“Is it over?” “Not that easily.
A Vasto Lorde isn’t comparable to an Adjuchas!” Tansei Shihōin frowned.
Sure enough, Noniar’s furious roar came from within the smoke filling the battlefield.
“Shinigami!
You actually destroyed my Phantom Clone!
I’ll kill you!” As his voice rang out, his figure instantly appeared in front of Shadow, his razor-sharp arm thrusting viciously forward.
“Kawarimi no Jutsu!” The Reiatsu remaining in Shadow’s body was barely enough to perform a single Kawarimi no Jutsu.
As he looked at the wooden log that had been pierced through in his place, Shadow collapsed to the ground.
Had he finally reached his limit?
Everything before him blurred.
His vision was already beginning to fade.
Am I going to die again?
No.
I don’t want to die.
I can’t die.
I promised Yoruichi-sama that I would come back alive.
How could I break that promise?
Shadow struggled to raise his head.
Through his fading vision, he seemed to see Yoruichi Shihōin’s tear-streaked face.
Then another image surfaced from his previous life, Anko Mitarashi’s desperate, weeping expression.
“I can’t die,” Shadow growled.
“Absolutely not!
After losing Anko-sama, I can’t lose Yoruichi-sama too.
I won’t let the same thing happen again!” It felt as though a sledgehammer had struck his chest.
Blood erupted from his throat, yet Shadow still struggled back to his feet, his breathing becoming increasingly heavy.
“Looks like he’s really reached his limit,” Shunsui Kyōraku said grimly as he adjusted the straw hat on his head.
“To push a Vasto Lorde this far while already seriously wounded is incredible enough,” Jūshirō Ukitake sighed.
“Even compared to captain-class fighters…
just how old is he?” “Should we intervene?” Shinji Hirako asked.
“No.” Yoruichi lowered her head slightly.
“I believe in Shadow.
He won’t lie to me.” “Yoruichi…” “You’re strong, Shinigami.
Your strange Kidō, your unusual Shunpo, I have to admit, you’re remarkable.” Noniar’s voice turned cold.
“Perhaps in less than a hundred years…
no, give you only ten years, and there might hardly be a Hollow in Hueco Mundo capable of suppressing you.” His murderous intent surged.
“So I’ll have to erase you before you fully mature.” “Is that so?” Shadow took a deep breath and placed one hand on the hilt of the sword strapped across his back.
“You certainly talk big.” “Shinigami, are you finally willing to draw your sword?” Noniar sneered.
“But even if you do, what difference will it make?
You don’t have any Reiatsu left, do you?” “That’s right.” Shadow nodded.
“So what?” “I have to admit, you’ve successfully enraged me.” Noniar’s expression darkened.
“And the price you’ll pay for that is your life!” The instant those words left his mouth, Noniar activated Sonído.
His sharpened arms stabbed forward again and again as Shadow dragged his exhausted body aside, desperately avoiding each attack.
Suddenly, the corner of Shadow’s mouth lifted slightly.
Forcibly gathering the tiny amount of Reiatsu remaining inside him, he used Shunshin no Jutsu and appeared above Noniar.
“Noniar, was it?
Remember this.
I’m not a Shinigami.” Shadow reached behind himself and drew the pitch-black Zanpakutō, raising it high toward the sky.
He mobilized every last bit of mental energy within his body and forcibly seized control of the Reishi throughout the surrounding area, drawing it toward the blade.
Blood continued pouring from his wounds.
Pain tore through him.
Every cell, every bone, every muscle and vein in his body seemed to be screaming.
Inside his head, it felt as though countless steel needles were stabbing into his brain over and over again.
The agony was so immense that even Shadow, who had long since grown accustomed to brushing against death, could barely endure it.
Yet he continued without hesitation.
Under the control of his mental energy, countless Reishi particles gathered wildly together.
A gigantic blade of condensed energy, dozens of meters long and so dense that it was nearly solid, took shape above the Zanpakutō.
It writhed and expanded, radiating a violent, savage aura.
“Damn it!
Cero!” Noniar finally realized something was wrong and immediately unleashed his strongest attack.
“Tōjutsu: Tenzan (Sword Art: Heaven Slash)!” Shadow roared and brought his sword down with all his strength.
“BOOOOOOM!” A terrifying explosion erupted.
Clouds of dust and sand surged into the air.
When the dust began to clear, a gigantic crater nearly a hundred meters deep had appeared across the battlefield.
Shadow was drenched completely in blood.
His face could barely be distinguished beneath it, making his appearance almost frightening.
A muffled groan escaped him.
Ignoring his violently trembling legs, Shadow slowly planted one foot beneath himself.
His hands, which had been supporting his body against the ground, struggled to release their grip.
