Bleach: Drinking Makes You Stronger

TL: Hi everyone, you can all call me Iyan, I just want to wish you a Happy New Year 2025!

Hope you all are healthy and entertained by this novel, have a nice holiday or sleep all day in your room like me haha.

Enjoy the story!

Announcement: Onigoroshi Kenpachi is Kiganjō Kenpachi.

---

In the distance.

Hirako Shinji and Kyōraku Shunsui also grew tense, with Kyōraku resting his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutō, ready to intervene at any moment.

"Kenpachi Kiganjō might be a fool, but his Bankai is still worthy of recognition," Hirako Shinji remarked softly.

Kenpachi Kiganjō's Bankai could greatly enhance his strength, transforming his Zanpakutō into a mace of extraordinary hardness, perfect for breaching defenses.

In terms of sheer, head-on combat, Kenpachi Kiganjō feared no one!

Meanwhile, Sōsuke Aizen, standing nearby with narrowed eyes, paid little attention to Kenpachi Kiganjō. Instead, his entire focus was on Bai Ye, whose calm demeanor belied his potential danger.

At that moment, Bai Ye observed Kenpachi Kiganjō's Bankai with a look of intrigue.

In the original timeline, there was little mention of Kenpachi Kiganjō, as he had been killed by Zaraki Kenpachi before the story began. His Bankai was even more mysterious and barely touched upon.

But now, sensing the overwhelming aura of Kenpachi Kiganjō's power, especially the energy emanating from his Zanpakutō, Bai Ye nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Indeed, every Bankai had its merits.

As the saying went, there were no useless Zanpakutō, only unworthy wielders.

For example, Kyōka Suigetsu, as the strongest illusion-based Zanpakutō, owed much of its reputation to Aizen's overwhelming spiritual pressure. His power was so vast that no one could escape its illusions.

Anyone whose spiritual pressure was inferior to Aizen's would inevitably fall under the control of Kyōka Suigetsu.

Conversely, lesser Soul Reapers—such as Kensei Muguruma or Kenpachi Kiganjō—would never achieve the terrifying effects Aizen demonstrated, even if they wielded Kyōka Suigetsu.

Aizen's spiritual pressure was so immense it could even interfere with Yhwach, the emperor of the Wandenreich.

As for Kensei Muguruma… best not to mention him.

Shaking his head, Bai Ye dismissed the thoughts.

As his focus returned to the battle, the sky began to fill with blue snowflakes. Reflecting the sunlight, they shimmered beautifully.

However, Kenpachi Kiganjō was on high alert, his entire being tensed as though facing a great threat.

The reports from Central 46 and the Gotei 13 had provided some information about Bai Ye.

They revealed that the secret behind Bai Ye's ability to vanish instantly was inseparable from these snowflakes.

A swift conclusion was imperative—there could be no delay!

"Die!"

Kenpachi Kiganjō roared as he charged forward. His massive form carved through the air, leaving afterimages in his wake. The mace in his hand radiated a steady, unyielding glow.

As he ran, the ground trembled beneath his feet.

To the spectators, Kenpachi Kiganjō resembled a moving mountain, ready to crush and obliterate everything in his path.

No one believed anyone could withstand his assault!

Meanwhile, Bai Ye remained motionless, standing still as if frozen in fear.

Some of the more timid spectators closed their eyes, unwilling to witness the sight of Bai Ye being torn apart. Kyōraku Shunsui, on the other hand, drew his Zanpakutō with a sharp clang and rushed toward Bai Ye.

At this moment.

Kyōraku's weathered face showed a rare trace of urgency.

He couldn't understand why Bai Ye wasn't moving.

If Kenpachi Kiganjō's attack landed squarely, even Bai Ye would suffer grave injuries, if not certain death!

"Hmph, nothing but a show!"

Kenpachi Kiganjō's bloodthirsty eyes gleamed as he swung his mace wildly. In an instant, he closed the distance to Bai Ye, slamming his weapon downward with terrifying force!

Now.

All thoughts of capturing Bai Ye had vanished from Kenpachi Kiganjō's mind.

He only wanted to crush him—to make him understand the consequences of defying the Kenpachi!

But just as his attack was about to connect…

"Shikai: Flowing Wind, Returning Snow."

With a calm incantation, a Zanpakutō appeared in Bai Ye's hand, its blade entirely icy blue, laced with intricate green patterns.

Unlike before, the Zanpakutō now shimmered with a greenish glow, emitting a faint sound of wind. The blue snowflakes in the air seemed drawn to this glow.

In an instant, the snow gathered around the blade, spinning rapidly and generating a terrifying cutting force.

The space around Bai Ye distorted slightly as the sheer velocity of the spinning snow amplified his blade's sharpness to unimaginable levels.

Furthermore.

An immense spiritual pressure surged forth from Bai Ye, far surpassing anything he had displayed earlier.

It was as vast as the ocean, engulfing everything in its path!

Under the weight of Bai Ye's spiritual pressure, Kenpachi Kiganjō was utterly overwhelmed. His own power seemed insignificant—like a child wielding a hammer.

Even though Bai Ye was only in his Shikai state, his spiritual pressure rivaled that of the Second Spiritual Rank.

Kenpachi Kiganjō's eyes narrowed in shock, and his movements faltered ever so slightly.

But.

But before he could think further, Bai Ye raised his blade and lightly swung it...

"Screeech—"

A cyan wind blade appeared instantly. Its terrifying cutting force was so immense that even space itself couldn't withstand it, leaving a thin, dark fissure in its wake.

"Pfft—"

A faint sound echoed as the cyan wind blade sliced through Kenpachi Kiganjō's mace and his body without pause, continuing to hurtle toward the distance. In an instant, it disappeared from everyone's sight.

This was the Blade of Space.

Even the sharpest Zanpakutō in the Seireitei, Sayafushi, could not sever space itself!

This was the pinnacle of speed and offense. Everything existed within space, and no force could resist the power of the spatial blade!

---

At the same time.

Kenpachi Kiganjō's body froze. The words he had been about to utter caught in his throat. His eyes bulged, bloodshot like a dead fish's...

Silence.

The battlefield was utterly silent.

Everyone stared intently at the scene of Bai Ye and Kenpachi Kiganjō's clash.

"What happened to Kenpachi Kiganjō?" someone asked in confusion.

Just now, they had barely seen Bai Ye move. They only noticed a flash of cyan light, and the once-dominating, invincible Kenpachi Kiganjō suddenly stopped in his tracks.

---

The next moment.

Under everyone's watchful gaze:

"Clang—"

The seemingly indestructible Zanpakutō, enhanced by its Bankai state, suddenly broke into two pieces and fell to the ground. The cut was as smooth as a mirror, flawless and precise.

Then.

"Splurt—"

Blood gushed from Kenpachi Kiganjō's neck like a fountain.

Under the sunlight, the spray of blood resembled a crimson rainbow—beautiful yet imbued with the aura of death.

With a "thud", his head fell to the ground like a ball, rolling several times. His lifeless eyes, still wide open like those of a dead fish, reflected his disbelief even in death.

Kenpachi Kiganjō...

At this moment, was dead.

---

Frozen.

Stunned.

Shocked to the core...

Everyone on the battlefield—civilians, personnel from the Maple Pavilion, even Kyōraku Shunsui and the others—was utterly silent.

Their eyes were wide as they stared at Kenpachi Kiganjō's corpse on the ground, their hearts filled with unspeakable terror.

Dead?

Kenpachi...

Kenpachi Kiganjō was dead—just like that?