However, at the moment of injury, a flash of excitement suddenly appeared in Askin's eyes.
Though he still didn't know what technique this was—
The instant Shigure waved his hand, he clearly sensed the spirit particle presence dispersing from Shigure's hand!
Then... next, he only needed to ingest it and adjust the lethal dose downward, then...
?!!!
Halfway through this thought, Askin suddenly jolted violently.
The next moment, his face rapidly turned pale. Fine beads of sweat instantly seeped from his forehead. His back went ice cold!
How... how is this possible...?!!
He clearly used Reiatsu to attack, so why... why is there not a single trace of spirit particles remaining on my body?!!
Even injured, he still couldn't ingest even the slightest bit of Shinigami spirit particles...!!
Impossible... this is absolutely impossible!!!
Even... even if this is Zanpakuto power... it should absolutely be wielded through Reiatsu!!
This situation absolutely cannot occur!
Something... something must be wrong!!!
Askin abruptly stopped his figure, landing on the ground, then quickly raised his head, looking over with shocked eyes.
A faint smile appeared on Shigure's face again as he said calmly:
"Right now you must be thinking... you've misunderstood something, correct?"
"Then let me explain a bit as well."
Speaking, Shigure lightly lifted his foot, walking toward the opposite side while continuing:
"My Zanpakuto, Candle Dragon, is throughout Soul Society's long history, the only... dual-element Zanpakuto."
"She simultaneously possesses two completely different powers: 'Lightning' and 'Storm.'"
"Since your Emperor's adjutant Haschwalth personally monitored me for two full years, this point shouldn't be a secret to you."
"And now, since your Empire calls me 'highest Special War Power,' you, responsible for this mission, couldn't possibly not know this."
Shigure spoke unhurriedly in a calm voice.
Askin didn't respond at all. Obviously, he knew these things.
Shigure's smile remained as he said evenly:
"Since you know, I'll speak plainly."
"The power I just used against you is precisely my Zanpakuto's wind-element release... Candle Dragon's 'Wind' form."
"As for the Zanpakuto release you mentioned..."
"Heh, when wind blows from afar, can you clearly see where it began stirring?"
"Or can you see where the wind disappears...?"
As his words fell, Askin's gaze suddenly froze, his entire body completely stiffening.
Shigure slightly raised the corners of his mouth, chuckling:
"Seems you understand—"
"Unlike the lightning-element Candle Dragon's grand momentum, wind-element Candle Dragon actually..."
"Has no release process."
"When I wish to use it, its blade... can transform into wind at any time."
"?!!!!"
Hearing this, Askin's heart suddenly pounded heavily, as if about to burst his blood vessels directly.
At this moment, his breathing involuntarily stopped.
Of course he knew Candle Dragon had a wind-element release—every Quincy knew this!
Moreover, they knew wind-element Candle Dragon's release was extremely strange and required special attention. The moment the opponent drew the blade, release could occur rapidly...
This was the instruction Askin received before leaving the Empire.
But now Askin finally understood...
This wasn't some strange or rapid release at all...!!
Wind-element Candle Dragon didn't need release at all!!
Even while in its sheath, it could be used at any time!!
Thinking this, Askin's back was already cold.
He suppressed his trembling, slowly raising his hand to wipe the blood from his lips, then narrowed his eyes, slowly saying:
"Hey... hey..."
"This is completely different from the Segawa Shigure I heard about..."
"Would an upright genius... actually use such underhanded methods to fight..."
Speaking, he began slowly reinforcing his Blut Vene again. This time, he needed defense.
Hearing this, Shigure chuckled softly.
"I'm merely wielding my Zanpakuto, using its power to attack you. That's all."
"And you, injured because you couldn't see the wind—why do you instead call my attack underhanded?"
Hearing this, Askin froze slightly, then narrowed his eyes.
He finally understood—this Segawa Shigure was completely different from other Shinigami.
His entire style was completely willful, unrestricted by any conventions, completely beyond common sense.
In other words, from now on, there was no way to take shortcuts.
This death battle was unavoidable.
Thinking this, Askin hesitated no longer. He suddenly raised his right hand before his right eye.
The next moment, explosive white light instantly surged from the Quincy cross emblem on the back of his hand!
BOOM!!!
The blood at his lips immediately evaporated.
He lowered his eyes slightly, gritting his teeth, speaking softly:
"Vollständig: Hasshein!"
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