Katori Nanatsuki arrived at the Sekkiseki mine training grounds, intending to test a theory—using the lightning generated by Divine Lightning of the War Maiden to release Kidō‑based sword techniques.
He stood in the center of the field. At the far end were rows of Sekkiseki targets and the Research and Development Bureau's specially designed Kidō‑testing dummies.
These dummies were extremely durable—able to take several hits from Hadō #63: Raikōhō without damage.
Only high‑tier Hadō could exceed their durability limit.
Nanatsuki drew his Zanpakutō. Lightning flickered around his body and blade.
A sharp flash—one sweep of razor‑thin thunder—and the Kidō testing dummy split cleanly in two.
"Raikiri is a Kidō sword technique. Its inherent Kidō power is stronger than low-tier Tsuzuri Raiden, but slightly weaker than mid-tier Raikōhō."
Nanatsuki inspected the cut surface. Smooth. Precise.
The damage came from the slash itself; the lightning accompanying Raikiri hadn't harmed the dummy.
"Divine Lightning of the War Maiden has the strength of a high‑tier Hadō. Using it to release Raikiri should drastically increase the technique's power."
He returned to the center.
"Divine Lightning of the War Maiden."
Nanatsuki raised his Zanpakutō high with one hand, letting Reiatsu surge from within.
Zzzzt— countless electric serpents slithered across the training field, weaving into a powerful electromagnetic field.
The lights instantly went out—then flickered back as the glowing thunder illuminated the entire hall.
More and more lightning serpents appeared. The air brightened.
A terrifying magnetic storm brewed rapidly overhead.
The bolts gathered and coalesced into the shape of a thunder goddess.
Her flowing hair, her body, the heavenly white garments—all were made entirely of crackling thunder.
"Still not fluent... took over ten seconds."
Preparation time was too long; Nanatsuki knew he needed to shorten it for real combat.
As he focused, the thunder goddess lunged toward him.
Nanatsuki followed the principles of Raikiri, infusing the thunder into his Zanpakutō and body.
Even though he wasn't her target, the moment she descended he could feel the overwhelming pressure.
"Divine Lightning of the War Maiden's thunder far surpasses Raikiri's standard lightning."
Zzzzzzzzt— Nanatsuki tried to compress all the thunder into the edge of his blade.
If not for his current level of Blut Vene, he would have been injured by the backlash alone.
The next instant—
A brilliant thunder arc slashed across the training field.
The ground melted into a long scorched path.
Every target downrange had been bisected in one stroke.
"Whew... still hard to control. More practice needed."
He sheathed his blade and patted down his now‑frizzed hair.
He cared about appearances—after all, according to the rule "the more stylish, the stronger," image was important.
Right now, he was a handsome classical swordsman with a single ponytail—and he liked it that way.
Checking the targets, Nanatsuki saw every Sekkiseki target had been cleanly cut in half. Using Divine Lightning of the War Maiden to release Raikiri hadn't dulled the technique's sharpness.
But the Kidō dummy had been reduced to charcoal.
The thunder had completely melted it.
Success.
"Maintaining cutting sharpness while adding the power of a high‑tier Hadō…"
Nanatsuki nodded in satisfaction.
Using Divine Lightning of the War Maiden to release Raikiri produced a technique nearly as strong as his Thunderfire Wild Blaze state.
"If I had a fire‑attribute Kidō equivalent to high‑tier Hadō, and combined it with Divine Lightning of the War Maiden… maybe even a stronger Thunderfire Wild Blaze…"
Now that he had an enhanced Raikiri, he naturally began imagining enhanced versions of Crimson Tide and Thunderfire Wild Blaze.
"One step at a time. First, I need to master Divine Lightning of the War Maiden."
He still needed training—the technique took too long to activate.
In a real fight, no enemy would patiently wait for him to charge a big attack.
"Let's try Wind Pressure Blade next."
But he didn't use it in the training hall.
The technique's description was clear: alters atmospheric pressure and destroys an extremely wide area.
It was the first skill marked "extremely wide area" by the system—far beyond the size of this field.
Moments later, Nanatsuki found a barren, empty region outside the Seireitei.
"This barren land will do nicely."
He'd been here before.
This was where the Gate of Hell descended, where Yamamoto and Nobutsuna Shigyō clashed.
Yamamoto had unleashed his Zanpakutō here—and decades later, the land still hadn't recovered.
"The soil is vitrified… even weeds can't grow…"
Staring at the black, glass‑like earth, Nanatsuki sighed. "Yamamoto's power is terrifying."
He drew his Zanpakutō, adopting a stance similar to Shun Strike.
Reiatsu surged. Air currents began to whirl.
Wind gathered into a roaring storm.
The air condensed around the blade—pressure dropping instantly.
Nanatsuki thrust.
Wind Pressure Blade!
A spiraling shockwave blasted forward.
The entire land trembled; even a forest a kilometer away shook violently, trees collapsing from the distant quake.
Nanatsuki narrowed his eyes.
The blackened land had vanished—replaced by a deep semi‑circular trench over ten meters wide.
