Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami

⤫ Kinshara Sōkyoku Dai Jūichiban - Izayoi Bara ⥤ Golden Shala Sonata No. 11 - Sixteenth Night Rose! ⤬

On the battlefield full of cracks, Rōjūrō moved like an elegant dancer, each gesture exuding artistic grace. He swung the whip in his hand with a precise forward strike.

Kinshara whistled sharply as it cut through the air toward Aizen, ending in the clash of steel.

Facing this 3rd Division's 3rd Seat without Takeda's pressure, Aizen had little interest in prolonged combat.

After the previous battle, he clearly understood Akira's capabilities and limits. Against ordinary Shinigami Captains like Okama or Ansai, he might manage—perhaps even defeat them with a burst of power.

But Takeda was different. As a veteran Captain of over a hundred years, his strength far surpassed Okama's kind. At Akira's current power level, he could be overwhelmed, even killed...

The thought made Aizen inexplicably irritated, his sword swings carrying more force than usual.

As the blooming Kinshara met his blade with metallic rings, the golden whip suddenly danced backward, forming rippling waves that spread outward instantly.

Brilliant colors erupted in a dazzling display, and through the void drifted what seemed like a musician's solo performance.

"Listen. This is the beauty of death!" Rōjūrō's lips curled into a knowing smile, as if already witnessing his opponent's fate.

His Reiatsu erupted as the golden whip spread like ripples. Magical colored clouds bloomed overhead, repeatedly striking at Aizen's Reiatsu defense.

Shattering sounds rang out in waves as aftershocks scattered. Turbulent Reiatsu surged from the golden whip in violent, fleeting attacks.

Aizen used Shunpo to flicker between the wide-ranging strikes. Unlike a certain thick-skinned fellow, enduring attacks of this level would drain his Reiatsu severely and compromise the battle's outcome.

He had to admit—this 3rd Division's 3rd Seat ranked among the Gotei 13's finest Seated Officers. His Reiatsu alone matched some Captains.

And judging by his relaxed expression, he hadn't even revealed his full power.

Aizen frowned slightly, unwilling to prolong the fight. Any further delay, and he feared he'd only find Akira's corpse.

"Trying to escape?" Rōjūrō chuckled, noticing his intentions. "Or are you worried about your companion? Don't worry, he won't last much longer. You should focus on yourself now. Enjoy this wonderful movement—the musical spirits will dance upon your corpse."

As he spoke, Aizen keenly noticed countless golden threads materializing around him.

"Did you notice?" Seeing his gaze, Rōjūrō's smile widened. "But it's too late. Kinshara's parallel lines can shred anything they touch—including your body!"

The countless golden threads instantly converged, wrapping around and slashing toward Aizen's body. The air released mournful wails, sharp tearing sounds echoing like fabric being violently ripped apart.

Aizen burst backward, pushing Shunpo to its limit, leaving afterimage after afterimage on the battlefield.

Though his reaction was swift, the golden threads still grazed him. A tearing sound rang out as the sharp parallel lines penetrated the Bakudō Kyokkō and ripped the edge of his Shinigami uniform.

"Such fast Flash Step!" Rōjūrō exclaimed in surprise. "To actually dodge my performance."

Aizen's gaze lowered slightly as he examined the tear in his uniform, responding calmly.

"Your Shikai appears to be a weapon that becomes a golden whip. But in reality, it consists of countless golden parallel lines that can be disassembled and recombined. It's quite an impressive ability, well-developed too. Using two large-scale attacks to block my escape routes, then fixing the battlefield here—is this your plan, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi?"

As the calm voice echoed, Rōjūrō's confident expression instantly darkened.

He had anticipated many possible developments, but never imagined his opponent would see through all his calculations. More terrifying was that after just a few brief exchanges, the enemy had already discerned Kinshara's Shikai's true nature.

Even the 3rd Division's Combat Commander, the highly experienced Vice-Captain Iba, couldn't grasp his ability during battle. Yet this person before him had done it.

