"And now, tell me, what have you taught Rukia?"

"One year…"

"Don't you know that this is the time when Rukia can grow the fastest? If I had been the one to teach her during this year, what level do you think Rukia's swordsmanship could have reached?"

If he hadn't witnessed Rukia's performance just now, Byakuya Kuchiki would only have attributed her lack of progress to poor talent for swordsmanship, assuming her skills would barely reach the level of an ordinary Shinigami even after she achieved Shikai.

But the contrast between Rukia's performance during her battle with Teacher Ailin and her sparring sessions with him was undeniable.

After a few moments of silence, Byakuya responded to his uncle's questioning. "At the very least, Rukia should be able to defeat some elite Shinigami with her swordsmanship."

"Yes, elite Shinigami. You even acknowledge that? Then tell me, before I intervened, at what level was Rukia's strength after a year of your instruction?"

What level was Rukia's swordsmanship at…?

Byakuya couldn't bring himself to answer as he recalled her performance.

In terms of training, Rukia's swordsmanship almost reached the standard of an ordinary Shinigami.

However, once a real battle began, her panic would lead to mistakes, and she might not even be able to defeat an outstanding first-year student from the Shin'ō Academy.

"It seems you've become quite complacent over the years, Byakuya. You seem to have forgotten a phrase I've always emphasized to you. Pride is found only at the edge of the blade. When your blade cannot reach your enemy, your pride will be trampled underfoot."

A pang of heartache flashed in Ailin's eyes as he looked at Byakuya.

He vividly remembered Byakuya's defeat at the hands of Äs Nödt during the Thousand-Year Blood War, his desperate plea to Ichigo Kurosaki to protect Seireitei.

At that time, Byakuya, his mind consumed by Äs Nödt's "fear," had failed to even preserve his last shred of pride.

How heartbreaking it had been.

Would Byakuya still have to experience that defeat, even with his presence?

Ailin believed that if Byakuya's swordsmanship had reached a certain level, he would have noticed Rukia's "logical thinking" trait.

However, in this past year, besides her basic strength improving, Rukia had made no progress in combat. This meant Byakuya hadn't even discovered her unique trait.

Coupled with the sight of Rukia crying earlier, Ailin wanted nothing more than to give Byakuya a good beating.

As Byakuya Kuchiki’s uncle, Ailin naturally wouldn't hesitate to act once he had made up his mind.

"Bankai – Innate Domain: Unlimited Blade Works!"

As Ailin’s voice reverberated through the air, Rukia suddenly realized the world around her had transformed.

The vibrant, fragrant courtyard of the Kuchiki Manor had become a desolate, crimson wasteland beneath a golden sky.

At the edges of this world, enormous gears churned relentlessly.

Countless swords were embedded in the crimson earth.

The most prominent feature of this space was a towering hill of swords.

It was the only structure with any height in this barren landscape.

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At the summit of the sword hill stood a wooden cross, and a figure seemed to be bound to it.

However, before Rukia could get a clear look, Teacher Ailin waved his hand, and the sword hill vanished.

Was this Teacher Ailin’s Bankai?

Rukia stared at this surreal world in astonishment.

It was the first time she had witnessed Bankai.

...

Byakuya, pulled into Ailin’s Innate Domain, stood a few dozen meters in front of him. Rukia was even further away, within a protective barrier formed by hundreds of Zanpakutō.

It was enough for Rukia to clearly observe the battle between him and Byakuya while remaining safe from any collateral damage.

Looking at Byakuya, Ailin said impassively, “Byakuya, I remember telling you that besides Zanpakutō, Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō are also essential for a Shinigami.

There are countless strange and powerful abilities in this world, and you might encounter some that render your Zanpakutō useless.

In such situations, the only way to minimize the decline in your strength is to master one or more of those four skills. It seems you've forgotten my teachings. Then let me remind you here!”

With those words, Ailin appeared beside Byakuya in a flash, his foot shooting out.

Byakuya's Shunpo was far too fast. Byakuya only had time to raise his half-drawn Zanpakutō in defense.

Bang!

Ailin's kick connected squarely with Byakuya's Zanpakutō.

