Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami-Chapter 261 ⥤ Void God’s Nihility Fist!

The moisture in the atmosphere evaporated rapidly as waves of scorching heat rippled outward.

A sun rose slowly in Hueco Mundo, turning the former cold into terrifying heat that made breathing difficult.

Not only did the nearby Hollows notice it, but even Las Noches — thousands of kilometers away — sensed something was wrong. The normally temperate fortress was suddenly engulfed in scorching heat, each breath like hot knives stabbing their throats.

The Lanzas' expressions turned grave.

Genryūsai displayed a level of power they had never witnessed before. They thought his previous godlike state was his limit, but it proved merely the tip of the iceberg.

When his Bankai was released, their steel skin burned hot while their hearts ran ice-cold.

If it was this intense tens of kilometers from the battlefield, what must it be like at the center? How powerful must Lord Kisaragi be to make this old man take such a stance?!

Genryūsai gripped his charcoal-like sword tightly as black ashes fell from the blade and thick white smoke rose.

His expression was equally grave. Though he had never seen it, he had heard Akira describe his own Bankai.

Back then, the boy didn't know its name, only describing the changes after release: complex patterns of black markings would appear on his body, and his black hair would turn pure white like snow.

Most importantly, when facing him in Bankai, one would have the illusion of facing an entire world.

This matched perfectly with what Genryūsai felt now.

When facing this kid in his Demon God form, the heavy pressure felt like fighting against the world itself!

Without hesitation, the moment Akira raised his finger, the old man took initiative — lifting his Zanka no Tachi and bringing it down in a simple vertical slash.

Gone was the magnificent presence from its Shikai state, appearing now like nothing more than an ordinary strike.

Facing this attack, Akira surprisingly chose not to block it head-on. Driven by instinct, he dodged sideways as the charcoal-like blade grazed past him, its tip touching the blackened sand.

Boom!

A muffled explosion erupted, and the desert before the sword's tip instantly vanished, revealing a massive canyon like an abyss, its end nowhere in sight. Countless grains of sand disappeared that moment, as if completely erased from existence!

If Ryūjin Jakka was the ultimate flame that burns the world to ash, then Zanka no Tachi was the annihilation of all things with that flame sealed within the blade!

The heat alone from its full release could evaporate all the water in an entire world!

Though he wasn't directly hit, Akira bore scorch marks from the residual heat.

His eyes shifted from gold to blood-red, and despite seeming immune to pain, they emanated savage intensity as his ice-cold gaze locked onto Genryūsai.

"ROAR!!"

Like a declaration of war, Hollowfied Akira unleashed an ear-splitting roar. Visible shock waves radiated from his center, and in an instant, the scorch marks on his body vanished.

⤫ Sonído ⥤ Reverberating Turn! ⤬

His demon-like face materialized before the old man's eyes. With a metallic grinding sound, his fingers clenched as he launched an unfettered punch.

Genryūsai drew back his sword and slashed upward, the smoking Zanka no Tachi meeting the fist at a precise angle.

A hurricane erupted. Golden electric arcs crackled from his fist bones while flames poured forth, intense crimson heat gushing from the blackened blade.

BOOM!!

A massive mushroom cloud soared skyward, incinerating everything within its reach as shockwaves swept across the land.

The impact made the ashes freeze momentarily before countless dust particles boiled and burned away in the heat.

As the smoke dissipated, two figures emerged into view.

Akira's right hand had burned black, with ashes cascading from it like rain — a grave injury.

Seeing this, Genryūsai's tension eased slightly. The boy might be strong, but he wasn't invincible. With full power unleashed, these old bones could still contain him.

The only concern was the duration of this Hollowfication. While he could endure a prolonged battle, Hueco Mundo might not survive it.

Feeling the scorching heat in his nostrils, his expression hardened.

Then came the unexpected.

Akira seized his charred right arm with his left hand. As ashes fell between his fingers, he wrenched the entire limb off with brutal force.

Genryūsai's brows furrowed, dread rising in his heart.

At the stump, flesh buds writhed frantically, weaving and growing downward. Within moments, a new arm sprouted forth. Black patterns crawled across it while crackling electric arcs screamed through the air.

Without pause, even as the arm continued forming, Akira initiated another Sonído. His savage smile appeared before the old man with a piercing screech.

BOOM!!

