Kaname Tosen had never heard of Celtic Mythology or King Arthur's Excalibur.
But he knew that Gilgamesh was about to demonstrate his strength before him—the strength to make those grand ambitions a reality.
Is Caladbolg the name of his Zanpakuto?
Does True Name Release mean using Shikai? Or is it... Bankai?
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Kaname Tosen began to carefully sense Gilgamesh's spiritual pressure.
Gilgamesh had never hidden his spiritual pressure, so it was clearly perceptible to Kaname Tosen.
However, Gilgamesh's spiritual pressure was simply too weak—so weak that Kaname Tosen didn't believe it was his true spiritual pressure.
In that instant, a rainbow-like sword light burst from Caladbolg and shot rapidly toward Gin Ichimaru.
Almost at the same moment, Gin Ichimaru released his Shikai, and his Zanpakuto, Shinsō, rapidly extended toward Gilgamesh.
The next second, the Rainbow Sword Light collided with Shinsō.
Under the watchful eyes of Yoruichi Shihouin and Kaname Tosen, the collision made no earth-shaking noise, nor did it result in a prolonged deadlock.
Without the slightest pause, Shinsō shattered bit by bit beneath the Rainbow Sword Light.
The Rainbow Sword Light maintained its original speed and continued toward Gin Ichimaru.
At the sight, Yoruichi Shihouin and Kaname Tosen couldn't help but look shaken.
They both knew all too well how sharp and sturdy Gin Ichimaru's Shinsō was.
Yet now, Shinsō was so utterly fragile beneath the Rainbow Sword Light. How could they not be shaken?
And Caladbolg's attacking ability was remarkably similar to Gin Ichimaru's Shinsō.
Of course, Gin Ichimaru was the most shaken of them all.
His eyes, usually narrowed shut, were now open, filled with disbelief.
As the Rainbow Sword Light hurtled toward him, Gin Ichimaru felt an overwhelming sense of danger. Every cell in his body warned him to get away as quickly as possible.
Without hesitation, Gin Ichimaru used Flash Step to move rapidly to the side.
But he was still a step too slow.
Whoosh!
A deep gash, nearly to the bone, appeared on Gin Ichimaru's right arm. Blood instantly ran down his arm and dripped from the air.
Clutching the wound on his right arm, Gin Ichimaru couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat.
It wasn't from the intense pain of the wound, but from the relief of having narrowly escaped death.
If he hadn't dodged just now, that sword would have pierced his heart.
At the same time, Gin Ichimaru found Caladbolg's ability unbelievable.
Its ability was much like Shinsō's Shikai, but its power was greater.
Not only that, Shinsō's maximum extension was a hundred times the length of the Zanpakuto itself, while the Rainbow Sword Light's range clearly exceeded that.
So what exactly was Caladbolg? Was it Gilgamesh's Zanpakuto?
One question after another surfaced in his mind.
Although Gin Ichimaru had more and more questions about Gilgamesh, he still didn't connect him to the King of Heroes from the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The idea that the Gilgamesh before him was the King of Heroes recorded in the Epic of Gilgamesh was simply too absurd to believe.
Before Gin Ichimaru could think any further, Gilgamesh, seated upon his throne, raised Caladbolg and slashed at him.
The Rainbow Sword Light, stretching to the horizon, suddenly swept toward Gin Ichimaru.
Having witnessed its power, Gin Ichimaru didn't dare hesitate. He immediately used Flash Step to dodge.
Whoosh!
In Gin Ichimaru's horrified gaze, a massive, bottomless fissure was carved into the barren, white desert of Hueco Mundo.
The moment the fissure appeared, the white sand on either side began rapidly pouring into it.
A quicksand field formed.
The Rainbow Sword Light gave Gin Ichimaru no time to catch his breath before slashing at him again.
Daring not hesitate, Gin Ichimaru used Flash Step once more and dodged it.
The instant Gin Ichimaru reappeared after using Flash Step, the Rainbow Sword Light slashed at him again.
Once, twice, three times...
Gin Ichimaru had lost count of how many times he'd dodged, but the Rainbow Sword Light followed him like a shadow every time.
This realization made his mind tremble violently.
He suddenly remembered that during Gilgamesh's battle with Miho Kano, he had foreseen Miho Kano's slash.
There was no doubt about it. The Rainbow Sword Light could follow him like a shadow because Gilgamesh had foreseen his movements and could slash at him the instant his Flash Step ended.
Realizing this, Gin Ichimaru knew there were only two ways to escape his predicament.
The first was to get somewhere the Rainbow Sword Light couldn't reach.
The second was to take out the leader. If he captured Gilgamesh, everything would fall apart.
As for which one to choose...
Dangerous light glinted in Gin Ichimaru's open eyes.
Gin Ichimaru had never been a pushover. Since Gilgamesh wanted him dead, he naturally wanted Gilgamesh dead too.
So Gin Ichimaru decided to use both methods.
After dodging the Rainbow Sword Light once more, Gin Ichimaru shouted, "Tosen, what are you doing? Why haven't you attacked? Have you betrayed Captain Aizen?"
"Move! Don't give him a chance! Use Bankai!"
As he shouted, Gin Ichimaru used Flash Step and raced beneath Vimana.
Gilgamesh was seated on the throne atop Vimana as he swung Caladbolg, so the area beneath Vimana was somewhere the Rainbow Sword Light absolutely couldn't reach.
Unless the Rainbow Sword Light could turn corners.
But Gin Ichimaru immediately dismissed that possibility.
On Vimana, Kaname Tosen's body jolted when he heard Gin Ichimaru's words.
Yoruichi Shihouin also quickly turned a wary gaze toward Kaname Tosen.
She didn't know what Kaname Tosen's Bankai was.
Though she looked down on him, Kaname Tosen was still a captain, and his strength was beyond question. If he used Bankai at such close range, whatever it was would bring unimaginable consequences.
However, before Yoruichi Shihouin could make a move, Gilgamesh gently pressed her back with his left hand.
Kaname Tosen raised his Zanpakuto and said to Gilgamesh, "I truly believe in your ideals, but I'm sorry. That night, I gave myself to Captain Aizen."
"But don't worry. I won't take your life. I'll only capture you. Afterward, I'll plead with Captain Aizen to let you join us."
With that, Kaname Tosen didn't give Gilgamesh a chance to speak. He began chanting, "Bankai: Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi!"
At this, the corners of Gilgamesh's mouth curled slightly, and the light of the Star of Omniscience gleamed in his wine-red eyes.
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