Chapter 69: Critical Situation

At this moment, Yamahiko was hiding beneath the cliff. He first used a combination of Kido to distract Lamierez's attention, then he slid down the mountainside. When the explosion drew Lamierez's focus, Yamahiko took the opportunity to create an opening using Seppa and slipped into it. He concealed himself using Bakudō #26. Kyokkō.

Yamahiko could ensure that Lamierez wouldn't detect him, but he wasn't sure if he could evade Sōsuke Aizen, who might be observing from the sky.

All he could do now was pray.

Yamahiko endured the pain in his body. This medium-sized Hollow was specifically designed against him. It could nullify his Zanpakuto and neutralize his lightning-based abilities, rendering him powerless. Even with his close-to-seventh-grade reiryoku, the high-level Kido he possessed was all lightning-based, and his intermediate-level Kido lacked the power. Furthermore, the Hollow surpassed him in strength and speed, leaving Yamahiko unable to engage in battle.

Yamahiko concealed himself in the cave entrance, praying not to be discovered by Aizen.

Meanwhile, in the skies above, Gin Ichimaru suddenly smiled and asked, "Captain Aizen, what's your plan now that he's escaped?"

Aizen shook his head, replying, "He hasn't escaped. He's hiding right there."

Aizen pointed to a nearby location, indicating that he had discovered Yamahiko's whereabouts.

Gin asked, "So, are you going to have Lamierez kill him?"

Aizen smiled and said, "Of course, we have to eliminate him. Lamierez's abilities are tailor-made to counter him. If he report this to the Gotei 13, it may raise their suspicions."

Aizen left this statement, and then, with a shake of his body, Lamierez, still looking towards the cliff, smiled and said, "So you're over there."

Lamierez descended from the cliff, charging into the cave. With a thunderous crash, the cave collapsed, burying Lamierez within. Yamahiko, on the other hand, flew out of the opening and made his escape into the distance.

Yamahiko hid at the side of the cave's entrance. As Lamierez entered, he burst out of the cave and used Seppa(Stone Wave) to turn the rocky wall above into sand, providing an opportunity for his escape.

However, the sand clearly couldn't harm Lamierez. He quickly emerged from the cave and pursued Yamahiko.

Lamierez's speed was exceptional, nearly matching Yamahiko's Shunpo. With a slight flutter of his two wings, he closed the gap between them.

Though Lamierez and Metastacia were medium-sized Hollows and didn't compare to the giant Hollows or Menos Grande, their strength was formidable. They possessed special abilities and formidable forms.

Metastacia had long hair that could entangle and eliminate foes. Lamierez, on the other hand, excelled in speed and power.

With his combat skills alone, Lamierez could contend with lieutenant-level combat abilities in hand-to-hand combat.

Yamahiko, aware of Lamierez swiftly closing in from behind, was in great discomfort due to the injuries on his back. As Lamierez was about to catch up to him, Yamahiko suddenly halted.

"Hadō #33. Sōkatsui."

Blue flames instantly enveloped Lamierez, but just for a moment. Lamierez broke free from the flames.

Sōkatsui had a broad attack range but didn't deal much more damage than Shakkahō It was utterly ineffective against Lamierez.

However, in the next moment, Yamahiko's right hand generated six light strips that flew towards Lamierez, immobilizing him in mid-air.

Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yamahiko turned and made his escape. But after he had gone a short distance, Lamierez broke free from the light strips.

Even though Six-Rod Light Restraint(Rikujōkōrō) was an advanced Kidō, abandoning the incantation greatly reduced its power. Yamahiko had been able to maintain the damage output of intermediate-level Kidō and Hadō at around 40% by foregoing incantations. However, advanced Kidō and Hadō, even with the incantation omission, had a maximum power output of roughly 30%, which was less than one-third.

Even Aizen, when using advanced Hadō, could only maintain one-third of the power. It was practically useless. As for advanced Kidō that required a full incantation, it had a lengthy incantation consisting of eighteen words, which Yamahiko couldn't afford to chant in his current situation.

