This sudden turn shocked everyone. No one expected Baraggan, after entering Segunda Etapa, not to kill the Shinigami in front of him, but to suddenly attack Yoshio in the distance?!
The area where Yoshio was located was also a corner of Karakura Town—the only intact building left. On top of a tall building, Yoshio and Angra Mainyu sat cross-legged, seemingly isolated from the chaos outside.
Outside their domain, thunder crashed and flames exploded. People fell, rose, and fell again. Yet the two remained unmoved.
Now, a vast darkness condensed into an ultimate temporal torrent. To be submerged by it would yield unimaginable consequences. No one would dare test this power with their own body, yet Yoshio and Angra Mainyu's expressions remained unchanged.
"Yoshio!"
Even Harribel's expression changed drastically as she hurriedly called out to him. Everyone's hearts tightened.
Could Baraggan's sudden betrayal kill Yoshio?
The power of his death aura was evident to all. If it could kill Yoshio, that would truly be for the best!
After all, Yoshio's strength was immense. He was the Espada's Leader—his power surpassed even the Espada. The Shinigami believed he ranked second only to Aizen Sōsuke.
Such a powerful enemy… If he joined the battle, it would be extremely troublesome!
Currently, among those present, perhaps only Genryūsai Yamamoto could handle him.
So… What would be the result of this attack?
Amidst everyone's expectant gazes, something incredible happened.
The surging death aura—an abyss of darkness, terrifying as a temporal torrent—distorted just as it was about to touch Yoshio.
It was as if the gates of hell had opened. A distorted, dark-red vortex appeared behind Yoshio. Whatever was inside that vortex was unknown, but it released a terrifying pressure. Just looking at its center sent shivers down one's spine, as if falling into the eighteen layers of hell!
The death aura entered the vortex and gradually disappeared.
From beginning to end, Yoshio didn't even move a muscle.
…
"What… is that?"
Baraggan was stunned, staring blankly at Yoshio, an unbelievable thought surfacing in his mind.
This was the first time he had displayed Segunda Etapa in front of Yoshio. His most hated target was the so-called Leader of the Espada! Compared to Yoshio, even Aizen seemed amiable.
When Aizen first conquered Las Noches, he barely spent time there. Most of the time, Yoshio was in charge.
Seeing Las Noches—once his own—fall into Yoshio's hands filled Baraggan with infinite humiliation.
He was the King of Hueco Mundo! The strongest! Yet forced to submit to a Shinigami!
Later, Yoshio became the Espada's Leader, his direct superior.
Baraggan had bided his time, accumulating strength, all to someday kill Aizen and Yoshio!
But now, his full-power Segunda Etapa attack was countered by Yoshio just like that?
What… was that just now?
Baraggan was frozen. He looked at Yoshio and murmured, "What… was that?"
Yoshio, of course, didn't reply. He merely appeared in front of Baraggan in an instant.
Baraggan's pupils dilated. The next moment, a blade sliced across his chest.
Pfft!
Even though Baraggan's body was skeletal, he couldn't avoid being cut—a bloody mark slashed by Yoshio, as if real blood splattered out.
"…How could this be."
Baraggan clutched his chest, glaring at Yoshio. "What did you do?"
"Opened the gates of hell," Yoshio said calmly. "It seems your death aura is still far inferior to my power."
"Shut up!" Baraggan snarled. "Disobey the King's will, and you shall turn to dust and regret it for all eternity!"
Baraggan raised his massive, blood-red axe. A deep-red vortex appeared beneath Yoshio's feet, the aura darkening.
Yoshio stood motionless at the core of the vortex, which only enraged Baraggan further.
The terrifying death aura enveloped Yoshio. The massive axe transformed—now double-bladed, black in the middle, crimson at the ends.
Baraggan wielded it like a magic wand. From within the death vortex, two enormous arms extended, immune to the death aura, reaching for Yoshio.
Yet, before they could touch him, Yoshio severed both arms with a flash. The arms fell back into the vortex, which then slowly dissipated.
When the dark-red vortex vanished, Yoshio was revealed again, smiling faintly—as if none of the previous power had affected him at all.
"You… what did you do?"
Baraggan staggered back, unable to believe his eyes.
Just as Yoruichi once couldn't fathom why her power couldn't harm Baraggan, now Baraggan couldn't comprehend why his power couldn't harm even a single hair on Yoshio's head!
Impossible!
Unacceptable!
"Just reishi," Yoshio explained with a smile.
"Reishi?"
This stunned not only Baraggan, but everyone present.
Especially Yoruichi. Forced to return to the ground by Baraggan's Segunda Etapa, she still monitored the battlefield.
Using reishi… Could such a thing be possible?
If it were merely using reishi to block the death aura, that would be one thing, but how could reishi dissolve it?
But… it had happened!
