Sōren Sōkatsui

"The Menos Grande of Las Noches…"

"You have no chance of hunting Shinigami!"

Saikyō's voice echoed through the air, followed by a single slash that killed with one blow.

"How could he still be alive?!"

Abirama's expression froze in an instant.

"Raaaaagh—!"

Raising its head in rage, Abirama let out a piercing scream.

Saikyō, suddenly back from the dead, had humiliated him!

But in the next moment, a flash of white light cut through the air, leaving a shocking bloodstain on one of its wings.

Drip… drip… drip…

Blood gushed out like a spring, filling the air—once scorched by flames—with the pungent, metallic scent of blood.

"Arghhh!!!"

Abirama's face twisted in agony, becoming monstrous and terrifying from the pain.

Saikyō's slash had completely escaped its Reiatsu perception, cleanly severing one of Abirama's wings.

The once-majestic Menos, an officer under his command, had been gravely injured shortly after appearing on the battlefield!

"Abirama, are you alright?"

Geo, who had been watching the fight like a spectator without intending to interfere, hadn't even reacted yet.

He subconsciously glanced toward where Saikyō had been standing, only to find that the afterimage had disappeared.

"Was it an illusion?"

Unable to believe his eyes, the saber-toothed tiger bared his fangs and roared, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I just sensed his Reiatsu!"

Sight might deceive, but Reiatsu perception does not.

Geo firmly believed his detection was accurate. The "Saikyō" they had sensed earlier was surely dead!

In response to Geo's disbelief, Saikyō acted rather than explained.

"Bakudō #63: Sajo Sabaku!"

Skipping the incantation, but with the spell upgraded to perfection, Saikyō unleashed a Bakudō that stunned his opponents.

Suddenly, chains appeared out of thin air, encircling Geo and Abirama like a glowing spider's web.

Not only that, but tiny arcs of lightning crackled along the surface of the radiant chains, while a bone-chilling gust of wind swirled around them.

Thunder and wind attributes had been flawlessly integrated into the Bakudō.

This upgrade made the chains even deadlier!

"I just learned this technique recently, so you two can be my test subjects," Saikyō said, effortlessly trapping his opponents.

But he didn't stop there. Another chant echoed from his lips.

"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of man! Carve a twin lotus on the wall of blue flame, and await the abyss of fire!"

"Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui!"

With the combined power of his officer-level Reiatsu and his exceptional mastery of Hadō, Saikyō instantly formed two blazing fireballs in his hands, raising the temperature of the air to a boiling point.

"This is even stronger than that flame pillar earlier!"

The reflection of the twin fireballs gleamed in the eyes of Geo and Abirama, their expressions turning to dead silence beneath their masks.

The deadly aura of the Sōren Sōkatsui engulfed them, filling them with the fear of impending death.

But what was even more terrifying was how the fireballs in Saikyō's hands began to shift. Over time, they transformed, taking on an eerie life of their own.

That's right!

This was the effect of upgrading the technique to its highest level!

What once was a simple fireball had now evolved. Its power and range had doubled, and it could now change form at will!

"Though it's my first time using this move, it should be enough to kill you both."

With a fireball in each hand, Saikyō—illuminated by the flames—resembled a demon king emerging from the depths of hell.

If any bystanders had been present, they would have been utterly shocked by this sight.

A mere student from the special training class, relying solely on his own strength, had overpowered two Menos Grande from Las Noches—and had the absolute upper hand!

Saikyō's combat prowess was astonishing!

"Do it! Blast this damned brat to pieces!"

Despite the searing pain, Abirama shouted orders to the surrounding Gillians.

The mindless Gillians, receiving the command, turned their hollow, empty gazes toward Saikyō.

"Uooooooo—!"

Their chilling wails, like the cries of tormented spirits, echoed across the desert.

A tidal wave of violent Reiatsu surged through the sky, causing the dark clouds to swirl under the blazing sun. An oppressive atmosphere descended upon the battlefield.

Before their white masks, their Reiatsu began to condense into a bright red glow.

This was the unique ability of the Menos Grande—Cero!

In mere moments, over a dozen crimson beams filled the sky, painting the clouds a fiery red.

All of the Cero blasts were aimed directly at Saikyō!

"Are they trying to take me down with them?"

Even in this dire situation, Saikyō remained composed.

Having dealt with Shinigami for so long, his battle experience had sharpened his skills, and he had no reason to fear these low-level Gillians.

Though their numbers were problematic, Saikyō was confident that his Sōren Sōkatsui would annihilate them all at once!

"This barren desert, so similar to Hueco Mundo… it will be your grave."

With a fierce shout, Saikyō unleashed the twin fireballs, pushing them forward with all his might.

Then, an unbelievable sight unfolded.

As the fireballs glided through the air, they transformed, taking on the shape of a lifelike griffin, majestic and powerful.

What was most shocking was that the griffin resembled Abirama!

"Damn it!"

"You really came up with such a technique… you're a vicious brat!" Abirama roared in fury as the flaming griffin barreled toward him.

He could feel the terrifying power within the fireball.

A direct hit would mean certain death—his body might even be vaporized in an instant.

If he were killed by his own likeness in flames, it would be the ultimate humiliation!

"Geo, give it everything you've got and kill this brat!" Abirama flapped his remaining wing, rage blazing in his eyes.

"You don't need to tell me twice!" Geo growled angrily.

The two large fangs in his lower jaw gleamed with an intense red light as he prepared his ultimate attack.

But it was already too late.

Just as Geo unleashed his Cero, the griffin-shaped fireball collided with them both.

BOOM—

A deafening explosion shook the desert.

The wave of flames that followed surged like a tsunami, sweeping across every corner of the battlefield.

This devastating attack signaled the nearing end of the battle.

Only one side would survive!