Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero.

When people are dead and defeated, what use is their so-called "dignity"?

It's nothing more than a small consolation for the living, or something for the enemy to laugh at.

At this moment, the situation on the field had reversed. Having lost his Zanpakuto, Shiba Kaien's strength was greatly diminished. He attempted to gather his Kido for a counterattack—"Hado #31, Red Fire Cannon!"

A crimson fireball roared out and struck Metastacia's waving tentacles, only causing it to pause slightly and become charred, without causing much damage. Instead, it provoked an even more ferocious attack.

Yanagawa shook his head slightly. Shiba Kaien's level of Kido... was indeed as rumored, not outstanding, at least compared to his swordsmanship talent, the gap was obvious.

Moreover, relying too much on Zanpakuto means that once the Zanpakuto malfunctions, their combat power will plummet. This is a common problem and weakness of most Shinigami.

The ensuing battle turned into a one-sided chase and a desperate attempt to evade.

With his rich combat experience and agile movements, Shiba Kaien managed to barely keep up with Metastacia's storm of tentacle attacks, occasionally retaliating with hand-to-hand combat and low-level Kido.

However, the effect was minimal, new wounds kept appearing on his body, his aura quickly weakened, and his spiritual pressure was greatly depleted.

Finally, after barely dodging the strangulation of several tentacles, Shiba Kaien staggered, half-kneeling on the ground, panting heavily, sweat mixed with blood dripping down his face. He was nearing his limit.

"Hahaha...have you had enough, Death?" Metastasia let out a piercing laugh, countless tentacles dancing excitedly around him.

"Since that's the case, then I'll make sure you and your wife... suffer the same fate!"

Before the words were even finished, all of its tentacles, like countless venomous snakes ready to devour their prey, suddenly straightened, their tips gleaming with an eerie purplish-black light.

With a greedy spiritual pressure that intended to "possess" and "corrode" him, it shot towards the exhausted Shiba Kaien in a massive, overwhelming barrage!

This attack was clearly intended to completely devour and control Haiyan, just as he had done to his wife back then!

"Kaien!" Rukia screamed, and Jushiro Ukitake's expression changed drastically, instinctively reaching for his sword.

At that critical moment, when even Ukitake was almost about to abandon his "dignity theory" and take action—

"The eighty-first of the Path of Binding: Severing Emptiness."

Chapter 42 Borrowing a Knife

A calm chant suddenly rang out at the edge of the battlefield. It was Liu Chuan.

He didn't even raise his hands to form a hand seal; his lips merely moved slightly.

The next moment, a semi-transparent spiritual particle wall appeared out of thin air in front of Shiba Kaien, like the most solid shield!

Boom boom boom boom—!!!

Countless tentacles carrying terrifying corrosive power slammed into the spirit particle wall, producing a dull, drum-like roar.

The spiritual wall remained completely still, without even a ripple, and blocked all attacks, eliminating them completely!

The purplish-black corrosive spiritual pressure dissipated and vanished the moment it touched the wall, just like ice and snow encountering the scorching sun.

Metastacia's maniacal laughter abruptly ceased as he stared in astonishment at the incredibly solid spirit wall that had appeared out of nowhere.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, Liu Chuan took two steps forward unhurriedly, and then did something that surprised everyone.

He took down his Zanpakuto, "Tenjin," from his waist, and with a flick of his wrist, hurled it like a javelin at Shiba Kaien, who was still reeling from the shock of the sudden attack.

Swish!

The simple, silver-white blade flashed with a streak of light and, with a soft "thud," settled firmly into the soil less than a foot deep beside Shiba Kaien. The blade trembled slightly and emitted a clear, resonant hum.

Yanagawa's gaze calmly passed over the gradually dissipating broken wall of space and landed on Shiba Kaien's surprised and uncertain face.

"I'll lend it to you for a bit, but remember to return it when you're done. That's fair, isn't it?"

Shiba Kaien stared blankly at the silver-white Zanpakuto stuck in the soil beside him, then suddenly looked up at the unfamiliar young man.

He abandoned the incantation and instantly unleashed the 81st binding spell, "Severing the Void," effortlessly blocking a potentially fatal attack... This mastery of the demonic arts is simply astonishing!

He was definitely not from the 13th Division, and what's more, he actually... threw his own Zanpakuto to himself?

After a brief moment of shock came a surge of complex emotions.

It was a sense of relief at escaping a desperate situation, gratitude for the young man's help, but more than anything, it was a cold, enlightening realization.

Just now, in the instant the tentacles of death reached out, he thought of many things.

He thought of Kukaku's stubborn yet worried eyes, of Ganju's useless yet dependent nature, and of the members of the 13th Division who trusted him.

He thought of Captain Ukitake's pale yet eternally gentle face... What if he died like this?

What will happen to them if they are devoured and possessed by this phantom? Sadness? Angryness? Or will they fall into deeper despair and danger?

Captain Ukitake's "battle for dignity"... might be true.

But compared to the "dignity" of successfully avenging oneself, living, continuing to protect them, and continuing to fulfill one's responsibilities as the head of the family, the vice-captain, and the elder brother... seems to be more important.

Moreover, this Hollow used despicable means to strip himself of his Zanpakuto, which was inherently "unfair".

Now, someone has given me a knife, giving me a chance for a "fair" duel...

Having figured this out, the burning flame of hatred in Shiba Kaien's eyes did not go out, but instead became calmer and more determined.

Without further hesitation, he reached out and grasped the hilt of the "Tianzhen" sword stuck in the soil.

It feels slightly heavy and cool to the touch, but the curvature and weight of the handle are surprisingly comfortable to hold.

What made him even more uneasy was that the moment he gripped the hilt of the knife, he seemed to feel an indescribable power, as if capable of shaking the heavens and the earth, slumbering inside the blade.

"Roar—!!! You bastards! You meddlesome Grim Reapers! I'll turn you all into my puppets!"

Metastasia recovered from its shock and rage, letting out a furious roar. It was thoroughly enraged by Yanagawa's intervention and had lost its patience, gathering all its power.

All the tentacles expanded and twisted wildly, carrying an aura of destruction, and launched a final attack on Shiba Kaien, who had just grasped the sword!

This time, Shiba Kaien did not hide.

He gripped the "Heavenly Tremor" blade tightly with both hands; the silver-white blade seemed to gleam slightly.

He accurately predicted Metastacia's trajectory as he lunged forward, and pinpointed the location of the core, twisted bone mask amidst the swirling tentacles.

Then, facing the destructive torrent, he stepped forward, wielded his sword with both hands, and with all his strength and will, resolutely slashed down!

The moment the blade touched Metastacia's body—

hum! ! !

A shockwave erupted from the blade's edge!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no dazzling light.

There was only one shattering sound that sent chills down your spine!

Metastacia's wildly beating tentacles froze first, then, like glass struck by an invisible giant hammer, they began to fall from the point of contact with the blade.

Instantly covered with countless fine cracks, it then collapsed inch by inch with a "whoosh," turning into the finest black ash, which was not even a spiritual particle!

Next came its body, the twisted spirit and bone mask, which didn't even have time to scream before it began to disintegrate, crumble, and annihilate from the inside out in the same way before this "vibration" force!

With just one strike, this formidable enemy, who had put Shiba Kaien in a difficult situation, was defeated.

Under the unreasonable "tremor" power caused by this Zanpakuto called "Tenku," it was completely reduced to nothingness.

The open space was deathly silent.

Only a gentle breeze blew by, stirring up a few specks of black ash.

Shiba Kaien maintained his downward slashing posture, gripping "Tenjhin" with both hands.

He was panting heavily, his face a mixture of relief at having avenged his great enemy and deep shock at the destructive power he had just witnessed.

He could feel that after the knife in his hand delivered its final blow, the terrifying "vibration" quickly subsided and returned to calm, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.

But the spotless ground, without a single crumb, testified to the undeniable reality of what had just transpired.

Rukia stared wide-eyed, mouth agape. Jushiro Ukitake's pale face also showed deep astonishment, his gaze shifting back and forth between Yanagawa and the silver-white Zanpakuto.

Yanagawa slowly stepped forward, walked to Shiba Kaien's side, and calmly extended his hand.

"Finished fighting? Can I have my knife back now?"

Shiba Kaien, as if waking from a dream, exclaimed, "Thank you for lending me your sword!"

Liu Chuan took Tian Zhen and casually hung it back on his waist, as if he had just lent it an ordinary tool.

He glanced at Shiba Kaien, then at Ukitake and Rukia, and finally his gaze fell on the direction in the distant forest where the Heavenly Pillar had fallen.

"It's good that the grudges are settled. Now, Deputy Captain Haiyan, there's a 'small matter' that I'm afraid I'll have to trouble your Zhibo family with..."

Chapter 43 Post-War

The dust of the battle settled, and the forest clearing returned to silence.

After the initial shock and relief of successfully avenging himself, Shiba Kaien finally had the energy to carefully examine the mysterious young man who had helped him at the crucial moment and lent him that terrifyingly powerful Zanpakuto.

He first returned "Tianzhen" to Liuchuan with both hands.

"And this is..." Shiba Kaien looked at Kuchiki Rukia with a questioning gaze.

Rukia quickly stepped forward to formally introduce the two:

"Brother Haiyan, this is Liuchuan. He was my classmate when I was in the Shinigami Academy. Now he is a member of the Zero Division."

When the Zero Division was mentioned, Rukia's tone still carried a hint of disbelief and amazement.

"Squad Zero?!" Shiba Kaien's pupils contracted slightly, a look of realization crossing his face. He looked again at Yanagawa's haori and his overly youthful face.

"I see... You're the newly recruited member of the Zero Squad! My sister, Kukaku, mentioned you at home just a couple of days ago."

He gave a wry smile, his gaze sweeping over the silver-white Zanpakuto at Yanagawa's waist that had just displayed its terrifying power.

"No wonder his strength is so...unfathomable. That 'Severing the Void' strike just now, and the power of this sword..."

He bowed respectfully to Liu Chuan. If Liu Chuan hadn't intervened in time, he would likely be in grave danger, let alone be able to take revenge himself.

Liu Chuan calmly replied, "Vice Captain Haiyan, there's no need for such formalities."

“That being said…” Shiba Kaien straightened up, but the gratitude and curiosity in his eyes did not diminish. He paused, then asked the question that had been lingering in his mind:

"However, as far as I know, shouldn't the members of the Zero Division be stationed at the Soul King Palace and rarely set foot in the Soul Society unless they have a special mission?"

"Lord Yanagawa's arrival this time, could it be... due to official business?"

He glanced at the huge crater left by the Heavenly Pillar in the distance.