"Whisper, Muramasa!"
Facing Uchiha Shisui, who was already right in front of him, Kuchiki Kōga moved his outstretched hand down, aiming at the sharp blade in Shisui's hand.
His erupting spiritual pressure immediately converged, changing its form.
His gaze fell on the strange weapon in Shisui's hand, a triumphant smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
'He fell for it.'
'Did he think that just because I was separated from my Zanpakutō, I couldn't release its ability?'
A Zanpakutō came from the essence of a Shinigami; in the end, it was the Shinigami's own power.
It merely used the existence of the Zanpakutō to separate the soul, thereby releasing the Shinigami's ability... This method was undoubtedly more convenient for a Shinigami, and easier to control.
And his training in this had already reached the pinnacle of perfection.
Even without the Zanpakutō, he could still use his own Muramasa ability.
The spiritual pressure he had just released wasn't for Kidō at all; it was a feint, a mask of spiritual pressure to cover the release of his Zanpakutō's ability.
And this bizarrely shaped short blade in Uchiha Shisui's hand must be the Shikai form of his Zanpakutō.
'To dare be so careless in front of me.'
'Just die at the hands of your own Zanpakutō!'
'If you must blame someone, blame your own foolishness.'
Just as Kuchiki Kōga was feeling smug, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his hand.
Kuchiki Kōga's expression changed. He saw that the sharp blade in Uchiha Shisui's hand had already pierced through his palm, its momentum unceasing as it pressed his hand back, stabbing toward his chest.
Seeing this happen before his eyes, Kuchiki Kōga's pained expression was mixed with a trace of incomprehension.
'Muramasa's ability... actually didn't work?'
Kuchiki Kōga had clearly felt that he had successfully and smoothly activated the ability, so why?
Why hadn't this kid's Zanpakutō rebelled?
Having lost the initiative, Kuchiki Kōga was caught off guard and simply had no time to react.
He could only watch as the tip of that strange blade, after piercing his palm, plunged into his chest.
"Urgh!"
A tearing pain erupted from his chest. Compounded by the previous heavy blow from that three-section staff, the injuries piled up, and Kuchiki Kōga immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.
In that instant, Kuchiki Kōga used his ability to ascertain two things.
First, the weapon in this Uchiha Shisui's hand was not a Zanpakutō.
It was some kind of extremely special weapon, one that carried a different kind of force field. It had to be a divine treasure from the Shihoin family.
Second, this person, Uchiha Shisui, had not awakened his Zanpakutō at all.
He hadn't even heard the voice of his Zanpakutō to this day.
Otherwise, in the face of his ability, it would be impossible for him to be completely unaffected.
'He has a Second-Class Rei'i, but hasn't awakened his Zanpakutō?'
Kuchiki Kōga's gaze shifted, landing on the solemn-faced Shinigami standing in the back.
Without a doubt, everything that just happened was designed by Shihoin Kenma!
'I've been... set up.'
First, that departed soul with no spiritual pressure but immense strength used a Shihoin divine treasure to seal his Zanpakutō.
Then, he took advantage of his carelessness to deal him a heavy blow.
After that, he had this strange person, Uchiha Shisui, also wielding a Shihoin weapon, deliver an unexpected stab.
Both actions in succession were specifically designed to target him.
'To have investigated my trump cards so thoroughly, to have predicted my thoughts so accurately...'
Kuchiki Kōga had to admit, he had underestimated him.
"Urgh... aaah!"
With a cry of pain, Kuchiki Kōga's body fell to the ground.
Shisui immediately pressed forward, one foot and one knee firmly pinning down Kuchiki Kōga's arms. In a half-squat, he forcefully pulled out the Amanosakahoko.
Just as he was about to stab the Amanosakahoko down toward Kōga's head, a white light flashed past his eyes, extending into the distance.
The moment the white light appeared, Shisui reacted, smoothly leaning to the side to dodge it.
In the peripheral vision of his crimson Sharingan, he saw the true form of that white light clearly.
It was a sword!
A sword that reflected white light, gave off a chilling killing intent, and seemed to extend infinitely outward!
The instant he saw this sword, Shisui's eyes narrowed. He immediately recognized the sword's name.
Shinsō!
The Zanpakutō of Ichimaru Gin, a fellow student at the Shin'ō Academy.
If Ichimaru Gin was here, that meant Aizen Sousuke, the man his master was so wary of, was also here!
Recalling Kuchiki Kōga's words, Shisui's expression turned grim, and he immediately used Shunpo.
His figure flashed, instantly appearing in front of Kenma, protecting him.
The moment that blade of light appeared, Toji had already tensed up.
His nose twitched; he could already smell the tense, dangerous scent in the air.
Gripping Yūun, Toji turned to look at the gap in the wall he had smashed Kuchiki Kōga through earlier.
Shisui gripped the Amanosakahoko tightly, his Mangekyō Sharingan darting around. The trace of the sword had already vanished.
However, he remembered the direction it came from. His gaze finally settled on the previous gap in the wall.
"My lord, it's Ichimaru Gin's Shinsō."
Kenma nodded.
He had also seen the extending Zanpakutō.
He followed Toji's and Shisui's line of sight, his voice full of iciness.
"Sousuke, still not coming out?"
"Senior is as impressive as ever. You actually sensed my presence."
As the voice fell, a sound of soft footsteps approached.
Three figures walked out of the gap.
The man in the center wore black-framed glasses, a gentle smile on his face.
Seeing the man's appearance, Kenma's eyes narrowed slightly.
It was, unmistakably, Aizen Sousuke.
And beside Aizen, accompanying him, were two others.
One had brown skin and wore sunglasses.
The other was a child who hadn't grown up, wearing the uniform of the Shin'ō Academy, holding a short Zanpakutō. His eyes were habitually squinted, giving him a smile like a fox or a serpent.
Tōsen Kaname, Ichimaru Gin!
As the three of them came into view, Kenma's expression grew heavier, and his voice held a questioning tone.
"Sousuke, what... are you doing here?"
"Nothing much."
Aizen pushed up his glasses. The lenses glinted white, obscuring his expression.
After a pause, his gentle, deep voice sounded.
"I just sensed a fight starting here and came over to see when I heard the noise."
"I didn't expect to find you, Senior Kenma, fighting with Senior Kōga."
"Seeing that Senior Kōga was on the verge of death, I had to step in and stop it. I hope you can forgive me, Senior Kenma."
Listening to Aizen's glib tongue, Kenma's mouth twitched, his disbelief clear on his face.
"You're lying."
"Sousuke, don't play these word games in front of me."
"How about you and I have an honest talk?"
"Senior, you've misunderstood."
Just as Aizen was about to speak, a light cough sounded on the field.
"Cough cough... Sousuke? He should have been killed by me."
Kuchiki Kōga clutched his chest. His spiritual pressure surged for a moment, and the pained look on his face eased as he slowly stood up from the ground.
His emerald-green eyes looked at the three wary figures: Kenma, Shisui, and Toji.
It was as if he hadn't noticed the presence of Aizen's group at all.
"Kenma, what... are you talking about?"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]