nownovels Chapter 177 ⥤ The Heartless Man and the Devoted Woman
Chapter 177 ⥤ The Heartless Man and the Devoted Woman
Chapter 177 - 177 ⥤ The Heartless Man and the Devoted WomanTwo figures faced each other in a standoff, the atmosphere crackling with tension.
Akira studied the beautiful woman before him with curiosity.
She was a classical beauty in a sleeveless red kimono, her elegant figure subtly visible beneath the fabric. Her slender arms hung at her sides with an uncanny, puppet-like quality to their joints. There was something distinctly inhuman about her.
Sensing the mounting tension between the pair, Akira set aside his playful demeanor. He had an inkling of this Japanese beauty's true identity.
She was the materialization of Kisuke's Zanpakutō — Benihime.
When this realization struck, Akira's first thought was — had Kōga Kuchiki escaped?
But the world outside remained peaceful and undisturbed, showing no signs of a criminal's flight. Surely Kōga wasn't after Kisuke?
After dismissing these incorrect theories, the truth became clear.
Tenshintai (Change God Body).
A device capable of forcibly materializing a Zanpakutō's true form in the Shinigami's world, allowing them to confront their blade and achieve Bankai.
Mayuri's arrival confirmed Akira's theory.
"That's right, it's the Tenshintai." Mayuri's smile held a DC Joker-like madness, "Though I loathe to admit it, Kisuke Urahara is a remarkable talent in certain areas. His mind brims with creative ideas, and with his practical skills and scientific expertise, he often brings these ideas to life."
"The Tenshintai exemplifies this. Though Urahara shared the credit — claiming Aizen and I contributed significantly. Without us, the Tenshintai's development might have taken far longer. Hmm, I truly wish I could dissect that man's brain..."
Hearing this, Akira realized how two brilliant eccentrics working together could create such extraordinary results.
"Well, since you're here, Captain, please stand watch." Mayuri fixed his gaze on him, "Training for Bankai with the Tenshintai is perilous. One misstep and your own Zanpakutō could kill you. It also drains the soul severely, preventing repeated use for some time. According to Urahara, his Benihime is especially lethal."
Akira nodded gravely.
They couldn't risk losing Kisuke — the 11th Division depended on him. If anything happened, they'd have to pursue Aizen as an alternative.
After all, they couldn't expect a bunch of brutes to handle the division's administrative duties, could they?
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the battle between man and sword began.
It started with cautious probing. Their blades clashed, sending brilliant sparks flying. The ring of metal echoed continuously as their Reiatsu enveloped the entire barrier.
Sensing this power, Akira raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He had underestimated Kisuke, thinking him barely at Captain level. Yet his current performance matched — perhaps even exceeded — that of the 10th Division Captain.
Mayuri remained indifferent to this display, focused solely on scientific matters. To him, a Zanpakutō was merely a convenient tool. Since Kōga Kuchiki's Zanpakutō Rebellion, he had already begun modifying his own blade.
⤫ Hadō #63: Raikōhō ⥤ Thunder Roar Sear! ⤬
Golden lightning burst from Kisuke's palm, streaking across the sky to strike the expressionless Benihime.
Dust and smoke billowed upward. Following the "smoke without injury" principle, this Eishōhaki Hadō #63 appeared ineffective.
Realizing this, Kisuke pushed off with his toes, his explosive speed creating afterimages as he darted around the mountainside.
Boom!!
Stone spikes erupted from the ground, shattering his afterimages.
As Benihime's ability activated, Kisuke found himself at an immediate disadvantage.
Though she was his constant companion, unaffected by external abilities, her attacks were merciless — as if she truly meant to end her master's life.
"Well, well, that was dangerous." Kisuke glanced at the protruding spikes, wiping away nonexistent sweat.
This proved that despite their bond, he couldn't know his Zanpakutō's true Bankai abilities until mastering them. Without that familiar sense of danger, he might have been skewered.
"Dear Benihime, you know everything about me, yet I know nothing of your abilities. Isn't that rather unfair?" Kisuke tried to draw information through banter.
