The goose-feather snowflakes gently drifted down, mingling with the brilliance of the flames and transforming into shimmering starlight, illuminating the surroundings with a surreal glow.
The Nine-Tails, like a mystical spirit from a snowy mountain, stepped forward gracefully toward Yamamoto.
Towering at nearly two meters tall, it commanded the presence to look down upon everyone gathered there.
Its nine voluminous, snow-white tails swayed elegantly in the wind, resembling pine trees adorned with frost, their movements synchronized with the icy breeze.
In its eyes burned an ageless wisdom and a quiet determination, a presence that stood equal to the commanding aura of Yamamoto himself.
[Pokémon: Nine-Tails (Kyuubi)]
- Type: Ice, Fairy
- Ability: 'Snow Warning' (Triggers hailstorm weather upon entering battle.)
- Level: 89
- Cost: 70,000 points
This magnificent Alolan Nine-Tails was Rukia's trump card, the reason she dared to challenge Yamamoto and defy the rigid order of the Seireitei.
Though Rukia had only acquired it recently, Hermes had explained its extraordinary nature in great detail.
This Nine-Tails wasn't just any Pokémon—it was a rare immortal species, possessing a lifespan of at least a thousand years.
It had already lived nearly a millennium, sharpening its skills to near perfection. While its official level capped at 89, its combat capabilities far exceeded that, rivaling those of level-90 Pokémon or even surpassing many legendary second-tier beasts.
However, due to the limitations of its natural bloodline, the Nine-Tails had reached the peak of its potential, with little chance of further advancement. This restriction was also why its price was only 70,000 points.
But to have achieved such strength with an ordinary lineage...
This Nine-Tails was nothing short of extraordinary—"a mortal who rivaled the divine."
Moreover, with her total points surpassing 100,000, Rukia had recently been promoted to VIP Level 6 in the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce.
This status granted her access to customized transactions, which she had used judiciously:
- 70,000 points were spent on acquiring the Nine-Tails.
- 10,000 points went toward unlocking 'Bond Evolution' and 'Hollowfication Face Control'.
- 5,000 points were used to purchase 'Mega Evolution' and a vial of 'Life Essence'.
Although Hermes had advised her that Gigantamaxing would better suit her current needs, Rukia had chosen a different path.
After experiencing the bond shared with the Nine-Tails, she felt a kinship—a shared defiance against the limits of fate and bloodline.
This connection compelled her to invest in 'Life Essence', enabling her Nine-Tails to transcend the confines of its species and ascend to a higher state of being.
Rukia saw in her Nine-Tails the same unwillingness to surrender that burned within her own heart.
This shared determination created a powerful bond, deepening their connection even in such a short time.
In the Ruins of the Kuchiki Mansion, amid the shattered remnants of the Kuchiki family estate, Rukia slowly raised her arm, exposing a pale wrist adorned with a shimmering bracelet.
It was no ordinary ornament but a Pokémon Wristband, radiating an enigmatic power.
Her lips curled into a cold smile, her gaze brimming with disdain.
"If you're so sure of your judgment, Captain..."
"If you trust Central Room 46 so blindly..."
"Then I have no choice but to defeat you myself and let you see how absurd your faith truly is!"
She raised her voice, summoning her partner with an unshakable resolve.
"Descend upon this frozen world, Nine-Tails! Bond Evolution! MEGA Evolution!"
BOOM!
The heavens roared as a violent tremor rippled through the skies. Thunderous vibrations echoed, heralding an impending transformation.
The gentle snowflakes dancing in the air suddenly turned wild, morphing into a raging blizzard that engulfed all of Seireitei in an instant.
Even the distant Rukongai was not spared from the icy storm.
A piercing cry shattered the stillness.
"Howl!!!!"
The Nine-Tails lifted its head to the heavens and howled, its voice resonating across the frozen battlefield.
A radiant light enveloped its body, divine and otherworldly, until it seemed to shine brighter than the moon itself.
When the light subsided, the Nine-Tails stood transformed.
Though its physical form hadn't drastically changed, subtle differences were evident.
The simplicity once reflected in its expression had given way to a sharper, more dynamic vitality. Its eyes were brighter, more focused, and its movements exuded a newfound confidence.
The nine voluminous tails now appeared almost ethereal, like delicate streams of light cascading around its body, accentuating the regal beauty of its enhanced form.
The Nine-Tails was no longer just a creature of ice and snow. It had become something far more—a divine presence, poised to challenge the most unyielding forces of the Seireitei.
The most striking change was the terrifying cold aura constantly radiating from its body, capable of freezing the very air around it.
It felt as though just looking at it could trap you in ice.
Even someone as powerful as Byakuya found himself unworthy to witness the battle at this moment.
In the presence of this vast, cloud-like cold air, he couldn't summon the courage to take a single step forward.
"It's terrifying..."
Byakuya murmured suddenly, his voice trembling. His eyes held an indescribable mix of awe and fear.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Yamamoto halted abruptly the moment he laid eyes on Kyuubi.
