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Fate In Bleach (303)
🕑 Added 2024-09-26 17:00:04 +0000 UTCChapter 303 - The Final Lesson
Unlike Byakuya Kuchiki, who bore the weight of the Kuchiki Clan's honor, Gin Ichimaru and Toshiro Hitsugaya were both from Rukongai. In Ailin's eyes, all three were deeply sentimental individuals.
However, the Kuchiki Clan's million years of glory meant that Byakuya had to consider the potential impact of his actions on the family’s reputation before making any decisions. The constraints imposed upon a noble clan with such a long lineage were far beyond anyone's imagination.
Furthermore, Ginrei Kuchiki had only one son and one daughter, and Sōjun Kuchiki had only Byakuya, a single son. This was extremely rare in the Kuchiki Clan's million-year history.
Three generations of single heirs within the main branch inevitably fueled the ambitions of the branch families. Moreover, Byakuya currently had no heir, further encouraging those from the branch families.
Therefore, Byakuya's every word and action had to be in line with the expectations of a “noble leader.”
Otherwise, they would readily attack him.
While Byakuya didn’t particularly care about being the head of the Kuchiki Clan, it was a task entrusted to him by his grandfather, Ginrei. He had promised his grandfather that he would continue to lead the Kuchiki Clan, upholding their will within the Seireitei.
In Byakuya's view, none of those from the branch families were capable of shouldering this responsibility. They had become like the other nobles, completely abandoning the Kuchiki Clan’s true glory.
However, even so, those individuals still held a portion of the Kuchiki Clan’s power.
To a certain extent, Byakuya was bound by them.
Gin and Toshiro, on the other hand, cared about much simpler things.
Gin only cared about Rangiku Matsumoto.
To reclaim what Sōsuke Aizen had taken from Rangiku, Gin was willing to obey Aizen’s orders, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, to avenge Rangiku.
Toshiro cared about his grandmother and Momo Hinamori, who had taken care of his grandmother in his absence.
Both Gin and Toshiro wouldn't hesitate to draw their swords against anyone who threatened those they cared about. Just as Gin had injured Momo, and Toshiro had immediately attacked him without hesitation.
Haruko Kuchiki understood this.
Therefore, she had spoken to Ailin, asking him not to blame Gin and Toshiro for their actions.
Ailin naturally understood Haruko’s intentions. He smiled at her.
“I know, Haruko. But you also know that both Gin and Toshiro haven’t received my guidance for decades. And in two years, Yhwach, the Quincy King, will return to attack the Seireitei, seeking to conquer the world in nine days.
I’m confident that I can protect you during this turmoil. But Haruko, Gin and Toshiro are captains of the Gotei 13. If the heavens were to fall, they would be among the thirteen tallest individuals, forced to hold it up.
This is practically my last lesson for them. I hope they can both gain enough strength from this final lesson.”
“Don't worry, Ailin.”
Haruko smiled and took Ailin’s hand.
“They are disciples recognized by you, Ailin. They won't disappoint you.”
“Yes.”
…
“Bankai—Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!”
Under a fiery red sky, a battered and bruised Toshiro Hitsugaya finally released his Bankai.
Instantly, the sky above Unlimited Blade Works was covered by a swirling vortex of dark clouds, blotting out the sun. A chilling cold swept through the air, condensing moisture into snowflakes that drifted down.
A thin layer of ice formed on the ground around Toshiro.
This was simply the result of Toshiro's overflowing spiritual pressure after activating his Bankai.
As for the sky, it was the ability of Hyōrinmaru, the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō, in its Bankai state—Weather Domination.
Weather Domination allowed Toshiro to completely control the moisture in the air within a certain radius, condensing it into ice and snow.
Blue ice formed a pair of wings behind Toshiro, and his right hand, gripping Hyōrinmaru, was encased in ice, resembling a dragon's claw. An ice flower bloomed above his head.
Every few seconds, a petal from the ice flower would melt and disappear.
Those unfamiliar with Toshiro Hitsugaya’s Bankai, or those who looked down on him, might believe that the melting petals indicated his young age and inability to fully control the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō.
To them, the ice flower represented the duration of Toshiro’s Bankai.
However, they were either those who had never seen Toshiro’s Bankai or those who simply underestimated him.
Toshiro Hitsugaya was a true genius. After receiving Ailin's guidance for so long, even with Hyōrinmaru being the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō, he couldn't possibly only maintain his Bankai for twenty minutes.
Ailin, standing in the sky above Unlimited Blade Works, naturally saw Toshiro’s current state. He remembered that over a decade ago, when Toshiro had been appointed captain of the Tenth Division, he had demonstrated his Bankai before the other captains. Back then, there had been three ice flowers above his head, each petal taking almost an hour to melt.
Now, after over a decade of training, only one ice flower remained, and its petals melted much faster.
It was true that compared to Hyōrinmaru, the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō, Toshiro was still somewhat lacking. The Bankai he was currently using wasn't Hyōrinmaru’s true form.
All of Hyōrinmaru’s power was actually concentrated within those ice flowers.
However, Toshiro’s strength wasn’t enough to withstand Hyōrinmaru’s true power. After activating Bankai, most of Hyōrinmaru’s power condensed into the ice flowers above Toshiro’s head. As he gradually adapted to Hyōrinmaru’s power, the energy within the ice flowers would slowly flow into his body, allowing him to control more of Hyōrinmaru’s power.
When all the petals had melted, it would mean that Toshiro had finally gained the qualifications to wield Hyōrinmaru’s true power.
That was when Hyōrinmaru would reveal its true form.
Over a decade ago, Toshiro had needed to maintain his Bankai for about four hours before his body could completely adapt to Hyōrinmaru's power.
Now, after a decade of training, he only needed twenty minutes to reach his peak state.
…
Meanwhile, seeing Toshiro release his Bankai, Gin immediately used Shunpo to distance himself. During their Shikai clash, Gin could easily shatter the ice formed by Toshiro's spiritual pressure.
But now, after activating Bankai, Toshiro’s spiritual pressure had increased tenfold. The amount of ice he could create was more than ten times greater!
Fighting in this environment would mean Gin wasting more spiritual pressure to break through the ice. It was a significant constraint.
Looking at Toshiro’s current state, a flicker of envy crossed Gin’s eyes.
The strongest ice-type Zanpakutō…
If he possessed such a Zanpakutō, would he be able to directly confront Aizen?
After all, Hyōrinmaru, like Ryūjin Jakka, was a large-scale attack-type Zanpakutō.
As long as Aizen was within range, even if Gin couldn’t see him, he could simply unleash his attacks indiscriminately. With such a wide attack range, even without breaking through Kyōka Suigetsu’s hypnosis, he could still injure Aizen.
This was why Aizen was wary of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
While Kyōka Suigetsu could control Yamamoto’s five senses, if Yamamoto simply ignored everything and unleashed his flames, destroying everything around him, Aizen wouldn’t be able to escape.
However, Gin quickly dismissed his envy. He wasn’t Yamamoto. He couldn't make Aizen fear him with his Zanpakutō alone.
Therefore, his own Zanpakutō was still the most suitable. It was like a snake, usually sluggish and dormant, but the moment it locked onto its prey, it would instantly reveal its fangs, delivering a fatal blow!
Looking at Ailin in the sky, Gin sheathed his Shikai, Shinsō, within his long sleeve.
Teacher Ailin, let me see if my fangs can finally reach you!
“Thousand-Year Ice Prison!”
Dozens of ice pillars, each over three meters thick, shot skyward, surrounding Ailin within Unlimited Blade Works.
Under Toshiro’s control, the ice pillars rapidly converged upon Ailin, forming a single, massive ice pillar, ten meters in diameter, that pierced the sky.
Within the pillar, besides Ailin, countless golden Zanpakutō were also frozen.
“Bankai - Kamishini no Yari!”
Just as Toshiro lowered his Zanpakutō, preparing to check on his teacher, Gin’s voice echoed beside his ear.
The next moment, all Toshiro saw was a flash of white light.
“This… This is impossible!”
The white light vanished, but beads of cold sweat trickled down Toshiro’s forehead. He was the wielder of Hyōrinmaru, the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō, currently in his Bankai state. His overflowing spiritual pressure could condense the moisture in the air, forming ice and snow.
The temperature around him was below freezing. Yet, he was sweating?
This showed how shocked Toshiro was.
He slowly turned around and saw Gin standing several hundred meters away, still in his Bankai pose.
It wasn’t a dream!
“Gulp…”
Toshiro swallowed, then looked back at the ice pillar created by his Thousand-Year Ice Prison. A crack, four or five centimeters long, had appeared on its surface.
Judging by the shape of the crack, it seemed that a sword, dozens of meters long, had pierced through the ice pillar in an instant. It was so fast that the surrounding ice hadn't had time to react and seal the crack.
Could he even block such an attack, an attack with such speed?
For the first time, Toshiro lost confidence in his Zanpakutō, Hyōrinmaru.
However, he quickly remembered. His teacher, Ailin, was trapped within the ice pillar!
Gin’s attack had pierced through his Thousand-Year Ice Prison. But what about his teacher?
Toshiro wanted to check on Ailin, but—
Crack! Crack!
Cracks began to appear on the ice pillar. Within seconds, the entire structure was covered in cracks.
Bang!
The ice pillar shattered into countless fist-sized ice shards, raining down and smashing the thin layer of ice on the ground.
“That was close… You two were almost there.”
Amidst the falling ice, Ailin extended his right hand, his thumb and index finger almost touching.
“Gin, you did well. If it weren't for the vast difference in our spiritual pressure, your attack would have truly reached me.
But Toshiro, I believe I’ve told you before. While Hyōrinmaru’s power isn’t weak, you must remember that you are the master, and Hyōrinmaru is simply a tool to enhance your strength.
You’ve learned to utilize Hyōrinmaru’s power quite well, but you’ve neglected your own cultivation.
Now, I’ll let you experience what it’s like to fight when Hyōrinmaru can no longer provide you with a significant boost. Let’s see what else you can rely on.”
“Whisper—Muramasa!”
Ailin’s low voice echoed through Unlimited Blade Works. Purple light radiated from his Zanpakutō.
The next moment, Toshiro felt something leaving him…
His spiritual pressure, his chilling cold, were rapidly draining away.
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Remy
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