"You are Kenpachi Zaraki, correct?"
A tall Quincy stepped forward.
"You are listed among the five Special War Powers. Lord Yhwach himself ordered that I face you."
The man had slicked-back blond curls, dark skin, and a broad, imposing frame.
Before Kenpachi could respond, another voice interrupted.
"Berenice… you can't handle him alone."
A thin young man appeared beside the first, wearing a neatly tied necktie and dark rings beneath his eyes.
Berenice frowned.
"Tch. I can deal with him myself."
"Don't underestimate him," the newcomer said calmly.
"This man was personally designated by His Majesty."
Then a third figure appeared.
He possessed a strange eye embedded in the center of his forehead.
"Hmph," Berenice said.
"Then whoever kills him first claims the prize."
Without warning, Berenice opened his mouth and released a deafening roar.
Invisible sound waves blasted forward.
Kenpachi Zaraki was hurled backward but only for a moment.
He stopped mid-slide, digging his feet into the sand.
"…Huh."
He rubbed one ear.
"Can't hear so well now."
At that moment Berenice's body expanded, transforming into a monstrous ape-like form.
He lunged forward.
Kenpachi grinned widely.
"Now that looks interesting."
His Zanpakutō slid free from its sheath.
Berenice charged
But before the attack landed
Kenpachi swung once.
A single slash pierced straight through Berenice's chest.
The Quincy froze.
Then collapsed.
Kenpachi casually let the corpse slide off his blade.
The second Quincy began to speak.
"My ability is 'The Question.' I can"
Before he could finish
Kenpachi's sword pierced his throat.
The man died instantly.
The third Quincy stared in shock.
"…Impossible."
His power activated.
His body shifted, transforming into the exact appearance of Kenpachi Zaraki.
But Kenpachi had already moved.
One horizontal slash.
The impostor split cleanly in half.
Three Sternritter killed in seconds.
"…Incredible."
Watching from afar, Shunsui Kyōraku whistled softly.
But his moment of admiration ended abruptly.
A figure appeared behind him.
A gun pressed against his temple.
Boom.
A Quincy reishi bullet fired.
Kyōraku stepped lightly aside, dodging the attack.
The shot struck the ground and exploded violently.
"…My, my."
Kyōraku sighed.
"You Quincy are quite rude."
Across the battlefield
Renji Abarai was panting heavily.
Sweat dripped from his face.
"Why…?"
"I hit him… but it didn't do anything."
Standing before him was the Sternritter known as Äs Nödt.
"It's useless," Äs Nödt said calmly.
"You cannot harm me."
He vanished.
Then appeared directly beside Renji.
Renji swung immediately.
His blade struck Äs Nödt's shoulder.
But the Quincy remained unharmed.
Then his claws slashed outward.
Blood sprayed from Renji's chest.
Renji retreated quickly.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
Äs Nödt disappeared again.
He reappeared within arm's reach.
His hand reached for Renji's face.
But suddenly
He stopped.
A powerful Reiatsu filled the air.
Äs Nödt stepped back.
A figure appeared beside Renji.
"Captain…"
Renji breathed in relief.
Standing there was Byakuya Kuchiki.
"Leave this opponent to me."
Renji nodded quickly.
"Be careful. My attacks couldn't hurt him at all."
Äs Nödt smiled faintly.
"Of course they couldn't."
"This is Blut Vene the Quincy defensive technique."
"Your attacks cannot penetrate it."
Byakuya drew his sword slowly.
"Is that so?"
He raised the blade.
"Scatter… Senbonzakura."
The sword dissolved into thousands of shimmering petals.
They rushed forward.
Äs Nödt lifted his hand
But instantly
Blood splattered from his arm.
"…Impossible."
"It cut through my Blut Vene."
Äs Nödt's expression changed.
He raised his hand.
Reishi arrows formed around him.
They fired toward Byakuya.
Senbonzakura formed a defensive wall
But the arrows passed straight through the petals.
Byakuya stepped aside to evade them.
"…Strange."
"Why couldn't they be blocked?"
Äs Nödt smiled.
"These arrows cannot be stopped physically."
"They strike directly at the mind."
All the arrows fired at once.
Some Byakuya dodged.
Others struck him.
But he felt no immediate damage.
"…Nothing happened."
Äs Nödt chuckled.
"Just wait."
"I don't wait for enemies during battle."
Byakuya swung his blade again.
The petals surged forward.
But suddenly
Äs Nödt's form changed.
He became Rukia Kuchiki.
Byakuya instinctively halted the attack.
Rukia's face twisted
Transforming into a skeletal horror.
A wave of fear surged through Byakuya's heart.
He stepped back.
Slash.
Äs Nödt cut across his chest.
Blood sprayed.
"What… is this ability?"
"Fear," Äs Nödt whispered.
"My power is fear itself."
"Everything within your heart will become terror."
Suddenly Byakuya saw his own body dissolving into swarms of moths, crawling across his skin.
He swung his sword wildly.
But nothing was there.
Äs Nödt appeared behind him.
Slash.
Another wound opened across Byakuya's back.
"Escape is impossible."
"Before fear consumes you…"
Byakuya tightened his grip.
"…I will destroy you."
He thrust his Zanpakutō into the ground.
"Bankai… Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
Gigantic blades rose from the ground and dissolved into countless petals, forming a massive storm.
Äs Nödt raised a Bankai Medallion.
Instantly
The Bankai vanished.
Byakuya's sword reverted to its sealed form.
Above Äs Nödt, the stolen petals appeared under his control.
But at that moment
Byakuya calmly swallowed a small black pill.
In an instant
His Bankai returned.
A white mask-like pattern appeared across part of his face as the Hollowfied energy stabilized the Bankai restoration.
The petals collapsed inward, forming a massive sphere around Äs Nödt.
"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi…"
Byakuya spoke quietly.
"…it's over."
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