[Location: Teyvat – Liyue Headquarters]
The moment they stepped back into their own world, the entire squad let out a collective sigh of relief.
They had done it. They had infiltrated the Soul Society, rescued the target, and retreated without provoking the true monsters like Aizen or Yamamoto.
To put it simply: It was exhilarating.
Inside the strategy room, Yae Miko dumped a pile of stolen swords onto the table in front of Su Han.
"So," the Guuji smiled, dusting off her hands. "How do we use these things?"
Currently, the group was still short about 100,000 points needed for the next major system upgrade. Purchasing custom Zanpakuto from the shop was out of the question. Yae Miko, being the pragmatic fox she was, decided that stealing the raw materials—the Asauchi—was a much more efficient use of resources.
Having studied the history of the Soul Society, she understood that a Zanpakuto wasn't just a weapon. It was a reflection of the soul. It could evolve into a fan, a fishing rod, or even a living creature.
If she could awaken one, she reasoned it might even surpass her Sacred Kagura Suzu.
Su Han looked at the hundred or so plain katanas and smiled.
"It is actually quite simple. Since we aren't Soul Reapers, we don't need to go through their academy training or spend years conversing with the blade. We will use a shortcut."
Su Han picked up a blade. "I possess the Soul-Soul Fruit abilities, and I have taught you the Sword Cultivation Technique. You simply need to inject your soul's frequency into the Asauchi and force it to awaken."
"So, you acting as the medium will make it easier?" Ningguang asked, her eyes analyzing the potential value of these weapons.
"Precisely," Su Han nodded. "Who wants to go first?"
He looked around the room. Almost instinctively, everyone's gaze drifted to the wandering samurai.
Kaedehara Kazuha.
"I suppose that falls to me," Kazuha said with a gentle smile. "Master, please guide me."
"Choose a blade. Hold it. Sit."
"Understood."
Kazuha selected a plain katana from the pile and sat in a meditative lotus position. The room fell silent. Everyone held their breath, eager to witness the birth of a Teyvat-born Zanpakuto.
Su Han placed his hand on Kazuha's back.
Hum.
A sphere of pure white spiritual energy floated out of Kazuha's body, guided by Su Han, and sank into the Asauchi.
The plain steel blade began to vibrate. Then, it cracked.
Like a chick breaking its shell, the outer layer of steel crumbled away, revealing the true form beneath.
It was a masterpiece. The blade looked as if it were forged from flowing wind and water. Maple leaves were etched along the edge, and the spine depicted a swirling vortex.
"This... is my Zanpakuto?"
Kazuha opened his eyes, staring at the weapon. He felt an immediate, bloodline-deep connection to it.
"What is its name?" Yae Miko asked eagerly.
"I... I don't know yet." Kazuha looked at Su Han helplessly.
"Sink your consciousness into the blade," Su Han instructed. "Use the mental tempering method of the Sword Cultivation technique. You don't need to ask the spirit for its name—you tell it to reveal itself. Every Zanpakuto has a release command."
Kazuha nodded and closed his eyes again.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Suddenly, Kazuha's eyes snapped open. A sharp gust of wind swirled around the room, rustling the papers on Ningguang's desk.
He whispered the command.
"Maple Leaves at Dawn, Wild Geese Cry in the Sky... Vibrate, Nifeng (Reverse Wind)!"
Swoosh.
The solid blade in his hand disintegrated.
To the shock of the onlookers, the steel vanished, replaced by a concentrated stream of high-pressure wind. Only the hilt remained solid. It was a blade of invisible air.
"Whoa!" Paimon gasped, floating closer. "That's a Zanpakuto? It turned into wind! That looks so fun!"
"Next! Let me try!"
Kamisato Ayaka stepped forward, her eyes shining with determination.
Facing her enthusiasm, Su Han naturally wouldn't refuse. He repeated the process: Soul Injection, Tempering, Awakening.
Fifteen minutes later, the Shirasagi Himegimi stood up.
"Cherry Blossoms Fall, Divine Light Shines... Be Born, Xueji (Snow Princess)!"
Flash.
A blinding white light enveloped her. When it faded, Ayaka had transformed.
She was no longer just holding a sword; her entire form had shifted. She appeared taller, her figure more mature and regal—like a true Queen of Ice. The sword in her hand had crystallized into a rapier of pure, unmelting permafrost.
"I see," Ningguang murmured, tapping her chin. "The form is dictated by the user's innate Element and personality. Su Han, a question: Can we use the Sword Cultivation technique to fuse these Zanpakuto with our original Visions or weapons?"
In the Soul Society, the sword is a separate entity. But in Teyvat, they already wielded Vision-powered weapons. Carrying two swords was inefficient.
