Chapter 144: Time, Stop Flowing

Centuries later, a human physicist named Einstein would propose: “Time, space, and matter are inseparable.” Yamabuki Haruto had suspected his Bankai, Scarlet Angel, might involve time-based abilities. He hadn’t expected to be right.

Good. I’ve deciphered her power. But how do I fight this? Haruto thought, cold sweat beading on his forehead. In another world, Jotaro Kujo defeated Dio Brando not just with Star Platinum’s strength, but because their Stands shared the same time-stopping ability, allowing Jotaro to counter Dio’s The World. In Bleach, only a time-based power could counter time manipulation.

Scarlet Angel’s time-stop was simple yet despair-inducing. Flashy abilities like Space Removal or time reversal were useless against it. If her time-stop lasted long enough, no defense could prevail.

Haruto’s realization deepened his dread. Without time-based powers, how could he defeat Scarlet Angel? Her ability could counter Yhwach’s The Almighty, which couldn’t manipulate time. Five seconds of stopped time, paired with Haruto’s swordsmanship, could shred Yhwach into mincemeat. But first, he had to overcome this impossible trial.

“There are many ways to play with time. Don’t rush—I’ll show you one by one!” Scarlet Angel laughed, slashing her crimson short blade. Haruto blocked with Silver Angel, but as their blades clashed, his right thigh and left waist were pierced simultaneously, blood gushing.

“Did you activate time-stop again?” Haruto asked, retreating as his Super Regeneration—fueled by his Soul King fragment—sealed the wounds.

“No, just a simple ability: Asura Three Lifetimes Sword. It strikes from past, present, and future at once. You can block the present, but not the past or future. Fun, isn’t it?” Scarlet Angel said, eyes narrowing with a smile.

Haruto’s face paled as he retreated. It felt like a game where divine power awaited if he cleared this stage, but the boss was unbeatable. Scarlet Angel swung again, aiming to stab him.

Haruto didn’t bother defending—her attacks bypassed all blocks. He activated Blut Vene Anhaben and Steel Skin, Quincy and Shinigami techniques to bolster his defense. But Scarlet Angel’s reiatsu matched his, and the crimson blade pierced his arm, barely mitigated.

“Do you know why our Bankai includes ‘Flowers Bloom in an Instant’?” she asked.

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to!” Haruto snapped, recalling an ancient concept from his world: flowers blooming and wilting instantly, symbolizing absolute time control.

An ominous feeling surged. He glanced at his pierced arm—it withered at an unimaginable speed, the decay spreading. Haruto slashed off his arm with Silver Angel. The severed limb turned to dust, time accelerated thousands-fold. His regeneration regrew it instantly, but sweat drenched him. “You’re not trying to kill me, are you?”

If she used that Super Time Acceleration on his heart, he’d be dead, regeneration useless.

Scarlet Angel had shown three abilities: Time Stop, Asura Three Lifetimes Sword, and Super Time Acceleration. Mastering any one could rival Yhwach. But defeating her? An unsolvable puzzle. Without beating her, he couldn’t achieve Bankai; without Bankai, he couldn’t win—a perfect loop.

“Refusing to struggle? Just stick your head out and let me chop it. Give up—you can’t win,” Scarlet Angel said coldly.

“No way. You’re part of me; you can’t be stronger!” Haruto roared, unveiling his trump card. “Vollständig!” Eight cyan-blue wings erupted, devouring ambient reishi, his reiatsu surging.

Scarlet Angel sighed. “Misunderstanding something? My ability is the strongest, but my base stats aren’t weaker than yours. Vollständig!” Identical crimson wings and a halo materialized, mirroring Haruto’s form, only in scarlet.

“Cero!” Haruto fired a silver-white Cero. Scarlet Angel countered with a scarlet Cero. The beams clashed, evenly matched.

Their base stats were identical—swordsmanship, reiatsu, combat prowess—but her time-based abilities made the fight hopeless. Haruto lunged for close-quarters combat, but Scarlet Angel matched every move, her time control rendering his efforts futile.

“Time, stop flowing, Scarlet World!” A blood-red light burst from her blade. The world froze.

Haruto stood motionless. Scarlet Angel approached with a cheerful smile, her blade poised to pierce his chest. But at that critical moment…