When he heard those words, the smile on "Kyoraku Shimo's" face slowly stiffened.
Then it darkened.
Click.
The Zanpakutō at his waist gave a clear metallic sound as it shifted slightly within its scabbard.
Spiritual pressure surged outward.
The storm it created whipped violently at the Third Division captain's haori, causing it to snap loudly in the wind.
"It doesn't matter."
His expression darkened like thunderclouds before a storm.
"Once I kill you… I will become Kyoraku Shimo."
Shimo shrugged helplessly.
"If you won't say it yourself, then I'll just call you Tōsen Kaname."
"I've always been rather forgiving toward the dead."
With Shared Soul Barrier active, Shimo had already seen through the trick.
The being standing before him—identical in appearance, was clearly constructed with Tōsen-Mantikor as its core, with Szayelaporro rebuilding its spiritual particles.
Since Mantikor itself had originally been created using Shimo's spiritual pressure as its foundation, the spiritual pressure sensed by the Shinigami was almost indistinguishable from Shimo's own.
"So similar spiritual pressure… that's your confidence in defeating me?"
Shimo raised an eyebrow, releasing his own spiritual pressure to neutralize the pressure bearing down on him.
Tōsen's twisted grin widened.
"Hahaha… no, no."
"A mere fluctuation of spiritual pressure could never kill the most talented Shinigami captain in the past thousand years."
"The power I rely upon…"
"…is your own power!"
Shing!
The Zanpakutō slid from its luxurious scabbard, its cold blade flashing.
Holding the sword in one hand, Tōsen pointed it directly at Shimo.
Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, he spoke softly:
"Suspend the space—Akatsuki."
BOOM!!
The instant the words fell—
The space around Shimo twisted violently.
A void-like force wrapped around him, continuously consuming his spiritual pressure.
Feeling that familiar power eroding his strength, Shimo paused briefly—then smiled.
"So this is the power you're relying on."
"Funny."
Despite the continuous drain on his spiritual pressure, Shimo showed no tension at all.
His relaxed expression only further enraged Tōsen.
The emotional instability inherent in his reconstructed existence was now fully amplified.
Rage twisted across his face.
"As far as I know, you've never truly mastered your Zanpakutō."
"With your Shikai sealed… and relying only on a fragile Asauchi, how could you possibly compare to me?"
His expression had become grotesque—nothing like the composed figure he once was.
Shimo sighed.
"It seems that while Aizen gave you great power…"
"…he also caused you to lose yourself within it."
"When exactly did you start believing…"
"…that Akatsuki was merely a spatial-type Zanpakutō?"
Tōsen froze.
The fear planted in his heart long ago by Shimo's power suddenly resurfaced—
Growing instantly into something overwhelming.
In the distance, Aizen Sōsuke, who had been observing the battlefield, lowered his gaze slightly.
His expression remained calm.
Even after hearing Shimo's statement.
---
Shimo lowered his Zanpakutō before him.
The blade pointed straight toward the ground.
The next moment—
His spiritual pressure exploded upward.
Tōsen's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Impossible…
Wasn't his Zanpakutō sealed by my ability?
Then why is his spiritual pressure surging like a Shikai release?!
Shimo gripped the hilt firmly in his right hand.
Jet-black spiritual pressure surged from his palm like a raging tide, instantly engulfing the blade.
"Even without speaking the release command…"
"…Shikai can still be activated."
Shimo spoke calmly.
"But I imagine everyone is curious about Akatsuki's other Shikai ability, aren't they?"
Gulp.
Almost simultaneously, both Shinigami and Arrancar swallowed nervously.
Shimo's actions were completely unpredictable.
He slowly raised the Zanpakutō.
The black spiritual pressure deepened further.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Cease all… Akatsuki."
The moment those words fell—
Tōsen's pupils shrank violently.
The terror in his heart nearly manifested physically.
He had finally remembered—
The fear of being dominated by Shimo's power in the past.
That terrifying slash…
The one that severed every possibility of survival.
Then—
The black spiritual pressure surrounding the blade dispersed.
A crimson blade appeared before everyone's eyes.
Distorted, void-like power wrapped around the blood-red sword.
The blade extended unnaturally long, exuding crushing pressure.
The hilt turned pitch black, connected to a warped, clock-shaped guard.
"Tōsen… why do you suddenly look so nervous?"
Shimo's teasing voice reached him.
Tōsen stiffened, his expression easing slightly.
"Nervous?"
"I'm not nervous!"
He forced his tone steady.
"I'm simply excited at the thought of killing a Shinigami like you!"
Shimo nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand."
"But that's unfortunate."
"That idea of yours…"
"…will never become reality."
The moment he finished speaking—
Under Tōsen's horrified gaze—
Shimo gently raised his sword.
Then brought it down.
The distorted power spread from the blade instantly—
Engulfing the entire city.
It was as if someone had pressed a pause button.
Everyone's expressions and movements froze at their previous moment.
Shock.
Fear.
Disbelief.
Everything stopped.
"Stopping time over such a large area…"
"…the cost is rather steep."
Amid the frozen world, only Shimo remained able to move.
The only visible change was the black spiritual pressure around him—now slightly dimmer.
Shimo glanced at Tōsen and shook his head in disappointment.
"A superficial shell… completely useless."
He raised the long blade slightly.
Black-red spiritual power wrapped around it like burning flames.
"Zanjutsu: Twin Severance."
Without hesitation—
Shimo swung.
A black-red slash burst forth from the blade—
Passing through Tōsen Kaname in an instant.
Then—
Time pause was released.
-------------------------------///
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