Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami

On the plains, the battle raged fiercely.

A thick mixture of Reiatsu blanketed the entire plain, gradually seeping into the towns of Rukongai.

Without the Research and Development Institute established yet, Rukongai lacked a complete surveillance system. This meant the 5th Division, tasked with rescue operations, always arrived too late — only able to clean up in the aftermath, as usual.

Akira had no expectations of the 5th Division anyway. These Gillians weren't much of a threat — they'd just take time to deal with.

Besides, opponents this challenging were rare to find elsewhere.

The Raienken trembled as materialized light burst forth, resonating with the surrounding Reishi and stirring up violent airflows.

Thanks to his improved Reiatsu and Kidō mastery, the Thunder-Fire Sword's power had grown tremendously since its creation. In close combat, it now rivaled a released physical-type Zanpakutō.

And it could attack from range, too.

While Akira fought the encircling Gillians, a lower-class Hollow at the perimeter opened its massive, bloody maw. Crimson Reishi gathered frantically between its grotesque teeth.

The blood-red light condensed into a massive sphere, then burst open into a scorching beam that tore through the air.

⤫ Cero ⥤ Hollow Flash! ⤬

There was no time to dodge.

His Ddanger Instinct screamed like a boiling kettle.

Without hesitation, Akira hurled the Thunder-Fire Sword like a spear. It shattered everything in its path as it flew straight at the Cero beam.

Their collision sent visible shockwaves rippling in all directions, layering and weaving endlessly. Dust clouds billowed everywhere.

Facing the still-roaring Hollows, Akira sneered — with his dual-wielding no longer an option, he'd need a new approach.

He sheathed his sword and secured his haori at his waist to keep his movements unhindered.

⤫ Kaen Bakuha ⥤ Flame Burst! ⤬

Purple flames erupted, his already formidable pressure intensifying further. The Gillian Hollows responded with even more terrifying roars.

Violent energy whirled around him, the heat so intense it distorted the air — enough to suffocate any ordinary Shinigami.

⤫ Raikō Kasoku ⥤ Lightning Acceleration ⤬

Electric arcs crackled and thundered, weaving through the purple flames like serpentine dragons.

As Reiatsu surged and scorching energy rippled outward, the Gillians roared, their blood-red eyes fixed on the "tiny" ant below.

⤫ Denkaen Henkō ⥤ Electric Flame Transformation! ⤬

"Transformation complete!"

Under someone's astonished gaze, Akira spread his arms wide, his perfectly sculpted chest muscles radiating power.

"Eat my Meteor Punch!"

⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Ryūsei Ken ⥤ Origin Style: Meteor Punch! ⤬

Like a meteor, his body tore through the turbulent air, striking the foremost Gillian with an explosive punch that shattered its skull. Without pause, he launched another devastating blow, crushing the claws of a nearby Gillian.

Blood-tinged Reishi rose over the plains as Akira seized the nearest long-haired one. His arm muscles ground together like clashing iron as he lifted the creature with one hand and, wielding it like a mighty hammer, smashed it violently into the ground!

Boom!

The earth shuddered as if struck by an earthquake, dust billowing skyward.

Through the whoosh of breaking air, Akira charged across the fracturing ground, cutting through ash and dust with raised fist.

In an instant, his strike left clear imprints on the massive body. The Gillian shattered like a porcelain doll, cracks spreading like a spider's web as crimson seeped through the fractures.

A brilliant spray of blood erupted as countless fragments exploded outward! Before the creature could even cry out in anguish, its remains dissolved into endless streams of Reishi that swept across the plain.

The moment he abandoned his dual-wielding style, Akira seemed unleashed — his savage fighting even shocking the figure watching from behind the Bakudō barrier.

The observer stared, dazed, at the youth rampaging through the Hollow horde.

He'd expected joining the Gotei would have tempered this raw fighting style. Instead, it had grown even more ferocious.

The difference between his sword technique and bare-handed combat was stark.

