Chapter 352

"Please enlighten me." Gin Ichimaru seemed genuinely confused.

"Truth lies only beneath the sword's edge." Li Pu, fully prepared for battle, said, "So even if it causes conflict, you Grim Reapers must have the ability to act as one of the conflicting parties, if you don't have that fighting power at all."

"Then there will be no contradiction."

"In that case..." Gin Ichimaru said, gripping the hilt of his sword, "It's impossible for you to back down."

"Then we'll have to see if your strength is enough to make me back down." Li Pu was already fully in battle mode. Just by observing a part of the whole Seireitei Gin Ichimaru be like.

As for Aizen, he doesn't need to worry too much about him right now.

Aizen probably won't come out to cause her any trouble at this time.

Let's practice with the Gin Ichimaru.

Chapter 418 That's it?

Flash Step is one of the four basic skills of the Grim Reaper. Its characteristic is that it can instantly move to the opponent's side at a speed so fast that the opponent cannot see it, so as to launch a surprise attack or withdraw from close combat.

Gin Ichimaru moved, using Shunpo to launch a Flash Step attack; once his Zanpakuto, it would surely drink his blood!

His opponent was a legendary God Race, whose fame had spread from Rukongai to Seireitei. This wasn't Gin Ichimaru's first time fighting God Race, but those he had faced before were all lower-ranking gods. This time, however, his opponent was First-class God representing the pinnacle of the God Race' fighting power, Gin Ichimaru himself was quite apprehensive.

Is it possible for them to win again like before?

It's uncertain, but once the battle begins, how can we retreat? Even if the opponent is First-class God, we have no choice but to fight.

With Flash Step attack, the Level One Battle Goddess seemed completely caught off guard, barely making a move. She neither countered nor defended, not even dodged. Was she simply unable to react, or did she have some other scheme? If she were a Level One Battle Goddess, surely she wouldn't be unable to react? Why then was she making no move at all? Gin Ichimaru's anxiety intensified. He had already closed to within two or three steps of the Battle Goddess, yet Goddess remained utterly unresponsive.

'Could it be that she really couldn't react? Is this all the strength a Level One Battle Goddess has?'

Sensing that his opponent was caught off guard, Gin Ichimaru felt much more at ease. If this was all the fighting power his opponent possessed, he could easily win. He could even use a little trick to make her leave without harming this arrogant little Goddess.

The final step: leap forward, draw your sword, and charge!

Then...

None of the expected events occurred; there wasn't even the crisp clanging sound of metal clashing. It was as if his Zanpakuto had struck something strange, and a gust of wind swept across Gin Ichimaru's face.

"Quick! That's not good for a man." Gin Ichimaru looked at the Goddess in front of him with a half-smile and said something that made people's minds wander, "Endurance and length are what a man should pursue."

Before she finished speaking, a red spear appeared in the Goddess's right hand.

Alarm bells rang in Gin Ichimaru's mind, and he reflexively activated Flash Step to retreat swiftly. He had barely moved half a body length when the spot where he had been standing exploded! It was from the Goddess's red spear; such powerful force would have been fatal or severely injured had it struck him directly.

As expected, the strength of a first-class Battle Goddess should not be underestimated.

Gin Ichimaru stopped several steps away, the smile on his face fading considerably. He barely managed a forced smile to mask his nervousness as he asked, "What kind of weapon is that in your hand?"

"You mean this?" Li Pu raised his left hand and said, "Take a guess, a spear, a warhammer, oh~ maybe a longbow."

'Flash Step is truly a wonderful thing.' This was the first time Li Pu had faced such a high-speed attack, and she was fully capable of reacting. Her eyes could also see the trajectory of Gin Ichimaru's movements, and it was no exaggeration to say that the racial advantage made Gin Ichimaru's movements seem as slow as an old ox in her eyes; not a single move could escape Li Pu's notice.

The problem is that Li Pu isn't quick to act!

She doesn't know techniques like Flash Step, which allows for extremely high-speed movement in a short period of time. If she Flash Step, she could easily counter Gin Ichimaru and wouldn't need to be on the defensive like this. However, if she can't keep up with Flash Step's speed, being on the defensive all the time isn't a good thing.

