This time, he was going to forge something that surpassed an ordinary Zanpakuto!
A special blade, just like Enrakyōten and Shinken Hakkyōken.
The most widely circulated belief is that Ryūjin Jakka is the oldest Zanpakuto in the Soul Society, but this isn't entirely accurate.
The nobles are the true masters of the Soul Society.
As the first five to follow the Soul King, the original founders of the Five Great Noble Clans established the entire order of the Soul Society.
Even the Central 46, the highest judicial body of the Soul Society, serves the nobles.
One of the Five Great Noble Clans, the Tsunayashiro Clan, possesses a treasured sword passed down through generations.
Its name is Enrakyōten.
It isn't the blade of any single individual, but a special sword belonging to the Tsunayashiro Clan, usable by any member of their family.
Its core ability is to mimic the power of any and all Zanpakuto!
In other words, as long as someone wields Enrakyōten, whether it is the strongest fire-type, Ryūjin Jakka, the strongest ice-type, Hyōrinmaru, or even the strongest illusion-type, Kyōka Suigetsu, the wielder can use the abilities of any Zanpakuto they know of.
It can even be used for multiple purposes, allowing the simultaneous use of several Zanpakuto abilities.
For example, a user could activate Kyōka Suigetsu while using Ryūjin Jakka at the exact same time.
It could easily be called heaven-defying!
But the price of this sword is also terrifying, or rather, fatal.
While it is powerful, the blade constantly consumes the user's soul, and that consumed soul can never be restored.
Simply put, it shortens a person's lifespan.
The rate of this reduction also becomes more severe with increased use.
The other blade is the divine sword from the Shinto Ise Clan, Shinken Hakkyōken.
This divine sword is a ceremonial item used by priests.
It is a bladeless sword.
This sword cannot harm people, nor will it ever do so.
But it can "slay gods."
Shinken Hakkyōken's sole target is divine power, it can reflect divine power and inflict devastating damage upon it.
Both Enrakyōten and Shinken Hakkyōken were pure testaments to the nobles' rebellious hearts against the Soul King.
They were divine artifacts specifically created to oppose the Soul King.
Although Rayleigh's motivation for the weapon he was now forging was different, his overall method was quite similar.
He would forge a blade with strong healing abilities.
This blade wouldn't belong to anyone in particular, it could be used by anyone who infused it with Reiatsu, or in other words, Magic.
One blade might not be enough.
Perhaps he could forge several of them. That way, the Adventurers on Orario's side would become "immortal."
As long as they weren't killed outright, they could "respawn" indefinitely.
...
Walking down the street, Rayleigh looked at the ravaged city with a heavy expression.
Even though he knew this would happen, the feeling of seeing it in person was still hard to shake off.
Perhaps because he lived in this city every day, he had grown very familiar with it and had developed a real sense of belonging.
Familiar streets were destroyed like this, buildings were turned to rubble, and the residents had all fled.
It felt like walking through a barren wasteland.
Following the route from memory to his workshop, Rayleigh froze.
This was his home?
Judging by the open-air roof that Ottar had blown off and which he hadn't had time to repair, it should be.
He knew about that part.
However, the tragic scene before him was far worse than just a missing roof. Aside from a lone, standing door, all four walls of the workshop had collapsed.
Furthermore, a giant rock, over three meters in diameter, had landed right in his workshop like a fallen meteorite!
This was no longer a workshop.
It was the sad ruins of what was once called a workshop!
"My forge that cost me ten million Valis... Damn it, I only used it a few times! Damn you, Evilus!"
Frustrated, Rayleigh began the heavy excavation work.
After digging through the debris for a while, he found the large hammer he used to forge his Zanpakuto.
The anvil, cast from refined steel, was also intact.
But the furnace had completely collapsed!
"This place won't work anymore."
He couldn't forge without a working furnace.
It seemed he would have to return to his Familia.
Rayleigh hoisted the large hammer onto his shoulder and walked step by step toward Babel Tower.
After walking for a while, he noticed that the closer he got to the tower, the more civilians affected by the war began to appear.
These people were not in good shape, some were even injured.
He didn't stop to treat them, but instead continued his trek toward Babel Tower.
He soon saw a figure sharing food and it was a very cute girl at that.
Just looking at her could lift a person's spirits.
Quiet and well-behaved, clever and whimsical—all sorts of high praise seemed to fit her perfectly.
Rayleigh hadn't planned to get involved, but a loud explosion made him frown.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
He was getting very tired of hearing that sound!
It was the distinct sound of a Flame Rock detonating.
"Haha, found them! Kill, kill, kill!!"
After their explosive attack, several Evilus members targeted the civilians across the street.
Upon seeing the girl distributing food to the refugees, an Evilus member revealed a savage expression.
Beneath his dark mask, his face twisted as he stuck out his tongue, licking the scent of blood in the air.
"DIEEEE!"
"Ahhhhhh!" The girl's face paled when she saw the Evilus member charging at her with a knife.
She tried to run but was tripped by the ruined road, falling hard to the ground.
"Get down!"
"Eh?"
Right in the nick of time, the girl heard a calm voice by her ear.
She subconsciously buried her head, covering it with her hands like a frightened little animal.
"Bakudō Eight: Seki."
Rayleigh appeared right beside the girl using Shunpo, pressing his hand gently on her head.
Clang!
The Evilus member's dagger stabbed down.
It was repelled by the repulsive shield forming on the back of Rayleigh's hand, which even shattered the sharp tip of the dagger!
"How is that possible!" the Evilus member cried out in alarm.
The next second, a fist grew massive in his vision.
Rayleigh's punch, infused with heavy spiritual power, slammed into the Evilus member's face, sending him flying back more than ten meters!
After landing, the man's head lolled to the side, and he was gone.
"M-Mr. Adventurer, are you alright?!" The rescued girl asked Rayleigh with deep concern.
Rayleigh's punch had vented some of his pent-up anger, and a small smile appeared on his face.
"I'm fine."
The girl sighed in relief.
A reassured smile formed on her face, but her slender shoulders were still trembling.
She was probably still very frightened.
"Thank you so, so much."
"Alright, hurry up and find a safe place. It's still very dangerous out here," Rayleigh said, casually patting the girl's head.
He was inwardly shocked by the silky smoothness of her hair.
The texture was exactly like high-grade silk!
"Um, Mr. Adventurer, you saved me, and I really want to repay you. I know now isn't the time, but... if you can, please come find me at The Hostess of Fertility tavern in the West District."
"Also, my name is Syr."
"I'd be very happy if you could remember it... and that's all."
After speaking, the girl blushed and ran away!
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