Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami-Chapter 270 ⥤ Speedrun

As the monk's thoughtful words reached him, Akira stroked his chin.

This lifestyle seemed identical to his days in Soul Society — just trading the 11th Division for the Zero Division Palace.

The only thing missing was capable subordinates; with them, this could truly become a second 11th Division.

His eyes brightened at the thought as he turned to the monk, "As a Zero Division member, do we have any duties besides guarding the Soul King?"

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Ichibē shook his head, "No."

"What about rules?"

The monk shook his head again, raising a thick finger to explain.

"None of those either. Others must stay within the Soul King Palace, requiring permission from me or the Soul King to leave. But you're different."

He honored his previous promises without hesitation — no guard duty required, and complete freedom to come and go from the Soul King Palace.

Hearing this, Akira felt relieved.

"Then it shouldn't be a problem if I bring a few people up from Soul Society, right?"

The monk furrowed his thick eyebrows, contemplating for a moment before saying:

"Just don't go overboard. After all, this is the Soul King's place of quiet cultivation."

Akira nodded vigorously, patting his chest in guarantee, "Don't worry! Everyone throughout the Sangai knows that I, Akira Kisaragi, am the most sensible person!"

The monk's expression turned skeptical.

But before he could speak, Akira had already flash-stepped into the crowd of onlookers.

"Zero Division Palace is recruiting! Full benefits package included! Any volunteers?"

The crowd exchanged confused glances — this newly appointed Zero Division Officer was quite different from what they had imagined.

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Akira had underestimated the Zero Division members' status in the hearts of Soul King Palace residents. The moment he announced recruitment, he was nearly overwhelmed by the crowd's enthusiasm.

For these civilians, being promoted to live in the Soul King Palace where Zero Division Officers resided was life's greatest pursuit. Their overzealousness was only natural.

Since he had no construction experience, he planned to invite two professionals from below to handle it.

Besides, Aizen had mentioned his curiosity about everything in the Soul King Palace. Now that Akira had succeeded, it was time to fulfill his adopted son's wish.

Just imagining Aizen hugging his leg, crying tears of gratitude and saying he'd drifted through life without serving a true master, made Akira secretly pleased.

"Hey, newbie!"

Just as he was feeling smug, a flippant voice cut through the air, accompanied by an incredibly sharp Reiatsu!

Akira looked skyward to see a figure descending, announcing loudly:

"You be lookin' at the No. 1 Zanpakutō creator! Not Jū, not Kyū, not Hachi, not Nana, not Roku, not Go-mai! Not Shi or San-mai! The name's Nimaiya Ōetsu!"

The newcomer's entrance was flashy, his style completely different from other Zero Division members — like a West Coast rapper.

"If you think I'm here to congratulate you, you're dead wrong! As the creator of Zanpakutō, there are things that must be said, and things that must be done!"

Ōetsu appeared instantly before Akira, his eyes behind sunglasses fixed intently, his dark face serious.

"Newbie, you show no respect for Zanpakutō!"

Akira's brows furrowed as he shot back: "You can eat carelessly, but you can't speak carelessly! Who in all of Soul Society doesn't know that I, Akira Kisaragi, love my sword like life itself, viewing my Zanpakutō as my closest brother and other half! Come, Kūkan Mukai, let's show this guy the bond between us!"

Saying this, he reached for his waist, only to grasp empty air. Cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.

"Where's my sword?!"

Ōetsu: "..."

Had this guy forgotten that he had just thrown his Zanpakutō away?

Just as he was about to rebuke this terrible behavior, he saw Akira stroke his chin and extend his right hand toward the Zero Division Palace below, fingers spread wide.

Just as Ōetsu was wondering what this guy was up to now, he caught a glimpse of silver-white light cutting through the sky, advancing toward them at incredible speed.

Warning bells rang!

With no time to think, he instantly displayed the combat reflexes of a Zero Division member, his form flashing away from the spot.

The sword handle landed precisely in Akira's right hand, the blade trembling slightly as if trying to express something.

He grinned and said, "This is the bond between Kūkan Mukai and me. No matter how far apart we are, it will always return to my side!"

Ōetsu looked at the smugly satisfied person, then at the trembling Zanpakutō, his expression deeply conflicted.

As the forger of Asauchi, he had seen countless Zanpakutō, and even had a mysterious work like Sayafushi (Sheath Cover). But he had to admit that the person and sword before him truly opened his eyes.

In short, it defied evaluation.

Akira looked up at him and asked, "Oh right, what were you going to do just now?"

Ōetsu heaved a deep sigh, drawing his Zanpakutō and pointing it at the figure before him.

"Since you say you're so close with your Zanpakutō, then prove it with action. Her name is 'Suí' (Flint or firestarter), and I also call her Mera Hiuchigashima. As a blacksmith's tool, though she rarely fights, her power is still formidable."

Seeing this, Akira likewise raised his Zanpakutō to point forward, a confident smile appearing on his face.

"Kūkan Mukai, let's show this guy the depth of our bond!"

The moment these words fell, Ōetsu's figure vanished, the blackened blade in his hand slashing directly at Akira.

Clang!!

The clash of metal reverberated through the air, its shockwaves rolling like thunder as the ground shook violently below.

The onlookers had anticipated this, immediately retreating to distant mountaintops to watch with excitement.

Such strength! Such invincibility!

First defeating Lord Kirinji, then beating down Ōorigami (Great Weave Guard, Senjumaru's title), followed by battling Captain Ichibē Hyōsube. Having barely passed the trial to become a member of Zero Division, he was now facing off against the God of the Sword himself.

