BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

This scene undoubtedly left everyone in shock!

First, the Holy Sword of Light, then the Thunder God's Body, and now the Devouring Flames…

Just how many abilities does Akira possess? Where did they all come from?!

"Aren't you always curious why I never hold back, no matter the cost?"

Akira smirked.

"The answer is right in front of you—thank you, old man Yamamoto, for the exquisite spiritual power you so generously provided me."

No matter how unbelievable it seemed, the reality was undeniable.

Moments ago, Akira had been on the verge of collapse. But now, his spiritual pressure surged once more, his aura reigniting like an inferno!

"Am I dreaming… or have I yet to wake up?"

Kyoraku Shunsui muttered in disbelief.

"Absorbing flames to restore spiritual power? That's beyond absurd…"

But Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's solemn voice shattered the last of his doubts.

"So that's the truth… No wonder you remained unharmed by my flames during our battle."

His aged eyes flickered with both wariness and understanding.

"It seems that capturing you is now nearly impossible. Killing you, however… may be slightly easier."

"For the sake of the Soul Society, I must eliminate you here and now!"

As soon as the words fell, his murderous intent filled the battlefield.

"Blinded fool!" Akira sneered, his body erupting into blazing dragon fire.

"You've been deceived, and you don't even realize it!"

"Fire… after lightning?"

Kurotsuchi Mayuri's eyes gleamed with intrigue.

"What's the principle behind this? I must find out!"

"Master, let us assist you!"

Jūshirō Ukitake urgently called out.

"If you fight alone, the cost will be devastating!"

Anyone with sharp insight could see the danger—Akira's power completely countered Yamamoto's.

Not only would Yamamoto's flames fail to harm Akira, but they would fuel him instead. The longer the battle dragged on, the weaker Yamamoto would become, while Akira would only grow stronger. How could this be a fair fight?

"No, I don't need help," Yamamoto declared firmly.

"But—" Jūshirō began, his voice filled with concern.

"There's no 'but!'" Yamamoto's voice boomed like thunder.

"If a mere ability that counters my flames were enough to defeat me, then I should have fallen countless times over the past two thousand years!"

"On the contrary, you all must keep your distance. Do not approach me."

At those words, Jūshirō's face paled. Beside him, Kyoraku Shunsui, Unohana Retsu, and Chōjirō Sasakibe all reacted in alarm.

"Master… are you planning—?!"

Kyoraku's eyes widened in horror.

"Using that technique… within the Soul Society? That's insanity!"

Yamamoto's expression remained unwavering.

"There is no other way. I must acknowledge—Akira is truly formidable."

"But rest assured, this battle will end swiftly. Before Soul Society is reduced to ashes, I will completely erase Akira from existence!"

At Yamamoto's declaration, no one objected further. Instead, their eyes turned toward Ryūjin Jakka in his grasp.

The once-roaring flames of his zanpakutō seemed to gather inward, condensing into something even more terrifying.

And then—

"Bankai—"

A surge of Reiatsu distorts the very space around it, reemerging alongside the thunderous voice of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, causing the very foundations of the Seireitei to tremble.

"Zanka no Tachi."

In an instant, an oppressive heatwave surges outward, scorching everything in its path. The air itself distorts from the sheer intensity, the temperature so extreme that even proximity alone could ignite anything left unburned. If not for the fact that everything within the barrier had already been reduced to ash, the residual heat alone would have incinerated it on the spot.

"So this is the Bankai of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni... I've long known of it, but to witness its sheer might firsthand is another matter entirely."

Akira could feel it—despite his dual blessings of an elemental body and the resilience of a dragon's physique, sweat trickled down his back. The heat was unbearable, even for him.

A deep hum resonated through the air.

With a mere motion of his sword, Yamamoto lifted Zanka no Tachi—and at that very moment, the Reiatsu-fueled inferno surged outward with terrifying force.

"Crack... Crack! Crack! CrackCrackCrack!"

The residual force of this single movement shattered the already fragile barrier completely, triggering a cascading collapse that could not be stopped.

"All units, retreat! Fall back—NOW!"

Komamura Sajin's urgent voice echoed through the battlefield. He knew full well that the barrier could not withstand combat of this scale. If they wanted to survive, they had only one choice—escape, and hope they had run far enough.

For against the ultimate Bankai, a power capable of evaporating all moisture within the Soul Society itself, there was no such thing as a safe distance.

Yamamoto's voice carried across the battlefield, cold and resolute.

"Akira, your time of death has come."

A smirk curled on Akira's lips.

"No, I don't think so."

Yamamoto's eyes narrowed.

"Do you really believe I was merely standing here, admiring your Bankai?"

"What—?!"

In that instant, Yamamoto realized something was wrong. Before his eyes, Akira's figure wavered—then vanished. A mirage.

A mirror image.

Shikai ability—Hikari Mirror.

Yamamoto had never seen it before. Not even the Gotei 13 had known of this power.

"Tch—!"

A moment too late.

A tremendous surge of spiritual pressure crashed toward him from the side.

"During that time, I've been gathering my strength to its peak. Now—take this!"

A blinding golden streak shot through Yamamoto's vision, hurtling toward him like a meteor.

"Ryūmetsu no Hisan—Shiranui Gurenhōken!" (Dragon-Slaying Profound Truth: Shiranui Form, Crimson Lotus Phoenix Blade!)

Yamamoto's eyes sharpened.

"Hmph!"

He swung Zanka no Tachi with a force like a star collapsing in on itself, meeting the incoming attack head-on.

And then—

"BOOOOM—!!!"

A deafening explosion shattered the sky itself, engulfing the entire First Division barracks in a hellish inferno.

Even within the searing flames, Yamamoto's expression shifted.

For the first time in centuries, he felt himself being pushed back.

The attack had been a concentrated release of Akira's spiritual energy—an ambush designed to overwhelm even the strongest.

Even so, Yamamoto had responded with nothing but a single, reflexive slash. And yet—

"Ghh—!"

In the blink of an eye, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was sent hurtling through the flames.

The retreating captains watched in utter disbelief.

Their invincible commander—the mightiest of all Soul Reapers—was blown back, tumbling hundreds of meters through the air before coming to a stop.

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