Bleach: From Rugum to Thousand-Year Captain

In the end, Shijima Chigiri laughed wildly, then vanished in a flash and stabbed towards Kirinji Tenjiro.

Kirinji was stabbed while standing still, and instantly turned into gray mist.

It's an afterimage!!!

Kirinji Tenjiro moved even faster, circled around to Shijima Chigiri's back, and delivered a side kick that sent Shijima Chigiri flying.

"What clumsy footwork! If this is all the strength you have, forget about defeating me. You might not even be able to catch up with me and cut me down."

"Oh? All you can do is run away? If all you can do is dodge, I'm really going to have a headache. This fight wasn't very enjoyable; I ran into a coward."

"Even if you want to provoke me, I won't give you the chance. Don't embarrass yourself with your little tricks. Show me what you're capable of. If you can catch me, then come on!"

Kirinji Tenjiro didn't care at all what the opponent's Zanpakuto's abilities were after it was released. Such a small scalpel might indeed have unknown abilities, but what use was it if it couldn't cut anyone?

"You're probably thinking, 'Even if you can't cut me, what's the point of having such a small knife?' Right? Well, what if I've already cut you?"

Here comes the reading idiom monster!

"What? They've already managed to cut him down?" Not only was Kirinji Tenjiro somewhat surprised, but Shihouin Senhi and Tengetsu Sussai, who were observing the battle from the side, were also puzzled.

There was absolutely no spiritual pressure or awe-inspiring presence. Was Shijima Chigiri bluffing or something else?

Shihouin Senji didn't know much about the Fourth Division Captain, only that he had a deep understanding of human anatomy. As for releasing his Zanpakuto, he had never seen Shishima Chigiri's Zanpakuto ability.

Shijima Chigiri didn't explain further, standing still as if waiting for Kirinji Tenjiro to attack. Tenzuki Susuzai, his inner thoughts swirling, hesitated, secretly hoping Shijima Chigiri would explain his abilities while fighting.

On one hand, I feel this behavior is incredibly stupid and arrogant, and I'm getting a little carried away...

Kirinji Tenjiro showed no panic. He spat out the straw he was holding in his mouth and said coldly.

"What an ignorant brat. Even if you are the captain of the Gotei 13, you are too arrogant in your words and actions. If you really want to be defeated, then fine, I will grant your wish."

Kirinji Tenjiro vanished from his spot in an instant, leaving behind countless afterimages around his body, making it impossible to discern which one was his true form.

BOOM! ! !

The moment Shijima Chigiri made his move at Kirinji Tenjirou, he was sent flying dozens of meters away, snapping countless tree trunks beside the open space with a cracking sound.

After more than ten seconds, Shijima Chigiri finally stood up unsteadily. He was covered in blood and mud, and his Fourth Division Captain's Hagoromo and Shinigami uniform were torn to shreds until his shirt slipped down, revealing his muscular body.

Shijima Chigiri maintained his eerie smile, his Zanpakuto, Blood Demon, held in the same posture and direction. Amatsuki Sussai observed that Shijima Chigiri's Zanpakuto was consistently aimed at Kirinji Tenjiro.

Tengetsu Sussai secretly deduced that he sensed a faint, weak spiritual pressure constantly swirling around Kirinji Tenjiro. Even though Kirinji Tenjiro was very fast, that spiritual pressure remained stubbornly persistent, like a stubborn plaster, even when he stopped.

Kirinji Tenjiro's spiritual senses were even more acute, and he immediately detected the special spiritual pressure surrounding him that was difficult to dispel.

"What? You're the one who did this? You think you can kill me with this weird spiritual pressure?" Before he could finish speaking, Shijima Chigiri lightly swung the Blood Demon in his hand, and Kirinji Tenjiro was instantly slashed open with a huge wound on his chest, blood splattering all over the ground.

Kirinji Tenjiro, though shocked, remained calm and said, "So, you used this special spiritual pressure to create an invisible blade and cut me? Such an ability is indeed strange, but that's all."

"Still being stubborn!!! Stop joking. If you're thinking, 'If I had killed the other person before that special spiritual power killed me, wouldn't the battle have ended?' then that's a shame."

Shijima Chigiri swung his sword again, and the special spiritual pressure that had been wrapped around Kirinji Tenjiro instantly rippled, opening another large gash in Kirinji Tenjiro's chest.

Aside from initial shock, Kirinji Tenjiro discerned some clues about the other party's abilities.

"The special spiritual pressure released by your Zanpakuto is linked to your sword and my body. Your special spiritual pressure is similar to light shining on me or smoke mixed in with my spiritual pressure. I tend to think it's the latter, right?"

"I think if that ability is offensive, given your lack of fear of injury, there must be similar defensive techniques as well. It's a truly bizarre ability, isn't it? Aren't you going to say something, or am I right?"

Shijima Chigiri shrugged. "Who knows? You can think about it slowly in hell after you die!"

"I really can't do anything with you. You talk like you've got me cornered." Kirinji Tenjiro raised his hand, and a green light gradually flickered, enveloping his entire body and turning him into a green man.

Tianyue Quezhai recognized the spell at a glance—wasn't that the Return to the Dao? Why would he heal himself at this moment?

