"Then how did you end up as his son-in-law?" Masatsuki Aozaki asked.
"What do you mean?" Kōga Kuchiki tilted his head in confusion, his expression blank.
Masatsuki Aozaki sighed and shook his head. This idiot… how can he be so dense? Why can't he think outside the box?
"The Kuchiki Clan is one of the Five Noble Families of Soul Society, and your wife is the apple of Ginrei's eye—the treasured princess of the Kuchiki Clan."
He continued, "If he weren't satisfied with you, do you really think he would have entrusted his beloved daughter to you so easily? Everything you wear is a symbol of the Kuchiki Clan's status."
Kōga Kuchiki instinctively reached up to touch the Kenseikan atop his head, then lowered his gaze to the bright red wind flower scarf around his neck.
His eyes widened. "Could it be that my father-in-law…!?"
At that moment, realization finally struck him.
Masatsuki Aozaki watched him finally piece it together and found himself at a loss for words.
Not wanting to waste any more time, he casually asked, "Are you ready?"
"Ready for what?" Kōga Kuchiki blinked.
"To lose to me, of course."
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled slightly before vanishing in an instant, his figure disappearing like a ghost.
A wave of scorching heat rushed toward Kōga Kuchiki, burning like a flaming meteor.
The raging blizzard around them didn't even have time to approach before the sheer intensity of the heat vaporized the snow, leaving nothing but empty air.
"Good!"
A flicker of excitement flashed in Kōga Kuchiki's eyes, and a powerful fighting spirit surged within him.
He let out a fierce roar.
"Masatsuki Aozaki! Today, I'll show you—I, Kōga Kuchiki, will not be defeated by you forever!"
Without hesitation, he unleashed every last ounce of Reiryoku within his body, his aura skyrocketing like a war god descending upon the battlefield.
He had already pushed himself to the limit. Against an opponent like this, holding back even slightly meant certain death.
Just then, a desperate voice echoed in the depths of his mind.
"Master, his Zanpakutō is far too powerful! Please, be extremely careful!"
It was Muramasa.
At this point, Muramasa was already gravely injured. If not for the fact that he existed as the spirit of a Shinigami's blade, he might not have even survived. Reforming his physical form was out of the question.
Kōga Kuchiki gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
A newfound determination flickered in his gaze—steadfast and unwavering.
All his doubts, frustrations, and hesitations vanished. At this moment, he felt an overwhelming surge of power, as if he had been reborn.
A deep purple radiance engulfed him, pulsating like a raging torrent of Reiryoku. Even the air around him distorted under the pressure.
A powerful wave of Reiatsu rippled outward from his Zanpakutō, spreading like ripples on water.
Snowflakes caught in its wake reversed course, flying back into the sky.
Whoosh!
A sharp, piercing sound cut through the air as Kōga Kuchiki swung his Zanpakutō with all his might.
A dazzling wave of sword pressure exploded forth!
He knew he couldn't afford to let Masatsuki Aozaki get close—so he made his move without hesitation!
A massive, lavender-colored blade of energy streaked through the sky like lightning, tearing through the void with unstoppable force.
The sheer power of the slash split the air apart, shattering ice and snow into countless shards that scattered in every direction.
The overwhelming force of the attack made the sky tremble.
Masatsuki Aozaki's gaze sharpened as he swung his blade without hesitation.
The Getsuga Tenshō he unleashed burned fiercely, condensed onto his blade and cloaked in brilliant flames.
Fueled by the howling wind, the strike shot forward like lightning—swift and unstoppable!
Saa!
In the midst of the roaring wind, Masatsuki Aozaki's Banshō Senran struck like a bolt of lightning, colliding head-on with Kōga Kuchiki's sword pressure.
"I blocked it!"
Kōga Kuchiki was ecstatic, and the tension in his body instantly eased.
However, at that moment, a sharp crack rang out.
Before the victorious smile could fully form on his face, a sinking feeling gripped his chest.
And sure enough, the very next second, a chilling sound of shattering echoed from his sword pressure.
The once-mighty purple energy blade fractured like delicate porcelain, splintering apart.
The cracks spread rapidly from the point of impact, branching across the entire sword pressure in the blink of an eye.
Realizing the danger, Kōga Kuchiki made a split-second decision—his body flickered as he swiftly retreated.
Almost the instant he moved, Masatsuki Aozaki's Getsuga Tenshō erupted with unstoppable force, obliterating his sword pressure completely.
The flaming Reiatsu slash surged through the shattered gap like a runaway wildfire, carving a deep, bottomless trench into the ground.
"Cough… cough…"
A violent fit of coughing wracked Kōga Kuchiki's body as he spat out a mouthful of crimson blood.
Gasping for breath, he looked up in shock, his gaze locking onto Masatsuki Aozaki.
"This… how is this possible?!"
He couldn't believe it. His strongest sword pressure—unleashed with everything he had—had been torn apart so effortlessly.
For a brief moment, he even questioned whether this was all just an illusion, a trick of the mind.
Perhaps he had never left the prison. Perhaps this was just some intricate deception woven by the new Third Division captain who had come to visit him.
Yet, high above, Masatsuki Aozaki remained completely unfazed.
It was as if that fierce, earth-shaking clash had meant nothing to him.
Tilting his head slightly, he cast a glance toward the distant horizon, his thoughts running cold and calculated.
I need to wrap this up.
Though they were in a secluded forest, the intensity of their battle had caused too much commotion.
Masatsuki Aozaki's heightened spiritual perception detected several approaching Reiatsu signatures—someone was closing in.
Seeing him momentarily distracted, Kōga Kuchiki let out a ragged breath, blood still dripping from his lips, and gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Masatsuki! Where the hell are you looking? I haven't lost yet!"
What the hell is this supposed to mean?
The fight isn't over, and he's already thinking about something else? Is he looking down on me!?
A surge of defiance flared in his eyes as he swung his blade once more.
Another streak of purple sword pressure shot from Muramasa's katana.
Whoosh!
The attack was noticeably weaker than before, its size significantly reduced.
Masatsuki Aozaki barely paid it any mind. With a casual flick of his sword, he shattered it effortlessly.
He knew—Kōga Kuchiki was already running on fumes.
At this point, the only thing still putting up resistance was his mouth.
And just as expected, a second later, Kōga Kuchiki's body wavered.
His knees buckled.
Then, with a heavy thud, he collapsed onto his back, unconscious.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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