Chapter Forty-One: The Thunder God

Let us wind back time just a little.

Bang!

A bare fist met the blade swung by Yhwach, and, astonishingly, a dull thud rang out as flesh collided with metal.

Seizing the moment of contact, Shigekuni Yamamoto instantly reached out with his other hand, aiming for Yhwach's chest.

Shhh!

Though Yhwach relied on Hirenkyaku to swiftly widen the gap between himself and Yamamoto, the black cloak on his chest was still torn away in a large chunk by Yamamoto’s grasp.

Hmph...

Without even glancing at what he held, Yamamoto stared straight at Yhwach, tossing the fabric aside.

"Unexpected, Yamamoto Shigekuni," Yhwach swept the remnants of his cloak behind him, a cold smile on his lips. "Even when facing me, you haven't drawn your sword. Do you think I haven't earned that right?"

"That’s a question I should be asking," Yamamoto retorted, stepping forward, his voice deep and steady. "You still haven't used your signature bow. Are you looking down on this old man?"

Yhwach remained silent.

Why hadn't he used his bow yet?

Setting aside the initial attack, which barely counted as a probe, why was he still only fighting with a sword?

Could it really be, as Yamamoto said, that he was deemed unworthy?

No...

As the Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, the highest combat force in all Soul Society, there could be no better opponent.

So—

"You’re distracted."

!!!

In that brief instant of contemplation, Yamamoto covered more than ten meters in a flash, appearing before Yhwach.

Bang!

Yhwach managed to block Yamamoto’s powerful strike with his blade, but the monstrous strength was not so easily deflected.

Ugh...

Yhwach was sent flying, his feet skidding along the ground in an effort to slow his momentum, but even so, he found it immensely difficult.

Whew.

Mercy abandoned, only ruthlessness remained.

Now, Yamamoto pursued relentlessly.

Once more, with a flash step, he closed the distance, his fist striking out with thunderous force!

Bang!

Yhwach blocked again with his blade. Though he stopped Yamamoto’s attack and halted his own retreat, his feet were driven deep into the earth by Yamamoto’s overwhelming power.

Crack...

!

A sharp sound rang out from the blade.

Yhwach’s sword had cracked.

Whew!

Yamamoto raised his hand again, ready to shatter Yhwach's weapon.

Snap.

Yhwach extended his index finger, still holding the hilt, a golden orb of light flashing at its tip.

Beep!

A golden beam shot toward Yamamoto's head, but Yamamoto dodged it with a swift tilt.

That was enough.

Yamamoto lost his chance to attack, while Yhwach prepared to counter; now was the best time to widen the distance.

Boom!

!

!

Suddenly, a tremendous roar echoed from the sky.

Yamamoto and Yhwach simultaneously looked up.

"So it’s finally come..."

Yamamoto narrowed his eyes slightly; this sensation was not unfamiliar to him.

A mass of black clouds surged wildly, covering the entire visible sky in an instant.

"What is this..."

Yhwach stared in astonishment; such a transformation was unprecedented.

The heavens themselves had changed.

...

"The Palace of Brilliant Lightning."

The residence of the Thunder God, manifest on earth!

"Even more astonishing than the records..."

Saidritz watched the wild lightning behind Choujiro, his expression shifting.

The aura of Bankai now was nothing like what he had seen during the battle with Reis a century ago. No, even the records from a hundred years ago were mere words, unable to truly capture the power of Bankai.

Did we underestimate him?

This is the power all Soul Reapers possess—something I never had.

Bankai!

"Records? I see, so you’ve investigated us before, haven't you?" Choujiro chuckled, then bent slightly, raising his sword.

"But..."

"It’s been a hundred years since I last used Bankai."

Boom!

A thick bolt of lightning struck behind Choujiro, illuminating the dark earth.

"Experience for yourself how much my power and speed have grown since then."

Shhhh!

Instinctively, Saidritz drew his sword from his waist.

Sweat appeared faintly on his brow.

Just moments ago, he had held the advantage—why was he suddenly so frightened?

How pitiable.

Choujiro found it suddenly laughable.

A Quincy, and Yhwach’s right-hand man at that, losing the ability to calmly analyze just because of the aura of his Bankai?

And instinctively, he drew a sword instead of a bow.

Even the dignity of being a Quincy was crushed...

"Well then, it’s time to visit the Palace of the Broken Character."

His tone was light; to Choujiro, Saidritz was no longer a match.

"Don’t underestimate me!"

Saidritz raised his sword, charging at Choujiro without a moment’s hesitation.

"I know it well—you have a defensive technique called 'Still Blood' don’t you?"

!!!

Saidritz’s movements slowed noticeably.

What did he just say?

Impossible...

This should have been his first battle with a Quincy...

Only Dechun knew of the so-called 'Still Blood', and he could no longer speak...

How could Choujiro possibly know about its existence?

"So, how many bolts of lightning can your Still Blood withstand?"

Choujiro extended three fingers, arcs of lightning connecting his fingertips, flashing ceaselessly.

"Let’s find out."

Boom!!

!

He looked up, dumbfounded.

What did he see?

From the pitch-black clouds, blinding golden lightning.

What was that thunderous roar?

It was the heart-stopping wrath of the Thunder God!

The power of nature...was it divine punishment?

As the child of curses, would I inevitably incur God’s wrath?

Would God...kill me?

"God! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"

Boom!

As if in response to Saidritz’s scream, the long-brewing lightning within the clouds crashed down.

Like divine retribution, the lightning was stronger than anything seen a century ago; even Reis would have no confidence in withstanding such an attack.

The Thunder God's power was finally fully unleashed!

And the Thunder God, wielding wild lightning to turn his foes to ash in his fierce rage, bore the name—

Choujiro Sasakibe.