Buzz!
Seeing that the attacks of thirty-odd Zanpakutō could not stop Zaraki's advance, Ailin moved his thoughts and instantly, streaks of golden spatial ripples appeared in the air, instantly dyeing the sky behind Ailin a golden color.
The number had exceeded a hundred.
Zaraki's strength was far greater than that of some Captains even after releasing their Bankais. Just a dozen or so Captain-level Zanpakutō could not pose much of a threat to him.
But when the number of attacks exceeded a hundred...
Under the golden ripples, those Zanpakutō transformed into streaks of golden lightning, covering Zaraki like a torrential downpour.
The earth collapsed and the mountains crumbled. The converged attack of 128 Zanpakutō directly destroyed Zaraki's location, kicking up a mushroom cloud hundreds of meters high.
Then, a powerful shockwave spread out, pulverizing the stones blasted into the air by this tremendous force. And then...
Boom!
In the distance, the Soul Reapers of the 11th Division, seeing the hundred-meter mushroom cloud from the explosion, released their reiatsu with practiced ease.
Although the new members didn't know why they were doing this, since everyone else was, following along was the safe choice.
Thus, a powerful shockwave expanded, but fortunately these Soul Reapers had released their reiatsu, and given their distance from the battle's center, no one was blown away by the shockwave.
"Hahahahaha..."
A burst of wild laughter came from the explosion, and then a golden slash cleaved the mushroom cloud in two as the bloodied Zaraki flew out from the center of the blast, rapidly closing in on Ailin.
As strong as Zaraki was, he had still been injured by that attack of over a hundred Zanpakutō.
With a thought from Ailin, Zanpakutō blade tips emerged from the hundred-plus golden spatial ripples.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Like swift thunderbolts, these Zanpakutō transformed into golden lightning bolts, assaulting Zaraki again.
However, this attack did not converge on a single point like the previous one, but was staggered in a way that sealed off all of Zaraki's movements.
Under such circumstances, Zaraki had to deal with three to five Zanpakutō attacks simultaneously.
Wielding the Zanpakutō in his hands, almost every instant saw blooms of blood erupt from Zaraki's body. But even so, Zaraki did not stop his charge towards Ailin, advancing step-by-step through the storm of swords and blades.
"Hahahahaha..."
As his injuries increased, Zaraki's strength was not diminished, but rather an even more swelling reiatsu burst forth from his body, increasing his power further.
Seeing this, Ailin waved his hand and the golden spatial ripples behind him dissipated. It seemed that unless over a hundred ordinary Zanpakutō were thrown at once, they could not threaten Zaraki.
So how about this?
A spatial ripple even larger than before appeared behind Ailin. Emerging from this golden spatial ripple was the head of a spear. This was a Seated Officer-level Zanpakutō that had been released within Ailin's innate boundary field.
"Shua!"
With a flash of golden light, this spear was already thrusting towards Zaraki.
Klang!
Zaraki's Zanpakutō slashed down on the spear's tip, erupting a powerful shockwave. Centered on Zaraki's feet, the ground collapsed into a large pit. Then, this spear, braced against Zaraki's Zanpakutō, carried immense force to slam Zaraki deep into the ground.
Rumble rumble..
For an instant, the earth seemed to fall silent. Then, the ground surged as a powerful shockwave erupted from hundreds of meters below, kicking up countless dust into a hundred-meter "sand cataract" shooting into the sky.
"Such power..."
Seeing the might of this single spear, Ailin nodded inwardly.
It seemed that by releasing the Zanpakutō before projecting it, the power of a Seated Officer's Zanpakutō was greatly enhanced. It was just unknown how it compared to an unreleased Captain-level Zanpakutō.
But this test also let Ailin know that under the King's Treasury's projection ability, perhaps certain weak Zanpakutō could unleash might several times greater than elemental or demon arts Zanpakutō.
After all, the power of the King's Treasury's thrown weapons had an absolute relationship to the Zanpakutō's speed and weight. At the same speed, the heavier one was naturally more powerful.
Dissipating the golden spatial ripples behind him, Ailin flash stepped through the swirling sand clouds to Zaraki's location.
At this moment, Zaraki's body was covered in gaping wounds, his right hand gripping the Zanpakutō severely twisted and completely unusable.
A black spear was braced against Zaraki's Zanpakutō, grazing his body as it was pinned at the center of the pit.
It was fortunate it ended up this way, as most of Zaraki's current injuries came from the eruption of power when this Zanpakutō hit the ground.
If Zaraki had been directly impaled by this spear, with that immense power exploding within his body, then Zaraki might have truly perished.
