Boom--!!!
Accompanied by an explosive roar that could pierce eardrums, dark red flames erupted in the center of the training ground!
At this moment, Asuka's Zanpakuto transformed into an eternal night that swallowed the sky.
The red and black Spiritual Pressure churned into a whirlwind, moving so fast that it even left several scorched black scratches in the air!
In that same instant, fine sweat seeped from Kisuke Urahara's palms.
The Blood Mist Shield was shattering inch by inch under Asuka's slash!
Urahara's wooden sandals shifted abruptly as he retreated backward at extreme speed.
His fingers swiped rapidly through the air, and his incantation was low and urgent, carrying some ancient rhythm.
"Proud son of heaven, iron-forged wall, march forth, face south, and form this ground!!"
"[Bakudo #81・Danku]!"
--!
A massive wall of light, transparent as crystal yet radiating a tangible, oppressive weight, materialized out of thin air between the two.
In the next second, Asuka's roaring slash violently crashed into Danku's barrier!
An ear-piercing screech, like metal grinding against glass, rang out, forcing the sharp-eared Yoruichi in the distance to cover her ears.
Turbulent currents of dark red spiritual energy danced wildly across the wall of light, trying to find even the tiniest fissure to slip through.
Yet, the sturdy defense of Danku, formed by high-level Kido, actually trembled slightly under that berserk impact.
Smoke and dust billowed; crushed stones flew in all directions.
When the shockwave finally dissipated, Asuka's arms were trembling violently.
'It was still... blocked?'
He had not held back at all with this strike.
"Mr. Asuka, if you are feeling frustrated about failing to cut me, I suggest you take a look around first."
Behind the wall of light, Kisuke Urahara's green and white bucket hat was nowhere to be seen, revealing his slightly messy light blonde hair.
Aside from the area right in front of Urahara where Danku was cast, deep trenches capable of burying a Grand Kido Chief had appeared on both sides, exuding an unsettling pressure.
Even Danku itself had developed faint cracks.
"If you had swung this blade within the Seireitei... I'm afraid those Seated Officers who call themselves geniuses wouldn't even have the chance to realize they were dead."
Urahara slowly lowered the hand maintaining the Kido, his fingertips still slightly numb from the intense clash just now.
'This kid... is seriously strong.'
Asuka breathed a sigh of relief. The Demon Slayer Mark on his face slowly began to fade, and the Nugata in his hand was no longer scorching hot, reverting to its sharp longsword form.
He traced an arc in the air and sheathed his Zanpakuto.
However, the scabbard cracked apart, seemingly unable to withstand Nugata's sharpness.
Asuka had no choice but to find an angle to tuck Nugata into the sash of his Shihakusho, while looking at Kisuke Urahara with some disappointment.
"Even at this level, I still can't threaten you."
"Getting stronger isn't something you can rush," Urahara stepped forward, bending down to pick up his hat that had fallen in the distance. He dusted it off and put it back on.
He circled Asuka, his eyes revealing the inquisitive nature of a scientist.
"Mr. Asuka, during that strike just now, you called out to 'Nugata', right?"
Asuka frowned. "Yes."
Urahara gently tapped Nugata's blade with his folding fan, producing a crisp metallic clink, and the fan was sliced open by the blade's aura as a result.
"The name is certainly aggressive. But Mr. Asuka, haven't you noticed that when you call out to it, the feedback is actually very... sluggish?"
"What?"
"A Zanpakuto's name is the reflection of its soul." Urahara pulled down the brim of his hat, his tone turning serious. "I observed just now that when you swing your sword, there is a subtle 'barrier' between your Spiritual Pressure and this blade."
"Impossible," Asuka denied flatly. "It responded to me. I can feel its anger and desire."
Yoruichi, who had been watching the battle with her arms crossed, walked over. "Perhaps what it responded to wasn't a 'name', but your 'obsession'."
"'Nugata' might just be a fake name it conjured based on your subconscious to cope with the immediate battle. This kind of thing isn't an isolated case, so you don't need to rush to refute it."
