Senbonzakura’s blade transformed into countless tiny razor-sharp petals, scattering in the light like a romantic shower of cherry blossoms, dancing in the air.
Renji, who had not yet achieved Shikai with his Zanpakutō, watched this scene in awe, murmuring, “How beautiful.”
Unlike him, the two retainers lying in their own blood, and the retainer blocking Rukia, watched this scene with their eyes wide, full of disbelief.
As retainers of the Kuchiki family, they knew that these flying pink petals were from their master’s Zanpakutō—Senbonzakura’s Shikai.
The key problem was that it wasn’t Byakuya performing Senbonzakura’s Shikai—it was Gilgamesh.
This was something impossible, an occurrence they could not even have imagined, happening right before their eyes.
At this moment, their understanding of reality seemed to be collapsing.
Not just them, Byakuya was also stunned, his pupils trembling violently, his face full of disbelief.
The Shikai of a Zanpakutō could only be performed by its master—this was an unchanging rule. Yet now, this rule had been broken.
Byakuya couldn’t help but tremble.
Among everyone present, only Yoruichi showed no change in expression, knowing that Kennō’s abilities were far beyond just this.
She looked at Rukia and said, “Lift your head, the king has prepared a gift for you.”
Although immersed in sadness, Rukia couldn’t help but lift her head upon hearing this.
Looking up, she saw the countless pink petals flying in the air.
These petals danced around her, creating a scene so beautiful that Rukia momentarily forgot her sorrow, her tears, looking at the petals in awe, instinctively reaching out to touch them.
However, the petals seemed to avoid her hand deliberately.
Byakuya, watching this scene, took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions, gripping his remaining sword hilt tightly, and asked, “Senbonzakura, what is happening?”
Soon, Senbonzakura’s cold voice echoed in Byakuya’s ear: “Byakuya, I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s happening either.”
“Right now, I can’t control myself. There’s a voice telling me ‘The King’s decree cannot be disobeyed.’ Be careful.”
After a pause, Senbonzakura’s voice trembled: “And I don’t know if it’s my illusion, but I feel like that boy Gilgamesh can see me.”
As Senbonzakura spoke, an image flashed in its mind.
Not long ago, Senbonzakura was meditating in its own world when it suddenly felt something and looked towards the sky.
What it saw made it shudder.
In the sky, it saw a pair of gem-like beautiful crimson eyes, looking down like the eyes of a god.
Under those eyes, Senbonzakura felt completely exposed, with no secrets.
Byakuya didn’t know about Senbonzakura’s experience, but he could sense its emotions through its words.
Byakuya found it puzzling. Wasn’t it normal for Gilgamesh to see Senbonzakura since it was always in his hand?
Before he could think further, the countless razor-sharp petals left Rukia’s side and surged towards him like a tide.
Knowing Senbonzakura’s power, Byakuya used Shunpo to evade the petals, while charging towards Gilgamesh.
Kennō’s abilities were too mysterious for Byakuya to understand immediately.
But the age-old tactic of capturing the leader to disrupt the army was always valid.
No matter how powerful or mysterious Kennō were, capturing Gilgamesh would naturally break everything.
Through the Omniscient Star’s illumination, Gilgamesh not only saw Byakuya’s thoughts but also knew his next moves.
Naturally, Gilgamesh wouldn’t let Byakuya get close, directly using his hand to control Senbonzakura.
Senbonzakura’s speed post-Shikai was fast but couldn’t match Byakuya’s Shunpo speed.
After all, Byakuya’s Shunpo was learned from Yoruichi, the Flash Goddess.
This was why Byakuya thought he could capture Gilgamesh quickly.
Seeing Gilgamesh using his hand to control Senbonzakura, Byakuya’s pupils shrank again.
Byakuya had been puzzled from the start.
How did Gilgamesh know Senbonzakura’s Shikai command?
He rarely used Senbonzakura’s Shikai in front of others.
However, this could still be explained. After all, Byakuya might have used it at some point, and information could be gathered by those interested.
But seeing Gilgamesh controlling Senbonzakura with his hand, Byakuya was shaken and utterly confused.
Because this was a secret Byakuya had never revealed.
Using his hand to control Senbonzakura doubled its attack speed.
Gilgamesh naturally knew Byakuya’s confusion but didn’t intend to explain.
Under Gilgamesh’s control, Senbonzakura’s attack speed doubled, catching up with Byakuya almost instantly.
Caught off guard, Byakuya was hit by Senbonzakura, resulting in numerous small, bleeding wounds, and his captain’s haori and Shihakushō were cut in various places.
However, such wounds were of no concern to Byakuya.
As Senbonzakura’s master, Byakuya knew its strengths and weaknesses.
Its strength was self-evident.
Its weakness was that while it could inflict significant damage, it wouldn’t cause massive bleeding, nor was it likely to hit vital points, making its attack power somewhat lacking.
Byakuya could break through Senbonzakura’s attacks if he chose to endure the injuries.
But he wouldn’t opt for a mutual damage method.
Knowing Senbonzakura well, he had various methods to bypass its attacks without harm.
He could even capture Gilgamesh without breaking through Senbonzakura.
However, these methods required him to take things seriously.
Byakuya felt humiliated at the thought that, as a Gotei 13 captain, he had to get serious to deal with a newly enrolled student.
Fortunately, Gilgamesh’s talent justified it.
Otherwise…
No, there was no otherwise.
After another evasion from Senbonzakura, Byakuya’s expression turned serious, his demeanor becoming sharp and cold.
Seeing this, Yoruichi knew the real battle was about to begin.
This also meant Byakuya would experience the true terror of Kennō!
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