Green healing light radiated from Ailin's hands, treating Zaraki's wounds. Soon, under Ailin's ministrations, Zaraki regained consciousness.
"I... lost again?" Zaraki seemed bewildered at having lost the battle just like that.
"Ah, you were careless, Zaraki." Ailin nodded. "Perhaps if you had wielded your sword with both hands, you could have held out a bit longer. But I am rather puzzled, Zaraki, just how arrogant must you be to think you could withstand my attacks with just one hand on your sword?"
Zaraki tilted his head, not answering Ailin's question. Who knew that final attack would be so much more powerful than the earlier Zanpakutō assaults?
"Alright, I'll head back first, Zaraki. I've stabilized your injuries for now, but you should go find Captain Unohana of the 4th Division afterwards to fully heal. Over the next ten years, improve your swordsmanship, Zaraki. Otherwise, the result of our battle in another ten years won't change.
As you are now, you lack even the qualifications to break through the encirclement of my Zanpakutō and face me directly..."
***
Lying on the bed in the 4th Division's hospital, Zaraki's mind replayed Ailin's appearance and those final words he spoke.
Indeed, ten years ago, in that battle where the man had not released his Zanpakutō, using a two-handed sword style, Zaraki had fought him for half a day before being defeated. But this time, that man had finally released his Zanpakutō in their battle.
Just like their first fight, Zaraki sensed the vast chasm in strength between himself and Ailin.
As the man had said, even if he released his Zanpakutō, under the power of that final attack, he could not have endured for long. Never mind that this was just a single weapon.
Zaraki did not believe that level of attack was the limit of what Ailin could unleash in a single volley.
It was more likely, just like the previous assaults, he could release dozens or even hundreds simultaneously.
"I... need to grow stronger."
Moving his hand, Zaraki got out of the bed and headed directly out of the 4th Division grounds.
After wandering around the 4th Division's compound a few times, Zaraki grabbed a 4th Division Soul Reaper with one hand and lifted him up.
"Hey, where is your Division's Captain?"
"Ah? Captain Zaraki, I, I don't know, I'm just an ordinary 4th Division member. I really don't know where Captain Unohana is..."
Faced with this savage "beast" Zaraki, the 4th Division member he had grabbed like a chicken was nearly scared to tears.
"Tch, useless."
Zaraki clicked his tongue, but persisted in asking, "Then do you know who knows where the 4th Division Captain is?"
"Ah, this I know. Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu definitely knows where Captain Unohana is."
"Good, then take me to find that Lieutenant."
"Y-Yes, yes... Um, Captain Zaraki, could you please put me down first?"
After being glared at by Zaraki, this Soul Reaper hurriedly shook his head, "No no no, no need to put me down Captain Zaraki, I'll just guide you like this."
In the end, Zaraki did put the Soul Reaper down. Because he sensed that woman's reiatsu approaching.
"Captain Zaraki, although your injuries have mostly recovered under my healing techniques, but as a patient who has not fully recuperated, wandering around will only cause trouble, you know."
"Hmph."
Zaraki stared at Retsu Unohana for a long while, feeling quite uncomfortable under her narrowed, smiling gaze.
Compared to the current Unohana, Zaraki much preferred the killer-like Yachiru Unohana.
Now, who Zaraki wanted to meet was Yachiru Unohana, not Retsu Unohana.
Unfortunately, in the end, Zaraki did not sense any familiar killing intent from Unohana.
A flicker of disappointment flashed in his eyes as Zaraki finally returned to his sickbed and closed his eyes to rest.
After parting ways with Zaraki, Unohana returned to the 4th Division Captain's office, sitting cross-legged at the desk with her Zanpakutō placed on it. Then, her other hand lightly raised to the braided bun on her chest, trembling slightly. As if, the next moment, she would pull loose the bound braids.
Yesterday, Unohana learned of Zaraki's defeat by Ailin through the other members of the 11th Division.
Zaraki had lost again.
As Zaraki's reiatsu gradually recovered, Unohana's heart was filled with both joy at his regaining strength as well as regret at not having contributed to this process.
I clearly came first! Whether it was her first battle with Zaraki, allowing him to experience the joy of slaughter for the first time, or learning healing techniques from her friend Tenjiro Kirinji so Zaraki would not hold back in their next fight, even integrating the ability to condense reiatsu into blood-colored hot springs into her Bankai...
Thank you, book friends for the collections and stones. Thank you.
Please follow/support us at:
https://www.patreon.com/ZenpaiTrans
After doing all this, it was so that in the next battle, Zaraki would not need to hold back and could fully enjoy the pleasure of slaughter... But now, it seems she has been abandoned.
