Chapter 125: Burning the City
Then, Captain Yamamoto opened his eyes, and a cold light shot out from them, radiating an awe-inspiring presence.
The whistling wind blew past the broad captain's haori behind the old man, making it sway dramatically.
"All of you... stand back behind this old man!"
Following Captain Yamamoto's majestic voice, the wooden walking stick in his hand was gripped firmly, and the outer wooden casing gradually dissipated with a burst of Reiatsu, revealing the ancient rosewood handle hidden within—the hilt of his ancient Zanpakuto.
"Reduce all creation to ash, Ryujin Jakka!"
As Captain Yamamoto's Shikai incantation was completed, Ryujin Jakka was drawn with a sharp motion. Raging, city-scorching fiery Reiatsu poured forth the moment Ryujin Jakka was unsheathed.
The roaring flames not only stunned the captains behind him, but even the strongest Espada who had followed Aizen to invade Karakura Town were shocked, their expressions changing dramatically.
With the blade bursting into intense flames, Captain Yamamoto held it high above his head.
Kyoraku suddenly pulled Ukitake down and shouted: "Get down, Ukitake!"
The blazing high temperature caused the surrounding air to become distorted from the heat. Captain Yamamoto swung his blade suddenly, and massive flames formed a barrier, whizzing past Aizen's two defected captains to surround and trap them directly.
"Jokaku Enjo!"
After releasing this technique, Captain Yamamoto slowly returned Ryujin Jakka to its scabbard, and the suffocating heat around him disappeared immediately.
"This way, Aizen and the others will not be able to break through this fire barrier for the time being."
"Next, let's defeat this group of Arrancar in an orderly manner!"
"Oh my! How intense, Captain!"
Ukitake looked at Captain Yamamoto with an exaggerated expression of admiration.
Kyoraku pressed down his bamboo hat and said with a smile: "This means that old man Yamamoto is truly fired up right now."
The scattered sparks boosted the captains' morale tremendously. Meanwhile, within the flame barrier surrounding Aizen's group, Ichimaru Gin fanned himself and said: "Ah, it's so hot in here!"
"What a troublesome situation, captain."
"What should we do, Captain Aizen? At this rate, we won't be able to join the battle!"
Aizen had been gazing calmly through the flames, his composed eyes showing no emotional fluctuations whatsoever.
"We do nothing. We simply wait and observe."
"Because this will mean that this battle will reach its conclusion without us needing to fight personally."
At this moment, because Aizen and his group was trapped, Hueco Mundo's side had instantly lost three major combat forces. Facing the numerous captains of Gotei 13, Baraggan glanced at each Shinigami and said.
"Really now, where should our next move be?"
"The enemy has superior numbers, which is certainly troublesome."
Baraggan's words made Harribel, who had always been loyal to Aizen, respond: "Your words are disrespectful to Master Aizen, Baraggan!"
"Master Aizen, Master Aizen—you're as devoted as that boy Fiander. Don't forget that I am the King of Hueco Mundo!"
"It's disrespectful for you to address me in that manner, Harribel!"
After speaking, Baraggan snapped his fingers, and his subordinates understood immediately, holding up a roll of red carpet with both hands and slowly unfolding it. After the carpet opened, a complete skeletal throne slowly emerged from the Garganta within.
Baraggan sat down without ceremony, and his subordinate officers behind him knelt to show their respect.
"Since our leader is trapped, then I shall give the orders!"
"You are not permitted to object!"
Speaking thus, Baraggan looked at Starrk a..nd Harribel, then addressed a fourth figure: "Boy, do you have anything to say?"
"No, Master Fiander said I should follow your commands."
"It makes no difference whether it's Aizen-sama or you, old man. In any case, we simply annihilate the enemy!"
The subordinate crossed his arms and spoke coldly to Baraggan.
"Hmph, you two are being sensible!"
After this exchange, Baraggan leaned his hand on the throne's armrest and addressed the Shinigami captains below: "Just now you mentioned that the spiritual ground beneath our feet is a fabricated replica, correct?"
"It seems to have been swapped with the original in Soul Society, doesn't it?"
"Although our leader said that as long as we capture Soul Society and seize the spiritual ground we'll be secure, is it necessary for us to go around in such a large circle?"
"What I mean is, since the four pillars that maintain the barrier are positioned around this city, and you use the pillars' power to maintain the replica's position, why don't we simply destroy these four pillars?"
"Findorr!"
Baraggan immediately called out to one of his subordinates.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Understanding Baraggan's intent, the Arrancar named Findorr blew the bone whistle in his hand. Soon, four black Garganta opened in the city's east, west, north, and south locations.
Four super-large Hollows emerged from the Garganta, appeared above the barrier pillars, and began attacking the four pillars frantically.
But Soul Society took no action, as if all this had been anticipated.
Sure enough, as Zanpakuto sliced through the head of each large Hollow, four powerful Shinigami each guarding their assigned conversion pillars beheaded all the large Hollows.
They were Hisagi Shuuhei, Kira Izuru, Ayasegawa Yumichika, and Madarame Ikkaku respectively. All four possessed combat power not inferior to vice-captain level.
After the four of them easily beheaded the large-scale Hollows, Captain Yamamoto said to Baraggan: "Fool!"
"Do you think I would leave such an important location unguarded?"
"Don't be so naive!!"
Following Captain Yamamoto's stern rebuke, Baraggan looked coldly ahead and said: "So what?"
"They're just four ants guarding pillars anyway. In that case, I simply need to send four subordinates to crush them."
"Poww, Choe Neng, Abirama, and Findorr!"
"Destroy them!"
As soon as Baraggan's words fell, the four Arrancar subordinate officers immediately knelt and signaled: "Yes! We obey Your Majesty's command!"
After speaking, the four of them leaped high, each flying toward their respective barrier pillars.
Seeing this scene, a smile appeared at the corner of Baraggan's mouth, and then he sat quietly waiting for the results.
At the same time, in Hueco Mundo, Fiander above the palace looked at the spatial turbulence created by the thunderclouds, staring intently. Finally, after tens of minutes, he slowly said: "The time has come!"
***
30+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces