Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Chapter 363 Extra Chapter: The Reforged Twisted Flower

While Asuka is busy with her studies at the Spirit Arts Academy, while the head of the Kyoraku Band is navigating between different noble families, and while Kiryu Hikifune is searching for candidates for the Forty-Six Chambers.

The back mountain of the 13th Division is a secluded place that is covered by dense forest all year round.

Shiba Kaien was sitting cross-legged alone on the edge of the cliff.

His gaze fell on an object wrapped in a white cloth lying across his lap.

Slowly lifting the white cloth, inside lay a bare hilt of a sword, and several fragments with charred edges, completely devoid of spiritual pressure luster.

That's his Zanpakuto, Nekihana.

Haiyan stretched out her finger and gently touched the cold fragments; a sharp, electric-like pain immediately shot through her fingertip.

That was the pain deep within his soul, the repulsive reaction between the Shinigami and the Zanpakuto after its Bankai form was destroyed.

That arrogant hero-king standing on the golden ship left an unforgettable mark on him.

The Bankai domain, which was originally as vast and continuous as a raging torrent, was shattered in the storm of the Ea, ultimately causing the Zanpakuto to break into an irreparable state.

"Still...can't you hear anything?"

Haiyan muttered bitterly to herself.

He tried calling out to the depths of his heart, but there was no response.

Bankai is the true form of a Zanpakuto's soul, so once it is shattered, it is very difficult to restore it through ordinary means.

Furthermore, because the Twisted Flower shattered in another world, a large portion of the Blade Spirit's fragments scattered and dissipated in the spacetime of Fuyuki City.

Even the Technology Development Bureau was powerless to do anything about it.

"Is this the end of my path as a Grim Reaper...?" Haiyan sighed deeply.

His decision to return to the 13th Division as vice-captain was also influenced by this consideration.

Without a Zanpakuto... what ability does a Shinigami have to be a captain?

"Hey! That long face doesn't look like something a hero would do after wreaking havoc in another world and coming back alive!"

A voice with a strong street vibe suddenly rang out from above a towering ancient tree behind Haiyan.

Haiyan shuddered.

Even without his Zanpakuto, as a Shinigami with exceptional spiritual senses, he was completely unaware of any approaching spiritual pressure!

He turned around abruptly, exclaiming in surprise, "You're... Lord Nimaiya Oetsu of the Zero Division?"

"Bingo! You got it right, but there's no reward. Yay!"

Wang Yue leaped down from the tree trunk, landing in front of the petrel like a light, falling leaf.

Through those strange sunglasses, Wang Yue's gaze fell on the wreckage in Haiyan's package: "Tsk tsk tsk... It's badly injured."

"It's not just that it was broken; there's still energy from another world on it... The connection between you and this sword has completely dissolved."

Haiyan lowered her head, a bitter smile masking the disappointment in her eyes: "Lord Wang Yue, did you come here specifically to mock me?"

"Well, that's part of the reason." Wang Yue straightened up and looked at Haiyan with a smile: "As the creator of Zanpakuto, I smelled the decaying odor of your sword's complete death back in the First Division that day, so I came here specifically to see you."

"You and that brat Asuka are both anomalies who have crossed the barriers between worlds and returned. I'm very curious about both of you."

Wang Yue pointed to the fragments in Haiyan's hand: "I was thinking, could I patch up this pile of scrap metal for you?"

Haiyan's pupils widened, a glimmer of hope igniting within them: "Can you repair it? Even if you can't restore it to its previous strength, as long as I can hold it again and continue..."

"Repair it? Even I wouldn't be able to do that." Wang Yue shook his head. "At least 60% of the fragments of the Twisted Flower were scattered in another world, and they've probably disappeared long ago."

The flame of hope was extinguished in an instant. Haiyan could only laugh self-deprecatingly and cover the white sheet back up: "Is that so... it really didn't work after all."

"What kind of Shinigami is a Shinigami without a Zanpakuto...?"

97

"Don't rush to conclusions. Although it can't be repaired, we can still try to recast it."

C

Wang Yue's gaze slowly moved downwards, looking at the other slender Zanpakuto tied to Haiyan's waist.

"You've been carrying this knife with you all this time, haven't you?" Wang Yue asked.

"Yes... this is A-Du's sword." Haiyan untied the Zanpakuto, held it in her arms, and her eyes became gentle and sad: "Ever since she was killed by that Hollow... I have kept this sword and enshrined it in my home every day, as if she were still by my side."

Wang Yue adjusted her glasses, her tone becoming serious: "It's very touching, but you might not agree with the suggestion I'm about to make."

"But I still have to ask you, Haiyan, do you want this dead man's knife to regain its meaning?"

Haiyan was taken aback: "What do you mean by that?"

"Take the sword that Shiba left behind and reforge it together with the remains of Tsubaki, so that they can be combined into one," Wang Yue said, enunciating each word clearly.

"This...this is impossible!" Haiyan exclaimed. "Lord Wang Yue, you are the one who created the Zanpakuto, you should know this better than anyone else."

"The two Zanpakuto represent two independent sword spirits. Even though this sword has now degenerated into Asauchi, it was once a vessel inscribed with Ato's will."

"Forcibly fusing the two swords will only trigger the repulsion and explosion of spiritual particles..."

"Under normal circumstances, that is indeed the case." Wang Yue walked in front of Haiyan with his hands in his pockets: "Two knives are two different worlds. Forcing them together will only cause both to collapse."

"But Haiyan, the knife in your hand is special."

Wang Yue stopped and pointed to the sword in Haiyan's arms: "When a Shinigami dies, the Zanpakuto loses the spiritual pressure supplied by its master and will degenerate into the nameless Asauchi."

"But from this knife, I can sense that Shiba had extremely strong last wishes before he died..."

"That is the obsession to protect you even if it means my soul is completely devoured."

Haiyan held her breath, her pupils trembling slightly.

"That obsession has transformed into the purest imprint, firmly etched onto this Asauchi." Wang Yue explained unhurriedly, "It has become no longer a Zanpakuto with its own independent spirit and name, but a piece of living iron that retains the instinct to protect Shiba Kaien."

"When I got close, I heard a whisper coming from inside this knife."

"That's the oath of Corvus Glaive." Wang Yue looked into Haiyan's shocked eyes: "This blade, sensing your pain from losing your power, let out a mournful cry, yearning to be reborn from the ashes."

"I heard its voice. It is willing to shatter its current form to serve as the skeleton and fuel to fill the missing fragments of the Twisted Flower, and to transform itself back into the power to protect you."

"It was the will she left on this knife that made the choice."

Haiyan lowered his head and looked at Shiba Miyabi's sword in his arms.

He could almost feel the faint yet firm pulse emanating from that cold iron weapon.

That was Adu's soul, her love for herself, an eternal longing left on the cold steel.

"Is this knife willing to completely abandon its past form for me...?" Haiyan's voice was hoarse, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"So, the choice is yours, Haiyan."

Wang Yue turned around, her back to him: "This kind of reforging is a hundred times more dangerous than simple forging and shallow hammering. The whole process requires you to act as a guide of spiritual pressure."

"If your will is not strong enough, not only will the sword shatter completely, but you will also be injured by the backlash of spiritual pressure."

"If that's the case, would you like to try it?"

Haiyan didn't hesitate at all.

He stood up, tightly binding the white cloth containing the remains of the twisted flower and Adu's remaining knife to his back, his gaze once again becoming as firm as a rock.

"If it's to respond to this will, if it's to continue protecting this world..."

17

"Lead the way, Lord Wang Yue! Whatever the test may be, I will face it to the end!"

"Great! I love your straightforward and decisive style!" Wang Yue snapped her fingers. "Well then, let's move on to another location."

"You can't forge good iron in a place like Seireitei."

"Change venues? Where are we going?" Haiyan asked, puzzled.

"Of course it's my territory, Phoenix Palace!"