The brief respite came to an end.
On the stone table, marinated meats and vegetables skewered on hand-shaved bamboo sticks were neatly arranged on a platter. Tōshirō helped set out the sake carafe and cups, while brewing a pot of refreshing floral tea for himself to cut through the richness of the food.
In the clearing beside the stone table, a simple stone grill rose from the ground through the technique of Daichi Ten'yō.
Before long, the bamboo charcoal ignited with subtle crackles, its orange-red glow appearing somewhat faint under the constant artificial light of the underground chamber. Suō Tsukasa's gaze swept across the charcoal fire and the table before looking up at the high, vaulted ceiling above.
"Something feels a bit off, like we're missing some atmosphere," he mused.
Suddenly, his eyes flickered as a thought occurred to him. He turned and picked up his Zanpakutō. Both Tōshirō and Matsumoto Rangiku froze for a moment, findng his sudden movement strange.
"Illuminate the Ten Thousand Realms—Hikari"
Without explanation, Tsukasa drew his blade from its sheath and activated his Shikai. The light around his body immediately brightened. Following this, with him as the center, a hemispherical dome of darkness with a radius of a dozen meters took shape and rapidly expanded.
In just a few breaths, the darkness gently swept over the bamboo grove and the hot springs, reaching up to embrace the high ceiling. In this subterranean space, day turned to night.
The originally bright and vast ceiling was painted by Tsukasa into a flawless, pitch-black canvas using his abilities. Then, the first "star" lit up upon it.
Like the first note of an overture, more stars seemed to be awakened in succession, breaking free from the shackles of darkness to begin their shimmer. The brightest few appeared first, followed by more numerous and dense starlight. It was as if a true firmament had descended into the night sky, meticulously spaced with varying degrees of brilliance.
Until the entire artificial night was filled with radiant constellations, a hazy Milky Way stretched across the zenith. The surrounding atmosphere grew tranquil and serene.
This was a brand-new way to use Hikari that had flashed through Tsukasa's mind just now. Though crude, it was quite successful. The glow of the charcoal fire became the warmest focal point, casting the long shadows of the three companions across the ground. The flickering light and shadows lent the scene a rustic, wild charm.
"Wow—!"
Matsumoto Rangiku couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation. She tilted her head back, her eyes reflecting the entire artificial, brilliant sea of stars. This beauty made her forget to breathe for a moment.
"This is too beautiful! Tsukasa, how did you do this? It's like you moved the actual starry sky down here!"
She withdrew her gaze from the sky, her eyes landing on Tsukasa, who was still enveloped in a faint halo. She had never imagined a Zanpakutō could be used this way; it completely transcended her understanding. Her tone was filled with shock and appreciation for this "useless beauty." She felt this was a scene she would never forget in her lifetime.
Tōshirō likewise kept his head raised. In his eyes, usually as calm as still water, the flickering galaxy was clearly mirrored. He didn't break out into praise like Rangiku, but his wide eyes and his gaze that lingered for a long time, along with his shimmering pupils, fully expressed his inner excitement.
A moment later, he looked at Tsukasa and praised, "Impressive, Tsukasa. Not just in terms of power control, but in your understanding of your ability."
"It's nothing much, just a sudden whim," Tsukasa replied. "I thought that since it's a late-night snack with grilled meat and sake, a proper night might suit it better. It seems the effect is decent."
As he spoke, he walked over to the chair in front of the stone grill and sat down, placing Hikari beside him. As long as the blade was not sealed or the wielder did not actively cut off the supply of Spiritual Pressure, a Shikai would not deactivate even if the hilt left the hand. He then picked up several skewers of meat and placed them on the edge of the grill, resulting in a sizzling sound.
"More than just decent!"
Rangiku snapped back from the shock of the starry sky, a bright smile blooming on her face. She came to the table, picked up the sake carafe, and poured two cups. Handing one to Tsukasa, she winked and said, "For this unique starry sky and the delicious food to come, let's have a drink first!"
"Cheers!"
Tsukasa took the cup. She didn't forget her other companion either, turning to continue, "Tōshirō, you pour a cup of tea too. Use tea instead of sake; you can't be left out!"
"Mm."
Rarely did Tōshirō not resist her command. He nodded calmly, poured himself a cup of tea, and let his gaze drift past the dancing charcoal fire toward the two people raising their cups opposite him.
"Cheers!"
The three raised their cups together in a relaxed manner.
"Good sake!"
Tsukasa set down his cup and used his other hand to move the first batch of skewers. After being roasted over the charcoal, the surface of the meat showed an enticing golden-brown crust, with much of the fat rendered out. He sprinkled on his secret spice blend and flicked his wrist; the heat of the charcoal meeting the spices kicked up a small cloud of white smoke and a sizzling sound.
In just a few seconds, a rich aroma permeated the air.
"Here, try some."
He handed the fragrant skewers to the others, keeping a few for himself.
"Mm—!"
Rangiku blew on the meat and impatiently took a bite. Her eyes instantly widened as she puffed air to deal with the heat. After a few quick chews, she swallowed. The meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, bursting with juices, while the spices perfectly complemented the natural flavor of the meat.
"So delicious!"
She took a brief moment to praise the food before carefully blowing on her second bite, her face beaming with joy.
"It's good," Tōshirō commented. His eating manner was much more refined; he carefully blew it cool before taking small bites and chewing thoroughly. He nodded and gave a concise evaluation: "Fragrant!"
Tsukasa smiled and took a bite of his own grilled meat. The quality of the bamboo was good, and so was the charcoal made from it. The skewers in his hand were arguably the pinnacle of his grilling skills, leaving him very satisfied.
Under the stars and beside the fire, after several rounds of food and drink, the atmosphere became increasingly light and casual. Barbecue is the sort of thing that is hard to mess up if the ingredients are good. Under Tsukasa's guidance, the other two also began their first attempts at grilling.
Rangiku held a few skewers of new ingredients by the grill and looked at Tsukasa, asking curiously, "Tsukasa, with your Hikari's ability to create scenery, can you make anything other than the starry sky?"
"I haven't specifically tried. The starry sky looks grand, but its composition is actually relatively simple. If I wanted to create other landscapes, it would be much more complex and difficult. The number of light attributes needing precise, simultaneous control would grow exponentially. The requirements for mental energy and fine-tuned control are too high. I might look into it when I have time in the future."
Tsukasa set down his sake cup and thought for a moment. By manipulating light, he could theoretically project any image he could imagine. The difficulty lay in "compiling" it into a stable and concrete sequence of light signals. The Shikai ability of Hikari had its boundaries and depths; it was not omnipotent.
It was, however, a direction worth exploring. When it didn't interfere with his duties or training, he could study it a bit. Nowadays, the training method of condensing Reishi digits on his fingertips had yielded diminishing returns. If he could use light as a medium to forge intangible imagination into scenery, he could use it to temper himself and catch a glimpse of a higher realm.
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi