Heavenly Restriction User of the Gojo Clan: I Refuse to Be Cut in Half-Chapter 180: Minazuki

However, this was not a bad thing for Satoshi.

After all, the Rainbow Dragon was originally in Geto Suguru's pocket. Today, he wanted to see for himself which was stronger—a Special Grade cursed spirit or a biological-type Zanpakutō.

In the world of the Shinigami, Minazuki's main role had always been as a mount and healer. She rarely had opportunities to display her combat abilities.

Now, it was time for Minazuki to take the stage.

The Rainbow Dragon was a Special Grade cursed spirit with a clear air-to-ground advantage, and Minazuki could fly as well. There was no question of one side bullying the other.

"Shoko, let Minazuki attack. This will also help improve your control over her," Satoshi instructed calmly.

At his words, Ieiri Shoko nodded slightly.

She was unsure of Minazuki's full combat capabilities, but since Satoshi had said so, she naturally wanted to see what her Zanpakutō could do.

Responding to Shoko's command, Minazuki, who had been floating quietly nearby, rose into the air. Opening her mouth wide, she released shockwave-like energy spheres.

The motion of Minazuki in the air resembled a manta ray gliding effortlessly through the sea.

The action looked almost comical, yet those white spherical blasts were anything but harmless.

Though they appeared to be simple shockwaves, the Special Grade cursed spirit Rainbow Dragon was actually being forced back, step by step, by these attacks.

Most importantly, the Rainbow Dragon's cursed energy blasts were not enough to repel Minazuki's assault.

This scene shocked Geto Suguru and the support team even more.

They could accept the fact that Satoshi, wielding Ryūjin Jakka, could overpower a Special Grade cursed spirit. That was understandable.

But the idea that a manta ray-shaped creature, which looked more like a passive mount, could so easily suppress a Special Grade cursed spirit... that was hard to believe.

In other words, this creature floating in the sky, which they had assumed was just a flying mount with some durability, actually possessed the power of a Special Grade cursed spirit?

Sekiguchi Seiji had originally thought that Minazuki was simply a flight-type mount with a bit of defensive capability.

He never imagined that this summoned creature would have such offensive power.

...

As everyone focused on the battle between the two creatures, Geto Suguru suddenly recalled what Satoshi had said to Shoko earlier, and a guess began forming in his mind.

This manta ray must have appeared during the time he was away.

During that period, it was impossible for Satoshi to have subdued a Special Grade cursed spirit. After all, Satoshi did not possess an innate technique like Geto's Cursed Spirit Manipulation.

In that case, there was only one possibility—the giant flying manta ray named Minazuki was a manifestation of a Zanpakutō.

Satoshi had mentioned that he had forged a Zanpakutō for Geto.

If that was the case, then it was likely that others had also received Zanpakutō from Satoshi.

Yuki wore a katana at her waist, which was clearly a Zanpakutō.

Shoko did not carry a sword, but she did have a sheath.

This meant that the enormous ray floating in the sky was most likely the ability of Shoko's Zanpakutō.

Otherwise, Satoshi would not have specifically told her to focus on improving her control over Minazuki.

Geto had already pieced together most of the puzzle in his mind, but he still wanted confirmation.

The only person he could reliably ask was Satoru, with whom he had a good rapport.

"Satoru, let me ask you something... that creature in the sky..." Geto began.

Before he could finish, Satoru answered casually.

"Oh, that's Shoko's Zanpakutō, Minazuki. Her Zanpakutō's ability is to transform into that manta ray, and most of its power is concentrated in that form."

Geto Suguru understood immediately.

To be honest, when he had first met Ieiri Shoko at the Yorozuya, he hadn't paid much attention to her.

Though she was beautiful, Geto had not been focused on that at the time.

He had known that Shoko's Reverse Cursed Technique was rare, but in his eyes, it was nothing more than a supporting ability. No matter how powerful healing was, it could only play a backup role.

What he sought was strength—the power to stand at the top.

But now, with the addition of a Zanpakutō, Ieiri Shoko had undergone a complete transformation.

From a nurse to a summoner.

She had directly taken the position that Geto had believed was his.

Geto had always thought that, with his Cursed Spirit Manipulation, he was the most suitable person to be a summoner.

After all, the technique was innate.

But who would have imagined that Jogo, a powerful Special Grade cursed spirit, would submit directly to Satoshi? That alone had given Satoshi his first summoned creature.

Now, Satoshi had forged the Zanpakutō Minazuki for Shoko, granting him a second summoning ally.

With such powerful summoned beings on Satoshi's side, no matter how many cursed spirits Geto controlled, they would likely all be reduced to ashes before Ryūjin Jakka in a single strike.

Geto stood frozen, lost in thought.

He had once been offered the opportunity to receive a Zanpakutō, but he had squandered it.

Geto had always been proud.

As Yagyu Saemon had said before, the strong should protect the weak.

But in Geto's mind, humans without cursed techniques were weak, and those who possessed cursed techniques stood apart as superior beings.

The so-called protection of the weak was, in his view, nothing more than the pity of the strong toward the powerless.

Yet now, in the face of Satoshi's overwhelming strength, Geto realized how insignificant his own pride was.

Was the way he looked down on ordinary humans the same way Satoshi viewed him now?

In the world of jujutsu, Heavenly Restriction had always been considered a curse.

However, in Satoshi and Toji, this Heavenly Restriction had manifested as another kind of power.

Perhaps, this so-called curse was simply another form of selection by the heavens.

Geto Suguru reflected silently.

But he was not the kind of person who could easily accept such thoughts. Suppressing these emotions would only cause them to explode even more violently in the future.

If only I could get a Zanpakutō like Ieiri Shoko.

If I possessed a Zanpakutō, would I be able to redefine myself? Would I be able to grow stronger without relying solely on cursed spirits?

Geto stared at Minazuki in the sky, his eyes filled with longing.

He needed a Zanpakutō. Since Satoshi had once been willing to forge one for him, that meant Satoshi acknowledged his potential.

(To be continued.)

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