However, before they could even fly close, they felt an astonishing Reiatsu being released from the sky!
Puchi!
A massive amount of black lightning erupted, and that powerful force was even more terrifying than Variant spelling's Conquerors Haki Roar from before!
The Captains who were about to approach couldn't help but raise their hands to block the front, but they still stopped in place, unable to advance further.
And it was this moment of stagnation that allowed Itsumade in the sky to complete his transformation.
His body underwent a truly terrifying change.
The lower half of the giant monstrous bird didn't change much, except it was covered by a dark power, appearing as if a layer of strange black patterns had coated its body.
But the upper half had become incredibly bizarre!
A black monster appeared, as if a black human upper body had been installed on top of the giant bird's head!
At the connection point between the monstrous bird's head and this dark shadow, a massive black Flame Cloud formed, surrounding the giant bird and the shadow, appearing to burn silently.
This dark shadow had no arms, and because it was entirely pitch black, no facial features could be seen, but its eyes were visible!
The monster's eyes were also strange, with ripple-like shapes inside, like a pebble dropped into a pond, radiating circles of ripples.
Higher above the eyes, there was even a crown-like arrangement and structure!
"What—What is this?"
Cold sweat appeared on the Captains' faces, not just because the monster's current shape was too bizarre, but because the Reiatsu it was emitting was too horrifying!
The Gorosei were already monsters before, but compared to this black monster now, they simply weren't on the same level!
Puchi!
Astonishing black lightning erupted, not just on the shadow's body, but spreading across a wider range; the escaping lightning could be seen even dozens of kilometers away!
The Captains looked at this monster they had never seen before, and their hearts were filled with tension.
"Captain Mayuri, have you analyzed it?"
Shunsui gave a bitter smile. "This thing doesn't look like something to be trifled with."
Mayuri didn't reply; he just stared at the black shadow in the sky, incomparably excited.
"Capture him! I must capture him!" Mayuri was so excited he almost joined the battlefield himself, but before the Captains could move, Itsumade had already acted.
Demon Covenant: Domi Reversi!
In an instant, the bodies of many surrounding Shinigami began to sink, as if the ground beneath them was no longer soil but a swamp!
"!"
The Captains didn't expect this guy to directly attack ordinary Shinigami and were immediately shocked, but by the time they looked over, it was already too late.
Many Shinigami sank directly into the 'swamp,' flipping over once during the process of falling.
But they didn't disappear after sinking; instead, they returned after flipping around once.
However, those who returned were completely different from before.
Their bodies were now several sizes larger, their eyes radiated a bloodthirsty and murderous light, terrifying fangs grew from their mouths, and demon wings even sprouted from their backs!
"Hey, what's wrong with you guys?"
Nearby Shinigami who could still move saw their colleagues turning into this one by one and quickly said, "Ah—"
The Demonized Shinigami felt the power within his body and said excitedly, "That's really—I've never felt better."
"Come, let's kill Central 46! Let's become the Kings of Soul Society!"
"You—what are you talking about?"
"Shut up!"
"
He was directly slashed to the ground by a demonized Shinigami, while another demon Shinigami also stepped forward, happening to form a line with the other, sandwiching the Shinigami who hadn't undergone Demonization in the middle.
In the next moment, this Shinigami also sank into the 'swamp,' and when he emerged again, he had also turned into a demonic form!
This was Imu's ability, Demon Covenant!
Itsumade's Schrift is I, and this Schrift has an ability that allows the Gorosei to merge and then evolve on their original basis, giving birth to a brand-new Schrift 'I'.
And his current Schrift is 'Imu'!
The name Imu might seem meaningless, but in One Piece, it represents Saint Imu!
Once the Gorosei merge, they can draw out the power of Imu hidden deep within their bodies!
Yhwach used his own soul to activate Imu's demonic power, thus giving birth to this terrifying monster!
Just like back at God Valley when Imu descended upon Gyūki's body, now it manifested in the form of descending upon Itsumade!
The current Itsumade not only has a massive increase in strength but, most importantly, possesses the most terrifying Immortality and various demonic powers!
In fact, Immortality is also divided into levels.
The lowest level is the demons created under the 'Demon Covenant: Domi Reversi' he is currently using.
This level of Immortality can actually be killed; as long as a particularly powerful force is used, they can be slain.
Next is the Immortality of the members of the Knights of God; they also do not die, but they cannot stop aging.
At this level, Immortality is already very perverted; even a monster of Rocks' caliber cannot break the Immortality of the Divine Knight members.
Then there is the Gorosei-level Immortality; they not only do not die but even have their ages frozen, and the strength of their Immortality is naturally higher.
Going further up, that would be Imu himself.
The Immortality of all these people was bestowed by Imu, so his own strength naturally goes without saying.
"Stop him, quickly!"
At this moment, the Captains saw their subordinates turning into demons one after another, and their hearts were filled with extreme anxiety.
But they also knew that the biggest culprit and the head of the evil was that black bird in the sky!
Only by taking it down could they save the ordinary Shinigami under Demon Covenant!
At this moment, all the Captains launched an attack towards Imu!
Even Ichimaru Gin, who had been slacking off before, took action now!
"Shoot him to death, Shinsō!"
"Carriage of thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Hado 63: Raikōhō!"
"Bankai: Jakuhō Raikōben!"
"Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
"Hado 73: Sōren Sōkatsui!"
"Getsuga Tensho!"
Several Captains launched a combined attack at this moment, their massive power heading straight for Imu in the sky!
Boom!
The Captains' combined attack created a massive explosion, and an astonishing Reiatsu erupted in the sky, even appearing to scatter the clouds at a higher altitude!
☰