Yamamoto slowly raised the blade in his hand.
Yhwach's shock, unwillingness, and anger appeared one by one on his face, blending together and displaying themselves.
Such a scene, such an expression.
Made Yamamoto's gaze fall into a state akin to being dazed at this moment.
So familiar...
Fragments experienced a thousand years ago emerged now, the two figures overlapping, merging...
Almost without the slightest change.
That's right.
This degree of similarity was as if this tyrant named Yhwach had made no progress in these thousand years, not understanding what 'improvement' meant at all.
...
...
...
There was something slightly concerning.
But there wasn't enough time to delve deeper, because at this very moment, for Yamamoto, it was the instant when 'the arrow is on the string and must be released.'
Nerves from intuition were poked and stirred repeatedly.
Creating an extremely distorted 'sense of displacement' in Yamamoto's heart.
As if something in his mind was being ignored or missed, this subtle sensation made the old man frown deeply.
Yet he couldn't investigate further.
The focus remained on the present.
If he couldn't end Yhwach's life, then how would he mourn for the lives paid so far and the Soul Reapers who died in battle?
Bearing everything.
Shouldering the role of 'seeking justice for the deceased,' Yamamoto.
At this moment, he must fulfill his duty completely!!!
Stepping forward, as if encouraging himself, or more like taking advantage of brief respiratory cycles, to complete the accumulation of power within his body at this moment...
Visible 'momentum' began to rise from Yamamoto's body.
If killing intent could materialize.
Then what appeared before everyone was like an Asura struggling and crawling out from the deepest hell...
Undoubtedly, this was the enemy of all living beings.
The black man who had previously been spouting nonsense, wanting to help Yhwach, couldn't even take a breath now.
This wasn't just a figure of speech, but a fact...
Because even Seiya was involuntarily breaking out in a cold sweat.
Although not being targeted, this killing intent that permeated the air, seemingly making the entire world contract and become small.
Affected everything around in a very real way.
No one was exempt.
So this is the true power of the Captain-Commander? Furthermore, according to his words...
This was his level after further advancement... with such power, no wonder Yhwach was defeated a thousand years ago.
As thoughts settled, in the next moment.
Yamamoto's form was already flashing, charging forward.
His momentum was surging, turbulent, like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, making Yhwach clench his teeth involuntarily...
Instinctively wanting to resist, to react! Wanting to be less pathetic... to stand on equal footing with this power!
But he couldn't.
"Gu... Ah!!!"
The terror in his heart, like dense crawling insects, kept twisting and climbing, until it completely filled Yhwach's heart.
Unable to bear any more emotions and thoughts.
At this moment, the ancestor of the Quincies, on the verge of collapse, finally let out a shrill cry.
"Yamamoto!!!"
Zanka no Tachi - North - Heaven and Earth End in Ashes.
Releasing a slash at extremely high speed from an ultra-long distance, everything touched by the slash will be turned to ashes.
Tap...
Accompanied by a light tapping sound, followed by the old man who flashed in front of him in the next moment, lightly swinging down the blade in his hand.
Heaven and earth fell into a brief extinction at this moment.
As if sound, light, and everything else were all infused into such a simple swing.
The blade edge fell from Yhwach's right shoulder...
Zanka no Tachi was like a heated blade cutting into butter, with a light, unhindered posture, completely slicing open, penetrating, cutting down half of Yhwach's body!
The blade edge slid from the waist, tearing the flesh, yet without a trace of blood staining it.
And the ancestor of the Quincies.
At this moment, he just stared blankly at his 'archenemy' in front of him.
He couldn't make even the slightest sound anymore, because his internal organs were instantly damaged, severely burned, with no function whatsoever.
A line of light, splitting his body in two, crawled inside his body.
Yhwach's gaze began to darken, his lips turned pale, trembling as he tried to utter a few short words...
But even this behavior, for him at this moment, was something akin to a 'luxury.'
True viciousness was just like this.
Taking lives in silence, lightly and wantonly...
As if one's actions were merely a routine behavior, with no compassion whatsoever for the deceased.
Yamamoto's cold gaze.
Only at this final moment, did he seriously and solemnly look at his opponent.
Witnessing the death of his archenemy, fulfilling a wish that had waited a thousand years.
The former Captain-Commander.
At this moment, fulfilled his duty.
Then, the villain should be about to exit the stage.
Taking one last deep look at the man before him, gradually splitting in half, sliding down, with an unwilling expression.
Yamamoto slowly closed his eyes.
He turned around, sheathing his sword.
The undulating flames, like a mud ox entering the sea, quickly contracted and closed in the Soul Society, until they all returned to the blade inside the scabbard.
"Farewell, Yhwach."
As the words fell.
In the sky that had returned to normal.
Rumbling thunder began to surge...
Flames capable of evaporating and destroying the entire Soul Society. The moment they were released, all moisture was driven upward.
And the moment they were withdrawn, this moisture forced to brew in the sky would, through a cycle...
Return to this land with more intense means.
Thunder and rain were coming.
Let this thunderstorm wash away all sins, as well as the grudges accumulated over a thousand years.
Yamamoto slowly closed his eyes at this moment.
With this.
The blood war that had lasted a thousand years, was finally over...
"Well done, Loyd Royd."
"..."
What voice?
Just in the instant he realized it.
Yamamoto's heart, which had already been put down, was in a blink of an eye, raised again, until it was tightly gripped at his throat!!!
