Bambietta lay atop the ruins, her hair disheveled, clothes tattered, and body covered in wounds, completely devoid of the strength to fight again.
"The danger has been eliminated. Resuming normal mode."
Ikaros reverted to her usual state and returned to Shin's side.
While Ikaros was finishing off Bambietta, Yamamoto had already activated his Bankai.
Royd, when using the ability 'Yourself,' was stronger than his twin brother, Loyd, and could even mimic all of the target's memories and psychological state.
The Yhwach he was impersonating had roughly the same demeanor, tone, and actions, so much so that even Yamamoto couldn't spot a single flaw.
Even though he was an imposter, his strength was not to be underestimated, and he was not someone who could be defeated by Shikai alone.
"So, you really couldn't steal my Bankai?"
Yamamoto confirmed his suspicion upon seeing that Yhwach did not attempt to use the ability to steal his Bankai.
"You must understand the power of a Bankai and analyze it before you can steal it. However, I never displayed my true power a thousand years ago."
Royd truly could not steal Yamamoto's Bankai. The reason was simple: his power was insufficient to control it.
"Zanka No Tachi South: Kaka Jumanokushi Daisojin!"
Yamamoto plunged his Zanpakutō into the ground, summoning the souls of those who had died by his blade, transforming them into a skeleton army that launched an attack on "Yhwach".
"Do you intend to stop me with things like this?"
Yhwach charged toward Yamamoto, gripping his black blade, but was blocked by countless skeletal remains.
"Your eyes seem a bit blurry. Take a good look at them."
Yhwach looked closer, and the skeletons all transformed into his deceased comrades.
"Are you seeing the subordinates you once killed?"
"Yamamoto, you bastard..."
"Ah—"
Yhwach roared, tearing himself free from the restraints of his 'subordinates.'
Seeing Yhwach's pained expression, Yamamoto couldn't help but remark, 'It seems you still retain some humanity.'
This was the difference between Royd and the true Yhwach. He still retained a shred of humanity, which made him despise Yamamoto for awakening his deceased comrades and forcing them to fight him.
Shin was closely monitoring Royd's situation.
Suddenly, a barrier unfolded, centered around Shin and Ikaros.
Shin remained motionless, for the true Yhwach had appeared.
Without even glancing at Bambietta on the ground, he walked straight up to Shin.
"Nohara Shin."
"Yhwach?"
"So the one fighting Captain Commander Yamamoto is an imposter?"
"That is correct."
Pausing for a moment, Yhwach asked, "As a human, you have no connection to Soul Society, so why do you stand on the same side as them?"
Shin countered, "You know I'm human, right? If you plan to destroy Soul Society, can the Human World survive?"
Yhwach understood. "Is that your answer? You possess great power, yet you still care about the lives of those ants?"
"Utterly foolish."
Shin felt that Yhwach had misunderstood him. He was no saint, and there was no way he cared about the survival of everyone, but he was too lazy to explain.
Seeing no reaction from Shin, Yhwach took it as tacit agreement and turned to depart.
Shin stopped Yhwach. "Are you just going to leave like that?"
Yhwach stated calmly, "I already know your answer. Fighting you now is meaningless."
Yhwach vanished after speaking, but the barrier remained intact. Shin tested it, and as expected, he couldn't break through.
'I still need to go snag a kill.'
While unleashing Great Blade of Crimson to assault the barrier, Shin turned back and said, "Ikaros, you join in too."
Thus, the two began working together to break through the barrier.
—
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Yamamoto unleashed Zanka no Tachi North: Tenchi Kaijin, slicing Yhwach into two halves starting from the shoulder.
Yhwach did not die instantly, falling into a pool of blood and muttering, "As expected, the power is still... insufficient?"
"My deepest apologies... Your Majesty..."
Yamamoto, who had already deactivated his Bankai, froze. "You are not Yhwach. Who exactly are you?"
Royd then revealed his true form.
"'Y' Royd Lloyd. My ability is 'The Yourself,' which allows me to change my appearance at will."
A voice rang out behind Yamamoto.
Yamamoto spun around instantly.
It was Yhwach!
Yamamoto slashed with his blade, but Yhwach easily evaded the attack.
"Bankai..."
Just as he was about to activate his Bankai, it was absorbed by a massive Quincy cross.
Yhwach held the medallion and said, "Your Bankai is not impossible to steal, it's simply that no one besides me is capable of controlling it."
"How about this? Now I can use your Bankai to summon your subordinates to fight you."
"Bastard!"
Yamamoto was enraged and charged at Yhwach.
Yhwach drew an arc in the air with his sword, causing a massive Reishi bow to appear. He shot an arrow, which embedded itself in the ground and transformed into a Reishi lightsaber.
"Farewell, Yamamoto."
With that, he swung his sword, intending to strike down Yamamoto.
Yamamoto only managed a slight shift of his body and the sword merely severed his left arm. Risking injury, he intended to stake his life, thrusting his blade toward Yhwach's heart.
Several Reishi patterns appeared on Yhwach's chest, and Blut Vene blocked Yamamoto's strike.
"Your blade without a Bankai cannot harm me." Yhwach said, swinging his sword again, clearly aiming for Yamamoto's life.
Great Blade of Crimson!
A flaming katana slashed down toward Yhwach, forcing him to block the attack horizontally.
"You escaped the confinement so quickly?"
Shin ignored Yhwach, walked in front of Royd, and finished him off.
[Mission Complete: Kill Royd Lloyd]
[Reward: 1600 points]
Shin let out a sigh of relief. He had almost not made it, as the man was about to breathe his last.
Then, he looked toward Yamamoto. "Old man, how are you?"
Yamamoto's condition was extremely poor. His face was deathly pale, and he stood rooted to the spot, seemingly oblivious to Shin's voice.
Yhwach also witnessed the scene. "Yamamoto, this is why I didn't include you among the Special War Powers—you are old."
However, Yamamoto still showed no reaction.
Yhwach put away the Reishi lightsaber and muttered, "The time has come..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yhwach used Shadow.
Simultaneously, all the Sternritters of the Wandenreich within Seireitei retreated back into the Schatten Bereich, signaling the end of the battle.
(End of Chapter)
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