You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

The two types of blood armor cannot be used simultaneously; one must decide which one to activate based on the situation—this is the information Iori knows.

But he didn't know the details, such as whether these two states could be switched quickly, whether there was a duration, or whether it would put a strain on the body.

Spiritual pressure defense is not uncommon in Bleach. Arrancar have tough skin called "steel skin," and Shinigami have a protective layer of a certain density on their bodies. The "Queen Blood Armor" is a unique skill of Quincy in this regard.

However, in terms of "feel," this thing is much stronger than the Grim Reaper's body protection!

The Kusanagi Sword is an extremely sharp dragon-slaying weapon with divine effects. Combined with Iori's strength, it can cut through anything, not just a human body, but even a giant rock made of granite or marble.

However, on a Quincy with scarred eyes, it only caused a minor scratch.

"I've heard that this is a talent skill that every pure-blooded Quincy possesses; it's truly enviable."

However, I'm quite curious, is it possible for a Grim Reaper to learn this skill through hard work?

"……what are you saying?"

Scarface was taken aback; even on the brutal battlefield, the question still struck him as absurd.

"Is that even a question!"

"The Blood Armor is a power left to us by our progenitor, the great one who created everything. Even hybrids cannot use it because they are no longer 'pure,' let alone a complete stranger like the Grim Reaper!"

"That's a real shame... The principle is quite simple, isn't it? Injecting spiritual particles into the blood vessels doesn't seem that difficult."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Scarface leaped backward, raising his left hand where a star emblem flashed, releasing materialized spiritual light that formed a four-armed crossbow shaped like starlight. His right hand then swept across it as if plucking a harp.

Hundreds of spiritual beams shot towards Iori!

"Duan Kong!"

hum!

The rain of light crashed into an invisible barrier. Amidst the resounding explosions, the dazzling spiritual light was blocked on the other side, unable to cross the line.

Iori narrowed her eyes and drew her sword, slashing to the side—

Clang!

The swift figure pierced the sound barrier, arriving before the wind could reach Iori, only to be blocked three feet away by the Ama-no-Kurakumo sword.

Scarface held a small, rectangular sword hilt and materialized a sharp one-handed sword using his spiritual energy gathering ability. He clashed head-on with Ama-no-Kuramoku, and the clash of forces created waves of surging spiritual pressure, with fierce winds spreading around them.

"Speed ​​and strength have both increased significantly... Have you switched to the [Bloodlust Gear] now?"

Iori held the sword in one hand, feeling the impact transmitted through the weapon. Even with his wrist strength, he found it quite strenuous. If it were an ordinary Shinigami, they would probably be crushed.

But he seemed quite interested and asked, "But it doesn't seem as good as it was at the beginning. So the injuries are still having an effect?"

"!"

Scarface remained silent, twisting his wrist to deflect the Ama no Kusanagi aside, and then smoothly slashed upwards with the slender light blade.

Iori saw it clearly, and smoothly turned the sword around, pressing the light blade downwards—

At that very moment, the light blade suddenly dissipated into countless fragments. Iori felt her hand go empty, and before she could change her move, she felt a sharp killing intent coming towards her.

Scarface raised his hand, the hilt of his sword passing over the clouds of heaven—

Light blades appear!

The double-manifested blade silently sliced ​​through the atmosphere and pierced Iori's throat!

At this moment, there is neither room to dodge nor time to react!

Got it!

The scarred eye's pupils suddenly contracted.

next moment--

boom! ! !

It was like a fully inflated balloon suddenly bursting, but with a power a thousand times greater. The sudden burst of spiritual pressure struck Scarface's chest like a heavy steel hammer, accompanied by a mass that crushed his entire body—

Bang!

The Quincy was sent flying far away, while Iori was also sent flying backward for dozens of meters. Scarface managed to offset the momentum by using the spiritual energy pedal that condensed in the air.

Feeling a rush of blood to his head, Scarface suddenly looked up: "What was that just now?!"

What came into his view was the Kusanagi Sword, surrounded by a misty divine aura and faintly flashing with lightning.

"Zanpakuto... So this is its Shikai? You actually held back!"

“Shikai… Ah, yes, let’s call it that for now.”

Iori, carrying the Dragon Slayer Sword that had just been unleashed with magical power, glanced at his subordinates who were fighting fiercely around him, and his expression showed a hint of dejection.

"How should I put it... if it weren't for this place, I should have shown you something much more impressive."

"I don't understand what you're saying, but I've come to a profound realization of the gap in strength between us."

Scarface threw away the sword hilt and laughed nonchalantly: "Whether it's ability or skill, I can't win at all!"

But now that things have come to this, it's impossible to back down.

"In that case... I'm sorry, unknown Grim Reaper."

“That’s a good look.” Iori instantly understood Scarface’s thoughts. “It’s the kind of brilliance that only someone who has already come to their senses would show.”

"The Grim Reaper has such a long lifespan that you can't tell his age from his appearance at all. If you really are as young as you look, then I'm sorry."

Such a gifted warrior, yet he is about to be ended by my hand… But that’s war!

Snapped!

The star emblem on his wrist was torn off, and Scarface took off his white gloves—marked by this action, it was as if a black hole specifically designed to absorb spiritual particles had suddenly appeared in the space, and the free spiritual particles in the entire atmosphere were stirred up!

Almost visible to the naked eye, countless spiritual particles were drawn from the air, the land, the rocks, the trees, and various other objects, condensing into tiny particles the size of fireflies, which flew toward the Scar-Eyed Quincy like moths to a flame.

Unlike Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, the human world is mainly composed of "vessels," which are physical matter. Although spirit particles are widely present in various life forms and objects, their concentration is far lower than in the other two worlds.

But at this moment, in terms of the concentration of spiritual particles in the surrounding area, it even surpasses Hueco Mundo!

Even the ghostly chants of the Grim Reaper and the arrows condensed by the Quincy could not maintain their existence at this moment and collapsed, all being drawn towards them.

In just a few seconds, it had gathered a power that surpassed that of the captain, and the spiritual pressure, so dense that it was almost materialized, formed a single wing of light behind it that rose like flames!

“This is…” Iori tried to condense the Kido in his hand, but found that even with his control, it would be affected. Even if he could barely use the Kido, its power would be greatly reduced.

He watched this scene in amazement, his emotions rising.

Scar Eye had now become a pure vessel of spiritual particles, almost completely submerged by the spiritual light of the wing, with faint blue light emanating from its seven orifices—it was hard to imagine that a body of flesh and blood could contain so many spiritual particles.

And this density... has already surpassed the level of a captain-level Grim Reaper!

[Queen's Final Form]!

This is after undergoing hellish special training, using tools to disperse one's own spiritual particles, and creating great resistance to prevent the Quincy from absorbing external spiritual particles.

If one can persevere in this state of "extreme thirst" and recover spiritual pressure, it means that the ability of "spiritual particle cluster" has been maximized.

At this point, the Quincy had become like a spring stretched to its limit, pushing the "inward force" to the extreme in order to maintain their own existence!

After that, when a Quincy who has completed training removes the item (the Spirit Glove) in battle, their body, which has been suppressed to the extreme, will release a black hole-like gravitational force, and the surrounding spirit particles will be forcibly absorbed, which is the maximization of the "spirit particle cluster" - that is, the "subordination" of spirit particles!

This state has exceeded the limits of human endurance. After using up the current power, one will lose all the power of a Quincy... Although there are ways to recover, those are obviously not things that can be used on the battlefield.

In other words, when a Quincy enters this state in actual combat, it means that they are prepared to perish together with the enemy!

"What an honor!"

Iori didn't mock or ridicule him. Instead, he showed a genuine smile of appreciation to the scarred Quincy who had risked everything for him.

On the battlefield, both the Grim Reapers and the Quincy were filled with fear and unease. Even Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who was always arrogant, was flustered, as if this strange spiritual phenomenon had exceeded his knowledge.

Only Iori remained calm throughout, her smile fading, and she said calmly—

"Swastika! Mirror Shisui·Baqi Furious Wave!"

boom!

The spiritual pressure was poured into the divine sword, and the dense water mist condensed into a turbulent water flow that raged around!

Originally, this was supposed to be a move that used water to amplify its power, but the almost limitless magical support kept the water flowing continuously, and the scale of the move expanded.

One, two, three... The rushing water surged like a dragon, churning up waves ten meters high and sweeping everything away!

The Shinigami and Quincy, who were locked in fierce combat, were swept away by the torrent and scattered in all directions.

They are very self-aware, and there is a consensus in Soul Society:

Within the range of Bankai, even a powerful vice-captain would be as powerless as an infant.

They had no time to think about when their boss had learned Bankai, but just the sheer force of the clash between the [Final Form] and [Yamata no Yoru] made them wish they had two more legs to run!

Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!

One after another, dragons soared into the sky, while a huge curtain of water enveloped an area of ​​100 meters in radius, isolating the two captain-level powerhouses from the others.

"Bankai... You really are one of the top fighters in the Gotei 13."

Feeling the immense pressure emanating from the surrounding water curtain, Scarface was also impressed by Iori's powerful spiritual pressure, but his conviction remained unshaken.

He may sacrifice himself today, but his opponent will surely die here as well!

"If your Bankai is only this powerful, it won't be able to withstand this arrow!"

Buzz! ! !

When Scarface pulled back his arms, his outstretched left hand grasped the tall spirit bow, as if he had transformed himself into a part of the bow.

At the same time, the materialized light wings compressed the massive spiritual particle scale to the extreme, like streams of light converging on the bow arm. As the right hand slowly pulled back, the string as thin as a hair tore through the atmosphere, and a huge light arrow, resembling a spear, gradually took shape!

"Bankai? Hmm, that alone is definitely not enough to stop it. I never had such high hopes from the beginning."

Iori laughed heartily: "So, let me show you—the true [Mirror of Still Water]!"

Let's unite!

In the blink of an eye, the turbulent water curtain transformed into a smooth mirror, clearly reflecting the appearance of the Quincy with outstretched wings. The reflections were layered between the opposing water curtains, as if infinite space and time were hidden behind the mirror.

"This is?!"

Scarface looked around in horror, then realized what was happening and clenched his teeth tightly.

They still have some left!

If the water curtain isn't a true Bankai, then just how terrifying is this man in front of us?

For the sake of the future of the Quincy clan, this kind of Grim Reaper must not be allowed to live!

"No! You have no chance! I will end all of this!"

All the power of Pianyi is injected into it!

Like an arrow that a hero used to shoot down a god!

powerful!

Unrivaled power!

It seems that it needs no further description or special attributes; the sheer amount of spiritual pressure output that surpasses the limits of the human body is enough to threaten even a captain-level powerhouse.

Destructive power—nothing superfluous; simply pushing this one aspect to its extreme is enough to penetrate everything!

Evade... Impossible!

When the arrow leaves the bowstring, at that terrifying speed, spatial distance should be meaningless, especially since Quincy are a race skilled in shooting.

This is undoubtedly the finishing blow that can end Iori's life—

really?

"Che!"

Click!

The infinite mirror image in the water curtain shattered into countless pieces, and all the reflections disappeared together. Just before the one-winged Quincy was about to unleash a fatal blow, an invisible sword mark suddenly swept across the flesh and blood body filled with spiritual particles!

bang——

A large number of spiritual particles gushed out from the broken opening of the "container". The fragile balance that had already been stretched to the limit was completely broken. The spiritual particles that had been forcibly restrained were now like countless thugs, trying to tear the scar eye apart completely!

"Ahhhh!"