"This sword style belongs to Kenpachi, not yours. His way of the blade may not suit you at all."
"No matter how much you imitate him, you will never become a second Zaraki Kenpachi."
Hearing Retsu Unohana's calm words, Ito Makoto felt as though a veil had been lifted from his mind. Although he had left the Eleventh Division ten years ago, his combat style had always revolved around trading injuries for advantage.
It wasn't only because he had learned under Zaraki Kenpachi more importantly, his main body, Yekawa, possessed High-Speed Regeneration. Because of that, he had grown accustomed to this savage, reckless style. For the main body, as long as the damage wasn't fatal or didn't severely destroy internal organs, recovery came swiftly and without impacting combat ability.
But Ito Makoto, as a Shinigami clone, did not possess such regenerative power. When his right arm was severed by a single strike, his combat strength plummeted instantly. Yet he had stubbornly continued this same style, and because of that, the flaw in his approach had become glaringly obvious.
Retsu Unohana glanced at the contemplative Ito Makoto and continued,
"Besides, even the current Zaraki Kenpachi is only half-formed in his path. What meaning is there in imitating him?"
Before her words had fully settled, she attacked again, blade in hand. Ito Makoto endured the piercing pain in his chest and forced himself to focus on the hand that held her sword.
"I can see it… I definitely can!"
He watched as the gleaming edge drew closer, closer
"Now!"
Seizing the instant, Ito Makoto raised his sword to block.
"Clang!"
Steel collided, sparks bursting outward. An overwhelming force surged from the blade into Ito Makoto's entire body, shaking his blood and spirit violently.
"I blocked it!"
A flicker of excitement appeared in his eyes. For the first time, he had directly blocked Retsu Unohana's strike. Even with her Reiatsu suppressed and one hand bound, this was still a qualitative leap in his swordsmanship.
"Excellent comprehension."
Unohana's eyes lit up, her voice carrying undisguised approval.
"Annihilation God Secret Technique Four Directions Realm!"
After successfully blocking her strike, Ito Makoto activated his domain without hesitation.
As the enhancement from the Four Directions Realm spread through him, his confidence surged. Gripping Annihilation God tightly, he launched a counterattack.
"Annihilation God First Form Tremor!"
The moment the technique was unleashed, Unohana felt a strange oscillation tug at her internal organs. Blood began to seep from the corners of her mouth and nose.
She casually wiped it away.
"Makoto, your Zanpakutō is truly fascinating."
Even as she spoke, a soft glow of Kidō shimmered behind her head. The internal damage caused by the vibrations began to mend almost instantly under its effect.
"This…"
Ito Makoto was momentarily stunned.
And so, within the Four Directions Realm, Unohana continued to fight while enduring both the doubled vibrational force and the suppressive effect of the barrier.
Ito Makoto shifted his grip, holding Annihilation God with both hands. He used Shunpo repeatedly, launching a relentless offensive.
Black mist surged continuously from the blade. This time, instead of releasing Rift Ban outward, he condensed its power around the blade itself, enhancing his close-range explosive force.
"Clang!"
Shrouded in endless black mist, Annihilation God collided with Unohana's Asauchi. With that amplification, Ito Makoto actually managed to meet her head-on.
"Good! Makoto-kun, you truly haven't disappointed me!"
A faint bloodlust flickered in Unohana's eyes as her excitement grew. She pressed forward relentlessly. Throughout the exchange, she refrained from using Hadō, Bakudō, or even her Zanpakutō's abilities. She relied solely on Kidō to counter the vibrational damage while pursuing him with pure swordsmanship.
Each of her strikes appeared simple, yet carried immeasurable force. The pressure of her blade alone shattered stone and split the ground.
Gradually, Ito Makoto began to find his rhythm. From being completely overwhelmed, he progressed to exchanging multiple blows with her.
But the moment the black mist around his blade dissipated, Unohana seized the opening.
"Pfft!"
With a single stroke, she severed his sword-wielding right hand again. Agony surged through his entire body.
"Why does she like cutting off hands so much…"
Ito Makoto couldn't help but complain inwardly. In just two days, his right hand had been cut off twice.
Before he could even apply Kidō to stabilize himself, Unohana's blade was already pressed against his chest.
Seeing the bloodthirsty glint in her eyes, he hurriedly shouted,
"Wait Captain!"
But Unohana paid no heed.
Her blade fell.
"Oh, crap!"
Darkness swallowed his vision, and he fainted once more.
…
When Ito Makoto regained consciousness, four days had passed. Staring at the familiar ceiling and bay window of his room, he quickly sat up and checked his body.
His right arm had been reattached.
Only then did he let out a long breath.
Clenching his fist, he stared at the arm that had been severed twice in a matter of days, a strange sense of unreality washing over him.
…
Great Hollow Home, deep within the catacombs.
This area was enveloped by Yekawa's Four Directions Thunder World a training ground he had specially created for the Menos Grande.
Leaning against the wall with arms crossed, Yekawa watched the battle unfolding between two Vasto Lorde.
Halibel raised her bone greatsword and brought it down in a powerful cleave, while Nelliel held her spear horizontally, blocking the strike head-on.
"Whoosh!"
In the next instant, both vanished with Sonido, clashing again in close quarters within the vast barrier.
Watching from the side, Yekawa nodded in satisfaction. This mirrored the way his Shinigami clone sparred against Captain-level opponents in Soul Society. The experience gained there was transmitted back to the main body, which in turn refined and passed those techniques on to these Hollows.
Through this method, every Vasto Lorde and Adjuchas under his command had improved significantly.
Take Halibel and Nelliel compared to when they first joined, their current combat proficiency was on an entirely different level.
The battle continued.
Halibel swung her greatsword, summoning a torrent of water from thin air.
"Waterfall Severance!"
Not to be outdone, Nelliel hurled her spear, Reiatsu surging.
"Emerald Lance!"
Just as the massive wave and the spear cloaked in spiritual pressure were about to collide violently within the Thunder World, Yekawa stepped in.
He appeared between them in an instant his left hand catching Nelliel's spear, his right hand dispersing Halibel's attack with a casual wave.
"Lord Yekawa"
"Lord Yekawa"
The two immediately halted, standing obediently at his sides.
"Tier, Nel your combat techniques have improved greatly. I am very pleased."
A trace of joy appeared in their eyes. Praise from the usually strict Yekawa was rare and precious.
"That's enough for today. Go and rest. And… have Starrk come see me."
As he spoke, Yekawa gently patted their heads, one on each side.
Before long, Halibel and Nelliel left together, chatting lightly as they exited the lowest level of the catacombs. Despite their fierce sparring, their relationship off the battlefield remained close.