Bankai.
The second stage of a zanpakutō's release and the ultimate form of a death god's power.
Even in the long history of Soul Society, those who can achieve Bankai are rare.
Because it requires not only overwhelming spiritual pressure but also complete communion with the zanpakutō's spirit.
Achieving Bankai is not about brute strength; it's about a profound bond between the wielder and their blade.
A surge of violent spiritual energy swept across the street like a storm.
The clear moonlight disappeared, replaced by dark, churning clouds that covered the sky.
Booming shockwaves echoed through the night.
The air twisted with spiritual power so intense it was suffocating.
Standing on the rooftop, Aizen watched the scene unfold with a calm yet intrigued expression.
He gently adjusted his glasses, speaking softly to the anxious man beside him.
"Perfect. So this is your true strength, Seiya."
The blast of spiritual pressure shattered the misty sea created by Sāgara Ryū.
The fog receded, revealing Kiganjō in his monstrous new form.
He was no longer human.
Standing over five meters tall, his muscular frame bulged grotesquely, his body covered in black markings resembling tribal tattoos.
Two twisted horns jutted from his head.
Four additional arms ripped through his sides, emerging from the torn flesh of his ribs.
The beastly figure stomped forward, his six massive arms flexing as he roared with wild laughter.
"Gahahaha!" Kiganjō's voice thundered.
He swung his fists through the air, generating shockwaves that rippled across the street.
The sheer force of his movements shattered nearby buildings, reducing them to rubble.
The ground cracked, crumbled, and disintegrated into spiritual particles.
"See that? This is my Enma Ōtsuchi!" Kiganjō bellowed.
"My zanpakutō is meaningless now! I don't need a sword anymore—I am the sharpest blade!"
He slammed his fists into the air again, unleashing more invisible shockwaves.
"Come out, kid! Where are you hiding? Or do you want me to destroy this entire street until you've got nowhere left to run?!"
Watching from a distance, Tōsen Kaname shivered as he felt the oppressive spiritual pressure crash down around him.
Sweat dripped from his brow as his instincts screamed at him to run.
His legs shook, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
But just as he took a step back, he felt a steady hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down, Kaname," Aizen said gently.
His voice was soothing, but there was an undeniable weight behind his words.
Tōsen swallowed hard and nodded.
"Apologies… I lost control."
"There's no need to apologize." Aizen's calm smile remained unwavering.
"This is your first time witnessing a Bankai at this range. It's only natural to feel overwhelmed."
He glanced back toward the battlefield, where Kiganjō's monstrous form towered over the ruined street.
"Without sufficient spiritual pressure of your own, standing in the presence of a fully unleashed Bankai is a challenge in itself."
Amidst the chaos, Seiya Arima reappeared.
His form shimmered into existence within the dense mist, standing about ten meters away from Kiganjō.
Kiganjō's gaze locked onto him instantly, his six fists tightening as his muscles tensed.
"You're finally showing yourself!" Kiganjō snarled.
His body tensed, and his monstrous arms flexed as he prepared to strike.
With a roar, he slammed his fists toward Seiya, sending an invisible shockwave of compressed air barreling toward him.
Seiya's body shattered.
His form disintegrated into particles of light and mist, vanishing without a trace.
"What the—?!" Kiganjō growled.
He spun around, searching for his target, only to see Seiya's form materialize to his left.
Without a word, Seiya stepped forward and swung his zanpakutō in a clean, precise arc.
The blade struck Kiganjō's waist.
Clang!
The sound of metal on metal echoed as Seiya's blade barely pierced the monstrous figure's skin.
Kiganjō sneered.
"That flimsy little toothpick can't hurt me!"
He swung his massive hand, slamming it into Seiya's body and scattering the boy's form into mist once again.
But no sooner had Kiganjō turned back to his original position than Seiya reappeared to his right.
With the same calm expression, Seiya swung his blade once more, aiming for the exact same spot.
Kiganjō's patience snapped.
"I told you, that won't work!" he roared, his fists slamming into Seiya again and again.
The boy's body shattered and reformed, each time returning to the same spot to swing his blade.
No matter how many times Kiganjō struck him down, Seiya continued to appear, his blade cutting through the air in the exact same motion.
Again and again, without pause or hesitation.
At last, Kiganjō felt it—a sharp sting of pain in his side.
His eyes widened in shock as he looked down to see a shallow cut in his waist.
It wasn't deep, but it was unmistakably a wound.
Blood trickled from the cut, staining the torn fabric of his clothes.
"…What the hell?"
Kiganjō's voice trembled with confusion.
"How… How did you cut me?"
He looked back at Seiya, who now stood motionless a few meters away.
There was no emotion on Seiya's face, only calm detachment.
"What did you do?!" Kiganjō demanded, his voice rising in anger and fear.
Seiya tilted his head slightly, considering the question.
Then he answered softly.
"All I did… was swing my blade."
Another Seiya appeared to his right, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"Yeah," the second Seiya echoed.
"To you, it's probably just that simple."
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Powerstones?
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