Chapter 102: Shattered Pride

Despite his tremendous power, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki had declined an invitation to join Squad Zero, believing that as a Kenpachi, his rightful place remained with the 11th Division. The fact that a man of his caliber couldn't completely control the Gagaku Kairoū was testament to the Zanpakutō's overwhelming power. The Zero Division's interest in recruiting him was undoubtedly influenced by this world-destroying potential.

For such a formidable Zanpakutō, Uehara Shiroha naturally held great interest. Rather than immediately countering the monsters' attack, he observed them carefully, his keen eyes dissecting their movements and structure. Through his perceptive Observation Haki, he quickly uncovered the secrets behind these creatures.

He acknowledged their lethality—it was indeed an exceptional ability—but they posed no genuine threat to him. Simultaneously, he clearly perceived the illusions Tokinada had created with Kyōka Suigetsu. Through these fabrications, Tokinada attempted to conceal himself and his monstrous creations, but such deceptions were useless against Uehara.

Even without the Mind Gem, Uehara remained immune to Kyōka Suigetsu's effects. The reason was simple: in Tokinada's hands, Kyōka Suigetsu was a mere shadow of the weapon Aizen had wielded. Shinigami battles were, at their core, contests of spiritual pressure. For Kyōka Suigetsu to be effective, its user needed to possess spiritual pressure exceeding that of the target.

Though Uehara had existed as a Shinigami for only a century—compared to Tokinada's millennium of experience—the enhancement of his attributes through the task panel had elevated his spiritual pressure beyond his opponent's. Consequently, Tokinada's Kyōka Suigetsu had been ineffective from the beginning.

As for the Gagaku Kairoū that Tokinada had such high expectations for—even these monstrosities couldn't penetrate Uehara's defense. The perfect universal barrier he maintained rendered his protection comparable to that of a transcendent being.

Witnessing his terrifying monsters overwhelm what he believed to be his enemy, Tokinada displayed a smug smile. He waved Enrakyōten again, activating yet another Shikai ability: "Reduce All Creation to Ash... Ryūjin Jakka!"

In an instant, a wall of multicolored flame swept forward. The horrific temperature engulfed the spacious conference hall, reducing everything in its path to ash. The Reiatsu-infused flames surged toward Uehara like a fire dragon, their heat seemingly capable of incinerating even the soul.

This was Tokinada's tactical approach: first, use Kyōka Suigetsu to confuse the enemy; second, employ the Gagaku Kairoū for simultaneous offense and defense; finally, unleash the most powerful heat-type Zanpakutō Ryūjin Jakka for a killing blow. This "three-pronged assault" would have devastated ordinary captains—even those with millennia of experience might suffer grievous injuries when facing such a combination.

For Uehara Shiroha, however, it presented no challenge.

As the flames approached, he executed a flawless Shunpo, appearing before Tokinada in a flash, and delivered a deceptively simple kick. This basic combination—ordinary flash step plus Hakuda—carried enough force to make the noble feel death's approach.

Sensing the powerful spiritual pressure and lethal intent directed at him, Tokinada's composure shattered. He had known his opponent was formidable, which was why he had remained vigilant, constructing an elaborate tactical system by continuously "spending his life force" regardless of the cost. Yet he truly hadn't anticipated his opponent's overwhelming strength. His carefully constructed triple release ability couldn't even withstand a single kick—it was beyond outrageous.

Moreover, how had his opponent penetrated Kyōka Suigetsu's illusions and pinpointed his actual location?

In this critical moment, Tokinada's solid foundation as a Shinigami saved his life. He flash-stepped backward instantaneously, avoiding the majority of the impact. Nevertheless, his lungs suffered damage, and blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.

After another flash step to increase the distance between them, Tokinada stared at Uehara in shock, confusion evident in his voice: "Why aren't you affected? Isn't the hypnosis of Kyōka Suigetsu supposed to be unbreakable?"

Uehara responded with undisguised contempt, "I believe you fundamentally misunderstand. Whether it's Enrakyōten or Kyōka Suigetsu, they're nothing but garbage in your hands—because you yourself are garbage. Do you comprehend that?"

"Fulfill, Hisagomaru!" Tokinada quickly copied Hanatarō Yamada's healing Zanpakutō to treat his injuries. Though his wounds closed immediately, his face turned deathly pale, and his spiritual energy visibly diminished. This was the price of wielding Enrakyōten—after just a brief exchange, his soul's strength had decreased significantly.

Despite this deterioration, Tokinada still exhibited a maniacal smile. "Hehehe! What could you possibly know? People like you will never understand the Tsunayashiro family's greatness! The history of Soul Society was created by us! I will bury you completely with Enrakyōten and make you a mere footnote in history!"

After his arrogant declaration, he once again recklessly wielded Enrakyōten: "Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyōrinmaru!"

For reasons unknown to Tokinada, he couldn't copy Uehara's Shikai. Otherwise, he wouldn't have resorted to using Tōshirō Hitsugaya's ice dragon.

As cold air permeated the chamber, moisture condensed into a magnificent azure ice dragon that lunged toward Uehara with fangs and claws poised to strike.

At this moment, Uehara activated his Unlimited Blade Works ability, summon another Enrakyōten and whispered: "Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyōrinmaru!"

A more agile, larger, and visibly colder ice dragon materialized from thin air, instantly tearing apart Tokinada's attacking dragon.

Staring at the Enrakyōten in Uehara's hand, Tokinada was stunned into silence before exclaiming: "Why do you also possess Enrakyōten? Moreover, your Enrakyōten is even more powerful than mine! Are you also from the Tsunayashiro family?"

His face grew even paler. He had placed all his hopes on Enrakyōten's power, and now his opponent wielded the same artifact with greater proficiency—it nearly broke him.

"Your Tsunayashiro family isn't worthy of association with me," Uehara declared, waving the Enrakyōten copied by his Unlimited Blade Works. "The Enrakyōten of your family isn't particularly impressive. Furthermore, I can use it without any cost. So, tell me, are members of the Tsunayashiro family worthy of my attention?"

"This is impossible! This must be fake—all illusions!" Tokinada felt the universe had conspired against him unfairly. He had struggled tirelessly and endured countless humiliations to obtain this divine weapon. In the end, he had to sacrifice his lifespan to use it, while his opponent could wield it freely without cost, and with greater effect. If this were true, wasn't the Tsunayashiro family nothing but a collection of fools and clowns? The injustice was unbearable!

The increasingly unhinged Tokinada began frantically activating various Zanpakutō abilities through Enrakyōten:

"Shoot to kill, Shinsō!" "Scatter, Senbonzakura!"

Yet each attempt ended in failure. His spirit spear was shattered by his opponent's identical but superior technique, leaving a gaping hole in his shoulder. The scattered cherry blossom blades of Senbonzakura couldn't penetrate his opponent's own Senbonzakura defense.

No matter which Shikai he employed, Shiroha countered with the same ability, amplified and perfected, inflicting injury after injury upon the noble.

After several exchanges, Tokinada was covered in wounds, his once-vibrant hair now gray, his smooth skin now etched with deep wrinkles. Due to excessive use of Enrakyōten's power, he had transformed from a middle-aged man into a withered elder.

Meanwhile, Uehara maintained his appearance as a handsome, vigorous young man, unmarked and radiating power.

Witnessing this stark contrast, Tokinada's spirit finally shattered completely.

Unfair! It was too unfair!

He couldn't win. He couldn't win at all.

The noble no longer displayed his previous arrogance and complacency. His heart seemed to have plunged into an eternal abyss of ice, his entire being consumed by cold desperation.

How was this possible? Why had he lost, and lost so thoroughly and humiliatingly?

"It's not over yet, it can't end like this!" Tsunayashiro Tokinada bit down on his loosening teeth and waved Enrakyōten desperately. "I will fight to the last moment! I will control this evil world! I will make you feel pain and despair!"

This time, he didn't activate any special abilities but instead lunged toward Uehara Shiroha with a direct slash. Since Enrakyōten's copied powers had proven ineffective, perhaps raw combat might yield different results.

"When did you start believing this was a battle?" Facing the desperate noble, Uehara felt no pressure whatsoever.

True, a thousand-year-old Shinigami desperately channeling their spiritual pressure and fighting with their life on the line could indeed demonstrate remarkable combat prowess. However, a thousand-year-old Shinigami was not equivalent to a thousand-year-old captain. And with Tokinada's premature aging—his hair now completely white—he had little vitality left to sacrifice.

In truth, with his current strength, Uehara could have easily defeated Tokinada even at his prime. For him, this confrontation barely qualified as exercise, let alone a battle.

"You..." Hearing this dismissal, Tokinada's fury ignited. But before he could finish his retort, the figure before him vanished. He swung his sword through empty air, wasting the spiritual pressure he had struggled to gather.

Suddenly, he felt a tremendous force surge from behind. Caught completely off-guard, he stumbled forward and fell face-first onto the floor. Under normal circumstances, Tokinada would never have suffered such humiliation, but Enrakyōten had consumed too much of his life force. The strength of his spiritual body had deteriorated significantly, and his physical functions had been severely compromised.

When Tokinada had attacked, Uehara had calmly flash-stepped forward, effortlessly evading Enrakyōten's blade. In the same fluid motion, he had transformed his sword into a gun, using the flat side to strike Tokinada's back with enough force to send him sprawling.

After executing this sequence, Uehara merely regarded his opponent with amusement. As he had stated, their exchange resembled an adult toying with a child rather than any legitimate contest.

