join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr
Kuchiki Kōga's breathing was slightly ragged, his chest heaving violently, as if he had just survived a life-or-death crisis.
The sword in his hand trembled slightly, as if the lingering power of the fierce collision still remained.
The air around them was thick with tension, as if time itself had frozen.
The wind blew, carrying flurries of snowflakes that danced and fell between them, yet no one paid them any mind.
Kuchiki Kōga and Muramasa stared intently at Aozaki Reiji, not daring to relax in the slightest, fearing that a moment of carelessness would give the latter an opening.
Finally, Kuchiki Kōga slowly retreated backward, each step extraordinarily cautious, as if he were treading on landmines.
Seeing this, Muramasa also slowly retreated, always maintaining a certain distance.
They didn't stop until both had retreated several yards away, but their gaze remained firmly fixed on Aozaki Reiji.
Originally, given Aozaki Reiji's nature, he would have directly used Ryujin Jakka to burn the enemy to ashes.
However, Kuchiki Kōga was still useful; since Aizen had sought him out, he couldn't be easily killed.
Aozaki Reiji looked at the fresh sword marks on Kuchiki Kōga's clothes, then at his own unblemished self, and said somewhat casually:
"I'll end this fight quickly. You need to be prepared; don't die, okay?"
Unlike Aozaki Reiji, who was deliberating whether to kill the opponent, Kuchiki Kōga's mentality immediately became unstable when he realized that even after his Bankai, he was at a disadvantage in the fight.
With a roar, Kuchiki Kōga and Muramasa simultaneously swung their long swords, red and green light, respectively, shooting from their blades.
"Kongo Baku!"
"Gaki Rekko!"
A massive fireball, dozens of meters in diameter, like a burning meteor, streaked across the sky at an astonishing speed, trailing a tail of flame.
Suddenly, some violent change seemed to occur within the fireball; it exploded violently, scattering countless sparks and forming a dazzling sea of fire.
And hidden within this sea of fire were ten extremely tiny green light pillars!
These light pillars, like ten nimble green snakes, quickly broke free from the fireball and sped in all directions.
Their speed was extremely fast, like fleeting lightning, but wherever they passed, they left trails of green light, as if shooting stars streaking across the night sky.
Aozaki Reiji didn't utter a sound, merely silently activated Shunpo to dodge the incoming light beams, and then, looking at the oncoming fireball, he softly chanted:
"Suiten Isshiki!"
As a furious vortex of wind wildly swirled around his blade, surging spiritual water, as if imbued with life, continuously gushed forth from beneath his feet.
The strong wind swept up the water, rapidly gathering and condensing it in mid-air into a magnificent, tempestuous giant water curtain, which then slammed fiercely into the intensely burning fireball with an unstoppable momentum!
Boom!!
As the raging flames and surging flood intertwined and collided, a cataclysmic explosion instantly erupted!
The violent energy shockwave spread outwards with overwhelming force, as if threatening to tear the entire world apart.
And amidst this breathtaking scene, dense water mist, like a thick curtain, tightly enveloped the three figures, making it impossible to discern their true condition.
"Reiji… this…!?"
Staring at the sky full of mist, Kuchiki Kōga and Muramasa both widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief, their mouths agape enough to fit an egg!
One must know that Kongo Baku and Gaki Rekko were Muramasa's Zanpakuto abilities, so powerful that they could rival Hado above ninety!
Yet now, such a terrifying Kido attack was so easily neutralized?
How could this be!?
Their hearts churned with a storm, unable to calm down for a long time.
"Is that all? I've only just begun!"
As that cold voice, as if capable of freezing one's very marrow, resounded, the long sword tightly clutched in Aozaki Reiji's hand suddenly erupted with raging flames, like a scorching, dazzling sun radiating boundless light!
"Matsumyo: Taikyo!"
The flames were so fierce that the surrounding air seemed to ignite, forming a powerful heat current.
At this moment, the blade happened to stir up a strong wind, and the fire, fueled by the wind, rapidly spread, forming a giant, swirling wall of flames.
This wall of flames, like a ferocious fire dragon, swept towards Muramasa at an astonishing speed, tightly enveloping him.
The wall of flames rotated at high speed, producing a piercing whistling sound from its violent friction with the air, while also causing the flames to burn even more fiercely, as if to consume everything.
Facing such a terrifying attack, Muramasa was utterly unable to escape, only able to watch helplessly as he was engulfed by the sea of fire.
Aozaki Reiji's eyes were cold as he softly uttered: "First one down, you're next."
His words revealed disdain for his enemy and confidence in his own strength.
Kuchiki Kōga looked at Aozaki Reiji, who was flying in mid-air, his body enveloped in a blue spiritual current, holding a burning long blade, his expression somewhat bewildered.
"This… this is… is this the legendary Zanpakuto whose Shikai can rival Bankai!?!"
He widened his eyes, muttering in disbelief, his voice filled with shock and awe.
Immediately after, he seemed to suddenly snap back to reality, shaking his head vigorously, as if trying to shake off the shock in his mind.
Then, he took a deep breath, somewhat calming his excited emotions, and continued:
"No wonder. Such astonishing talent and strength truly make one feel hopelessly outclassed, filled with despair."
"It's no wonder even Father-in-law, with his discerning eye, would praise you so highly; that's how it should be!"
As he spoke, a hint of envy and helplessness appeared in his eyes.
"Do you really think Lord Ginrei didn't acknowledge you?"
Aozaki Reiji said with a helpless expression, looking at the guy who kept praising him, a strange feeling welling up in his heart.
This kid spoke so nicely that it even made him feel a little bad about being harsh on him.
Kuchiki Kōga silently nodded, a bitter smile on his face:
"Of course. I've known Father-in-law for a long time, spent decades together, but I've never heard a single word of praise or affirmation from him."
Having said that, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his surging emotions.
However, despite appearing outwardly calm, Kuchiki Kōga's eyes still revealed an undisguised sense of melancholy and disappointment.
He was like a neglected young wife, filled with grievances but nowhere to confide them.
This complex and contradictory mix of emotions made him appear both pathetic and ridiculous.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr