Zommari, with one hand behind his back, spoke indifferently.
"The Espada have all your Shinigami intelligence. So I know you, Kuchiki Byakuya."
"Oh?"
Byakuya watched as Zommari suddenly vanished, only to reappear behind Rukia. He couldn't help but glance over.
Zommari continued,
"The head of the Kuchiki Family, one of the Five Great Noble Families, is said to be the strongest among the twenty-eighth generation heads of the Kuchiki Family.
"Besides possessing the magnificent Senbonzakura, your Shunpo ranks among the top of all Gotei 13 captains. You must think that I, the Seventh Espada, am easy to deal with, right?"
"Therefore, I understand that you consider what I said earlier to be arrogance."
At this moment, Zommari actually closed his eyes, as if pitying Kuchiki Byakuya.
"But unfortunately, reality is often different from fantasy. Yes, I love to speak about 'fantasy,' because in fantasy, it is easiest for people to feel the existence of 'Amor.'
"Because there is love, people are immersed in fantasy. So now… Kuchiki Byakuya, do you feel 'Amor'?"
"Absolute Zero…"
As Zommari's words fell, Rukia, under his control, gripped her Zanpakuto with both hands, adopting a stabbing posture as an icy aura emanated from her.
After her battle with Grimmjow, Rukia had encountered Lilynette, which left her temporarily unconscious.
Zommari had originally intended to kill her, but was stopped by the sudden arrival of Kuchiki Byakuya and Tōshirō Hitsugaya, followed by Aizen and Yoshio transmitting messages.
Aizen was unbothered, but after hearing Yoshio's voice, Rukia surprisingly regained consciousness for a moment, which startled Zommari.
At that time, Zommari had already used his ability on Rukia.
Zommari's ability, Cursing Eye Monk, allows him to control others' bodies—an ability he should only be able to use after his Resurrección.
But these Espada are no longer like their original counterparts.
Some have mastered Segunda Etapa, some have greatly increased their spiritual pressure, and others have gained partial Resurrección abilities.
What Zommari has mastered is partial Resurrección. He only needs to have part of his body undergo Resurrección, manifesting a 'Cursing Eye.'
For example, if a Cursing Eye appears on his eyes, palms, abdomen, forehead, or elsewhere, he can still apply his 'Amor to control people.
This way, he combines his combat prowess.
Zommari's former flaw: if he used Resurrección, he'd be rooted in place like a turret, losing mobility. If he didn't, he couldn't use his control ability.
As the fastest Sonido user among the Espada, his Resurrección actually conflicted with his basic strength.
Now, with partial Resurrección, he's successfully combined his normal-state speed with control after Resurrección.
This is why, after learning Byakuya's information, he stayed behind to confront him.
Those whose brains he controls can even use their own abilities!
However, the will cannot break through the body's limits. Rukia is severely injured, so using Absolute Zero is already her limit.
She cannot use Hollowfication or bankai, because her soul cannot temporarily bear that power.
Of course, he could have her use Hollowfication instead of Absolute Zero, but only one of these two body-burdening abilities at a time.
Facing Rukia wielding Absolute Zero, Byakuya grew tense.
Dealing with Zommari without harming Rukia was no simple matter.
He disappeared suddenly, reappearing behind Zommari. After he swung his Zanpakuto, he found only an afterimage.
Rukia instantly stabbed backward, aiming at Byakuya, but he too vanished before the blade could reach him.
Zommari reappeared next to Rukia. Looking at the frowning Byakuya, he said,
"I told you, even if you use all your strength, you won't catch me. On the contrary…"
"You will be caught by me!"
These words sounded directly behind Kuchiki Byakuya!
Byakuya's pupils widened—at that instant, a blade pierced him from behind. Another Zommari appeared and stabbed his chest!
Byakuya's face twisted in pain, but in the next moment, he vanished—!
Zommari was greatly surprised. The Byakuya before him suddenly turned into a haori at that moment—Byakuya himself vanished into the white haori!
"…I seem to remember this move." Zommari frowned, looking to his left—there, Byakuya had already reappeared.
"This is a special footwork of the Onmitsukidō, isn't it? Even knowing about it, its effect is still surprising."
"Onmitsukidō, Third Form: Utsusemi," Byakuya calmly introduced.
"Was Aizen Sōsuke the one who told you about this secret?"
"It was Yoshio," Zommari replied darkly. "We have all the intelligence on your Gotei 13 at our fingertips.
Put down your arrogance and pride. Submit to me… submit to Yoshio's control, because I see no possibility of you winning."
"I see. Let me ask you, then," Byakuya said, "your name."
"Zommari Rureaux. To ask such a question, you must realize you are not my opponent."
"I just thought your foolish performance deserved a laugh," Byakuya replied softly.
"And to reciprocate your comedy, I should at least know your name. Nothing more."
Mocked repeatedly by Byakuya, Zommari could no longer stay calm. His expression darkened.
"Hmph, the so-called Five Great Noble Families only know how to use their tongues. How disappointing.
I know your trump card is Bankai. Use it! I will crush every one of your attacks.
Because I am fully aware of your Bankai's abilities."
He watched Byakuya's movements disdainfully.
"Whether it's Senkei, Gōkei, or even Shūkei, I have a way to break them!"
Just as Zommari said this, Byakuya released his grip, letting Senbonzakura fall to the ground.
As Senbonzakura sank away, thousands of cherry blossoms danced around him.
"Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
Byakuya's soft words filled the world with countless swirling cherry blossoms—but Zommari's body vanished among them!
When he reappeared, he was already right beside Byakuya.
He swung his Zanpakuto; Byakuya retreated swiftly, but his uniform was cut, his flesh scratched and blood flowing.
Zommari still had one hand behind his back, the other wielding his Zanpakuto.
"When you use Bankai, most would think such power is immense and retreat to observe. But I know your Senbonzakura has a weakness."
Byakuya frowned, covering his chest.
"Interesting. I've told no one about that. Did Yoshio tell you too?"
"You underestimate him," Zommari replied. "In quick wit, Yoshio is unique. He can see through an enemy's weakness at a glance.
Even if you say nothing, if Yoshio has seen it, he knows your flaws.
Your Senbonzakura is fierce, but it also has a 'Hurtless Area'—the safest distance for control, because controlling countless blades always brings some delay.
If you stay beyond this distance, you control Senbonzakura freely. If you're too close, you risk harming yourself."
Knowing this, Zommari rushed directly at Byakuya as soon as he used Bankai, forcing him to hesitate.
Byakuya's mind stirred, and countless cherry blossoms surged toward Zommari—yet his body vanished again!
His Sonido was the best among the Espada.
Though Senbonzakura's onslaught was fierce, it couldn't even catch his shadow!
Seeing this, Byakuya frowned and raised his hand.
If he controlled Senbonzakura with his hand, its speed would double!
Indeed, as Byakuya guided it by hand, Zommari felt pressure. He kept flashing toward Byakuya, but Byakuya's speed was also remarkable.
The earlier surprise attack failed; now that Byakuya was prepared, it was even harder to land a hit.
As the cherry blossoms drew closer, Zommari's mind raced—the next moment, Rukia rushed forward, seemingly to block the cherry blossoms for Zommari!
Seeing Rukia, Byakuya immediately dispersed the petals. The torrent instantly split, diverting around both Zommari and Rukia!
Rukia had a strange pattern on her head, and with her lifeless eyes, she appeared even more haunting.
She swung her Zanpakuto, instantly forming a frozen wall in the petal river, then shattered it, letting herself and Zommari escape.
Then Rukia attacked Byakuya again. Though slower than him, she could restrict Byakuya's movement for Zommari!
To outsiders, their battle looked fantastical: vanishing and reappearing in bursts.
At one moment, it seemed Byakuya had pierced Zommari—but it was just an afterimage. Then Zommari would counterattack, but that too was an afterimage.
Both would disappear, then instantly reappear elsewhere.
This dizzying cycle continued—impossible to follow!
But although the process was unclear, the outcome became evident.
Finally, both reappeared on the ground, standing in their original positions.
Zommari appeared to pray, while Byakuya, though wounded, remained expressionless.
"…Should I admire you?" Zommari sneered. "You're clearly not lightly injured, yet your face hasn't changed.
Still that arrogant face—it's really…"
He paused, searching for the word, finally showing anger.
"Intolerable!"
He strode forward.
"Originally, I wanted your sister to kill you with her own hands. But now… it seems I should do it myself.
You'll die by the hands of a Hollow you despise, and Rukia Kuchiki will freeze you forever in that moment of shame."
