Chapter 11: The Weight of a King
Vimana possessed a sturdy body resembling a giant bird, almost entirely composed of gold and emeralds.
In the Type-Moon World, Vimana was a mythical flying vehicle that traveled from Babylon to India, recorded in the two great ancient Indian epic poems, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, also known as the Soaring King's Throne.
Of course, it was also stored in Gilgamesh's King's Treasure.
Now, Gilgamesh displayed this Noble Phantasm for the first time in the Shinigami world.
The Soaring King's Throne, a glorious vessel soaring through the sky, was now radiating its splendor in the Shinigami world.
At the same time, people who were just about to go to sleep suddenly noticed that the sky seemed to have brightened.
But they clearly remembered it had only recently turned dark; had their memory gone wrong?
Some people, with such doubts, walked out of their homes and looked towards the direction of the 'light'.
Upon seeing it, they were dumbfounded, their faces filled with shock.
In their eyes, beneath the pitch-black night sky, a glowing 'giant bird' floated above the firmament, as if mythology had become reality.
At this moment, Gilgamesh was sitting on Vimana's Celestial Throne, looking down at Ōmaeda Marechiyo.
Gilgamesh did not speak, but Vimana seemed to sense his will and flew in a certain direction.
Meanwhile, cold sweat was already pouring down Ōmaeda Marechiyo's face.
No one knew how much pressure Gilgamesh's gaze had just put on Ōmaeda Marechiyo.
At the same time, Ōmaeda Marechiyo understood Gilgamesh's meaning from that glance: he was to follow.
Normally, Ōmaeda Marechiyo might have already thought about escaping.
But for some reason, under Gilgamesh's gaze just now, Ōmaeda Marechiyo actually felt a palpitation similar to when he faced his own Captain.
This made Ōmaeda Marechiyo feel incredible.
One must know that his Captain, Suì-Fēng, was not only the Captain of the Second Division but also the Commander of the Onmitsukidō and the Captain of the First Division, as well as the General Commander of the Onmitsukidō.
All these titles were enough to show how powerful Suì-Fēng was.
How could the young Gilgamesh compare to Suì-Fēng?
Ōmaeda Marechiyo only wanted to believe that his feeling was mistaken.
Unwilling to think further, Ōmaeda Marechiyo gritted his teeth, glared fiercely at Shui Zhong Yilang, who was slumped on the ground beside him, and snapped, "I'll settle accounts with you when I get back!"
With that, Ōmaeda Marechiyo no longer hesitated, directly used Shunpo to move through the air, and quickly chased after Vimana as it departed.
As for Shui Zhong Yilang, his mind was muddled, and only fear remained within him.
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
Ōmaeda Marechiyo was already using Shunpo at full speed, rapidly moving through the air, but he still couldn't catch up to Vimana, only watching it continuously move further away.
Ōmaeda Marechiyo even had a feeling that this was not Vimana's full speed yet.
This made his mood grow even more irritable, and he couldn't help but say, "Damn it, what in the world is this thing? How can it be so fast? And who exactly is that brat?"
Soon, Gilgamesh piloted Vimana to an uninhabited area in Hōkō.
A moment later, Ōmaeda Marechiyo also arrived here using Shunpo.
Standing in the void, Ōmaeda Marechiyo saw Vimana up close for the first time.
Although he didn't know what Vimana was, Ōmaeda Marechiyo couldn't help but be amazed by it.
Ōmaeda Marechiyo could swear that he had never seen anything so miraculous, so magnificent, so captivating, and so noble since he was born.
It was as if it were a miracle of the creator; every part of Vimana seemed to be just right, giving off a sense of perfection.
Ōmaeda Marechiyo couldn't imagine what kind of person could possess and control this flying ship.
No.
Ōmaeda Marechiyo suddenly jolted awake, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the Celestial Throne on Vimana.
There, Gilgamesh was sitting lazily, smiling as he looked at him.
And the incredible harmony between Gilgamesh and Vimana was such that when Ōmaeda Marechiyo was engrossed in observing Vimana, he subconsciously regarded Gilgamesh as a perfect part of Vimana.
No, more accurately, Vimana possessed an unparalleled sense of nobility precisely because it had Gilgamesh.
This feeling, this feeling...
For some reason, a single character suddenly appeared in Ōmaeda Marechiyo's mind, occupying his entire consciousness.
King!
Then, this character 'King' transformed into Gilgamesh's appearance.
It was as if the word 'King' had gained its own image.
Under the radiance of the All-Knowing and Almighty Star, Gilgamesh directly perceived Ōmaeda Marechiyo's thoughts.
The conquest had begun.
Looking at the dazed Ōmaeda Marechiyo, Gilgamesh slowly spoke, using a majestic and unquestionable tone: "Ōmaeda Marechiyo, come, let this King see the strength of the Second Division Lieutenant."
Ōmaeda Marechiyo reacted at this moment.
He knew this was Gilgamesh's way of putting him in his place.
Veins on his forehead began to throb uncontrollably; Ōmaeda Marechiyo felt annoyed, extremely annoyed.
Although he sensed that Gilgamesh was not simple and couldn't discern his strength.
But he, who was inherently arrogant, possessed his own pride.
Who was he? He was the Lieutenant of the Gotei 13's Second Division, Ōmaeda Marechiyo!
Ōmaeda Marechiyo couldn't help but roar, "You arrogant brat, though I don't know who you are, I'm telling you, I'm no pushover!"
"You want to see my full strength? Then as you wish!"
"I hope you don't regret it!"
As he spoke, Ōmaeda Marechiyo extended his hand towards Gilgamesh on Vimana, chanting, "Ye who reign, mask of flesh, myriad phenomena, soaring, ye who bear the name of humanity."
As Ōmaeda Marechiyo chanted, surging spiritual pressure poured forth, and terrifying spiritual energy condensed from his palm, forming a scorching ball of fire.
"Truth and temperance, unaware of the sinful dream wall, stand only upon it!"
"Hado number thirty-three. Sōkatsui!"
With a fierce shout, the ball of fire condensed in his palm transformed into fierce explosions of flame, slamming directly towards Vimana in the distance.
Boom!
A violent explosion accompanied by billows of smoke erupted.
Listening to the sound, Ōmaeda Marechiyo couldn't help but think, 'Did it succeed?'
But before Ōmaeda Marechiyo could think further, the smoke in front of him dispersed, revealing the perfectly intact Vimana within, as well as the fleeting light barrier that had blocked the Sōkatsui.
His pupils constricted sharply, Ōmaeda Marechiyo watched this scene in disbelief.
Gilgamesh said nothing, merely gazed calmly at Ōmaeda Marechiyo with his wine-red eyes.
Ōmaeda Marechiyo gritted his teeth and said, "Brat, you're forcing my hand. I hope you don't die!"
With that, Ōmaeda Marechiyo raised his hand again, aiming at Gilgamesh on Vimana, and chanted with an even more impassioned tone than before: "Scattered beast bones, crimson crystal spires, iron wheels."
"The moving is wind, the still is heaven."
"The sound of clashing spears echoes through the empty city!"
"Hado number sixty-three. Raikōhō!"
End of Chapter