Chapter 655 - 655 Comparison of Combat Strength Between The Gotei 13 And The Zero Division

The next day, on an open space outside the walls of the Seireitei, most of the Captains of the Gotei 13, including Toshiro, gathered to welcome the arrival of the Zero Division.

Since the Soul King Palace is located in a different dimension above Soul Society, if the Zero Division's members descended directly from the sky, they would be blocked by the Seireitei's barrier. Therefore, the Zero Division's landing point is actually outside the Seireitei.

Because of this, the members of the Gotei 13 came to the outside of the wall surrounding the Seireitei. Strictly speaking, they were already on the ground of the Rukongai.

"Really, they still haven't arrived. The esteemed members of the Zero Division certainly put on airs..." Mayuri complained as he walked towards the group from a distance.

"Tch, you were late yourself, Mayuri. What right do you have to complain?" Toshiro said sarcastically.

Toshiro still remembered how Mayuri had wanted to use Rangiku as an experimental subject in Hueco Mundo, so he was still very displeased with Mayuri.

"Now, now, Toshiro and Captain Kurotsuchi, we're all on the same side. The Zero Division will be here soon. We can't let outsiders see us bickering." Kyoraku quickly stepped in to mediate, seeing that Toshiro and Mayuri seemed about to start arguing.

Toshiro and Mayuri knew their limits, so after hearing Kyoraku's words, they said no more.

After Mayuri arrived, Yamamoto looked over the group and said gravely, "Good, it seems everyone is here."

With Mayuri's arrival, all the Captains of the Gotei 13 were assembled, and Yamamoto breathed a sigh of relief.

The Zero Division's status is above that of the Gotei 13, so welcoming their descent is a major event. Only the Captains of the Gotei 13 are qualified to come and welcome them.

Lieutenants and below, except for Rukia who is a member of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Families, are not even qualified to know about the Zero Division, let alone come.

Therefore, Yamamoto had been worried that some of the 'troublesome' Captains of the Gotei 13 might not understand the gravity of the situation and simply not show up.

So he had repeatedly urged them beforehand, insisting that all Captains must be present, especially Zaraki and Mayuri, who received extra attention.

After all, the two of them often disregarded Yamamoto's wishes and frequently skipped Captain meetings without notice.

Now that everyone was present, Yamamoto was finally relieved.

"Come to think of it... how exactly will the Zero Division descend?" Captain of the 2nd Division, Sui-Feng asked.

Sui-Feng had not been a Captain for very long. Although her Captain's authority allowed her to know some things about the Zero Division, she had never personally witnessed their descent into Soul Society.

Then Kyoraku explained: "Well, it's natural that Captain Sui-Feng doesn't know. The last time the Zero Division descended into Soul Society was over a hundred years ago, when the former Captain of the 12th Division, Hikifune Kirio, was promoted to the Zero Division."

"Since then, the Zero Division hasn't descended into Soul Society for over a hundred years. As for their method of descent..."

At this point, Kyoraku suddenly pointed to the sky and said: "Look, they've already arrived..."

Then, an object resembling a pillar suddenly fell from the sky.

Boom!

With a loud crash, the pillar-like object slammed into the ground not far from where the Captains were standing.

Sui-Feng was surprised: "That is..."

"The Tenchuren... the Zero Division's mode of transport. All five members of the Zero Division should be inside." Kyoraku explained.

"I heard that the Zero Division has no subordinates... all five members are Captains. Moreover..."

"The combined combat strength of the five... surpasses that of the entire Gotei 13! I wonder if that's true? Genryusai-sensei..." Toshiro, who had been silent until then, suddenly asked Yamamoto.

Yamamoto gave Toshiro a deep look, then said gravely: "That is indeed true… unless we include you, Toshiro."

"Is that so? That means... if we include Toshiro, the Gotei 13's combat strength surpasses that of the Zero Division?" Kyoraku adjusted his straw hat and said meaningfully.

Ukitake also said: "Isn't that only natural? Toshiro has broken the Shinigami limit and become an existence that transcends Shinigami and Hollows. There probably isn't anyone stronger than Toshiro in the entire world, right?"

"Well, perhaps..."

Toshiro was somewhat noncommittal about Ukitake's words, then continued: "However... according to Genryusai-sensei, excluding me, the Zero Division's combat strength still surpasses that of the Gotei 13. If that's the case... then the Zero Division is indeed very powerful."

In the original work, when the Zero Division appeared, they seemed overwhelmingly powerful and invincible.

However, except for Hyosube Ichibe'e, who was defeated by Yhwach, the others all lost to Yhwach's Schutzstaffel, and their fates were unknown.

This stark contrast makes one doubt the Zero Division's strength. But since Yamamoto himself admitted that, excluding Toshiro, the Zero Division's combat strength surpasses the entire Gotei 13, it means the Zero Division's power is indeed not to be underestimated.

Based on the Zero Division's portrayal in the original manga, Toshiro believes that although the Zero Division has no subordinates and all five members are considered Captains, there are still differences in strength among them.

At the very least, Ichibe'e's strength is higher than the other four members. He is probably at the Demi-God level, similar to Yamamoto or Toshiro before his breakthrough.

The other four members' strength should be at the peak of the Beyond-Captain level.

But even so, one Demi-God level and four peak Beyond-Captain level existences, while impressive, should still be unlikely to surpass the combat strength of the entire Gotei 13.

After all, even excluding Toshiro, the Gotei 13 still has Yamamoto, a Demi-God level existence. Moreover, considering Yamamoto's thousand-year title of the strongest Shinigami, even among Demi-God levels, his combat strength should be slightly stronger.

Besides Yamamoto, the Gotei 13 also has three peak Beyond-Captain level experts: Unohana, Kyoraku, and Ukitake. That's only one less peak Beyond-Captain level expert than the Zero Division. Furthermore, Unohana, with her unparalleled swordsmanship, possesses power that can threaten the Demi-God level, making her considerably stronger than the average peak Beyond-Captain level.

If we add the remaining Captains, over a dozen Lieutenants, and several thousand seated officers and members of the Gotei 13, their strength would, if not surpass, at least not be inferior to the Zero Division.

Yet, despite this, Yamamoto still admitted that, excluding Toshiro, the Zero Division's combat strength exceeds that of the Gotei 13.

'Based on the Zero Division's portrayal in the original manga, their strength is indeed at the Demi-God level and peak Beyond-Captain level... that shouldn't be wrong. However...'

'The reason Genryusai-sensei would personally admit that, without me, the Zero Division's combat strength surpasses the entire Gotei 13... can only be because of... Divine Power!' Toshiro speculated inwardly.

True God level refers to true gods. The power they possess is no longer Reiryoku, but Divine Power, abbreviated as Divine Power. Generally, only those at the True God level or Demi-God level possess Divine Power.

However, Demi-God level beings possess too little Divine Power, barely enough for themselves, and naturally cannot share it with others.

But a True God level being can share their Divine Power, or a part of their divine [Authority], with others.

Those who possess Divine Power, even if not at the True God level, can still unleash a portion of True God level power. Therefore, in terms of combat ability, vitality, and other aspects, they far surpass others at the same level. They also possess various miraculous and strange abilities.

Furthermore, it is very difficult for those without Divine Power to kill those with Divine Power.

For example, in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, Kyoraku was clearly stronger than Lille Barro, the leader of Yhwach's Schutzstaffel.

However, because Lille Barro possessed the Divine Power bestowed by Yhwach, Kyoraku could not kill him no matter what.

Ultimately, Kyoraku had to rely on the [Hakkyoken], a sacred tool with Divine Power passed down through his Lieutenant Ise Nanao's family for generations, to defeat Lille Barro.

This shows that those with Divine Power are virtually immortal and possess some divine abilities... only Divine Power can defeat those with Divine Power.

Therefore, the reason Yamamoto admitted that, without Toshiro, the Zero Division's combat strength surpasses the entire Gotei 13 is likely because the Zero Division members possess Divine Power… Divine Power bestowed by the Soul King.

So, even though the Gotei 13, excluding Toshiro, is not significantly inferior to the Zero Division in the number of Demi-God and peak Beyond-Captain level experts, their overall combat strength still cannot match the Zero Division, where all members possess Divine Power.