With the strength displayed by Captain Ailin, under his pressure, Zaraki's reiatsu would gradually recover completely.
The one who could let Zaraki fully enjoy the pleasure of slaughter has become Captain Ailin. Unohana herself has become a dispensable person.
Being unable to let the enemy indulge in battle during his fight with them has become an indelible shame for Retsu Unohana.
So, should she battle Zaraki before his reiatsu fully recovers, allowing him to fully awaken in their fight?
Caressing the Zanpakutō on the desk, Retsu Unohana's right hand had already grasped one end of her hair braid.
Just a light tug, and the large braid hanging in front of her chest would immediately scatter, announcing to the world the return of the unprecedented evil in the Soul Society...
***
Ailin was completely unaware that his existence was causing Retsu Unohana to doubt her life's purpose.
After testing the abilities of the King's Treasury, Ailin was very satisfied with the elevated power of his Zanpakutō's Shikai release.
Although in terms of strength, the might of throwing out the highest grade weapon may not be as powerful as Ailin wielding his sword directly, this ability was so cool.
The visual effects were far cooler than the projections thrown out by Unlimited Blade Works.
Strength was temporary, but being cool was for a lifetime!
The aura was too high.
Returning to the Kuchiki Manor, Ailin sensed that Haruko was playing with some members of the Shinigami Women's Association, so he returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and immersed his thoughts into his innate boundary field.
Compared to the previously barren land, Ailin's innate boundary field was now covered in a layer of golden light.
Within this Unlimited Blade Works, all the Zanpakutō were enveloped in a golden glow - a manifestation of the King's Treasury's power upon them.
It was precisely because of this golden radiance that these Zanpakutō could unleash such tremendous might after being thrown by the King's Treasury.
Now, the space within Unlimited Blade Works had expanded several times compared to before.
All things that could be called "swords" throughout history would automatically be collected by the King's Treasury. Then, Unlimited Blade Works would recreate them and store them in this space.
Although these newly created "swords" had varying forms, at this moment they were all low-level Zanpakutō, mere shadowy beings incapable of manifesting spirits.
Currently, Ailin's training involved searching for treasures among these "swords".
Walking slowly forward, Ailin stretched out his hand to pull a Zanpakutō from the ground, and the battle memories of a warrior appeared in his mind.
After a few seconds, Ailin shook his head and casually tossed the sword aside, sending it tumbling through the air before embedding itself among the Zanpakutō he had already identified.
Ailin then continued this process - draw sword, absorb memories, then toss it aside.
Amidst this myriad of swords, Ailin often had to pull out thousands before finding one that reached the "Seated Officer" level, at which point he would fling it away to fly on its own to the Sword Hill, embedding itself at a height corresponding to its strength.
It was obvious that these Zanpakutō on the Sword Hill had a more concentrated golden radiance compared to those on the golden ground. And the higher up, the stronger the golden light within the Zanpakutō's blade.
The Zanpakutō at the peak of the Sword Hill was completely composed of golden light - this was the current embodiment of Ailin's Zanpakutō, the King's Treasury!
Every time Ailin extracted a Zanpakutō above the Seated Officer level from the myriad blades, his reiatsu would increase.
During this selection process of the Zanpakutō, Ailin's comprehension of the "sword" element also gradually deepened.
Whenever he grew tired from this searching, Ailin would forge some of the weapons from his memories based on his understanding of the "sword" element.
After all, as long as Ailin defined their released abilities as a Zanpakutō's power, his innate boundary field would recognize them as "swords".
Who dictates that a Zanpakutō must be a "sword" in this world?
Regardless of whether it transforms into a blade, spear, sword, halberd, hammer, scythe or staff upon release, as long as it was classified as a Zanpakutō in its sealed form, it counted as a "sword".
As long as it was a "sword", logic and reason did not matter. Even using Devil Fruit abilities as a Zanpakutō's Shikai and Bankai wasn't impossible.
The Shikai releases the Devil Fruit power, while the Bankai is the Fruit's awakened state...
As long as Unlimited Blade Works dared to recognize it, Ailin dared to create it!
Feeling invincible, Ailin went wild creating weapons in the space of Unlimited Blade Works, taking "willfulness" as his motto.
All the Zanpakutō created by Ailin started at the Seated Officer level, with many at the Captain level.
There were even some at the "strongest" level.
As for EX-level ones like "Avalon", that was confidential...
