Chapter 616

Although the flames that had blanketed the earth were now gone, the Ryūjin Jakka at this moment was undoubtedly far more terrifying than before—all of those dreadful flames capable of incinerating the earth had gathered entirely upon the tip of Ryūjin Jakka's blade.

Anyone cut by Ryūjin Jakka might be reduced to ash on the spot. Seeing this scene, even Aizen's face was filled with disbelief, for as far as Aizen was concerned, so long as Ryūjin Jakka's strength was not too overwhelming, he could handle it.

But at this moment, having merely activated his Bankai, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's power had already far surpassed Aizen's imagination; the Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni of this instant could truly be called the strongest Shinigami.

"I didn't expect this kind of strength—miscalculated, I suppose. Head Captain, it seems that over these seventeen thousand years, you haven't weakened much at all."

The full-power Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni exerted tremendous pressure on Aizen; even the current Aizen could not afford to overlook him.

The present Aizen had unknowingly gained the power of the Hōgyoku, and his strength was already no less than anyone's—even the Black Dragon Aaclocia could not bring him such immense pressure.

Yet the current Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni actually gave Aizen a crushing pressure capable of killing him; this was an inconceivable thing.

After all, no matter how one put it, the Aizen of now could be considered an exceedingly powerful being, but even this Aizen could not defeat the current Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

"Aizen, it seems you've grown far too comfortable since coming here—to the point that even the current me makes you feel a hint of fear?"

Gazing at the somewhat incredulous Aizen, a faint smile appeared on Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's face, for at last he could see Aizen wear such an expression.

But for Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, this was still not enough; as a traitor, what should welcome Aizen was an endless, inexhaustible death.

Just as Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni raised his blade, he suddenly sensed something amiss.

Though the Aizen before him was perfectly clear, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had a premonition that if he swung down, it would bring about some unforeseen consequence.

So Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni withdrew his striking stance and instead employed another unexpected technique.

"Tenken: Katen Kyōkotsu, Karamatsu Senbonzakura…"—forgive the intrusion: "Remnant Flame Blade · West · Setting Sun Cradle."

A terrifying spiritual pressure instantly erupted from Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's body, and at that very moment, the Aizen before him suddenly transformed—taking on the appearance of a Shinigami who had already been defeated.

"Worthy of the Head Captain—even my Kyōka Suigetsu could not hinder you for long, but for me, that time is already enough."

Looking at Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, an inexplicable smile surfaced on Aizen's face, as though something about to happen could pull him free of his present predicament.

Yet when Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni saw Aizen's smile, a faint smile also appeared on his own face.

"You don't really think that Demon-God-tribe helper of yours can defeat the Monk, do you? Although he may look rather brash and careless, in truth he is a Shinigami second only to me."

"Watch now—the true power that belongs to him."

The instant Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's words fell, Ichibē Hyōsube, who had been locked in fierce combat with Astalos, suddenly retreated several steps.

He drew out the brush in his hand, which had already transformed into a Zanpakutō, a faint inexplicable smile on his face.

"Demon-God-tribe fellow, I've roughly grasped your strength now—time for me to get serious!"

"Shinkū: Hihō Ichimonji!"

In truth, the so-called Shinkū is no different from a Bankai; it is simply that Ichibē Hyōsube lived in an era that had no specific name for Bankai, so Ichibē Hyōsube named his own Bankai Shinkū.

And Hihō Ichimonji is Ichimonji's Bankai form. Watching Ichimonji gradually turn pure white, both Aizen and Astalos showed a flash of surprise on their faces.

Although they did not know exactly what Hihō Ichimonji's ability was, they both, as if by unspoken agreement, sensed from it a deadly, lethal aura.

In the earlier fighting, although Astalos's combat power had indeed reached their level, Ichibē Hyōsube—even without employing any ability—had not fallen behind in the slightest.

But in truth, Ichibē Hyōsube had actually already begun using his ability; it was simply that no one had realized it.

In its unsealed brush form, Ichimonji's ability is "Slay the Name, Not the Flesh"—it can strike the opponent and also halve their strength.

After release, the brush tip at the front transforms into a blade; the ability remains "Slay the Name, Not the Flesh," but extends so that any black thing touched by the blade "loses its name"—for instance, if an opponent's weapon loses its name, it can no longer exert its power.