Chapter 71: Reversal! Silver Angel

Yamabuki Haruto’s perception sharpened, the inner world pulsing with his newfound Vollständig. The light wings on his back thrummed with reishi, elevating his speed, strength, and control to unprecedented heights.

“Hahaha! Interesting!” his Zanpakutō spirit laughed, her voice wild.

Haruto’s speed broke her detection. He seized her head, slamming it into the ground and dragging her across the silver-white expanse. She retaliated, her calf snapping up to kick his abdomen. As she flipped upright, her left hand condensed a red-and-blue Cero. Haruto grabbed her wrist, their fingers interlocking, dispersing the attack.

Hollowfication warped his mind, erasing pity. Stronger now, he hurled her upward, then smashed her down like a hammer. Not pausing, he swung his Zanpakutō at her forehead. She blocked, but the force buried her into the ground. His blades rained down, each strike a storm, tearing wounds across her body. A final kick sent her flying dozens of meters.

“Pathetic!” she coughed, wiping blood from her face. It only enhanced her eerie beauty. Before she finished, Haruto charged again.

“Heilig Pfeil!” she shouted, firing a Quincy arrow. His light wings absorbed it effortlessly. “I’m better at reishi control now,” Haruto taunted, summoning dozens of reishi bows. They fired, peppering her like a hunted rabbit.

Haruto closed in, blades clashing. She flew back, but his hand caught her neck before she landed. “Time to tell me your name.”

Her face paled, but she grinned. “Ironic. You call yourself a Shinigami, yet awaken Quincy power first. What would your comrades think?”

“Name!” Haruto tightened his grip.

“You’re so into me, even now,” she teased. “Fine, you’ve earned it.” She swung her blade at his arm, forcing him to release her. Propping herself up with her Zanpakutō, she stood, battered but defiant. “You’re a good man. I’m satisfied.” Placing her blade before her, she whispered, “Reverse, Silver Angel.”

Her Zanpakutō transformed into a silver-gray saber, its reiatsu shifting drastically. She raised it, her expression manic. “Remember this blade? Watch closely and dodge, or your head’s gone!”

The saber fell. Haruto dodged at blinding speed, but the strike severed his light wings. No reiatsu fluctuation. How? The spirit appeared before him, lifting his chin with a finger. “Surprised?”

He slashed, but missed. Not Shunpo. Not Hirenkyaku. No air burst signaled Sonido. Ruling out all else, he gasped, “Spatial ability?”

She laughed, swinging her saber. Haruto saw it—space itself fractured, sliced apart. Silver Angel cuts space, not matter. Like tearing a canvas, it ignored physical defenses, dealing absolute damage. My own Zanpakutō is this powerful?

But could he beat her? Maybe with Vollständig… “Heilig Pfeil!” He summoned reishi bows for a ranged barrage. Her saber’s deadly, but lacks defense. I’ll wear her down.

She swung Silver Angel, and his arrows vanished, sliced through space. Impossible! “This game’s rigged!” Haruto shouted. “My own ability’s a bug!”

“You’ve passed,” she said, smirking. “But let’s show you true power—for motivation.” Her lips curled. “Bankai.”

No! Haruto’s heart sank. It’s like beating a boss, only for it to transform and crush you. Her saber pierced his chest before he could react. Dead again.

“Fun’s over!” she laughed. “Go beat that skeleton. Lose, and I’ll deal with you.” She vanished, leaving Haruto reeling.