Chapter 39

"Oh~ Bankai? Impressive, tattooed individual. "

As the smoke cleared, Fiander's blue eyes widened slightly, clearly a bit irritated. He had the capability to gradually eliminate these opponents, yet he felt an increasing presence of Reiatsu surrounding him. It indicated he was encircled by Shinigami.

"Abarai, are you okay? "

Noticing that his subordinates were safe for the moment, Tōshirō quickly inquired with concern.

"Don't worry, Captain Hitsugaya. I'm one of the few vice-captains who has mastered Bankai," Abarai responded cheerfully, laughing.

"Don't let your guard down, Renji; he hasn't taken any direct hits yet," Ikkaku remarked seriously while observing Fiander.

"I understand, but if we collaborate, there's a chance we could prevail," Renji replied.

At this moment, the temperature continued to plummet, reaching around minus 30 degrees. The Shinigami recognized the urgency to defeat Fiander quickly. A delay could mean disaster for the people in Karakura Town, as Fiander's domain expanded outward, and the battle took place above the suburbs.

Although he only controlled the temperature within a few kilometers directly, the cold would perpetually extend outward, causing diminishing temperatures externally.

Fiander narrowed his gaze at the persevering Shinigami below and suddenly bellowed, "Reinhard! "

At that instant, a dark void materialized in the sky, and a voice emanated from within it before a figure emerged. "Master Fiander. "

"Is this his ally? " someone remarked.

"What an ominous Reiatsu," another added.

Reinhard, donned in a white coat, bowed before Fiander and stated, "My lord, how may I assist you? "

"I'm done toying with them; assist me in eliminating them, as I prefer not to exert excessive energy. " Fiander, still wielding his Zanpakutō, stepped aside, entrusting the battle to his sole subordinate - Arrancar number N0.11.

Reinhard Cavendish was one of only six Vasto Lorde Menos Grandes among all Arrancars.

In contrast to Fiander's Reiatsu, which resembled that of a Shinigami, Reinhard towered nearly three meters high, delivering a frosty glare filled with lethal intent toward Tōshirō's group.

Unlike Fiander, Reinhard distinguished himself amid countless low-level Adjuchas Menos Grande, evolving into a Vasto Lorde Menos Grande after centuries of Fiander's training, without consuming the same kind, resulting in a Reiatsu lacking in raw murderous intent.

In contrast to the "Lion King" Reinhard, who emerged from countless battles, he was continuously in combat. Even in defeat, Fiander provided support, rendering other Arrancars or Menos Grande powerless against him.

It's accurate to claim that the Reiatsu emanating from Reinhard was both malevolent and merciless.

"This individual appears to be stronger than the previous one."

"Based on the potency of his Reiatsu, he seems to surpass that one in strength. "

As Abarai Renji observed Reinhard adorned in a lion skull, he took the initiative to swing the enormous bone snake and launched his offensive.

"Bone Cannon! ! "

The crimson Reiatsu gathered within the snake's mouth unleashed a blast aimed directly at Reinhard.

"With such feeble strikes, you think you can defeat Lord Fiander? How pathetic. "

Reinhard extended a finger towards the group below, a dark beam of light swiftly formed at his fingertips, accompanied by a surge of illumination, giving rise to a Cero.

The very fabric of space seemed to bend under this Cero as Abarai's baboon bone cannon was overshadowed; the Cero propelled itself relentlessly toward the assembly beneath.

Boom--! ! !

The intense heat from the massive explosion raised the surrounding temperature, rendering Abarai unconscious as he tumbled to the ground, the state of his Bankai vanishing.

Had he not utilized his Zanpakutō to shield himself by enveloping his body with the Bone Snake, this strike would likely have been lethal.

"What an awe-inspiring attack! "

Seeing his ally collapse, Ikkaku felt the urge to rush in and eliminate Reinhard right away. Fiander had already pushed them to their limits, and now they faced an even mightier adversary, instilling a sense of despair within them.

"Vacuum ice blade! ! "

Out of nowhere, a massive icicle hurtled towards Reinhard, but he simply countered with another dark Cero, obliterating Tōshirō's ambush in an instant.

"What dull insects,"

Reinhard remarked, gesturing at the remaining foes below: "One, two, three, four, just four in total? Let's wrap this up quickly! "

With a calm demeanor, Reinhard unsheathed his Zanpakutō and uttered, "Roar! Lion King! "

A wave of black Reiatsu surged from Reinhard, destabilizing the surrounding space under his spiritual force as the chill created by Fiander's powers gradually faded, absorbed by an ominous and deadly aura.

