Background of the Four Great Noble Clans? (Seeking Reads!)

Scorching yellow lightning erupted suddenly, tearing through the night with the roar of thunder as it struck toward Gilgamesh with imposing momentum.

The higher the sequence number of a Way of Destruction, the greater its destructive power.

The previous Sokatsui was only a thirty-third sequence Way of Destruction, but this Raikohou was a sixty-third sequence—the most powerful Way of Destruction Marechiyo Omaeda had mastered.

Marechiyo Omaeda was brimming with confidence in his Raikohou; he did not believe that Vimana could block it again.

BOOM!

Amidst the sound of an explosion, violently leaping lightning illuminated the night sky from the rising smoke.

Under Marechiyo Omaeda's expectant gaze, the smoke and lightning gradually dissipated, only for that fleeting barrier of light to appear once more.

His expression froze; Marechiyo Omaeda stared at the scene in disbelief, unable to accept the reality.

To think that even a sixty-third sequence Way of Destruction could not breach the light barrier of Vimana—what on earth was this thing?

Could it really be a Zanpakuto?

But how could his spiritual pressure be so weak?

Could it be some kind of artifact capable of suppressing spiritual pressure?

At this moment, Marechiyo Omaeda's mind reeled, question after question surfacing in his thoughts.

Through the illumination of the Star of Omniscience, Gilgamesh peered into Marechiyo Omaeda's mind, fully aware of his current state.

Feeling that the time was right, Gilgamesh decided to add fuel to the fire.

Gilgamesh remained lazily seated upon his exclusive Throne of the King, speaking slowly: "Marechiyo Omaeda, why have you stopped your attack?"

"Although your Way of Destruction was useless, do you not still have your Zanpakuto, your Shikai?"

"Do you intend to give up?"

"If so, that truly disappoints me."

"I never expected the lieutenant of the Second Division of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads to possess such feeble strength..."

Marechiyo Omaeda, already shaken, felt his blood boil and his spiritual pressure turn chaotic upon hearing Gilgamesh's words, the veins on his forehead throbbing violently.

Before Gilgamesh could finish, Marechiyo Omaeda's bloated face twisted as he roared, "Brat, I was originally going to hold back so as not to take your life."

"But now, I will hold back no longer!"

"I will make you realize the price of angering a lieutenant!"

With that, Marechiyo Omaeda drew his Zanpakuto with a violent motion.

Terrifying spiritual pressure erupted from Marechiyo Omaeda's body, the surrounding space seemingly subjected to a horrific weight, making even the air feel heavy.

"Crush him, Gegetsuburi!"

As Marechiyo Omaeda's Shikai command fell, his Zanpakuto underwent a sudden transformation, shifting from a blade into a massive flail.

This was Marechiyo Omaeda's Zanpakuto—Gegetsuburi.

Gegetsuburi was a physical-type Zanpakuto that relied on direct attacks; after activating his Shikai, Marechiyo Omaeda hoisted the weapon and smashed it heavily toward Vimana.

The power of Gegetsuburi was immense, capable of shattering even the load-bearing pillars of high-rise buildings.

Watching the incoming Gegetsuburi, Gilgamesh's expression remained unchanged.

In terms of pure destructive power, Raikohou actually surpassed the Shikai form of Gegetsuburi.

However, Raikohou was a spiritual attack, while Gegetsuburi was a physical one; the two could not be directly compared.

Of course, to Gilgamesh, it made no difference whether it was Raikohou or Gegetsuburi.

Because Gilgamesh already knew that with Marechiyo Omaeda's current strength, he could not forcibly break through Vimana's defensive system.

Unless he could use Bankai.

And aside from Bankai, Marechiyo Omaeda's only chance was to launch continuous attacks to deplete Vimana's energy reserves.

Only by exhausting Vimana's stored energy could he break through its defenses and approach him.

Yet, Marechiyo Omaeda was clearly unaware of this.

With his mind in complete disarray, he was unable to perceive this fact.

BANG!

Watching the light barrier rise once more, and seeing his Shikai-enhanced Gegetsuburi blocked by it, the expression on Marechiyo Omaeda's face went completely stagnant, his pupils trembling violently.

In this moment, Marechiyo Omaeda finally recognized a cold truth.

Setting aside Gilgamesh's own strength, as long as Vimana existed, he stood in an invincible position; no matter what he did, he could not defeat him.

He had to remember that he was a lieutenant of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, a powerhouse second only to the captains.

Yet, he was unable to defeat a brat who looked to be about ten years old.

This fact caused Marechiyo Omaeda to begin questioning his own existence.

At the same time, Marechiyo Omaeda grew increasingly wary of Gilgamesh's origins and background.

In his view, only the Four Great Noble Clans within the Seireitei possessed the heritage to own a divine weapon like Vimana.

Since Gilgamesh was able to pilot the Vimana, he must be highly valued by his family and was very likely the next clan head.

As for why someone of Gilgamesh's status and standing would come to a remote and chaotic place like Inuzuri, Marechiyo Omaeda did not know, nor did he need to.

It was enough for him to know Gilgamesh's background and origins.

Building a connection with one of the Four Great Noble Clans of the Seireitei would bring nothing but benefits to the Omaeda Clan.

After all, the members of the Central 46, the highest judicial organ in the Soul Society, were primarily drawn from the Four Great Noble Clans.

With his thoughts racing, Marechiyo Omaeda quickly grasped the key point.

Immediately, Marechiyo Omaeda's expression softened, and he said with a chuckle, "My apologies, I was the one who was offensive just now."

"I will return at once and have the family send over professional construction experts. When they arrive, you can simply give them your instructions directly."

With that, Marechiyo Omaeda turned and left.

Gilgamesh's deep, wine-red eyes reflected the back of Marechiyo Omaeda as he walked away.

Marechiyo Omaeda's intentions had been completely seen through by Gilgamesh.

And everything was proceeding exactly according to Gilgamesh's plan.

Time flowed on.

After rushing back to his family estate and reporting the matter to his father, Marechiyo Omaeda returned to the Second Division barracks located within the Seireitei.

The moment he stepped into the barracks, Marechiyo Omaeda couldn't help but shiver, feeling an inexplicable chill wash over him.

At the same time, a cold voice came from behind him: "Omaeda, you've returned quite late. How did today's mission go?"

Seeing Soi Fon, who had appeared behind him without him noticing, Marechiyo Omaeda's expression involuntarily became tense as he replied, "The mission has been completed."

Soi Fon nodded slightly at this, said nothing more, and walked past Marechiyo Omaeda, intending to leave.

Just then, as if something had occurred to him, Marechiyo Omaeda couldn't help but ask, "Captain, do you know of any divine weapons in the Soul Society capable of carrying people in flight?"

Soi Fon stopped in her tracks, turned to look at Marechiyo Omaeda, and frowned slightly. "Why do you ask? Can we not traverse the air directly using our Flash Step as Shinigami?"

Marechiyo Omaeda gave a sheepish laugh and said, "I was just curious, that's all."

Soi Fon turned and walked away, leaving behind a single sentence: "The Shihoin House's divine tool, Tentaken, can carry people in flight."

Tentaken?

Marechiyo Omaeda froze for a moment, a bone-like object resembling a dragon's spine appearing in his mind.

He remembered that as long as spiritual power was channeled into Tentaken, it would unfold a single bone wing, allowing it to carry people through the sky; it was a unique and precious item in the Soul Society.

But with the Vimana as a point of comparison, Marechiyo Omaeda only wanted to say:

"Excuse me, but what kind of piece of junk is Tentaken?"