The towering flames engulfed Pernida like a raging tornado, the intense heat so overwhelming that even the rubble from the destroyed buildings began to melt, turning into liquid and flowing across the ground.
Pernida's body was continuously incinerated and torn apart by the inferno. However, with the immense regenerative power granted by its Schrift, it wasn't immediately reduced to ashes.
From a distance, Gerard also felt the scorching heat, but instead of retreating, he grinned with excitement.
"Hahaha! It's hot… but not hot enough!"
He let out a deep growl as his massive body continued to expand.
Boom!
Gerard launched himself forward, charging straight into the inferno unleashed by Banshō Senran. His speed had multiplied several times compared to before his first death.
Others might be unable to withstand the flames of Banshō Senran, but Gerard had no such fear.
"Burn! Keep burning! All shall be forged into the power that will flatten this world! I am the miracle!!"
Masatsuki Aozaki watched the scene with a grave expression. He could sense the terrifying spiritual disturbance emanating from the distant palace—things were reaching their critical moment.
Raising one hand, he called out:
"Caja Negación!"
As soon as his voice fell, a black hole tore open in midair, and a small black box dropped into his palm.
The next second, dazzling ribbons of black and white light burst from the box, swiftly wrapping around the burning Pernida—before vanishing completely.
Caja Negación was a technique developed by Aizen, designed to imprison spirits in another dimension. This small black box was precisely that—a tool for confinement.
Unfortunately, it was a Reishi-based device, meaning its effectiveness wasn't determined by the user's strength but by the strength of the one being sealed. Given Pernida's Reiatsu, it could only hold it for a few minutes.
However, with Ryūjin Jakka's flames suppressing it, that time could likely be extended.
Even a few minutes would be enough.
Suddenly, the figures of the Banshō Senran sisters and Enrakyōten appeared behind Masatsuki Aozaki, materializing out of thin air.
"Finally!"
Banshō exclaimed excitedly.
She had been itching for action. Ever since Masatsuki Aozaki had undergone his evolution, his power had soared, and it had been a long time since he had summoned them for such a serious battle.
"It's best not to use Bankai," Masatsuki Aozaki warned.
"...I understand," Banshō nodded.
However, upon hearing this, Haschwalth frowned, his heart tightening.
This Shinigami... he even knew about Medalize, the technique that lets them steal a Bankai?!
That was one of the Wandenreich's most closely guarded secrets!
Medalize was a newly developed technique, one that even most ordinary Echt Quincy within the Empire knew nothing about. Only members of the Sternritter were privy to its existence.
Haschwalth's gaze instinctively shifted to Bambietta and Bazz-B— the first Sternritter to have encountered Masatsuki Aozaki.
He had already foreseen Bazz-B's future. Before his arrival, there had been no chance for Bazz-B to leak any information.
That left only Bambietta.
His expression turned ice-cold, as if he intended to freeze the entire world itself.
In his mind, Bambietta was already as good as dead.
Had their secret remained undiscovered, they would have had the perfect opportunity.
They could have caught Masatsuki Aozaki completely off guard.
But now, that advantage was lost.
A Shinigami as powerful as Masatsuki Aozaki would undoubtedly possess Bankai.
Even though this knowledge wouldn't weaken the power he had already displayed, the psychological impact was where the true advantage lay.
It was only natural for a Shinigami, when faced with numerous Quincy, to instinctively activate their Bankai.
And at that crucial moment— when they relied on it most— that power would suddenly be stripped away.
How would they react?
Would they be filled with doubt? Panic?
It didn't matter.
Victory and defeat were often decided in mere moments.
A brief lapse in awareness.
That was all it would take.
They could deliver a devastating blow to Masatsuki Aozaki— perhaps even kill him outright.
...
Sching!
A piercing slash echoed through the air, sharp and deafening.
What came into view next was a brilliant burst of crimson— dazzling like fireworks exploding in the sky.
At the same time, a blinding arc of sword energy tore through Gerard's body, slicing him cleanly from his right shoulder to his left hip.
Once again, he was dead.
"Hey, big guy, still having fun with your endless sit-ups? How about taking a break?"
Enrakyōten smirked, placing one hand on her hip.
She was clad in a striking yet antiquated suit of armor, holding a long Western-style Zanpakutō in her free hand.
She looked like a Valkyrie straight out of myth— imposing and majestic.
"Farewell, everyone!"
Masatsuki Aozaki stood in midair and gave a small, elegant bow.
His smile was refined, his movements graceful— the very image of a distinguished gentleman.
"Shinigami, don't even think about running!"
Bazz-B's furious roar erupted from the distance.
His eyes burned with rage as he shouted in Masatsuki Aozaki's direction.
Today's battle had been a disgrace.
A humiliation of the worst kind.
And because of it, he would likely face execution.
...
"Ennetsu Jigoku."
Masatsuki Aozaki's voice was a low whisper, smooth and magnetic— like a devil murmuring from the depths of the abyss.
The moment his words fell, immense power surged forth.
The surrounding ground erupted into a sea of roaring flames, consuming everything in its wake.
Masatsuki Aozaki's figure blurred within the inferno— until finally, he disappeared entirely.
Bazz-B's expression twisted in alarm.
His eyes darted to the sky, desperately searching for any trace of the Shinigami.
But aside from the towering pillars of fire, there was nothing.
And then—
A suffocating, indescribable Reiatsu descended upon them.
It was as if the very heavens had collapsed, pressing down with crushing force.
Breathing became impossible.
The sheer weight of it distorted the space around them, warping everything, disrupting their ability to sense Reiatsu.
A chaotic storm of spiritual pressure followed, surging like a raging hurricane, leaving no room to evade.
Bazz-B's heart pounded wildly as he sharpened his focus, scanning his surroundings with utmost vigilance.
What... was this Shinigami?
Could a human truly possess Reiatsu of this magnitude?!
...
At that moment, a massive figure loomed before him, blocking his vision.
"I am Gerard! My very existence is a miracle!"
A thunderous roar accompanied the figure as it slowly straightened, revealing its true form—
Gerard.
The same Gerard who had just been slain.
Somehow, impossibly, he had risen once more.
And this time, the power radiating from him was even stronger than before.
"M—monsters… all of them…"
Bazz-B's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared up at the towering figure.
Not once in the past few hundred years had he ever seen Gerard grow to such a colossal size.
Now, Gerard stood at a height of several hundred meters.
The sheer scale of his body alone was proof of the devastating injuries he had endured.
"Damn Shinigami… fall before the might of my miracle-born sword!"
Gerard's furious roar shook the very air.
He glanced down, searching for the one who had inflicted so much suffering upon him.
Yet after scanning the battlefield—
Masatsuki Aozaki was nowhere to be seen.
Gerard's face twisted with frustration.
He couldn't accept this.
He needed to kill the one who had humiliated him. With his own hands.
"Haschwalth!" he bellowed again. "Where is that Shinigami?! Find him for me!!"
His voice thundered through the entire Wandenreich, shaking its very foundation.
The sheer force of the sound reached even the lower levels of the city, throwing the Quincy into a panic.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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