Chapter 27

Facing the fork on the right, where an Adjuchas's Reiatsu emanated, Xuanxin took a deep breath. A flash of confident fervor passed through his black eyes. Then he raised his foot, about to step resolutely onto the road to "death and breakthrough."

"Do you want to tear through the darkness? Then swing your blade at those stronger than yourself!" The deeply seductive female voice echoed incessantly in his ears.

But just as Xuanxin's foot was about to touch the ground—

"You'd better remember this: know the limits of your strength, and put staying alive first! If you die in this desert, you'll lose everything!"

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's solemn warning rang out in the depths of his mind like a thunderous alarm bell!

"No..."

Xuanxin's raised right foot stopped abruptly in midair. His eyes, which had been consumed by fervor, slowly regained their usual calm.

He suddenly realized that seeking life through death did not mean blindly throwing his life away!

At his current level of strength, even if he squeezed out every last drop of Reiatsu in his body, he probably wouldn't be able to scratch the Hierro of an established Adjuchas.

Xuanxin took a deep breath and decisively drew his outstretched leg back, planting it firmly where it had been.

Then he took a cautious half step back and turned toward the fork on the left, where the Gillians were gathered.

Since he couldn't beat an Adjuchas, he would charge into the Gillian colony and slaughter his way through it seven times over. He would find a chance to break through eventually, and even if he didn't, it would still be better than throwing his life away for nothing!

The moment Xuanxin turned around—

"Not bad. At least you have a clear understanding of your own capabilities." The mysterious female voice rang out in the air once more.

This time, however, the unsettlingly seductive quality had faded from her voice, replaced by a cheerful, breezy hint of appreciation.

A moment later, a breeze swept eerily across the white sand.

The figure that had flashed past earlier appeared abruptly behind Xuanxin.

"Who?!"

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Xuanxin spun around, holding both swords sharply across his chest.

"Hmm, quick reactions. Is that Earth Stance?"

But when he got a clear look at the figure standing behind him, he froze stiffly in place.

She was a woman both dazzling and familiar.

Her long hair was white, just like his. She wore a striking, unusual kimono patterned in red and blue, and at either side of her waist hung a sheathed katana, one long and one short.

Even more striking was the free-spirited air in her every movement, and the peerless bearing that could cut through all the world's troubles.

Looking at the white-haired swordswoman in red before him, a woman who should have been a "stranger," Xuanxin felt a familiarity that seemed etched into the depths of his soul wash over him like a tide.

His brain briefly shut down. His mouth fell slightly open, and, unable to control himself, he stammered out a few words:

"Y-you, you... big dummy?"

At those words,

not only Xuanxin himself, but even the woman opposite him, who had been striking a cool pose, stood frozen in astonishment as though someone had cast a binding spell on her.

An awkward, chilly wind blew between them. Unfortunately, there were no leaves here.

The white-haired woman widened her eyes and pointed a slender finger at her own nose. She couldn't understand why the handsome young man before her had called her a "big dummy" so bluntly the moment they met!

Xuanxin was just as bewildered. He instinctively covered his mouth. He had no idea why such an offensive form of address had slipped out of it! It was as though... they had known each other for a long time and often called each other that.

"Huh?!" slipped out instinctively.

After a brief, deathly silence, the white-haired woman raised one shapely eyebrow in displeasure. She planted her hands on her hips and spoke with a hint of danger and dissatisfaction in her voice:

"Hey, hey, hey! Young man, you really are quite handsome, especially that head of hair, as stylish as mine. But at your age, you're long past being the soft, adorable 'shota' type I like best! So if you dare call me a big dummy again, I really will get angry!"

Looking at the somewhat eccentric woman before him, who was even discussing the matter of "age" in all seriousness, Xuanxin grew even more confused.

That inexplicable sense of familiarity and connection made him instinctively put away his Zanpakuto. Then he asked cautiously:

"Are you... my sword spirit?"

At that, the white-haired woman merely waved a hand. "Sword spirit?? Is that what you call it in this world? Well, whatever!"

She abruptly folded her arms across her chest, a confident smile curling her lips.

"I don't know exactly what this sword spirit you're talking about is. But I am a consciousness born from the two swords in your hands."

"But in essence, I'm actually a fragment of a spirit left behind by a great being similar to me! In that world, the form I took at my peak was generally called a [Heroic Spirit] by those mages!"

With that, the white-haired woman coolly placed a hand on the hilt at her waist. Her eyes grew sharp and bright in that instant, and the full moon overhead shone brighter as well. Then she fixed her eyes on Xuanxin and declared loudly:

"Listen up! I am the peerless swordmaster, unmatched under heaven—"

"Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara Genshin!"

"Tell me, are you my Master?"

At her ringing declaration, it was as if a chest that had long been sealed away in Xuanxin's mind had been pried open a crack.

Although he had no idea what "Heroic Spirit" or "Master" meant, neither term seemed unfamiliar to him.

But considering her claim that she had been born from his swords, the woman before him who called herself "Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara Genshin" was definitely the true spirit of the Zanpakuto he had been unable to communicate with all this time!

But why is she also called Fujiwara Genshin??

Xuanxin sighed inwardly. Though his mind was full of questions, he straightened up, took a deep breath, and answered solemnly:

"Hello. My name is... Fujiwara Genshin."

"..."

"..."

The air fell silent once again.

