Chapter 243: Yamamoto's Death
"My... sincerest apologies... Your Majesty Yhwach..."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni—who'd turned to depart—heard an apologetic tone from the fallen Yhwach. Suddenly, he felt profoundly uneasy within his heart. A sense of impetuousness emerged abruptly.
To whom does the defeated leader require apologizing? You lost a war you initiated. To whom else must you apologize?
Considering this, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni immediately turned around and demanded: "Rise! You... you—who are you?!"
"Naturally, he was—apologizing to me!"
Suddenly, a figure materialized behind Yamamoto instantaneously. The familiar tone and voice sent chills coursing down the Gotei 13 Captain-Commander's spine at this moment.
However, intelligent as he was, he instantly comprehended what had transpired.
"Yhwach... you bastard!"
Turning around and observing Yhwach—who ignored him while walking toward the unknown individual fallen upon the ground—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni prepared himself defensively, his eyes filled with vigilance.
"Don't concern yourself, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni. You lack Shinigami composure."
Ultimately, the genuine Yhwach gazed downward at the Sternritter [Y—The Yourself], Royd Lloyd, who'd revealed his true appearance.
As the younger of the imitative twins, Royd Lloyd possessed ability copying others' appearance, memories, and psychology.
His older brother, Lloyd Royd, had been captured by Ulquiorra during that Hueco Mundo operation, subsequently activated by Yhwach to [recover] his soul.
"Royd Lloyd, you accomplished excellent work keeping my absence from being discovered."
Regarding Royd Lloyd—whose body had been torn apart—Yhwach praised sincerely.
After all, sacrificing one important substitute to thoroughly test Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's complete capabilities proved worthwhile. The future self would no longer require substitutes.
"Do you believe I... accomplished well? Such... an honor..."
As he expired, Royd Lloyd displayed a gratified smile. Yhwach also extended his finger lightly. Blue spirit particles shot forth. The powerful beam of light instantly engulfed Royd Lloyd, vaporizing his body.
After completing all this, Yhwach also turned his head to regard Yamamoto and spoke with a chuckle: "You've grown genuinely old, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni."
"To engage a counterfeit for such tremendous duration proves truly... disappointing."
Observing Yhwach with slightly upturned mouth corner, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni inquired with grave expression: "You shameless individual! From the beginning, you've been concealing yourself within darkness observing, correct?"
"Ah, speaking thus... I simply arranged certain measures to handle a particular individual. Presently, it appears I cannot utilize them."
Shrugging his shoulders, Yhwach spread his palms and declared: "I heard you lost to an Arrancar while employing Bankai. Initially, I possessed doubts—until I met him personally two days ago."
"What do you mean by that...?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni—who positioned his hand upon the handle once more—spoke solemnly.
"I simply wish stating that your sacrifice proved worthwhile. How surprising that Hueco Mundo conceals such a tremendous threat. If not for you, I'm afraid I wouldn't have realized either."
"Sacrifice? What grandiose words are you speaking!" Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's complexion grew ugly.
"Don't comprehend? However, that's acceptable. So—did you exhaust all your strength when fighting the counterfeit just now? Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni."
After leaning forward and scanning Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, Yhwach spoke leisurely.
"Don't jest! Bankai—"
Enraged, Yamamoto withdrew his Zanpakutō and prepared employing Bankai when he suddenly sensed the flames rising from his Reiatsu stagnate. They disappeared from his body as black spirit particles.
When he regarded Yhwach positioned before him, the other party had already retrieved the star medallion from his chest and successfully stolen his Bankai.
"It's not that your Bankai cannot be stolen... but that no one except me can harness your immense power. What will you accomplish? Employ your Bankai and your subordinates' remains will be awakened once more, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni."
Yhwach withdrew the longsword from his waist and drew an arc through the air. A blue arc formed by gathered spirit particles materialized from nothing.
Gripping Ryūjin Jakka—which could no longer respond to his summons—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni finally comprehended the sensations experienced by captains whose Bankai had been stolen.
Facing an invincible enemy, not employing Bankai proved tantamount to slow death...
At this moment, the blue arc within the air transformed into a longbow and opened gradually.
Accompanied by humming resonance, a greatsword transformed from spirit particles was summoned to Yhwach.
Gripping the tremendous spirit particle sword with cross-patterned hilt, Yhwach slowly withdrew it from the ground. Revealing vicious, vulture-like eyes, he spoke slowly:
"Farewell, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni!"
No precaution existed. No one would have anticipated that Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni—Gotei 13's Captain-Commander—would perish so abruptly with such tragic conclusion.
Glancing at Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni who'd died standing upright, then regarding the opponent's upper body that had fallen to the ground, Yhwach spoke contemptuously:
"Even for all Shinigami, death proves so sorrowful, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni."
Sensing the disappearance of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's Reiatsu within Seireitei constituted terrible news for Gotei 13 members fighting desperately upon the front lines.
"Let's proceed, Haschwalth. Transmit orders to all Sternritter members."
"Command them to utterly ravage Soul Society."
Yhwach—who'd issued the order—prepared departing when a shadow suddenly rose from beneath his feet and enveloped his body. Haschwalth positioned beside him transformed his expression instantly witnessing this. Just as he extended his hand assisting Yhwach, arms suddenly grasped him.
A green long-haired woman materialized from the ground's shadows, regarding him with a smirk across her features. She declared: "That won't work, brother. I let you escape previously, but I was scolded tremendously!"
"Arrancar..."
"Impossible! Why did you manifest here? We've obviously blocked Soul Society's space."
Haschwalth's eyes widened. He murmured with disbelief.
"Oh, what should I state regarding this question?"
Lilynette—appearing somewhat embarrassed—pursed her lips with contemplative expression. However, witnessing Haschwalth frowning, she spoke with bright smile:
"Naturally, everything was deployed before you attacked Soul Society."
Haschwalth observed the Arrancar before him. He wished escaping covertly but discovered that although the opponent appeared petite, she possessed surprisingly tremendous strength. He couldn't break free momentarily.
"Don't waste energy. Remain here obediently. You don't wish being eliminated by me."
Lilynette's eyes instantly transformed indifferent—as though she weren't the identical person who'd been smiling previously.
On another front, Yhwach—whose body was shrouded by shadows—soon materialized within an unfamiliar space. Observing the dark surroundings, Yhwach stood motionless, closed his eyes, and sensed everything surrounding him.
"Spatial severing? You should be the sole individual capable of accomplishing such matters..."
After opening his eyes once more, Yhwach spoke inexplicably toward one direction.
TAP— TAP—
Soon, a figure slowly emerged from the lightless darkness. A smile spread across his features: "We meet once more, Your Majesty!"
"I stated—I would come to you!"
With hands clasped behind his back, Fiander regarded the other party. Indescribable satisfaction appeared within his ice-blue eyes.