BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

On the outskirts of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi's manifested domain, Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Komamura Sajin arrived at the scene, joining Kurotsuchi Mayuri to assess the situation.

"What did you say? That Akira doesn't even have a Bankai, yet he fought Captain Kuchiki like this?"

Both Tōshirō and Komamura exchanged incredulous glances upon hearing Mayuri's analysis. The idea of someone fighting on par with a captain's Bankai without using one themselves was nearly unheard of. The last time they had witnessed such a feat was in the legendary battle with the combat-mad Zaraki Kenpachi.

Boom!

Before their shock could subside, a thunderous explosion erupted from within the domain. A brilliant golden light shot into the sky, illuminating the battlefield like a divine proclamation. As the destructive force dissipated, the space began to collapse like a punctured balloon, revealing the two figures at its core—Akira, standing firmly in place, and Byakuya Kuchiki, whose face was clouded with frustration.

The captains present had rarely seen Byakuya with such an expression. The usually composed and graceful Kuchiki heir now bore an expression of utter disbelief. Despite Akira lacking a Bankai, Byakuya had been forced onto the defensive, unable to make him so much as budge.

Every technique Byakuya had executed—each one a demonstration of his refined mastery—had been rendered ineffective, appearing like mere tricks before Akira's overwhelming power.

To Akira, all of it was nothing but superficial flair—beautiful but useless.

"This is… unbelievable," Komamura muttered, his tone laced with both shock and admiration. As someone who relied on raw power in battle, he could see the truth clearly. No matter how refined or elegant Senbonzakura Kageyoshi was, Akira did only one thing—slash.

One strike. One absolute, unstoppable strike.

Pure, unrelenting power that crushed everything in its path.

"It seems…" Byakuya exhaled slowly, his breath unsteady, "…if I want to defeat you, I have no choice but to use my strongest power."

Blood dripped from his wounds, worsened by Akira's relentless attacks, but his resolve remained unshaken. He had only one move left.

"Final Scene: White Emperor Sword."

In an instant, the countless petals of Senbonzakura abandoned their dance, converging upon Byakuya's blade. He poured every last ounce of his spiritual power into his sword, which now shone with an ethereal white radiance. As the energy coalesced, luminous wings of light seemed to unfurl behind him—a sight few had ever witnessed.

Even among captains, this technique was rarely used. Its sheer destructive force made it a last resort, one that even Hitsugaya and Komamura regarded with wary expressions.

"No… Kuchiki… is he really going all out?" Hitsugaya murmured, eyes wide. "To resort to this means he truly sees Akira as an overwhelming threat."

However, just as Byakuya's power reached its peak, another surge of spiritual pressure erupted from Akira—one so intense that even the gathered captains couldn't ignore it.

"Gather with the breath of the stars in the sky, the torrent of brilliant life—"

Akira's voice rang out, and his weapon pulsed with golden radiance. His blade's true name liberation had begun. This wasn't just an ordinary attack; this was a strike imbued with the full unleashed power of his sword.

A legendary sword—one meant to cut through fate itself.

"Tōshirō, we need to reinforce the barrier. If those two attacks collide without restraint…" Komamura warned.

Tōshirō nodded, and both captains quickly began erecting layers of barriers. If the shockwave from this clash were left unchecked, half of Seireitei could be reduced to rubble.

"Excalibur—!"

Akira swung his sword down without hesitation.

A golden wave of light, vast and unyielding, surged forth, cutting through the heavens themselves. It descended like divine judgment, colliding directly with Byakuya's White Emperor Sword in an earth-shattering explosion.

Boom—!!!

The explosion of power expanded outward, consuming everything within the barriers in an instant. The sheer brilliance of the impact was blinding, forcing even the onlookers to shield their eyes.

Cracks spread across the protective barriers, stretching outward like a web of destruction. The captains gritted their teeth, pushing their spiritual power to the limit, desperately trying to contain the devastation.

In the wake of such an overwhelming clash, one question remained—

Who would still be standing when the light faded?

Even with the combined efforts of two captains injecting their spiritual power into the barrier, the rate of destruction far outpaced the speed of repair.

Boom!

At last, the barrier shattered, and a fiery explosion erupted from within!

Fortunately, the weakening of the barrier had mitigated the blast's impact on the surrounding area. However, the same could not be said for Byakuya Kuchiki, who had taken the full force of the attack.

"What is the final outcome?"

Everyone knew that this was the decisive blow, and all eyes anxiously fixed on the battlefield.

As the smoke and embers settled, Akira stood tall, completely unscathed!

By contrast, Byakuya Kuchiki was in a state of utter disarray. His captain's haori was in tatters, and he lay on the ground, blood trickling from his lips. Several times, he attempted to rise, but his body refused—he no longer had the strength to continue the fight.

"Do you admit defeat? If you surrender, the battle ends here. Otherwise…"

Akira's voice was calm, yet unyielding. The holy sword in his hand began to glow once more, gathering spiritual energy from the air.

"No way?!"

The spectators were stunned. Could Akira still unleash another overwhelming attack?

"What was that technique just now?" Tōshirō Hitsugaya murmured. "Was that already the fifth sword? Is his spiritual power… limitless?"

Even Byakuya Kuchiki, proud head of the Kuchiki clan, wavered as despair flickered in his eyes. He could tell—Akira still had plenty of energy left. And yet, his pride as a noble prevented him from conceding.

"Enough!"

Suddenly, an immense Reiatsu, vast and oppressive like a boundless sea of stars, engulfed the battlefield!

The air itself grew heavy. Even the captains felt as though they were submerged underwater, their breathing labored under the sheer force of the spiritual pressure.

A lone figure, radiating overwhelming authority, slowly stepped into the arena.

It was none other than Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13—the strongest Shinigami in history!

"Stand down, Akira."

His voice was steady, yet it carried undeniable weight.

"The situation is clear to me," he continued. "According to the rules, you have defeated Byakuya Kuchiki, the former Captain of the Sixth Division. As of this moment, you are officially recognized as the new Captain of the Sixth Division."

Yamamoto's verdict was absolute. No one objected; the outcome was undeniable.

"The Gotei 13 cannot afford to lose a valuable captain-level combatant needlessly," the old man declared. "This battle ends here."

With Yamamoto's words, the matter seemed resolved. Recognizing Akira's strength, the Gotei 13 had secured a powerful new warrior.

"Wait!"

Just when everyone thought it was over, a figure descended onto the battlefield like a falling star!

His eye gleamed with excitement, and a wide, battle-hungry grin stretched across his face.

He locked eyes with Akira and bellowed, "Was that your Reiatsu just now?"

"I'm Zaraki Kenpachi—fight me!"

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