Boom!
No matter if Tengumaru, Engetsu, or Ailin's Flame Tessaiga, they all belonged to the fire-type Zanpakuto.
After the explosion of spiritual pressure, the power of Ailin's Flame Tessaiga's Flame Wind Scar had nearly reached that of a Captain's Bankai.
Meanwhile, "Scorching Hammer" and "Crescent Moon Rush", were Tengumaru and Engetsu's Bankai ougis respectively.
The collision of ougis from three Captain-level Bankais directly turned a large portion of Soul Society's sky red.
The impacts of the explosions and lingering spiritual pressures blew any Shinigami that wanted to approach here away.
Those that could withstand these impacts and head towards the battle's center were mostly Captain-class wearing white captain haoris.
…
Boom!
A figure rushed out from within the flames, with multiple scorch marks on their body from the fiery explosions.
kōga!
"Damn it!"
Shock and fear still lingered within kōga's eyes but soon converted into boundless killing intent.
Indeed, this Vice Captain, Ailin must die!
However, recalling Ailin's terrifying earlier strike, kōga's felt dissatisfaction towards his own Zanpakuto Muramasa for the first time.
Why must Muramasa be an illusion-type Zanpakuto?
Why couldn't Muramasa unleash such powerful attacks?
Why couldn't Muramasa fully protect himself from harm when facing such mighty strikes?
kōga attributed the root cause of all this to his Zanpakuto Muramasa, blaming Muramasa for being too weak. Yet, he forgot that if he hadn't indulged so much in Muramasa's might, working hard to cultivate the four Shinigami arts instead, he could have relied on formidable swordsmanship and strikes to clash directly against Ailin's earlier assaults, or could have dodged the attacks with superior Shunpo, or could have utilized a formidable Bakudo barrier to defend...
Without realizing it, as kōga pushed all responsibility onto his Zanpakuto, their resonance began deteriorating...
Under Ailin's earlier blow, Muramasa who wasn't suited for direct confrontation had been heavily injured. But that didn't prevent kōga from still utilizing Muramasa's might.
After all, Tengumaru and Engetsu had just used Bankai against Ailin, to try destroying his Flame Wind Scar as soon as possible.
Muramasa wasn't suited for direct fights but Tengumaru and Engetsu were perfect to clash toe-to-toe against any enemy.
Right now, kōga wanted to directly control the Bankai-releasing Tengumaru and Engetsu to assault Ailin.
Under two Captain-class Zanpakutos' attacks, at most ten breaths would be enough to kill Ailin!
But— "That's enough!"
Three figures dressed in white captain haoris appeared amidst the battlefield.
Among them, Yoruichi Shihoin, Captain of the 2nd Division, stood between Ailin and the two Zanpakutos.
Ginrei Kuchiki, Captain of the 6th Division, had also undone his inner world isolation, appearing beside kōga.
Shunsui Kyoraku, Captain of the 8th Division, stood right in the battle's center. It was him who said "That's enough!" earlier.
...
In the end, the battle between kōga and Ailin didn't continue. Moreover, both kōga and Ailin were detained under the crime of "Disturbing Soul Society's Peace" by the personally escorted them to Kensei Muguruma, Captain of the 9th Division.
Indeed, the 2nd Division and 6th Division both had their own detention centers. However, Ailin was the 2nd Division's Vice Captain while kōga was the honored 1st Division's 3rd Seat. No matter which division they were imprisoned at, Yoruichi Shihoin and Ginrei Kuchiki worried the other side would make a move.
After all, as current heads of Soul Society's Five Great Noble Clans, their ancestors had done all sorts of things before attaining the honor of "Five Great Noble Clans".
There were hardly any "good people" among nobles.
Because the Shiba Clan was unwilling to get embroiled with the other three clans' shady dealings, they had been secretly targeted by the other three families since Soul Society's founding over a thousand years ago. By now, the Shiba Clan was only barely holding on to their nobility in name without any of the actual authority.
If not for this generation's Isshin Shiba, it was likely the Shiba Clan would still be living in secrecy within the Rukongai slums.
Coincidentally, the arrival of 9th Division Captain Kensei Muguruma solved this dilemma for Ginrei Kuchiki and Yoruichi Shihoin.
Kensei Muguruma was an ordinary Shinigami born in Rukongai who entered the Spiritual Arts Academy, having no ties with nobles at all.
