Chapter Seventy-Three: Thunder

Crack!
In the darkness, the brilliant flash of lightning stood out starkly, yet Chojirou could only judge Yan Lingmaru’s power by the familiar sensation in his hand.
Invisible light? It didn’t matter; after all, that guy should be...

“What... what is this...”
Tosen raised his head, utterly stunned by the scene before him.
Frenzied lightning filled the entire space of Enma Cricket; even standing on the ground, one could feel the numbing tingle against the skin.
“Lightning...?”

“Swing...”
Now that Chojirou sensed the power of his Bankai fully formed, he swung his hand down without hesitation!

!!!
Screeech—bang!
!
Komamura, standing outside, had been watching the massive black lantern. The previously silent and unmoving giant abruptly exploded into fragments.
Boom!
At the same time, the sky, which had been clear and cloudless, began to darken as thick storm clouds gathered overhead, instantly shrouding the heavens.

“What is this...”
Komamura stared in shock as the sky grew darker, lightning flickering within the clouds.
What is this spiritual pressure...
Even Komamura, with his imposing stature, broke into a cold sweat under such overwhelming spiritual force.

Zap...
! Tosen!
With the lantern gone, Chojirou stood revealed, apparently unharmed, while Tosen’s body, scorched black by the lightning’s wrath, looked battered and stunned.
Thud!
As Tosen nearly collapsed from weakness, Komamura used shunpo to catch him, steadying his friend just in time.

“Komamura...”
Tosen’s voice was laced with exhaustion.
“Be careful... he’s far more than he appears...”

Far more than he appears, is he?
Komamura gazed deeply at Chojirou. He knew well the nature of his friend’s Bankai—enough to gravely wound Tosen and destroy his Bankai in a single blow. Such power was anything but ordinary.

“Well, that should do. This should force him to withdraw from battle,” Chojirou nodded, oblivious to Komamura’s expression. He’d completed the first step; now it was time for phase two.

“Wait.”
Just as Chojirou turned to leave, Komamura’s deep voice called out.
Laying Tosen’s unconscious body gently on the ground, Komamura spun around, his elaborate mask gleaming, his haori billowing in the wind.

Chojirou paid him no heed, walking away as if Komamura didn’t exist.

“I said wait!!”
A furious shout rang out, followed by a surge of power cleaving down behind him, striking the ground just ahead and leaving it utterly destroyed.

“What is it, Captain Komamura?”
Chojirou finally paused and glanced back coldly at Komamura.

The captain, blade drawn and battle spirit blazing, glared through his mask at the man who had devastated his friend.

“Are you just going to walk away?”
“I have no intention of fighting you, Captain Komamura. If possible, please put your zanpakuto away.”
Even faced with Komamura’s murderous intent, Chojirou remained unmoved. His plan had always been to eliminate Tosen first; Komamura had never factored into his calculations.
But now, Komamura was determined to stop him and demand justice for his friend.

“You...!”
“No helping it. I’ll apologize later. For now...”
Chojirou sighed, extending a single finger.
“Let’s give you a little jolt.”

Boom!
The storm clouds overhead roared, and a massive bolt of lightning crashed down, striking Komamura directly.
Urgh...
Even Komamura’s massive frame was forced to one knee by the heavenly thunder, the searing pain wracking his body and drawing a groan from his lips.

“Well then... hm?”
As Chojirou prepared to leave, he noticed that his last attack had fractured Komamura's mask.
Oh no, is he about to reveal his true face here and now?

Crack... crackle...
The mask shattered in pieces at Chojirou’s Bankai’s assault, falling to the ground and exposing the head so unlike that of any ordinary man.
A beast.
The beast’s keen eyes locked onto Chojirou, ready to tear him apart at any sudden movement.

“My, my, should I call this unexpected or inevitable? Truly a complicated feeling. Tell me...”
Chojirou shrugged, then met the creature’s gaze squarely.

“Does that face really make you feel so ashamed, Captain Komamura?”
“Shame or mockery, I have no time to care about such things now.”
Feeling the tingling subside, Komamura rose to his full, towering height, standing a full head above Chojirou.
“If we must fight, then I will give everything I have!”

“Wait... don’t tell me, by giving everything you have you mean...”
Sweat beaded on Chojirou’s brow.
“Bankai!!”
Just as I thought...
Please don’t do this—I never intended to fight you with Bankai!

“Kokujō Tengen Myō’ō!”
A colossal black samurai appeared behind Komamura, mirroring his movements, blade poised to strike.
How did it come to this... From the start, Chojirou hadn’t considered Komamura a worthy opponent; now, faced with this turn of events, he was left speechless.

“This time, you don’t get to choose!”
Komamura’s fighting spirit blazed; he clearly had no intention of letting Chojirou go.

“Um... Captain Komamura, surely we can talk this out...”
Boom!
Perhaps everything can be negotiated, but only if the other party is willing. Komamura ignored Chojirou’s words, slashing down at him, his massive guardian behind mimicking the blow.
Though Chojirou as a captain looked down on Komamura’s strength, a Bankai was still a Bankai—taking it head-on was sheer folly.
He nimbly evaded Kokujō Tengen Myō’ō’s blade, only to be met by a massive fist swinging toward him.

Crash!
The ground crumbled beneath the force of the guardian’s fist, shattering into debris.

Tap.
Chojirou landed deftly on a nearby rooftop, sighing as he beheld Komamura’s raging battle spirit.

Having no time and being unwilling to waste time are two different things...
Unfortunately, Chojirou was the latter.

He extended his index finger, his fighting spirit at last awakening.
“Unexpected as this is, please step aside as well.”

Boom!
A golden pillar of lightning enveloped the colossal guardian!