Naraku Sora opened his palm. Pitch-black Reiatsu writhed rapidly at his fingertips, lingering like a living creature before swiftly merging into his steel-like body.
At this very moment, every inch of his flesh and blood was undergoing a transformation.
Countless muscle fibers within his body pulsed erratically, growing increasingly resilient as more of the growth concentrated within his bones.
Accompanied by a sharp, grinding sound like metal scraping against metal, ink-like circular patterns covered his chest, extending outward toward his limbs with sharp, angular edges.
Faint cracking sounds echoed from deep within his body, escalating into a series of scalp-numbing pops and explosions.
Naraku Sora stretched his arms, fully savoring the surging power coursing through his body. His muscle fibers frantically restructured themselves, and his Reiatsu surged and crashed like tidal waves, distorting the very air around him.
Visible ripples scattered through the surroundings, causing his figure to blur.
Watching this scene unfold, Yamamoto couldn't help but widen his eyes. His expression grew complicated, and an indescribable urge welled up in his heart.
*This damn brat... in less than a hundred years, he actually finished the path that took me over a millennium to walk?*
Even though most of Naraku Sora's skills were learned from him, seeing his disciple achieve such heights should have brought him some comfort.
He should have been having thoughts like, *'My rebellious disciple can finally graduate, my hard work wasn't in vain, the younger generation can finally stand on their own.'*
But at this moment, Yamamoto was actually feeling a bit of panic.
Back when this brat wasn't even this strong, he dared to slaughter nobles and brazenly challenge the laws of the Soul Society. He even took the opportunity to massacre Central 46, the symbol of their highest judicial authority.
He had finally managed to get a little stronger himself, thinking he could properly suppress the boy and take him down a peg.
Yet in the blink of an eye, the gap between them had drastically shrunk once again.
Now that this brat had grown even stronger, Yamamoto didn't even dare to imagine what kind of earth-shattering atrocities he might commit.
What held a higher status than Central 46 and the Five Noble Families?
The answer was self-evident.
Yamamoto subconsciously held his breath, secretly raising his guard.
*Before this foolish disciple makes a catastrophic mistake, should I take this chance to beat him up and ruthlessly put him in his place?*
Just as the old man was pondering what excuse would be appropriate...
Outside the prison cell, Naraku Sora reveled in the beauty of his power breakthrough. He grinned fiercely and began to maniacally chant:
"Hehehe, through my relentless efforts, my Reiatsu has surged, multiplied, and tyrannically expanded! I am now invincible in this world!"
"Old Man Yama, the tables have turned!"
"I will humiliate the entire world with my own two hands!"
Yamamoto took a deep breath, his blood pressure uncontrollably skyrocketing.
Gripping the iron bars with both hands, he released his Reiatsu. The sturdy metal instantly began to melt, dripping onto the floor below.
In the blink of an eye, a man-sized opening appeared before him.
Leaning on his cane, the old man stepped out of the cell.
Terrifying heat permeated the air, leaving two trails of scorch marks on the ground.
The old man and the young man locked eyes, both seeing the blazing will to fight in each other's gaze.
Without a single word of nonsense, the two walked outside side by side.
Because he had used a trick, the reward for suppressing Yamamoto this time was only fifty percent.
But that wasn't a big deal.
He had now reached the absolute limits of a Soul Reaper. Coupled with his ultimate, perfect Hollowfication, he could even put up a fight against a Transcendent.
*This time, I'm definitely going to beat Old Man Yama into the ground!*
As if fantasizing about something wonderful, a genuine smile appeared on Naraku Sora's face.
Seeing Naraku Sora smiling so happily beside him, Yamamoto couldn't help but coldly snort. He didn't need to be a genius to know what kind of rebellious thoughts were running through the brat's head.
*You muscle-brained, reckless, rebellious disciple... you're a few thousand years too early to think about usurping your master!*
Soon, the two left Las Noches and found a scenic desert stone forest.
Blazing Reiatsu erupted instantly. Yamamoto looked like a god of fire from ancient myths; air currents raged around him as a towering pillar of fire shot straight into the clouds, accompanied by roaring, turbulent waves of heat.
The violent Reiatsu dyed the sky golden-red, making it look like an inverted sea of fire.
On the other side, Naraku Sora refused to be outdone. His brand-new, vast Reiatsu erupted like a collapsing sky, transforming into a pitch-black tide that blotted out the sun.
It clashed and contrasted with the golden-red above Yamamoto, creating a truly spectacular scene.
"Heh, let me see just how invincible you really are."
In the desert.
Bulging veins popped on Yamamoto's thick arms, his knotted muscles displaying terrifying power, every single hideous blood vessel clearly visible.
Wrapped in a wave of heat, his hammer-like fist launched a booming straight punch directly at Naraku Sora.
An indescribable scorching heat filled the air, the dry atmosphere feeling as if it could ignite one's very organs.
The next second.
A tornado of flames, several times more violent than ever before, roared outward. The ground shattered, and the deafening boom sounded like divine punishment as an apocalyptic scene swept across the landscape.
Even from within Las Noches, one could see the raging flames piercing the sky.
On the roof of the palace.
Baraggan sat on the throne he had moved back from Naraku Sora's room, gazing into the distance. A hint of melancholy appeared on his aged face.
Many years ago, he had styled himself as the master of Las Noches, the sole dictator of Hueco Mundo, a great existence akin to a god.
Even Ikomikidomoe, an ancient Hollow like himself, had been forced to leave Hueco Mundo and flee to another world.
His empty reign had lasted for an unknown amount of time.
Until two Soul Reapers arrived at Las Noches, one of whom was named Naraku Sora.
To maintain his status and prove the might of the King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan arrogantly accepted the man's challenge. The final result, however, was an unexpectedly miserable defeat.
