At the end of the sea of flowers stood a towering peak, its surface bristling with countless blades and swords drenched in blood and flesh.
At the very summit rose a high platform — its structure strangely narrow at the base and wide at the top, its surface shaped like the curve of a bow, its back like a taut bowstring. Apart from a single narrow stone staircase, the rest of the path was nothing but a mountain of blades and a forest of swords — treacherous beyond belief.
And carved upon the platform in bold, chiseled characters were three massive words:
"The Farewell Platform (望乡台)"
If you listened closely, you could almost hear the faint, resentful wails of lost souls — sorrowful yet longing, like soft weeping and whispers brushing your neck like strands of a woman's hair drifting by your ear.
Moments ago, when Tsunayashiro Kojiro drove his short blade into Asano Kiyoshi's abdomen, his spiritual pressure — already at its limit — surged to become Fifth-Class Reiatsu!
The ink-black scroll slowly unfurled, displaying Kiyoshi's current stats:
"Host: Asano Kiyoshi
Zanjutsu: 43 (In the midst of slaughter, you've mastered the art of the sword, weaving techniques together into more than just fancy forms.)
Hakuda: 45 (Daily training under the Head Captain's hammering, combined with your Hierro-like talent, has given you this level of physical strength — normal, isn't it?)
Kidō: 49 (Perfect control over Reishi, perfect command of Kidō. Your only flaw: having just ascended to Fifth-Class Reiatsu, you haven't yet fully adjusted to this explosive surge in power.)
Shunpo: 46 (Your strong physique and Reishi control make your steps as effortless as flowing wind — even repeated use won't overload your body.)
Reiatsu: Fifth-Class Reiatsu (1%) (You now stand at a watershed — an invitation to the ranks of the truly strong, the threshold of the peak. Like a child learning to walk, you're just beginning to reach out to understand the world!)
Overall Evaluation: 183 (You now possess the combat strength of a typical 11th Seat — 180–190 — stepping steadily onto the path of the strong.)
Zanpakutō: Underworld (阴曹地府)
True Shikai: Bloom as heavenly light, wither into the other shore — Yomi!
Bankai: ???
Unlocked Realms: Demon Gate, Yomi Path, Farewell Platform
— Farewell Platform Ability Description:
Ability 1: Hell of Blades and Swords — Upon this mountain of blades and prison of swords, only you and I swing our blades to kill! (When activated, both parties are forcibly drawn into the Blade and Sword Hell domain, where they exchange strikes directly. All damage dealt is mental damage; neither can die within the domain. But once one side concedes or suffers mental collapse, the loser's mental wounds become real, physical injuries.)
Note: While active, the host's sense of pain is reduced by 50% and mental threshold raised by 50%. Those with significantly higher Reiatsu can resist the conversion to real damage — if the opponent's Reiatsu surpasses yours by two full classes, the ability fails.
Ability 2: One Ascent, One Glimpse, Endless Yearning. (When used, the host's current state is recorded. Using it again rewinds to this state, ignoring life or death. However, this comes at a great cost: after the rewind, all stats plummet by 95% for five minutes, with aftereffects lasting one week.)
Next Realm to Unlock: River of Forgetfulness (1% unlocked)"
Having risen to Fifth-Class Reiatsu, Kiyoshi immediately understood the Farewell Platform's abilities. After buffing himself with a rewind mark, he decisively triggered the Hell of Blades and Swords!
His voice echoed across the deathly still platform:
"Bloom as heavenly light, wither into the other shore — Yomi!"
Hearing that release chant — so different from before — everyone was stunned. Wasn't this guy's Shikai already broken enough? He could change forms again?!
But Aizen and the Head Captain watched the terrifying Blade and Sword Hell with grave expressions. They both knew: this wasn't just a form change — it was a true second release.
In Soul Society, it wasn't unheard of for Zanpakutō to have a half Shikai and a true Shikai — but Kiyoshi's half Shikai was already monstrous enough. By all rights, he shouldn't also have a true one!
"Heh… what an interesting child," Aizen murmured, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile as the mirrored lenses reflected the dread domain.
With the Blade and Sword Hell unleashed, the entire platform — no, the entire Summer Festival Plaza — was suffused with a blood scent so thick it felt almost solid. Scarlet flower petals drifted down, congealing the air itself.
Both Unohana and Zaraki Kenpachi — who'd slipped into the scene unnoticed — couldn't suppress the tremors that ran through them at this dreamlike sight. Yes! This is it! That feeling of a blade at your throat, your heart in your hand, blood dripping from your fingertips — this was the pinnacle of ecstasy!
"Hahaha! Interesting! Now this is true carnage!"
Kenpachi's coarse roar reverberated across the plaza, his murderous aura like that of some ancient beast, grinding the audience's already frayed nerves to dust.
Kiyoshi heard Kenpachi's laughter but had no time to care. Staring at Kojiro — pale as death — he spoke slowly:
"Come. This is the end..."
As his words fell, an endless hell of blades and swords enveloped them both. Kiyoshi drew his blade — almost in unison with Kojiro.
Steel swung through the air — but there was no clash, no ringing steel-on-steel. Their swords never met.
Each man gained a wound so deep it cut to the bone.
Kojiro, feeling that searing pain, stared at Kiyoshi in disbelief. He coughed up blood and shouted hoarsely:
"Are you insane?! Trading wounds like this — you'll die first for sure!"
Kiyoshi bared his bloodstained teeth in a grin:
"Again!"
Kojiro stared at the demon-like figure before him — and for the first time, a flicker of fear crossed his face. But when he glanced at the stands, he caught sight of that crying middle-aged woman. Kojiro smiled softly in her direction — a gentle, childlike smile, like a boy coming home from school to his mother. He whispered:
"Mother… forgive me for making you cry again. But this should be the last time. I will cure your illness… and we'll watch the Summer Festival together..."
The woman seemed to hear him — her sobs now utterly uncontrollable.
The entire plaza fell silent. Only a mother's weeping echoed under Soul Society's vast sky...
"Asano Kiyoshi!"
"Tsunayashiro Kojiro!"
The two swung their blades at each other once more!
T/N: For up to 20 chapters ahead on all my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle
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