Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō-Chapter 210: World

Most people recognized Retsu Unohana's uniqueness, but they mostly admired and revered her. Only Masatsuki Aozaki could entertain such a disrespectful thought.

A sharp whistle of a blade cutting through the air rang in her ears, accompanied by the rhythmic tapping of straw sandals on the ground. A massive dark shadow surged upward—a demon clad in a white haori leaping into the air, brandishing a curved long blade as it came crashing down.

She swung her right hand with force, slashing the sharp blade diagonally downward.

Masatsuki Aozaki raised his sword horizontally against his left arm. The blade tilted slightly downward, reddish-brown sparks scattering as it fell.

Retsu Unohana's left hand emerged from her sleeve.

Masatsuki Aozaki saw the wakizashi in Unohana's grasp aimed at his upper right abdomen—right where the liver was.

Ordinarily, even without a sword, a heavy blow from a fist alone would be enough to cause unbearable pain.

For a brief moment, Masatsuki Aozaki deliberated but ultimately chose to extend his left hand, striking the wakizashi's blade.

It wasn't a Zanpakutō, just an ordinary sword, but in Retsu Unohana's hands, enhanced by her Reiatsu, it became a fearsome and deadly weapon.

Under equal levels of Reiatsu, no ordinary Shinigami could block that wakizashi with their body—even with Masatsuki Aozaki's exceptional physique, it was impossible.

"It seems you haven't forgotten what I taught you."

Retsu Unohana straightened, turning to face him. Her eyes radiated killing intent—she was fully immersed in the fight.

"Niten Ichi-ryū. You taught me yourself. How could I forget?"

Masatsuki Aozaki's gaze was equally cold as he swung a backhand slash at Unohana's chest.

In this country, any mention of dual-blade swordsmanship inevitably brought to mind the famed swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

His style, "Niten Ichi-ryū," involved wielding a long sword in the right hand and a short sword in the left.

Other dual-blade styles followed a similar principle—one hand holding a long blade, the other a short one.

When the left hand wielded the short sword and the right held the long sword, it was called "standard dual-blade style." Reversing the grip was known as "inverted dual-blade style."

Niten Ichi-ryū was a rare martial art, seldom practiced.

Fighting with two swords required wielding them one-handed, naturally diminishing the striking power compared to the two-handed slashes of a single-sword style.

Furthermore, dual-blade combat could be distracting—victory or defeat often hinged on a split second of absolute focus.

A single moment of carelessness could lead to utter defeat.

However, dual-blade combat placed greater emphasis on technique—using the unpredictable nature of two swords to confound the enemy and seize victory.

As Soul Society's greatest master of swordsmanship, Retsu Unohana had naturally mastered various dual-blade techniques.

The very essence of such a style was its unorthodox and unpredictable nature—there was no concept of a "sneak attack." Masatsuki Aozaki would never consider it an offense.

Under normal circumstances, he might have teased her about it.

But at this moment, he knew all too well that saying something inappropriate would only earn her ire.

The only thing that could satisfy her now was the cold steel of a blade.

Retsu Unohana gave a slight nod—this man pleased her more and more.

With a casual flick of her wrist, she discarded the wakizashi onto the ground.

The gap in strength between them was too great, and Masatsuki Aozaki knew her techniques too well.

This move was only effective if it caught him by surprise.

Continuing to wield it would not only leave her at a disadvantage but also risk having her techniques completely read and countered. Worse yet, it would divide her focus.

"Come on, it's far too early to end this!"

Retsu Unohana lightly ran her hand over the wound on her chest, glancing at the bright crimson blood staining her fingers. The corner of her mouth curled into a chilling smile.

There was an indescribable madness and obsession in her eyes, as if the sight of blood filled her with endless power and ecstasy.

With a soft, almost whisper-like call:

"Bankai, Minazuki."

The entire battlefield transformed in an instant.

The once-calm atmosphere shattered as Minazuki and the surrounding environment began oozing blood, unfolding into a grotesque, blood-soaked nightmare.

In a flash, her blade morphed into a writhing, crimson weapon, stretching and twisting like a living entity, exuding an overwhelming aura of death.

In mere moments, the world was consumed by scarlet, as though they had been cast into the depths of a hellish battlefield.

The thick scent of blood filled the air, and its metallic tang stirred excitement in the two combatants—both monsters in their own right.

...

Then, with a thunderous boom—

A colossal wave of Reiatsu erupted like a raging storm, crashing outward in all directions.

The sheer density of the force made it feel tangible, shaking the very ground beneath them. Even the blood-drenched landscape seemed on the verge of being torn apart.

Through the swirling crimson mist, a lone figure stood tall, gripping a gleaming white blade. From his body, an unending surge of Reiatsu burst forth, pouring into the blood-drenched world like an unstoppable tide.

In the blink of an eye, the scarlet abyss was engulfed by a brilliant, blinding white.

The overwhelming pressure continued to expand, suffocating in its intensity. Wherever it spread, everything seemed to freeze.

Time itself appeared to halt. Space, locked in place.

Even the very air crystallized into ice, pressing down with an unbearable weight.

"Bankai—Banshō Senran Mugen."

Masatsuki Aozaki's voice resonated in Unohana's heart.

In the sky above, a blazing sun and a luminous moon hung side by side, casting their light upon the battlefield.

A grand palace, wreathed in lightning, loomed high above—solemn, majestic, divine.

A cool breeze stirred the air, carrying a refreshing chill.

Waves surged and crashed violently against jagged cliffs, their thunderous roars echoing across the land.

These impossible sights overlapped in perfect harmony, painting a scene both breathtaking and terrifying—a world of boundless beauty hiding an unfathomable dread.

What kind of world was this?

Tranquil, radiant, mesmerizing beyond words—so alluring that one could easily drown in its splendor.

Even the ever-composed Retsu Unohana felt a slight tremor run through her body, a chill creeping up her spine.

"A world... Just how much do you carry in your heart? How greedy."

Her gaze turned solemn as she peered deeper, as if trying to glimpse the truth hidden within the endless void.

The two of them stood within this paradoxical domain—a realm where vibrant beauty and blood-drenched carnage intertwined, existing as one beneath their feet.

"Isn't it the same for you, Retsu?"

Masatsuki Aozaki surveyed the world around him, his voice quiet as he took in the scarlet nightmare that coexisted with his own creation.

"I'm nowhere near your level," Unohana replied, shaking her head slightly. Her tone remained eerily calm.

"The power to create a world... That's not something Minazuki can match. It only proves how terrifying your abilities truly are."

She narrowed her eyes, scanning the vast illusion surrounding them.

"The world you created... is hardly any different from reality."

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake