Easier to deal with than I expected.
No amount of words could match this level of 'contemptuous' speech.
"If it were you from a thousand years ago, even if you saw your subordinates killed by me, you wouldn't have the slightest change in your mindset."
"After all, to you, whether subordinates or tools, they should be no different."
"I can already feel it... your emotions are changing, Yamamoto."
Unable to contain his thoughts.
Just seeing his subordinates threatened with death, he immediately appeared and unleashed all his strength.
How ugly, how meaningless.
Yhwach, as if already holding victory in his grasp, curled his lips, his tone filled with condescending contempt.
"You can no longer keep up with my pace, Yamamoto. Your heart has become soft, your blade is no longer sharp."
"With these methods, what can you do to me now? What can you accomplish?"
"Just refuse abandoned by the times, left behind."
You should honestly retire to the background.
Playing with the medallion in his hand, Yhwach's satisfaction was completely undisguised.
"Moreover... although I don't know where you obtained your intelligence."
"It seems many people have prepared in advance. I originally thought you would also be unexpectedly troublesome."
"But I didn't expect... you wouldn't even make any preparations at all."
Whether to call it arrogance or simple stupidity.
In any case.
For this former archenemy, Yhwach had completely lost all 'interest.'
Those stubborn people unwilling to change couldn't even hinder his actions at such times.
Just a simple 'stumbling block.'
"I originally thought you could bring me more surprises, but now it seems... it's only this level after all."
"Yamamoto, do you know? This was supposed to be our ambush against the Soul Society."
"But the results so far don't make me happy at all. This feeling of being calculated against instead makes me..."
Very unhappy.
Revenge should be satisfying, should bring joy to body and mind.
But these constant setbacks and failures truly made even Yhwach feel strange and odd.
Everything had an air of wrongness, this feeling of being calculated against even made him consider retreating.
But.
Such thoughts had now completely vanished.
Because in Yamamoto, Yhwach found the 'superiority' that should exist.
This was how it should be.
Stubborn and foolish Soul Reapers would never realize their shortcomings and various problems.
And Yamamoto, who had once served as Captain-Commander, symbolizing the old forces, was the best among them.
Some things could be clearly felt even without putting them on the surface.
"You must have done something to hinder others from making moves."
"After all, everyone else has done their homework thoroughly, yet I can't see a trace of preparation on you alone..."
"This can only mean that you fundamentally disagree with that person's ideas."
That's right.
That alone.
Yet it was enough to form this 'breakthrough point' that would lead to overall collapse.
Do you understand?
"You are the cause of the Soul Society's defeat, Yamamoto."
Yamamoto pressed his lips tightly, staring at the man before him, his heartbeat continuously accelerating.
Indeed...
His earlier premonition was accurate.
How could someone who had been arrogant and domineering for a thousand years not have any progress after experiencing failure and betrayal?
The current 'Yhwach' was the real answer.
He looked at the Sternritter member who had been completely burned, not even leaving any 'traces' at this moment.
"Can you easily abandon even your subordinates now..."
Making his subordinate transform into his appearance.
Mimicking his behavior, sharing most of his memories.
Like looking into a mirror called 'the past,' yet without the slightest mercy or sentiment, simply letting the other go to die...
Thus creating an opportunity for him to break through.
What is the value of life?
Yhwach provided the answer at this moment.
And facing such whispers, the ancestor of the Quincies only let out an extremely light chuckle.
"Like a thousand years ago, valuing them, being used by you, and ultimately failing at the last moment? I'm tired of such scripts... Rather, you now are like the me from back then."
That's enough.
Originally, to prevent accidents.
Yhwach had made many preparations and meticulously planned a series of backup plans.
However, it was only now that he clearly understood the current 'full picture.'
There was no longer such necessity.
This aged, weathered old man who had lost his fighting spirit.
He only had the remains of what was called 'Asura.' No matter how hard he tried to appear fierce, he was ultimately just a glimmer of past afterglow.
No matter how bright or intense.
It could never touch the slightest bit of the past.
—No words needed.
Just maintaining that contemptuous and satisfied expression was, for Yamamoto at this moment, the most infuriating 'provocation.'
"Don't celebrate too early."
His throat rolled as he spoke the whisper in his heart.
Yamamoto would not fear death.
His gaze was firmly fixed on Yhwach, and compared to his original indifference, the aura on his body now seemed to have an increasingly fierce tendency.
Long-term comfort would not make him sink. For Yamamoto, all he had ever lacked was an opportunity to reignite his killing intent...
And at this very moment.
Cornered, filled with killing intent, Yamamoto.
As if awakening his long-sealed true heart, he showed a long-missed ferocious expression at this moment.
Even if he had to die, he must continuously struggle, attack... tear fresh flesh from his opponent!
Such behavior made even Yhwach, who had completely lost interest in him, couldn't help but half-turn his head.
Looking at the other's fierce and desperate posture.
The ancestor of the Quincies revealed a bland smile.
"That's right, this is the expression you should show... Yamamoto."
The failure from a thousand years ago would not be forgotten, only accumulating, churning, and condensing with the passage of time.
Until at this final moment, it transformed into spiritual 'joy,' continuously washing through his nerves like a river, bringing more satisfaction.
The defeated should be unwilling, struggling, showing such expressions like a beaten dog.
If possible.
Yhwach still wanted to continue tormenting this person, until he died, until he was satisfied.
But... this was merely recreational behavior after all.
Compared to serious matters, past grudges had no meaning for the current Yhwach.
He had completely let go of this unbearable past.
He needed to continue moving forward... As for Yamamoto, he wasn't his ultimate goal anyway.