Yoshio's body was surrounded by a high-concentration reishi barrier. Even Baraggan's death aura, or stronger powers, would be worn down upon impact.
Not to mention, by now he had evolved Solitude Hell into a true hellish world. As long as the gates opened, all power would enter hell.
Even if an attack broke through, what good would it do against Yoshio's immortal body?
He was the Lord of Hell! He could even regenerate from soul annihilation!
Baraggan…
He was simply too far behind.
So, Yoshio's expression didn't change. Baraggan seemed like a fragile child—insignificant.
And it was precisely that gaze—
That gaze!
Looking at Yoshio's eyes, Baraggan's soul trembled with rage. What he couldn't accept most was Yoshio's gaze: as if an adult looked at a child, with pity!
Damn it! I am the King of Hueco Mundo! A tyrant! A god!
"Aaaaaaaah!!!!"
Baraggan's body shook violently as he roared, "You haven't seen true death!"
He bellowed, "Let me show you my strongest power, Yoshio! This is specially prepared for you…
Death of the Gods!"
Boom!
A powerful force erupted from Baraggan's body. Reishi in the air mixed with death aura, transforming into two enormous, pitch-black wings!
A crimson halo formed above his head.
Pitch black and crimson—these two colors intertwined, making Baraggan's body appear terrifying and bizarre.
This power…
Vollständig!
Some Arrancar had indeed gained Quincy power through Szayelaporro, but never like this.
Baraggan was now displaying Vollständig—no longer mere Arrancarization!
"This idiot!" Surtur, watching from afar, frowned. She hadn't expected Baraggan to expose himself now!
That's right—Baraggan was the Arrancar secretly cooperating with the Wandenreich!
They'd been collecting Arrancar, and Baraggan, dissatisfied with Aizen and Yoshio, became their tool to resist them. He received their power, and secretly transferred subordinates to become Wandenreich soldiers.
Back in Seireitei, the Arrancar who pursued Rukia were Baraggan's subordinates.
Their plan had been for Baraggan to feign death and escape, fully joining Wandenreich to seek future revenge. But now he'd exposed himself, using Vollständig in front of everyone!
Baraggan's mind was now dominated by rage. He hated Yoshio to the core.
If Yoshio had simply killed him, Baraggan wouldn't be so furious. But that arrogant gaze and demeanor—unacceptable to his pride!
So now, he used his strongest power.
And this power, indeed, changed Yoshio's expression.
But the words that followed made Baraggan even more furious!
"You've grown, Baraggan."
What… kind of words are these?!
Is he treating me like a child?!
Facing Baraggan, who had unleashed such power, to say lightly—
You've grown…?
Who do you think you are?!
"Do you think you can still control me like you used to?!"
"Do you think you're really stronger than me?!"
Baraggan roared, gripping his massive axe. "I'm going to kill you! Everyone who looks down on me will die!"
Baraggan swung his axe. No one would doubt the power of that swing!
Even before, Baraggan was above Captain-class. Now, after Resurrección, Segunda Etapa, and Vollständig, his power was unimaginable!
Just feeling the death emanating from him made Shihōin Yoruichi's soul tremble below.
Completely different!
Compared to their earlier fight, it was like heaven and earth!
"It's over."
Just then, Angra Mainyu's voice sounded at Yoruichi's ear. He had appeared beside her, saying softly.
It's over?
Will Baraggan use this move to kill Yoshio, or…
Yoruichi almost didn't dare finish the thought.
Could it be that…
What Angra meant was that Yoshio would end Baraggan's life at this moment?!
Could anyone truly do that?
Indeed, someone could.
In an instant, the battle in the sky ended.
Yoshio's body appeared behind Baraggan, while Baraggan remained in the posture of swinging his axe—cutting at empty air.
The real enemy was already behind him.
Baraggan didn't speak, frozen in that instant.
Not just Baraggan, but even time itself seemed to halt.
Time froze…
Then, after an unknown period, it resumed.
With a soft thud, Baraggan's body split into two halves!
"I…"
Baraggan regained his voice, seeming to want to say something, but his mouth was cut in two. His body tilted—
"I'm not resigned!!!!"
His will overcame reality. Baraggan roared, bellowing with vengeance.
Even with his body split, he still held his weapon. The half of him holding it stopped, turned, and hurled the Axe of Annihilation at Yoshio!
Yoshio didn't even turn. He let the axe approach, but as it neared, it dissipated.
Baraggan fell from the sky, split in two, and crashed to the ground…
They were simply
not on the same level.
The power Yoshio displayed at this moment astonished everyone present.
Hollows, Shinigami, Quincy—all were left in disbelief.
Baraggan…
Was he truly dead, just like that?
The memory of Baraggan chasing two Captains with overwhelming power was still vivid, and now this place had become his grave?
And he had even evolved twice since then!
Yoshio…
How terrifying was this person?!
…