Chapter 346: Ryūjin Jakka

"Are you dissatisfied with my arrangements, young friend?" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asked. His bald head bore a cross-shaped scar on the right side, and his long, silver-white beard, tied with a purple band, was meticulously groomed. His long, white eyebrows extended down to his cheeks, gently swaying with the breeze.

He wore the same shihakushō as the other squad members, his tall and thin frame giving him the appearance of a slow-moving, elderly man, yet there was an unmistakable air of quiet authority about him.

The haori of the First Division Captain draped over his shoulders fluttered in the wind, and he leaned on his wooden cane, like an old man addressing his grandson.

Yet despite not releasing any spiritual pressure, his overwhelming presence was suffocating, making it difficult for others to face him.

"Your arrangements?" H'el asked, his zanpakutō held downward in his right hand. He faced Yamamoto's immense authority, undeterred by the fear that paralyzed most Shinigami, and continued walking forward at his usual pace. His voice carried a hint of puzzlement.

"Are you referring to your decision to allow me to study at the Shin'ō Academy? I appreciated the opportunity to have a quiet time to read, learn about the Shinigami's skills, and gain knowledge about your spiritual energy techniques. I am quite satisfied and grateful for your favor."

If not for Yamamoto's approval, H'el wouldn't have had such an easy time bringing Rangiku and Gin Ichimaru with him to study Shinigami techniques at the academy.

"In that case, why treat my subordinates and beloved students in such a manner?" Yamamoto's voice was calm, yet laden with a weighty authority. Even his seemingly drooping eyelids seemed to hold the formidable power of a sun's core.

The air around them grew heavier.

H'el, still holding his zanpakutō with the tip pointed downwards, continued walking forward. His expression remained indifferent as he replied, "I merely disrupted the spiritual particle structure of their bodies using my own spiritual energy. I didn't crush their spiritual pressure into dust; I held back significantly."

For allowing him and his companions to enter the academy, H'el was indeed grateful to Yamamoto. But gratitude did not override his own will.

Since they stood in his way, there was no room for sentiment; the conflict had to be resolved. Given how much restraint he had shown, H'el considered his actions more than fair.

Otherwise, there wouldn't even be bodies left.

The H'el of today was far beyond the one who had first achieved shikai and faced Aizen. At that time, his understanding of spiritual energy was limited, and he could only do so much, barely managing to force Aizen to retreat.

Now, after months of studying and delving deep into the nature of spiritual particles and the techniques formed from them, the difference was like night and day.

No one knew how many times H'el had studied and explored spiritual energy within the shikai universe, where he could manipulate time.

This span of time exceeded even the existence of the Gotei 13.

Given this, the fact that the six defeated captains still had intact bodies was something they should be profoundly grateful for.

What might seem exaggerated and arrogant to others was merely routine for H'el. He had long grown accustomed to people marveling at his casual actions.

"Such extreme arrogance," Yamamoto muttered, slightly raising his ancient eyelids to peer at H'el. His calm gaze revealed no hint of emotion or anger, and his deep, gravelly voice continued, "It seems my indulgence has allowed you to foster an arrogance that should not exist."

A suffocating pressure emanated from Yamamoto, making even the air seem as though it was being compressed into cement.

He was like a volcano suppressed for a millennium, now on the verge of erupting with devastating force.

The nearby spiritual particles solidified in the air, disrupting the trajectory of the myriad worlds of spiritual particles behind H'el.

It was as if a whirlpool had been violently disrupted, with Yamamoto's immense pressure spreading outward. The Shinigami below felt this and trembled in awe and excitement.

"That's not it at all; this is just my nature," H'el replied, shaking his head in disagreement with Yamamoto's assessment.

Fostering arrogance that shouldn't exist? Yamamoto's indulgence or lack thereof had no bearing on H'el's actions.

Nothing Yamamoto did could influence H'el's decisions or will.

H'el continued to walk forward, his expression unchanged, his right hand holding his zanpakutō with the tip still pointed downward. Despite Yamamoto being directly in his path, his steps did not slow, nor did their rhythm alter. He walked straight toward Yamamoto.

H'el's actions stirred anger and shock among the many Shinigami watching the battle.

They were angered by his disrespectful attitude toward their captain-commander, but also astonished that he could continue his approach, seemingly unfazed by Yamamoto's imposing presence.

He was walking toward Yamamoto himself. How could he dare!

"Is that so? 'This is just my nature.' The last person who displayed such a vile nature and stood before me, someone who called himself the Child of God, fled before me in terror," Yamamoto's voice lost its elderly tone, becoming laden with an oppressive weight that threatened to drive one to madness. He slowly straightened his slightly hunched back.

Such arrogant nature reminded him of the former leader of the Quincy.

The wooden cane that Yamamoto had been holding began to disintegrate from the bottom up, as if a tornado was shredding it into fragments. The pieces scattered in all directions, revealing a simple, purple-hilted Zanpakuto hidden within.

Yamamoto's hands released the cane as he gripped the hilt. His aged body straightened like a towering mountain, and he looked directly at H'el, who was now drawing near.

With his zanpakutō held downward, Yamamoto took a step forward to meet H'el, beginning the incantation for his shikai:

"All things in the universe, turn to ashes, Ryūjin Jakka!"

As the two were about to collide, Yamamoto unleashed his shikai, Ryūjin Jakka, with a swift upward slash toward H'el.

*Boom*

In an instant, a torrent of flames erupted from beneath H'el's feet, engulfing him entirely. Within the blaze, a shadowy figure of H'el could be seen, his face already charred into a skeletal form.

°°°

Hungry for more chaps? Then check out our pătreon!

Link: Påtreon.com/BaphometFiction

I post 20 advanced chapters of this fanfic there.