"Do you... really want to continue fighting?"
Yhwach calmly raised the medallion in his hand, holding it in front of himself.
His tone was indifferent, his posture arrogant as he said:
"If you continue to struggle, I won't hold back at all."
"...!!!"
Seeing this object.
Yamamoto's gaze began to tremble slightly. His charging stance was suddenly restrained, and he stood there somewhat at a loss.
His Bankai was controlled.
This meant that the power of Ryujin Jakka was now completely handed over to the other party to control.
As stated before, Yamamoto did not fear death.
But if the other's purpose wasn't 'killing' but literal 'humiliation,' then it was a completely different matter.
Releasing the power of Ryujin Jakka, evaporating the entire Soul Society.
Watching the Gotei 13 members he had nurtured and valued so much struggle until exhaustion and finally turn to charcoal?
Furthermore.
With control of the Zanpakutō, Yhwach could also use Zanka no Tachi - South - Great Burial Realm of Crackling Flames.
Making him meet his past deceased comrades in this way?
...
Impossible.
Just thinking about this, Yamamoto's heart surged with thoughts close to desolation.
Everyone has regrets.
And at this moment, for the former Captain-Commander, he finally realized his shortcomings.
So-called resolve was not a reason for generous self-sacrifice. When the power gap was too large... sometimes, even wanting to die with dignity was a luxury.
"..."
In silence.
Yamamoto let his Zanpakutō, which had returned to its normal state...
Drop down.
The withered old man lowered his eyes.
His entire spirit, energy, and essence seemed to flow out from all seven orifices along with his gradually slowing heartbeat.
Such a posture was not only showing weakness but also a way of expressing his stance.
Had he given up...
Somewhat boring.
But for Yhwach, it was also the best possible result.
After all, nothing could make him happier than personally killing his former enemy.
Gripping the medallion tightly in his left palm, Yhwach stepped forward slowly.
His right hand slightly raised, light flowing in his palm, the Quincy sword symbolizing power and status flickered and materialized within.
The distance between the two slowly closed.
Yhwach's emotions rose accordingly. The somewhat suppressed feeling was now released, only making him feel increasingly satisfied!
He instinctively wanted to say something.
But... after seeing Yamamoto's downcast expression, like one whose heart had died completely.
He couldn't help but frown slightly, until finally choosing silence.
Consider it giving the other final respect.
So.
Farewell, former archenemy.
Yhwach swung the long blade in his right hand.
Cutting the opponent in half with the sharp weapon was not difficult at all.
Even in Yhwach's eyes, he seemed to vaguely see the scene of the other meeting such an end...
But that was merely an 'illusion.'
Because the moment he struck.
Some abrupt figure of unknown origin suddenly appeared at this moment.
And directly stood between the two.
The person faced Yamamoto's direction, now half-turned, merely raising his left hand, using his arm to block Yhwach's slash.
"Old man Yama, long time no see."
"...?!!"
The guy who suddenly appeared.
Even the two sides who were confronting each other didn't notice this change at all.
What's going on?
Yamamoto's expression, which had been like withered defeat, began to recover inch by inch at this moment, until finally he slightly raised his head.
Showing an expression of surprise, shock, and even disbelief.
It was hard to imagine that the man who was the former Captain-Commander would show such a loss of composure.
"You..."
His choked voice carried an air of disbelief.
However, all this was not in Yhwach's eyes.
The other only showed his back, so he couldn't see his appearance at all.
This tone, is this someone Yamamoto knows well? But this shouldn't be possible... after all, he knew all the people familiar with Yamamoto.
There definitely weren't many people who could block his slash.
Now they should all be held up, with no time to come to aid.
Moreover, compared to these things... what Yhwach cared about now were other things.
His gaze dropped down.
His scarlet eyes focused on where the blade edge and arm intersected.
Crack crack crack crack crack...
The wrestling motion was still continuing.
But the other's clearly mortal arm was now harder than steel, producing teeth-aching explosive sounds.
It couldn't cut through.
It wasn't using any protective gear, but forming some circuit-like fine thing on the body surface.
Through the torn clothing, Yhwach glimpsed the flesh hidden beneath.
And that familiar shape of reishi flow...
Without a doubt.
This was the 'Blut' that only Quincies could master.
But who was this person?
Wearing Soul Reaper attire, black hair tied high, while also highlighting a nearly pathological thinness.
"...Who are you? Why are you betraying me?"
Besides Quincies, he couldn't imagine anyone else who could use this ability.
However, Yhwach's whisper received no response.
No matter.
Just one more person who needed to be slain.
Withdrawing, retreating. After a brief charging motion, Yhwach swung the blade in his hand again, intending to slash horizontally once more!
However, before the action could take shape.
The other person, with a speed that struck first.
Half-turned around first.
His raised right leg swept like a whip, directly striking Yhwach's waist and abdomen, sending him flying completely.
Great strength...
The ancestor of the Quincies flew out uncontrollably, finally crashing head-first into the side wall, collapsing it entirely.
Yamamoto stared blankly at the other's face, his lips trembling as he tried to speak.
But he seemed hesitant at the same time, showing that choked expression.
This seemed to amuse the current 'visitor,' causing him to let out a hearty laugh.
"What's wrong, don't you recognize me? No way~ Has it been so long that you've already forgotten? Old man Yama, you shouldn't be that kind of cold and heartless person, right?"
Between laughter.
The man raised his right hand on the smoke-filled battlefield, pointing his thumb toward his own chest.
A familiar smile appeared on his face.
"I..."
"Am Seiya Arima!"
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Powerstones?
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