Asuka looked down at the longsword at his waist.
'It seems like that really is the case...'
'In that mirror world, that strange shadow had more than once...'
'Wait, why can't I remember what that shadow said?'
He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
If Yoruichi and Urahara hadn't brought it up today, he would have even forgotten about the matter of Nugata's true name.
"Nugata... isn't its true name?" Asuka muttered.
Urahara sighed and spread his hands somewhat helplessly. "This situation is extremely rare in the history of the Soul Society, but it's not unheard of."
"Usually, only a very small number of Soul Reapers who have split personalities, are on bad terms with their Zanpakuto Spirit, or have a massive flaw in their soul itself will experience this phenomenon of a 'fake name Shikai'."
He leaned closer to Asuka, his tone becoming soft and slow. "If you stay stuck at this stage, you will never be able to touch its true power."
"Although you are strong, stronger than I expected, it's still not enough... At the very least, you should try to find its true name."
Asuka gripped the hilt of his sword with a complex expression. "I understand. I will find it."
Seeing Asuka accept this so quickly, Urahara breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
He was most afraid of encountering stubborn people who couldn't listen to reason and stubbornly clung to one path.
"Alright then, since you've broken free from the restrictions of the Gigai, there's no need to do the delivery boy job anymore!"
"For the next month, I will give you real training on Soul Reaper combat techniques and soul perception."
"Prepare yourself, boy. This is a private tutoring course you couldn't beg for even if you tried!" Kisuke Urahara chuckled.
Yoruichi Shihoin threw an arm around Asuka's neck and poked his solid chest with her finger. "And you can't slack off on the Hakuda lessons either! Since you're a Spiritual Body now, I'm going to ramp up the training!"
"...Bring it on," Asuka said with a serious expression.
Urahara turned around and waved his hand with his back to Asuka. "Alright, let's rest for today... Oh, right, the cost of the property damage just now, I'll add it to your tab. It should be around... thirty million or so?"
"...Thirty million?" Asuka froze, the previously solemn atmosphere collapsing instantly.
"Oh my, foundations are very hard to repair, you know."
Urahara laughed irresponsibly, the sound of his wooden sandals fading into the distance.
Meanwhile, in another dimension far from the hustle and bustle of the World of the Living—the Soul Society.
In a secluded courtyard in the southern part of the Rukongai, it was exceptionally lively at this moment.
This wooden courtyard had clearly been renovated recently.
It wasn't luxurious, but it exuded a peaceful and serene elegance.
"Mr. Himejima, please have another serving of soba noodles."
A smiling female voice rang out.
Beside the wooden table filled with simple dishes, Shinobu Kocho, dressed in a neat Shihakusho, was bustling about.
Sitting across from her was a man as tall and imposing as a mountain.
It was her old friend, Gyomei Himejima.
He wore a loose gray robe, and those eyes that were once blind from illness were now as clear as a mountain spring.
"Namu Amida Butsu... To still be able to taste the food personally prepared by Miss Kocho after death, this is truly a great blessing."
Gyomei pressed his hands together, his deep and powerful voice echoing in the quiet courtyard.
"My, I'm a Soul Reaper now, you know. How can you pray to other gods in front of me?" Shinobu chuckled.
At the head of the table sat a gentle and refined man.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader who had once exhausted his lifeblood to fight against the progenitor of demons, was currently smiling at everyone.
Kagaya's face, which had once been consumed by purple curse marks and nearly disfigured, was now as clean and flawless as beautiful jade.
His wife, Amane, sat beside him, gently pouring tea for him.
Two of the children who had died alongside him were chasing a few butterflies made of Reishi in the yard, their laughter filling the small courtyard.
Because they had interacted so deeply with Asuka during their lives, their souls had inadvertently been branded with a certain mark.
So much so that after that final battle, their souls did not reincarnate like ordinary people. Instead, they miraculously crossed the rift of the void and landed in this world known as the Soul Society.
Here, there was no threat of demons, no cruel curses.
They became members of the Rukongai, blessed with a long and peaceful rest of their lives.
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