Chapter 166: Peak Collision, Fiander's First Battle With Captain Yamamoto
"An inverted world? What an interesting experience!"
Aizen, whose vision was disrupted by Sakanade, showed no significant change in his demeanor.
Seeing this scene, Hirako Shinji frowned first, then said slowly, "Experience? Then have a good taste of it."
"Then... let's go together, everyone!"
After his voice fell, several white flashes of light appeared. All the Visored members completed their Hollowfication in an instant, scattering in all directions and surrounding Aizen in the center.
"How boring. Aizen still enjoys such tedious games."
Seeing Aizen having such a fine time playing with the masked warriors, Fiander suddenly turned his gaze toward where Kyoraku and Ukitake were positioned. Then, launching Shunpo, he appeared before them in an instant.
"Hey! It's been quite a while, you two. How have you been?"
Looking at Fiander, whose appearance had changed considerably but whose outline was vaguely recognizable, Hitsugaya Tōshirō was taken aback at first. He immediately assumed a defensive posture and said to Kyoraku beside him, "Kyoraku-taichou, be careful! This guy is also one of the Espada!"
"Ah, why are you looking at me with such hatred, Captain? I don't recall killing any of you Shinigami!"
Fiander raised his hands in surrender, acting amused.
"My, my, I didn't expect you to be an Espada. No wonder you were so skilled. When you were in the Eighth Division, you beat me quite badly."
After recognizing Fiander's identity, Kyoraku didn't show hostility and vigilance like Tōshirō. Instead, he joked with him like old friends reuniting.
"That's strange. It's just that Kyoraku-taichou likes to hide his abilities. After that incident, didn't it also create an opportunity for you to avoid going to the Sōkyoku Hill for punishment?"
Fiander spread his hands and said pointedly.
"Forgive me, but I don't want to fight with you. I can see that you and Aizen don't seem to be on the same side,. If you could leave here, that would be ideal."
Suddenly, Kyoraku suppressed his smile and said to Fiander with a gentle expression.
"No, I don't dare leave without authorization. Otherwise... Lord Aizen will be angry."
Fiander finished speaking, showing a meaningful smile. "Also, the old man beside you has been staring at me. It's making me very nervous."
As Fiander's voice fell, a powerful air current passed between Kyoraku and Hitsugaya, forcing them apart. Yamamoto Genryūsai, holding his Zanpakuto in one hand, walked between the two with a grave expression.
"Head Captain?"
"Captain Yamamoto?"
Kyoraku and Tōshirō were shocked. The vice-captains like Rangiku, Hinamori, and Isane had already left to care for the wounded. Sui-Feng, who had lost an arm, had also withdrawn.
A scorching presence suddenly released from Yamamoto Genryūsai's body. Red Reiatsu hovered around him like flames. Just standing beside him made one feel momentarily suffocated.
"Espada? In the information provided by Urahara Kisuke, you are described as a very special existence."
"This is the first time I'll asksl you, and also the last time I will ask. Are you an enemy of Soul Society? Please think carefully before answering seriously."
Since getting to know Yamamoto Genryūsai, this should be the first time Kyoraku had seen him show such a serious expression. Even when he learned that Aizen and the others had defected, the Captain-Commander had only shown a displeased look most of the time.
Including when dealing with the Arrancar with terrifying Reiatsu earlier, the old man had only maintained a calm face, still appearing at ease.
Why... why did the old man show such a serious expression when facing the Arrancar before him?
Before Kyoraku could figure it out, Fiander's tone suddenly changed, and he said mercilessly, "Enemy? Ridiculous."
"It's just Soul Society. It's not worthy of being my enemy."
"Such a corrupt and filthy Soul Society... I think it would be better to bury it in history. What do you think, Captain Yamamoto?"
For the last sentence, Fiander walked up to Genryūsai, leaned down, and whispered it in the other's ear.
Boom!!
The moment Fiander's voice fell, fiery red Reiatsu shot into the sky instantly. The scorching shockwave prevented even Kyoraku and Tōshirō from approaching.
"This Arrancar—he's provoking the Captain-Commander!!"
Tōshirō was startled, stretching out a hand to resist the violent wind pressure while processing what was happening.
Genryūsai's Reiatsu erupted, and both Aizen and the Visored sensed it. Seeing the mysterious Arrancar approaching Captain Yamamoto, Hirako Shinji and the others thought this guy was seeking death.
And Aizen, watching this scene, felt his heart sink. He quickly responded, thinking to himself: Have you grown to this point? I wanted to use Wonderweiss's power to seal Captain Yamamoto's Zanpakuto, then defeat him calmly. Since Fiander wants to try it, that's fine. Let me see just how far this person who has integrated the powers of Shinigami and Hollow has progressed.
At this time, Aizen had already completed the first stage of fusion with Hōgyoku. What Hōgyoku could provide Aizen was extremely powerful regenerative ability.
And Aizen at this stage alone had already been judged by Urahara Kisuke to be nearly impossible to kill.
"Boy! Are you prepared to die?"
Looking at Genryūsai's murderous eyes, Fiander was not affected by the Reiatsu deterrence and killing intent. Instead, he showed a wicked smile, stood upright and said, "That depends on... whether you have the ability, Captain-Commander."
Boom!
"All things in creation, turn to ash—Ryūjin Jakka!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Genryūsai drew the Ryūjin Jakka in his hand in an instant. Gripping the blade tightly, he slashed directly toward Fiander.
Almost simultaneously with Genryūsai, Fiander extended his fingers and pulled gently. A pure white Zanpakuto exposed its hilt from a crack in space. Fiander gripped it with a reverse hold, completing his Shikai release and completing the first round of combat with Genryūsai in an instant.
The confrontation between flames and ice. The clash between a blade of fire and a blade of water.
At this moment, the temperature around Fiander began dropping rapidly. The ground, buildings, and even people would all be covered with a layer of extremely low-temperature frost after being touched by the faintly visible piercing cold wind.
"This can't be an Arrancar's Resurrección. There's nothing Hollow-like about this guy's appearance other than a noticeable color change in his Zanpakuto."
Kyoraku looked at this scene in disbelief. Although he had already received relevant information, people often only believe what they see with their own eyes.
"This guy hasn't used his full strength at all!"
Tōshirō's expression was rather complicated. He could clearly perceive that this Arrancar had become much stronger.
After Genryūsai and Fiander clashed blades, both sides took two steps back and maintained a certain distance. Unlike others' perceptions, in just that momentary exchange, Genryūsai's previous doubts were completely resolved.
The Arrancar before him, who appeared no different from a human, was not inferior to him in strength. He might have even surpassed Aizen.
Taking a breath, Fiander raised the Zanpakuto in his hand and pointed it at Genryūsai. "Captain-Commander, you should understand that this kind of probing is meaningless. If we continue fighting, the barrier pillars created by Urahara Kisuke may be destroyed by our battle."
"Hmph! Even if they're destroyed, so what? I only know at this moment that if you cannot be killed here, then you will be the greatest disaster Soul Society has faced to date!"
After saying this, Yamamoto Genryūsai's upper body shihakusho instantly burned like the sun. The surrounding Reiatsu was also instantly compressed into his body.
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