"You are strong."
A loud and theatrical voice suddenly echoed beside Zaraki Kenpachi.
"Allow me to present a magnificent battle for the audience!"
A burly figure appeared not far away.
He wore a flamboyant mask decorated with a red Quincy star, a bow tie fastened neatly at his neck, and a golden championship belt around his waist. His posture was exaggerated, almost like that of a performer stepping onto a stage.
"Oh! The Superstar has arrived!"
From the distance, a short, round bald man wearing glasses raised both arms and cheered enthusiastically.
Kenpachi tilted his head slightly.
"…Huh?"
He looked at the newcomer.
"Who are you?"
The man proudly placed his hands on his hips.
"You ask who I am?"
"Very well! Listen carefully! I am Mask de"
Before he could finish
Kenpachi had already moved.
Afterimages flashed.
His blade came down in a brutal arc.
"I don't care who you are."
"Just die."
The sword struck Mask de Masculine's shoulder directly.
But
There was no blood.
No wound.
Mask stared at him angrily.
"It is customary in wrestling to let your opponent introduce himself!"
"Why did you attack me?!"
"This is a fight," Kenpachi replied flatly.
He raised his sword again and swung.
Mask's fist shot forward first.
BOOM.
Kenpachi was blasted away like a cannonball, crashing into the distant dunes.
His sword carved a trench through the sand before stopping.
Mask snorted.
"Opponents who don't follow the rules must be punished."
He suddenly raised his voice.
"James! What are you doing?!"
The short man instantly reappeared, producing a small hammer and striking a golden bell.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A clear ringing sound echoed across the battlefield.
"Go, Superstar!"
"Win the match!"
Mask raised both arms proudly, basking in invisible cheers.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
Suddenly
Slash.
A blade flashed.
James' body split cleanly in half.
Kenpachi stood behind him, blood running down his forehead.
"Too noisy."
He shook his sword, scattering blood across the sand.
"You're strong."
A feral grin spread across his face.
His eyepatch had already been removed, releasing the overwhelming Reiatsu he usually suppressed.
Mask's expression twisted with grief.
"You… attacked the audience?!"
Kenpachi blinked.
"What are you talking about?"
Mask clenched his fists.
"Anyone who harms my fans… must die!"
"Kill me?" Kenpachi laughed.
He leapt forward, sword raised high.
His increased Reiatsu made every swing heavier and more destructive.
But Mask spun around and kicked him mid-charge.
BOOM.
Kenpachi was launched across the battlefield again.
"Star Kick!"
Behind Mask, the severed halves of James suddenly split into two smaller versions.
They began chanting excitedly.
"Mask! Mask!"
Mask smiled proudly.
"Thank you for your support."
"I feel even stronger now!"
At that exact moment
Kenpachi appeared above him.
He gripped his sword with both hands.
"I told you…"
"You're annoying."
BOOM.
The blade cleaved across Mask's chest.
Blood sprayed as Mask crashed heavily to the ground.
Kenpachi landed, breathing roughly.
"When I fight seriously… I use both hands."
The two miniature James figures ran to Mask and began crying loudly.
"Don't die, Superstar!"
Kenpachi sighed.
"…Still noisy."
He raised his sword toward them.
But before the blade could fall
A hand caught it.
"I said…"
"Don't hurt the audience."
Mask's fist slammed into Kenpachi's chest.
CRACK.
Kenpachi's ribs caved inward as he was smashed into the ground, coughing blood violently.
Mask now stood transformed.
A glowing Quincy halo shaped like a five-pointed star hovered behind his head.
Spiritual wings extended from his back.
His entire body radiated explosive power.
This was his Vollständig.
Even someone as monstrous as Kenpachi felt the difference instantly.
Mask de Masculine's strength had once overwhelmed captains like Kensei Mugurumaand Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi.
Against Kenpachi, the battle would be far more brutal.
Mask stepped forward slowly.
"Harming the audience is unforgivable."
He raised his arm.
"Star Punch!"
Elsewhere
"Captain Kuchiki… we won."
Renji Abarai exhaled as he looked at the massive sphere formed by Senbonzakura's blades.
"Let's go support the others."
Byakuya Kuchiki nodded and prepared to disperse the petals.
But suddenly
The sphere exploded apart.
A pillar of light shot into the sky.
A massive Quincy star formed overhead.
When the radiance faded
A towering figure more than ten meters tall stood before them.
It had a grotesque halo of multiple spiked rings behind its head.
Blood streamed constantly from beneath its eyes.
Its torso was partially exposed like a stitched corpse.
Two enormous thorn-like reishi wings extended from its back.
Around them
Countless eyes appeared.
They formed a suffocating wall that trapped Byakuya and Renji inside.
It was the complete Vollständig form of Äs Nödt Tatarforas.
"What… is this…?"
Renji felt terror claw into his heart.
Even his Bankai earlier had struggled.
Now the pressure was overwhelming.
Byakuya swung his blade.
"Scatter… Senbonzakura."
The petals surged forward
Then stopped midair.
Byakuya suddenly fell to his knees.
His eyes widened in shock.
"Captain!"
Renji tried to rush to him
But fear exploded inside his mind.
The world twisted into a vision of endless hell.
"Aaaaah!"
He screamed in agony.
Äs Nödt's distorted laughter echoed everywhere.
"You will be consumed by fear."
"From within… little by little…"
"Until your soul burns away."
Invisible flames seemed to spread through their spirits.
Both Shinigami felt themselves sinking deeper into despair.
And far away
Another terrifying Reiatsu began to rise.
The battlefield was about to enter an even more brutal phase.
Somewhere within that storm
Kurotsuki Renya finally began to move.
this book is officially COMPLETE.
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