Masatsuki Aozaki's lips curled slightly as he gazed at Kūgo Ginjō with a half-smile.
He knew all too well that the man before him was cunning and ambitious. Though Ginjō appeared respectful on the surface, deep down, he was nothing less than a ruthless and calculating predator.
Still, Masatsuki wasn't in a hurry. In fact, he found himself anticipating what was to come.
Kūgo Ginjō possessed immense potential. If he could be kept in check, he would make a valuable pawn in the future.
But if his ambition proved uncontrollable, then Masatsuki would have no choice but to discard him.
As he thought about Ginjō's ability to steal Fullbrings and the Soul King fragment slowly growing within him—nurtured through the hunting of Hollows—Masatsuki couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.
If Ginjō couldn't be made useful, then when the time was right, Masatsuki would simply take that precious Soul King fragment for himself.
He took a sip of his drink and chuckled.
"What's this? Are you feeling sorry for them?"
Ginjō took a sip of his own, replying with mock sincerity,
"Well, we have lived together for years."
Masatsuki let out a soft laugh and shook his head.
"Don't worry. If all goes as planned, this should be the last time."
At this point, the Hōgyoku's hunger for Soul King fragments was nearly satisfied.
However, it was still unclear whether it would crave more once it absorbed additional Hollow souls, so for now, the search for Fullbringers had to continue.
"So, do I keep going with this mission?" Ginjō asked.
Masatsuki gave a slight shake of his head before answering firmly,
"Of course. Fullbringers, if properly utilized, can become a force to be reckoned with. Don't you think?"
He paused for a moment, as if weighing something in his mind, then asked,
"Has the Tsunayashiro Clan reached out to you recently?"
Ginjō shook his head slightly.
"They only contacted me once after you left. I haven't heard from them since."
"Seems like they're in no rush. But I suppose that's the confidence that comes with a family that has survived for over a million years."
Masatsuki gazed into the distance, watching the gathered Fullbringers in thought, before issuing his next order.
"There are too many eyes here. Take them to the outskirts. I'll be waiting in the west."
"Yes, sir," Ginjō responded obediently.
...
As Kūgo Ginjō led Xcution's members to the outskirts, each Fullbringer remained on high alert, scanning their surroundings warily.
Then, in an instant, Masatsuki Aozaki appeared before them like a specter.
His sudden arrival sent a wave of startled gasps through the group.
Draped in a black cloak that concealed his Reiatsu, Masatsuki gave off no detectable spiritual presence, yet the oppressive aura surrounding him was suffocating.
He stood like a demon emerging from the abyss, his mere presence enough to make their blood run cold.
"This is the end for all of you. Your fate has reached its conclusion—there's no need to take another step forward."
Masatsuki Aozaki spoke with a smile, then turned to Kūgo Ginjō.
"Kūgo, you should leave now."
"Yes. I'll leave the rest in your hands."
Before his words had even finished, Kūgo Ginjō gave a slight bow, then vanished in an instant using the Shunpo technique Masatsuki had taught him.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"What do you want?! Where did Kūgo Ginjō-sama go?!"
A mix of anger and fear rippled through the group. Some yelled in defiance, while others turned and bolted.
One person's straw sandals transformed into boots, allowing them to sprint at incredible speed. Another's belt morphed into a whip, latching onto a nearby tree as they swung away…
But it was already too late.
"Bakudō No. 4: Hainawa."
Masatsuki's quiet incantation sent a chill down everyone's spine.
Without giving them a chance to resist, he raised his hand, releasing a surge of energy that instantly took the form of glowing yellow ropes. Like serpents, they coiled around each Fullbringer, binding them in place.
"Watch out!"
"What the hell is this!?"
Shrieks echoed through the desolate outskirts, the faces of the captured Fullbringers twisted in terror.
The gap in strength between the two sides was simply too vast.
Despite possessing Soul King fragments and Reiryoku far beyond that of ordinary humans, these Fullbringers lacked proper training.
At best, they were slightly stronger than regular people.
Against a Captain-level foe like Masatsuki Aozaki—who wielded the power of Second-Class Spiritual Power—they didn't stand a chance.
In fact, even against standard Shinigami squad members, they would struggle to hold their own.
"Sea Soul's Maw!"
A sharp, feminine voice rang out.
A girl suddenly opened her mouth wide, and a massive torrent of spiritual energy erupted from within, surging forward like a tidal wave.
Masatsuki's eyes flickered with mild surprise.
This ability seemed somewhat similar to Yasutora Sado's Fullbring—both using parts of their own bodies as conduits for power.
But if her Fullbring was based on something she deeply cherished… did that mean she had a fixation with her mouth?
He dismissed the thought quickly. Whatever the case, he had no intention of letting that wave of water touch him.
In the next instant, a breathtakingly elegant woman appeared beside him, dressed in a striking red kimono, her back adorned with blazing wings of fire.
With a graceful flick of her delicate fingers, she drew a gleaming katana and swung it down.
A blazing inferno erupted from the blade like a fiery dragon, colliding with the incoming water wave—instantly evaporating it into nothingness.
With her task complete, the woman drifted toward Masatsuki.
She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against his lips.
Her form gradually faded, turning transparent before dissolving into scattered Reishi that vanished into the air.
Masatsuki licked his lips thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping over the startled onlookers.
"Why is it that every time I summon you, you all seem so eager to take advantage of me?"
This was the unique ability he had gained after mastering Bankai—
The power to manifest the spirits of his Zanpakutō's inner world into reality, summoning them to fight alongside him.
However, this wasn't a traditional Bankai ability.
Masatsuki's true Bankai did not enhance his own sword's power. Instead, it allowed him to replicate the abilities of other Zanpakutō.
It was an ability that functioned without the need for a formal release.
Similar to how Kōga Kuchiki could summon Muramasa without unsealing his Zanpakutō, Masatsuki could call upon his inner world's spirits and bring them into existence.
But in truth, this power wasn't as simple as mere summoning—it was the extension of his Zanpakutō's inner world into reality itself.
For now, Masatsuki had limited this ability to only the spirits of his swords.
Additionally, the strength of these summoned spirits was directly tied to his own Reiatsu.
Whether in Shikai or Bankai form, their power was determined entirely by Masatsuki Aozaki's own level of spiritual power.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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