It stretched in a straight line far into the distance.
Flash—Nanatsuki appeared at the far end.
"Almost two football fields long?"
He nodded, satisfied.
The Reiatsu cost was high, but that was no longer a weakness for him.
The next day — Research and Development Bureau, Urahara Kisuke's Lab
"Captain, these are all the documents on the Bounts Reishi Puppet technology."
Urahara dragged out stacks of documents half as tall as a person.
"That's… a lot."
Nanatsuki winced slightly.
He had come to retrieve the research on the Soul Hunter Reishi Shell Puppet.
The system was jointly developed by Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Urahara Kisuke after studying the Bounts.
Bounts could create puppet like entities with powers similar to Zanpakutō abilities.
By combining that with Reishi Shell technology, they created the Bount Puppet system.
"I thought it was too much too, so I made an index."
Urahara waved his hand, releasing streams of Reishi that formed a floating light screen.
He tapped through the screen, summoning relevant paper sheets that floated out like dancing spirits.
"Showy as ever… Query: Bount Puppet Examples."
Nanatsuki copied his gesture and found the data.
"My approach differs from Mayuri's," Urahara said. "He prefers Zanpakutō‑controlled puppets. I prefer user‑controlled puppets."
Nanatsuki nodded, following Urahara into a separate lab.
Inside were three nutrient tanks, each containing a Reishi Shell.
All three looked identical—a black‑haired woman.
Benihime.
"Let's demonstrate for the Captain."
Urahara drew his Zanpakutō and listened to its voice.
Moments later, the Zanpakutō's power separated and entered the middle Reishi Shell.
The puppet opened its eyes.
"This technique has one flaw."
Urahara pressed a button. The nutrient fluid drained. The chamber opened.
"Once Zanpakutō power enters the puppet, the user's combat power decreases accordingly."
Benihime stepped forward—her voice now Urahara's.
"As a combat enhancer, it's not very efficient."
"But it's useful for reconnaissance." Nanatsuki nodded.
"Yes… remote puppets do keep Shinigami safer." Benihime stroked her chin.
That was exactly Nanatsuki's goal.
During the recent conflict, Sternritter had appeared.
Most Shinigami didn't know who they were—but Nanatsuki did.
They were elite Quincy from the Wandenreich.
Ever since Yhwach fell asleep, the Wandenreich remained sealed. Sternritter never left without reason.
More importantly—Nanatsuki had seen Vollständig forms.
A power granted by Yhwach.
During the previous invasion, Sternritter never used this.
Which meant either Yhwach granted it before slumbering… or he had awakened.
Nanatsuki needed to investigate the Wandenreich.
But going personally was too dangerous.
He would use a puppet to infiltrate.
After all—he was a Quincy too.
He would create a Quincy‑style puppet and send it in.
"But once transformed, how do I detach my Shinigami power?" Nanatsuki asked.
"Simple—destroy the puppet. Without a vessel, the power returns to the owner."
Urahara demonstrated—Benihime dissolved into ash, and her power returned.
"Thanks. I'll take the documents and study them." Nanatsuki left with the files.
Two weeks later—
A young girl with long wavy orange hair stood inside Nanatsuki's lab.
She perfectly resembled his Quincy form—his newly completed puppet.
"The power of Bounts binds part of one's soul to matter… turning it into a puppet."
Nanatsuki understood it now.
Both Shinigami and Quincy powers were part of his soul.
By embedding Quincy power into the shell…
He had recreated the Bounts method.
With the Quincy power transferred, he now had multiple perspectives—like controlling a shadow clone.
Thanks to that experience, he adapted quickly.
"My Quincy power can control shadows too…?"
A surprising discovery.
Even when only Quincy power was active, he could manipulate shadows.
"Could my Schrift be shadow manipulation?"
He thought of Sternritter with unique powers—like the Dreamer Gremmy and his ability to manifest imagination.
Nanatsuki tested his shadow control. It was basic, similar to Shikai.
His strongest shadow ability—summoning multiple shadow clones—still didn't work.
He fired a single Heilig Pfeil.
But two targets were hit.
Even the shadow of the arrow attacked.
"Shadow materialization… my Quincy form can fight just fine."
"But other functions still need experimentation…"
He sank the puppet into the shadows.
It descended through the Shadow Space… deeper… deeper…
Eventually, he reached a sealed area protected by a Reishi barrier.
A heavy surge of Reiatsu radiated from it.
Only Yamamoto could compare.
This was Yhwach's Reiatsu.
Nanatsuki took out a silver item—the Sun Gate Key recovered from Sternritter instructor Quilge.
It allowed silent entry into the Wandenreich.
As he approached the barrier, the key activated—an invisible wave enveloped the puppet.
Nanatsuki understood immediately—it was a passage.
He slipped through the barrier.
"So this is the Wandenreich…"
Inside was a massive palace complex.
The architecture felt familiar—he had seen it in Gremmy's illusions.
"First, infiltrate Silbern."
He focused on the towering structure at the center.
The main fortress of the Wandenreich—
Silbern.