"Extend, Guzhi!"
The lieutenant didn't waste any time with Byakuya, simply tapping the hilt and sheath of his sword together. Once joined, his Zanpakuto entered its Shikai state.
Upon Shikai, the lieutenant's Zanpakuto transformed into a red-tasseled long spear. He then lightly tapped his toes, lunged forward, and charged towards Byakuya.
His speed was immense!
The spear thrust forward, slicing through the air with a silver gleam, heading straight for Byakuya's face.
Then…
Clang!
Byakuya made no move to dodge, standing his ground as the spear struck his chest with a clear ringing sound.
The lieutenant was stunned, while Byakuya chuckled!
After summoning Lu Bu, what appeared wasn't just the Sky Halberd, but also this suit of dark purple armor.
Armor, was it merely for show?
However, the lieutenant reacted quickly, grabbing the spear shaft and pulling forcefully. The spear split apart, and the tail end whipped forward.
This time, the attack was naturally not aimed at Byakuya's body, but directly at his face.
This was the part the armor couldn't protect!
But just as it was about to hit, Byakuya suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the spear shaft.
"Up!"
Byakuya roared, then with a mighty heave of his arm, he sent the lieutenant and his weapon flying.
The lieutenant tumbled through the air, managing to regain his balance and land back on the ground.
Byakuya glanced at the weapon in the lieutenant's hand, realizing it was a three-sectioned spear, shaped like nunchaku but with a spearhead.
At the same time…
Bang, bang, bang!
Gunshots suddenly rang out.
Byakuya glanced sideways. The surrounding Shinigami, taking advantage of Byakuya's engagement with the lieutenant, were closing in, and Sezu was already surrounded.
Hiss!
Byakuya took a deep breath and roared towards Sezu's direction, "Move aside!"
Hearing Byakuya's shout, Sezu reacted swiftly, quickly darting to the side.
It was at this moment…
Byakuya leaped into the air with a sudden burst and descended into the center of the crowd.
"Demon God Descends!"
Boom!
Byakuya landed in the midst of the Shinigami. The moment his feet touched the ground, a large wave of dark purple smoke erupted around him. Surrounding the smoke were phantom demonic claws, encircling the Shinigami.
Then…
Byakuya twisted his ankle, spun in place, and swung his Sky Halberd in a wide arc with all his might, sweeping outwards.
Instantly, screams erupted!
The Shinigami were utterly defenseless. Swept by Byakuya's halberd, they were all sent flying, crashing in all directions.
The surrounding walls crumbled incessantly, turning into piles of rubble.
"Let's go!"
Byakuya called out to Sezu and then strode forward. After exiting the street, the Byakudo Gate, one of the four gates of Seireitei, appeared before them.
Sezu said to Byakuya, "We've gone far enough, we can plant the marker."
However, at this very moment…
"Did I say you could leave?"
The lieutenant, wielding the three-sectioned spear, had somehow caught up.
Sezu reached for his handgun but had his wrist held by Byakuya.
Byakuya said, "Don't mind him. You plant the marker, I'll handle everything else."
Sezu nodded, ran forward, creating distance from the Shinigami, and then took out the item given by Konghe.
Meanwhile, Byakuya swung his halberd, striking the spear thrust down by the lieutenant, and once again sent him flying with a powerful blow.
"Lieutenant?" Byakuya asked, "Can you Bankai?"
The lieutenant grinned, "Do I seem like I'm being underestimated? Since you're so eager to witness it, I'll let you have a good look."
The lieutenant stabbed his spear into the ground, then removed his outer robe, revealing terrifyingly well-defined muscles.
Instantly, the lieutenant's spiritual pressure began to surge.
Spiritual pressure, was the term for Shinigami.
For the Chosen, it was essentially spiritual power, much like the Zanpakuto Sezu gave Byakuya, which required a spiritual pressure value to Bankai. In reality, it was the spiritual power that needed to be enhanced.
Perhaps the two were not the same, but at least their effects were analogous.
At the same time…
With his spiritual pressure surging, the lieutenant raised his three-sectioned spear high once more.
"Rend, Guzhi!"
The lieutenant roared, his spiritual pressure increasing wildly.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Under the oppressive spiritual pressure, the ground beneath them began to shatter, cracks spreading like a spiderweb, forming a deep pit!
"Bankai!" the lieutenant took a deep breath, "Dragon-Patterned Guzhi!"
Instantly, the Zanpakuto in the lieutenant's hand vanished. In its place, a hovering axe-like giant blade appeared behind him, connected by thick iron chains to two smaller axe blades. The axe surfaces were adorned with lifelike dragon patterns.
Byakuya raised an eyebrow. This was interesting. As far as Byakuya knew, all Captains could Bankai, but not all lieutenants could. Only a select few exceptionally powerful lieutenants, close to Captain-level strength, possessed the ability to Bankai.
After activating Bankai, the lieutenant slightly lowered his stance, then suddenly leaped into the air.
"You wanted to see my Bankai, didn't you?" the lieutenant snarled, "Then I'll show you."
As he spoke, the lieutenant hurled one of the axe blades in his hand forcefully towards Byakuya.
The axe blade was incredibly heavy, whistling through the air and carrying a powerful gust of wind. The massive chains connecting to it clanged and rattled behind it.
This attack seemed to carry immense force, as if it could crush a person into pulp.
However, at this very moment…
Byakuya suddenly began to laugh, a rather eerie laugh!
Then…
Clang!
Byakuya suddenly raised his hand and directly caught the falling axe blade, producing a deafening sound.
The lieutenant froze instantly. His attack had been caught?
And…
With his bare hands?
The lieutenant yanked hard on the chain, trying to pull his weapon back, but found that the axe blade remained immobile, unable to be dislodged from Byakuya's grip.
"You've misunderstood something," Byakuya said to him, "Just because you can Bankai doesn't mean you can defeat me. It just means I can have more fun!"
The moment Byakuya finished speaking, he gripped the axe blade and swept it forcefully to the side.
The next instant, the lieutenant's body was instantly dragged by the chains, flying off to the side.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The lieutenant's body repeatedly slammed into the ground, shattering it with each impact, producing thunderous roars. Large clouds of dust billowed upwards, forming columns of dust.
…