It wouldn't be good if he discovered that my weakness was speed.

However, this flaw can be compensated for if handled well. Li Pu focused his attention on Gin Ichimaru's battle sword; it seems this guy is planning to reveal his true name.

"Shoot him! God Spear!"

It's coming! Following Gin Ichimaru's voice was the extended blade. This was exactly what Li Pu had been waiting for! The God Spear —this thing was almost as fast as Flash Step; in the blink of an eye, God Spear was already in front of Li Pu.

Wow, so fast!

As expected, the thing that caused even the protagonist, whose strength had increased by leaps and bounds, to suffer a great loss was not so easy to deal with. But she could see it! And she could dodge it! Li Pu performed a 360° aerial somersault as if she had barely dodged the attack, and just as she landed, she entered a black space.

Space-Time Rift!

This is the most basic skill in the Honkai 3rd event; everyone knows it and it's very useful, and Li Pu is no exception. Within Space-Time Rift, it can slow down the flow of time for others while keeping her own time constant. With enough speed, it can even be faster than the Shinigami's Flash Step.

The only drawback of this move is that it requires a perfect dodge to trigger.

Li Pu was waiting for Gin Ichimaru's divine God Spear, which could be easily dodged with a single, pure strike.

He leaped into the air and landed, entering the Space-Time Rift. He then rapidly charged towards Gin Ichimaru, unleashing a series of basic attacks followed by a slash! In a matter of seconds, he sent Gin Ichimaru flying. The speed was incredible. Li Pu's own speed wasn't slow to begin with, but the racial advantage combined with the speed boost from the Space-Time Rift made this attack even more devastating.

For Gin Ichimaru, resistance? That's out of the question.

He could only watch as the figure, shrouded in a strange golden light, rapidly advanced towards him. By the time he could react, he was already injured, having taken off and landed in a triple defeat. Resistance? Defense? Those were out of the question.

It's almost impossible to see clearly, how can we defend against it?

'Is this the fighting power of a Shinigami Captain-level?' Li Pu said, looking at Gin Ichimaru lying on the ground. 'He doesn't seem that impressive.'

Without the speed boost from Flash Step, the rest doesn't seem that impressive. Is this Gin Ichimaru deliberately holding back, or is it because the Goddess's racial advantage is too strong? Perhaps both are true; it seems this guy has been hiding his true fighting strength all along?

In the original work, were there any particularly impressive moments where Gin Ichimaru showcased his true fighting prowess?

I don't know, it seems like I can't beat them.

Of course, it doesn't matter whether it's there or not. If you, Gin Ichimaru, want to show weakness and lie here, then so be it. Don't interfere with her next move. Here comes the equipment for the 12th Division! Li Pu, with Kevin, excitedly stepped over the lying Gin Ichimaru and continued deeper inside.

The battle had dragged on for so long that Ichigo and the others were completely dumbfounded.

Their teammates were so powerful that they looked like they were just there to make up the numbers.

It wasn't until Li Pu led Kevin and Seele deeper into the Ichigo that Ichigo and the others realized they needed to give chase.

"Hey!" Yoruichi suddenly shouted at that moment, "Don't continue! That guy hasn't lost his fighting ability yet."

They haven't lost their fighting ability?

Of course not, Gin Ichimaru got up from the ground. Although he looked rather disheveled, he wasn't fatally wounded. The wounds looked exaggerated, but they were mostly shallow. For someone of his level, it wasn't considered a very serious injury. It might affect his ability to fight in the next battle, but it wouldn't render him incapable of fighting.

"She's Goddess after all," Gin Ichimaru said, scratching his head. "That's good enough, but I won't go easy on you guys."

It's normal for Goddess to be unable to win, and for various reasons, she doesn't dare to actually fight her.

But these people.

If we don't dare touch the Goddess, then we don't dare touch you either!

Li Pu led Kevin and Seele swiftly deep into the Seireitei. Although they encountered some ordinary Shinigami along the way, none of them came to their aid. Li Pu had expected a fierce battle, but instead, they moved as if they were in an empty field.

"Ichigo and the others didn't follow." Kevin leaned closer to Li Pu and said, "Looks like they were stopped by that smiling guy."

