"Extend, Hozuki Maru!"
The lieutenant had no intention of wasting time with Bai Ye. He struck the hilt and sheath of his sword together, merged them, and entered his Shikai state.
After Shikai, the opponent's Zanpakuto was revealed to be a red-tasseled long spear. The lieutenant then pushed off with his toes, lunging forward in Bai Ye's direction.
Extremely fast!
The spear thrust forward, leaving a silver streak in the air before heading directly for Bai Ye's face.
Then…
Clang!
Bai Ye made no attempt to dodge, standing his ground as the spear struck his chest with a clear ringing sound.
The lieutenant was stunned, but Bai Ye was amused!
After embodying Lu Bu, he hadn't just gained the Sky Piercer Halberd, but also this suit of dark purple armor.
Was armor just for show?
However, the lieutenant reacted quickly. He suddenly grabbed the spear shaft and pulled hard. The spear shaft split apart, and the rear end swung forward.
This time, the opponent's attack was naturally not aimed at Bai Ye's body, but directly at his face.
This was a place the armor couldn't protect!
But just as it was about to strike, Bai Ye suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the spear shaft.
"Rise!"
Bai Ye roared, then exerted immense strength in his arm, flinging the lieutenant and his weapon into the air.
The lieutenant tumbled through the air, only managing to regain his balance and land back on the ground.
Bai Ye glanced at the weapon in the other's hand. It was a three-sectioned spear, shaped like a nunchaku but with a spearhead.
At the same time…
Bang, bang, bang!
Gunshots suddenly rang out.
Bai Ye glanced sideways. The surrounding Shinigami, taking advantage of the fight between Bai Ye and the lieutenant, were pressing in. Seis was already completely surrounded.
Hiss!
Bai Ye took a deep breath, then roared in Seis's direction, "Move aside!"
Upon hearing Bai Ye's shout, Seis reacted quickly, rapidly sprinting sideways and leaping away.
And at this moment…
Bai Ye suddenly leaped into the air, descending into the center of the crowd.
"Demon God Descent!"
Rumble!
Bai Ye landed in the center of the crowd. The moment he touched down, a vast amount of dark purple smoke erupted around him, bordered by phantom demonic claws that encircled the Shinigami.
Then…
Bai Ye twisted his ankle, spun in place, and swung the Sky Piercer Halberd in a wide arc, sweeping it outwards with great force.
Instantly, screams erupted everywhere!
The Shinigami were utterly defenseless. Swept by Bai Ye's halberd, they were all sent flying, crashing in all directions.
The surrounding walls continuously collapsed, turning into piles of rubble.
"Go!"
Bai Ye called out to Seis, then strode forward. After exiting the street, the Bai Dao Gate, one of the four gates of Seireitei, appeared before the two.
Seis said to Bai Ye, "We've gone far enough. We can plant the marker."
But at this moment…
"Did I say you could leave?"
The lieutenant, carrying the three-sectioned spear, had caught up again.
Seis reached for his pistol but was stopped by Bai Ye, who placed a hand on his wrist.
Bai Ye said, "Don't worry about him. You plant the marker, I'll handle everything else."
Seis nodded, ran ahead, put distance between himself and the Shinigami, and took out the item given by Kong He.
On the other side, Bai Ye swung his halberd, striking the lieutenant's thrusting spear and sending him flying back with another blow.
"Lieutenant?" Bai Ye asked, "Can you Bankai?"
The lieutenant bared his teeth. "Am I being underestimated? Since you're so eager to see, I'll show you."
The lieutenant plunged the spear into the ground, then removed his outer robe, revealing a terrifying physique of lean muscle.
Instantly, the lieutenant's spiritual power began to surge.
Spiritual power, that was the term for Shinigami.
For the Chosen, it was essentially mental strength. Just like the Zanpakuto Seis gave Bai Ye, which required a spiritual power level for Bankai, it was essentially the mental strength level that needed to be increased.
Perhaps the two were not the same, but at least their effects were analogous.
At the same time…
Following the surge in spiritual power, the lieutenant raised the three-sectioned spear high once more.
"Shatter, Hozuki Maru!"
The lieutenant roared, his spiritual power increasing madly.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Under the oppressive spiritual power, the ground beneath began to crumble, revealing large, spiderweb-like cracks and a deep pit!
"Bankai!" the lieutenant took a deep breath. "Dragon Pattern Hozuki Maru!"
Instantly, the Zanpakuto in the lieutenant's hand vanished. In its place, a suspended, axe-like giant blade appeared behind him, connected by thick chains to two smaller axe blades on either side. The axe surface bore lifelike dragon patterns.
Bai Ye raised an eyebrow. This had some substance. As far as Bai Ye knew, all Captain-class Shinigami could Bankai, but not all lieutenants could. Only a very few exceptionally strong lieutenants, nearing Captain-level strength, possessed the ability to Bankai.
After achieving Bankai, the lieutenant slightly lowered his body, then suddenly leaped into the air.
"Didn't you want to see Bankai?" the lieutenant snarled. "Then I'll show you."
The moment he spoke, the lieutenant forcefully threw one of the axe blades towards Bai Ye.
The axe blade was incredibly heavy. It swept through the air, generating a powerful gust of wind, and the large chains connected to it clanked incessantly.
This strike appeared incredibly powerful, as if it could crush a person into pulp.
However, at this moment…
Bai Ye suddenly started to laugh, a somewhat sinister laugh!
Then…
Clang!
Bai Ye suddenly raised his hand and directly caught the descending axe blade, producing a loud clang.
The lieutenant froze instantly. His attack had been caught?
And…
Bare-handed?
The lieutenant yanked hard on the chain, trying to pull his weapon back, but found the axe blade unmoving, utterly unable to escape Bai Ye's grasp.
"You've misunderstood something," Bai Ye said, looking at him. "It's not that knowing Bankai guarantees victory against me, it's that with Bankai, I can have more fun!"
The moment Bai Ye finished speaking, he grabbed the axe blade and swept it forcefully to the side.
In the next instant, the lieutenant's body, pulled by the chains, was instantly flung to the side.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The lieutenant's body repeatedly smashed into the ground, shattering it with each impact and producing thunderous roars. Large clouds of dust billowed up, forming pillars of dirt.
…