The sharp blade clashed with Ailin's shin, sparks flying. However, it couldn't even cut a single hair on his leg.

Furthermore, the immense force caused cracks to appear on Byakuya's sword-holding hand.

Unable to withstand Ailin's kick, Byakuya's Zanpakutō was sent flying. Ailin's leg broke through his defenses, striking him directly in the chest.

Boom!

Byakuya was launched backward like a cannonball, creating three sonic booms in the air before his momentum slowed.

However, the next moment, Ailin appeared above Byakuya, his right foot raised high, ready to strike.

Facing his uncle's attack, Byakuya could only raise his arms in defense.

Boom!

Thump!

Boom!

This time, Byakuya's body only created one sonic boom before he crashed into the ground of Unlimited Blade Works.

A deafening roar echoed through the space as a plume of dust over ten meters high erupted from the impact.

When the dust settled, Byakuya lay before Ailin, covered in blood.

“Pfft…”

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Byakuya coughed up a mouthful of blood, each cough accompanied by bloody spittle.

Rukia, watching from afar, was stunned. She knew Teacher Ailin was powerful. But Captain Byakuya, the captain of the 6th Division, was also incredibly strong.

Especially after a year of training with him, Rukia had a deep understanding of his strength.

It was a realm she could never reach in her lifetime.

Sometimes, Rukia even wondered if Captain Byakuya's strength had already reached or surpassed Teacher Ailin's, which was why her teacher had entrusted her swordsmanship training to him.

However, Rukia now realized how naive she had been.

In just a brief moment, she hadn't even seen what happened, only hearing the distant roar and seeing the lingering sonic booms in the air.

By the time she could clearly see the battlefield, Captain Byakuya had already been severely injured by Teacher Ailin.

“Teacher Ailin is so strong.”

Rukia covered her mouth, unable to contain her exclamation.

They weren't even on the same level. The gap was simply too vast.

Ailin slowly landed in front of the crater Byakuya had created. Looking at his injured nephew, he said, "Is that all you've got, Byakuya? I haven’t even exerted myself, and you're already down? Is this the answer you give me after all these decades?"

Byakuya was equally shocked.

He knew his uncle was incredibly powerful, but he hadn't expected to be severely injured in just two exchanges with a serious Ailin.

He opened his mouth to say something but ultimately remained silent. Although he hadn't released his Zanpakutō, his strength wasn’t at its peak.

However, in a real battle, if he faced an enemy far stronger than himself and didn't activate Bankai immediately, it was a grave mistake.

On the distant sword hill, a Zanpakutō shot skyward, transforming into a streak of golden lightning and flying towards Ailin and Byakuya.

As it flew, blue light flickered on the blade. By the time it reached Ailin, it had already released its Shikai, becoming a white bandage with small protrusions.

After circling Ailin once, the bandage reached Byakuya's wounds, lifting him into the air and wrapping around him.

Under the green light, Byakuya's injuries quickly healed.

Ailin waved his hand, and the bandage instantly transformed back into its Zanpakutō form, returning to the sword hill.

“Byakuya, you know my ability is sword creation. But I don’t think I’ve ever told you what I can achieve with my understanding of Zanpakutō, as someone who can forge them.

Of course, using this ability in the outside world might cause some people to lose sleep, so to ease their minds and prevent them from constantly monitoring me, I’ve never publicly used it.”

However, I think it’s necessary for you to experience what it feels like for a Shinigami to lose something they pride themselves on, or even have their own abilities turned against them!

With that, Ailin flicked his wrist, and Senbonzakura, Byakuya’s Zanpakutō that had been sent flying earlier, rose from the ground. After spinning in the air under Ailin’s control, it landed in his hand.

“Byakuya, experience the despair and fear brought by your own Zanpakutō!”

“Synchronization—”

“Begin!”

Blue reiatsu tendrils snaked out from Ailin’s right hand, forcefully invading Senbonzakura.

Soon, as the blue lines covered the entire blade, Senbonzakura trembled and synchronized with Ailin.

Instantly, countless battle memories of Byakuya Kuchiki surged into Ailin’s mind like a tidal wave…