"Are you certain this won't go horribly wrong?"
Yamamoto regarded Kazuma with open suspicion.
It wasn't that he distrusted Kazuma.
The idea itself was simply too insane.
They weren't dealing with some ordinary source of power.
Kazuma wanted to draw upon the sun — the celestial body hanging high above the world, radiating seemingly endless heat, light, and energy.
Even the slightest mistake could trigger an unimaginable catastrophe and reduce all of Soul Society to scorched earth in an instant.
"Yama-jii, the danger to you is actually quite small."
Kazuma seemed to misunderstand the source of Yamamoto's hesitation.
"In fact, I'd say there's almost no risk at all."
He assumed the old man was worried the sun's overwhelming heat might burn him to ashes.
"Do you take this old man for some coward afraid of death?"
Yamamoto slammed one palm against the table.
"My concern is not for my own safety! If anything goes wrong, the whole of Soul Society may be destroyed!"
Kazuma finally understood.
Yamamoto had never been afraid of dying. He was hesitating because the survival of Soul Society rested on the outcome.
"Relax, Yama-jii. Nothing will happen."
Kazuma thumped his chest confidently.
"You just have to trust my technique."
Admittedly, what he intended to attempt was little different from dancing barefoot on a blade's edge while reaching into an open fire.
Even so, Kazuma remained confident in his ability.
The power of the Big Dipper within Rukia was already proof that his method worked.
With one successful experiment behind him, he believed he could complete this one as well.
"Very well. I will trust you this once."
After a moment of consideration, Yamamoto finally agreed.
He'd stood at the summit of the Shinigami for far too long. A part of him also wished to see what scenery might exist beyond that peak.
"You mentioned that there would still be some danger to me. Explain."
"When I infused Rukia with star power, she hadn't even learned Shikai yet," Kazuma said. "I had to beat her Zanpakutō spirit into submission before forcing the power inside. Sode no Shirayuki had no choice but to accept it."
"Your situation is different. You mastered Ryūjin Jakka long ago, so it won't actively reject the star power you introduce."
"The only genuine danger comes from the sheer might of the Solar Star."
Kazuma's expression grew serious.
"You'll need to release every bit of your reiatsu and force the two powers to merge."
"In the end, there are only two possible outcomes. Either the Solar Star overwhelms and destroys you…"
"Or you use your own strength to subdue the sun."
After explaining, Kazuma said nothing more. He simply watched Yamamoto and waited for his answer.
Yamamoto rose without the slightest hesitation and walked out of the tea room toward the courtyard.
His actions had already made his decision clear.
Kazuma followed him outside.
"Brat, if this old man fails to endure—"
"Don't say something so discouraging!"
Kazuma cut him off before he could finish.
"Yama-jii, you're invincible in soul society. How could you even consider failure?"
This was a moment that demanded absolute resolve. There could be no retreat, hesitation, or thought of defeat.
Yamamoto paused before a faint, gratified smile appeared on his face.
Kazuma was right.
As Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, how could he speak of losing before the battle had even begun?
Yamamoto drew a deep breath and sharply rolled his shoulders.
His captain's haori and shihakushō slipped down to his waist, revealing a muscular body covered in dense scars.
Every wound was a medal earned through countless battles between life and death, proof of the overwhelming strength that had carried him through thousands of years.
"Hokushin Ryōiki — open!"
Kazuma roared.
A tremendous surge of power erupted from his body and instantly formed a vast violet starfield around them.
The domain resembled an independent universe. Countless stars glittered within its endless depths, their light brilliant enough to inspire awe.
Kazuma had complete confidence in his technique, but he still preferred preparing for the worst.
A skilled schemer always kept a backup plan.
If something unexpected happened, the Hokushin Ryōiki would keep the consequences from spreading beyond his control.
"Stars of the heavens, heed my command!"
Kazuma's voice rolled across the sky like thunder.
"Power of the Solar Star — come forth and serve me!"
His body rapidly expanded until he became a colossal giant nearly a hundred feet tall.
At the same time, his clothing underwent an astonishing transformation.
His shihakushō and captain's haori faded away, replaced by magnificent imperial garments.
A flat-topped imperial crown, strung with hanging beads, rested upon his head, while violet-gold robes flowed across his towering frame.
The sleeves billowed in an unseen wind as an overwhelming imperial aura radiated from him, merging seamlessly with the surrounding starfield.
A gigantic imperial seal appeared within his raised hand.
The seal was crystalline and flawless, its surface covered in exquisitely carved symbols and ancient patterns. An aura of immeasurable age emanated from it.
Kazuma aimed the seal toward the night sky.
The heavens trembled.
A dazzling pillar of light erupted from the imperial seal and pierced directly into the distant depths of the boundless sea of stars.
"You…"
Yamamoto's eyes widened as he stared at Kazuma.
His lips parted, but for a moment, no words came out.
The figure standing before him was almost entirely unfamiliar.
This was the first time Yamamoto had ever witnessed Kazuma assume such a terrifying form.
Violet mist swirled around the giant's body, carrying a pressure that made even the Captain-Commander's heart tighten.
In truth, not even the people closest to Kazuma had ever seen him like this.
Calling it a Bankai wouldn't have been accurate.
It was closer to a lesser form of the legendary descent of an ancient, majestic deity into the mortal world.
Kazuma had already thought deeply about the path ahead of him.
His Zanpakutō and the spiritual power circulating through his body were ultimately forces belonging to the world of Bleach.
If he truly wished to stand at the highest summit, he'd eventually have to abandon those external dependencies and forge a path that belonged solely to him.
To kill a god, he needed strength equal to a god.
A mortal challenging a supreme deity who commanded endless power and mysterious laws certainly sounded spectacular.
It was the kind of feat people would praise as defying heaven itself.
In reality, however, the chances of dying horribly were far too high.
A truly exceptional schemer didn't depend on tricks, gambles, or desperate reversals.
He crushed the enemy beneath absolute, overwhelming strength and erased them so thoroughly that no future danger remained.
Only then could every possible threat be eliminated.
"Yama-jii!"
Kazuma's thunderous voice exploded across the courtyard, making Yamamoto's ears ring and his head spin.
"Are you ready?"
Yamamoto shook his head hard and needed several moments to recover from the deafening volume.
Then he raised his gaze toward the towering figure before him.
"Come!"
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