"It would have been better to have dealt with you sooner," Kyōraku Callum muttered, his eyes flashing with a hint of disdain. BOOM! Sensing
"It would have been better to have dealt with you sooner," Kyōraku Callum muttered, his eyes flashing with a hint of disdain.
BOOM! Sensing the imminent danger, the Hōgyoku instantly closed the distance.
Having failed to utilize its Cero effectively, it relied on its instinct and opted for close-quarters combat.
However, unknown to the Hōgyoku, close-quarters combat was Kyōraku Callum's forte.
The Hōgyoku, surrounded by the characteristic spiritual pressure of a Hollow, partially negated the pressure from Kyōraku Callum. Its speed was also comparable to Suì-Fēng's Shunpo.
Kyōraku Callum raised his sword, deflecting a slash from the Hōgyoku's blade, initiating a relentless, dazzling flurry of strikes. The air crackled with sonic booms, the constant clang of steel creating a disorienting visual effect.
Swordsmanship. Saikyū! Kyōraku Callum's Saikyū, a secret technique derived from the Shindō Funshōryū, was infused with his own unique style.
If the Hōgyoku possessed consciousness, it might have noticed its attacks were slowing down. Delicate snowflakes of spiritual energy met each strike, the chilling killing intent gradually consuming the surrounding spiritual particles.
"Spatial stasis," Kyōraku Callum murmured, his voice heavy with finality. "Shikai!"
A low hum resonated outwards, as if pronouncing the Hōgyoku's death sentence. The space within a hundred-meter radius, centered on Kyōraku Callum, groaned under the immense pressure.
His long, crimson blade rose, spiritual pressure coalescing.
"Swordsmanship. Mugen!"
Brilliant light erupted from the blade, instantly engulfing the Hōgyoku.
Moments later, Kyōraku Callum heard the system's notification.
[Check-in mission complete. Reward distribution in progress--]
[Congratulations, host! You have attained peak Kidō mastery!]
A torrent of Kidō knowledge flooded Kyōraku Callum's mind, accompanied by a fleeting, sharp pain.
He shook his head, processing the newly acquired knowledge.
To his surprise, he had mastered all Kidō techniques except for the forbidden Kidō and the inner Kidō!
Suì-Fēng watched intently, constantly monitoring the fluctuations in spiritual pressure.
But under the brilliant bladework, the Hōgyoku's spiritual pressure vanished.
Only then did she fully comprehend the vast gulf between herself and Kyōraku Callum.
The opponent she couldn't defeat was handled with effortless ease by Kyōraku Callum. Except for his haori, destroyed by a Cero earlier, Kyōraku Callum was spotless.
"So, all this time, he was holding back," Suì-Fēng realized, reflecting on the past year.
She had relentlessly pressed Kyōraku Callum for information about Yoruichi Shihōin, but he had never resorted to force, only using Shunpo to evade her.
A wave of guilt washed over Suì-Fēng.
She was a woman of principle; if not for Yoruichi Shihōin, she wouldn't have acted as she did.
Suì-Fēng looked at Kyōraku Callum, her gaze complex.
"It actually dissipated into spiritual particles?"
Kyōraku Callum expressed surprise. "It seems Aizen had a failsafe built into the Hōgyoku."
A hint of regret crossed his face. "If we could have captured even a fragment, it might have altered the course of things."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's research abilities were undeniable; his expertise in souls was second only to Aizen and Urahara Kisuke. With physical remains, extracting useful information would have been possible.
The Hōgyoku, upon death, had completely disintegrated into spiritual particles.
While time stop could have prevented this, Kyōraku Callum lacked the tools to preserve any remnants, so he hadn't attempted it.
He used Shunpo to approach Suì-Fēng, who seemed lost in thought, oblivious to his presence. Only when a slight pain registered on her cheek did she return to reality.
"What were you thinking about?" Kyōraku Callum asked, subtly retracting his hand, secretly impressed by the feel of her cheek.
Suì-Fēng, still slightly dazed, replied vaguely. "Nothing much. Just… this mission…"
Kyōraku Callum sighed. "What else can we do? Report truthfully."
Suì-Fēng hesitated, her voice hesitant. "But… about you hiding your strength…"
Kyōraku Callum raised an eyebrow, countering her concern with a question.
"If I told you I didn't even know the extent of my spiritual pressure release just now, would you believe me?"
It had been an offhand remark, but Suì-Fēng nodded firmly.
"I believe you!"
"See? That's that then."
____________________
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