"Bankai is the second and final stage of a Zanpakutō's release."
"It unlocks the sword's full power, allowing the user to use its abilities more deeply and completely."
"To learn Bankai, you first need to materialize your Zanpakutō and learn its true name…"
Unohana Retsu patiently explained to Rukia Kuchiki.
As one of the strongest Soul Reapers in the Soul Society—second only to Captain-Commander Yamamoto—Unohana had centuries of experience. Her deep understanding of Bankai made her teachings incredibly valuable. Her guidance helped others learn to connect with their Zanpakutō, even in the middle of battle.
Rukia listened closely, completely focused. The spiritual pressure (Reiatsu) around her surged like a blue flame, rising and falling, as if she were gathering strength—ready to ignite with power at any moment.
In the distance, Zaraki Kenpachi lay lazily on a chunk of broken meteorite. He sneered and said, "Bankai? What's the point? If you want to beat someone, just cut them down."
Byakuya Kuchiki's face darkened. "Do you think everyone is a monster like you?"
Among the thirteen captains of the Seireitei, Zaraki was the only one who hadn't mastered either Shikai or Bankai. He relied purely on raw instinct and brute force in battle—but even so, his spiritual power was overwhelming. Despite lacking Bankai, he had fought and defeated many strong opponents.
Kusajishi Yachiru popped a sugar candy into her mouth and mumbled, "His sword is already super strong. No need for Bankai."
"Exactly!" Zaraki laughed, swinging his massive sword. "Bankai is boring. I prefer slicing people the old-fashioned way—blood and pain…"
"Captain Zaraki, please be quiet," Unohana said softly, cutting him off mid-laugh.
Her tone was gentle, but her smile sent chills down Zaraki's spine. He fell silent instantly.
"That's all I can teach. I learned it from someone long ago."
With that, Unohana looked at Rukia with a calm smile. "Don't spread this around. These are forbidden techniques. If an average Shinigami tries to use them, they might die."
Rukia quickly nodded. She understood the risk.
Although Bankai makes a Shinigami much stronger, it also places huge pressure on their spiritual power. If a person's spirit energy isn't strong enough to support Bankai, they could burn out and die.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder—where had Unohana learned such powerful and secret techniques?
"I understand. Thank you, Captain Unohana," Rukia said as she stood and bowed respectfully.
But right after, she clenched her fists and declared, "But I won't let you take Nanaya. I'll defeat you!"
Unohana gave her a warm smile and nodded.
She was once the most feared killer in Soul Society, mastering 8,000 sword styles. She had already learned Bankai centuries ago. Even if Rukia mastered it now, Unohana was still confident she would win.
Rukia-chan… you can't keep Nanaya-kun all to yourself. That's just selfish, Unohana thought to herself. Her cheeks turned red as her gaze shifted toward the battlefield where Nanaya was still fighting. She gripped her sword tightly.
(tln-i am jumping off a cliff)
Ah… I want to fight so badly. I want to feel that pain… the cut of a blade through flesh…
Rukia didn't notice the change in Unohana's expression. Full of determination, she held her sword tightly and walked back into the Four Beasts Gate.
Meanwhile…
"RROOOAAARRR!!"
Nanaya let out a thunderous roar as his battle with the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, reached a turning point.
His form changed dramatically.
Like a Menos Grande returning to its true form, Nanaya fully transformed into a tailed beast.
His body turned a light brown color. His lower half became like a giant octopus, with eight massive tentacles. His upper body looked like a powerful bull, complete with two large horns. The transformation was terrifying—fierce, monstrous, and wild.
His body also had a Hollow mask and Hollow hole, releasing the unmistakable aura of evil and darkness associated with Hollows.
Szayelaporro stumbled backward, shaking in fear at what Nanaya had become. Finally, he couldn't hold back anymore and screamed:
"No way…! This guy is human! How can he have an Arrancar-level Menos Grande inside him?!"
Szayelaporro was the eighth-ranked Espada—one of the weakest among them.
