Chapter 41

"Damn it!"

The Shihoin family.

Shihoin Yoruichi, upon sensing Kuchiki Senya's spiritual pressure, didn't even have time to put on her shoes before charging straight toward Rukongai.

Urahara was also jolted awake in the middle of the night, with huge dark circles hanging around his eyes.

The desk was covered in densely packed materials, piled up into a mountain.

As well as an incomplete, water-blue jade stone emanating a mysterious power.

This was the thing he had painstakingly developed recently, the "Hōgyoku," though it had not yet succeeded and was still in the research stage.

At this moment.

Urahara could no longer be bothered with his research; he ran straight out of his room, rushing toward Rukongai.

Only Aizen.

Wearing square-framed glasses, in his own room.

Unlike the cheerful and gentle image he showed at the academy during the day, at this moment, his face wore an aloof indifference toward everything, cold and detached.

Even though the fighting outside had already become a complete mess, he merely shook his head lightly, as if it all had nothing to do with him.

……

Seireitei.

All the major factions had taken action.

Everyone's heart was filled with worry, with a grave face.

No one thought Kuchiki Senya could hold off an attack of this magnitude for long!

They all rushed to the rescue with the utmost urgency!

……

At this moment.

Rukongai, Senya Pavilion battlefield.

Shattered formation fragments flew scattering in all directions.

Reflecting the slightly dazed gaze of the black-clothed leader.

Sensing the spiritual pressure leaking from the battlefield, as well as the various spiritual pressures soaring skyward from Seireitei.

The black-clothed leader's fists clenched tightly!

Staring fixedly at the battlefield.

One man, unrivaled, like a war god—Kuchiki Senya.

What kind of monster is this?

Not only is his Zanpakutō razor-sharp, even his hand-to-hand combat and Shunpo are at captain level!

In just a few minutes.

Over a hundred Hollows had already fallen at his hands!

Among them were three Adjuchas-class Menos Grande!

It wasn't a few hundred Hollows surrounding him.

It was more like he alone had surrounded all of them!

"We can't delay any longer. Once Soul Society's reinforcements arrive, there will never be another chance to slay him!"

Saying so.

The concealment formation vanished.

From within, the figures of seven black-clothed men were revealed, seven streams of spiritual pressure surging skyward.

Two at captain level.

Five at vice-captain level!

Most eye-catching was a massive brownish-red shield, thick as a mountain, emanating an aura of being unbreakable, blocking everything!

This was the grand gift the Tsunayashiro family had prepared for Kuchiki Senya—no matter how sharp his Zanpakutō, it absolutely could not break through!

The strongest shield in Soul Society!

Now released!.

036. When did you get the illusion that I was using Shikai?

"Boom!"

Between heaven and earth.

A roar like a muffled thunderclap sounded.

On the shield, thick as a mountain and brimming with an unbreakable aura, a layer of dazzling radiance began to swirl!

Invisible shockwaves spread in all directions, stretching to the horizon, as if to suppress and block everything!

This was the hardest shield in Soul Society, now released!

Behind the shield.

A thick light membrane appeared, enveloping all of them!

Any attack—even Kuchiki Senya's slash marks—could only leave faint, shallow traces on the light membrane and the shield!

The leader's face was filled with savagery, saturated with killing intent, as a heavy, solid Zanpakutō appeared in his hand.

The other six also drew their blades, one after another releasing their Shikai!

Huddled behind the shield.

Like cold, venomous snakes, they would launch ranged attacks from time to time, interfering with Kuchiki Senya's battle.

"If your Shikai is only at this level, then die here!"

The leader's voice was low, gripping his Zanpakuto tightly, as if stating a fact.

His eyes were ice-cold, looking at the marks on the shield.

While his heart was shocked.

A trace of relief also emerged.

This attack power, this sharpness!

He must have already used Shikai!

After all.

Not all Shikai require an incantation.

It was long known that Kuchiki Senya's Zanpakuto was incomparably sharp, but no one expected that even the strongest shield in the Soul Society couldn't completely withstand it!

It could still cause some wear.

Their Shikai abilities could all handle long-range attacks!

With so many Menos Grande interfering, no matter how strong Kuchiki Senya was, he would still fall to this endless tide of attacks!

At the same time.

The remaining dozens of Menos Grande, along with five Adjuchas, all roared madly.

Kuchiki Senya's soul was mouthwateringly fragrant.

Far better in quality than the ones inside the shield — a world of difference!

Besides, the shield was nothing but a turtle shell, impossible to break!

Thus.

All the Menos Grande poured their fury onto Kuchiki Senya!

A full five Adjuchas-level spiritual pressures, like heavy mountains tilting down from the sky! Shattering and obliterating anything!

The dozens of Menos Grande behind them, along with the few remaining Hollows, also launched their attacks!

However.

At the peak of Senya Pavilion.

That man looked completely calm, paying no heed to the incoming attacks, and even used Shunpo.

He entered Senya Pavilion, casually grabbed a bottle of wine, and started drinking.

His lazy gaze sized up the leader behind the shield — smug, brimming with killing intent.

A faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"When did you get the illusion that I used Shikai?"

The next moment.

His Zanpakuto was held horizontally across his chest.