บท 83: Alice Synthesis Thirty

Sure enough, the more at ease Ginrei Kuchiki felt when Ailin was the Kuchiki family's son-in-law, the more fearful he now felt.

Especially with Ailin's furious spiritual pressure eruption just now being much stronger than six years ago.

Carefully thinking back, it seemed only when Haruko was sick and in order to prevent her condition from worsening further did Ailin's spiritual pressure stop growing.

"Now, grandfather can only hope Morikawa's actions are slower on auntie's side, otherwise..."

Byakuya Kuchiki remained silent. Perhaps in all of Soul Society, only he knew how truly powerful his uncle was.

Anyone who had entered his uncle's space would not dare challenge his uncle again. That feeling was like challenging an entire world alone, the deepest despair.

***

Sakura Garden Village.

Ever since Ailin had left, Haruko Kuchiki followed Ailin's instructions to never leave the manor grounds. She even gave the children learning swordsmanship a few days off, letting them return home to find their mothers.

No matter day or night, she held the two Zanpakutō in her embrace. Because that was what Ailin had told her to do.

One day, two days...

On the evening of the third day, there was a knock on the dojo gates.

"Who is it?"

Other than the children learning swordsmanship, the villagers would only come here to pay taxes. These past few days, the children were on holiday. It wasn't time to collect taxes either.

So who was knocking on the door?

Outside the gates, Morikawa had knocked for a long time before he heard the young miss's voice. He said, "Miss Haruko, I am Ginrei Kuchiki's retainer, Morikawa Kōryō. I bear Lord Ginrei's orders to pass on a message to Miss Haruko."

"Oh?"

"Father wants to give me a message?"

Holding two Zanpakutō, Haruko Kuchiki came to the gates and opened them. Glancing at the man's attire, she confirmed his identity.

After all, she was the Kuchiki family's young miss. Although she never trained in combat, she knew the family had private forces independent of the 6th Division.

"Miss Haruko." Seeing Haruko Kuchiki, Morikawa knelt on one knee before her.

"Morikawa, how is father now?"

"Miss Haruko, Lord Ginrei has regained consciousness under Master Ailin's treatment."

"I see, that's good then." Hearing her father had awakened, Haruko couldn't help patting her chest in relief. As expected, as long as Ailin was present, there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.

"However, Lord Ginrei's injuries this time have shortened his remaining time. Captain Unohana said Lord Ginrei doesn't have much time left."

"I see..." Haruko Kuchiki couldn't help feeling sad.

But six years ago already, Ailin had told her that her father only had around ten more years left. So when she bid her father farewell six years ago, she had already treated it as the last time. She could still accept this now.

"Oh right. Morikawa, you said father left me a message? What does he want to tell me?"

"This is..." Morikawa Kōryō hesitated.

Having followed Lord Ginrei for over two hundred years as the Kuchiki family's private forces, his understanding of Lord Ginrei was deeper than most.

He could guess why Lord Ginrei wanted him to pass this message to Lady Haruko. In the end, his loyalty to the Kuchiki family made Morikawa speak.

"Miss Haruko, Lord Ginrei said he has decided for Master Ailin to be the Kuchiki family's 28th Head... Furthermore, in this lifetime, Lord Ginrei said he has wronged you."

After relaying the words, Morikawa lowered his head all the way to the ground.

Hearing the message from her father, Haruko Kuchiki frowned. Her father decided for Ailin to be the Kuchiki family's 28th Head? Wasn't that already determined when Ailin married her?

In the entire Kuchiki family, Byakuya was still too young. Only Ailin could support the Kuchiki family.

That was also why her father invited Ailin to marry into the Kuchiki family in the first place. Why was her father reiterating this now?

Haruko Kuchiki didn't know Ailin had given up being the Kuchiki family successor in order to heal her in the human world.

However, with Haruko Kuchiki's wisdom, she quickly guessed her father's intention from his last sentence.