"This is bad! ! "

As Tōshirō attempted to respond, Reinhard, transformed into a lion figure, swung his paw at the stunned Rukia Kuchiki, who was unprepared for the assault.

Boom! !

"Arggh! "

The fluctuation of black Reiatsu ignited a fierce explosion from the impact of the strike. Rukia was hurled backward for several meters, but fortunately, Rangiku managed to catch her in time.

"This Arrancar's killing intent is overwhelming. "

"Everyone, be cautious! Stay vigilant! "

Having trained alongside Zaraki Kenpachi for an extended period, Ikkaku was keenly aware of how potent Reinhard's murderous intent was.

Yet, scarcely had he spoken when a black Cero shot forth without hesitation, piercing through his abdomen, scorching the affected internal organs.

"Bas. . . bastard! "

Cursing in his final moments, Ikkaku plummeted from the skies, crashing to the ground, his fate uncertain.

"Ikkaku! ! "

Tōshirō and Rangiku cried out in fury upon witnessing another comrade severely injured, yet they were unable to respond to the lion's incredible swiftness.

In a mere minute, two vital combatants were lost. The support unit now consisted solely of Tōshirō, Rangiku, and an injured Rukia.

"Captain, I'll hold the enemy at bay; you find a way to strike! " Rangiku, typically composed, urged with urgency.

"Kuchiki, together we should use Bakudō to confine the Arrancar and create an opening for the captain to attack. "

"But Miss Rangiku, our powers aren't enough to stop them. "

"Trust me, we need to try."

Rukia, gazing into Matsumoto Rangiku's resolute eyes, nodded, got to her feet, and raised her hands, reciting: "The thundering carriage, the gap of the spinning wheel, this thing has light clusters and is divided into six! "

"Sixty-one of Bakudō Six Sticks Light Prison. "

Upon completing her incantation, sheets of light emerged, aiming to bind Reinhard.

However, this sluggish tactic struggled to keep pace with him.

The moment Reinhard moved, he turned into an afterimage and landed, a golden chain fastening to him. Rangiku, who tracked his movements, called out, "Bakudō 63. Locking with chains. "

Yet the unchanted sixty-five Bakudō failed to restrain an Arrancar with strength rivaling that of an Espada. Reinhard effortlessly broke free from Rangiku's binds and retaliated with a swipe of his claws.

Suddenly, Rangiku's Zanpakutō swung, ensnaring one of Reinhard's arms with black gauze, preventing immediate escape. Seizing the moment, Rukia Kuchiki harnessed the power of Sode no Shirayuki to freeze Reinhard's legs in place.

The same tactics they employed against Fiander in their previous battle were now being utilized against Reinhard.

"Dragon rack! ! "

Despite having one wing severed by Fiander, Tōshirō thrust his blade deep into Reinhard's body with the force of his remaining wing.

As ice threatened to encase him, a black Reiatsu surged upward, shattering the ice, before he vanished and reappeared in front of Rukia, stabbing her chest with his claws.

"Rukia! ! "

At that moment, Tōshirō was overwhelmed with guilt, watching as his team members fell, leaving just himself and Rangiku, dimming their chances of victory.

Suddenly, Reinhard coalesced another black Cero, launching it toward Matsumoto Rangiku.

The dark Cero transformed the sky's hue. With no time to evade, just as she faced certain doom, a familiar voice echoed beside her.

"Tenso! ! ! "

A blade formed from blue Reiatsu instantly countered Reinhard's black Cero.

As Fiander prepared to act, Urahara Kisuke and Shihouin Yoruichi had already arrived at his side.

"Mr. Arrancar, kindly refrain from moving. "

"Oh? Mr. Urahara Kisuke and Miss Yoruichi? " Fiander replied, unimpressed.

On the opposite side of Reinhard, a man in his middle years, sporting an unshaven beard and a black suit reminiscent of death, adorned with white feathers around his arms, gazed at Reinhard with a sigh and remarked, "Is this an Arrancar? "

"Indeed, it's clearly not comparable to the assorted lesser foes I dealt with earlier. "

Observing the individual before him, Reinhard momentarily glanced at Fiander and ceased his assault, while the liberated Matsumoto Rangiku and Hitsugaya Tōshirō stared in disbelief, exclaiming, "Captain Shiba? ! "

Indeed, the figure who had appeared was none other than the man who had been absent from the Soul Society for two decades, the previous leader of the 10th squad, and the former mentor to Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Matsumoto Rangiku—Shiba Isshin!

"Hey! It's been quite a while, Rangiku-chan, Toshiro-chan. Twenty years have flown by unexpectedly,"

"Just as I suspected, Toshiro, you've ascended to captain! Hahahaha! ! "