Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

Chapter 329 - Absolute Zero  

Based solely on this, Sode no Shirayuki's ability seemed even more powerful than Hyōrinmaru's.

"Damn it!"

Toshiro Hitsugaya's brow twitched.

Did those guys really think he didn't know what they were thinking just because they didn't say anything?

"Listen up!"

Hitsugaya clenched his fists and glared at the captains who were looking at him with those strange expressions. "Don't judge the 'strongest Zanpakutō' with your narrow perspective!

It's true that, based on appearance, Sode no Shirayuki's Shikai seems more impressive than Hyōrinmaru's.

However, Hyōrinmaru, as the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō, its greatest strength lies in its ability to control the moisture in its surroundings!

As long as my spiritual pressure is strong enough, I can control a vast amount of moisture, instantly condensing it into ice to attack my enemies.

Hyōrinmaru, as the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō, is capable of more than just freezing water. It's just that, compared to other methods, ice is the most efficient and powerful."

"Oh—"

Faced with Hitsugaya's outburst, the captains had no choice but to nod their heads like eager students, indicating that they understood.

"Tch!"

Hitsugaya could see that they were simply humoring him. However, he didn't have the time to argue with them.

Because Rukia and Ailin's battle had begun.

Both were ice-type Zanpakutō. While Hyōrinmaru and Sode no Shirayuki's abilities were fundamentally different—one froze water, the other froze everything with its cold—their techniques could still be used for reference.

Hitsugaya had been Ailin's disciple for a long time. He especially liked Ailin's words:

"Don't let Hyōrinmaru limit your perspective. Hyōrinmaru's power has its limits. But your own strength can allow you to surpass those limits, reaching a higher level, like Head-Captain Yamamoto."

As a Shinigami, Hitsugaya knew Yamamoto's "strongest Shinigami" title wasn't just for show.

However, even he didn't believe he could reach Yamamoto's level.

While Ryūjin Jakka was a powerful Zanpakutō, throughout the Soul Society's million-year history, only a handful of Shinigami had reached Yamamoto's level.

As "strongest" Zanpakutō, why was Ryūjin Jakka considered the strongest among them?

It was because Yamamoto had brought it to a higher level.

Could anyone else use Ryūjin Jakka to its full potential?

Yhwach had stolen Yamamoto's Bankai. So, why didn't he use it against Ichibei Hyōsube?

Ryūjin Jakka's Bankai was undoubtedly far more powerful than the sword Yhwach wielded.

But as Driscoll Berci, the Sternritter who stole Sasakibe's Bankai, had demonstrated, while he had successfully stolen Sasakibe's Bankai and could use it through his "The Overkill" medallion, he couldn't compare to Sasakibe, who had mastered his Bankai for over a thousand years.

Perhaps, if Yhwach used Ryūjin Jakka's Bankai, he wouldn't even be able to use its basic techniques, just like Driscoll Berci.

Fighting against an expert like Ichibei Hyōsube with an unfamiliar ability would be suicidal.

Rukia's Zanpakutō, Sode no Shirayuki, possessed the ability "Absolute Zero."

It could lower the user's body temperature to sub-zero levels.

If Rukia's body temperature dropped to -18 degrees Celsius, her Zanpakutō's blade would freeze the blood of anyone it struck.

At -50 degrees Celsius, the ground she walked on would freeze solid.

And at -273.15 degrees Celsius, absolute zero, everything she touched, even the air, would freeze.

The moment Rukia released her Zanpakutō, she lowered her body temperature to absolute zero, freezing the space around her. This was how she had reduced the speed of Ailin's "Wind Scar" and shattered it with her blade.

Of course, even Rukia couldn't maintain "Absolute Zero" for long.

Therefore, after shattering Ailin's Wind Scar, her body temperature gradually rose.

Externally, it appeared as if the frost around her was rapidly disappearing.

After a few flashes of Shunpo, Rukia managed to stabilize her body temperature at -50 degrees Celsius.

This was the form she could maintain for a longer period.

In this state, even without using her spiritual pressure to stand in the air, the intense cold froze the air beneath her feet, allowing her to run on thin air.

Moreover, if she lowered the temperature beneath her feet, she could create a "path of ice," allowing her to move even faster, as if she were ice skating.

As for her Zanpakutō, it was even more impressive.

Wherever Rukia moved, a trail of white frost followed in her wake.

If she slowed down even slightly, the frost would condense into ice, spreading outwards.

Ailin watched as Rukia approached. He casually unleashed several Wind Scar attacks.

However, his attacks couldn't stop her.

Even without "Absolute Zero" to slow them down, Rukia effortlessly evaded the wind slashes.

With a swing of her Zanpakutō, a wave of ice, shaped like blooming white lotuses, surged towards Ailin.

"Second Dance - White Lotus!"

"Crack..."

"Crack..."

