Death: This Death is a bit unorthodox.

Amidst the flashing blades, three figures were rapidly clashing, their weapons gleaming coldly. They clashed and separated, each move brimming with boundless killing intent and power.

"This swordsmanship is terrifying. Has he been holding back when we sparred all along?"

Beneath the black mask, Kuchiki Kyoga's eyes darted around, trying to keep track of Aozaki Mayuki's movements, and even with Muramasa's help, he was still feeling somewhat strained.

The occasional bursts of flames, gales, waves, and thunder from the demonic forces caused him even more suffering.

With the long sword in his hand and the spiritual pressure attached to his body, he was completely unable to defend against it and could only dodge in a sorry state.

"Damn it, he's so strong! How is that possible?!"

A storm raged in the heart of the rotten wood river.

Since learning Bankai, Kuchiki Kyoga has completely disregarded ordinary Shinigami.

Even among the ordinary captains of the Gotei 13, excluding the Captain-Commander and his father-in-law, he believed he was no weaker than anyone else.

After wreaking havoc at the Tsunayoshiro family and slaughtering a large number of Tsunayoshiro family Shinigami, he felt that he could fight even his father-in-law and Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

Therefore, he believed that although he had always lost when using Shikai, he should be able to easily defeat Aozaki Mazuki after using Bankai.

But at this moment, he realized that even after using his full strength after Bankai, it would be difficult to fight against Aozaki Mayuki, and he was naturally shocked!

Clang!

After their second exchange, the two separated as if struck by lightning. Kuchiki Kyoga stared at Aozaki Mayuki, his eyes flashing with vigilance and wariness.

Chapter 157 Next Up is You

Kuchiki Hibiki's breathing was slightly rapid, his chest heaving violently, as if he had just experienced a life-or-death crisis.

The sword in his hand trembled slightly, as if still carrying the residual force of the fierce clash just now.

The air around them was thick with tension, as if time itself had frozen.

The wind blew, carrying snowflakes that danced and fell among them, but no one noticed.

Kuchiki Hibiki and Muramasa kept their eyes fixed on Aozaki Mayuki, not daring to relax for a moment, for fear that a moment of carelessness would give the latter an opportunity to take advantage.

Finally, Kuchiki Hibiki slowly retreated, each step taken with extreme caution, as if he were stepping on landmines.

Seeing this, Muramasa also slowly retreated, always maintaining a certain distance.

They stopped only after they had retreated several feet away, but their eyes remained fixed on Aozaki Mazuki.

Normally, given Aozaki Mayuki's personality, he would have used Ryujin Jakka to burn the enemy to ashes.

However, since Kuchiki Kyouga is still useful and Aizen has come looking for him, he cannot be killed so easily.

Looking at the several new sword marks on Kuchiki Hibiki's clothes, and then at his own unharmed state, Aozaki Mayuki said somewhat casually:

"I'll end the battle as soon as possible, so be prepared and don't die."

Unlike Aozaki Mayuki, who was deliberating whether to kill his opponent, Kuchiki Kyoga's mindset immediately became unstable after discovering his Bankai and finding himself at a disadvantage in the battle.

With a roar, Kuchiki Hibiki and Muramasa simultaneously brandished their longswords, the blades shooting out red and green light respectively.

"Diamond Explosion!"

"Teeth gleam with fierce light!"

A massive fireball, tens of meters in diameter, streaked across the sky at an astonishing speed, trailing a long tail of flame, like a meteorite engulfed in flames.

Suddenly, something violent seemed to happen inside the fireball. It exploded violently, scattering countless sparks and creating a dazzling sea of ​​fire.

Hidden within this sea of ​​fire were ten extremely thin green beams of light!

These beams of light, like ten agile green snakes, quickly broke free from the fireball and sped off in all directions.

They move incredibly fast, disappearing in the blink of an eye like lightning, but leaving trails of green light in their wake, like shooting stars streaking across the night sky.

Aozaki Mayuki remained silent, only silently using Shunpo to dodge the incoming beam of light. Looking at the fireball hurtling towards him, he uttered a soft command:

"The water and sky blend into one color!"

The wind swirled wildly around the blade like a vortex, and surging spiritual water droplets, as if imbued with life, continuously emerged from beneath his feet.

The gale whipped up waves that quickly gathered and condensed in mid-air into a massive, imposing water curtain, like a raging torrent, which crashed down on the blazing fireball with unstoppable momentum!

Boom!!

As the raging flames and the raging floodwaters intertwined and collided, a massive, earth-shattering explosion was instantly triggered!

The violent energy shockwave spread outwards with overwhelming force, as if it would tear the entire world apart.

In this breathtaking scene, the dense mist, like a thick curtain, tightly shrouded the three figures, making it impossible to see their true situation.

"Matsuki... this...!?"

Staring at the thick fog, both Kuchiki Hibiki and Muramasa widened their eyes in disbelief, their mouths agape enough to fit an egg!

It's important to know that Kongo Baku and Fang Qi Reki Kyou are Muramasa's Zanpakuto abilities, and their power is comparable to that of Hado (demon arts) of level 90 or higher!

However, at this moment, such a terrifying attack from the demonic path was actually neutralized so easily.

How is that possible?!

A storm raged within them, and they were unable to calm down for a long time.

"Is this the end? I've only just begun!"

As that chilling voice, which seemed to freeze one's bones, rang out, the long sword that Aozaki Mayuki was holding tightly suddenly burst into flames, like a blazing, dazzling, and radiant sun!

"Songming Taixu!"

The flames were so intense that the surrounding air seemed to ignite, creating a powerful surge of heat.

At that moment, the blade stirred up a gust of wind, and the fire spread rapidly with the help of the wind, forming a huge tornado-shaped wall of flames.

This wall of flames, like a ferocious fire dragon, swept towards Muramasa at an astonishing speed and tightly enveloped him.

The wall of flames spun rapidly, creating a piercing whistling sound as it violently rubbed against the air, while simultaneously making the flames burn even more intensely, as if they were about to devour everything.

Faced with such a terrifying attack, Muramasa had no way to escape and could only watch helplessly as he was engulfed in the sea of ​​fire.

Aozaki Mayuki's eyes were cold as she uttered softly, "Take care of one first, then it's your turn."

His words revealed contempt for the enemy and confidence in his own strength.

Kuchiki Hibiki looked at Aozaki Mayuki, who was flying in mid-air, his body enveloped in azure energy, and holding a flaming longsword, with a somewhat bewildered expression.

"This...this is...this is the legendary Zanpakuto whose Shikai is comparable to Bankai?!"

His eyes widened, and he muttered to himself in disbelief, his voice filled with shock and awe.

Then, as if suddenly snapping out of his daze, he shook his head vigorously, seemingly trying to shake off the shock in his mind.

Then, he took a deep breath, calmed his excited emotions slightly, and continued:

"No wonder, such extraordinary talent and strength are truly beyond the reach of others, and fill one with despair."

"No wonder even a discerning person like my father-in-law praises you highly; that's how it should be!"

As he spoke, a hint of envy and helplessness flickered in his eyes.

Do you really think that Lord Yinling doesn't approve of you?

Aozaki Mayuki said with a helpless expression, looking at the guy in front of her who kept praising her, a strange feeling welled up in her heart.

This kid speaks so nicely that he's even a little embarrassed to be harsh with him.

Kuchiki Hibiki nodded silently, a bitter smile on his face:

“That’s natural. I’ve known my father-in-law for a long time and spent decades with him, but I’ve never heard a single word of praise or affirmation from him.”

After saying that, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions.

However, despite appearing calm on the surface, Kuchiki Hibiki's eyes still revealed an undisguised sense of loneliness and disappointment.

Like a neglected young wife, she was filled with grievances but had nowhere to confide in.

This complex and contradictory emotion made him appear both pitiful and ridiculous.

Chapter 158 The Stubbornest Mouth

"Then how did you become his son-in-law?" Aozaki Mayuki asked.

"What do you mean?" Kuchiki Hibiki turned his head to the side, his eyes filled with confusion.

Seeing this, Aozaki Mayuki couldn't help but shake her head, sighing inwardly: Why is this silly boy so dull-witted? Why can't he think straight?

"The Kuchiki family is one of the five great noble families in Soul Society, and your wife is the apple of Lord Silver Ridge's eye, the little princess of the Kuchiki family."

Aozaki Mayuki said:

"If he were not satisfied with you, why would he easily entrust his beloved daughter to you? Everything you wear is a symbol of the Kuchiki family's status and position!"

Upon hearing this, Kuchiki Hibiki instinctively reached out and stroked the Star-Connecting Clamp on his head, then lowered his head to gaze at the bright red wind-flower gauze around his neck, his eyes suddenly widening.

"Could it be that my father-in-law...!?" At this moment, Kuchiki Hibiki finally realized the truth.

Seeing that Kuchiki Hibiki had finally figured it out, Aozaki Mayuki was truly speechless.

He wasn't going to waste any more words and casually asked, "Are you ready?"

"Prepare what?" Kuchiki Hibiki asked, taken aback.

"Of course you're prepared to lose to me!"

Aozaki Mayuki smiled slightly, then her body flashed away like a ghost, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

An intensely hot aura, so hot it could burn a person, rushed toward Kuchiki Hibiki River like a meteorite burning with raging flames.

Wherever it passed, the originally raging and roaring blizzard didn't even have time to get close to this heat before it was instantly evaporated and melted away by its terrifying high temperature.

"very good!"

A glint of excitement flashed in Kuchiki Hibiki's eyes, and an intense fighting spirit surged within him. He roared loudly:

"Aozaki Mayuki, today I'll show you that I, Kuchiki Kyouga, will not be defeated by you forever!"

After speaking, he unleashed all the spiritual power hidden within his body without reservation, and his aura suddenly surged, as if a war god had descended upon the world.

At this moment, Kuchiki Hibiki had already given it his all, because he knew that holding back even slightly in the face of such a powerful enemy would be tantamount to courting death.