As the Detention Unit, the 9th Division was naturally responsible for imprisoning and guarding inmates anyway. Handing Ailin and kōga over to the 9th Division eased both sides.
Under Kensei Muguruma's lead, Ailin and kōga were imprisoned within neighboring cells.
"Humph, consider yourself lucky to be saved by Captain Shunsui this time! Next time, you won't have such fortune!"
Hearing kōga's cold snort from the next cell over, Ailin ignored him completely. Although much had transpired today, with Ailin even tarred by labels like "lecherous" and "despicable", his gains weren't small either.
First, was having a clear grasp of his current strength. Among current Vice Captain-tier experts, aside from Chōjirō Sasakibe, he should rank in the top three.
Second, was having coincidentally copied six Captain-class Zanpakutos after his fight, including Ginrei Kuchiki of the 6th Division, Love Aikawa of the 7th Division, Shunsui Kyoraku of the 8th Division, Kensei Muguruma of the 9th Division, Isshin Shiba of the 10th Division, as well as his opponent, kōga. Thus, facing kōga's provocations from the other cell, Ailin utterly ignored him.
Indeed, if not for the other Captains arriving today while facing kōga as a true Captain-class expert alongside two Captain-class Bankai Zanpakutos, Ailin might have really perished. But simultaneously, that would also be the last time he was that powerless!
Closing his eyes with his consciousness sinking into his reality marble, Ailin swiftly forged replicas of those Zanpakutos from the information within.
With every additional Captain-class Zanpakuto created, Ailin's spiritual pressure would rise substantially.
Thus, by the time rumors of Ailin and kōga's fight as well as the events leading up to and after began circulating through Soul Society, nobody knew, Ailin's Reiatsu level had genuinely reached Captain-class.
Moreover, having used Kensei Muguruma's Zanpakuto Tachikaze to successfully copy Tesseiga's "Backlash Wave" ougi, he had finally raised his Tessaiga to the Captain-tier as well.
At the peak of Sword Hill, or the very center of his reality marble, gazing at the ever-increasing number of weapons atop Sword Hill as well as his reality marble beginning to resemble an arsenal, Ailin swelled with heroic spirit for a time.
This would be his greatest asset in this world!
Slowly approaching towards that sinister purple blade, Ailin extended a hand gripping that Zanpakuto's hilt.
Demonic Blade — Muramasa!
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The moment to witness a miracle has arrived!
I shall bestow upon all of you the wings to fly!
"Bankai— Mukōjōchū Muramasa!"
With Ailin's call, majestic spiritual pressure erupted from within him. The dense spiritual pressure caused ripples within the enclosed barrier.
"So this is the power of Bankai."
Feeling his current formidable spiritual pressure, Ailin was filled with a feeling of "I'm unrivaled in this world!"
However, Ailin did not lose himself in this power.
"Muramasa!"
"Master." Responding to Ailin's call, Muramasa's figure appeared beside him.
"Let's begin!"
"Yes, Master!"
Purple radiance spread from Muramasa's body, soon that violet spiritual pressure filled the entire enclosed barrier.
Under the effect of this spiritual pressure, blue spiritual power emitted from the weapons inside Ailin's inner world.
Next, these spiritual powers congregated into figures gripping Zanpakutō around the blades. After taking shape, they drew their original selves and knelt on one knee facing Ailin.
"Greetings Master!"
"Greetings Master!"
"Hahahaha, Hahahaha..."
At the peak of his Unlimited Blade Works' Sword Hill, Ailin flung his arms wide, laughing heartily.
Behind him, the white-haired half demon in a crimson rat-fire coat, the aloof beauty with black hair and crimson eyes, the gentle woman resembling Yamato Nadeshiko, the arrogant spoiled little girl the size of a fist, the lazy and noble black cat...
As expected, upon gaining Muramasa, his strength had a qualitative leap. Well of course, all gains come with loss.
At the minimum, the later Ailin would never want to pull Shinji Hirako's Sakanade into his Bankai. When the weapons had yet to materialize, Sakanade's Bankai posed no threat to Ailin.
But now... Ailin could only say, just to deal with a mere Shinji Hirako, he didn't need his real Bankai!
...
"Vice Captain Ailin, you have a visitor."