Miyamoto Musashi widened her eyes dramatically, her beautiful gaze filled with a hint of stunned confusion. She raised a trembling finger and pointed at Xuanxin.

"W-wait! What did you say?! What do you mean, your name is Fujiwara Genshin?!"

"If you're Fujiwara Genshin, then what's my name?! Am I really called Big Dummy?! What kind of nasty joke is that, hey?!"

Looking at the eccentric "sword spirit" before him, Xuanxin pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly.

Why was this Zanpakuto so different in style from the cold, ruthless Hueco Mundo killer he had imagined? Could his true nature be like this too?!

Fortunately, Musashi was more than just a swordswoman. In a sense, she was also a Heroic Spirit who had seen much of the world.

So, after learning that someone existed with the same name and hair as hers, and after a brief period of silence and hesitation, she quickly accepted the reality. She also came to understand her role: the personal sword spirit of the handsome young man before her, whose temperament suited hers so well.

"Ahem, forget about the name. That's not important!"

Musashi then awkwardly changed the subject, resuming the manner of an accomplished recluse.

Seeing this, Xuanxin cooperated and steered the conversation back on track.

He pointed at the fork ahead and asked in confusion, "Since you're my sword spirit, why did you use that voice to tempt me? Why did you insist on making me take that road to certain death?"

Musashi gave Xuanxin an approving glance, the smile at her lips growing brighter as she said:

"Because that was the trial, my little Master."

"Having the resolve and courage to swing your blade at someone stronger is naturally important for a swordsman. But without absolute strength to back it up, charging ahead regardless of everything isn't bravery. It's recklessness that should be called 'the courage of a fool.'"

With that, Musashi put away her playful smile and solemnly raised a finger, continuing:

"A true swordsman must have the courage to swing a blade at the strong, but also a clear understanding of themselves. Only when you know when to advance and retreat, and understand life and death, will you be qualified to touch that true supreme realm."

Having said that, Musashi snapped her fingers with another flourish. "Now, take another careful look at your surroundings."

Xuanxin was startled, but he still obeyed his sword spirit. He closed his eyes and keenly spread his Reiatsu outward.

The next second, Xuanxin's eyes flew open, and he turned to look at the smiling sword spirit.

There was nothing! The Reiatsu that had clearly occupied the two forks just now had abruptly vanished! Deep down both paths, nothing remained but cold quartz trees!

"This... was it all an illusion?!" Xuanxin drew a sharp breath in shock.

"Yes and no. Your senses were correct. There really were two sources of Reiatsu, but both were simulated within my domain."

Xuanxin was even more shocked. He was inside his sword spirit's domain, yet he had no idea when it had been deployed.

Seeing Xuanxin's astonishment, Miyamoto Musashi smiled smugly.

Then she continued, "Lesson two: a swordsman must keep a clear mind at all times and not be blinded by impatience or anger."

Xuanxin grew thoughtful. Yes, ever since coming to Hueco Mundo, he had been anxious, seeking an opportunity to break through at every moment.

And that impatience had reached its peak just now, after he had spent a day acting alone. So...

"Yes, just now. In my current state, I can't use Independent Manifestation, so from the moment you heard my voice until now, you've been inside my domain."

Hearing Musashi's words, Xuanxin nodded thoughtfully, then pressed her. "Since the Reiatsu was fake, where exactly should I go next? And when does the trial you mentioned start?"

Musashi did not answer Xuanxin's questions immediately. Instead, she casually put away the sword in her hand, and her body began slowly dissolving into Reishi and dispersing into the air.

After Musashi vanished completely, her carefree voice rang out in the air once more:

"The trial? It actually started the moment you entered Hueco Mundo!"

"As for where you should go?"

Her voice paused deliberately, then continued with a hint of amusement:

"Right where you're standing, of course! This is a gift I prepared especially for you. Do your best to stay alive, young man. I have high hopes for you!"

"What?!"

"Roooar—!!!"

Almost the instant Musashi finished speaking, a savage beast's roar erupted from the black crystal forest behind Xuanxin!

A wave of frigid Reiatsu, full of a brutal aura, bore down on him like a tsunami.

Xuanxin spun around.

In the ghastly pale moonlight, a Menos Grande with an extremely lithe build and white bony armor covering its body slowly emerged from the shadows of the quartz forest. It resembled an enormous cheetah.

Its icy, pale-blue beast eyes stared fixedly at Xuanxin, filled with a thirst for battle.

"Clang!"

At the sight, Xuanxin drew both swords without hesitation and assumed a defensive stance. Fiery fighting spirit flared in his black eyes.

There was no mistaking it! This Reiatsu made even his soul tremble...

This was a real Adjuchas!

"That's right, it's him. As long as you can defeat him and satisfy me, I'll tell you my true name, which is what you call 'Bankai.'"

"Bankai..."

Hearing that word, Xuanxin perked up considerably. Wasn't Bankai the very reason he had come to Hueco Mundo?

His exhausted body miraculously recovered somewhat after he heard it.

Along the blades of Mumyō and Shingon, two concentrated streams of Reishi light, one black and one gold, began to intertwine wildly.

As if sensing the surging aura of the prey before it, the white-leopard-shaped Adjuchas let out a piercing roar of fury.

The next second, its figure abruptly vanished from where it stood. Its terrifying burst of speed even left an immense, bottomless crater in the white sand.