Chapter 131: Milky Way
Brief rest concluded.
On the stone table.
Marinated meats and vegetables threaded on prepared bamboo skewers, neatly arranged on plates nearby.
Hitsugaya helped arrange sake bottle and cups, also brewing himself a pot of greasy-food-cutting flower tea.
Beside the stone table's open space, through Daichi Tenyō, a simple stone-built grill had risen.
Shortly.
Bamboo charcoal ignited, releasing subtle crackling sounds. Orange-red glow appeared somewhat weak beneath constant overhead illumination.
Suoh's gaze swept across charcoal fire and table, then raising eyes observing that towering high ceiling overhead.
"Feels somewhat off. Like lacking atmosphere..."
Strange.
He contemplated.
Suddenly, his eyes moved slightly, thinking of something.
Subsequently turning aside, taking zanpakuto in hand.
Whether Hitsugaya or Matsumoto Rangiku both slightly froze, somewhat puzzled by his sudden action.
"Illuminate the infinite heights, Kikou!"
Suoh didn't explain, drawing blade from sheath, activating Shikai.
Surrounding illumination around him brightened accordingly.
Immediately following, centered on him, a hemispherical darkness with radius of over ten meters formed, rapidly expanding outward.
Merely several breaths.
Darkness gently flowed across bamboo forest and hot spring, upward embracing that towering dome.
Underground space shifted from day to night.
Originally bright, expansive ceiling was painted by Suoh using his ability into perfectly flawless pitch-black canvas.
Subsequently, the first "star" illuminated above.
Like a musical composition's opening note.
More stars seemingly awakened successively, breaking free from darkness's restraints, beginning to shine.
From initial brightest several appearing first, then more, denser starlight emerged.
Like genuine starry sky descending upon night sky—sparsely scattered yet orderly arranged, brightness alternating.
Until entire artificial night curtain filled with brilliant stars, a hazy Milky Way spanning across the zenith.
Surrounding atmosphere consequently became peaceful and tranquil.
This represented Suoh's sudden inspiration just now—Kikou's entirely new application.
Though crude, quite successful.
Charcoal fire's glow became this moment's warmest focal point, elongating nearby three people's shadows across ground.
Light and shadow swaying, possessing considerable rustic charm.
"Wow...!"
Matsumoto Rangiku involuntarily released light exclamation. She raised her head. Eyes reflecting entire artificial brilliant starry river.
This beauty momentarily stole her breath.
"This is too beautiful! Tsukasa, how did you achieve this? Exactly like moving genuine starry sky here!"
Her gaze withdrew from starry sky, falling upon Suoh whose body still wreathed in faint luminous halo.
Never imagined zanpakuto could be used thus—completely exceeding her understanding.
Tone filled with appreciation and shock toward this "useless beauty."
This scene—she felt would prove unforgettable throughout life.
Hitsugaya similarly raised head. Always calm-as-water eyes also clearly reflected that flickering starry river.
Didn't vocally praise like Matsumoto Rangiku. Widened eyes and gaze remaining unmoved for long, plus those flickering pupils fully expressed his inner excitement.
Moments later, looking toward Suoh, praising emotionally.
"Very impressive, Tsukasa. Not merely power control but rather ability comprehension."
"Showing off somewhat—just sudden whim."
"Thinking since it's midnight snacks, plus grilled meat and alcohol, having proper nighttime might prove more fitting. Seems effects proved decent."
Speaking thus, he walked to chair before stone grill, sitting down. Kikou placed beside him.
Shikai—as long as blade wasn't sealed or wielder actively severed spiritual pressure supply.
Even if hilt left hand, Shikai wouldn't release.
Subsequently picking up several meat skewers, arranging them on grill edge, releasing sizzling sounds.
"More than decent!"
Matsumoto Rangiku recovered from starry sky's shock, face blooming into bright smile.
Arriving tableside, lifting sake bottle, pouring two cups. One cup passed toward Suoh, blinking.
"For this unique starry sky, plus forthcoming deliciousness—first, a cup!"
"Alright!"
Suoh accepted. While she didn't forget other companions, turning head continuing.
"Hitsugaya, you also pour tea. Tea substituting alcohol—can't be left out!"
"Okay."
Hitsugaya rarely didn't resist her directive, calmly nodding.
Pouring himself a cup of tea, gaze passing over leaping charcoal fire, looking toward both raising cups opposite.
"Cheers!"
Three people raised cups together, speaking easily.
"Good sake!"
Suoh set down cup, subsequently using other hand moving first batch of meat skewers aside.
After charcoal fire roasting, meat surface presented tempting golden-brown crispy shell. Forced-out oil proved considerable.
Sprinkling secret-recipe spices, wrist rotating, searing charcoal fire meeting spices stirring up a small cloud of white smoke.
Mere several seconds—rich fragrance instantly permeated outward.
"Here, try some."
He distributed fragrant meat skewers to others, keeping some himself.
"Mmm—!"
Matsumoto Rangiku blew cooling air, impatiently biting down.
Her eyes instantly widened, hotness making her inhale sharply. Rapidly chewing several times before swallowing.
Crispy outside, tender inside, meat juice abundant. Spices perfectly highlighted meat's natural flavor.
"Truly delicious!"
Brief moment freeing mouth for praise, subsequently carefully blowing second bite, eating with beaming smiles.
"Delicious!"
Hitsugaya's eating manner proved much more refined. He carefully cooled it, then taking small bites, carefully chewing.
Nodding, concisely evaluating.
Suoh smiled faintly, himself also biting grilled meat.
Bamboo quality excellent—burned bamboo charcoal also excellent.
Hand-held meat skewers could be called his grilling technique's pinnacle creation. Extremely satisfied.
Beneath starry sky, beside charcoal fire.
After several rounds of food and alcohol, atmosphere grew increasingly relaxed and casual.
Grilling—as long as materials proved good, proved very difficult making unpalatable.
With Suoh's nearby guidance, the other two also began life's first attempts.
Matsumoto Rangiku held several new ingredient skewers, placing them beside grill, looking toward Suoh nearby, curiously asking.
"Tsukasa, besides starry sky, can your Kikou's scenery-creation ability produce other things?"
"Haven't deliberately tried. Starry sky appears magnificent yet construction proves relatively simple."
"Creating other scenery would prove more complex, difficulty higher. Requiring simultaneously precisely controlling light properties would increase geometrically. Requirements for mental strength and manipulation ability both too high."
"Later when free, can slightly research and see."
Suoh set down sake cup in hand, hearing this while considering.
Through manipulating light, theoretically could project all imagined scenes outward. Difficulty lay in compiling into stable, concrete light signal sequences.
Kikou's Shikai ability possessed certain boundaries and depth—not omnipotent.
This indeed represented a direction worth exploring. When not affecting serious matters and training, could slightly research and investigate.
Currently, fingertip spirit particle digit condensation training methods yielded minimal effects for him.
If capable using light as medium, forging imagination's nothingness into scenery—he could also thereby temper himself, glimpsing higher-level realms.