"It is theoretically possible," Su Han nodded. "But first, let's awaken everyone. I want to see what abilities you all develop."
The mass awakening began.
Keqing was next. Her Zanpakuto was a sleek, violet blade.
Ability: It allowed her to create a Lightning Clone—a solid copy of herself made of electricity that could attack independently. She could swap places with it instantly.Bonus: It mimicked the awakening of the Flower-Flower Fruit, allowing her to sprout lightning limbs from surfaces for surprise attacks. It was a massive boost to her versatility.
Kujou Sara followed.
Type: Summoning Type.Ability: A massive Crow Tengu spirit manifested behind her. It could fly, shoot lightning, and share its vision with her. It was the perfect tactical partner for a general.
Yae Miko finally got her turn.
Name:Hakuhime (White Princess).Form: A small, adorable white fox spirit.Ability: It could transform into a Kagura Suzu weapon or remain a fox. Its special power was Soul Healing, soothing the wear and tear on a soul. It was a rare, high-tier support ability.
Mona, however, was not as lucky.
Form: A small rain cloud.Ability: It could rain and shoot tiny lightning bolts.Problem: The range was barely two meters. It was basically a portable shower.Mona: "Is this a joke?! What am I supposed to do with a personal weather cloud?! It's humiliating!"
Xiangling's weapon was terrifyingly effective.
Form: A Spear.Ability:Sensory Deprivation. Anyone cut by the blade would temporarily lose their five senses. For a chef who relies on taste and smell, taking them away from an enemy was the ultimate punishment.
Then, came Hu Tao.
Her awakening caused the temperature in the room to plummet, while simultaneously feeling like a furnace. Her soul was unique, straddling the line between life and death.
"Guide the Lost, Judge the Wicked... Yanluo (King of Hell)!"
BOOM.
A crimson spear materialized, wreathed in the fires of the netherworld.
Ability:Judgment. The flames marked the soul of anyone they touched. Hu Tao could then activate "Judgment," dragging the target's consciousness into a pocket dimension of Hell. There, they would undergo eighteen levels of torture. If their mind broke, their soul became her eternal slave.Verdict: It was, without a doubt, the most sinister weapon of the group.
Klee's turn brought the mood back... sort of.
Form: A plush teddy bear.Ability:Self-Destruct. It functioned exactly like Tibbers from League of Legends. It looked cute, but upon release, it grew into a 50-meter titan and exploded. Then, it would shrink, absorb Pyro energy, and prepare to explode again. An infinite bomb.
Su Han did not forget Qiqi.
He placed his hand on the little zombie's back. However, after several minutes, nothing happened. Her soul was too faint, suspended in a state of undeath.
"It's okay," Su Han comforted her, patting her head. "Your soul just needs a little more cultivation. Give it a month of training, and it will wake up."
"Mmn. Okay," Qiqi nodded obediently.
"Cultivation isn't that simple," Yae Miko noted. "It seems only the experts among us can achieve Shikai immediately."
"Shikai is just the beginning," Beidou laughed, stepping up. "Bankai is where the real power is! Just like Haki!"
She cracked her knuckles and grabbed a massive blade.
Name:Valkyrie.Form: A massive Greatsword.Ability:Armor & Flight. Upon Shikai, Beidou was encased in lightning armor that boosted all her physical stats. More importantly, it granted her the ability to fly.Beidou: "Hah! Finally! Now I can chase down those flying pests without needing my ship!"
Shenhe was the surprise of the day.
Everyone expected a spear. Instead, a beautiful, crystalline Longbow appeared in her hands.
Name:Qingxin (Pouring Heart).Ability:The Power of Love. The arrow's power scaled with the depth of the user's love and devotion.Reaction: The arrow she nocked glowed with a terrifying, blinding light. The group glanced at Su Han, then at Shenhe, realizing just how deep the "Red Ropes" of her emotion actually ran.
The awakening continued down the roster.
Jean: A humanoid spirit resembling a scholar that provided healing and stamina recovery.
Lisa: A bracelet that trapped enemies in an "Interrogation Chamber" of lightning. The more they struggled, the stronger the shock, compelling them to reveal secrets.
Rosalyne (Signora):Hell's Nightmare. An illusion-type blade that trapped enemies in their worst nightmares. If they died in the dream, their body became a puppet.
Sucrose: A cute Teru Teru Bozu (Weather Doll). It acted as an amplifier, allowing her to "Enlarge" or "Compress" her alchemy and Anemo skills.
The Teyvat Squad was now armed with the power of the Soul Society. They were ready for the next phase of the Empire.
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