Rōjūrō cast aside his contempt, his expression hardening with gravity.

"If that's the case, I won't hold back anymore. Prepare to receive my grandest gift—I've prepared this especially."

⤫ Bankai: Kinshara Butōdan ⥤ Final Release: Golden Shala Dance Troupe!⤬

As the words fell, brilliant Reiatsu surged like ocean currents, pulsing until it engulfed the entire battlefield.

Aizen watched as Rōjūrō's Zanpakutō transformed into a golden baton. Reiatsu materialized into endless golden threads, weaving swiftly through the surroundings and sky.

Strange humanoid creatures with elongated limbs appeared on both sides of the battlefield, huge golden hands taking shape, shifting constantly with his movements—like a puppeteer controlling his puppets.

"The Kinshara Butōdan performs the dance of death. They will present you with their most outstanding performance, the first movement—"

⤫ Sea Drift! ⤬

The Kinshara flowers on the dancers' faces bloomed slowly as they raised their long arms, beginning an artistic dance around Aizen.

As their rotation accelerated, surging ocean currents materialized, washing away everything in sight and steadily eroding his external Reiatsu defense.

Rōjūrō waved his conductor's baton, confidence returning to his face.

"Follow the rhythm of the ocean whirlpool—let us sing a song of pain and fear together."

The currents transformed into a whirlpool, its massive force pressing against Aizen's body and holding him in place.

Yet even as he stood immobilized, he furrowed his brow, noticing something unusual.

Seeing his attack had contained the enemy, Rōjūrō's smile grew more confident.

"Now for the second movement—"

⤫ Prometheus ⥤ Envoy of the Volcano! ⤬

In the center of the Kinshara flowers blooming on the dancers' faces, scorching flames ignited, distorting the surrounding air.

Seeing this, Aizen's lips curled slightly upward. "I see, I understand now."

Flames erupted from the flower stamens, rushing toward his position.

Yet the expected wails and screams never came. Even the air-distorting flames extinguished halfway to their target.

Rōjūrō's eyes widened in disbelief. He gripped his conductor's baton tightly, wondering if he had fallen prey to his opponent's illusions.

He recalled Takeda's warning that this enemy's Zanpakutō could create illusions.

Looking at his confused and wary face, Aizen spoke calmly.

"There are no Zanpakutō in Soul Society that can control both water and fire simultaneously, and there's always a connection between Shikai and Bankai. Your Shikai controls golden parallel lines. While your Bankai appears to enhance this by creating the Golden Shala Dance Troupe with threads, there's actually a crucial difference—to appreciate a musical piece, one needs hearing, correct?"

Rōjūrō's pupils contracted, his confidence vanishing instantly, replaced by raw fear.

He couldn't comprehend how such a monster could exist. With just a brief exchange, the enemy had completely analyzed his abilities and weaknesses.

Is this guy even human?!

As he stood there terrified, Aizen's calm voice continued.

"As for countering it, the solution is quite simple. I need only use Kidō to seal my hearing."

At these words, Rōjūrō's expression distorted, his features contorting in terror.

"I've seen your abilities. Now it's my turn."

As his adversary showed signs of losing control, Aizen reversed his Zanpakutō downward, pointing its tip to the ground. Rippling waves of light danced along its blade.

"Shatter…"

⤫ Shikai: Kyōka Suigetsu ⥤ Initial Release: Mirror Flower, Water Moon! ⤬

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

⤫ Daichi no Hōmuri ⥤ Tectonic Burial, Earth's Crushing Embrace! ⤬

A pillar of light illuminated the swamp as surging Reiatsu poured down.

Looking at the youth being swallowed by the earth, Takeda showed no mercy, his eyes cold and hard.

"I'll make sure you rot in the depths of hell!"

But beneath the ground, purple flames rekindled on the youth's chest. Several black patterns emerged slowly, crawling and winding across his skin, giving him an even more eerie presence.

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

In his daze, Akira found himself back in the familiar Zanpakutō's Inner World.

