BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

This unforgettable scene shook everyone to their core.

Each of them questioned their own eyes, unable to believe what they were witnessing. Even Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni himself, after a brief moment of stunned silence, erupted with unprecedented fury.

It was, without a doubt, the greatest humiliation of his long life—to be challenged so brazenly after unleashing his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, by an opponent who seemed utterly unfazed.

"Brat… are you prepared to die?" Yamamoto's voice was ice-cold, his anger barely restrained.

"You worry too much, old man. Not yet."

With a calm smile, the opponent—who should have been overwhelmed—smirked and added, "Given your age, you'll probably die before I do. Shouldn't you be the one preparing for the inevitable?"

Yamamoto's eyes narrowed, his grip on Ryūjin Jakka tightening. "No! You will die today—right now!"

"Not happening." The challenger shook his head. "I've already played enough. As long as you understand that Dragon Slayer Magic restrains you, that's enough for me."

"Let's save the rest for another time. Goodbye."

"You think you can escape after witnessing my Bankai!?" Yamamoto roared, his spiritual pressure surging as the full force of Zanka no Tachi began to manifest. The battlefield itself threatened to crumble under the sheer heat.

But just as Yamamoto was about to strike, the challenger's next move stopped him in his tracks.

With a casual motion, he raised his hand and pointed in a particular direction—toward the Seireitei's Clean Pagoda, the sacred hall where the Central 46 resided.

"You might have noticed something odd," the challenger mused. "Despite my immense spiritual power—and the additional reserves I've gathered—why is my energy still depleting so quickly?"

"The answer lies there."

As his words fell, two massive, meteor-like spheres of lightning pierced through the sky, descending toward the Clean Pagoda with terrifying force.

"Do you like the gift I prepared for you?" he sneered. "A little something I call… Double Thunderstorm Welcome!"

Yamamoto's pupils contracted sharply. "You—!"

"So, what will it be?" the challenger continued, his voice brimming with confidence. "With your experience, you should already know—no one in the Gotei 13 besides you has the power to stop both of those attacks in a single move."

"Given the distance, even the fastest Shinigami wouldn't make it in time without choosing their priority. You have one move. So decide—do you want to chase me down, or save the Central 46?"

Before the words had fully settled, Yamamoto had already made his decision.

With his centuries of experience, he didn't need to deliberate. His body moved before his mind had fully caught up. In a flash, he abandoned the fight and shot toward the incoming twin lightning strikes at full speed, his Bankai raging around him.

"See? I told you the Central 46 were already dead, but you refused to believe me…" The challenger shook his head, feigning pity. "Oh well, that works too. See you later, captains of the Gotei 13."

At that moment, all the active captains of the Gotei 13 were still keeping their distance, wary of Yamamoto's Bankai.

With no one left to stop him, the challenger vanished, his body transforming into a streak of lightning as he disappeared into the stormy sky at unimaginable speed.

"Damn it! DAMN IT!"

Komamura Sajin's eyes burned with fury, his sharp teeth clenched tightly, his fists cracking the stone beneath him.

"To let such a despicable man escape… and we could do nothing but watch!"

Jūshirō Ukitake and Kyōraku Shunsui fell silent.

There was no doubt—they all felt a humiliation they hadn't experienced in a thousand years.

"In the end, Akira walked straight into the Captains' Meeting, where the leaders of the Gotei 13 had gathered, and then left without a scratch!"

"We… did nothing! Damn it!"

No wonder resentment filled the air. Akira's actions weren't just an insult—they were a direct affront to the Gotei 13's dignity.

No… this was beyond mere humiliation. It was as if their honor had been ripped away, thrown to the ground, and trampled beneath his feet.

But who could have foreseen this? Even Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto himself had stepped in, and yet, in the end, they still failed to stop Akira.

"Lord Akira is truly formidable. If he wants to leave… no one can stop him."

Among them, only Ichimaru Gin's expression remained unreadable, a faint glimmer flickering in his narrowed eyes.

At first, he had been uncertain—worried that Akira was no match for Yamamoto. But as the battle unfolded, his doubts wavered, shifting again and again.

Now, Ichimaru Gin was filled with both admiration and conviction.

This man… could truly kill Aizen Sōsuke.

"Hmph… He planned everything perfectly."

Meanwhile, Yamamoto had already dealt with the remnants of the destruction and returned to the battlefield after releasing his Bankai. The former First Division headquarters had been reduced to a massive crater.

The Captains had regrouped, awaiting Yamamoto's next orders.

"From this moment on, Akira is to be classified as the highest-level threat!" Yamamoto declared. "All members are to begin an immediate search for him!"

After a brief pause, he added, "However, if anyone locates Akira, do not engage recklessly. Report his whereabouts to the captains immediately.

"Furthermore, vice-captains and below are strictly forbidden from confronting him under any circumstances—it would be nothing more than a death sentence."

The gathered captains exchanged uneasy glances. Had Akira really become that powerful?

Sensing their doubts, Yamamoto spoke again.

"Do not overestimate him. It may have seemed like he was fighting on equal footing with me, but in truth, my Bankai was not fully unleashed. Moreover, I could clearly sense that his Reiatsu had significantly weakened toward the end."

Kurotsuchi Mayuri adjusted his glasses, contemplating. "In other words, he was fighting at full strength against you, while you were holding back?"

"That's correct," Yamamoto replied impassively. "But do not let this lead you to underestimate him. On the contrary, you must regard Akira with unprecedented caution."

"Aside from myself and the Royal Guard, he is undoubtedly the most powerful Shinigami in the Soul Society."

"Therefore, I am issuing an order: If you encounter Akira in battle, do not engage unless at least four captain-level combatants are present!"

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