......

Chapter 31: Using the Return Path to defeat the enemy? Bankai!!!

It seems that the Reito technique had not yet been invented at this time. Apart from Tengetsu Sussai, Shihouin Senhi and Shijima Chigiri did not recognize Reito as a healing technique for demonic possession.

Or perhaps it's because the Ghost Path, such as the Return Path, is held by high-ranking nobles and is a precious technique not to be passed on to outsiders. In this era, it's true that only Shinigami of noble birth could access and learn either the Hakudo or the Bakudo.

Or perhaps the Shinigami Academy should have just been established at this stage, and before the academy was established, most of the Shinigami were of noble birth.

A small number of people, such as Shijima Chigiri and Tenzuki Sussai, who possess spiritual power, found Asauchi and unleashed their Zanpakuto, thus unleashing their power and becoming Shinigami.

Regardless of what Shijima Chigiri thought, Kirinji Tenjiro's healing method completely enveloped him, and healing spirit particles continuously roamed his body, gradually expanding the healing range.

Kirinji Tenjiro was very familiar with Tengetsu Sussai, the first technique of Kirinji Tenjiro. It was the most basic and simplest technique for healing the return of the dead. Once you learned it, you could perform the simplest form of the return of the dead.

However, he was somewhat confused by the later variant techniques, which seemed to be Kirinji Tenjiro performing a healing technique in reverse, turning spiritual particles that could heal spirits into spiritual particles that repel them.

Although it was impossible to learn at first glance, Tengetsu Sussai understood the trick. Kirinji Tenjiro was using the Healing Return Path to repel the spiritual pressure released by Shishima Chigiri's Zanpakuto ability. Without that special spiritual pressure, and given that Shishima Chigiri's Zanpakuto scalpel wasn't very long, it couldn't deal damage once it was out of range.

Even Kirinji Tenjiro was able to multitask, using his advanced healing technique to instantly stop the bleeding from the wound.

It's possible to create variations based on the basic healing return path, as Tengetsu Sussai inherited from Yamada Hanataro's return path ability. However, that would require a significant amount of time for research into the ordering of spiritual particles, and cannot be accomplished overnight.

If he were to study the hemostasis and return-to-the-path spiritual particle arrangement technique, it would be safer, faster, and more stable to write it down on paper, experiment and record it gradually, and deduce it one step at a time.

It seems that Kirinji Temple is quite dedicated to the art of healing; this level of instantaneous healing technique is no simple feat.

Shijima Chigiri never expected that the opponent hadn't even released his Zanpakuto, yet he managed to sever the connection between his Zanpakuto's spiritual pressure and the opponent's spirit with just a special technique.

"Want to keep fighting? Judging from your expression, I think I've succeeded, right?" Kirinji Tenjirou showed a smug expression, bent over and glanced at Tenzuki Sussai as if showing off the advanced counter he had created.

Tianyue Quezhai looked exasperated, indicating that he didn't know him. This conspicuous bag was really embarrassing.

"Stop joking! It's just Shikai. Don't forget that all the captains of the Gotei 13 can unleash their Zanpakuto's final form: Bankai!!!"

"Bankai! Blood Demon Yomi!!!" Shijima Chigiri's deep, hoarse voice echoed around everyone, and soaring spiritual pressure shone everywhere!

The dazzling light was so brilliant that both Tengetsu Sukusai and Shihōin Sennatsu felt immense danger, as if they might be instantly killed if their bodies were touched by the light.

"Shijima Chigiri, you're a complete madman!!!"

"Don't blame yourself, not a single one of the Gotei 13 is insane. Kirinji, are you going to retreat? If you don't have Bankai, it's not easy to deal with this level of spiritual pressure with just Shikai, right?"

Of course, Shihōin Sennatsu retreated quickly, and Tengetsu Sussai spoke very softly, so Shihōin Sennatsu and Shijima Chigiri did not hear the information he tucked into his later words.

"Hmm, this is indeed a bit tricky. Has the Zanpakuto reached Bankai? Finally, I get to witness the power of a Zanpakuto fully unleashed! It's truly beautiful and powerful!!! You should step back a bit, Sussai. If you really can't handle it, leave yourself. I can handle this with ease!!!"

Kirinji Tenjiro still wore that dead-fish-eyed, punchable expression, while Tenzuki Sussai didn't care at all; after all, once the card formation was completed, he would just die once.

Seeing a captain's Bankai up close is a completely different experience from watching it on TV.

Tengetsu Sussai felt his body was somewhat heavy and sluggish, which was caused by the spiritual pressure released after Shishima Chigiri's Bankai.

In order not to interfere with the battle at Qilin Temple and cause him trouble, since Qilin Temple didn't know he wouldn't die, Tianyue Quezhai decided to retreat and find a spot in the sky at the edge of the battlefield.

A pillar of spiritual pressure shot hundreds of meters high, its pale red torrents cascading into the sky. Shijima Chigiri emerged from the pillar, his Zanpakuto, the Blood Demon Scalpel, completely changing color.

It turned into a nearly transparent color, like glass. If you don't look closely and it's nighttime under the bright moonlight, you can't see such a tiny Zanpakuto at all during the day.