In less than two days, was this newly appointed Zero Division member, Lord Kisaragi, about to dominate the Soul King Palace?

For the Soul King Palace residents who had lived monotonous lives, his arrival brought unprecedented excitement to their dull existence.

Four Zero Division Officers brutally beaten? A newcomer speedrunning the Soul King Palace? How thrilling indeed!

Ōetsu struck with his blade, unleashing a sharp flash of light that sliced through the air with a cloth-tearing sound, as if it could cut through anything.

Akira raised his sword to meet it, and their blades clashed in a shower of sparks.

Though he favored Hakuda, his Zanjutsu was second to none — perhaps even surpassing all others. Those who could exceed his skill could be counted on one hand.

His five fingers gripped the sword handle as electricity coursed through his fingertips, flowing through each joint as he swung at speeds impossible to track.

In mere moments, both fighters had exchanged dozens of strikes.

Ōetsu's expression grew increasingly bewildered. He had assumed this guy was just a brute who ignored his sword in favor of his fists, but his Zanjutsu proved terrifyingly skilled.

Yet this revelation only confused him more.

With such excellent fundamentals and a Zanpakutō power that surpassed many others, why choose the deviant path of Hakuda?

Was something wrong with this kid's head?!

"Ignite the Ancient Spark..."

⤫ Shikai: Suí ⥤ Initial Release: Flint! ⤬

Ōetsu released his Zanpakutō, and countless sparks erupted from the blade, transforming instantly into scorching flames that could incinerate anything.

Terrifying heat permeated the surroundings, nearly vaporizing the moisture in the air.

Suí, also known as Mera Hiuchigashima, was his crucial flint tool for forging Zanpakutō. It could generate temperatures of millions of degrees — the hottest flame-type Zanpakutō second only to Ryūjin Jakka.

Feeling the intense heat around him, Akira let out a contemptuous snort and taunted, "This little flame isn't even as hot as Yama-jii's sweet potato-roasting fire!"

Hearing these words, Ōetsu felt his blood pressure rising.

He'd found the root of the problem!

The reason this kid showed such disrespect for his Zanpakutō was hereditary. The flames hotter than Suí's were definitely from Ryūjin Jakka.

Just thinking about Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto using his Zanpakutō to roast sweet potatoes made Ōetsu's blood boil, and his sword strikes grew even more fierce.

Once he dealt with this upstart, he'd challenge that old bastard. He had to make that fool understand — a Zanpakutō was a life-bonded partner, not a tool for roasting sweet potatoes!

Boom!

Akira grinned wickedly, his blade wrapped in black-red flames, effortlessly suppressing Ōetsu's flames.

Comparing it to Ryūjin Jakka was already being polite — at least he hadn't mentioned Zanki no Tachi.

After several exchanges, Ōetsu's expression darkened. As expected of someone who could battle the monk — even using a fighting style he wasn't specialized in, this warrior could still overpower him.

If he were to use Sayafushi instead...

Another Zanpakutō materialized in Ōetsu's hand, transforming instantly into a black long-handled hammer that fell heavily amid the encompassing flames.

BOOM!!

The explosive flames soared skyward, forming a massive pillar of fire like a volcanic eruption, completely engulfing the figure before him.

The perfect combination of fire and hammer! Ōetsu treated Akira like an unfinished Asauchi to be forged.

On the mountaintop, the crowd watched slack-jawed.

Missing the battle between Ichibē and Akira earlier had been their lifelong regret. Now, watching this Zero Division internal battle up close, their excitement peaked.

Just as they thought the battle was over, a demon-like figure slowly emerged from within the burning pillar of fire.

Black-red flames wreathed his entire body, and even the Zanpakutō in his hand radiated an unbearable, terrifying heat.

Ōetsu's expression shifted, his pupils contracting.

This guy...

Before he could react, Akira had closed in with a wicked grin, raising his released Kūkan Mukai high. The blade, wrapped in black-red flames, slashed straight downward.

Sensing the approaching crisis, Ōetsu made an instant decision. As the blade fell, he withdrew completely, abandoning all dignity befitting a powerful warrior.

BOOM!!

The terrible strike's impact raised a massive mushroom cloud to the sky, making the entire Zero Division residence tremble as if in an earthquake.

Looking at the huge crater in the dust, Ōetsu felt his scalp tingle.

Monster!

He shuddered to think what would have happened to Suí and the hammer had that strike connected — if not being cleaved in two, they would have suffered severe damage at the very least.

"I'm done, I surrender!" Ōetsu declared, "I acknowledge your bond with Kūkan Mukai. To express my apologies, I'll take responsibility for rebuilding this place."

Akira raised his Zanpakutō and grinned, "See that, Kūkan Mukai? You and I are one — invincible together, unstoppable!"

The blade hummed in response, as if agreeing.

After leaving the cleanup to Ōetsu, Akira located the Tenchūren, intending to return to Soul Society.

As they say in the wild west — when the sheriff comes to town, even the saloon's cats and mice start wearing badges.

Now that he had risen to power, how could he neglect his adopted son?

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The Tenchūren descended from the sky, crashing into the 1st Division barracks courtyard.

BOOOM!

Genryūsai sensed the commotion and rushed to the dust-filled area.

As the cabin door opened, a familiar figure emerged.

"Master, I'm back! I've conquered the Soul King Palace — punched Hyōsube, kicked Kirinji, speedran the Zero Division. I'm unstoppable now!"

Genryūsai: "?"

Had this troublemaker finally lost his mind?

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