"Reduce All Creation to Ash... Ryūjin Jakka!" Tokinada had realized his embarrassing position. Even at his peak, his swordsmanship had never been exceptional compared to other captains. Now, with his aged limbs and diminished strength, close combat was clearly not viable.

Under these circumstances, he could only rely on Enrakyōten's abilities for one final, desperate stand. In reality, Tokinada still had the option to escape—he possessed one last trump card. Yet his pride refused to accept such a humiliating conclusion. After all his sacrifices and suffering, to flee in disgrace? If he ran now, wouldn't his previous efforts have been meaningless?

With this thought, Tokinada resolved to take at least a piece of his opponent before departing—his last act of defiance against his inevitable defeat.

Once more, a terrifying sea of fire materialized! Each swing of his blade sent forth deadly flames that seemed capable of incinerating even spiritual energy itself.

"Tsunayashiro Tokinada, don't delude yourself into thinking you're special or significant," Uehara said coldly. "In my eyes, you are completely worthless. You're capable of nothing but impotent rage. The facts have proven that even wielding your family's greatest artifact, you remain nothing."

Faced with the billowing inferno, Uehara didn't bother to move. Though these flames could easily incinerate ordinary captain-level Shinigami, they couldn't penetrate his defense. Even thousand-year-old captains lacked such formidable protection—there was a reason Shinigami had earned the nickname "glass cannons."

In truth, even transcendent beings might hesitate to face such devastating flames without activating their abilities. But Uehara could stand firm, his defensive capabilities ranking among the finest even among transcendents. The perfect-level universal barrier truly was a marvel.

"This is impossible! This must be an illusion!" Witnessing Uehara standing unharmed amidst the flames, Tokinada's mind fractured further. He absolutely refused to believe his opponent remained unscathed.

This was Ryūjin Jakka! The strongest heat-type Zanpakutō in existence! If Ryūjin Jakka was truly so ineffective that opponents could simply ignore it, how had Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni maintained his position as Soul Society's strongest Shinigami for thousands of years? Had he relied solely on reputation?

Tokinada couldn't comprehend the scene before him. His mind short-circuited, his vision blurred. With his thoughts in chaos, all he could do was swing his sword again and again.

Endless flames erupted skyward, blotting out the sun, devouring everything in their path. Wherever the fires touched, the ground cracked and vitrified, the very air seeming to combust. An ordinary being who inhaled even a single breath of such scorching atmosphere would have their internal organs instantly cremated.

Yet amidst this apocalyptic firestorm, Uehara's figure remained motionless and unaffected. Not a single strand of his hair was singed, his immaculate clothing unmarked by smoke or ash. He completely disregarded the infernal tempest surrounding him.

Witnessing this, Tokinada descended into complete madness, pushing himself harder to channel Enrakyōten's power. Suddenly, flames, frost, blades, monsters, and numerous other strange manifestations converged upon Uehara, enveloping him completely.

Countless Shikai abilities emerged in overwhelming succession, transforming the surrounding environment into a fantastical realm of deadly beauty. These powers combined and enhanced one another—evidence that Tokinada, despite his deteriorating state, had applied tactical thinking. This represented his ultimate attack, the final expression of his desperation.

Facing this barrage of powerful Shikai abilities, Uehara concentrated his spiritual pressure and executed a single slash

Since his opponent couldn't produce anything new, the time had come to end this farce.

The razor-sharp blade flashed momentarily before disappearing. After a brilliant white light, the various Shikai abilities froze in place, as if constrained by an invisible force. An extraordinarily powerful spiritual pressure enveloped the world—even time and space seemed temporarily suspended.

Silently, the slashing force swept across space like a hurricane, obliterating everything in its path. Both tangible and intangible abilities shattered into nothingness.

The power of a single stroke proved utterly devastating! Uehara possessed not only numerous supernatural abilities but also the capacity to "break all techniques with a single force." He had no weaknesses—only trump cards.

"The invisible Shikai abilities... were actually sliced to pieces!" Tsunayashiro Tokinada's expression froze in disbelief. He hadn't imagined his opponent's cutting technique could be so overwhelmingly powerful.

It dawned on him that he had been nothing but a clown from the very beginning.

As this realization struck, he felt his life force rapidly draining away. He had desperately activated multiple Shikai abilities to block Uehara's terrifying slash, pushing Enrakyōten to its absolute limit. The price was the near-complete exhaustion of his life force, his spiritual body on the verge of collapse.

In this moment, he resembled a candle flickering in a gale, his remaining time measured in minutes rather than years. Despite this, Tokinada still refused to relinquish his grip on Enrakyōten, making one final, defiant stand.

With a voice hoarse, desperate, and filled with resentment, he asked: "Why did you have to oppose me? Why are you so impossibly strong? I refuse to accept this!"

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