"Father, you really are..." Shaking her head, Haruko Kuchiki said to Morikawa, "I'm sorry, Morikawa. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint father. Please return and tell father that if he doesn't want to thoroughly anger Ailin, he should bring those thoughts of his into his next reincarnation. Ailin did not grow up in the Kuchiki family. Those so-called noble glories mean nothing to him."

"This is..." Morikawa was stunned.

This was different from what he and Lord Ginrei predicted. Shouldn't Miss Haruko commit suicide for the Kuchiki family's sake? To not restrain Master Ailin in the human world?

Thus, Morikawa raised his head and slowly repeated Lord Ginrei's last sentence, enunciating each word clearly: "Miss Haruko, Lord Ginrei said, he has wronged you in this lifetime."

"Morikawa, I'm sorry, but Ailin is most important to me now."

Being scared by Morikawa, Haruko Kuchiki retreated several steps but still met his gaze. "I've made Ailin sad for me once already. I won't make him sad a second time!"

"Then for the Kuchiki family's sake, I have no choice but to offend you."

Clang!

Morikawa stood up and drew his sword at his waist. "Miss Haruko, I humbly request that you depart!" Having said that, Morikawa raised his sword and slashed at Haruko Kuchiki.

"Ah!"

Seeing this, Haruko Kuchiki cried out in fright, her face white. She hugged the two Zanpakutō tightly to her chest. She never imagined that after she refused to commit suicide, Morikawa Kōryō would attack her.

Could this be her father's order as well?

"Ailin..."

In her despair, Haruko Kuchiki suddenly recalled Ailin's instructions for her to bring the Zanpakutō he left behind wherever she went. Could it be...?

Thinking so, Haruko clenched her teeth. She wanted to draw one of the Zanpakutō in her embrace. But Morikawa attack was already nearing her.

An ordinary person like Haruko with no cultivation, how could she be faster than Morikawa?

Since Lord Ginrei trusted him with this mission to the human world, Morikawa's strength had to be top-notch even among the Kuchiki family's forces. He would not be inferior to the 13 Court Guard Squads' seated officers.

Boom!

Just then, powerful spiritual pressure erupted from the Zanpakutō in Haruko's embrace. The golden spiritual pressure directly blasted Morikawa back.

"Which rat dares attack Mistress Haruko?" An icy female voice sounded by Morikawa's ears. This voice also made Haruko look towards the Zanpakutō in her arms. Because if she wasn't mistaken, the speaker was one of these two Zanpakutō.

Under Morikawa and Haruko's gazes, golden light shone from one of the two Zanpakutō in Haruko's arms. It converged beside Haruko into the form of a girl.

This girl had long golden hair and cute features, but her expression was icy. Beneath the blue cloak, she wore golden armor. A golden straight sword hung at her waist.

"The Integrity Knights, Alice Synthesis Thirty, follows Master's orders to protect Mistress Haruko. The fool who dares attack my lady, I will bring down Master's fury as punishment for your foolish actions!"

"This is?"

Alice's transformation from Zanpakutō to humanoid stunned both Haruko Kuchiki and Morikawa Kōryō. Seeing this, two names instantly surfaced in their minds.

Koga - Muramasa!

Koga was the outstanding talent Ginrei Kuchiki noticed and planned to recruit into the Kuchiki family through marriage with Haruko to inherit the family.

And because Haruko knew her father's intentions, to enjoy her last bout of "freedom" before losing it, she secretly left the Kuchiki residence for the tavern in the commercial district. That was where she harmoniously spent a month with Ailin.

Although Haruko never met Koga, when Koga later incited a rebellion against Soul Society, he even attacked and occupied the 9th and 7th Divisions. If Ailin hadn't stopped him, the damage Koga caused to Soul Society could have been several times worse.

As the mastermind behind the rebellion, Koga's abilities were learned by all in the end. That was the terrifying power to manifest Zanpakutō spirits and control them to attack their Shinigami masters.

