Chapter 127

The other members of the Zero Division each had their own unique specialties.

Nimaiya Wang Yue, known as the Sword God, possessed the sharpest Zanpakutō in all of Soul Society—indeed, in all the Three Worlds—named Shinsu.

However.

He could not perform Shikai or Bankai; all that remained was sharpness.

But.

In the past hundred years, since his Ten no Kiri Banmō had risen to prominence, Shinsu—once hailed as Soul Society's sharpest Zanpakutō—

had slipped one rank.

Falling to the second tier.

As for the others.

Senjumaru, Kirio, and the rest were none of them easy to deal with!

Each had their own signature techniques.

Moreover—

In the original work, during the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, Senjumaru's Bankai shocked everyone beyond belief!

It possessed multiple forms, each capable of world-shattering might!

Anyone capable of influencing Soul Society's history and altering its course was no simple figure.

Even if.

They appeared to be merely support, their true combat power was in no way inferior to that of the top Captains.

In fact, it far surpassed them, reaching the realm of "Transcendent."

Looking across all of Soul Society.

Only old man Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni could barely contend with them.

077. Karakura Town, the Espada return to their blades! Hyōrinmaru's Bankai!

At this moment.

Within Karakura Town.

The sky was scarred with the marks of great battle, the ground shattered and mountains overturned.

Everywhere, immense torrents of spiritual power churned! Intermingled with blazing flames!

"Aizen!"

"You are utterly spent, facing certain doom!"

The Gotei 13.

Everyone.

Stared at the figure wrapped in blazing flames, satisfaction spreading across their faces.

The other Espada members wore expressions of deep concern, but Ichimaru Gin still wore his usual smile, his expression utterly unchanged!

Leaving no one able to guess his thoughts within.

Before long.

An old man with a grizzled beard, a stooped frame, and massive scars across his head walked over.

In his hand, he held a cane, its surface bearing the grain of peach wood, coated in dark lacquer.

This.

Was Soul Society's strongest fire-type Zanpakutō—Ryūjin Jakka!

Also the strongest, the oldest, the weapon of slaughter that had accompanied Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni for over a thousand years!

Aizen.

Had truly been far too careless.

Coming to Karakura Town without first gathering intelligence on the area, daring to arrive in person with his true body!

How convenient.

It gave the Gotei 13 the chance to cut down Aizen directly! Even though he had fused with the Hōgyoku.

But.

Before engaging in a life-and-death battle to awaken the Hōgyoku's potential and trigger his own evolution, the Hōgyoku was nothing more than a toy!

It did not boost Aizen's strength nearly as much as people thought!

However.

As things stood, Aizen's power already rivaled that of a Head Captain. The only option was to first trap him.

Then cut off his wings.

Finally.

Gather everyone's strength to slay Aizen in an instant!

Destroy the Hōgyoku!

And restore peace to the Three Worlds!

"Head Captain, is there truly no way for Aizen to escape?"

Beside him.

Someone asked.

The others immediately explained, "This is the flame formation the Head Captain constructed using an immense expenditure of spiritual power and all manner of precious resources, 477."

"Even Aizen, whose strength rivals that of a Head Captain, could never break through it!"

"If he tries to force his way out, that would actually be a good thing—any forced breakthrough would surely leave him gravely wounded!"

"At that point, slaying Aizen would require no effort at all!"

The others.

All stared dumbfounded at the wall of flame not far away.

Feeling the terrifying heat radiating from within, beads of sweat the size of peas rolled down their foreheads.

In Karakura Town.

The remaining Espada members were also affected by this searing heat.

Their released blades all glowed with streaks of red light, emanating a terrifying scorching aura, and every Espada member had great beads of sweat streaming down their forehead.

Pair after pair of eyes stared fixed into the half-sky at Aizen, who was wreathed in pillars of flame.

Behind them.

Gin Ichimaru still wore a curl at the corner of his lips; his silver hair, illuminated by the firelight, had turned a shade of crimson.

His eyes were narrowed so that his pupils could not be seen.

His hand, meanwhile, gently stroked his Zanpakuto, Shinso.

This was the fastest Zanpakuto in Soul Society — Shinso, a spear that could pierce a person in an instant, breaking through several hundred times the speed of sound!

Moreover.

The blade was also coated with all manner of poisons, enough to kill a man in a single strike!

"Quick."

"Kill these Espada, and the traitor Gin Ichimaru!"

"Then concentrate our forces to deal with Aizen!"

The members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads all tightened their grips on their Zanpakuto, their eyes fixed intently on the few figures before them.

On their side.

Hitsugaya Toushirou's body radiated an aura of ice; the surrounding air gave off flecks of frost, and streams of cold air surged wildly in every direction.

And the Hyourinmaru in his hand.

Had also turned a shade of icy blue! Ice blossoms formed along its length, and snow-white petals of ice swirled through the air.

It looked breathtakingly beautiful.

"Bankai!"

"Daiguren Hyourinmaru!"

Hitsugaya Toushirou's brows drew tight as he bellowed; instantly, vast surges of frigid air erupted wildly in every direction!

Behind Toushirou.

Two enormous wings of frost sprouted forth, radiating a madly surging cold!

The long blade in his hand grew even sharper, emanating an aura of biting, bone-chilling cold!

Above Karakura Town.