Kōga Kuchiki's breathing was uneven, his chest rising and falling sharply as if he had just escaped a life-and-death struggle.
The katana in his hand trembled slightly, still carrying the lingering force of the intense clashes.
The air was thick with tension, as if time itself had frozen.
The wind howled, lifting snowflakes into a swirling dance before they drifted between them—yet no one paid them any mind.
Kōga Kuchiki and Muramasa remained locked onto Masatsuki Aozaki, their focus unwavering. Neither dared to let their guard down, knowing that even the slightest mistake could give their opponent an opening.
At last, Kōga Kuchiki began to retreat slowly, each step taken with extreme caution, as though he were stepping on landmines.
Seeing this, Muramasa followed suit, carefully maintaining his distance.
They didn't stop until they had retreated several meters, but their eyes remained locked on Masatsuki Aozaki.
By nature, Masatsuki Aozaki would have simply unleashed Ryūjin Jakka and reduced his enemies to ashes.
However, Kōga Kuchiki still had value. If Aizen had taken an interest in him, then he couldn't be killed so easily.
Glancing at the fresh sword marks on Kōga Kuchiki's clothing, then at his own unscathed form, Masatsuki Aozaki spoke casually,
"I'll end this fight soon. You'd better be ready—don't go dying on me."
Unlike Masatsuki Aozaki, who was still weighing whether or not to finish him off, Kōga Kuchiki's composure had already begun to crack.
The realization that, even after using Bankai, he was still at a disadvantage sent his emotions into turmoil.
With a roar, Kōga Kuchiki and Muramasa slashed their swords in unison, releasing beams of red and green light from their blades.
"Kongōbaku!"
"Gaki Rekkō!"
A massive fireball, spanning dozens of meters in diameter, tore through the sky at incredible speed, like a meteor wreathed in roaring flames, trailing a long tail of fire.
Then, in an instant, something shifted within the fireball.
It detonated violently, scattering a storm of fiery embers in all directions, creating a blinding sea of flames.
Hidden within the inferno, ten razor-thin green beams shot forth!
They slithered like agile serpents, breaking free from the explosion and darting in every direction at blistering speed.
They moved as swiftly as lightning, leaving streaks of green light in their wake, like shooting stars streaking across the night sky.
Masatsuki Aozaki remained silent, simply using Shunpo to evade the incoming beams. As the fireball came hurtling toward him, he murmured,
"Suiten Isshoku." (Water and Sky as One)
A powerful gust erupted around him, swirling violently around his blade, while a torrent of Reishi-infused water surged from beneath his feet as if given life.
The winds howled, whipping the water into the air, where it rapidly gathered into an enormous, towering wave—a massive wall of water crashing forward with unstoppable force, colliding head-on with the raging fireball!
Boom!
Flames and torrents of water clashed in a cataclysmic explosion, shaking the very heavens!
A violent shockwave rippled outward like an unstoppable tsunami, threatening to tear the world apart.
Amid the chaos, a thick veil of mist engulfed the battlefield, completely shrouding the three figures within, making it impossible to see what had become of them.
"Masatsuki… This…!?"
Staring at the dense mist filling the sky, Kōga Kuchiki and Muramasa widened their eyes in utter disbelief, their mouths gaping open as if they could swallow an egg whole.
Kongōbaku and Gaki Rekkō—Muramasa's Zanpakutō abilities—were powerful enough to rival Hadō spells above level 90.
Yet now, such a terrifying Kidō attack had been neutralized so effortlessly?
How was that even possible!?
Shockwaves rippled through their minds, making it impossible to regain composure.
"Is that it? I was just getting started."
The moment that chilling voice rang out—so cold it seemed to seep into the bones—the blade in Masatsuki Aozaki's hand erupted into a blazing inferno, shining like a second sun in the sky.
"Taimatsu!" (Torch)
The flames burned so intensely that the very air around them seemed to ignite, creating a powerful surge of heat.
At the same time, Masatsuki Aozaki's sword whipped up a violent gust, fanning the flames into a massive, spiraling wall of fire.
Like a rampaging fire dragon, the roaring inferno surged toward Muramasa at incredible speed, swallowing him whole.
The fiery vortex spun rapidly, its friction against the air creating an ear-piercing shriek. The flames only grew wilder, as if intent on consuming everything in their path.
Muramasa had no chance to escape. He could only watch helplessly as he was engulfed by the raging firestorm.
Masatsuki Aozaki's gaze remained cold as he murmured,
"One down. You're next."
There was nothing but disdain in his words—disdain for his enemy, and absolute confidence in his own strength.
Kōga Kuchiki stared blankly at Masatsuki Aozaki, who hovered in midair, his body wrapped in a swirling green aura, a flaming sword in hand.
"This… this is… the legendary Zanpakutō that rivals Bankai even in Shikai…!?"
His eyes widened further, his voice trembling with shock and awe.
Then, as if suddenly snapping out of it, he shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off the overwhelming disbelief clouding his thoughts.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he muttered,
"No wonder… With such monstrous talent and power, it's no surprise that people feel hopeless in comparison."
"No wonder even my father-in-law, with his harsh standards, holds you in such high regard. That makes sense now."
As he spoke, a trace of envy and resignation flickered in his eyes.
Masatsuki Aozaki sighed, shaking his head.
"You really think Ginrei hasn't acknowledged you?"
He looked at Kōga Kuchiki, who kept showering him with praise, and an odd feeling stirred in his heart.
This guy was flattering him so much that it almost made him feel guilty about going all out against him.
Kōga Kuchiki nodded silently, a bitter smile forming on his lips.
"Of course. I've known my father-in-law for decades—we've spent countless years together—but not once have I ever heard a word of praise or recognition from him."
After speaking, he took a deep breath, trying to suppress the emotions surging inside him.
On the surface, he seemed composed, but his eyes betrayed the disappointment and loneliness he couldn't hide.
He looked like a neglected spouse, burdened with grievances but with no one to turn to.
That mixture of sorrow and frustration made him seem both pitiful and somewhat ridiculous.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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