Even with Szayelaporro's assistance, he still couldn't reverse his destined loss.
After that battle, realizing his skills were inferior, Baraggan had no choice but to submit. He even had to settle for second place among Naraku Sora's many subordinates.
At first, he was indeed somewhat dissatisfied.
But as he gradually came to understand Naraku Sora better, he shockingly realized that no matter how hard he tried, he could never defeat this monster of a man.
From then on, there was no longer any hope of reclaiming the position of King of Hueco Mundo.
Later on, under the leadership of Naraku Sora and Aizen, Las Noches flourished, displaying a vitality completely unlike anything during his reign.
It was only then that Baraggan slowly began to accept that the man was far more suited for the throne of Hueco Mundo than he was.
Coupled with the fact that Naraku Sora would occasionally bring back novel gifts from the Soul Society that he had never seen before, Baraggan genuinely came to acknowledge him from the bottom of his heart.
Gazing at the two distinct colors clashing on the horizon, Baraggan's eyes grew somewhat dazed.
*How long has it even been? Great King Naraku has actually grown stronger again.*
*A Reiatsu of this magnitude is no weaker than Yamamoto Shigekuni's when I first saw him.*
*The younger generation is truly fearsome.*
*Speaking of which, is it too late for me to move the throne back now?*
As Hueco Mundo's number one scientist, Szayelaporro had prepared various instruments and equipment the moment their Reiatsu erupted, beginning to observe the relevant data.
Because his Gabriel technique was completed under Naraku Sora's inspiration, he held his Great King in the highest esteem.
Despite the temporary setback during the Hollowfication experiment earlier, Szayelaporro firmly believed that Great King Naraku would definitely regain his honor and humiliate Yamamoto Shigekuni.
He just hadn't expected this day to come so quickly.
"Are they evenly matched?"
Szayelaporro glanced at the numbers on the equipment screen and frowned.
"No, Head Captain Yamamoto is still slightly stronger."
Urahara Kisuke's somewhat muffled voice came from the side. "Looking at the scale of his Reiatsu, Lord Naraku is still within the realm of a Soul Reaper."
"But Head Captain Yamamoto has already broken past those boundaries."
Szayelaporro turned his head, only to see Urahara Kisuke holding a slice of watermelon from who knows where, chewing on it in large bites, looking exactly like someone enjoying a good show.
Toward the boss who frequently exploited and squeezed him dry, Urahara had always harbored a desire to see him eliminated.
Wherever there was a chance for Naraku Sora to suffer misfortune, Urahara Kisuke would definitely be there to cheer it on.
"Want a piece?"
Kisuke offered the plate of watermelon.
Szayelaporro repeatedly waved his hands in refusal, simultaneously and discreetly putting some distance between himself and the death-courting fool, just in case Urahara Kisuke's blood ended up splattering onto him.
Between heaven and earth, the tornadoes howled and the walls of flame closed in. The desert ground groaned under the overwhelming pressure, as countless dense, intersecting fissures appeared.
Without even using Ryūjin Jakka, Yamamoto had unleashed this signature technique using only his iron fists.
Taimatsu!
Watching the flaming tornadoes roaring toward him and feeling the scorching heat surging through his nasal cavity...
Naraku Sora's will to fight reached an unprecedented high.
Hollowfication!
His Reiatsu solidified, and the circular, pitch-black patterns expanded from his chest, clinging to his torso and arms.
He grinned, erupting his Reiatsu to its absolute limit. His pupils suddenly turned golden, and a heavy, oppressive aura abruptly permeated the air.
Exquisite force-generating techniques merged into one, displaying themselves before Yamamoto like a dazzling exhibition of skill.
His bones shifted and his muscles surged, sounding like hard metals forcefully grinding against one another. A scorching wave of heat violently erupted, akin to a volcano erupting after countless years of dormancy.
Clenching his five fingers tightly, he pulled his right arm back, facing the destruction-filled Taimatsu head-on.
And threw a punch!
*Oooom—*
Up in the sky, golden-red and pitch-black erupted, transforming into visible circular shockwaves.
The world seemed to have been put on pause; everything froze in place.
The next second.
*BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!!*
A sky-piercing explosion formed an all-encompassing mushroom cloud. The heatwave turned into layers of rings, expanding in all directions.
The moment it touched the densely packed peaks and stone forests nearby, it completely erased them from existence.
Waves of dust filled the sky, sweeping wildly and instantly enveloping the entire battlefield!
Just as the Hollows marveled at this exaggerated scene, two figures with equally terrifying auras crashed into each other like meteors.
Fists collided, erupting with the dull, heavy sound of clashing steel.
With the two at the center, the desert as far as the eye could see completely fractured under the terrifying impact.
Countless massive pillars of sand shot into the sky, turning into a sun-blotting wave of dust that connected with the boundless night sky, looking exactly like the descent of the apocalypse.
Even from within Las Noches, the Arrancars could still feel the shockwaves of the aftermath.
The battle between the old man and the young man once again refreshed their understanding of what constituted a truly powerful existence.
When the Reiatsu that had covered thousands of kilometers dissipated, the dust and sand permeating the battlefield gradually settled, revealing a battlefield that now resembled a massive basin.
It looked as if it had been struck by a giant meteorite. Viewed from above, a colossal crater sat upon the boundless desert, forming a unique landscape.
Despite being covered in blood and grime, Yamamoto's figure remained tall and straight.
He reached up and wiped his face, deactivating his bone-white mask, and cast a somewhat complicated look at Naraku Sora, who was lying in the deep crater.
Just as he was about to speak, he remembered something and immediately gave a cold snort.
"You dare call yourself invincible with just this level of skill?"
"Heh, nothing special!"