Changing Hisana Kuchiki's Fate

Kuchiki Ginrei, Kuchiki Kōga, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Retsu Unohana exchanged a glance and then nodded simultaneously.

The four walked to the four corners of the room and simultaneously began forming hand seals. Four powerful Reiatsu surged from their bodies, forming a huge, multi-layered Barrier around the room. The Barrier completely isolated the Reiatsu fluctuations inside and outside, so even Captain-level powerhouse standing outside could not sense anything happening inside the Barrier.

Liu Ziyun to the bedside and looked down at the woman lying on the bed.

Hisana Kuchiki — Byakuya Kuchiki's wife, an ordinary girl from Rukongai. At this moment, her face was as pale as paper, her breathing so weak it was almost imperceptible, and she seemed as if she might dissipate into thin air at any moment.

Liu Ziyun could "sense" that her spirit was slowly collapsing. It was the result of being oppressed by excessive Reiatsu for a long time—like an ordinary person standing on the crater of a volcano for a long time, being constantly eroded by the scorching magma.

He flicked his left hand lightly.

On his wrist, the Wristguards carved with a crimson-gold phoenix suddenly emitted a soft light. In the light, the Wristguards slowly elongated and deformed, eventually transforming into a slender and elegant Tang Dao.

The blade shimmered with a platinum-gold light, and a crimson-gold phoenix with outstretched wings was carved on the edge. The entire knife exuded an aura of peace, healing, and rebirth.

Liu Ziyun stroked the blade and murmured, " To Existence Is to Change Fate — to Life-Taker."

The light on the blade became softer and warmer. The platinum-gold light flowed like water across the blade, illuminating the entire room.

Liu Ziyun pressed the tip of his knife against Hisana Kuchiki's brow.

A faint, golden light, like the first rays of dawn, emanated from the tip of the blade and slowly seeped into Hisana Kuchiki's forehead. The light seemed to have a life of its own, coursing through her body, probing every injury and every sign of weakness.

Hisana Kuchiki's body trembled slightly, and her originally pale face gradually became rosy.

Byakuya Kuchiki watched all this nervously, his hands clenched into fists, but he dared not utter a sound.

The light lasted for about three minutes.

Then, Liu Ziyun. His voice was calm and clear. "Don't worry about the next few. This is the power of my Zanpakuto."

The moment he finished speaking, the Life-Taker in his hand suddenly turned, the tip of the blade aimed at Hisana Kuchiki's chest—the point where the "Saketsu" and "Hakusui" meet, the core of the Soul Reaper's power.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, he plunged the knife in.

Byakuya Kuchiki's body suddenly lurched forward, almost lunging forward. Kuchiki Ginrei grabbed his shoulder and gently shook her head at him.

The blade pierced Hisana Kuchiki's chest, yet not a drop of blood flowed. Platinum light surged from the wound, enveloping Hisana Kuchiki's entire body.

Liu Ziyun closed his eyes and softly murmured, "Change Fate."

These two simple words contain a kind of indescribable power.

Hisana Kuchiki's body began to glow.

That wasn't a Life-Taker light, but rather her own, long-dormant, never-awakened light. It surged from the depths of her body, intertwining with the Life-Taker light to create a warm and powerful resonance.

Her body began to change. Her originally thin and weak body gradually became full and healthy; her originally pale complexion became rosy and radiant; her originally faint and almost imperceptible breathing became steady and strong.

Liu Ziyun slowly pulled out the Life-Taker.

As the blade was withdrawn, the light emanating from Hisana Kuchiki's body gradually faded and eventually disappeared completely.

When she reappeared before the public, she was no longer the frail, dying woman, but a healthy, full-figured, and vibrant beautiful woman.

Liu Ziyun casually sheathed his sword. The Life-Taker transformed into a wisp of golden light in his hand, merging back into the phoenix Wristguards on his left wrist.

He turned around and looked at Byakuya Kuchiki: "That's enough."

His voice was calm, yet tinged with weariness. "I used the power of my Zanpakuto to alter her physique and awaken her Soul Reaper powers. You can have her train to improve her strength from now on. That way, she won't be frail and sickly anymore."

Byakuya Kuchiki stared blankly at the transformed woman on the bed, his eyes gleaming with disbelief. He walked to the bedside and gently took Hisana's hand in his. That hand was no longer cold and weak, but warm and strong.

He raised his head and looked at Liu Ziyun, his voice trembling slightly. "Liu Ziyun, the Fifth Seat... You mean, Hisana has the potential to become Soul Reaper? Then why didn't she have any Spiritual Power or Reiatsu before?"

Liu Ziyun gently shook his head. "Actually, everyone has this potential; it's just that the timing and conditions for its awakening are different."

His tone was calm and certain. "Lady Kuchiki is the same. It's just that she married into the Kuchiki Clan before she had awakened her power. Because the Reiatsu around her is far higher than hers, this powerful Reiatsu constantly wears down her spirit, making her already fragile body even more unbearable. Under these circumstances, it's even less likely that she will awaken her power."

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, everyone's own power instinctively protects them. If her power awakens in that state, it will only accelerate the destruction of her fragile body—like trying to warm melting ice with a raging fire."

Byakuya Kuchiki's face turned pale. "So... it's because of me?"

His voice was filled with deep self-reproach. "If I hadn't let her marry into the Kuchiki Clan so early, would things have turned out differently?"

Liu Ziyun gently shook his head. "I said, everyone has this potential, but not everyone can awaken it."

His voice softened. "Madam Kuchiki feels guilty and regretful—she's searching for her lost sister, she feels unworthy of happiness—so it's impossible for her to awaken on her own."

He looked at Byakuya Kuchiki, his tone solemn. "So, Captain Kuchiki, there's no need to blame yourself. If it weren't for you, she would have remained in some corner of Rukongai, worn down by the hardships of life, never to awaken."

Byakuya Kuchiki remained silent.

He looked at Hisana on the bed, his eyes flashing with complex emotions—gratitude, guilt, heartache, and a hint of indescribable relief.