Fate In Bleach (494)

Chapter 494 - Respective Battles

"Renji!"

Hearing Renji Abarai's agonized cry, Byakuya Kuchiki felt a jolt of alarm and turned to look.

He saw Renji kneeling on the ground, the majority of his body covered by spiritual pressure resembling black insects.

Byakuya could foresee that once his Vice-Captain, Renji Abarai, was completely enveloped by this insect-like black spiritual pressure, it would likely signify Renji's demise.

Instantly, Byakuya Kuchiki waved his hand, and countless sakura-colored blades surged towards Äs Nödt.

After Renji had been consumed by the fear induced by Äs Nödt, the Zabimaru binding Äs Nödt had naturally loosened, no longer posing a threat.

Thus, facing Byakuya Kuchiki's attack, the blue patterns on Äs Nödt's body faintly shifted.

Blut Vene Arterie!

This was the counterpart to Blut Vene Anhaben. If Blut Vene Anhaben was the Quincy's ultimate defense, then Blut Vene Arterie was their ultimate offense.

Boom!

Äs Nödt's figure flashed, evading Byakuya Kuchiki's direct attack.

Subsequently, blue ice thorns materialized around Äs Nödt, transforming into streaks of ice that shot towards Byakuya.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang...

Before Byakuya Kuchiki, sakura-colored barriers formed by Senbonzakura were struck by the blue ice thorns. Large swathes of the pink blades were corroded by the fear-inducing spiritual pressure, but were quickly shredded by more incoming sakura blades.

"This fellow's attacks are several times stronger than before!"

Byakuya Kuchiki was inwardly startled. When his own spiritual pressure had quickly annihilated Äs Nödt's earlier, he had guessed that Äs Nödt's previous superior defense was likely some kind of state or technique.

And now, Äs Nödt's attacks could rival his previous defense.

Did that also mean that Äs Nödt was currently in some special state or using some powerful technique?

With a wave of his left hand, even more Senbonzakura blades spiraled towards Äs Nödt like a vortex.

Swish swish swish...

Although Äs Nödt tried his best to evade, some Senbonzakura blades still caught up, inflicting several wounds upon him.

Then, just as he was about to be engulfed by countless sakura blades, the blue patterns on Äs Nödt's body changed again, seemingly reverting to the state he was in when bound by Zabimaru.

Boom!

A massive quantity of sakura blades formed a sphere three meters in radius, billions of pink blades rotating within, furiously attacking Äs Nödt.

Byakuya Kuchiki frowned slightly.

Although Äs Nödt was currently surrounded and attacked by his Senbonzakura, Byakuya could still sense that his attacks, aside from the initial few blades, were no longer inflicting any significant damage.

With a thought, the Senbonzakura blades enveloping Äs Nödt dispersed, revealing his figure.

Byakuya Kuchiki focused his gaze and saw that Äs Nödt, apart from a few minor wounds on his face, was largely unharmed elsewhere.

"As expected..."

At this point, Byakuya Kuchiki understood Äs Nödt's state.

"Quincy, although I don't know how you do it, from our previous exchange, it seems the posture that defends against my attacks and the one that greatly enhances your attacks cannot be maintained simultaneously."

"Indeed."

Äs Nödt was not surprised that Byakuya Kuchiki had seen through the weakness of Blut Vene.

Although he wasn't a Quincy who had fought Shinigami a thousand years ago, having only received His Majesty Yhwach's blood in the recent nine years and awakened the power of the Schrift "F" - "The Fear," becoming a member of the Sternritter...

Äs Nödt had learned from other senior Quincy about the strength of the Shinigami captains.

The Sternritter was the force His Majesty Yhwach had assembled to contend with the Gotei Thirteen captains. But even His Majesty Yhwach himself held a pessimistic view regarding their ability to defeat the captains.

Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn't have, after creating "Blut Vene" and perfecting the Quincy's final form, Vollständig, also given them the "Star Medallions" capable of stealing the Shinigami captains' Bankai.

"However, even if you know the weakness of my technique, what can you do?"

"Do you dare to use your Bankai?" Äs Nödt stated, word by word.

