Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami-Chapter 314 ⥤ I Found a New Source of Entertainment!

Gold and black Reiatsu collided, surging through the arena and pressing against the Kidō barrier, which groaned under the strain.

As the two strongest competitors, they had few equals across the Sangai. While others might be considered first-class, these two finalists were in a league of their own. Like a certain person, even blocking their basic attacks would be nearly impossible.

Kisuke, who oversaw the martial arts tournament, swiftly gathered the Kidō Corps members to reinforce the barrier. He even sought help from Jugram — given their past working relationship, the gentle Quincy couldn't refuse.

After reinforcing the barrier several times, Kisuke glanced at Aizen on the high platform, relaxing only when he saw his approving nod.

When their Reiatsu peaked, the battle erupted.

Ichigo struck first, unleashing a crescent-shaped black Reiatsu that sliced through the air, carving deep gouges in the ground as dust billowed upward.

Zaraki's ferocious grin widened as he raised his blade forward. Golden light burst forth — Strike!

The brilliant golden Reiatsu streaked across the vast arena, meeting the crescent attack head-on. Their overwhelming forces clashed with a thunderous boom, countless Reishi particles colliding in a storm that scarred the ground.

Seeing this, Ichigo's expression hardened.

Besides Mr. Kisaragi and Teacher Aizen, this Captain Zaraki of the 11th Division was, without question, the strongest opponent he had ever faced.

"Why did you stop?" Zaraki's savage smile widened, "If you won't attack, then it's my turn!"

Dazzling golden Reiatsu gathered on his serrated blade as his imposing figure charged forward, closing the distance in an instant.

Watching the brutal blade descend, Ichigo's pupils contracted. With no time to dodge, he could only raise his Heilig Bogen to block.

Their blades met in an explosion of shockwaves. Sharp Reiatsu erupted outward, whipping up fierce winds in a magnificent display.

Unlike Ichigo's measured style, Zaraki embodied pure battle-madness, willing to injure himself just to wound his opponent.

They moved like streaks of light, spinning and weaving through the arena, leaving afterimages in their wake. They clashed like mortal enemies, their blade-light and Reiatsu targeting vital points with merciless precision.

Brilliant light bloomed like fireworks, each collision unleashing earth-shaking tremors. The ring of clashing metal rose into a passionate symphony, driving the battle's intensity to its peak!

Ichigo's Reiatsu kept rising without limit. As Zaraki's pressure intensified, he too cast aside all restraint.

Their blades met — curved against serrated. Through their crossed steel, their gazes locked: one calm and collected, the other savage and wild.

Then, point-blank release—

⤫ Getsuga Tenshō ⥤ Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer! ⤬

Like blooming moonlight, a compressed blast of black Reiatsu erupted with a deafening roar, engulfing Zaraki.

Flesh tore and blood sprayed as the massive figure slammed against the Kidō barrier with a thunderous impact.

"Hahaha, now this is how a fight should be!" Zaraki stood tall, golden Reiatsu blazing like flames around him, warping the air itself.

"Drink..."

⤫ Shikai: Nozarashi ⥤ Initial Release: Weather-Beaten One! ⤬

Light flashed as the serrated blade transformed into a massive cleaver, swinging toward Ichigo with devastating force. The air itself screamed, splitting along the blade's path.

Sensing the approaching danger, branch-like blue patterns traced across his skin.

⤫ Blut Vene ⥤ Stilled Blood Guise! ⤬

His emotions crystallized into perfect stillness as he raised his blade-like Heilig Bogen, gathering Reiatsu for a strike!

⤫ Tenrai Getsuga Tenshō ⥤ Divine Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer! ⤬

Terrifying pressure exploded outward, the ground splitting into deep fissures as the Kidō barrier shuddered.

Their attacks collided in a brilliance unlike anything the audience had ever witnessed.

Raw power erupted from the point of impact, both fighters consumed by Reiatsu so pure it was terrifying. Gale-force winds surged upward like an inverted waterfall.

Through the intersecting light came Zaraki's frenzied roar:

⤫ Bankai: Arashikezuri no Oni ⥤ Final Release: Storm-Weathered Demon! ⤬

The arena quaked as the Kidō barrier rippled under the flood of Reiatsu, threatening to shatter.

Kisuke swiftly activated his final emergency measure, wrapping the barrier in layer upon layer of Bakudō #99.

From the surging Reiatsu emerged a demon-like figure.

Zaraki had undergone an extreme transformation — his entire body turned blood-red, black markings streaked across his face, and horns jutted from his forehead, leaving him looking nothing like a normal Shinigami.

Blood-red energy swirled around him while golden Reiatsu flowed wildly, burning the residual Reishi in the air. The sight struck onlookers with terrifying force. The being below resembled not Zaraki, but a demon crawling from the deepest depths of hell.

What surprised Aizen was that despite his frenzied appearance, Zaraki's eyes retained traces of clarity — he hadn't lost his mind to his Bankai's overwhelming power. His body had even withstood this tremendous force.

When Zaraki first mastered Bankai, its power had been so immense that the slightest mistake could have caused unimaginable damage to himself.

Others could offer no solution; they could only let him train alone until he mastered control over Nozarashi's Bankai.

Without question, he had succeeded.

Was this the source of Akira's confidence?

Aizen glanced at the grinning figure beside him and shook his head. There must be more trump cards. Given that person's cautious nature, Bankai couldn't be Zaraki's final technique.

Looking at the demon-like figure before him, Ichigo didn't hesitate. He directly activated his Bankai, blood patterns appearing within his black Reiatsu flow.

⤫ Bankai: Tensa Zangetsu ⥤ Final Release: Heaven Chain Slaying Moon! ⤬

As Reishi storms swept through, a lean figure appeared before the audience.

