Fate In Bleach (493)

Chapter 493 - Igniting Fear

After apologizing to Byakuya Kuchiki, Renji Abarai turned his gaze forward again.

There, the Quincy bound by his Zabimaru was enveloped entirely by Captain Kuchiki's Senbonzakura.

When the torrent of cherry blossoms reformed into a blade in Byakuya Kuchiki's hand, Renji Abarai was astonished to find that Äs Nödt, whom he had restrained, remained completely unharmed by Captain Kuchiki's Senbonzakura attack.

Of course, Renji felt a sliver of relief that even though the opponent was unscathed by his and Captain Kuchiki's attacks, he hadn't managed to break free from Zabimaru's bindings.

This must have been a flaw in the "Blut Vene."

The Quincy's "Blut Vene Arterie" and "Blut Vene Anhaben" could not be used simultaneously.

While using "Blut Vene Anhaben" to enhance defense to its maximum, the Quincy's attack power remained unchanged.

Now that Äs Nödt was bound by Renji Abarai's Zabimaru, if he dared to deactivate "Blut Vene Anhaben," he would immediately be injured or torn apart by Zabimaru.

And without deactivating "Blut Vene Anhaben," Äs Nödt, relying on his own strength without "Blut Vene Arterie," simply couldn't break free from Zabimaru.

"Next time?"

Äs Nödt looked up at Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai.

"Fear is not something that truly disappears just because you say you aren't afraid."

After uttering these words syllable by syllable, seven or eight blue ice thorns materialized around Äs Nödt.

Swish swish swish...

These ice thorns broke the sound barrier with extreme speed, shooting towards Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Scatter—Senbonzakura!"

Byakuya Kuchiki held his Zanpakutō vertically before his chest, intoning its release command.

In an instant, the blade of the Zanpakutō in Byakuya Kuchiki's hand dissolved into a sea of cherry blossom petals, erupting like a pink tsunami tide, forming a sakura barrier before himself and Renji Abarai.

Ping ping ping...

The seven or eight blue ice thorns struck the barrier formed by Byakuya's Senbonzakura, transforming some of the pink blades into black spiritual pressure of fear, but they were quickly shredded by more sakura blades.

"Hmm?"

Sensing Äs Nödt's attack, Byakuya Kuchiki let out a soft sound of surprise.

Äs Nödt's attack was much weaker than he had anticipated.

Although the terrifying spiritual pressure within the attack could evoke certain fears within oneself, under his own powerful spiritual pressure, this strange energy was quickly annihilated.

To Byakuya Kuchiki, the offensive power displayed by Äs Nödt was severely mismatched with his defensive capabilities.

Shinigami could highly condense their own spiritual pressure to defend against attacks; the stronger the spiritual pressure, the stronger the defense.

Some, like Zaraki, whose spiritual pressure was so immense, had even strengthened their physical bodies to a certain degree.

It could be said that Zaraki's physical defense surpassed even the Hollows' unique "Hierro."

Attacks below captain level couldn't even break Zaraki's skin.

Based on Äs Nödt's ability to defend against Shinigami Shikai attacks, his attack strength should have been at least three to five times greater than what he was currently displaying.

"Which means, this is some kind of defensive technique, or ability?"

With just one exchange, Byakuya Kuchiki had analyzed Äs Nödt's current state.

However, while Byakuya could erase Äs Nödt's spiritual pressure with his own powerful reiatsu, Renji Abarai could not.

"Ah, ahhhhhhh..."

The black spiritual pressure spread along Zabimaru onto Renji Abarai's body. This energy drew out Renji's deepest fears.

From his time living in Rukongai, Renji knew that to survive, he could only become a "stray dog," fighting others for scraps.

Under normal circumstances, Renji Abarai's life would have been no different from those other wandering children in Rukongai.

Stealing, deceiving, robbing others of food to survive, enduring like a wounded stray dog in Rukongai, eventually dying alone someday.

But, fortunately, he met Rukia.

Although Rukia was also a wanderer from Rukongai, unlike a "stray dog" like Renji, while Rukia would also deceive, steal, and rob, she carried herself like a noble Persian cat, seemingly out of place in Rukongai.

Their group of siblings had all been drawn by Rukia's aura, gathering around her, forming a family with Rukia as the "Big Sister" and Renji Abarai as the "Big Brother."

After their siblings died, Rukia wanted to become a Shinigami, so Renji followed her, took the Shin'ō Academy entrance exam, and successfully entered the Seireitei.

Due to his decent talent in Zanjutsu, Renji successfully entered Class A during class placement, while Rukia, whose talent in swordsmanship was slightly weaker, unfortunately ended up in Class B.

At that time, Renji thought that if he became stronger than Rukia in the future, he must protect her well.

However, later, Rukia was taken as a disciple by Captain Ailin and left the Shin'ō Academy, becoming someone Renji felt he could no longer reach, no matter how hard he tried.

But Renji didn't give up.

He was a stray dog.

He had survived in Rukongai without any power; how could the Seireitei be any different?

But even as a stray dog, he wanted desperately to close the distance between himself and Rukia.

After graduation, Renji entered Squad Eleven, directly apprenticing himself to Ikkaku Madarame, occasionally receiving guidance from Ailin as well.

After completing his Shikai training, Renji accepted Byakuya Kuchiki's invitation and became the Vice-Captain of Squad Six.

But even so, whenever he had time, Renji would still go to Squad Eleven to ask Ikkaku Madarame for guidance on Bankai training.

It could be said that among the current generation of Gotei Thirteen vice-captains, Renji Abarai's strength ranked within the top three.

However, he felt the distance between himself and Rukia seemed even greater.

Because now, Rukia was no longer the Vice-Captain of Squad Thirteen, but the Captain of Squad Nine.

Whether in strength or status, the gap between them was too vast.

For Renji Abarai, he did not fear death.

But his greatest fear was that someday in the future, the distance between him and Rukia would become so great that he wouldn't even dare to think about it.

To Renji, that was a hundred times more terrifying than death itself.

Normally, these thoughts were buried deep within Renji's heart. But under Äs Nödt's ability, Renji's fear regarding the distance between himself and Rukia was directly ignited by Äs Nödt.