The message spread by Akon, the Third Seat of Squad Twelve, using Tenteikūra had been heard throughout the Seireitei.

Although such news made it difficult for the Quincy to steal the Shinigami captains' Bankai, it also, in a way, completely sealed the Shinigami's Bankai.

Now, only one path lay before Byakuya Kuchiki.

To remain deadlocked with Äs Nödt, just like now.

Senbonzakura's Shikai couldn't break Äs Nödt's defense, and Äs Nödt, under Byakuya's attack, didn't dare deactivate Blut Vene Anhaben, lest he truly be killed by Byakuya.

In Äs Nödt's view, Byakuya Kuchiki could only break his Blut Vene Anhaben by using Bankai.

A Byakuya Kuchiki without Bankai posed no threat to him.

"Indeed, without Teacher Ailin's targeted training, our battle might have proceeded just as you described."

"However-"

Sakura-colored spiritual pressure erupted from Byakuya Kuchiki's body.

The hilt of Senbonzakura, held in Byakuya's hand, seemed like a spring under this immense spiritual pressure, spewing forth countless pink blades.

In just a few breaths, the number of Senbonzakura blades swirling around Byakuya surpassed even the quantity from his previous Bankai release.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

These billions of sakura blades caused Äs Nödt's expression to change drastically upon seeing them.

"How is this possible?"

Äs Nödt couldn't help his shock.

Byakuya Kuchiki's Zanpakutō, Senbonzakura, could transform into countless tiny blades resembling cherry blossom petals.

Because the blades were small, Senbonzakura's attack power was closely related to the number of blades.

The more blades Senbonzakura had, the stronger its power.

With the current number of Senbonzakura blades, its power was in no way inferior to Bankai.

Under these circumstances, if Äs Nödt remained as he was, he would inevitably be killed by Byakuya Kuchiki.

...

Boom!

Boom boom boom boom boom...

Within Squad Seven, Bambietta Basterbine launched spheres of spiritual pressure. Wherever the pressure struck, violent explosions erupted.

In just a few minutes, Squad Seven had lost more than half its members under Bambietta Basterbine's assault.

"Roar, Tenken!"

Following Sajin Komamura's enraged roar, a massive black sword, dozens of meters long, slashed down directly towards Bambietta Basterbine.

Boom!

Boom boom boom boom boom...

Facing Sajin Komamura's attack, Bambietta Basterbine casually threw out a dozen blue spherical projectiles of spiritual pressure. These spheres struck the giant sword, instantly causing a chain of explosions.

"Quincy, even letting a little girl like you become a warrior of slaughter..."

After blocking Bambietta Basterbine's attack, Sajin Komamura looked at Bambietta, who appeared underage, and couldn't help but voice his anger.

The Gotei Thirteen was the armed force of the Seireitei.

They existed solely to protect the Seireitei.

Sajin Komamura was one of the few captains in the Gotei Thirteen who possessed an ordinary person's sense of "justice."

In Komamura's view, battle and slaughter were matters for adults, undertaken with a certain resolve.

Children should be protected.

Sajin Komamura also knew that the war with the Wandenreich Quincy had nothing to do with "justice" or "right and wrong"; it was a "war" born from differing standpoints.

Since it was a "war," children shouldn't be involved.

Bambietta Basterbine's appearance filled Sajin Komamura's heart with dissatisfaction towards the Quincy side.

Unfortunately, Bambietta Basterbine did not understand Sajin Komamura's good intentions.

Rather, she took his words as belittling her.

Immediately, Bambietta Basterbine sneered and responded to Sajin Komamura, "Oh? Has the Soul Society run out of people? Even dogs can become captains of the Gotei Thirteen?"

"Whether the Soul Society lacks people now is not for a little girl like you to comment on."

"True enough. What does it matter how many there are?"

"Under my ability, no matter how many people there are, I'll kill them all!"

Finished speaking, Bambietta let out a sharp cry and kicked out several blue spheres of spiritual pressure towards Sajin Komamura.

"Hah!"

Sajin Komamura swung his sword fiercely. Behind him, the giant sword, dozens of meters long, mirrored his movements, slicing the blue spheres of spiritual pressure in half.

Boom boom boom...

