BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

Boom!

In an instant, a violent clash of thunderstorms and searing flames consumed everything around them.

"This situation has escalated beyond expectation…"

Jūshirō Ukitake wiped a trace of cold sweat from his forehead. Just watching the fierce battle between Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and the mysterious warrior was enough to send chills down his spine.

Though the fight had only begun, the sheer force of their confrontation had already reduced the First Division barracks to rubble. Within the protective barrier, everything lay in ruins.

Boom!

The clash continued as lightning-infused fists met the scorching flames of Ryūjin Jakka. Their movements were so fast that even captains struggled to follow their exchanges.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

Each blow sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, the echoes of their strikes reverberating like thunder.

"Sword Pressure!"

Yamamoto unleashed a strike infused with his blazing Reiatsu, while his opponent countered by channeling raw spiritual energy into his fists, launching a devastating punch. Lightning erupted upon impact, momentarily suppressing the zanpakutō's flames.

"Kendō: Double Break!"

Yamamoto swiftly transitioned through a series of precise kendō techniques, but his opponent refused to retreat. He struck back with another direct punch, their attacks colliding in an earth-shattering explosion.

Boom!

The shockwave forced them apart momentarily, only for them to clash again in an instant. Wherever they briefly halted, deep craters formed beneath their feet.

Swoosh!

Yamamoto gathered his Reiatsu along the edge of his blade, executing an incredibly sharp and swift strike.

"Break!"

His opponent's fists crackled with electricity, and with a roar of thunder, he met the attack head-on, his blows smashing through the flames.

BOOM!!!

No matter how many techniques Yamamoto unleashed, the mysterious warrior met each one head-on, relying solely on sheer power and overwhelming force. The relentless barrage stunned everyone watching.

"Is this real…? Sensei can't overpower him at all?"

Jūshirō Ukitake and Kyōraku Shunsui, both of whom had trained under Yamamoto, understood his immense skill better than anyone. Over 2,000 years ago, his kendō had already reached an unparalleled level, forming the foundation of what would later become the Shin'ō Academy.

And yet, what were they witnessing now?

In this brutal, close-quarters battle, Yamamoto's refined sword techniques were being countered by a single, unrelenting strategy—one punch after another! His opponent shattered every intricate move through sheer power and was beginning to gain the upper hand.

Unohana Retsu, a master of kendō herself, saw it even more clearly. And because of that, she was even more shocked.

"This isn't just mindless brute force. If that were the case, Captain-Commander would have ended this battle long ago."

She narrowed her eyes, analyzing the fight carefully.

"It looks like a simple punch, but there are no openings in his movements. Every strike meets Yamamoto's technique perfectly, as if… as if he has already analyzed every single move and pattern."

She clenched her fist slightly.

"How… how is this possible?"

Even with her deep combat knowledge, the precision and foresight displayed were beyond comprehension. Was it intuition? An advanced combat sense? No—there was something more at play.

Yamamoto's grip tightened around Ryūjin Jakka.

"…I must admit, continuing this battle in close combat is not in my favor."

Although he didn't want to admit it, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was forced to acknowledge the reality before him, and a storm of mixed emotions surged in his heart.

However, the most crucial task right now was to subdue his opponent—Akira—and completely suppress him!

With that thought, Yamamoto's eyes narrowed.

"Torch!"

"Hm?!"

Sensing danger through his Observation Haki, Akira instantly directed the majority of his Thor-like power behind him.

BOOM—!

A monstrous inferno erupted out of thin air, engulfing everything in its wake as it surged toward Akira's back in an instant. The sheer force of the explosion detonated the surrounding battlefield, forcing the enemy into a zero-range attack. Yamamoto seized this opportunity, successfully breaking free from Akira's close-quarters engagement.

"That sudden attack... it should be enough to take him down, right?"

Chōjirō Sasakibe, who had once experienced the terror of Yamamoto's flames firsthand, hesitated, unable to speak with certainty.

After all, Zanka no Tachi—a technique capable of reducing enemies to mere ashes—had been torn apart by Akira's bare hands!

Then—

"Reiatsu hasn't disappeared! What a monstrous opponent..."

Yamamoto's voice carried a rare hint of astonishment, and his words sent ripples of shock through the assembled captains.

Sure enough, as the flames subsided, Akira remained standing, completely unscathed.

Not a single burn.

Not even a trace of scorching on the edges of his battle-worn garb.

"Impossible! His attire wasn't even singed?! How did he withstand that?"

Even Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who had devoted himself to analyzing Akira's abilities, found himself at a loss. For the first time, genuine disbelief crept into his usually detached tone.

Yamamoto's brow furrowed as he studied the situation.

"Did the sheer magnitude of his lightning-infused body neutralize my flames? No… it's more than that. Something isn't right…"

It was only now that he truly realized—Akira had been battling him, the master of Zanka no Tachi, wielder of the ultimate flames, from the very beginning…

And yet, not a single burn marked his body.

Not so much as a singe or a blister.

It defied all logic.

"It's inconceivable that even a god could perfectly defend against all heat and flame… right?"

But now wasn't the time to dwell on the how.

Yamamoto inhaled deeply, his expression grim.

"It doesn't matter what the truth is anymore."

His grip tightened on his zanpakutō as he declared,

"What matters now is that this old man understands one thing—if I don't pay a price, I won't be able to kill you."

The atmosphere grew suffocating.

"Although I despise the idea of using this within the walls of the Seireitei… I have no choice!"

The instant his voice fell, an overwhelming wave of Reiatsu crashed onto the battlefield, its intensity visible to the naked eye.

"Ugh—!"

Even the captains maintaining the barrier around them felt their hearts seize in their chests. Despite the protective wards, the sheer weight of Yamamoto's spiritual pressure was unbearable!

The very air distorted under its might.

For the first time, even Akira's expression hardened.

"So this is Yamamoto Genryūsai's true spiritual power… Just his mere presence is enough to make space tremble."

Then—

"Flames of the Sun Prison—Inferno of Eternal Purgatory!"

Yamamoto's voice rang out, each syllable carrying the weight of absolute devastation.

Under the crushing force of his Reiatsu, dozens of colossal fire pillars erupted into existence, forming a searing infernal cage around the battlefield.

Even in their inactive state, the flames burned so fiercely that all moisture in the area evaporated instantly. If unleashed in full, the ensuing explosion could incinerate an area several times the size of Karakura Town!

Were it not for the seven captain-class Shinigami maintaining a powerful barrier to contain the destruction, Yamamoto would never have dared to unleash this technique within the Seireitei.

After all—

This was an attack of absolute certainty.

A technique that carried the risk of annihilating the entire Seireitei.

And yet—

If it meant erasing Akira from existence…

Then so be it.

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