Boom… Boom… Boom…
The Stone Dragon General advanced with thunderous steps, each one shaking the ground like a living earthquake. To anyone else, that tremor would've been terrifying—but to Yun Che, it felt like nothing more than a passing breeze.
"Hoo… just you?" he muttered, cracking his neck. "I was hoping for something tougher—but you'll do just fine."
After drinking the divine water stored within his inner world, his strength had mostly returned. The Great Way of the Buddha restored nearly thirty percent of his full power, and he was perfectly fine burning through all of it again if needed. Slowly, he raised Hebi and rested the snake-headed weapon behind his shoulders as he strode toward the colossal general.
The real Yun Che had once faced this exact opponent in the original tale—a trial where the general's cultivation had only reached the Spirit Profound Realm, while he himself was at the True Profound Realm. Even then, it had been a life-and-death struggle.
But this time was different. This version of the Stone Dragon General radiated a far stronger aura—its body refined through Body Cultivation, and its strength amplified by the trial's divine power. It wasn't just a guardian anymore; it was a boss, one protected by the realm itself.
To even leave a scratch, Yun Che would have to push himself to the peak of the Tyrant Profound Realm. He could try a hit-and-run approach, like in some long, grindy RPG—but that would be slow, tedious… and boring.
"Guess I'll have to go all out," he sighed. "The original me had it easy—just a few stone warriors and done. But this one? This guy's really stoned."
He stopped before the towering general.
The Stone Dragon General didn't speak, didn't even breathe—its existence was purely for battle. When Yun Che stepped into its range, the creature's eyes flared to life beneath its stone helm.
Then it moved.
A blur of weight and violence.
The general lunged, swinging its massive hammer down with enough force to crater the earth.
BOOM!
"Oi, oi! Not even a warm-up!?" Yun Che barked, vanishing in a flash of speed. He reappeared to the side, Hebi already in motion. The serpent-headed weapon hissed and lunged, its jaws wide open as it struck.
The general reacted instantly, raising both its spear and hammer to block.
Clang!
The collision sent shockwaves through the air. Hebi's fangs bit deep against the weapons, its power amplified by Yun Che's surging energy. Even at only the third level of the Tyrant Profound Realm, his raw force—combined with Hebi's monstrous ramming speed—was enough to make the ground scream beneath their clash.
Cracks spread outward like spiderwebs.
The Stone Dragon General wasn't fast—its movements were heavy, deliberate, almost sluggish compared to the stone warriors before it. But what it lacked in speed, it made up for in brute, overwhelming strength.
Even trapped between Hebi's massive fangs, the creature radiated raw power. The ground quaked beneath its resistance. Then, as if enraged by its own helplessness, the general began to glow—its stone surface pulsing with deep, molten yellow light.
Yun Che narrowed his eyes. "Hoo… this is—"
Before he could finish, lines of golden light began to spread across the ground around him, forming intricate patterns like a summoning array.
One light became two.
Two became ten.
Ten became a legion.
From the glowing fissures, familiar figures emerged—stone dragon warriors, their once-shattered bodies reformed and reanimated by the general's will.
==============
[Ding… Stone Dragon General has activated 'Warriors Resurrection'.][This skill summons any defeated Stone Dragon Warriors from previous waves.]
==============
"Oh, now you tell me?!" Yun Che snapped at the voice in his head.
He clicked his tongue, releasing the general from Hebi's grip. In the next instant, his form blurred—disappearing in a streak of motion.
He reappeared before the nearest warrior, eyes cold.
"PISS OFF!"
His leg shot forward, slamming into the creature's head with a thunderous crack, sending it flying into its comrades like a bowling ball.
Before they could react, Hebi roared to life in his hands. Yun Che swung the weapon in a full circular arc—its serpent head expanding, its fangs glowing crimson with gathered energy.
The world flashed white.
BOOOOOM!
The explosion of force vaporized the thirty summoned warriors in one sweeping motion—nothing left but dust and fragments scattering through the air.
When the smoke cleared, Yun Che stood alone amid the rubble, Hebi coiled lazily around him like a massive serpent guarding its egg. His eyes shifted back to the towering Stone Dragon General.
He smirked. "Round two, then."
The general raised its colossal hammer high above its head, letting out an ear-splitting, screeching roar. In the wake of that sound, jagged yellow lights erupted across the battlefield in chaotic flashes. Within the shimmering chaos, thirty—or so—Stone Dragon Warriors materialized, each armed with different weapons and spreading across the area.
Yun Che didn't hesitate. He vanished in a streak of speed, teleporting from one warrior to the next. In a single, fluid circular swing of Hebi, he crushed nearly half of the summoned soldiers into dust. Stone they might be, but their bodies were no match for his overwhelming force.
Yet as he focused on clearing the swarm, the general moved.
With a sudden leap, it closed the distance and drew a massive sword, its intent deadly and precise.
Yun Che's instincts flared—his haki tingled with the incoming threat. He activated the Evil God Second Art, erecting a barrier just in time to intercept the strike.
BOOM!
The impact detonated like a small mountain collapsing. Yun Che and his barrier were hurled into the air, spinning uncontrollably. He twisted mid-flight, planting his legs on the ground to halt the motion. Two jagged trails scorched the earth where his legs had braked, carving through the nearest Stone Dragon Warriors. The general's swing had torn a Profound Tornado into the battlefield, obliterating everything in its path.
=================
[Ding… Shield Integrity: 80%]
=================
"Damn… one swing, 20%?" Yun Che muttered, dispelling his shield and drawing Hebi beside him.
This wasn't just brute force—this general had brains. Unlike the other stone warriors, who relied purely on fists and strength, this one used its soldiers strategically, distracting him before attempting a direct strike. Ruthless… but clever.
Yun Che exhaled slowly, a faint smirk curling his lips. "Saru, Hebi… let's go offensive."
"Hai!!"
He closed his eyes, and in an instant, both Hebi and Saru's forms shimmered, their eyes igniting into a deep, sparking red with three tomoes each. Yun Che's breathing slowed, his body calm, centered, as he murmured the words he loved most:
"Bankai."
In a heartbeat, Hebi coiled around him and erupted into a massive streak of crimson light, shooting straight into the sky. The tremor from its ascent shook the realm itself—so intense that even the Azure Dragon shifted its gaze in alarm.
Then, as swiftly as it rose, the streak plummeted back to the ground, creating a shockwave so powerful it swept the general and the remaining stone dragon warriors off their feet. Dust and fragments spiraled violently into the air. When it cleared, Yun Che stood at the center of a massive crater, Hebi fully transformed into the second and true form of Zabimaru, its enormous skull-like head looming ominously above him.
He swung the serpent-headed blade upward and then pointed it at the Stone Dragon General.
"Sōō Zabimaru." (Twin Kings Zabimaru)
His raven-black hair lifted, teased by the residual energy of the Bankai. His fully awakened Sharingan glimmered crimson, locking onto the massive stone figure. His tone darkened, slow and deliberate.
"I was going to play a little longer… but this time? Let's end this."
The general remained unyielding, emotionless. It raised its massive hand and summoned more warriors, hundreds emerging in a storm of stone. The force of the summons rivaled the fifth wave—an unrelenting tide of armament and malice. The general's spear rose, pointing directly at him.
The warriors surged forward, the ground trembling beneath the charge. The battlefield erupted into chaos, a war already begun, yet Yun Che remained a calm, terrifying eye at its center.
Yun Che remained completely unfazed. Slowly, he unfurled the vertebra-like bones from his waist, waving them like a third arm, a deadly extension of his will. Then, he began a transformation he only used when serious in battle.
