Chapter 345: Captain-Commander

"The Captain-General has appeared."

"Is he really that strong? To warrant the Captain-General's presence?"

"Of course, he took down six squad captains with ease."

"We've never seen the Captain-General in action before!"

"The strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society, wielding the Zanpakutō—Ryūjin Jakka, which possesses the most powerful attack, highest temperature, and widest area of effect among all Shinigami Zanpakutō."

"The man who spans the history of the Gotei 13."

The Shinigami on the ground in the Seireitei gazed up at the Captain-General with shock and disbelief in their eyes. That this child was worthy of the Captain-General's personal intervention was staggering.

Even the strongest man in the Soul Society was stepping in to stop him. No matter what happened next, this child would die with honor, with a death worthy of the highest respect.

The Shinigami were trembling with excitement, their bodies shaking as they looked up at the figure of their Captain-General, their faces flushed with fervor.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was like a pillar of the nation. His mere presence quelled the shock and chaos caused by H'el's single attack—Kurohitsugi—which had instantly defeated three captains. The pressure he brought down from the heavens cleared all the panic and unease, instilling the ordinary Shinigami below with immense confidence.

"The Captain-General has come!" Unlike the common Shinigami, who felt reassured and calm at the sight of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Yoruichi Shihōin, who was setting up barrier traps with Kisuke Urahara, had a grave expression in her eyes.

Within the Seireitei, the Captain-General of the 1st Division, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, was like a nuclear bomb, overseeing the entire Seireitei and commanding all operations.

Normally, the Gotei 13 would handle affairs. If ordinary Shinigami couldn't resolve an issue, a Vice-Captain would step in, and Vice-Captains could solve about 80% of the problems.

If Vice-Captains couldn't handle it, then the Squad Captains would take action. Squad Captains were the high-end, even the top-tier, combat power in the Soul Society, and there were very few situations they couldn't resolve.

If a single Captain couldn't handle it, then multiple Squad Captains would join forces. There was rarely a situation that the Gotei 13, with more than half of its Captains, couldn't resolve. Such situations were almost unheard of unless it was a full-scale war like the one against the Quincy. But even in that war, there was no need for more than half of the Captains to gang up on one individual.

However, if even a united front of Captain-level Shinigami couldn't solve a problem, then it was a true crisis.

The appearance of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto meant that the situation was dire.

Now that the Captain-General was on the battlefield, what did this signify?

It was not as simple as the ordinary Shinigami thinking that victory was assured just because the Captain-General was here, and all they needed to do was cheer him on.

The appearance of a nuclear weapon on the battlefield meant that the situation had escalated to a point where its use was inevitable. And if that weapon failed or caused destruction in the Seireitei, then it was a disaster in the making.

Especially since the Captain-General's Zanpakutō was even more exaggerated than a nuclear weapon, possessing the highest attack power and combat strength in the entire Soul Society, and it was the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakutō.

Its Shikai had a temperature equivalent to the surface of the sun, while its Bankai reached temperatures comparable to the sun's core.

The sun's core is about 3,600 times hotter than its surface, with a temperature of around 20 million degrees Celsius.

Once unleashed, the sun's core temperature would burn the Soul Society's moisture, and if prolonged, it could evaporate the entire Soul Society.

Strictly speaking, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Zanpakutō was capable of destroying the three worlds.

"The Captain-General is here. We might not even need these traps," Kisuke Urahara squinted, sharing the same concern as Yoruichi Shihōin.

Ordinary Shinigami didn't understand what the Captain-General's appearance meant, but Kisuke knew all too well.

The fact that such a weapon was being deployed meant that the Seireitei was revealing its last card.

It wasn't that they didn't believe in Yamamoto; it was just that his appearance made Kisuke feel that the other Captains were rendered somewhat useless, unable even to stop a mere child.

But after seeing H'el defeat six Captains, it really did seem that no other Captain could compare in direct combat, and it appeared that only Genryūsai Shigekuni could deal with him.

Just by appearing on the battlefield, Genryūsai Shigekuni made the other Captains feel a weight in their hearts, realizing that this was no simple matter.

Jūshirō Ukitake had halted the incantation for his Bankai, but upon seeing his teacher, Yamamoto, appear before H'el, his heart tightened even more.

He knew that the Captain-General had appeared not just to stop H'el but also to prevent him from using his Bankai.

Within Jūshirō Ukitake's body was the right arm of the Soul King, the power of stillness.

Jūshirō Ukitake had been frail since childhood, and at the age of three, his first illness turned his hair white. When he was on the brink of death, his parents brought him to the shrine of the One-Eyed God, who was an embodiment of the Soul King's right arm. The One-Eyed God took his lungs, granting Ukitake the power to become a substitute for the Soul King.

After that, Ukitake's illness was alleviated, or rather, suppressed, allowing him to survive.

His body harbored the Soul King's right arm, the power of stillness, and he was certain he could halt H'el's advance, but he wasn't sure if he should use it.

Because once used, his life would likely end. While Ukitake wasn't overly concerned about his own life, the potential aftermath was what worried him, as it could lead to great chaos.

Unless absolutely necessary, Ukitake would never easily use his Bankai or reveal the Soul King's right arm.

Fortunately, the appearance of his teacher, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, showed that he didn't want Ukitake to use the Spirit King's power.

This was both a relief and a source of tension for Ukitake.

Because his teacher's power would have no small impact either.

The 3rd Division's members, led by Vice-Captain Aizen Sōsuke, were making their way through the high alleys, rushing to support the ground forces. They stopped in their tracks, looking up as Genryūsai Shigekuni suddenly appeared before H'el. Aizen's eyes behind his black-framed glasses showed a hint of caution and seriousness.

"Even the Captain-General has stepped in. It seems H'el is in trouble," Aizen remarked with a slight narrowing of his eyes, looking up at the sky. His glasses reflected the light, hiding the complexity in his gaze.

"Maybe," responded Ichimaru Gin, who was beside him, with a sly smile.

The Captain-General might be powerful.

But Gin had never seen it.

He had seen H'el's power.

So, there was nothing to worry about.

Aizen chuckled softly, shaking his head, and turned his attention back to leading the 3rd Division members, heading to the battlefield to support the wounded Captains.

°°°

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