Facing his wayward disciple, Genryūsai remained vigilant.

Intense flames erupted from his scarred body, sweeping outward in all directions, vaporizing everything. The temperature climbed relentlessly.

⤫ Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui ⥤ Longsword of the Remnant Flame, West: Remnant Sun Prison Garb! ⤬

He appeared wrapped in the sun itself, erupting flames shrouding his blade like a demon risen from hell. The roaring inferno became an endless sea, consuming everything in its path, even reducing the sand below to molten glass.

Facing the terrifying temperature of fifteen million degrees, the mindless Akira showed no fear, flashing a fierce grin as he charged forward.

BOOM!

Another all-out collision made all of Hueco Mundo boil. Scorching winds rose from the ground, dyeing the night sky crimson as the thin air shook violently. Countless waves of heat echoed between heaven and earth.

Akira's defense reached its limit as he endured Zanjitsu Gokui while launching a frenzied assault. Countless fist shadows rained down as his flesh vaporized and instantly regenerated.

For a moment, Genryūsai found himself completely suppressed.

⤫ Bakudō #99: Part 1. Kin ⥤ Prohibition! ⤬

At the critical moment, Aizen stepped in, the Eishōhaki Bakudō #99 materializing to bind Akira's hands.

The violent offensive paused briefly as Genryūsai caught his breath, his condition improving slightly.

Though known as the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, even he couldn't resist time's erosion. As a formidable warrior, his only weakness was his diminished stamina due to age.

Aizen wasted no time, calmly chanting another Bakudō before the straps and spikes could break.

⤫ Bakudō #99: Part 2. Bankin ⥤ Full Prohibition! ⤬

"Prologue - Halting Wraps"

Reiatsu surged forth, transforming into strips of cloth imbued with binding force, wrapping around Akira's body and halting his attack.

"Refrain - Serial Hundred Bolts"

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Hundreds of iron bolts materialized, striking through his still-unhealed burns to pierce his thick skin and flesh.

"Finale - Fully Prohibited Great Seal"

Reiatsu rushed skyward, condensing into a massive stone tablet beneath the crescent moon before crashing down. Dust clouds erupted, blocking out the sky and spreading across dozens of kilometers.

The dramatic display led some to believe the target had been defeated.

"Is it over?" Genryūsai couldn't gauge Akira's state through the Bakudō's isolation, which had severely weakened his Reiatsu.

Aizen's face remained stern as he shook his head, "Unless we either kill him completely or he resolves the Hollow in his Inner World, this won't end. Bakudō #99 isn't enough to contain him."

As the words left his mouth, the massive stone tablet began to shake, as if some enormous creature stirred beneath.

Genryūsai sighed heavily, gripped Zanka no Tachi tightly, and used Shunpo to reach the tablet, his expression darkening.

He thrust his blade into the sand below, the charred weapon melting the surrounding grains:

"Corpses. O' ashes of the dead who have perished by my flame. Lend me a hand. For a short while I will grant you the joy of battle."

⤫ Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūman'okushi Daisōjin ⥤ Longsword of the Remnant Flame, South: Great Burial Ranks of the Ten Trillion Fire Dead! ⤬

Blazing flames burst forth from the pulverized sand, and countless fissures appeared as ghastly, savage skeletons crawled from within the cracks, transforming everything before them into a realm of asuras.

He had intended to give his wayward disciple a taste of total annihilation, but when the moment came, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Though this foolish boy was dim-witted, his nature wasn't bad — even while ruling over all of Hueco Mundo, he hadn't developed any wolfish ambitions. Compared to certain villains who constantly tried to destroy the Sangai, he remained as pure as a white lotus.

Better to wear him down slowly. Hopefully, this foolish boy could master his Hollowfication before this old man's strength gave out.

So thought Genryūsai.

When Akira broke free from the binding Bakudō and reappeared on the battlefield, an endless army of the undead greeted him.

Thick, turbid Reiatsu and scorching air filled the space as corpses marched across the magma-flowing battlefield, fearlessly launching attacks against the demon before them.

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

BOOM!!

Man and sword abandoned technique, returning to the realm of beasts, letting instinct govern their shells.

Breaking shadows with bone, washing ink with blood — in pure close-quarters combat, each collision produced thunderous roars, aftershocks rippling out like vast tidal shadows. Raging fires burned as thunder exploded.