Hebi's skull blade shifted, the black-and-white hue fading into jade-black, sleek and menacing. The small skull on his wrist reshaped itself into a miniature version of his massive Bankai from before—platinum skull, purple mane, and eyes glowing with violet fire. Haki coursed through the bones connecting to the skull, coating the entire Bankai in a radiant, unyielding layer.
Even his tail bone at the waist transformed into black jade vertebrae, hardened by Haki. Unlike before, this compact form required far less energy to wield, but it carried the same deadly precision and reach.
The stone dragon warriors advanced, swinging their weapons with practiced force—but then…
A massive pressure erupted across the battlefield, so potent that even the distant tower where Jasmine and the Azure Dragon observed trembled beneath it.
Yun Che controlled the aura perfectly—Jasmine remained untouched, but the warriors felt it instantly. Their movements slowed, hesitation creeping into their stone-formed bodies. Within the pressure zone, they froze entirely.
Slasshhhh!
He swung his tail bone with lethal precision. The first line of warriors was split cleanly in half, barely ten feet from him.
Slasshhhh!
Slasshhhh!
Slasshhhh!
Hebi's tail stretched and whipped across the battlefield like a living weapon, slashing and stabbing any warrior who dared approach. With their movements suppressed by Yun Che's pressure, none could evade.
Yun Che didn't stop there. He leapt across the battlefield, skull blade flashing in swift, deadly arcs. Warriors fell like trees under a storm, shredded and scattered before they could mount a counterattack.
The battlefield had become his stage—and every step, every swing, his will made flesh.
"Hmph… sorry about that. They were in the way."
With the last of the stone warriors reduced to rubble, only the general remained. Yun Che withdrew his pressure, his aura settling into a calm, dangerous stillness. It was time for the real fight.
Without hesitation, the general swung its colossal hammer, aiming straight for him. Any wise man would leap, dodge, or retreat—but Yun Che wasn't most people.
BOOMM!
The hammer smashed into the ground with the force of a mountain collapsing, carving a giant crater beneath it. Anyone watching from afar might have thought Yun Che obliterated, buried under tons of stone. A full-powered Tyrant Profound Realm general had poured every ounce of strength into crushing a mortal. The impact was indiscriminate, lethal, unstoppable.
But Yun Che?
"Oi… oi… that hurt you, punk."
The impossible happened. The hammer slowed. Slowly, laboriously, it began to rise—hovering above the crater. The Stone Dragon General strained, struggling to push it.
Beneath the massive weapon, Yun Che remained unfazed, his hollow mask hiding any expression. Calmly, he lifted the hammer from the ground. One hand supported the arm that had been crushing him, while the other—his "Hihio" arm formed from his cowl—took command, controlling the hammer as if it were a toy.
The battlefield trembled with raw power… yet Yun Che stood there, completely in control.
Despite the general was the same strength as him, he didn't forget that the 'Hihio' arm amplifies his arm's strength multi-fold if he used it in battle. Couple with his Great Way of the Buddha and Haki, that arm will trouble anyone even those in the Monarch stages.
No matter how hard it struggled, the Stone Dragon General couldn't lift the hammer—or push it toward him. Yun Che slowly shoved the weapon aside, his hollow mask giving way to a creeping, unsettling smile.
"What's up?" he murmured, the words dripping with icy amusement.
With the massive Hihio arm, he lifted the hammer effortlessly. Forming a fist, he slammed it with a force that shattered it into fragments.
"Hmph. Splendid strike… but not good enough."
The general stumbled backward, stunned, as its hammer—once a weapon of near-unstoppable destruction—lay in ruins at Yun Che's feet.
Floating down with an effortless grace, Yun Che shifted his mask to the side, eyes locking onto the general.
The Stone Dragon General discarded the shattered hammer without hesitation and drew its colossal spear. It charged, relentless, without the slightest pause. Yun Che detected the intent and slipped to the side, letting the spear pass harmlessly by. In a single fluid motion, his tail coiled around the general's massive arm, binding it like iron chains.
"You're relentless. I give you that." Yun Che murmured. "No wonder the previous Yun Che nearly died because of you."