An action that should have been effortless seemed to drain every last shred of strength from his body.
His mouth hung open as he gasped desperately for air.
At last, Shadow managed to stand.
Step by trembling step, he staggered out of the cloud of dust as it gradually dispersed.
He had promised her.
He had promised that he would come back alive.
And he had done it.
An unshakable will, together with that attachment he could neither let go of nor properly explain, supported his body and forced him to keep moving.
“Shadow!” Yoruichi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and hurried toward him.
“Yoruichi-sama…” Shadow finally reached the end of his endurance and collapsed heavily to the ground.
Even then, his lips were still moving faintly, whispering something under his breath.
…
When Shadow finally awakened again, he opened his eyes and found himself lying inside a simple, spacious room.
He tried moving his body, only to be overwhelmed by weakness.
His hands and feet barely seemed to obey him.
“You’re awake, Shadow-kun.” A gentle voice sounded beside him.
Shadow turned his head and saw Retsu Unohana.
“Yoruichi-sama…” Shadow spoke in a hoarse voice.
“How is she?” Unohana paused.
She had thought the first thing Shadow would ask about after waking would be himself.
A small smile appeared on her face.
“Yoruichi is perfectly fine.
I sent her home to rest this morning.
Right now…” She glanced through the window at the darkening sky.
“She may already be on her way here.” “I see.” “Still, Shadow-kun…” Seeing that Shadow apparently had no intention of saying anything else, Unohana finally decided to ask him herself.
Before she could finish, however, the door slid open.
“Shadow, you’re awake!” The moment Yoruichi entered and saw Shadow’s open eyes, a bright smile immediately appeared on her brown face.
“Yoruichi-sama!” Shadow struggled to sit up, but Yoruichi hurried forward and pushed him back onto the bed.
“You’re still injured.
Why are you moving around like that?” Yoruichi complained.
“But…” Shadow hesitated.
“No buts!” Yoruichi put on a stern expression and glared at him.
“Well, well.
You woke up after only three days.
I thought you’d be asleep for seven or eight.” Kaien Shiba grinned teasingly.
Opportunities like this didn’t come often.
He had to make the most of it.
“What exactly do you mean by that, Kaien Shiba?” Yoruichi’s face immediately darkened as she turned around and slowly enunciated every word.
“Nothing.
Ha…
haha…” Kaien laughed awkwardly.
“You really brought that on yourself,” Kūkaku Shiba said, tilting her head as she criticized her tactless brother.
How could he say something like that at a time like this?
Even if it was only a joke and he meant no harm, there was a time and place for everything.
Kūkaku was utterly speechless at her brother.
Before long, the previously empty room was packed with people.
Naturally, Yoruichi, the Shiba siblings, Kensei Muguruma, and the others were there.
What Shadow couldn’t understand was why captains like Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Shinji Hirako had come as well.
They weren’t even close, were they?
“Yoruichi-sama.” Shadow opened his mouth and stared at Yoruichi.
“I’m sorry.
I was useless.” Useless…
Shinji and the others immediately found themselves at a loss for words, their mouths twitching.
Was he joking?
That had been a Vasto Lorde.
A Vasto Lorde!
A Menos that surpassed the level of ordinary captains, not some Adjuchas.
This guy had been seriously injured and had still blasted a Vasto Lorde completely out of existence.
And he called that useless?
Was he trying to make the rest of them feel inadequate?
They should never have come.
All they’d accomplished was making themselves feel miserable.
“Why would you say that?” Yoruichi asked in surprise.
“I…
failed to protect Yoruichi-sama properly.” Shadow clenched his teeth.
“Come on, don’t worry about something like that.” Yoruichi smiled.
“I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I?” “But…
if I hadn’t recklessly chased after him, Yoruichi-sama wouldn’t have…” “You idiot!” Yoruichi suddenly raised her voice.
“I already told you before, Shadow.
You did more than enough.
That’s enough!
Do you seriously not understand me?” “Yoruichi-sama…” Shadow stared at her blankly.
“Don’t ever say things like that again!” Yoruichi narrowed her amber eyes and smiled, revealing her white teeth.
Her voice carried a trace of gentleness, along with another emotion that was difficult to define.
“If I say you’ve done enough, then you’ve done enough.” “Yoruichi-sama…” Shadow remained silent for a long moment.
Then determination flashed within his pitch-black eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“I’ll become stronger.
I’ll keep protecting Yoruichi-sama forever!” “Hey, Shadow, let’s make a promise!” Yoruichi’s smile became incredibly sweet.
“You…
have to stay by my side forever.” “Yes, Yoruichi-sama!” Shadow looked out the window.
The sun would soon disappear completely beneath the horizon.
Anko-sama…
I think I’ve found the same kind of happiness I once had with you.