He suspected that even if an Adjuchas appeared now, this wild fighter would still charge in throwing punches...

Utterly outrageous...

When the last of the long-haired ones had fallen, Akira stood still, exhaling deeply.

It had been too long since he'd felt this alive.

To enjoy any fighting with Genryūsai one was being purely masochistic.

Though trading blows was thrilling, using all your strength without leaving even a scratch on your opponent was an indescribable frustration.

Shielding his eyes, Akira scanned the plain's edge, wondering about the cleanup crew's delay. Even with Seireitei's typical slow response, the 5th Division should have arrived by now.

Suddenly, the deep darkness hanging in the air began to expand. Tooth-like fissures stretched endlessly to either side as materialized Reiatsu rippled outward, making everything in its path tremble.

Akira drew in a sharp breath.

Beat up the small fry, and the boss shows up?

An abyssal pressure instantly blanketed the plain, making the air thick and viscous like ocean depths. It was even more terrifying than the previous Adjuchas encounter.

His expression turned serious. Though reckless, he wasn't stupid — he kept his wits about him when it mattered.

Escape was no longer an option. Once the opponent's Reiatsu appeared on the plain, the situation had reached its critical point.

His only choice was to hold them off until the cleanup crew arrived.

⤫ Bakudō #21: Sekienton ⥤ Red Smoke Escape! ⤬

Akira interlaced his fingers and rubbed his hands together. With a series of crackling sounds, streams of red smoke erupted from his fingertips and poured into the darkness.

Since they're here, might as well give them a welcome gift.

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In the darkness, Szayelaporro Granz halted his elegant advance as mysterious crimson light filled the Garganta passage.

"What is this?"

Before he could comprehend the situation, electrical arcs crackled through the crimson light, dancing wildly with bird-like shrieks.

Then the red and azure flames ignited.

BOOM!!

A deep explosion rocked the Garganta as scorching flames erupted. Dust swirled, pressure waves rippled endlessly, and deafening roars filled the air.

⤫ Hadō #?: Hakasei Shirodenka ⥤ Devastating White Electric Fire! ⤬

The next moment, praise the sun!

Dazzling light flooded the Garganta, banishing darkness as temperatures soared.

Through the thunderous explosions came faint sounds of pain and cursing.

When the chaos cleared, Szayelaporro's elegance had vanished — replaced by charred devastation, his gold-dusted hair scorched and burned.

Even as one of Hueco Mundo's mightiest Vasto Lordes, taking an ultimate Hadō at full power while unprepared left him in a sorry state.

Szayelaporro mused that in all his years, he'd never seen a Shinigami stuff Hadō into a Garganta passage.

Where did Soul Society find someone of such high purity?

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Directly below the Garganta, Akira narrowed his eyes at the blasted-out figure, feeling overwhelming pressure.

Even with his limited knowledge, the conclusion was clear — this was a Vasto Lorde.

Lower-class Gillian Hollows were easily identified by their distinctive long black hair, visible even from hundreds of meters away. When they evolved into Adjuchas, their forms would drastically shrink, taking on animal-like or distorted appearances.

But upon reaching the elite Vasto Lorde class, they became almost indistinguishable from humans and Shinigami.

Good, he'd caught a big fish this time.

He'd thought an Adjuchas invading Soul Society was outrageous enough, yet here was an even stronger opponent.

The Vasto Lorde stood ready to begin a massacre, while the 5th Division's cleanup crew was still en route.

Szayelaporro dusted himself off, using Reiatsu to wipe away the char from his skin. The Hadō-inflicted wounds healed at a visible rate.

Akira watched this recovery speed with intense envy. With even half that ability, he'd dare to challenge the bald man and take a few more hits.

"Let me introduce myself, I'm Szayelaporro Granz." Upon spotting Akira, Szayelaporro regained his usual elegance, his insincere smile radiating an instinctively repulsive aura.

Everything about him seemed artificial — a complete façade.