He infused his skull blade with phoenix flames, the black jade surface erupting into brilliant scarlet fire.
SLASSHH!
In a blink, he flashed toward the general's shoulder and delivered a sweeping, blazing strike. The spear and left arm were severed in a single motion, crashing to the ground with a deafening BOOM. Yun Che's skull blade followed, slicing the detached arm and weapon into unrecognizable shards.
The general, undeterred, drew a massive greatsword from its back with its remaining arm and swung with lethal intent. Yun Che vanished in a streak of speed, narrowly avoiding the strike, and reappeared a safe distance away.
He paused for just a heartbeat, observing the general's broken form. With a deep inhale, he infused the skull blade with phoenix flames once more.
The Stone Dragon General raised its massive greatsword, colliding with Yun Che's phoenix-infused flaming blade. Sparks erupted, wind howled, and fire roared across the battlefield. The very air seemed to ignite as the two forces locked in a battle neither willing to yield.
But Yun Che never fought on anyone's terms but his own. Strength alone had no meaning—each Zanpakutō carried its own unique advantage, its own strategy. For him, the question was never can I win? but should I end it?
"Hmph… so this is your final strike?" he said under the mask, his voice flat, bored.
The general said nothing, channeling every ounce of its power into resisting Yun Che's attack. Sparks, flames, and wind spiraled violently as the blades clashed. Beneath their feet, the earth split into two intertwining gorges, the ground itself bending under the sheer force. The general staggered backward, while Yun Che shot forward, relentless.
He shifted his hollow mask back over his face, crimson eyes glowing, and whispered:
"You did well… but I am better."
He pressed his left hand against the blade, infusing it with phoenix flames and Haki. The blackened steel radiated heat so intense that the scarlet flames burned even brighter, licking up the weapon with unnatural ferocity.
Crack!
Crack!!
Crack!!!
The greatsword in the general's hands began to fracture under the unrelenting pressure. Splintering lines raced along its length, glowing hot from Yun Che's combined Haki and flame.
SLASHHH!!!!
With a final push, the flaming blade cut the weapon cleanly in half, slicing through the steel as if it were nothing more than butter. But Yun Che didn't stop there. With one fluid motion, the blade traveled upward, aiming straight for the general's head.
"Shing!!!!"
The stone dragon general's eyes dimmed as the blade passed through, cleaving its massive body from top to bottom in a single, flawless strike. It collapsed, the body falling apart like a perfectly segmented orange.
Tough as it had been, the general had been overwhelmed by Yun Che's hidden trump cards: Great Way of the Buddha, Haki, and Phoenix Flames. Even without the hollow mask, Yun Che could have eventually defeated it—but time was not on his side.
Retsu and Cang Yue were waiting, and in this realm, who could say how long he had? Sometimes, even a gamer playing the fool for a moment must get serious—and Yun Che had just ended the game.
Boom!!!
The two halves of the Stone Dragon General crashed to the ground as Yun Che stood tall, flaming blade resting casually at his side. For a moment, the battlefield was silent, dust drifting through the air. Then, a notification pinged inside his mind.
===================
[Ding… Completed the tenth wave of the Dragon God Trial. Defeat the Stone Dragon General.]
===================
"About time… I was starting to get hungry." Yun Che murmured, slowly peeling off his hollow mask.
The battle had lasted a while, but this was only the third time he'd truly been serious. He could have ended the trial far sooner, but where was the fun in that? Being overpowered meant enjoying the full perks. One-shotting everything wasn't fun—it was about playing with his skills, revealing them little by little, savoring each moment. Since reincarnation, he had wanted to live life on his own terms, pretending to be weak before showing his true strength.
The last time he had been this serious? When that snobbish brat had threatened to annihilate his entire family, carving out that giant, crescent-moon-shaped valley. The first time was… well, his wedding. Ah, good times.
Another ping echoed in his mind.
