Terrifying heat swept toward them, and strands of white cloud rapidly dissipated. Muten Natsu could feel his Reiatsu being consumed at an alarming rate.
[The clouds of Heaven's Will can neutralize the effects caused by Reiatsu attributes]
[but doing so consumes much more Reiatsu]
Rukia Kuchiki took Muten Natsu's hand and transferred her own Reiatsu to him.
Crystal-clear ice armor enveloped the two of them, shielding them from the horrifying temperature.
A wisp of black energy sank into Muten Natsu's shadow, bringing him an immediate sense of reassurance.
[Bokukō has returned]
The problem they had been worried about, subduing their Zanpakutō again, had been resolved just like that.
But now an even bigger problem had appeared.
"To inject the Reishi meant to materialize Ryūjin Jakka into Muramasa's body in such a short span of time... your Kidō ability is already approaching that of the criminal Sōsuke Aizen." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's overwhelming Reiatsu shook the very air. "Who exactly are you?"
"I am the handmaiden of the God of Death, Aura Michibane." Aura Michibane smiled as she reminded him, "But rather than worrying about me, shouldn't you be more concerned about him?"
"The power of Ryūjin Jakka is not something a mere scoundrel like him can withstand." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's gaze turned cold. "This old man need only suppress the power released upon his death."
The cracks covering Muramasa's body were visibly widening, as though molten lava were about to burst out from within.
But suddenly, bone-white material filled those cracks, completely sealing away the astonishing heat.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sensed a familiar Reiatsu.
"This is..."
"Extinguir, Wonderweiss Margela," Aura Michibane revealed. "That child's power seems capable of suppressing your Ryūjin Jakka."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto drew his Zanpakutō, only for a torrent of flames to surge toward him and force him back.
"Wait for his judgment, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto." Muramasa's left arm began glowing crimson. "His will shall determine the future of Soul Society."
His entire arm exploded.
A blazing pillar of fire shot into the sky.
When the heat wave finally dispersed, Muten Natsu saw Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto standing battered at the bottom of an enormous crater.
The old man's entire body was charred black, yet he stood there alone and stubbornly upright.
Because he was so close, Muten Natsu had clearly felt both the terrifying power that had erupted just now and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's efforts to suppress it.
He wanted to say something, but no words would come.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's severity was well known, but so was everything he had done to protect Seireitei.
He had just had a chance to escape.
Yet for the sake of everyone else there, he had not hesitated for even a moment before doing everything he could to contain those terrifying flames.
Almost every time something happened in Soul Society, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ended up being specifically targeted.
But looking at it another way, if no one had a way to deal with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, perhaps no one would dare cause trouble in Soul Society in the first place.
Muten Natsu used the clouds of Heaven's Will to remove the lingering Reiatsu from Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's wounds.
The others who had finished their battles also arrived. Jūshirō Ukitake, having become something of an expert through his own long illness, immediately used Kaidō to provide emergency treatment.
"Karakura Town..." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ignored his own injuries. "Kōga Kuchiki is sealed in the Jūreichi, Karakura Town. Muramasa obtained the method for breaking that seal from Ryūjin Jakka..."
...
"With power like yours, why would you work for the nobility?" Watching the Senkaimon gradually disappear behind them, Muramasa looked toward Aura Michibane, who had created it. "You could do whatever you wanted."
"If I can do whatever I want," Aura Michibane replied, "then why can't I choose to work for the nobility?"
"...Do as you please. Once Kōga awakens, you can decide whether you still want to change your mind."
Muramasa slowly walked into the mist.
He found the enormous tree standing on the small island in the middle of the lake and reached out to touch its trunk. Following Ryūjin Jakka's memories, Muramasa began to chant.
"Purify with the black soul. Gather the supreme ones upon the altar of blood and covenant... An obsidian offering from the black heavens. Unveil the Holy Grail that seals the vengeful spirit. Take up the six keys passed down from ancient times... Now open, lost coffin!"
The invisible barrier shattered.
The enormous tree before him disappeared, replaced by a massive black coffin resembling a shrine.
Black chains bound it tightly, secured by golden locks. Four golden halberds pierced through the structure, supporting the coffin like a frame.
How...
How long had it been since he last heard that voice?
Muramasa staggered closer and poured his Reiatsu into the coffin.
Back then, Kōga Kuchiki had been wrongfully imprisoned.
With Muramasa's help, he had escaped and killed those who framed him.
After that...
What had happened after that?
Muramasa fell into a daze as memories of those days gradually resurfaced.
He had believed that once Kōga Kuchiki personally killed his enemies, he would finally be able to put the past behind him and begin a new life.
But...
The pain of betrayal and the humiliation of being falsely accused remained lodged deep within Kōga Kuchiki's heart.
It still wasn't enough.
Strangers became acquaintances.
Acquaintances betrayed you.
Those who betrayed you tried to kill you.
If you wanted to survive, you had to kill them before they could kill you.
Those who falsely accused him deserved to die.
Those who slandered him deserved to die.
Those who passed judgment on him deserved to die.
Those who imprisoned him deserved to die.
Those who hated him deserved to die.
Those who disliked him deserved to die.
Those who feared him deserved to die.
Those who mocked him deserved to die.
Those who hunted him deserved to die.
Those who saw him deserved to die.
Those who ignored him deserved to die.
Strangers deserved to die.
Acquaintances deserved to die.
People deserved to die.
More and more people fell beneath Kōga Kuchiki's blade.
And as Kōga Kuchiki's Zanpakutō, Muramasa gradually found himself unable to hear his master's voice clearly.
Until one day...
Muramasa stopped hearing Kōga Kuchiki's call altogether.
So he waited.
And waited.
For a very, very long time.
Only when the unfamiliar Aura Michibane awakened him did Muramasa learn that Kōga Kuchiki had already been sealed away for hundreds of years.
One golden lock after another shattered and fell.
Muramasa watched the black chains gradually disappear, sorrow filling his eyes.
I'm sorry, Kōga.
I left you trapped here alone for so long.
I've come to save you.
This time, I'll make sure I hear your voice clearly.
So...
Call for me.
Call my name.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The golden halberds engraved with the Shihōin Clan crest sprang free one after another.
The black coffin shattered, revealing an emaciated figure within.
Centuries of confinement had left Kōga Kuchiki frighteningly thin, with none of the handsome appearance he once possessed.
Yet his terrifying Reiatsu was rising at an astonishing rate.
A tattered red scarf rested across his shoulders, and the stark outline of his ribs was painfully visible.
Kōga Kuchiki slowly opened his eyes.
His crimson gaze reflected the figure standing before him.
His lips gradually parted, and a hoarse voice emerged.
"Muramasa..."
Muramasa staggered toward Kōga Kuchiki.
Then the broken blade in Kōga Kuchiki's hand pierced straight through his body.
***
..
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
[email protected]/PinkSnake (50 Chapters Ahead).
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.
***