

From the horizon’s edge, Akira’s fierce grin rapidly approached.

Remarkably, after taking Aizen’s strike head-on, that muscular frame showed no damage — or rather, any wounds had already healed by the time he was sent flying.

⤫ Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi ⥤ Black Coffin! ⤬

Aizen’s gaze remained steady, his voice composed.

Black torrents erupted from the ground, shooting skyward to form an impenetrable barrier across Akira’s path. The dark coffin sealed shut.

“Seeping crest of turbidity. Arrogant vessel of lunacy. Boil forth and deny…”

Even the shortened Kurohitsugi incantation wouldn’t contain Akira. Knowing this, Aizen immediately converted it to a Kōjutsu Eishō (Spoken-After Incantation) Hadō.

Yet bewilderment flashed across his face in the next instant.

Bone claws ripped through the Kurohitsugi as a demon-like figure emerged, flashing a savage, ferocious grin.

That moment of surprise was enough. Akira appeared before him, muscles and bones shifting like liquid, unleashing explosive power.

Just as his fist was about to connect, spent ashes scattered before Aizen’s eyes.

In the next moment, surging heat waves roared beneath the heavens. Moisture in the atmosphere evaporated instantly as temperatures soared beyond measure.

Scorching flames descended, forming a massive pillar of fire that completely engulfed Akira. The attack’s ferocity seemed to carry personal weight.

“Step back, boy.” Genryūsai’s white haori had vanished, his Shihakushō now tied at his waist to reveal a battle-scarred, terrifying frame, “From here on, this old man will deal with this unfilial disciple.”

“Reduce All Creation to Ash…”

⤫ Shikai: Ryūjin Jakka ⥤ Initial Release: Flowing Blade-like Flame! ⤬

The moment the flames ignited, more than ten awestruck gazes turned skyward.

That figure wrapped in intense heat blazed like a great sun, scorching everything in all directions. Even from kilometers away, the terrifying temperature remained unbearable.

Only now did the Hollows understand why their God-King possessed such unreasonable strength.

The root of his power had been revealed!

With such an extraordinary teacher guiding him, how could Akira, as his disciple, do anything but excel?

In Baraggan’s hollow eye sockets, the soul flame flickered gently. As he watched Genryūsai’s flame-wrapped figure, complex emotions welled up in his heart.

From their first encounter, he had recognized this old man’s identity. Back then, he could not only face him as an equal but even briefly gain the upper hand.

But now, an insurmountable barrier stood between them.

Baraggan shook his head, quickly casting aside these thoughts for a new one.

Since he had now confronted Genryūsai, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, perhaps he, as an Arrancar, could take a leisurely stroll through Soul Society?

He had been thinking rather fondly of that 8th Division Captain.

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Meanwhile, in the 1st Division office, Shunsui — who had been forcibly recruited as manpower — suddenly shuddered as an inexplicable yet purely malicious intent reached him.

“How strange.” He tightened his haori and frowned, “What’s with this ominous feeling? Could it be that little brother disciple was killed by Yama-jii?”

The thought that he might have to serve as Captain-Commander in the future filled Shunsui with profound sadness.

Being Captain-Commander would mean no more slacking off…

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Meanwhile, things weren’t looking good for Akira.

Facing his unfilial disciple, Genryūsai showed no restraint, targeting precisely where it would hurt most.

Starting with Taimatsu (Torch), followed by Jōkaku Enjō (Fortress Blaze), after a series of control moves, he topped it off with Ennetsu Jigoku (Hell of Scorching Flames).

As Ryūjin Jakka descended, terrifying Reiatsu poured into the ground like an abyss. Countless grotesque fissures erupted, golden-red magma flowing freely within.

In an instant, dozens of fire pillars exploded skyward, dispelling the night and bathing the battlefield in daylight!

The spectators stood shocked once again. This overwhelming power, defying description, completely redefined their understanding of strength.

Even Aizen was taken aback.

Though Akira was often on the receiving end of Genryūsai’s power, and similar Reiatsu could be felt throughout the Seireitei, witnessing it from such close proximity was entirely different.

The scorching violence eroded the senses, making one feel as if trapped in a volcanic magma chamber.

The moisture in the atmosphere evaporated rapidly. In this state, Harribel realized she could no longer use techniques like Cascada.

Yet even such a powerful being couldn’t completely suppress the Hollowfied Akira.

The demon-like figure, burning with black flames and enduring Genryūsai’s ultimate moves, rampaged freely across the battlefield.

Like a berserk dump truck, he left scorch marks and devastation in his wake.

When unfortunate souls like Grimmjow stood in his path, they would have their arms torn off instantly, only to be burned to ashes by the black flames.

If not for Genryūsai’s timely rescue, Grimmjow might have been torn to pieces by Akira then and there.

However, Kisuke, watching the battle from the side, couldn’t help but widen his eyes at this sight. After the shock came intense regret.

He had miscalculated — he should have brought a recording device. If he could capture this scene, he could definitely trade it for two days of vacation with his bastard Captain!

He had even thought of the title:

“Shocking: Captain-Commander Yamamoto Betrays Justice, Saves Wayward Arrancar!”

Just as he was regretting this, golden vertical pupils locked onto Genryūsai, and terrifying Reiatsu swept over the surroundings like a collapsing sky.

The surging flames began to show distorted patterns from its force.

The battle between master and disciple erupted once again!

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Inner World.

When Akira put down his Zanpakutō, he released all of his power.

With one Ryūsei Ken (Meteor Punch), he beat Kūkan Mukai so badly he couldn’t lift his head, barely managing to hold on due to his nature and the environment’s special properties.

⤫ Shunkō: Kūhaku Hakai ⥤ Flash War Cry: Single Empty Destruction! ⤬

Reiatsu from Kidō exploded behind his shoulder blade like a rocket booster as his fist bone struck Kūkan Mukai’s head.

{T/N: Just reminding that Shunkō has two types of techniques, one for body transformation and another for pure destruction with Kidō. While one merges with your body, like Yoruichi’s Thunder Cat, the other allows you to guide the Kidō to where you want to strike with Hakuda, making it even more powerful (like being able to punch a grenade in someone’s face instead of just throwing it).}

One hit shattered the world-class beauty in Akira’s heart. The ink-colored body collapsed, transforming into shadows that merged with the world below.

When Kūkan Mukai revived again, what met his eyes was a familiar ferocious smile.

At this moment, he was like an extra getting jump-scared in a horror movie—despite being as familiar with that person as one could be, he was still startled breathless by that expression.

Thinking about how this man would carelessly discard his sword in every battle and had even relegated his Zanpakutō to storage in the 1st Division in recent years, Kūkan Mukai felt an inexplicable fury rise within him.

This would be his only chance — if he gave up now, he would regret it for eternity.

As this thought crossed his mind, a fierce light blazed in his eyes while ink-black flames erupted freely across his body. Violent Reiatsu surged and exploded outward.

In that instant, the world itself changed color!

From within the pitch-black shadows, a massive pillar of light shot skyward. Chains ground against each other, sending iron-colored sparks that merged into Kūkan Mukai’s body.

“How did it come to this…” Akira let out a sigh as he gazed at his dear treasure, who continued to resist until the bitter end, “You were born from my soul. Strictly speaking, our bond is even closer than that of my adopted son outside. Yet you, who are half of me, cannot understand this profound love. Very well—since this is your choice, I’ll see it through to the end.”

As these words fell, an identical pillar of Reiatsu erupted, piercing through heaven and earth as shock waves spread in all directions.

Man and sword stared at each other and, amidst the deafening roar, spoke simultaneously:

⤫ Bankai: Muga Kyōkai ⥤ Final Release: Selfless Realm! ⤬

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In the Blazing Hell, Genryūsai’s breathing had grown more rapid than when he first arrived, as his mindless unfilial disciple attacked without restraint.

If not for his vast combat experience, he might have already shared Grimmjow’s fate.

Another sword strike fell, and a wave of flames swept outward, sending Akira flying into a crevice, splashing drops of golden-red magma.

The brief respite allowed the old man to recover some strength, but as he prepared to meet his disciple’s reckless charge, he discovered Akira hadn’t emerged from underground.

Even his Reiatsu had gone quiet.

Just as everyone thought this battle was over, a horrifying scene unfolded.

A black pillar of light erupted from underground, its heavy pressure instantly sweeping across the battlefield as violent aura filled the air.

Under several terrified gazes, Akira emerged from the Reiatsu pillar, his muscular body now covered in complex patterns formed by black markings, his black hair transformed to snow white.

Looking at his transformed unfilial disciple, Genryūsai’s expression turned solemn as the flames sweeping across the sky suddenly vanished, as if erased by an unseen force.

At the same time, a deep, elderly voice rang out:

⤫ Bankai: Zanka no Tachi ⥤ Final Release: Longsword of the Remnant Flame! ⤬

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep