Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō-Chapter 383: Zanka no Tachi

"Again..."

Kenpachi Zaraki let out a roar, pouring all his strength into a swing of his longsword.

It was as if he had become that ferocious beast once more. Before the Quincys could react, a sharp slicing sound echoed through the air—the unmistakable sound of flesh and bone being cut. They were long used to that sound, but this time, it was startlingly clear.

Agonizing pain spread through their bodies. Some were slashed in the back, some stabbed in the waist, others had their throats sliced open. Though the injuries varied, none of them escaped the same fate—they all collapsed to the ground!

"Your Majesty, the outer defenses have nearly collapsed. The intruders are about to reach Silbern!"

"Open the Sanctuary. Tell Gerard to prepare. I will go meet my old friend myself."

"Yes, sir!"

Before the throne of the Quincy King, Haschwalth knelt on one knee, slowly raising his head.

They were now less than 250 meters from the gates of Silbern.

Amidst the ruins, the advancing Shinigami abruptly halted.

At the front of the line stood Yamamoto, gripping his katana. His gaze was icy and razor-sharp.

Standing before him was a middle-aged man with black hair and a black beard.

Just as the man opened his mouth to speak, Yamamoto’s voice cut cold and clear across the battlefield:

"It’s been a thousand years, Yhwach!"

The man was none other than Yamamoto’s old acquaintance from a millennium ago—the Quincy King, Yhwach.

"Yes, it’s been a long time, Yamamoto Shigekuni."

Yhwach replied with a calm, indifferent expression as his eyes swept over Yamamoto and the Shinigami behind him.

"It’s been over nine hundred years, and to think you’ve grown so weak you now rely on others’ power."

"What, the guy who used to hide among the corpses isn’t here this time?"

"Ridiculous. There’s no longer any need to dirty Chōjirō’s hands. I alone am more than enough."

With those mocking words, Yamamoto drew Ryūjin Jakka.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, flames erupted, coiling around Yamamoto’s body, sparks flying in every direction.

"Shikai?"

Yamamoto stood engulfed in fire, but Yhwach remained unfazed. He spread his arms, the corners of his lips curling into a faint, scornful smile.

"A thousand years ago, you weren’t this arrogant."

Yamamoto grinned, baring his white teeth in a feral smile that sent chills down the spine.

"I should be the one saying that to you. To show up before me alone—you’re just asking for death!"

His voice dripped with murderous intent, sharp enough to pierce the soul.

"Today, I will end your life with my own hands!"

His eyes glinted with a ruthless light. He gripped Ryūjin Jakka tightly, as if ready to strike down Yhwach at any moment.

But just as he was about to swing, he suddenly hesitated for a brief instant.

Noticing this, Yhwach sneered, the mockery in his voice thick with contempt.

"What’s wrong, Yamamoto Shigekuni? Are you afraid to strike?"

You troublesome brat—look what you’ve done, letting your master be underestimated like this!

Yamamoto glanced up at the sky out of the corner of his eye.

Even though he knew this wasn’t Seireitei and there was nothing above, he still couldn’t help but look.

With a deep sigh, he turned to Retsu Unohana and said,

"Captain Unohana... hand it over."

Retsu Unohana understood instantly. Without hesitation, she took out a Shin’eiyaku and tossed it to him.

Yamamoto caught it with one hand and swallowed it on the spot, not even bothering to look.

What’s there to worry about—medicine from his disciple’s wife? Of course it’s trustworthy.

Sure enough, the moment it went down, he felt a faint, Hollow-like force stirring in his abdomen.

But with no signs of Hollowfication appearing, he was able to relax.

"Captain-Commander, that medicine doesn’t need to be taken orally. Just keeping it on your person is enough."

"...

Why didn’t you say that earlier?

You two must be cursed—how is one more unreliable than the other?"

Yamamoto couldn’t help but glance over at her, his expression seeming to ask:

"Am I really going to die at your hands instead of Yhwach’s?"

But Unohana looked completely unconcerned. She waved a hand and signaled him to relax.

"It’s fine, Captain-Commander. Taking it orally works too. You might just get some diarrhea in a couple of days."

Hearing that, Yamamoto finally let out a breath of relief.

Embarrassing? Maybe. But it was still better than dying.

...

In the next instant, Yamamoto flashed forward and appeared right in front of Yhwach. Without hesitation, he brought his blazing blade down.

Yhwach’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile as he said quietly,

"Shikai? You think that alone is a threat to me?"

He swiftly reached out, grabbed the Quincy cross, and transformed it into a sharp Reishi longsword, effortlessly blocking the powerful strike.

Yhwach sneered coldly.

"Is this all you’ve got? You’ve grown old, Yamamoto Shigekuni!"

Yamamoto responded in a low growl,

"Is that so? Then watch closely as I destroy you—flesh and soul—until nothing remains but dust!"

Before he finished speaking, the flames on Yamamoto’s sword abruptly vanished, as if swallowed by an unseen force.

Yhwach’s expression shifted in surprise, a trace of unease stirring within him.

But Yamamoto’s eyes remained cold.

He gripped the scorched, ancient blade tightly in his hand. Wisps of fire and smoke rose slowly from the sword’s surface, emanating a suffocating intensity.

"Bankai—Zanka no Tachi."

Yamamoto’s voice rang out, cold and resolute, like a divine bell tolling judgment.

"Zanka no Tachi—flames sealed within the blade. One swing ends everything."

"The Sword of Great Flames, reducing all it touches to ashes... I’ve missed this."

Yhwach spread his arms and laughed aloud, recalling their battle centuries ago—the memory of that overwhelming flame sword still vivid in his mind.

"Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin!" (Longsword of the Remnant Flame, East: Rising Sun Edge)

Yamamoto didn’t waste a single word. He swung his blade fiercely.

A scorching slash tore through the air, surging toward Yhwach with devastating force.

Yhwach twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the attack—but the ground beneath him was instantly gouged open, a deep trench marking the path of the strike.

"You clearly grazed the edge of my cloak, yet there was no explosion. Is this different from the power I saw nine hundred years ago?"

"No matter. It might be strong, but as long as I don’t touch the blade directly, I just need to cut you down!"

Yhwach’s lips curled into a smug smile.

The moment his words ended, his figure vanished—as if he had dissolved into the air.

In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Yamamoto, his Reishi blade gleaming with killing intent.

"The difference in Reiatsu makes your supposedly terrifying attacks laughable."

"A slash that doesn’t land is meaningless, Yamamoto Shigekuni!"

Yhwach mocked, contempt flashing in his eyes.

He didn’t hesitate—his blade sliced straight toward Yamamoto’s back.

But just as it was about to hit, his expression twisted in shock.

His Quincy blade melted on contact—completely disintegrated the moment it struck!

Before him, Yamamoto was ablaze. Both his body and blade radiated like a searing, blinding sun!

Zanka no Tachi, Nishi—Zanjitsu Gokui! (Longsword of the Remnant Flame, West: Remnant Sun Prison Garb)