Make sure to check my Patre.on out if you want to support me and want to read advanced chapters: Patre.on.com/VQuintessence
[30 Chapters in Advance on Patre.on]
...........
Chapter 20: The Unknown II
...........
Akashi's inky pupils narrowed as he stood before the Shinigami. His adversary radiated fury, his grip on the blade tightening until his knuckles turned white.
With a roar that echoed across the desolate battlefield, the Shinigami bellowed, "Shikai!"
The words thundered in the air, accompanied by a torrent of spiritual pressure that caused the ground beneath their feet to crack and buckle.
Shikai; a mark of mastery over one's Zanpakutō; was not to be taken lightly.
It symbolized strength and control, a hallmark of the Shinigami's discipline and progress within the ranks of the Gotei 13. Few opponents lived long enough to witness such power unleashed.
It was already difficult for Akashi to keep up, but now that the enemy was preparing to unleash his Shikai... It was hopeless.
Still, Akashi narrowed his eyes, his inky pupils expanding as the moment he was waiting for arrived.
Grasping his blade tighter, Akashi muttered ever so lowly. Let there be Shadows, born from the darkest of dreams, "Kurayami."
Every Zanpakuto has a unique release phrase. That was Kurayami's release call, although the way Akashi said it was weird, thinking of the release call, and only muttering the name aloud.
While the Shinigami before him had to wildly release his Reiatsu to start activating his Shikai; Akashi's Reiatsu had no such reaction.
The call for his Zanpakutō was barely audible, spoken not with fanfare but with a sinister calm that sent shivers down the spine.
There was no eruption of spiritual energy, no dramatic change in the atmosphere.
Kurayami's release was silent, unassuming, and yet infinitely more terrifying for it.
Akashi's Reiatsu remained stale, as if his power lay dormant.
His Zanpakuto didn't change in appearance, still as black as ink... Wait, that's how his Zanpakuto looks in its Shikai form.
That's how Akashi's Zanpakuto always looked since he first released his Shikai.
Kurayami is special that way. By necessity, Kurayami has to always be in its Shikai state.
Kurayami is always attracting and consuming the darkness surrounding Akashi and the darkness he inflicts or causes in some way.
That's why he sought the avenue of releasing stories, to spark negativity within readers which will naturally be attracted toward Kurayami.
But for that to happen, Kurayami can not be in its Asauchi form, like almost every other known Shinigami.
Even if a Shinigami released their Shikai, they would have to eventually have to seal it again for keeping it released puts a lot of pressure on their body.
The only one somewhat similar to him Akashi could think of is Sōya Azashiro, otherwise known as Kenpachi Azashiro, who was once a captain of the 11th Division in the Gotei 13 and the 8th Kenpachi.
Azashiro's case is even more extreme as his Zanpakuto is always in its Bankai state.
Such cases come with drawbacks. In Azashiro's case, it's a stagnant body.
The drawback means that as long as his Bankai remains active, Azashiro's physical body cannot be trained, preventing him from getting stronger and leaving him severely weakened if his Bankai is negated.
That's not what's happening with Kurayami as Akashi had to 'awaken' it by calling its name. It's always in its Shikai form, but it's also in a semi-dormant state.
It's like a beast that hibernates with only a few of its processes still functioning. Kurayami's drawback isn't like Azashiro, It's much darker than that.
It's Kurayami's special properties that caught the now maskless Shinigami by surprise as he staggered back, his eyes wide with shock.
He reached for the arrow lodged in his chest, but his hand froze midway as an overwhelming wave of darkness engulfed his mind.
Whispers began to fill his ears; eerie, disjointed voices crying out in despair, rage, and sorrow.
The cacophony grew louder, each voice a dagger stabbing into his psyche.
Amidst trying to release his Shikai, Akashi's blade changed. It was instant, dissolving into a dark ink-like substance; twisting and reshaping itself into a bow.
The weapon was sleek and sinister, its string appearing to pulse with malevolent energy.
The Shinigami couldn't concentrate nor think straight as he felt his mind muddled.
The tip of the arrow was as if a poison, injecting negativity and darkness into him, and leaving his mind in chaos.
He could the voices, cries of despair, pain, rage, and sadness, and they drove him mad, "Ahh... Ahhhh... AHHHHH, make it stop!!"
The Shinigami screamed more, his hands clawing at his head. He dropped to his knees, his blade clattering to the ground as his mind spiraled into chaos.
Akashi watched with cold detachment, his grip on the bow unwavering, and couldn't help but murmur, "Darkness is not just the absence of light." It was more so to himself than to his opponent, "It's despair, rage, and fear. It's everything you've ever wanted to forget."
Inflicting darkness isn't the killing move it sounds like. It has a lot of drawbacks.
First, and the simplest of which is that it consumes the darkness Kurayami painstakingly devoured, especially against stronger opponents, it would dry up the ocean of Ink within him just to make them feel a thing.
That's after all not Kurayami's primary function and what its darkness is supposed to be used for.
Most importantly, Inflicting darkness upon an enemy was never without risk.
Kurayami's power consumed the very negativity it unleashed, and against a strong opponent, the cost could be crippling.
Worse still, the darkness often amplified an enemy's rage and desperation, pushing them to greater heights of power.
The Shinigami proved no exception. With a guttural roar, he forced himself to his feet, his Reiatsu flaring wildly.
Blood dripped from his chest, staining the ground, but his movements were faster, more feral.
In his maddened state, he lashed out with raw killing intent, his blade slicing through the air toward Akashi's chest.
Akashi seemingly tried to dodge, but the Shinigami's speed was overwhelming.
The blade tore through his torso, leaving a gaping wound that should have been fatal.
The Shinigami was fast, faster than he ever was in their fight, his killing intent manifesting around him, uncaring about the arrow still in his chest.
That's why Akashi has to be really careful about inflicting darkness upon others, especially against monsters like Kenpachi Zaraki. He could only imagine the consequences of such an action.
Not this time for the wound wasn't fatal. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
----------------------------------------------
[ 1000 Power Stones For An Extra Chapter!!! ]
----------------------------------------------