Because on the body of the Nine-Tailed Fox, he sensed a long-forgotten and unsettling sensation—a primal tremor of fear!
Although he detected no spiritual pressure, his highly honed instincts screamed at him—a dire warning: If he underestimated the creature before him, he might...
'die!'
Through the power of double evolution, Nine-Tails had shattered centuries-old limits in a single breakthrough, reaching the peak of Level 90 and nearing the pinnacle of Level 100!
Its life essence surged, stabilizing and amplifying its aura further. Although this wouldn't make it stronger immediately, Rukia was certain—if she canceled the evolution now, Nine-Tails' strength would far surpass Level 89, possibly climbing even higher.
Perhaps... just one more step.
Rukia, however, was utterly disillusioned by Yamamoto's actions.
Even if Aizen hadn't just targeted her, she'd already felt the urge to defect—to join Aizen's side and tear down this decaying regime!
"Kyuubi, don't worry about me. Just fight!"
She waved resolutely, though she felt waves of overwhelming ice and spiritual energy radiating from Kyuubi.
Deep down, she understood—she could no longer participate in this battle.
With a loud cry, Kyuubi responded to her command.
In an instant, thousands of small, glimmering ice shards appeared on its tails. The massive, fluffy tails swept gracefully through the air, scattering the shards like falling snowflakes.
But these weren't mere flakes. Infused with immense power, they shot toward Yamamoto in a dazzling barrage.
Move: Ice Shards!
Though a standard ice-type move, Nine-Tails had refined it over centuries. Its range and intensity were now devastating.
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed as the attack surged toward him. He dared not let his guard down.
Flames erupted from his body, boiling and surging like molten lava.
Amid the raging snowstorm, a column of fire shot skyward, melting the blizzard and dispersing the biting winds.
"Bankai!"
"Longsword of the Remnant Flame, South: Great Burial Ranks of the Ten Trillion Fire Dead!"
Flames roared from his body, encasing him in a blazing cloak that radiated the power of a god.
As the countless ice shards flew toward him, they evaporated instantly upon contact with his fiery aura.
"As expected of the Captain Commander..."
Standing nearby, Rukia watched Yamamoto's Bankai with a serious expression.
Clearly, the captain's strength exceeded even her expectations.
But her focus quickly returned to Kyuubi.
Kyuubi, upon witnessing Yamamoto's fiery transformation, felt no fear. Instead, an eager fighting spirit welled up within it.
For centuries, it had not faced an opponent of this caliber. Now, in this unfamiliar world, it had broken through its limits—and finally encountered a worthy rival to sharpen its strength.
Truthfully, it was starting to 'enjoy' this place.
With another spirited cry, Kyuubi's tails swayed, releasing a bone-chilling wind from its body.
Move: Blizzard!
Though an ordinary ice-type attack, in Kyuubi's hands, it swept over Seireitei like an unstoppable natural disaster.
Thus, an unprecedented battle began!
...
...
"This... what kind of power is this!?"
At this moment, all the captains, including Aizen—who had initially dismissed the situation as mere imagination—gathered at the edge of the battlefield.
They had assumed Captain Yamamoto would step in and resolve the situation swiftly.
But now...
They realized how gravely mistaken they were.
Not just mistaken—completely, utterly wrong.
What they had thought was shocking enough—a new recruit who had only recently awakened her spiritual pressure managing to achieve Bankai in a matter of months—now seemed trivial.
Watching the massive fox under Rukia's command clash against Captain Yamamoto had utterly shattered their worldview.
Several captains quickly moved to aid the experts within their ranks, rescuing Shinigami still caught in the battle's radius.
Because neither combatant had any intention of targeting outsiders, these rescue efforts proceeded smoothly.
Even Byakuya, though overwhelmed by how far the situation had spiraled out of his control, did not abandon his duty as the head of the Kuchiki family. He methodically evacuated frozen members of his family, transporting them to safety one by one.
He could sense that these individuals were merely frozen due to the sudden drop in extreme cold, without suffering any serious injuries.
A little basic treatment, and they would recover without complications.
This fact solidified his trust in Rukia, despite the barrage of secrets she had recently unveiled.
Even now, Rukia had ensured that no member of the Kuchiki family was seriously harmed.
As for her Bankai's ability, Byakuya could deduce its nature.
A power like hers, capable of unleashing such destruction, would inevitably endanger some innocent bystanders when fully unleashed.
Thus, the battle above Seireitei unfolded—a symphony of ice and fire clashing with cataclysmic force.
Below, the various departments of Seireitei mobilized with urgency. Teams worked tirelessly to escort personnel out of the war zone and into safe areas.
The members of the Kidō Corps, assisted by several captains, began constructing an immense spiritual pressure barrier around Seireitei itself.
Thanks to their efforts, the attacks, which resembled natural disasters, were kept from directly striking and devastating the city.
However...
The constant fractures forming in the barrier made everyone tremble with unease.
They understood all too well:
If either combatant decided to target Seireitei, the barrier would be as fragile as a sheet of paper against the combined might of Captain Yamamoto and the enormous fox.
It would shatter with a single touch!