"Hmm." Li Pu stopped and said, "It seems they're planning to use a divide-and-conquer strategy."

"I thought Seireitei was just a bunch of reckless brutes."

Divide and conquer is practically a basic tactic in warfare. Li Pu and his group were never really on the same side as the Death God Group. Their identities and affiliations were different, and their true purposes and motives were also different. Therefore, using these differences to treat them differently was practically a fundamental tactic.

It's understandable that Seireitei would do such a thing.

So what should she do next? Naturally, she should just wait. Someone should come out and contact her soon.

As if to confirm Li Pu's idea, sure enough, someone came out soon after.

"Byakuya Kuchiki." Li Pu recognized the Shinigami standing in front of her at a glance.

Byakuya Kuchiki.

If there's one indispensable character in Japanese shonen manga, it's undoubtedly the stoic yet passionate character, exemplified by Byakuya Kuchiki. They're like alternate versions of the protagonist, possessing the same talent and fighting prowess, yet with vastly different experiences, lives, and social standing. They're like the opposite of the protagonist, similar in many ways but often contradicting them in crucial moments.

Most of the time, the more obvious manifestation is that the main character is responsible for being silly, while they are responsible for being cool.

Byakuya Kuchiki is undoubtedly the one in charge of looking cool.

He appeared silently, his face remaining expressionless even upon seeing the Goddess. Though he hadn't acted, his presence exuded an oppressive aura. The fact that he wasn't carrying a sword indicated that Byakuya Kuchiki wasn't there to fight. However, his stoic expression, conveying a seemingly humble yet assertive attitude, reflected the entire Shinigami's attitude towards the God Race.

Envy and a desire to get closer are hidden beneath a facade of neither arrogance nor servility.

Um...

However, Byakuya Kuchiki, who was born into a noble family, might genuinely have a humble yet respectful attitude towards her, who is Goddess.

"You..." Li Pu was starting to lose his composure. This Byakuya Kuchiki hadn't uttered a single word since he appeared, just standing there in front of him. It was as if he wasn't going to fight, yet he remained silent. So, was this guy really someone sent to make contact with him?

"Type 1 Class 1 Combat-Limited Goddess, Vivian." Byakuya Kuchiki finally spoke.

The first thing he said was to mention Li Pu's current identity.

"It's me," Li Pu said. "Is there a problem?"

"I know you." Byakuya's voice was indifferent, and it was impossible to tell what he really thought of Li Pu. He said, "I heard Lucia say that you were willing to be her friend."

"Hmm?" Li Pu frowned slightly and said, "Yes, I did say that. Is there a problem?"

"The God Race have always looked down on the Grim Reapers," Byakuya said. "What is your purpose in doing this?"

"What are you trying to say?" Li Pu said with his arms crossed, "If we're talking about the God Race as a whole, and the God Race and the Death God look down on each other... what does that have to do with me? The God Race discriminates against other races, but that doesn't mean that I, as an individual, have to discriminate based on the preferences of the group, right?"

"Secondly, your Lucia is just so-so," Li Pu said. "My discrimination won't make me better off in the Celestial Realm, and my lack of discrimination won't make my position in the Celestial Realm plummet."

"Aren't you overestimating your own surname and Lucia a bit?"

After saying this, Li Pu felt like he had almost killed the conversation. But from a practical point of view, that was indeed the case. Lucia couldn't bring Li Pu any real benefit, nor could she harm his interests, so why was this guy asking this?

Does it have to have some purpose?

"Then what is your purpose in coming here?" Byakuya asked. "Lucia's matter is an internal matter for us Shinigami."

"Ah... this..." Li Pu thought she was going to hear some long-winded speech, but now it seems that long-winded speeches that lead people astray are indeed something only protagonists do? If that's the case, why doesn't Li Pu just get straight to the point?

"I want to join your 12th Division," Li Pu said bluntly. "I want to borrow your equipment to do something."

"Of course, you can choose not to lend it, so I'll have to use my own methods to borrow the equipment from you."

Li Pu certainly got straight to the point, but Byakuya was completely bewildered by Li Pu words. Shouldn't they be talking about Lucia right now? Why was she suddenly mentioning using the 12th Division's equipment? Byakuya felt like the flow of their conversation had been completely disrupted.

