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Unlike the other blades he had forged, Frostmourne was perfectly matched to counter Ryujin Jakka. As the raging inferno of Ryujin Jakka roared, Frostmourne struck back, scattering white frost in a desperate clash of elements. While Lucifer held the Captain Commander at bay, victory and defeat were decided elsewhere once again. This time, the outcome was determined between Sajin Komamura and Kaname Tosen. The victor was Tosen. Unlike Gin, Tosen had mastered both Hollowfication and a Resurrección-like release to heal his eyes, allowing him to overwhelm and strike down Sajin Komamura.
"Six remaining."
The number of surviving Captains spilled from Lucifer’s lips. Only six Captains were left; thus far, the Hollow side—including the wounded Gin—had been victorious in every engagement. Furthermore, the Espada, now with extra hands free, began to squeeze the remaining Captains. Tosen moved to reinforce the fight against Kenpachi Zaraki, while Yeriel, who had just secured her victory, joined the fray against Jushiro Ukitake.
‘So far, everything is going according to plan.’
Lucifer had predicted these results. He had shifted the roster multiple times to ensure the highest probability of success. He had even calculated who might lose. He viewed the Kyoraku Shunsui match-up as the most reliable yet dangerous, and the Zaraki versus Szayelaporro fight as the most precarious. However, with Tosen joining the assault on Zaraki, Lucifer felt a moment of relief—until he saw the next result and scowled. It was Szayelaporro’s defeat at the hands of Mayuri Kurotsuchi. He had hoped Szayelaporro would last longer against Mayuri since the latter hadn't seen his techniques yet, but it seemed the scientist had fallen at the final moment. This was the first defeat for the Espada. Moreover, there was no telling what tricks that mad scientist would pull now.
‘Neither Is nor Tibel can move from their positions. The only ones with any breathing room are the Lieutenants, reinforced by Rangiku and Rukia. However, they lack the raw power to face Mayuri Kurotsuchi. They’d likely just end up as test subjects.’
Lucifer analyzed the current strength of his forces, trying to think of a card to play against the idling Mayuri Kurotsuchi. In that split second of tactical calculation, he momentarily forgot the caliber of the opponent standing right in front of him.
"What could you possibly be thinking about with such an opponent before you?"
Squelch!
"Gwaagh!"
Lucifer felt the surge of danger and jerked his body away, but it was too late. His right arm, the one clutching Frostmourne, was severed cleanly by the Captain Commander's Ryujin Jakka. Even as a scream of agony escaped him, Lucifer caught Frostmourne with his left hand before it could fall with his severed limb and roared a command.
"Zommari! Stick to the Captain that Szayelaporro was fighting, now! Don't focus on killing him—just seal his movements! If you kill him haphazardly, there's no telling when he'll find a way to come back!"
"Understood!"
Grimacing through the pain, Lucifer moved his pieces the instant his arm was taken. The Captain Commander watched this and spoke.
"You are a foe, yet you are magnificent. Your judgment remained sharp even as your limb was severed. It is only surprising that such an opponent would show such negligence in front of an enemy."
"Well, everyone makes mistakes."
Lucifer looked down at the arm Ryujin Jakka had claimed. As expected, there was no blood, but the wound was severe nonetheless. Watching the Reiatsu bleed out from the stump, Lucifer adjusted his grip on Frostmourne with his left hand.
"I was already prepared to sacrifice a right arm, Captain Commander."
"Is that so? Then allow me to take not just your arm, but your life as well."
The Captain Commander replied dismissively and raised Ryujin Jakka. Without his right hand, Lucifer was being driven further into a corner. There was no one left to provide backup; he had to break through this crisis by his own hand.
"It has been a long time since I've used this. Bankai."
Fwoosh!
In an instant, a pillar of crimson flame erupted from the Captain Commander's body, and his Reiatsu surged violently. This was the activation of a Bankai that had never even been seen in the original story.
"Bankai: Kashin Busō: Ryujin Jakka!"
Ryujin Jakka vanished, and a massive fire dragon swallowed the Captain Commander whole. In the next moment, the old man stood there clad in armor of scarlet flame, wielding a red longsword as he glared at Lucifer. Staring at this unprecedented form, Lucifer reflexively took a step back.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni stood there, looking like an ancient samurai clad in traditional armor. Every combatant on the field ceased their struggle for a moment. The sheer dignity of the Captain Commander and the overwhelming spiritual pressure saturated the air, causing temperatures to skyrocket. Both Espada and Soul Reapers alike began to drench their clothes in sweat.
"Now that I have shown this form, I shall end this quickly. Otherwise, my own side will suffer immense collateral damage."
Swish.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni moved, wielding his crimson longsword. No one saw him move. The Espada could only barely guess his position through their Pesquisa. According to that prediction, the Captain Commander was appearing exactly where Lucifer stood.
Slash!
Lucifer desperately raised Frostmourne to guard, but the Captain Commander and his scarlet blade cleaved straight through the sword and into Lucifer’s body. Frostmourne, which had held its own against the Shikai state of Ryujin Jakka, was shattered with pathetic ease.
"It is the end, Espada."
"Lucifer!"
As Lucifer slowly began to collapse, Halibel, Is, and Yeriel all screamed his name in unison. No one—including Lucifer himself—could have imagined that the Number 1 Espada, the man hailed as the King of Hueco Mundo, would be cut down so helplessly without a single counterattack. As he fell, Lucifer stared at the Captain Commander with eyes filled with disbelief.
"This... this is impossible..."
As he plummeted, Lucifer reached out his hand. It was unclear if he was trying to grab the Captain Commander or if it was merely a reflexive twitch as he fell, but like a celestial being cast out of heaven to become a fallen angel, he tumbled toward the ground below.
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Phew! I'll keep going straight into the final part!
The Captain Commander's Bankai is just my own creation. If it actually appears in the official material later, I might edit it, but I thought this was a good fit so I wrote it this way.
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