"Can Light Form Movement transform the body into glowing Reishi to achieve high-speed movement?"
Masatsuki Aozaki pondered, intrigued by this peculiar ability.
He attempted to use Light Form Movement again. His body instantly turned into a brilliant flash of light before reappearing elsewhere. The speed was astonishing—almost like teleportation.
Moreover, during Light Form Movement, his body lost all physical form, allowing him to evade enemy attacks effortlessly. It was similar to Aura Michibane's ability to atomize herself using Reishi and soul manipulation, except this technique also granted incredible speed.
"This speed is unbelievable!"
Masatsuki Aozaki tested Light Form Movement several more times, and each time, he could feel its unparalleled velocity. Even the Shinsoku technique he had previously developed couldn't compare. It truly felt like instantaneous movement—he doubted any other technique could be faster.
"Fragor!"
Masatsuki Aozaki called out softly. He extended his hand, and a surge of black and white Reiatsu rapidly converged at his fingertips.
The sheer intensity of the Reiatsu fluctuations made the air around him dense and heavy, and even the space itself began to tremble. Before the attack had fully taken shape, the surrounding area shattered like fragile glass, revealing deep black fissures.
A black and white sphere of Reiatsu gradually coalesced at his fingertip, emanating a terrifying pressure. The force of its energy shook the space around it as if threatening to tear the world apart.
The barrier Masatsuki Aozaki had set up upon his arrival couldn't even withstand the pressure and was already on the verge of collapse.
"Fragor… Aizen, what a shame you never got to use this. It's quite the impressive ability!"
Even Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but marvel at the destructive power before him.
Fragor was an ability that came with the fifth stage of Hōgyoku fusion.
In the original timeline, Aizen had also gained this power upon reaching the fifth stage of his evolution. His transformation at that point was nothing short of monstrous—his forehead had developed slitted, eye-like openings, his face turned pitch black like ink, and his former skin split apart, peeling to either side of the darkness.
Three gaping holes appeared in his upper torso, and his Zanpakutō fused completely with his hand. But what truly solidified his inhuman form was the massive set of three pairs of butterfly-like wings sprouting from his back, each wing ridge lined with grotesque skulls.
By then, Aizen had lost all resemblance to a Shinigami, bearing an eerie and terrifying resemblance to a Hollow. His Fragor was unleashed from the skulls on his wings, and a single blast was already more powerful than any Hadō he had ever cast. The sheer force was enough to inspire dread, capable of annihilating everything in its path.
Though its range wasn't as wide as some other destructive techniques, its raw power was astonishing.
However, Masatsuki Aozaki had not undergone a monstrous transformation like Aizen. As a result, his method of using Fragor differed.
Masatsuki Aozaki had no doubt—if he were to unleash the Fragor in his hand, even an Aizen who had evolved to the third stage of destruction wouldn't survive a direct hit.
Shaking his head at the thought, he waved his hand, dispersing the Fragor into Reishi.
The barriers he had set up were far too weak to withstand such an attack. Having personally experienced the sheer force of a fully formed Fragor, he now had a rough estimate of its power.
"If Fragor is this strong, then Ultrafragor must be even more terrifying. I need to find someone to test it on!"
Masatsuki Aozaki's fingers twitched with anticipation—he was eager to put it to use but hadn't found a suitable target yet.
Ultrafragor was the enhanced version of Fragor.
In Aizen's monstrous form, this technique functioned by having all the skulls on his wing ridges simultaneously release powerful bursts of Reiatsu. These waves of energy formed four circular constructs of solidified Reiatsu, which then detonated the enemy.
Masatsuki Aozaki lacked Aizen's mutated "butterfly wings," but thanks to his exceptional control over Reishi, he could easily construct Reishi rings on his own.
For him, this ability was far more practical than the old man's Bankai. After all, using this move eliminated the risk of accidentally burning the world to ashes, unlike Zanka no Tachi.
Besides, Fragor alone was already more than enough to handle most enemies!
"Next, I need to take some time to quickly familiarize myself with my current power."
Returning to the Soul Society now was clearly not a wise decision.
Having evolved to an entirely new level, Masatsuki Aozaki's Reiatsu, slashes, speed, defense, and recovery had all undergone tremendous enhancements—far surpassing his past self!
If he couldn't control his strength properly while sparring or interrogating someone, the consequences could be disastrous.
Thus, the best approach was to first understand and master his power in this vast, uninhabited desert.
"But not having my Zanpakutō feels really strange."
Masatsuki Aozaki frowned slightly, a vague sense of loss welling up within him.
After decades as a Shinigami, he had long been accustomed to wielding a blade in battle. The weight of a sword at his waist had become second nature to him.
Now that his waist was empty, the absence felt unsettling.
"You've got some nerve to say that! Our home is gone, and from now on, we can only live inside your heart!"
Banshō's playful voice echoed in his mind, tinged with a hint of grievance.
Masatsuki Aozaki shook his head with a wry smile, a flicker of guilt passing through his eyes.
He had, after all, willingly let go of his blade.
But it wasn't because he wanted to abandon his Zanpakutō—nor was it that the Zanpakutō had abandoned him.
Rather, he had felt an unmistakable sense of detachment, as though that sword was no longer meant to exist.
In the past, it had served as a bridge between him and Banshō Senran.
But now, it felt like an obstruction.
He realized that the blade had already fulfilled its purpose.
Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but recall something Senran had once told him.
"So, it really wasn't me after all."
He shook his head, a look of relief settling on his face.
Reaching out, he watched as the surrounding quicksand dissolved into Reishi.
The Reishi gathered and gradually took shape in his hand, forming a katana.
From the outside, it was identical to the old Banshō Senran.
But he knew—this blade was empty.
Just a shell. A decorative piece with no real substance.
But that didn't matter. As long as it served as a symbol, it was enough.
His bond with Banshō Senran and the others had already reached a point where a blade was no longer necessary to connect them.
"You actually doubted me before? Unbelievable!"
Senran's indignant voice rang out.
"Don't be mad, Senran. I'll make it up to you."
Masatsuki Aozaki sent the thought to her.
Senran: "..."
Masatsuki Aozaki chuckled and shook his head.
He knew that Senran's silence meant she had already accepted it.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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