If he hadn't relied on his tech skills and life-saving tricks, he would've already been killed by Nanaya during his Seven-Tails form.
Even so, he had reached his limit.
Panicking, he screamed in disbelief:
"Not one, but two... both are Vasto Lorde-level Menos Grande? How is that even possible? I've never seen these two before…"
"And it makes no sense! How come the two Menos Grande inside him aren't fighting each other…?"
"These monsters are clearly stronger than me. They should be tearing each other apart inside that human's body… unless… they're the same being?"
Nnoitra had no idea that his wild guess actually described the situation inside Nanaya perfectly.
Although each tailed beast was created as an independent entity, the existence of the Rinnegan connected them. Together, they were simply parts of a greater whole—the ultimate goal being the revival of the Ten Tails.
Off in the distance, Kurosaki Ichigo watched with a hint of sympathy.
Those Menos Grande probably didn't realize there weren't just two of them inside Nanaya.
So far, eight had already appeared—and all of them were Vasto Lorde-level. And the more tails they had, the stronger they became.
The Seven-Tails and Eight-Tails alone were more powerful than any of the Menos Grande that had shown up before.
Szayelaporro's loud voice drew Nanaya's attention. Fully transformed into the Eight-Tails, Nanaya lowered his massive head and locked eyes on him, filled with violent fury.
"Damn it!!!"
Szayelaporro, nearly breaking down, raised his hands and launched his final desperate attack:
"Gran Rey Cero!"(A powerful technique exclusive to Espada.)
A flash of purple light exploded forward, turning into a blinding, destructive Cero blast.
"BOOM!"
The blast slammed into one of the Eight-Tails' tentacles.
But when the smoke cleared, only a small part of the tentacle was scorched. It had barely taken any real damage.
Before Szayelaporro could react or try again, the Eight-Tails struck back.
Its massive tentacles whipped through the air like deadly chains, smashing down on Szayelaporro with unbelievable speed—so fast they left afterimages.
At that moment, the entire battlefield shook.
The ground cracked like a spiderweb beneath each strike, the shockwaves tearing through the earth.
Ulquiorra, Nnoitra, and another Arrancar nearby were badly injured. But despite their condition, they gritted their teeth and tried to move in, hoping to help Szayelaporro.
In a fight like this, every bit of strength counted.
But the Eight-Tails had eight tentacles—each one attacking faster than the eye could see. In just a few seconds, it struck hundreds of times.
When it finally stopped, Szayelaporro was nearly torn to pieces.
His spiritual energy was fading fast.
And there was no chance he'd survive.
"This thing…" Nnoitra stared at the Eight-Tails in horror. "It's way stronger than the last one!"
He could still hold his own against the Seven-Tails.
But the Eight-Tails was in a completely different league.
Ulquiorra stayed silent. A green Lanza del Relámpago—his signature lightning spear—formed in his hand again.
As Szayelaporro lay dying, Nanaya, still in his Eight-Tails form, turned toward Ulquiorra and Nnoitra. His eyes burned with rage.
Then, suddenly, he opened his mouth.
A crushing amount of spiritual energy began to gather and compress.
It took the form of a massive black sphere.
The moment they saw it, both Ulquiorra and Nnoitra's faces turned pale.
They had seen the Seven-Tails use this technique before—the Tailed Beast Bomb—and even then, it had been terrifying. It had reshaped the land around them, raising the earth by several meters.
Now, the Eight-Tails was using the same move… but on an entirely different scale.
With a deafening roar, the completed Tailed Beast Bomb fired like a giant missile.
It exploded directly in front of Ulquiorra and Nnoitra.
"BOOOOOOM!!!"
A towering mushroom cloud burst into the sky.
(tln-dr oppy?)
The ruins of the Kyōka Palace weren't just leveled—they were erased.
What was once a battlefield had now become a lifeless, barren wasteland.
Even the Four Beasts Gate barrier in the distance couldn't withstand the force. Cracks spread across it from the impact of the shockwave.
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