Sensing the call from the outside world, Ailin exited his inner world, opening his eyes in slight bewilderment.
"Oh? I actually have a visitor in prison? Captain Kuta or Shaolin Fon?"
Among the 2nd Division, due to his passable guidance in the art of assassination, Ailin had quite good relations. But in truth, only Captain Kuta and Shaolin Fon communicated more with Ailin.
If someone was visiting him in prison, it could only be Captain Kuta Aokigi who cared about him the most or Shaolin Fon. However, the person who appeared before Ailin in the end left him in astonishment.
"Why is it you?"
The person who appeared outside Ailin's prison cell was a beautiful young girl with long black hair tied in a topknot, reaching her waist.
Haruko Kuchiki.
"I apologize for the trouble I've caused."
The instant Haruko saw Ailin, she immediately knelt and prostrated, apologizing to Ailin.
Last night, not long after the conflict began, Haruko was escorted by Kuchiki house guards to a safe location. This morning when Ginrei Kuchiki asked Haruko about Ailin, Haruko guessed that 2nd Division's Vice Captain whom her father misunderstood might be the one who had protected her at the tavern.
Hence, Haruko directly confessed everything to Ginrei, about her rebellious thoughts against her father's actions, wanting to do things she normally wouldn't at that tavern.
After entering the tavern, Haruko's courage abandoned her like a frightened pheasant, not daring to take another step. Fortunately, Ailin was present and no untoward customers came to harass Haruko in the tavern.
Having heard the story from his daughter, Ginrei Kuchiki finally understood his misjudgment regarding Ailin, personally informing Captain of the 9th Division, Kensei Muguruma. Otherwise, with just Haruko's status, it would have been very difficult entering the prison for visits.
Ailin's mind spun, instantly comprehending all these matters. He directly asked Haruko, "Captain Kuchiki knows?"
"Yes, I have explained everything clearly to father this morning."
"Ailin-sama, on the day of your trial, I will appear in court to testify for you, to tell everyone it was all because of me..."
"Ah, no need..." Hearing Haruko seemingly about to reveal her dark history, Ailin hurriedly interrupted her.
After all, for a noble's unwed young lady to visit taverns alone wasn't good reputation. If Haruko hadn't come today and Central 46 wanted Ailin convicted, he wouldn't mind tearing off the Kuchiki family's fig leaf. But since Haruko came and offered to testify for him during his trial, Ailin wouldn't drag others down.
"If I admired Miss Kuchiki and happened to meet her alone on the streets, escorting Miss Kuchiki home, what crime would that warrant?"
"If those elders feel admiration itself is a crime, then practically all Shinigami in Soul Society who admire Captain Yamamoto, admire Captain Unohana should all be convicted right?"
"Pfft..." Ailin's final analogy caused Haruko to laugh. She then reacted swiftly, covering her mouth with both hands to avoid losing composure before Ailin again.
Naturally, Haruko understood Ailin didn't truly admire her but was helping gloss over her visiting the tavern, not wanting the matter to spread everywhere.
"So Miss Kuchiki needn't worry, I believe Central 46's elders will judge me fairly. As for the one who attacked me, openly using Bankai within Soul Society, violating Commander Yamamoto's edict... Hehe..."
While Ailin and Haruko chatted pleasantly, kōga's rage burned wildly from the other side after hearing all that.
Recently, with intention from one side and acquiescence from the other, Ginrei Kuchiki and kōga tacitly communicated regarding marriage arrangements.
If nothing unexpected happened, kōga would have met Haruko yesterday under Ginrei's arrangements before announcing his joining of the Kuchiki house today, changing his name to kōga Kuchiki.
But now, kōga felt insulted. Haruko who was supposed to be his fiancée actually knew that despicable man? Moreover, she wanted to testify for that wretch to clear his name at the expense of Kuchiki house's reputation.
He had acted to preserve the Kuchiki family's prestige yet was about to be punished for violating Soul Society's edict in the end.
What did that make him then? A clown?
Thinking thus, a flash of red glinted in kōga's eyes.
"Miss Kuchiki, your visiting time is up."
Ailin and Haruko seemed to have returned to their time in the tavern, only difference was they drank in comfortable silence then while engaging in conversation now.
They only realized time had passed swiftly without noticing when someone from the 9th Division came to remind them visiting hours were over.
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