A series of fiery explosions erupted in the air.

Ping—

"How is this possible?"

Cracks appeared on Sajin Komamura's Zanpakutō, shocking him.

"Hahahaha, now you know how strong I am, little doggy."

Amidst the explosions, Bambietta Basterbine placed her hands on her hips and laughed loudly.

"My explosions aren't that simple."

"You thought I fired spiritual pressure with explosive properties? You're gravely mistaken."

"My ability is to turn anything my spiritual pressure hits into a bomb."

"You thought you cut apart my bombs?"

"In reality, you sent your own Zanpakutō right into my spiritual pressure, allowing me to turn your Zanpakutō into a bomb."

"My ability cannot be defended against."

"Now you know how strong I am, little doggy!"

Seeing Sajin Komamura's Zanpakutō cracked by her attack, Bambietta Basterbine gloated.

"Turn anything touched by spiritual pressure into a bomb?"

Sajin Komamura's expression turned grave.

Such an ability was indeed extremely troublesome.

It meant that in battle against her, he couldn't even touch the attacks she launched.

Otherwise, if even a speck of her spiritual pressure adhered to him, he himself would turn into a bomb and explode.

Fortunately, Sajin Komamura's Zanpakutō, due to its extremely close connection with him, could regenerate itself by consuming spiritual pressure when damaged.

However...

Looking at the black cracks on his Zanpakutō, Sajin Komamura didn't know if the speed at which his Zanpakutō regenerated could keep up with the speed at which it was damaged by turning into exploding bombs.

Immediately, Sajin Komamura waved his large hand, addressing the surviving Shinigami squad members behind him from Bambietta Basterbine's previous attack, "I'll hold off this Quincy. Everyone else, retreat first."

"Head towards Squad Four, quickly!"

"Yes, Captain Komamura."

Hearing Sajin Komamura's words, Tetsuzaemon Iba took a deep look at his captain's back and responded loudly.

The current situation was extremely unfavorable for them.

Faced with Bambietta Basterbine's ability, people like them were utterly useless.

Rather than becoming a burden to Captain Komamura here, it was better to quickly leave and not add to his troubles.

Simultaneously, it would allow them to observe which squads had finished their battles, so they could seek reinforcements.

...

Ping!

Ping!

Ping!

In an alleyway within Squad Eight, Shunsui Kyoraku flashed continuously with Shunpo, evading Robert Accutrone's attacks.

"Well now, my affinity with firearms seems rather deep."

While dodging the bullets fired by Robert Accutrone, Shunsui Kyoraku complained.

In the battle between the Seireitei and Las Noches, the enemy Shunsui Kyoraku encountered was the Primera Espada, Coyote Starrk.

After Starrk released his Resurrección, he took the form of a cowboy wielding dual pistols, capable of firing continuous Cero blasts.

Now, in the battle between the Seireitei and the Wandenreich, the enemy Shunsui Kyoraku encountered was Robert Accutrone, who also used modern firearms.

Of course, Shunsui Kyoraku didn't yet know that soon after, he would also have to fight Lille Barro, a member of the Schutzstaffel.

Lille Barro was another powerhouse who used modern weaponry.

Furthermore, it was a "sniper rifle," far stronger than a pistol.

His ability, "The X-Axis" (Everything Piercing), struck fear into the hearts of many powerful foes.

Even Ōetsu Nimaiya of Squad Zero was severely injured by one of his shots.

While the bullets fired from Robert Accutrone's pistol weren't as powerful as the "Cero" fired by Coyote Starrk, Robert Accutrone's attack speed could rival Starrk's "Cero Metralleta."

This forced Shunsui Kyoraku, caught off guard by the initial assault, to rely solely on Shunpo to dodge Robert Accutrone's attacks, unable yet to find an opportunity to counterattack.

"Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar..."

"Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer—Katen Kyōkotsu!"

While being pursued by Robert, Shunsui Kyoraku dodged while softly chanting his Zanpakutō's release command.

"Kageoni!" (Shadow Demon)

After releasing his Zanpakutō, Shunsui Kyoraku instantly merged into his own shadow, then emerged from Robert Accutrone's shadow, slashing down with his blade.