Before him, an unfamiliar Zanpakutō stood behind the altar, emanating a dim light. As he approached, it absorbed his remaining Reiatsu completely.

Empowered by this surge, the blade's light grew increasingly brilliant until it overwhelmed his vision.

When the radiance finally faded, something entirely new materialized before him.

Akira stared at the scene in bewilderment.

A straight chain hung suspended in space. Its length seemed infinite — looking up or down revealed no end, as if it stretched to the very boundaries of this world. When he reached out to touch it, the chain responded with hostility.

The chain's rebuke was particularly harsh...

Undeterred, he pulled it closer for inspection.

Before his eyes appeared countless intricate structures formed from Reiatsu and Soul, their complexity defying comprehension.

At a mere thought, the chain links ground against each other, unleashing thunderous roars as brilliant light flooded every direction.

Though Akira's limited knowledge couldn't grasp the scene before him, the understanding flooding his mind confirmed one certainty.

I've obtained my Zanpakutō!

The moment this realization struck, his vision blurred and excruciating pain tore through his body, as if he were being crushed in a massive mill.

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

Takeda's expression twisted into a grimace.

In all his years, he remarked, he'd never encountered a Shinigami so difficult to kill.

Even a Menos Grande would have dissolved into Reishi and returned to the world's embrace after such treatment.

Yet Akira persisted. His shell, forged like steel, resisted the earth's crushing power—wearing down only gradually rather than shattering instantly.

But the end was near. Takeda sensed the youth's life force ebbing away beneath the earth, his spiritual pressure diminishing moment by moment.

Like a candle in the wind, just one breath away from extinction...

Whoosh—

Suddenly, Reiatsu materialized and erupted into a brilliant pillar of light, piercing through the thin clouds overhead like a blazing sun in the dark sky, radiating intensity in all directions!

Takeda stared at Akira within the pillar of light, shock and anger etched across his face. Never had he witnessed anything so inexplicable.

Being naturally resilient was one thing—having an exceptionally strong spirit body was barely comprehensible.

But how could someone at death's door suddenly unleash such overwhelming power?!

With Reiatsu of this magnitude, could anyone still consider him merely a Seated Officer?

Even more astonishing than that Rōjūrō!

The erupting Reiatsu pillar shattered the ground, spawning countless fissures around Akira that spread outward. Seizing this moment, he leaped from the deep pit.

Before Takeda could utter a word, he witnessed an extraordinary sight—the grievously wounded youth raised his right hand, fingers spread wide.

A streak of light flashed across the sky, landing perfectly in his palm.

That was... a Zanpakutō?!

Witnessing the true form of that light streak, Takeda drew a deep breath. In his centuries of existence, this was the first time he'd beheld such a phenomenon.

Just as he had thought before, Yamamoto's new disciple was beyond bizarre, no matter how you looked at it!

Gripping the sword handle, Akira grinned and stared directly at his adversary who stood above, clad in dark gray armor.

"Captain Chishi, the tables have turned."

Under Takeda's uneasy gaze, he raised his Zanpakutō. Purple flames coiled around the blade as mighty Reiatsu burst forth, enveloping the entire battlefield.

The next moment, a calm voice whispered right next to Takeda's ear.

"Fill the Void…"

⤫ Shikai: Kūkan Mukai ⥤ Initial Release: Unbounded Emptiness! ⤬

BOOM!!

A pillar of Reiatsu erupted skyward!

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

Aizen cut down the terrified Rōjūrō with one emotionless stroke, then turned toward the direction of the Reiatsu pillar, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"This is... That guy's Reiatsu?!"

⤫⤬⤫

T/N: I wanted so badly to use the name Shī Dorifuto (Sea Drift) for Rōjūrō's attack, but I had to hold back to avoid breaking immersion. I almost fell off my chair laughing just thinking about using it... imagine with Purometeusu (Prometheus)...

And I had to do extensive research to understand what the hell the author was talking about when naming the Shikai. Now the next problem will be the Bankai. But let's leave the future for the future.

⤫⤬⤫

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