Chapter 214: Bankai!!
"A technique stronger than the Human Cannon…"
Satoru closed his eyes and tilted his head back, thinking hard.
The first idea that came to mind was adding Shunkō to his Pseudo—Quadruple Sōkotsu.
But that required too much finesse—like Iori's infinite R.E.D. Kicks. Easy to say the inputs, but actually pulling it off was another story.
From the sound of it, Aizen wanted him to use something more reliable.
A technique this demanding was best left unused.
So, what else did he have?
After a few seconds of contemplation, Satoru raised one arm, his eyes filled with determination.
He drew his Zanpakutō and pointed it at his limb.
"Wait, what are you planning?!"
Seeing this, Aizen couldn't help but ask.
Satoru smirked and lifted his chin.
"Ittō Kasō!"
"?"
Aizen's blood pressure spiked.
Hadō #96, Ittō Kasō—required sacrificing a charred piece of one's body to unleash devastating flames.
And "a piece" didn't mean just a finger or an ear.
To use this technique, one had to sacrifice at least an entire arm.
Once sacrificed, no healing Kidō could restore it.
He couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. "You're bold, I'll give you that."
Satoru grinned. "A real man fears no sacrifice."
"Was that supposed to be praise?"
Seeing Aizen's disapproval, Satoru shook his head.
"Then I've got another idea."
"Speak."
"Give me one dose of Potion Number Nine, and I'll take you on an epic ride."
"?"
Aizen took a deep breath, steadying his rising blood pressure.
It seemed Satoru had no more cards left to play.
What should he do?
As expected, Senzaemon had likely already assessed most of his and Satoru's abilities.
A direct confrontation would be nothing but suicidal.
His Reiatsu was inferior to his opponent's; even going all out, he could only briefly disrupt the enemy's senses momentarily.
In a high-level Reiatsu battle, such a minor disruption wouldn't be decisive.
At worst, all viable ambush tactics might have already been exhausted in previous "cycles."
Senzaemon was probably already guarding against those moves now.
Trapped with no escape and outmatched—a truly desperate situation.
A powerful Zanpakutō ability could truly elevate someone instantly.
After rapidly running through various thoughts, Aizen turned his gaze to the sword at Satoru's waist.
Enrakyōten.
Was it time to use this blade?
He could employ Enrakyōten's ability to mimic "Detached Silence," using the latter's defense-piercing trait to draw Senzaemon's attention and create an opening for Satoru.
Or he could simply simulate "Ryūjin Jakka" and engage in a head-on duel.
He had already read Yamamoto's Zanpakutō manual in the Great Spiritual Library.
If he wanted to mimic it, he could certainly do so.
He just didn't know how much damage his soul would sustain after wielding the blade.
Well, he would have to try.
With that thought, he reached toward Satoru's waist.
Smack.
His outstretched hand was caught by Satoru, who gripped his wrist.
Under Aizen's somewhat surprised gaze, Satoru lazily remarked:
"Sōsuke, we agreed I'd keep it. No takebacks."
"Stop fooling around. There's no time."
Aizen frowned slightly.
Satoru scowled. "Fooling around? When I, Satoru, make a move, I do it with seriousness and reliability!"
"A word like 'fooling around' has nothing to do with me."
He grinned, revealing a somewhat audacious smile.
"Relax, Sōsuke. As long as I'm here, this sword won't get a chance to show off."
"If Shikai isn't enough to win, why not just use Bankai?"
Aizen looked at him in surprise. "You've mastered Bankai?"
"Nope, not at all." Satoru shook his head.
Just as Aizen was growing irritated, Satoru drew the Zanpakutō at his waist.
"Even though I haven't learned Bankai yet, I need your help now."
"If we're friends, lend me your power, alright?"
Aizen nearly laughed in exasperation.
If a few simple words could convince a Zanpakutō to unleash Bankai, captain-level fighters in the Soul Society wouldn't be so rare.
Even Senzaemon across from them couldn't help but look at Satoru as if he were a clown.
Satoru... Yamamoto Shigekuni's personal disciple, reduced to this in a life-or-death situation.
"Since you've already lost your mind, allow this old man to grant you release."
With that, he swung his blade from a distance.
A silver arc of sword energy, shaped like a crescent moon, shot toward Satoru's neck.
A cold glint flashed in Aizen's eyes as he prepared to step in front of Satoru and shatter the attack.
But before he could move, a towering pillar of Reiastra erupted from Satoru beside him!
Creeeak, creeeak!
The air seemed to fill with a grating, teeth-chilling friction sound.
A viscous, liquid-like Reiatsu trembled ceaselessly between heaven and earth.
Everyone instantly raised their heads, casting terrified gazes toward the figure in the sky—
"Kekekeke… Hehehe, Gahahahaha!!"
Within the dazzling pillar of light, Satoru's form was indiscernible, only his righteous and imposing laughter could be heard.
Aizen raised an arm to shield his face, his expression one of disbelief as he looked toward Satoru, all while remaining wary of Senzaemon.
...Is this a joke?
Senzaemon, standing mid-air, was forced back two steps by this terrifying power.
He reached out, lightly brushing his fingers through the Reishi in the air.
The real deal?!
For the first time since the battle began, Szayelaporro lost his composure.
His eyes widened, his expression that of someone who had discovered a new world, a new treasure, as he gazed fervently at Satoru.
His new boss... Bah, what new boss.
His boss had actually obtained Bankai through such an unimaginable method?
He had studied Shinigami for nearly a thousand years, yet he had never heard of such an unbelievable feat!
He wanted so badly to take his boss into the laboratory, to dissect him, to extract every one of his internal organs...
Harribel frowned slightly.
Satoru's Reiatsu was too overwhelming.
Even as a Vasto Lorde, she felt as though it was difficult to remain standing.
Many of the Adjuchas beside her had already collapsed to the ground.
Those who had been injured earlier even lost their forms entirely, turning into black, drifting ash.
Harribel took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
If Hueco Mundo were to have a true king, one who could change this chaotic era... then she believed it should be the man in the sky!
As the pillar of light gradually faded, Satoru's form became visible.
His arms were bare, each hand gripping a massive golden iron claw.
Behind him, a golden shield materialized.
The shield split down the middle, parting to either side to form two magnificent wings.
A half-helmet, revealing only cold eyes and adorned with a pair of silver horns, appeared on his face.
His chest and back were clad in silver light armor.
Under the gaze of everyone present, Satoru exhaled a long, white breath.
He crossed his arms, then abruptly spread them wide.
Senzaemon's eyes widened, his expression that of facing a formidable enemy.
Alarm bells rang frantically in his heart!
He gripped his Zanpakutō tightly with both hands, prepared to reverse time.
In the next instant, color seemed to vanish from his vision.
Between heaven and earth, only monochrome remained.
Satoru extended one hand forward, his iron claw tracing a silver arc of light as if to cleave the world anew.
His figure, at some unknown moment, had appeared behind Senzaemon.
Amid the silence, his voice slowly rang out—
"Bankai."
"Risō Jakumetsu, Shinga Tsūmei!"