Akira transformed into a tireless machine — with each punch, he completely shattered one of Kūkan Mukai's vital points: head, spine, neck, or heart.

However, within the Inner World, the Zanpakutō's power was nearly infinite. Each time he was shattered, he regenerated almost instantly. This ability was even more absurd and unfair than Unohana's Minazuki (Bankai).

Add to that his activated Bankai, and his combat power already surpassed most others.

Yet even so, he was still no match for Akira in this state. There wasn't even the slightest chance to resist.

Watching that wild beast with his white hair dancing and fists throwing countless afterimages, Kūkan Mukai felt the urge to curse.

He had been led astray by this guy.

At first, both sides were slashing at each other with swords, techniques emerging one after another in an even exchange. But from the moment someone threw away their sword, the battle changed entirely.

He was drawn into Akira's rhythm, abandoning his Zanpakutō to fight with his fists instead.

By the time Kūkan Mukai realized this, it was too late.

Cries of "ORA!" and "MUDA!" echoed through the vast boundless Inner World as violent impacts spread wildly, turning the entire world upside down.

Soon, Kūkan Mukai found himself caught in a trap. This shameless fellow had led him astray, then defeated him with sheer experience.

"That's more like it!" Akira grinned. "Fist-to-flesh combat is a man's romance."

A tremendous boom erupted as his fist shadow fell, releasing an unbearable explosive roar that shook heaven and earth, stirring up tsunamis.

Faced with this strike, Kūkan Mukai couldn't even consider resistance. He let himself collapse instantly, transforming into a pool of shadows and merging into the dark sea below.

In no time at all, he was reborn once more.

Different from before, the black patterns on his body had shifted, gaining branch-like markings.

Soon, both sides began brawling again. Earth-shattering explosions rose and fell like a fleeting sun spreading solar flare storms.

After a brief clash, Akira gained the upper hand again.

However, when he tried to shatter Kūkan Mukai's head once more, an aberration occurred.

Black torrents burst forth with him at their center, his left hand spread wide, pressing straight down toward Akira. In the center of his palm, the branch-like patterns split open, revealing an eye with a writhing pupil. A pressure as heavy as falling heaven suddenly descended.

In this moment, the world froze!

The flow of wind, the writhing of shadows, the impact of explosions, the spread of aftershocks — even Akira's movements were stopped.

As if someone had pressed pause, everything in the Inner World completely solidified.

Except for Kūkan Mukai.

The black figure approached Akira, drawing an ink-like Zanpakutō from the shadows at his feet.

Looking at his opponent, satisfaction and triumph spread across his face.

"Akira, do you see? Your invincible fists haven't brought you final victory."

He raised his Zanpakutō to end the battle, but then noticed a slight curve at the corner of Akira's mouth.

Unease instantly swept through his whole body!

"Kūkan Mukai, you're too narrow-minded!"

Tendons and bones shifted, muscles flowing like water, as black patterns came alive and white hair danced wildly.

In that moment, Akira broke through the power of "Stillness".

"How can mere eye powers compare to a body tempered through countless battles?"

He flashed a fierce smile, white vapor seeping through his teeth as his right hand spread wide, gathering the explosive wind before snapping into a fist.

An ear-splitting roar followed.

"Watch carefully and learn. This technique is called—"

⤫ Muga Kyōkai, Daiichi Kōtei Rei: Kokō Mudōken ⥤ Selfless Realm, First Imperial Decree: Void God's Nihility Fist! ⤬

Like heaven's drums exploding, when the heavy fist fell, the entire world shook!

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

Under the iron-red sky.

Genryūsai watched the tireless Akira as fatigue crept into his own body and mind.

He had exhausted every technique at his disposal.

Even the Kaka Jūman'okushi Daisōjin couldn't halt Akira's advance. Left with no choice, Genryūsai could only charge in with his sword, continuing their master-disciple battle.

But as his attacks began to falter, a sudden change occurred!

With Akira at its center, a pillar of Reiatsu light erupted, its shockwaves radiating across a thousand kilometers.

Genryūsai, standing opposite, endured pressure beyond mortal imagination.

Just as he braced for another onslaught, the light pillar vanished. Everything fell silent.

A pair of familiar eyes appeared before him, the bone mask crumbling away to reveal a reassuring, silly smile on Akira's face:

"Teacher, I'm back..."

⤫⤬⤫

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