"Bankai! Rurikoō no Rasen!!! This is the true form of my Zanpakuto, Blood Demon. It doesn't reveal itself as Blood Demon Yomi. Looks like you're really unlucky today!"

"Two forms of Bankai? That's really rare!"

"Watch out, I've never gone all out before. You're the first person to force me to use Bankai from that state. But even at this point, aren't you going to release your Zanpakuto? Or are you saying you can't?"

Shijima Chigiri remained expressionless, his body radiating a glassy light that completely dispelled the surrounding darkness, the dazzling light obscuring his expression.

"The First Form of the King of Glazed Light; The Glazed Divine City!!!"

The moment he uttered the move, the shimmering light surrounding Shijima Chigiri began to flash, reflecting the rainbow. A gigantic, transparent ancient city appeared on the horizon, emerging like a mirage.

"Hey, hey, hey, isn't that a bit exaggerated?!" Kirinji Tenjirou completely failed to understand what the power of the other party's Zanpakuto's Bankai was.

But whatever it is, it's best not to get involved rashly.

"In that case, we'll have to show some strength."

"What a pity! Muda!!!" Shijima Chigiri shouted, and the gates of the Bright Castle behind him opened, emitting a huge beam of divine light that enveloped Kirin Temple.

At the same time, Kirinji Tenjiro felt his body become incredibly heavy, as if he were truly being crushed by the castle in the sky.

Tengetsu Sukusai was also a bit confused. Wasn't it called Blood Demon? Why does it look like a light-type Zanpakuto? The special effects are blinding! Even the release command is used to trick people into launching a sneak attack. It's really speechless.

Indeed, that was the case; Shijima Chigiri couldn't fully control the Blood Demon's Bankai release state. Whether he entered the Blood Demon's Underworld or the Ruri Kouou realm depended entirely on chance and luck.

However, after a long period of arduous training in Bankai, Shishima Chigiri can fight using both the Blood Demon Yomi's techniques and the Ruri Kouou's techniques.

"Can you feel this incredibly heavy power, you unknown Grim Reaper?! If this is all the power you have, then please, die!!!"

As he spoke, the Heavenly Gate behind Shijima Chigiri pressed heavily down on Kirinji Tenjiro.

......

Chapter 32 Bankai! Ruriko-ō Fearless Seal

"This level of power? Don't be ridiculous! It's just that my body is a little heavier. It's not like I haven't used Shunpo while carrying a weight." Kirinji Tenjiro unleashed a violent spiritual pressure from his body, which transformed into a towering pillar of light that distorted the surrounding shimmering light.

What immense spiritual pressure this is! Even without releasing its Zanpakuto, can it possess a spiritual pressure torrent similar to that after Bankai?

Shijima Chigiri couldn't understand how even Yamamoto Shigekuni, if he didn't unleash his Zanpakuto and instead attacked Yamamoto's Bankai, he wouldn't be able to withstand the attack from Ruri Kouou.

If Chojiro Suzaku, who had mastered the Bankai Huanghuang Yanlingli Palace a month later, heard Shijima Chigiri's words, he would only say: "Meh meh meh? ???"

Of course, Kirinji Tenjiro is indeed an anomaly and cannot be compared to the typical Shinigami's Shikai and Bankai states.

Tianyue Quezhai watched with great interest from the sidelines. Witnessing such a captain-level battle firsthand made him feel inexplicably excited, and he almost wanted to join in.

Especially when Shishima Chigiri shouted out Bankai, the atmosphere was so high it was unbelievable!

However, several powerful spiritual pressures were coming from all directions, and there was even a scorching spiritual pressure that was like a light bulb. Anyone with a normal spiritual sense could basically feel it.

This sudden surge of spiritual pressure interrupted the battle between Shijima Chigiri and Kirinji Tenjiro; to be precise, Shijima Chigiri did not continue her attack.

Shijima Chigiri was also puzzled; "Why? It's one thing if the other captains came, but why not Yamamoto...?"

Before he could even come up with a reason, a dozen captains of the Gotei 13, wearing captain's haoris, appeared in the air not far from the center of the battlefield, either standing or sitting, staring expressionlessly at Shijima Chigiri and Kirinji Tenjiro.

The pressure exerted by the passive aura of more than a dozen captain-level Shinigami was unimaginable, especially the strongest Shinigami, Yamamoto Shigekuni, standing in the middle.

Kirinji Tenjiro complained, "What?! They're already using Haruka before the fight even starts? This kind of battle is so boring!!!"

"What do you know? You're incredibly arrogant..." Turning his head, Shijima Chigiri, who hadn't yet retracted her Bankai, instinctively asked Yamamoto Shigekuni, "Captain-Commander Yamamoto, why?"

Yamamoto Shigekuni squinted at the two men and issued a simple yet powerful command: "Everyone, stop!"

Stop? Now? Shijima Chigiri completely failed to understand, and was even dissatisfied with Yamamoto Shigekuni's interference in his battle. For a moment, he wanted to unleash the ultimate move of the Ruriko-ō; Ruriko-ō's Fearless Seal.