As long as Koga's Zanpakutō invaded the opponent's inner world, their Zanpakutō would be influenced and launch a dramatic revolt against them.

No wonder Ailin told her to keep these two Zanpakutō no matter where she went. This was how Ailin protected her!

Morikawa's expression was much heavier. As a Kuchiki family retainer, how could Morikawa not know Master Ailin's Zanpakutō ability was Sword Creation? If Master now grasped manifesting Zanpakutō abilities, the two Zanpakutō he left to protect the young miss would certainly be capable of Bankai!

Now, it wasn't about whether he could kill Haruko for the Kuchiki family anymore, but whether he could survive under this Zanpakutō girl!

Clang!

Unsheathing her sword at her waist, Alice leapt forward in a flash, appearing before Morikawa to slash at him.

Dang!

Boom!

With just that exchange, Morikawa was directly blasted away by Alice.

"So powerful!" Landing on the ground, Morikawa's feet still left two long trails in the earth. His heart shook at Alice's immense might.

Whoosh!

Having blasted Morikawa far away from Haruko, Alice swiftly pursued to attack him.

Mistress Haruko side still had Fanatio Synthesis Two guarding her, no need to worry about her safety. Now, she would bring down Master Ailin's fury on this fool who dared attack the mistress!

Boom!

Under Alice's fierce barrage, Morikawa didn't even have the slightest ability to resist. All he could do was raise his sword to block while being blasted everywhere by Alice's overwhelming might.

"No good, if this continues I'll die!"

Morikawa's entire body was covered in abrasions, blood seeping from the corner of his lips from the powerful vibration impacts.

"Bakudō #30 - Beak-Piercing Triple Beam!"

Thus, while being blasted away again by Alice, instead of stabilizing himself, Morikawa stretched out a hand towards Alice and activated the 30th Binding Spell.

As the Kuchiki family's private soldier, Morikawa Kōryō didn't have a Zanpakutō. But his attainments in Zanjutsu, Hohō, Hakuda, and Kidō were sufficient to rank him among the Court Guard Squads' seated officers.

Three yellow spikes rapidly converged onto the triangular bands of light and fired at Alice. The three yellow spikes pierced through the shoulder parts of Alice's cloak and abdomen, carrying her back. It seemed to want to nail Alice against the wall and seal her.

However, Alice instantly erupted with spiritual pressure. The three spikes on her shattered as she charged at Morikawa again!

Although this move failed to seal Alice, it bought Morikawa some breathing room. After crashing into the ground, he didn't get up. Morikawa raised his right index and middle finger, rapidly chanting a spell.

"Flesh mask, all phenomena, fluttering wings."

"The one crowned with the name of mankind."

"Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six."

"Bakudō #61— Rikujōkōrō!"

Golden light flew from Morikawa's fingertips. Six translucent light screens directly immobilized Alice in place.

"Despicable! To still possess such sacred arts!" Alice fumed angrily.

She underestimated her opponent, not expecting this fellow whose attacks she couldn't even withstand to possess abilities akin to sacred arts!

With her spiritual power, breaking through the complete incantation Rikujōkōrō would require at least three seconds.

Morikawa also knew from his opponent's overwhelming strength that even his full incantation 61st Binding Spell could not restrain her long. Therefore, he raised his right hand towards the distant Haruko Kuchiki.

"Growl!"

Thick spiritual particles converged before Morikawa's palm, forming raging flames.

"Hadō #34 - Kongōbaku!"

This massive red blaze rushed towards Haruko Kuchiki like an artillery shell.

Morikawa never forgot his goal was killing Haruko to allow Master Ailin to remain with the Kuchiki family without worries.

"Arrogance!" Alice exploded with fury.

Although Haruko still had Fanatio Synthesis Two guarding her, allowing Haruko alarm was dereliction of Alice's duties!