The Nature of Bankai

Shinobu ignored Yoruichi's increasingly shocked expression and said calmly, "In essence, the master still needs to gain the Zanpakuto's recognition in order to master Bankai."

"Reiatsu Manifestation Device merely speeds up this process."

"It's said to make the Zanpakuto submit, but in reality, the vast majority of Soul Reapers would be unable to defeat their Zanpakuto without its power."

"For a Soul Reaper to defeat an embodied Zanpakuto head-on without relying on the Zanpakuto's power, there is basically only one possibility..."

Facing the girl before her, who was about the same height as her, Yoruichi felt a pressure as heavy as a mountain.

How strange...

Yuko's reiatsu had been strengthened by Hollowfication and should have only barely reached the First Rank. Although Yoruichi's reiatsu was merely Second Rank, it was already inferior to Yuko's. Yet no matter how unique or powerful a Zanpakuto's abilities were, reiatsu should always serve as their foundation.

If, in battle, a Third Rank Spiritual Pressure Soul Reaper with a powerful and bizarre Zanpakuto defeated a Second Rank Spiritual Pressure Soul Reaper with ordinary abilities, she could understand that.

After all, battlefields were ever-changing, and an excellent ability could indeed reverse the disparity caused by different reiatsu levels.

But the gap between her and Yuko's reiatsu levels shouldn't have been that large.

Yet merely standing before her, Yoruichi could sense an intimidating aura. If it wasn't caused by a difference in reiatsu, then what was it?

A bead of cold sweat slid down Yoruichi's temple. She stared solemnly at the girl before her. "What possibility?"

Shinobu smiled faintly. "Do I really need to say it? A Zanpakuto that can be easily defeated by its master—if it isn't recognizing its master because of its own will, then the only explanation is that the Zanpakuto itself lacks sufficient