==================
[Ding… Congratulations, Host, for defeating a Stone Dragon General. Experience points +10,000]
[Ding… Triggering hidden objective…]
=================
"Sooo… what's the hidden objective?" Yun Che asked, amusement flickering in his tone.
=================
[Ding… Host has defeated the Stone Dragon General in less than two hours. For that, defeat TWO Level 90 Stone Dragon Generals.]
================
"Wait… what?!? Are you fu—kidding me?!?" Yun Che barely finished his shout before two streaks of light tore through the night sky, coalescing into two massive Stone Dragon Generals. The sheer scale of their presence made him immediately regret ever joking about wanting "more."
"Cut me some slack, man… sigh. Never mind."
Without wasting another second, Yun Che donned his hollow mask once more, speeding toward the nearest general. One of them managed to raise its hammer, swinging it in a devastating arc. Yun Che detected the intent in an instant, redirecting his trajectory mid-flash step to arrive at its side, avoiding the strike effortlessly.
"Bakudo #62: Hyapporankan."
Silver-blue rods appeared in his left hand, multiplying and expanding as he hurled them toward the other general. They stabbed into the stone behemoth, rooting it in place. The general struggled, swinging its arms, but Yun Che wasn't done.
"Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro."
Six binding lights shot out and wrapped around the first general, completely immobilizing it. The combination of the two kido spells, powered by his Peak Tyrant Profound Realm strength through the hollow mask, made the once-mighty general look like nothing more than a hostage before him. He couldn't risk it summoning reinforcements while he dealt with the second one.
For the second general, he flashed behind it, pressing a hand against its massive back.
A slow, cruel smile spread beneath his mask.
"Destroying Sky, Decimating Earth."
BOOM!!!
The force of the attack detonated like a small apocalypse. The second general staggered violently as shockwaves radiated outward, shaking the ground, splintering stone, and sending the battlefield into chaos.
The back of the second general exploded outward, a surge of crimson Spirit Force tearing through its core. The shockwave blasted the massive creature forward, slamming it into the immobilized first general with a thunderous crash.
Yun Che stood amid the chaos, watching the two colossal figures flail helplessly, and a wild grin curved beneath his mask.
"Let's make this more interesting…"
He raised his left hand, two fingers extended before his chest.
"Bakudō #63: Sajō Sabaku."
A chain of golden light erupted from his fingertips, wrapping around the two generals in an instant. The chains coiled tighter and tighter, their glow flaring brighter until both enemies were bound together, unable to move even an inch.
Yun Che tilted his head, smirking. "Now that's a nauseous sight… wish I had a drink for this kind of show."
He walked forward, calm and casual, before plunging his blade into the back of the fallen general. As the weapon sank in, he clenched his fist. A deep hum resonated behind him—then a massive jaw of pure spiritual energy took shape, glowing red and coiling like a spectral serpent.
The gigantic skull of a serpent opened wide, its fangs crackling with destructive power.
"Sorry it was short—had my fun with the first one. So long!" Yun Che's hollowed voice echoed like a dark omen.
He lifted his blade."Sōō Zabimaru—Zaga Teppō!"
The serpent jaws snapped shut with a roar, unleashing a cataclysmic blast of spiritual energy through the immobilized generals. The crimson beam vaporized everything it touched, cutting through both targets like molten death.
SSSSssssssss…
The hiss of incineration filled the air. When the light finally dimmed, nothing remained but a smoking trench carved deep into the earth—its size rivaling a canyon.
Yun Che stood at the edge of it, resting his blade on his shoulder. "That took a while," he muttered, exhaling a breath of relief.
A familiar sound chimed in his mind.
================
[Ding… Congratulations, Host, for defeating two Stone Dragon Generals. Experience gained +20,000.]
[Ding… First Trial complete. Return to the top of the tower to claim your reward.]
================
Yun Che sighed, dismissing the last flickers of flame from his blade. "Finally… let's see what kind of reward this broken system's got for me this time."
