There was a significant reason why Akira was so confident in today's draw.
Although his Amaterasu Black Flame Dragon mode had further sublimated the unique abilities of Amaterasu, it still had its limits. Akira had been able to hold his own against Zanka no Tachi for a time, but the gap in sheer intensity was undeniable.
To use a more vivid comparison—Amaterasu Dragon Flame possessed an overwhelming, mystical effect, whereas Zanka no Tachi wielded an extreme, raw physical force. While the former could burn indefinitely without extinguishing, the latter's sheer temperature far surpassed it. This was why, after their battle, Akira had sought out Captain Unohana, as even with his endurance, his body had been covered in severe burns and minor injuries.
[Congratulations to the Host for drawing "Peak Zanpakutō Talent"!]
Seeing the reward, Akira was momentarily stunned before his face lit up with excitement.
"If an 'Excellent Zanpakutō Talent' guarantees a 100% chance to achieve Bankai, then what level of mastery should a Peak Zanpakutō Talent bring me?"
Zanpakutō talent wasn't just about forging a connection with one's sword spirit—it encompassed comprehension, control, and mastery over its release forms. As Byakuya Kuchiki had once stated, even for a skilled Shinigami, attaining full control over Bankai typically required a minimum of ten years. The stronger the Bankai, the longer this process took.
However, the higher one's Zanpakutō talent, the faster they could grasp its intricacies.
This explained why Akira had adapted to his Shikai almost immediately upon unlocking it.
"A peak-level talent… if I apply this to my Bankai training, I'll crush the usual timeframes!"
Just thinking about it made Akira restless with anticipation. Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged and began his training.
Mere moments later, his eyes snapped open in shock.
"This isn't just rapid progress… This is absurd! This is like covering a thousand miles in a single step!"
He gazed at his reflection in the Hikari Mirror, realizing that in just a few seconds, his resonance with his Zanpakutō had deepened noticeably.
"At this rate, even without forcibly accelerating my body's adaptation, I'll reach full Bankai mastery within days!"
Akira knew that his Zanpakutō, Hikari Mirror, was especially difficult to refine due to its unique and overwhelming ability. Yet, now he was confident that he could completely master his Bankai in a matter of days.
Unlike the risky method of Forced Awakening, he was advancing in a way that ensured complete synchronization with his sword.
Days Later
The Seireitei had entered a period of large-scale restoration. The relentless battles had left massive destruction in their wake. As one of the remaining active Captains—and, ironically, a key figure in the chaos—Akira had been tasked with overseeing reconstruction efforts.
"Hah… I wonder if any of the Captains are finally well enough to move again. I need a proper sparring session to let off some steam."
Perched on top of a construction site, Akira glanced down at the bustling Shinigami below, sighing to himself.
"Oi, Aki, quit whining."
A sudden Shunpo and a light poke to his head announced the arrival of Rukia Kuchiki.
"You've been dumping most of the work onto your Lieutenant and seated officers while you sit back and take it easy!" she accused.
Akira scoffed. "Oi, don't slander me! I'm not slacking off."
"Uh-huh. Then what are you doing?"
"I'm boosting morale. My presence here alone is keeping spirits high. Zero laziness involved!"
Rukia: "…"
She narrowed her eyes. "You're just as shameless as ever."
Akira grinned. "And you? Shouldn't you be in the World of the Living for a mission?"
"W-what? That's ridiculous! I'm not slacking off!"
Her awkward laugh and the way she averted her gaze immediately betrayed her.
Akira sighed and asked, "Alright, what's so urgent that you had to come back to Soul Society to find me?"
Rukia's expression grew serious. "I encountered some very strange enemies in the World of the Living today."
"They were entirely white with red heads—like a giant rooster or maybe a white radish—but they weren't Hollows."
"I feel like I've seen something similar before, but I can't recall where. So I came to ask if you know anything about them."
Akira raised an eyebrow. "A giant rooster? A white radish? Are you talking about Blanks?"
"Ah! That's it!" Rukia clapped her hands. "They were Blanks!"
"I swear, have you forgotten everything you learned at the Shin'ō Academy…"
Akira was honestly impressed that he had managed to decipher Rukia's bizarre descriptions.
Blanks—lost souls that had become stranded in the Dangai while traveling between Soul Society and the World of the Living. But why were they suddenly appearing in such large numbers?
Something about this situation gave Akira an uneasy sense of déjà vu, as if he was on the verge of remembering something important…
"That! What is that?!"
A sudden commotion erupted from the construction site below.
The Shinigami nearby all looked up in shock, and even Rukia's eyes widened as she turned toward the sky.
"Aki, look!"
Following her gaze, Akira saw something impossible—the World of the Living was being projected directly onto the sky of Soul Society.
The next moment, a piercing alarm blared from the 12th Division barracks.
"Let's go check it out."
Exchanging a glance, Akira and Rukia vanished with Shunpo, heading toward the Research and Development Bureau.
At that moment, within the bureau, Kurotsuchi Mayuri—having regenerated his body through his own twisted methods—stood at the center of operations, overseeing the situation.
"Report! An unknown spiritual disturbance has been detected in the Dangai!"
Despite still being confined to a wheelchair, Soi Fon had arrived as well, immediately issuing orders: "Stealth Force, mobilize! Head to the Precipice World and investigate at once!"
"I'd advise against that."
A cold voice echoed from the entrance.
Akira stood there, his expression unreadable.
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