"Clang!"
Hearing Ailin's words, Byakuya Kuchiki reflexively drew the Zanpakuto at his waist, gripped the hilt with both hands, and pointed the blade at Ailin.
"Good, Byakuya. Remember this: once you draw your sword, you must be prepared to kill your enemy—and to be killed by them."
"Now, are you prepared to kill me, or be killed by me?"
"What?"
Byakuya Kuchiki's pupils suddenly contracted.
Because Uncle-in-law Ailin's voice had come from behind him.
"Slash..."
The next instant, Byakuya Kuchiki felt an icy chill spread through his chest and abdomen. Blood sprayed from the two wounds.
"Pfft..."
Byakuya Kuchiki spat out blood. As his blood drained away, so did all the strength in his body. Unable to remain standing, he collapsed to the ground.
"Flash Blossom—"
"This is a technique that uses Shunpo to rush at extreme speed and spin behind the enemy, destroying their Chikaku and Sōtsubame."
"With your current strength, even if I suppressed my spiritual pressure, power, and speed to roughly your level, you might not even be able to see my movements."
Walking up to Byakuya Kuchiki, Ailin flicked his hand, sending the blood from his Zanpakuto flying in an arcing spray across the ground.
Byakuya Kuchiki stared wide-eyed at Ailin, his gaze full of disbelief.
He had never imagined that Uncle-in-law Ailin would actually try to kill him.
"Uncle... Uncle-in-law, why?"
Byakuya Kuchiki gulped down breaths, forcing himself to endure his fear of death as he asked Ailin why he had tried to kill him.
"Didn't I tell you before, Byakuya?"
"Once you draw your sword, you must be prepared to kill your enemy or be killed by them."
"This is the first lesson I'm teaching you."
"If you do not have the resolve to kill your enemy, can your sword truly harm them?"
"If