He instinctively turned his head.
Only to see 'unharmed' Yhwach standing behind him.
At this moment, facing the half-body on the ground, showing a sighing and subtle expression.
What... is this?
The question was quickly answered.
Because Yamamoto saw the figure lying on the ground.
Originally with Yhwach's appearance, now twisting and deforming like soft mud, until finally becoming a bald, strange-looking man, who even had an eye-like strange mark on his forehead.
He lay face up, breathing shortly.
The missing organs left him with no chance of survival, but even so, he still struggled to show a flattering expression.
"Y-Your Majesty... h-have I accomplished, your request?"
"Ah, Loyd Royd. My child... you did very well, you are my most pride-worthy descendant."
Loyd Royd.
Schrift "Y."
The ability to mimic the opponent's power, and copy the opponent's memories and emotions, pasting them onto oneself.
Under permissible conditions...
Not only could he completely copy all the strength of the 'target,' but he could also think and fight from their perspective.
It could be said to be a flawless counterfeit.
Yhwach half-squatted.
His right hand tightly gripped the other's hand, the smile on his face showing that he was 'unable to suppress' the joy in his heart.
"You deceived this hateful Asura."
"With your own life, paving an important segment for our path to victory."
"This is all because of your contribution... Loyd Royd, I will forever remember your sacrifice."
With this.
A relieved smile finally appeared on his face.
As if believing that everything had been rewarded, he willingly closed his eyes.
Allowing his body.
To be engulfed by the blue flames emanating from Yhwach's hand.
Impatiently, without hesitation...
Yhwach burned this descendant, whom he regarded as an 'important offspring,' to ashes.
At the same time, the blue light flow contained in his body began to swirl like a black hole at this moment... and then completely merged into Yhwach's body.
Redistribution of power?
No.
This was just a method called 'reclamation.'
As a member of the Sternritter, Loyd Royd could mimic targets.
But the exaggerated gap between the two would only make this mimicry seem ugly and meaningless.
Because of this.
Yhwach had divided his power and given the other a large amount of knowledge and emotions.
Think what I think, ponder what I ponder.
What were the thoughts of oneself who died with hatred a thousand years ago.
What was the experience of watching subordinates die one by one, being slain on the spot a thousand years ago.
Now able to see the former enemy again, but surprisingly finding... that oneself would not be a match for this guy no matter what.
What expression would appear?
Everything.
"Was perfect, Loyd Royd..."
Simply sighing for the sacrifice of his subordinate at this moment.
But through these few words, the others present had also realized the problem at hand.
Yamamoto's doubts and unease.
Turned into substance at this moment.
Gritting his teeth, realizing the seriousness of the problem, the old man roared.
Drawing out the Zanpakutō fastened at his waist again.
Imitating his previous behavior, just killing the opponent on the spot would suffice, there was nothing difficult.
But.
Yhwach's composure instead evoked fear deep in Yamamoto's heart.
For things beyond control, for things that deviated from his predictions... all anxieties originated from the invasion of the 'unknown.'
At this moment, Yhwach half-turned.
The face revealed, and the expression and temperament contained within.
Clearly had a world of difference from the 'person' a few seconds ago.
The moment he saw it with his own eyes, Yamamoto completely understood...
The source of his earlier unease.
It all came from the confusion about 'unchanging.'
A thousand years had passed, that arrogant, disdainful tyrant who still retained a trace of warmth for his subordinates.
Would there really be not the slightest change?
The current reality was declaring the final truth to Yamamoto with a vivid and passionate posture.
Of course not.
The sword demon would slowly grow old.
The tyrant would become increasingly dictatorial.
Compared to the man from a thousand years ago, the current Yhwach had screened out all emotions.
There was no longer any joy or sorrow in his heart in any sense.
Everything was just for revenge; except for his own life, anything else could only be stepping stones for him.
And with the power of such an arrangement.
Loyd Royd had indeed lifted Yhwach up high, and at this moment, he was above the former Asura of the Soul Society.
"Are you afraid, Yamamoto..."
But it was too late.
Watching Yamamoto wave his right hand, the Zanpakutō showing light, flames beginning to brew from within...
Yhwach just calmly raised the medallion in his hand.
Unlike those held by other Sternritter members, what Yhwach held in his palm had a deeper color and craftsmanship.
Without a doubt.
This was definitely something specially prepared to target someone.
Yamamoto's gaze contracted instantly.
He saw his power 'collapsing.'
The concentrated flames seemed to have become some fragile glass-like object.
Breaking, falling bit by bit at this moment, and finally becoming bare.
Stripped of all power and spiritual pressure, as if returning to the primordial state, Yamamoto held his Zanpakutō at this moment...
With a tense gaze.
Looking at Yhwach in the distance.
"Your Ryujin Jakka is immensely powerful. If we were to face each other directly, even I don't have absolute confidence now."
"But this doesn't mean you are invincible."
"Although I've prepared some... but in the end, you still can't watch your subordinates go to their deaths, right?"
Intervening before Zaraki's neck was twisted, this in itself was a symbol of impatience.
There was more mockery in Yhwach's tone.
"You've really grown old, Yamamoto."
"If it were you from before, even if you saw your subordinates being dismembered..."
"You would choose to continue waiting expressionlessly, until you determined this was my true self, before choosing to act."
In other words.
"You are easier to deal with than I expected, Yamamoto."
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Powerstones?
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