He sheathed the blade and stretched his arms lazily. "Maybe later, man. I need a feast after all that."
Just as he was about to sit down to recuperate, a streak of blue light suddenly enveloped him from head to toe.
"Eh— not again!!"
Before he could even react, the light yanked him off his feet, hurling him skyward in a flash. Within seconds, the world around him warped, and the barrier around the tower dissolved. The next thing he knew—
BAM!
Yun Che reappeared at the top of the tower, landing hard on his backside as the light vanished.
"Grrrr… I can come back by myself, you know!"
His words were met not with applause or praise—but with a sharp, haki-enhanced karate chop from Jasmine.
"OUCH! What the hell was that for?!?" he yelped, clutching the top of his head. For a moment, he actually regretted teaching her Haki in the first place.
Jasmine crossed her arms, unimpressed. "If you were serious from the beginning, you could have finished this sooner."
Still rubbing his head, Yun Che gave her that familiar grin. "Hahaha! I just wanted to test those warriors a bit. Where's the fun if I end it instantly?"
Jasmine sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I really don't understand how your brain works. Most cultivators risk their lives just to pass the Dragon God Trial—and you? You treat it like a game."
Yun Che's grin softened into something calmer, more genuine. "Like I said before… I had my share of hardship in my previous life. So let me have a little fun while I'm at it. Besides, I got the job done, didn't I?"
Jasmine exhaled, shaking her head, though her expression carried the faintest hint of amusement.
To her, his words were absurd—but they lingered.
For most cultivators, the path was filled with desperation—fear of failure, fear of death. But Yun Che and Retsu? They faced danger with laughter, turned battlefields into playgrounds, and treated trials as tests of curiosity, not survival. It wasn't arrogance—it was freedom.
For the first time, Jasmine found herself wondering:
What would it feel like to cultivate like that… to enjoy the fight, not just survive it?
As Jasmine pondered his strange joy in battle, a deep, ancient voice rippled through the air.
The sky above the tower shimmered with azure light as a colossal, majestic dragon descended, its scales glowing like living sapphire.
"Reaper," the Azure Dragon's voice thundered gently, calm yet commanding. "You are indeed… a strange kind of god. To defeat all three generals in such a short time—this dragon is truly impressed. Never before have I seen a god cultivate multiple arts and wield so many different powers at once."
Its great eyes narrowed in curiosity. "But this dragon cannot help but ask… one question."
Yun Che, still clad in his Bankai form and wearing his hollow mask, looked up with an almost teasing anticipation. Before the dragon could even voice the question, Yun Che spoke first.
"If you're about to ask about the mask," he said, tone calm and assured, "I have the ability to control my inner demon. I can manifest its power into the real world—and use it as my own."
The Azure Dragon's eyes widened slightly, a faint glimmer of amusement in their ancient depths. "Hoo… how did you know that was this dragon's question?"
Before Yun Che could answer, Jasmine crossed her arms beside him. "Because the Phoenix asked the same thing."
The dragon's gaze softened with recognition. "I see… that makes sense. Your aura does resemble those white-masked beasts that invaded the continent two years ago."
It tilted its massive head, voice rumbling with curiosity. "A human turning into a beast is not unheard of—but to take on such power and remain yourself… that is impressive."
Yun Che gave a small shrug beneath his mask. "Not completely. I can only use their strength. Turning into them… that's another story. I'd rather keep my humanity intact. Those things are far worse than beasts."
The Azure Dragon nodded, clearly satisfied with the answer.
"Very well. You have passed the first trial of the Dragon God. Hold out your hand."
Yun Che extended his left hand—his right still surrounded by the spectral vertebrae of Zabimaru's Bankai.
From above, a shard of radiant blue crystal descended slowly, glowing with divine light. The air hummed with ancient power as it landed gently on his palm.
======================
[Ding… Host has obtained the first part of the Dragon God Legacy: The Crystal Fragment of the Dragon God.]
