"Byakuya, next, you will get to properly experience just how powerful these Shinigami Four Fighting Techniques that you've neglected are!"

Then, under Byakuya Kuchiki's bewildered gaze, Ailin drew out his Zanpakutō from his waist. "Watch closely, Byakuya. This is swordsmanship!"

After reminding Byakuya Kuchiki, Ailin raised the Zanpakutō in his hand and fiercely swung it down.

Whoosh—

An over 100-meter tall sword slash shot out faster than Byakuya could react, cutting across several hills.

The next moment, under Byakuya's shocked gaze, the upper halves of these hills slid down diagonally, crashing into the ground with a loud boom, kicking up tall plumes of dust.

Although they were very far away, Byakuya could still tell that the exposed cross-sections of the hills were as smooth as mirrors.

"I don't know what other people's swordsmanship techniques are like—"

This was a lie.

"But to me, swordsmanship means the instant my sword is swung down, everything in front of me will be cut asunder. Nothing will remain unsevered!"

This was the truth.

The Zanpakutō Engetsu that belonged to 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba had been forged by Ailin while he and Koga were locked up in 9th Division's prison.

Based on Engetsu’s "Moon Fang Heaven-Through" principle, Ailin forged an object from the One Piece world—

Wado Ichimonji!

This was a weapon that belonged to a hermit swordsman from the One Piece world, Shimotsuki Kozaburo.

Through this weapon, Ailin gained mastery over sword techniques like "Iron Cut" and "Flying Slash" that were completely unlike a Shinigami's swordsmanship.

The earlier slash was a Flying Slash unleashed purely through Ailin's own attainment in swordsmanship without using any Reiryoku.

Byakuya's eyes widened as his jaw nearly dropped. Pointing at the hills neatly bisected in the distance, he stammeringly asked Ailin, "Th-this is swordsmanship?"

"That's right, it's swordsmanship. But this is my cutting technique."

After sheathing his Zanpakutō, Ailin beckoned Byakuya over. "Next, attack me and I'll show you my skill in Hakuda."

"Okay!"

Byakuya immediately drew his Zanpakutō and rushed at Ailin, swinging his sword. However, no matter how Byakuya attacked, Ailin's body seemed to flutter like a drifting dandelion seed, narrowly avoiding Byakuya's slashes by a hair's breadth each time.

"This is paper painting, comprehending the rhythm of the wind and moving your body along with your enemy's attacking momentum to dodge their strikes."

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Suddenly, Ailin who had only been dodging halted his movements. Caught completely unprepared, Byakuya couldn't pull back his full powered swing that was already slicing towards him. He could only watch on in alarm as his blade descended on his Uncle.

"Uncle!"

Clang!

Byakuya had just cried out when he felt his sword seem to collide with steel. Not only did it not harm his Uncle Ailin in the slightest, the immense recoil even numbed Byakuya's palm.

"This is... How is this possible?" Byakuya was stunned speechless. What kind of body was this? Even swords couldn't injure it at all?

"Continue attacking me."

"Yes!"

Hearing Ailin's voice, Byakuya reflexively resumed his assault.

Clang!

Clang!

However, no matter how much strength Byakuya used, his sword couldn't even cut a single strand of Ailin's hair in the end. Instead, the immense vibrations bursting from the clashes opened up gashes on Byakuya's palms, causing droplets of blood to steadily drip down.

"Enough."

Three minutes later, Ailin flicked a finger, directly sending Byakuya's Zanpakutō flying until it stabbed into the ground far away.

"So powerful!" Byakuya's eyes were blazing as he watched Ailin.

With his adolescent mentality, the trace of pain in his hands was completely ignored by Byakuya in light of his admiration.

"What I just showcased to you was Hakuda's defensive side. Next, I'll show you Hakuda's offense and Kidō's defense."

Under Byakuya's eager gaze, Ailin directly released a high-level Bakudō spell without any incantation.

"Bakudō Number 81 – Severing Void!"

A dim golden radiance manifested before the two. The instant this barrier appeared, even Byakuya felt a powerful sense of security well up from within his heart.

"This is a rather powerful high-level Bakudō with extremely high defensive ability. It can perfectly defend against Hadō spells below Number 90."

Then Ailin clenched his fists tightly before fiercely punching out. "Double Bone!"

Boom!

A massive blast of air erupted before Ailin's fists. The tremendous shockwave even blew Byakuya who was behind Ailin until he tumbled through the air.

"Ahhhhh......" Even as he cried out involuntarily, Byakuya still kept his eyes firmly locked onto Ailin.

In Byakuya's eyes, he witnessed the Severing Void barrier that his Uncle claimed could perfectly defend against Hadō below Number 90 shatter like glass the instant it met his Uncle's fist.

The remnant force from Ailin's fists that hadn't dissipated completely even blasted the surrounding air into visible white shockwaves.

These shockwaves continued forward and directly smashed apart the peak of a nearby hill that Ailin had chopped off previously.

Boom!

Only now did Byakuya who had been sent flying crash heavily into the ground, letting out a groan of "Owww...."

"Finally, Kidō."

Only after Byakuya climbed to his feet did Ailin raise a hand again and continue explaining to Byakuya, "If you don't have much basis for comparison regarding that previous Bakudō's defensive power, after witnessing the Kidō technique I'm about to unleash, you'll have a deeper understanding of the level of offensive power behind my Hakuda. Because the Kidō I'm releasing now is a high-level Hadō that can be perfectly blocked by Severing Void."

Resplendent lightning radiance flashed before Ailin's right hand. The immense Reiryoku fluctuations even whipped up gusts of wind rivalling the squall from earlier that blew Byakuya away.

"Hadō Number 88 – Flying Dragon Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon!"

Boom!

Blueish-white radiance robbed Byakuya of his vision. For an instant, the entire world seemed to have faded away in Byakuya's eyes, leaving only that thunderous beam of light.

Boom......

A deafening explosion rang out. Byakuya's sight was flooded by dazzling blueish-white luminance.

After Byakuya's vision returned to normal, all he saw was that a crescent-shaped tunnel now stood where Ailin had been before.

The hills within this tunnel's trajectory had been smashed apart, leaving behind meter-wide circular cavities.

"So, so powerful!"

Ailin walked to Byakuya and looked at the still young and tender-faced youth. "Byakuya, what do you think about the swordsmanship, Hakuda, and Kidō that I just displayed?"

"Powerful!"

At this moment, Byakuya felt like he had wasted years worth of reading.

Besides "powerful", he actually couldn't think of any other word in his vocabulary capable of describing what he witnessed his Uncle display today.

"Invincible!"

Ailin shook his head. "Saying powerful is fine, but invincible? There's still a huge gap if it's merely this much."