He walked past Rukia toward Byakuya.
"I don't believe stating facts is arrogance," Byakuya said calmly, as if he were not the one cornered.
"The reason you think that is simply… because your understanding of the world is too limited."
"What?" Zommari frowned, about to demand an explanation—when suddenly, his expression changed.
A blade pierced through his body from behind!
What?!
Zommari's face twisted. He clutched his chest, pressing against the blade embedded in him.
He hadn't expected Rukia Kuchiki to 'betray' him. He had no time to react to the stab.
"You call your domination 'Amor.'"
Rukia's voice came from behind, her head tilted, the curse mark still clear.
"Then, can a dead person feel love?"
?!
Zommari's pupils shrank.
"You mean…"
"You should have realized this the moment Rukia used Absolute Zero," Byakuya said calmly.
"You claimed to have all our Shinigami intelligence. Then you know Rukia's Absolute Zero is a forbidden technique that sacrifices her own life.
Things without life cannot feel love, and thus are immune to your domination.
The so-called Absolute Zero freezes all of one's own functions—even your domination is no exception.
You said Yoshio gave you all the Shinigami intelligence, but you must have only skimmed the surface, understanding weaknesses without truly analyzing them.
That's why I said the gap between us is too vast. Comparing yourself to a Shinigami is still too early for you."
Byakuya walked forward.
"You can only see the world in front of you, and cannot comprehend its deeper meaning. That's why I said from the beginning that you are too arrogant."
"Kuchiki…"
In the end, it was unclear whether Zommari meant Byakuya or Rukia. The distortion on his face faded and his power vanished.
Zommari, so recently dominant, died in an instant.
The moment he died, the mark on Rukia's head disappeared. Without domination, Rukia instantly collapsed.
Before she could fall, Byakuya caught her, while Zommari crashed to the ground, Sode no Shirayuki still impaled in him.
When Zommari had Rukia use Absolute Zero, Byakuya knew she had returned to normal.
But at that time, she didn't have the angle for a sneak attack. Only when Zommari fully let his guard down could she strike the fatal blow.
Thus, Byakuya deliberately let Zommari corner him. When Zommari thought he had won, Rukia would deliver the killing strike.
Their cooperation, though first-time, was extraordinary.
Zommari, with partial Resurrección, gained both Sonido speed and domination—but lost the 'health' and 'defense' of full Resurrección.
Had he been in Resurrección, Rukia's sword would not have killed him. But in his normal state, he was pierced by Absolute Zero, cold filling his body, unable even to use Resurrección to recover!
"Captain Kuchiki!"
At that moment, Isane Kotetsu ran over.
"Let me heal Miss Kuchiki!"
Byakuya nodded, about to check on the others, when suddenly—a huge tremor shook the ground!
Isane's eyes widened. A monstrous, towering Arrancar approached, each step making the earth tremble.
"Zommari, that trash, failed so easily."
Yammy, giant-like, looked at Zommari's corpse.
"Forget it, I'm hungry anyway."
Yammy opened his mouth, unleashing suction, pulling Zommari's body toward him before biting down—crushing him in one bite!
"Hmm… A bit trashy, but not bad."
He chewed, then said,
"All right, time to get to work. Are you the little guy who took down Zommari?"
He looked at Byakuya, who stared back.
Yammy's arm bore the giant number 9—the Ninth Espada.
The Espada are ranked by strength, so the Ninth should be the weakest. Yet, why…
Byakuya frowned. He felt a powerful, strange spiritual pressure from Yammy—not truly strong, but not weak either.
And Yammy called Zommari, the Seventh, trash. Could it be… there was something unusual about this Ninth Espada?
"Not speaking?" Yammy said, disappointed. "Forget it, I'll just step on you, you little bug."
Yammy, who had been barely over two meters tall, now stood seven or eight meters, his spiritual pressure undiminished.
He lifted his massive foot, stomping down toward Byakuya!
Byakuya instantly vanished with Isane and Rukia, reappearing far away. After putting down the still-shaken Isane, he simply said,
"Watch over Rukia,"
before returning to face Yammy.
"Oh? I thought you'd run away. I didn't expect you'd dare come back!" Yammy sneered.
"You're merely an Arrancar of this level. Don't be conceited," Byakuya said, facing Yammy's giant figure.
Though huge, he was not a difficult enemy.
Then… let's end this quickly.
…