The sword in Gin Ichimaru's hand was no ordinary sword… it was a Zanpakuto forged by the [God of the Swords], Nimaiya Oetsu.
Even in its sealed state as an Asauchi, it was no less formidable than a Skillful Grade Blades in the One Piece World.
Kuchiki Byakuya once said that a Shinigami's Zanpakuto represents the ultimate compression of their Reiryoku. Without this compression, a Shinigami's Reiatsu would manifest as an enormous, unwieldy blade of pure energy.
Similarly, Kenpachi stated that the edge of a Zanpakuto is the focal point of a Shinigami's strongest Reiatsu.
If one person's external Reiatsu surpasses the Reiatsu concentrated in another's Zanpakuto blade, the latter's attacks won't even be able to scratch them… no defensive action would be necessary.
This was exactly what happened during Kenpachi and Ichigo's first encounter. Ichigo's Zangetsu couldn't even cut through Kenpachi's skin.
Moreover, a Zanpakuto and its Shinigami are two sides of the same coin.
A Shinigami's Zanpakuto grows alongside them.
In its Shikai state, a Zanpakuto's sharpness rivals that of a Great Grade Blades in the One Piece World.
When released into Bankai, its strength matches even the legendary Supreme Grade Blades.
Gin's Zanpakuto had already developed its spirit to the point where it could achieve Shikai, making it comparable to a Great Grade Blade.
Kyoya's current mastery of [Breath of All Things] wasn't sufficient to perceive the 'breath' of a Zanpakuto and cut through it.
As for flying slash attacks… That was even more unrealistic.
Kyoya was being relentlessly pushed back by Gin's assaults, leaving him no opportunity to unleash such a technique.
'Is this what a true genius looks like?'
For the first time, Kyoya fully grasped the gap in talent between himself and Gin Ichimaru.
Even if he had his cheat, the One Piece Achievement System, Kyoya was still vastly outmatched by Gin in terms of current strength.
Given the same amount of training time, Kyoya was completely outclassed.
To gain an edge in this battle, Kyoya needed to capitalize on his own strengths!
With that thought, Kyoya relied on his Observation Haki to block and evade Gin's attacks while silently reciting a Kido incantation under his breath.
"Bakudo #8—Seki!"
Kyoya murmured, flicking his left hand to erect a repulsive barrier between himself and Gin.
Bang, bang, bang-
Crack!
Gin's white blade struck the transparent barrier, sending ripples through it before finally shattering the Kido shield.
Still, it bought Kyoya a single second of breathing room.
Whoosh!
With a burst of Reiatsu underfoot, Kyoya activated Shunpo, instantly retreating five meters to create distance.
Then, locking onto Gin with his Kenbunshoku Haki, he raised his Zanpakuto high.
"Slash!"
With a fierce shout, Kyoya brought his blade down, unleashing a crescent-shaped slash that shot toward Gin like a white moonbeam.
Boom!
Gin blocked the attack with a one-handed grip, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward, his feet carving twin trails into the ground.
Boom!
A surge of white Reiatsu erupted from Gin's body, enveloping his Zanpakuto.
Then, with a sharp flick of his wrist, Gin deflected the slash, sending it crashing into the ground and carving a trench over ten meters long before dissipating.
'This guy... is strange.'
Gin kept his sword at the ready, his narrowed eyes fixed warily on Kyoya.
What struck Gin as odd wasn't Kyoya's ability to launch flying slashes.
As the examiner for this test, Gin wasn't completely uninformed about Kyoya.
In the Shin'o Academy, Kyoya was often compared to Gin by both instructors and students.
Unlike Gin, who excelled in all areas, Kyoya was renowned specifically for his Zanjutsu.
He's a prodigy who, in less than half a year after enrollment, had already mastered basic Zanjutsu to the point of being able to unleash Kenatsu.
Therefore, Gin had anticipated Kyoya's ranged slashes.
What truly unsettled him was the inexplicable 'strangeness' he sensed during their battle.
It is obvious that his sword is faster than Kyoya's.
Logically speaking, he should have defeated Kyoya in mere moments.
However, Kyoya seemed to see through all of his attacks, effortlessly parrying every strike.
Even when he couldn't block in time, he would 'just so happen' to evade with perfect timing.
It felt as though no matter how Gin attacked, it was futile.
'Is this his Zanpakuto's ability?'
But Gin didn't sense any release of Reiatsu from Kyoya.
'Could such a power be learned?'
Countless thoughts flashed through Gin's mind.
But soon, Gin quickly suppressed them all.
Because before him, wave after wave of slashes came surging toward him.
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
Kyoya wasn't surprised when Gin deflected the first slash.
His current mastery of [Breath of All Things] was still shallow… barely enough to qualify as a great swordsman.
As for Gin?
Though he had only been a true Shinigami for less than a year, his Reiryoku had already reached the 5th-class.
Therefore, while Kyoya's slashes posed a threat, they weren't lethal.
Moreover, Gin had already mastered his Zanpakuto's Shikai. If he chose to release it, the gap between them would widen even further.
There was no helping it… Gin was a natural-born genius, and after joining the 5th Division, his mentor had been none other than Aizen, a Shinigami who had already reached the pinnacle of power.
As for Kyoya?
If it weren't for his Observation Haki and his mastery in swordsmanship, he wouldn't even be worth comparing to Gin.
This alone demonstrated just how powerful Observation Haki truly was.
So without hesitation, Kyoya locked onto Gin with his Haki and unleashed three consecutive slashes to suppress him, then immediately began chanting a Kido incantation.
"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings..."
"Ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance..."
"Upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws..."
"Hado #33—"
As Kyoya chanted, pale blue flames gathered into a blazing fireball in Kyoya's palm.
Suddenly, his expression twisted in alarm.
His observation Haki had sensed Gin's next move.
Reacting instantly, Kyoya twisted his body and hurled the fireball toward Gin's position.
"Sokatsui!"
"Shoot to kill, Shinso!"
Kyoya's voice and Gin's overlapped almost simultaneously.
Then, a flash of white light streaked through the air-
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!