The girl opposite him didn't talk to him about Lucia at all.

"If you want to talk about Lucia," Li Pu said indifferently, "Whether it's an internal matter or not, I'm not here representing the God Race. Personally, I have other purposes. As for my status as Ichigo God Race, I'm here to fulfill a promise I made to Ichigo."

"From a friend's perspective, I personally hope to help Lucia a little."

"Personally, I don't think she deserves to die, even if she made a mistake."

Chapter 419 Rukia Kuchiki

Regarding Rukia Kuchiki, we definitely have to save her.

However, because the outcome of many things is already known, people become less diligent and less attentive. Lucia's situation seems to be no exception. Knowing that she will eventually be rescued by Ichigo and his main team, and reinstated without any further punishment, the matter seems to simply fade away, making her even less concerned about it.

Ichigo are probably off playing with some kind of human cannon right now, and the Seireitei hasn't chosen to be their enemy, so there's no fighting for the time being.

However, not paying much attention is one thing, and not doing it at all is another.

"Aren't you going to say anything about Lucia?" Li Pu, who was following Byakuya Kuchiki as if they were touring Soul Society, suddenly asked, "If you're the older brother, are you just going to watch Lucia go to her death?"

"Because she broke the rules," Byakuya Kuchiki said expressionlessly.

"Is that a rule?" Li Pu seemed quite certain as he said, "If that's the case, then the law is ruthless and merciless. No one, from royalty to commoners, can violate the law. If someone does violate it, they will be punished by the law, without a doubt."

After saying all this, Li Pu focused on Byakuya Kuchiki's profile. His deadpan face looked unchanged, and his eyes were calm, neither ruthless nor affectionate.

Does that mean Byakuya Kuchiki approves? Of course not. If he truly approved, his eyes wouldn't look like that. He would definitely react positively or negatively to my words. This completely indifferent expression only means that I haven't touched a nerve. My words are just some of the most common platitudes he hears; they don't stir any emotion in him whatsoever.

Therefore, I need to bring something of real substance to the table.

"I don't want to talk about things like 'there's compassion outside the law,'" Li Pu said. "But the law has to be based on evidence and the actual circumstances, right? You can't just punish someone severely because the final result seems to be a violation of the law, right? Even if it's a prison sentence, you can't just sentence someone to death because they committed murder, right? Murder is the result, but there's always a reason that led to that result, right? The law is based on evidence, but it's also based on factual logic, right?"

After she finished speaking, Li Pu noticed that Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes seemed to hold a hint of expectation that she should continue.

"Just considering homicide, there are intentional torture, crimes of passion, accidental killings, and self-defense killings," Li Pu immediately continued. "These situations are all different, aren't they? If the killer didn't intend to kill, but caused death unintentionally, isn't it a bit excessive to sentence them to death? If you think that's not excessive, then what if someone fights back when their life is threatened, kills the attacker, survives, and is then sentenced to death? Wouldn't that be even more unjust?"

"Doesn't the laws of Soul Society include concepts like emergency avoidance and self-defense?" Li Pu retorted. "For those on field missions, anything can happen on the front lines. Doesn't the law address that?"

"If Lucia's Shinigami powers were stolen, then Lucia herself is the perpetrator. If she willingly gave her Shinigami powers to someone else, then we need to consider the circumstances and the reasons, right? What constitutes emergency avoidance, what kind of punishment should be given, and under what circumstances would someone be sentenced to the death penalty?" Li Pu asked. "If you don't know the circumstances and don't look at anything, and directly pronounce a sentence on someone, especially a death sentence, that in itself is a disrespect for the law, a trampling on the law!"

"Is this fair? Is this just?" Li Pu questioned.

As he said this, Li Pu seemed to recall that in the original story, those who managed the trials had all been killed. From this perspective, the defenses and management of Soul Society were truly chaotic.

Their own judicial system was completely wiped out without anyone noticing.

This is a classic example of chaotic management!

In the real world, if the entire judicial system were to be wiped out like this and not be discovered for more than an hour, no country could be considered normal. And here... oh, right, Aizen's special ability seems to be just a hoax.

It makes perfect sense, it makes perfect sense.