But the beautiful woman merely responded with a gentle yet dangerous smile. Silver light rose from her blade's spine, weaving into brilliant sword pressure that slashed straight forward.
Kisuke's expression changed as he used Shunpo to dodge, simultaneously launching a Shakkahō.
The fireball carved a scorched path through the air before the sword pressure split it in two, causing intense flames to explode on either side of Benihime.
She moved with ethereal grace, like a ghostly shadow, materializing at his side. Without hesitation, her blade swung down. Wild Reiatsu erupted as the air shuddered, followed by a thunderous boom.
As Kisuke gripped his sword with both hands to counter-strike, he was shocked to find his body betraying him. His right arm went limp, its flesh splitting from the middle as if sliced by an invisible razor.
Blood gushed forth, staining Benihime's red kimono with a mottled pattern.
"Heh, now he's in trouble." Mayuri said with a contemptuous laugh, "Urahara's Zanpakutō's ability is quite powerful, and her personality mirrors his own. Even in such an uneven battle, she refuses to reveal her abilities. How malicious."
Watching this brutal scene, Akira shook his head but remained still.
Defeating and subjugating one's Zanpakutō was essential for achieving Bankai. Hasty intervention could only lead to complications or accidents.
Besides, in the original story, it had taken Kisuke three full days to defeat his Zanpakutō — this was merely the beginning. He had faith in his Lieutenant.
Though startled by his body's transformation, Kisuke remained unfazed.
He had prepared thoroughly before using the Tenshintai. Mere flesh wounds meant nothing.
Performing emergency treatment, he retrieved a blue pill and swallowed it. His bone-deep wounds began healing visibly at an accelerated rate.
He lifted his head, studying the still-smiling Benihime in the distance, his eyes gleaming with understanding.
"The ground sprouts spikes where the blade's tip touches, and flesh disintegrates where its spine makes contact. Some kind of force applied to whatever is touched? I believe I've figured out your ability, Benihime."
Benihime's lips curled upward, her gentle voice responding, "You're slower than I expected — nearly dying before understanding your enemy's ability. Now that we're on equal footing with information, I won't hold back."
The moment those words left her lips, her sharp blade thrust toward her master at an impossibly precise angle, like a delicate sewing needle.
Drawing from his previous experience, Kisuke approached with heightened caution.
Abandoning any notion of crossing blades with Benihime, he instead employed the masterful Shunpo he had learned in the 2nd Division, initiating a guerrilla battle within the Bakudō barrier.
Countless Kidō spells and techniques lit up the barrier like a grand fireworks display.
Intelligent people often share similarities. Like Aizen and Kisuke, they were Shinigami who didn't rely solely on their Zanpakutō. From the beginning, they understood the constraints and limitations their blades imposed.
'Indeed, I too belong among the ranks of the intelligent.' Akira shamelessly mused, considering his own fighting style.
The one-on-one sword battle raged on until Kisuke, his supplies depleted and body critically wounded, finally gained the upper hand.
As the heartless man's blade pierced through the beautiful woman's chest, her puppet-like body went still.
Benihime cupped Kisuke's blood-stained face with both hands like an abandoned lover. Her red lips trembled with unspoken words, but her strength failed her, and those final whispers scattered to the wind.
Her slender form shattered into points of light, vanishing before their eyes.
"A man with no woman in his heart draws his sword naturally like a god." Akira applauded, "Kisuke, you're starting to show some of my qualities. After I defeat the old man and become Captain-Commander, I'll let you take over the 11th Division!"
Hearing this, Kisuke — already at his limit — promptly blacked out and collapsed.
"I didn't expect Kisuke would be unable to handle such joyous news." Akira shook his head and sighed, "His mental fortitude still needs more tempering."
Seeing his master's shameless behavior, Mayuri was too embarrassed to respond. Instead, he approached the unconscious man, contemplating where to begin cutting.
He had been stuck on re
The next moment, the Zanpakutō shattered!
⤫⤬⤫
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