Feeling the rapidly approaching figure behind him, Yamahiko swung his arm again. Several light rods were thrown, restraining Lamierez's movements.

Bakudō #62. Hyapporankan

Since it was a group attack technique, its individual restraining ability was relatively weaker. Moreover, due to the incantation omission, Lamierez only briefly stalled before shattering the light rods and charging forward once more.

Yamahiko was once again closing in on Lamierez. Just as he was about to turn and use Six-Rod Light Restraint(Rikujōkōrō), Lamierez suddenly disappeared.

"Jējējē, I've got you now."

A voice sounded beneath Yamahiko, and to his surprise, Lamierez appeared directly below him, delivering a powerful punch.

Bang.

Yamahiko's right leg was struck by Lamierez, and it snapped with a crisp sound. His body plummeted to the ground uncontrollably.

Damn.

Yamahiko crashed heavily to the ground, his right leg shattered, rendering him unable to move.

At this moment, Lamyris's wings flapped, bringing him to stand in front of Yamahiko. He smiled and said, "Jējējē, you can't escape now."

Just as Lamierez was about to deliver the final blow, a voice rang out, "Surge, Water and Heaven, Nejibana."

With a soft incantation, a surge of water enveloped Yamahiko and swirled around him. Lamierez's fist struck the water, shattering the outer layer but failing to reach Yamahiko as the water continually replenished and absorbed all the force, ultimately blocking Lamierez's attack.

Lamierez raised his head and saw a man wielding the Trident approaching from a short distance away, step by step.

Yamahiko let out a sigh of relief; Kaien Shiba had arrived, although later than usual.

Lamierez could nullify lightning-based Zanpakuto, but he couldn't nullify a water-based Zanpakuto. With the abilities of his Zanpakuto, Kaien Shiba could easily defeat him.

"Are you here to stop Lamierez?"

Lamierez looked at Kaien Shiba, tilting his head slightly. In the next moment, his body appeared right in front of Kaien, throwing a punch.

"Such incredible speed."

"So fast," Shiba Kaien thought as he was caught off guard. Lamierez had rushed in front of him, but compared to Yamahiko's Shunko, this speed seemed rather sluggish.

It's important to note that Kaien had gained experience in dealing with speed-based opponents during his sparring sessions with Yamahiko.

Bang.

Kaien's Trident effortlessly blocked Lamierez's punch. In the next moment, a massive wave surged, forming a vortex that enveloped Lamierez, crushing his body layer by layer.

"Roar."

Lamierez had his wings torn off, and in a fit of rage, he raised his massive fists, attacking the water barrier surrounding him.

Boom, boom, boom.

Lamierez managed to withstand the pressure from the water barrier with his fists.

"His strength is impressive."

Kaien was surprised, but he quickly added, "However, that's not enough."

Kaien waved his Trident, and suddenly, the surging waves rapidly condensed into a water sphere, enveloping Lamierez within it.

Inside the water sphere, Lamierez continued to swing his fists but was stripped of his strength by the water flow, rendering him unable to break free from the water sphere.

"Strangle."

As Kaien spoke, ripples formed on the surface of the water sphere. These were water blades created by the flow of water inside, rapidly spinning and continuously cutting through Lamierez.

These water blades moved from left to right, right to left, from top to bottom, following various trajectories.

Sizzle.

In an instant, Lamierez inside was sliced into pieces, reduced to nothing more than fragments, as lifeless as it could be.

Upon witnessing this scene, Yamahiko said, "Thank you, Kaien-Senpai."

"No need to be polite. Didn't you also save me once? Let's go; I'll take you to Squad Four for treatment."

Kaien walked up to Yamahiko, lifting him, and ran towards the Seireitei in the distance.

During this process, Yamahiko kept his back straight. Would Aizen kill him to cover up the truth? Would he eliminate them both, including Shiba Kaein?

Yamahiko was incredibly nervous, maintaining his heightened focus.

However, as Shiba Kaien carried him into the Seireitei, Yamahiko breathed a sigh of relief. He was finally safe. He couldn't help but wonder why Aizen wanted to kill him; his survival was bound to cause a significant stir.

~End of the chapter~

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