"Your earlier performance was quite spectacular." He clapped lightly, "To thank you for your efforts, I've decided to take you back to Hueco Mundo and craft a special culture tank for you. Oh, I almost forgot to ask your name."

"True to my name and unchanging in my ways, I am Sōsuke Aizen!" The youth puffed out his chest and declared shamelessly.

Hearing this response, a figure under a Kidō barrier in the distance took several deep breaths, struggling to suppress their suddenly elevated blood pressure.

Seeing this reaction, Szayelaporro paused momentarily, but quickly recovered his smile.

"A very nice name. I'll write it on the container that will hold you..."

⤫ Raikō Shunpo ⥤ Lightning Flash Steps ⤬

⤫ Hadō #?: Raienken ⥤ Thunder Fire Sword! ⤬

Before he could finish speaking, a long sword wreathed in flames and lightning struck his face, exploding violently under intense spiritual pressure, its echo rolling across the plains.

During their casual exchange, Akira had already been gathering power.

He knew well he was outmatched, though he couldn't fathom why this monster's Reiatsu was so overwhelmingly strong.

But one principle was clear: strike first, or end up displayed in someone's container.

"How despicable!" In all his countless years, Szayelaporro had never seen a Shinigami who would strike to kill before finishing introductions.

Compared to Kenpachi Kuruyashiki observed by the Rokureichū a hundred years ago, this fellow's moral level was worlds apart.

{T/N: Rokureichū = Spirit-Recording Bugs.}

That one was upright and honorable, while this young brat fought with dirty tricks.

Szayelaporro's Reiatsu erupted in surging waves that penetrated the sky. He raised his finger as countless Reishi gathered to form a sphere of light.

The failure of the lightning fire sword made Akira's pupils contract. Before he could even lament his opponent's strength, a terrifying crisis descended.

With no time to think, he drew his sword to guard. The next second, an overwhelming impact exploded against the blade, sending him flying instantly.

⤫ Cero ⥤ Hollow Flash! ⤬

Boom!!

A shooting star traced a beautiful arc across the sky before crashing hard enough to create a massive crater in the plains.

Though only two levels apart, Gillians and Vasto Lordes existed in entirely different dimensions of power. This single Cero-like attack could instantly kill hundreds of Gillians.

Dust rose from the crater as rolling smoke obscured the scene within.

Just as Szayelaporro thought he might have accidentally killed his opponent, brilliant flashes of light burst through the smoke. The surging Reiatsu swept away the dust, revealing Akira's figure.

Seeing his desired test subject not only alive but even more spirited than before, he was taken aback. When he noticed the continuous materialization of Kidō-formed swords behind the Shinigami, the expression beneath his bone mask grew increasingly puzzled.

Akira stood in the crater, straining his Reiatsu to form sword after sword of lightning and fire. As he sensed his control reaching its limit, he waved his hand like a general commanding thousands of troops.

"Die, you wretched pink-haired bastard!"

⤫ Hadō #?: Kenami: Raien ⥤ Sword Rain: Thunder Fire! ⤬

The next moment, the lightning fire sword formation arrived as promised. Countless brilliant lights illuminated the plains' sky — magnificent pillars of light soaring heavenward as if threatening to tear apart the boundary between sky and earth.

But even an attack of this magnitude had little effect against the well-prepared Szayelaporro.

When the smoke cleared, a Reiatsu barrier had completely blocked all the aftershocks.

Looking at the barely damaged Vasto Lorde, Akira's heart sank.

With no time for words, he had already prepared himself for death. If the 5th Division didn't arrive soon, old man Genryūsai would be sending a bald man to bury one with black hair.

But just as he prepared for his heroic sacrifice, a figure wrapped in thick Kidō light suddenly appeared before him, emanating powerful Reiatsu.

Seeing this person, Akira's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Sōsuke!"

Aizen: "?"

He prided himself on having disguised himself so thoroughly — not just his height and form, but even his Reiatsu had been altered — yet how did this guy still recognize him?

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