With a crisp crack, Ichibei Hyosube's sternum instantly caved in, and he was sent flying backward.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice that at the moment the fist struck him, a large hand had already blocked in front of him, absorbing most of the impact.
As expected of the Zero Division's leader, his reaction speed was indeed quick!
With a dull thud, Ichibei Hyosube's back slammed hard against the wall, shaking down the ink wash paintings hanging there.
In an instant, thick smoke and dust billowed out, obscuring the view.
Aozaki Reiji narrowed his eyes slightly, his Reiatsu surging throughout his body, emitting a faint glow, as he prepared to step forward and deliver another strike.
A sturdy figure swiftly rushed out from the dust, and a foot came kicking toward him.
Upon seeing this, Ichibei Hyosube quickly crossed his arms in front of his chest, attempting to block the kick.
With a loud bang, a muffled thud even more violent than before echoed.
Ichibei Hyosube's arms were pressed tightly against his chest by the immense force, as if they were about to embed into him.
He was sent flying backward again, like an arrow shot from a bowstring, soaring thousands of meters away before finally embedding himself deep into the ground.
"What powerful strength!"
Ichibei Hyosube climbed out from the ground, half-crouching.
He flexed his hands, and his joints made a series of cracking sounds.
His left hand trembled incessantly, and a deep bloody hole appeared in the center of his palm, blood continuously gushing out.
The blood flowed down his fingertips like an overturned paint bottle, forming a crimson trail.
The bones in his arms were almost completely shattered, as if crushed into countless tiny fragments.
All of this was due to that fatal punch and kick.
They looked at each other, but no one spoke to ask that foolish question—
Should they continue?
As another drop of blood fell onto the cold floor, blossoming into a crimson flower, Ichibei Hyosube suddenly moved.
His figure moved like a ghost, and black Reiatsu surged like a tide beneath his feet, spreading rapidly.
He unhesitatingly plunged his injured arm into the ground, seemingly searching for a source of power.
At the same time, Aozaki Reiji's steps shifted lightly, instantly traversing thousands of meters, rushing towards Ichibei Hyosube with extreme speed.
His palm transformed into a sharp blade, striking downwards with a fierce momentum.
Ichibei Hyosube's reaction was equally swift.
He brought his five fingers together and abruptly thrust forward with a palm strike.
Senri Tsūtenshō!
In an instant, a giant hand, condensed from Reiatsu, appeared out of thin air and slammed fiercely towards Aozaki Reiji's hand-blade.
However, Aozaki Reiji's attack was not hindered by this.
His hand-blade chopped down with astonishing speed, easily slicing the giant hand in half.
But just then, Ichibei Hyosube's figure once again disappeared into the ink-black Reiatsu.
Immediately after, Aozaki Reiji found that his hand-blade had struck the shaft of a giant brush.
That brush was clearly no ordinary weapon; it was Ichibei Hyosube's Zanpakuto!
And at this moment, Ichibei Hyosube's body also underwent a change.
His injuries miraculously healed as if he had never been hurt.
Ichibei Hyosube tilted the brush shaft, then raised the blade, the tip grazing past Aozaki Reiji.
Suddenly, Aozaki Reiji frowned, looking at his arm with some surprise.
What's going on?
No pain, no other sensation whatsoever.
Did he not use the Zanpakuto's ability?
Seeing the change in his expression, Ichibei Hyosube clearly misunderstood, and he grinned, saying, "Hahaha, you found it, didn't you? It cuts names, not flesh... This is Ichimonji's ability."
"Anything struck by this blade will have half its power diminished, and its name will also be cut in half."
"Which means 'Aozaki Reiji's' name was just cut in half; now you are 'Aozaki.'"
After speaking, Ichibei Hyosube let out a sinister laugh and swung the brush in his hand again, striking at Aozaki Reiji.
Facing Ichibei Hyosube's attack, Aozaki Reiji did not retreat.
Instead, he suddenly moved.
He quickly raised his arm and forcefully blocked the descending brush.
However, this time, when his arm came into contact with the brush, he still felt no pain or abnormality, nor did his strength diminish by half.
Despite being somewhat strange, Aozaki Reiji did not stop his actions because of it.
There was no room for hesitation in battle.
He unhesitatingly clenched his right fist and violently attacked forward.
Ichibei Hyosube raised his eyebrows, a surprised expression on his face, seemingly unexpected and puzzled by Aozaki Reiji's reaction.
Is he trying to trade injuries?
But after being struck twice by my Ichimonji, with only a quarter of his strength left, how could he possibly harm a Royal Key body?
However, just then, he suddenly realized that something was wrong!!
As Aozaki Reiji's fist was about to make contact with his body, he felt a terrifying power contained within it, and the terrifying pressure made him tremble involuntarily.
This power was even stronger than before!
He immediately retreated with all his might, trying to create distance between himself and Aozaki Reiji.
But Aozaki Reiji's speed was even faster than his.
His fist swiftly plunged into Ichibei Hyosube's body like lightning.
At this moment, Aozaki Reiji, after a long time, finally unleashed his original style ultimate technique—
Ikkotsu!!!
Boom!!!
The power of this punch was unleashed without reservation on Ichibei Hyosube's body!
The terrifying impact instantly completely engulfed Ichibei Hyosube's body!
"Ugh ah!!!"
The intense pain made Ichibei Hyosube let out a wail he hadn't uttered in hundreds of thousands of years.
At this moment, the other four Zero Division members, having noticed the commotion, finally arrived.
Hikifune Kirio and Senjumaru, upon learning that Ichibei Hyosube was about to fight Aozaki Reiji, rushed over to dissuade him.
But they never expected that upon arriving at the scene, they would witness an astonishing sight—
Aozaki Reiji had actually punched Ichibei Hyosube hard in the stomach!
Instantly, Ichibei Hyosube's upper body exploded like a detonated bomb, turning into countless fragments of flesh and blood.
His lower body remained standing for a few wobbles before collapsing weakly to the ground.
Some chunks of flesh scattered in front of everyone, and the splattered blood covered the entire ground, like blooming flowers.
"Hey, hey, hey, how did you get yourself into this state? You're joking, right..."
Nimaiya Ōetsu's mouth hung open in astonishment, his face filled with an expression of disbelief.
Kirinjii Tenjiro, carrying his oar-like Zanpakuto, was equally stunned speechless.
Ichibei Hyosube actually died like that?
Since joining the Zero Division, this was the first time anyone had managed to beat him into such a miserable state.
In the past, during sparring sessions among Zero Division members, even without holding back, Ichibei Hyosube had never been seen injured!
Even Nimaiya Ōetsu, who was second only to the Monk in seniority within the Zero Division, couldn't pose any threat to him.
Aozaki Reiji... This guy actually did something that even they, the Zero Division members, couldn't do!?
Are the captains of the Gotei 13 this terrifying now?
Looking at the scattered flesh on the ground, Aozaki Reiji, with a relaxed expression, spoke:
"The big bald guy's gone. Who's taking me to the Soul King Palace?"
"Kid, you just killed our leader. Are you really that calm?"
Kirinjii Tenjiro pouted.
We are the Royal Special Forces.
Although you killed the Great Monk, and your strength is definitely greater than ours...
You should at least show some respect, shouldn't you!?
Aozaki Reiji said, "He's not going to die anyway, so hurry up and decide. Time's almost up."
After he finished speaking, the Zero Division members exchanged glances.
It seemed that Aozaki Reiji wasn't trying to conquer the Soul King Palace.
"No wonder that guy told me to be ready at any time... I'll take you."
Nimaiya Ōetsu sighed, raising his hand sheepishly.