That already involved the "essence", and even Ailin could not guarantee that the weapons he created truly reached the EX level. He could only gauge based on the reiatsu feedback.
But no matter how much these weapons improved Ailin's strength, his reiatsu never stopped growing.
If the "Soul King" was the limit of this world, then he would surpass the "Soul King" and break free from this world abandoned by the "Creator"...
***
"Shhhra..."
In the 4th Division grounds, after sensing his injuries had fully healed, Zaraki tore off all the medical bandages from his body.
"Hey, where is your Captain?"
Fortunately, the Soul Reaper that Zaraki had grabbed was the same one from before. However, unlike last time when he was nearly scared to the point of wetting himself, this time the 4th Division member was just startled, without the same exaggerated reaction.
"Captain Zaraki, I really don't know where Captain Unohana is... But I know who knows where Captain Unohana is."
"Enough blabbering, if you know then hurry up and lead the way."
"Y-Yes yes, but Captain Zaraki, could you please put me down first? Then I can take you to find Lieutenant Isane."
Under this Soul Reaper's guidance, Zaraki arrived at the 4th Division Captain's office.
"What's this, isn't she just inside here?"
Shoving the guide aside with one hand, Zaraki took large strides into the 4th Division Captain's office.
"Captain Zaraki."
Currently in the Captain's office besides Retsu Unohana was also Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu.
Upon seeing Zaraki, Isane immediately stood up and bowed in greeting.
Though Zaraki was just the Vice Captain of the 11th Division, none of the Shinigami in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, including the true Captains, dared to truly treat him as a mere lieutenant.
On one hand, it was because of the strength Zaraki had displayed over the past few decades, earning the Captains' acknowledgment.
They could call Zaraki reckless or stupid, but not weak.
On the other hand, the true Captain of the 11th Division, Ailin, had not managed the division at all since Zaraki joined. Essentially, the entire 11th Division had been led by Zaraki for decades without any issues arising. They handled every enemy well. Zaraki possessed the qualities of a Captain!
"Captain Zaraki, I see your injuries have fully recovered. Instead of returning to the 11th Division, you've come here - what business do you have?"
"Woman, don't speak to me with that face." Zaraki plopped down brazenly in front of Retsu Unohana. "I didn't come here to talk to you in your current appearance..."
"Isane, you go out first." Just as Isane was about to remind Zaraki that Captain Unohana had always looked this way, she heard her Captain's words instead.
"This..." Looking at Zaraki, then at Captain Unohana, Isane hesitated for a moment before ultimately choosing to trust her Captain.
Isane bowed to Retsu Unohana, "Yes, Captain Unohana."
"I'll stand outside the Captain's office. If Captain Zaraki oversteps, please allow me to rush in and protect you."
After speaking, Isane left the Captain's office, closing the large door behind her and standing guard outside with her hand on the hilt of her Zanpakutō.
Though she knew the vast gap in strength between herself and Captain Zaraki, for the sake of her beloved Captain Unohana, Isane would risk her life to protect her.
As the lieutenant of the 4th Division, besides outstanding healing abilities, Isane had also achieved the first release of her Zanpakutō.
Her Zanpakutō "Itegumo" was of the ice-snow variety, not particularly outstanding among the Seated Officers. However, Isane's Kidō prowess was strong.
Given enough time to chant the incantations, she could release high-level Kidō spells above #60.
"Captain Zaraki, what did you want to say?" After Isane left the Captain's office, all emotion drained from Retsu Unohana's eyes, becoming utterly lifeless.
"Heh..."
Seeing that familiar face, Zaraki's body started trembling as his right hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his Zanpakutō.
A sense of delight welled up from the depths of his heart, making Zaraki itch to immediately draw his sword and engage this woman in slaughter. But ultimately, Zaraki suppressed his "instincts".
"Woman, I want to learn swordsmanship from you to become stronger!"
Zaraki looked completely serious as he spoke to Retsu Unohana. He was serious about learning swordsmanship!
As for why he sought out Retsu Unohana... Zaraki believed they were of the same kind.
Thank you, book friends for the collections and stones. Thank you.
Please follow/support us at:
https://www.patreon.com/ZenpaiTrans
ความคิดเห็นย่อย
คุณลักษณะความคิดเห็นย่อหน้าอยู่ในขณะนี้บนเว็บ! เลื่อนเมาส์ไปที่ย่อหน้าใดก็ได้แล้วคลิกไอคอนเพื่อเพิ่มความคิดเห็นของคุณ
นอกจากนี้คุณสามารถปิด / เปิดได้ตลอดเวลาในการตั้งค่า
เข้าใจแล้ว