The violent Reiatsu echoed around Tsunayashiro Tokinada, causing the ground to tremble.
He waved slightly.
Suddenly, the wind howled.
The dark green Reiatsu shattered, Tsunayashiro Tokinada clenched his Zanpakutō and walked out slowly, his teasing eyes carrying a sigh:
> "I gave you a chance… but unfortunately, you didn't cherish it."
That posture — aloof, untouchable — was like a god looking down.
It was as if, after releasing his Zanpakutō, Tokinada already knew he had absolute odds in his favor.
"Pretending to be a ghost…"
Heilig Pfeil!
Kurosaki Masaki cried out sharply, swiftly drawing a spiritual arrow from reishi and letting it fly.
But in the next instant — under Masaki's slightly surprised eyes — her sacred Quincy arrow flew back at her, completely intact.
Rumble!
The blue Reiatsu detonated, sending a shockwave ripping in all directions, slamming against the barrier with crushing force.
The barrier shuddered violently, as if a single push could shatter it.
> "You don't understand, do you? This is Kyūten Jingū."
"With my Reiatsu, combined with the ability of Kyūten Jingū, no one will be my opponent."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's tone dripped with contempt. He even began explaining his Zanpakutō's ability — openly.
Most Zanpakutō are inseparable from their owner's soul. Their abilities are bound to their master alone, evolving alongside their wielder. No one else can draw out their full potential.
But a handful of Zanpakutō in Soul Society's history have been… different.
They have no fixed master and can be wielded by anyone who holds them — though their true power still responds to the Reiatsu of the wielder.
Kyūten Jingū was one such blade — a hereditary weapon passed down the Tsunayashiro main family.
Its ability was as dangerous as it was politically sensitive, which was why most heads of the family kept it sealed away, never to be wielded in public battles.
But Tokinada, as the current head, had no such restraint.
And now, he was free to command this vicious Zanpakutō as he pleased.
> "It's useless… all of your attacks are useless against me."
"This is the ability of Kyūten Jingū."
Just by holding the blade, Tokinada could reflect any attack — physical, spiritual, kido, Quincy — back at its source with its original force and the added weight of his own Reiatsu.
"There's… such an ability?"
Masaki's eyes narrowed. She sidestepped her rebounding arrow, the unease in her gaze deepening.
A Zanpakutō that could reflect anything was far more troublesome than even the Blut Vene or the Quincy Sankt Bogen.
This wasn't just counterattack — it was like facing your own strength doubled, every strike turned against you.
Masaki tried again, firing a rapid volley, but every Heilig Pfeil rebounded harmlessly.
> "I told you. Your abilities and tactics mean nothing before this blade."
"When Kyūten Jingū is released, you have no chance of victory."
"Everything you try is meaningless — because everything you are… becomes invalid!"
Tokinada's laughter echoed as he walked forward.
It was over.
Tortuously, perhaps, but in the end, his victory seemed inevitable.
A Vasto Lorde–class Arrancar, a pure-blood Quincy, and a mixed-blood Quincy with abnormal potential — all would become prime test subjects for his ultimate plan.
The creation of an artificial Soul King.
And when that was done, he would take those steps toward the Soul King's Palace…
And replace that broken god who neither lived nor died.
> "The one who sits above all has no right to look down on me."
"…Hmm?"
Tokinada's eyes narrowed as he felt something press against him. He raised his blade just in time — and was forced back several inches into the ground by the sheer force of a blow.
Nelliel.
Even with Kyūten Jingū, reflecting her strike took effort.
After forcing the energy back, Tokinada spread his arms and laughed:
> "I said — your abilities are useless to me!"
From behind him came Kanbaru's dry voice:
> "You know, you probably shouldn't say things like that. If I remember right, that blade's real name isn't Kyūten Jingū at all."
Tokinada froze.
But then he sneered:
> "What would you know? You're just spouting nonsense."
Kanbaru tilted his head.
> "Oh, I know plenty. You only renamed that Zanpakutō Kyūten Jingū to get under Kyōraku Shunsui's skin."
Tokinada's expression darkened instantly.
That name-change was a private spite — after he'd murdered his wife and her colleagues without punishment, only to be reported to the Central 46 by Shunsui, Genryūsai Yamamoto's own protégé.
The punishment he'd received afterward had been for show, a sop to public outrage.
Renaming the Tsunayashiro family's generational Zanpakutō had been his petty, personal act of vengeance.
Yet Kurosaki Kanbaru, of all people, knew.
"…Did you seriously rename your Zanpakutō just to annoy someone?"
Masaki looked at Kanbaru, received a confirming nod, then turned her gaze back to Tokinada with an expression halfway between disbelief and pity.
Good grief… how much did you hate the man to stoop to something that petty?
End of Chapter.
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