Compared to Zaraki's transformation, Ichigo's changes were minimal — his outfit became more complex, and his Heilig Bogen took on the appearance of a Shinigami's blade. That was all.

But the surging Reiatsu distorted the surroundings, and such overwhelming presence only fueled Zaraki's excitement.

This was the opponent he had been waiting for, the equal match he had yearned for — not some boring skirmish that would end too quickly, nor being mercilessly pummeled by Akira's iron fists.

In the next moment, two figures radiating terrifying auras collided violently — like two fully-powered trucks crashing together — creating visible ripples through the air.

Intense light burst forth, transforming into an unmatched pillar shooting toward the heavens. The storm expanded, ruthlessly shattering the ground and creating layers of fissures that trembled and roared.

When the aftershocks dispersed, the two figures reappeared before everyone.

While Ichigo appeared merely disheveled, Zaraki looked like a soldier who had barely survived the battlefield — his body covered in wounds, flesh grotesquely exposed, horrifying to behold. Blood erupted around him, staining the devastated ground crimson.

He stumbled, blood flowing from his face and wounds, leaving trails of gore around him.

Ichigo frowned, feeling sympathetic.

"Captain Zaraki, there's no need to continue."

But Zaraki's only response was a savage grin, his snow-white teeth appearing especially frightening against his blood-red skin.

Under countless shocked gazes, he raised his left hand to his face. Reiatsu instantly converged there, forming a blood-red mask that concealed his expression, radiating extreme madness.

Ichigo was stunned, not expecting Zaraki to have Hollowfication as a trump card.

With the mask's appearance, his wounds began healing at a visible rate, returning him to peak condition in an instant. A synthesized voice emerged from beneath the mask, crimson eyes fixed ahead.

"Ichigo, the real slaughter is just beginning!"

Without hesitation, Ichigo likewise raised his left hand to his face, manifesting a pale white hollow mask.

This dramatic change left the spectators dumbfounded. They never would have imagined these two Shinigami would possess Hollowfication techniques.

Although the Sangai were in a stage of mutual development with no more hatred between them, such extreme techniques involving the soul remained somewhat taboo.

Without proper soul-related technology, the slightest mistake could cause an experimenter's soul to shatter and die. In the Sangai, only the Research and Development Institute had mastered perfect Hollowfication.

All eyes turned to Aizen.

"Kisuke did it." Akira pointed and declared decisively.

Aizen narrowed his eyes but didn't bother arguing with him. For Zaraki, Hollowfication was indeed one of the few shortcuts to rapidly gaining strength.

In the arena, the two figures furiously clashed.

After activating Hollowfication, Ichigo's previously calm and collected fighting style underwent a complete transformation.

Now he fought with wild abandon, letting out eerie laughter and spinning his blade with flourish. He'd close in ruthlessly, firing Getsuga Tenshō point-blank into his opponent's face.

Zaraki, meanwhile, embraced pure battle-madness — his techniques dissolved into raw, primal instinct.

Countless afterimages flickered through the arena, their impacts threatening to tear the place apart. The Kidō Corps worked in shifts, constantly reinforcing the barrier.

Under the spectators' enthralled gazes, the two fighters became like savage beasts, tearing at each other with unbridled ferocity.

Getsuga Tenshō and Cero sword pressure roared through the arena, warping the very space around them.

In their final clash, their bodies locked in stalemate amid the ruins. Time seemed to freeze — even the flowing blood appeared to crystallize in mid-air.

Bang, Bang!

With twin crashes, both men collapsed, their fighting strength utterly spent.

Since the competitors fell simultaneously, the match was declared a joint championship.

The Captain-Commander personally presented the awards and delivered an encouraging speech.

Akira approached the two, patting their shoulders with a grin:

"Well done. You didn't lose face, showed great spirit, good job! With you two around, our Sangai are sure to prosper!"

Looking at the battered but spirited Zaraki standing beside him, Ichigo suddenly had an ominous premonition.

Sure enough, after Akira finished praising them, Zaraki suddenly turned his head, showing a fierce grin:

"Ichigo, once your injuries heal..."

"Hmm?"

"Let's have another all-out battle!"

"?"

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

With the end of the 1st Tenka'ichi Budōkai, Soul Society returned to peace.

As Aizen observed, the tournament had demonstrated the Sangai's formidable combat power, effectively deterring any would-be troublemakers.

Furthermore, thanks to a certain individual, the bonds between the Sangai would grow stronger, ushering in an era of rapid development.

The ultimate destination of this path remained a mystery — the timeline stretched too far for even him to foresee.

Yet change was welcome. Someone else had accomplished what he had long sought to achieve, and he found himself at peace with this outcome.

Now he could pursue new interests. What field of research should he explore next?

Akira presented many unsolved mysteries — perhaps that would be a promising start.

In the laboratory, Aizen adjusted his glasses, a curious smile playing across his face.

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

Meanwhile.

Free from external threats, Akira embraced a life of leisure and enjoyment.

He spent his days visiting the Shihōin house, the 4th Division, the Wandenreich, and overseeing Hueco Mundo's construction while offering guidance.

Following his principle of equal attention to all factions, he showed no favorites. This peaceful routine continued for some time.

Until... In Laboratory No. 1 of the Research and Development Institute.

Aizen stood at the operating table, intently studying tissue samples taken from Akira, searching for what made him unique among others.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a voice guaranteed to raise anyone's blood pressure rang out.

"Sōsuke!!"

Aizen set down his experiment and turned to face the energetic figure — who bore an uncanny resemblance to an animated Husky — asking irritably:

"What is it now?"

Akira grinned at him:

"I've discovered a new world!"

⤬ The End ⤬