[Note: Two more fragments are required to complete the Dragon God Crystal.]
======================
The crystal pulsed once before melting into Yun Che's palm, fusing its energy into his soul. His aura flickered, momentarily resonating with the Azure Dragon's divine essence.
Yun Che looked up, smirking faintly beneath his mask. "One down. Two to go."
Yun Che studied the crystal fragment in his palm, its blue glow pulsing faintly with divine energy."Hoo… so this is the Dragon God fragment. The Phoenix's was red… and this one's blue."
"Hmph," the Azure Dragon rumbled, its golden eyes half-lidded. "You still have two more trials ahead of you before you can complete the crystal. But before that—take this."
From above, something massive began to fall.
BOOM!!!
The impact shook the entire tower. Dust and wind burst outward, forcing Yun Che and Jasmine to shield their faces. When the air finally cleared, a gigantic sword jutted from the center of the platform.
The weapon was shaped like a dragon's head—a heavy sword larger than anything Yun Che had ever wielded. Its long hilt was covered in layered scales, its guard ringed by three jagged spikes. Two crystalline eyes glowed faintly on either side of the hilt, and the blade's center was lined with razor-sharp teeth, dividing it cleanly in half.
=====================
[Ding… Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the Monarch Stage Heavy Sword — "Dragon Fault."]
[This sword was forged using the soul of a baby dragon, originally a Sky Profound Realm weapon. It has been upgraded to Monarch Stage due to the host selecting the highest difficulty for the first trial.]
=====================
Yun Che gazed at the weapon, his eyes narrowing.
"The Dragon Fault… so this is where it appears. In the original story, it was Sky Profound. Guess the difficulty bonus gave it a nice upgrade."
He went quiet for a moment, his thoughts turning somber.
"Still… a sword made from a baby dragon's soul. No wonder the dragons grew bitter toward humans. The very trial they guard was the one that slaughtered their kin. They blamed the wrong species all along…"
Jasmine stepped closer, observing the weapon. "A heavy sword? So… what do you think?"
Yun Che shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"I was supposed to claim the Overlord Sword at Blue Wind Profound Palace, but I skipped that route entirely. I'll make sure to find it later." He crouched near Dragon Fault, running his fingers across its blade. "Impressive, no doubt. But I won't trade my Zanpakutōs for this. I already have Zangetsu—and that guy's heavy enough. Maybe I'll just keep this one as a base to forge something new."
"Use it as a base?" Jasmine raised a brow.
"Yeah. It's a Monarch Stage weapon—perfect forging material. Someday, I'll make a sword that fits my soul perfectly."
Jasmine exhaled a long sigh. "Sigh… I can't stop you there. Zangetsu was already a heavy sword—both in Shikai and Bankai. So… what kind of sword do you plan to make?"
Yun Che grinned faintly. "Don't know yet. Haven't decided."
He raised his hand, and the Dragon Fault dissolved into motes of light, vanishing into his inventory.
The Azure Dragon's voice rumbled once more. "Reaper… if you are ready, descend to the bottom of the tower and begin the second trial."
Yun Che turned toward the dragon, giving a casual wave. "Sure—but maybe later. First things first, I need a nap. Won't be long."
He dismissed his Bankai, the serpent bones of Zabimaru fading into spiritual dust before he stored the weapon back into his inner world. Removing his mask, Yun Che sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, entering Jinzen.
Jasmine watched him for a moment, her expression softening, before turning into a streak of crimson light and vanishing into his inner world as well.
When Yun Che opened his eyes again, he stood beneath the Spirit Tree in the center of his inner realm. The branches glowed faintly above him, whispering in the tranquil wind. It seemed his spirits were all occupied—perfect. No noise, no interruptions.
He smiled faintly, leaning back against the trunk.
"Just a little nap…"
And with that, Yun Che drifted into sleep, the mighty Reaper of the Dragon God Trial resting beneath his Spirit Tree, at peace—if only for a moment.