"Crack..."

The blue-white ice lotuses collided with Ailin's golden wind slashes, erupting in a series of crisp sounds.

Countless wind blades and ice shards danced in the air, scattering in all directions.

As the wind subsided and the ice settled, a single ice lotus, split into four or five petals, remained.

"Oh? Not bad. You actually managed to block my Wind Scar."

Ailin had unleashed three Wind Scar attacks.

In other words, nine wind slashes had attacked Rukia.

But all nine slashes had been blocked by Rukia's "White Lotus." This showed how durable the ice created by her reiatsu was.

Ailin felt that, at the very least, it was stronger than Hitsugaya's ice barrier.

Thinking of this, he glanced at Hitsugaya, who was observing the battle.

"Ugh..."

Hitsugaya was currently analyzing how Rukia used ice in combat. To him, creating a path of ice beneath his feet or instantly summoning ice to block attacks wasn't a problem.

However, the durability of his ice was far inferior to Rukia's.

After all, Hitsugaya was simply freezing water, while Rukia was freezing everything with her cold.

Of course, as an ice-type Zanpakutō, if Hitsugaya could figure out the trick, he could also expend his reiatsu to create stronger ice at a lower temperature.

Just as Hitsugaya was lost in thought, he felt a chill.

He turned his head and saw Ailin looking at him, making him shiver.

"Seriously, Teacher? You're going to call me out for this?"

Hitsugaya shook his head and turned back to watch the fight. Inwardly, he communicated with Hyōrinmaru, asking if it was possible to create stronger ice at a lower temperature.

Since his Wind Scar couldn't stop Rukia, Ailin didn't waste any more time. With a flash of Shunpo, he closed the distance between them and swung Tessaiga towards Rukia.

"Hiss..."

Rukia took a deep breath, her expression turning serious.

"Absolute Zero!"

Instantly, her body temperature plummeted to -273.15 degrees Celsius. Even the air around her froze.

White frost spread outwards, painting Ailin's golden Unlimited Blade Works with a touch of white.

As Ailin's disciple, Rukia knew how powerful his swordsmanship was.

However, her own ability became stronger the closer the opponent was!

Fighting at a distance, she didn't have the confidence to block Ailin's attacks.

After all, while Wind Scar was Tessaiga's ultimate technique, as Ailin had said, he could unleash countless wind slashes effortlessly.

Such attacks were practically costless for Ailin.

But for Rukia, blocking those slashes with her "White Lotus" consumed a significant amount of spiritual pressure.

Moreover, Rukia wanted to experience the gap between her and a true expert.

Losing because of insufficient spiritual pressure wasn't something she sought.

Even Ailin, as he entered Rukia's domain of Absolute Zero, felt his speed drastically decrease.

Not only that, but he had to envelop his body in reiatsu to resist the intense cold.

Clang!

With Ailin's attack slowed down, Rukia finally saw his movements. She counterattacked.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Tessaiga clashed against Sode no Shirayuki, sending sparks flying.

However, the moment the sparks left the blades, they were extinguished by the cold.

Ice shards and wind swirled around Ailin and Rukia, scattering under the force of their attacks.

"Teacher Ailin's speed... It seems to have decreased."

Hitsugaya spoke after observing the fight for a while.

"Ah, you're right, Captain Hitsugaya."

"Rukia's Zanpakutō ability is truly exceptional.

"She's actually created a domain of low temperature around herself."

It was Shunsui Kyoraku who responded.

After releasing his Zanpakutō, Katen Kyōkotsu, Shunsui could also create a "shadow domain." Therefore, he was the one who understood the power of domains the most.

"It's a control-type domain centered around Rukia. The closer you get to her, the more your movements are restricted by the cold.

"Just like Captain Ailin. If he wasn't constantly enveloping himself in spiritual pressure, he would have been frozen solid by now."

"Indeed, Rukia's current strength is comparable to some captains'."

Ukitake sighed.

Rukia had once been an inconspicuous member of his division. Even though he had nominated her for captaincy, he hadn't expected her to be this strong.

Of course, to them, Rukia was still somewhat immature.

But their current battle was only in Shikai!

Based on Rukia's current strength, once she released her Bankai, even Ukitake would find her a difficult opponent.

...

"Teacher Ailin is so strong!"

Rukia swung Sode no Shirayuki, desperately blocking Ailin's attacks. Her heart pounded.

She was already using her full strength, besides Bankai.

However, even with Absolute Zero hindering Ailin's movements, she was barely able to defend herself.

"This won't do. If I continue like this, I'll lose!"

Rukia's mind raced.

Even she couldn't maintain Absolute Zero for long.

If she exceeded her limit, Sode no Shirayuki's power would damage her body.

"With my current control, I can only maintain Absolute Zero for another hundred and forty-five seconds! After that, I'll have to deactivate it and recover before I can use it again..."