The Gate to a New World

Bai Zhu's finger had already risen, hovering in midair.

Blade name.

This was his own Zanpakuto.

It wasn't some trial card, nor was Minazuki borrowed. It was something genuinely branded with his soul.

As long as he tapped it, the gate to a new world would open.

His fingertip paused in midair, then he forcefully pulled it back.

No.

This place was covered in chunks of flesh and reeked of cultist filth. Drawing his own blade name in a place like this felt like deliberately making things harder for himself.

But the moment he thought of it, he couldn't hold back anymore. He planted his hands on his hips and burst into wild laughter.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Milluki was so startled that he jumped back a step.

"Are you sick? Why are you suddenly losing your mind?"

Bai Zhu laughed with immense satisfaction.

"This is a lifelong milestone. I need to bathe, burn incense, and pick an auspicious day! I can't just draw it in some cursed dump like this!"

Milluki turned to Illumi.

"Bro, did that thing from earlier contaminate him? Is something wrong with his brain?"

Illumi looked Bai Zhu up and down for several seconds.

"Hard to tell."

Bai Zhu's laughter came to an abrupt stop.

"Are you two being polite right now?"

Illumi ignored him and merely gave a reminder.

"There's one elder left."

The smile vanished from Bai Zhu's face.

"Oh, right."

He raised his Zanpakuto again. The blood-red light still flowed slowly along the blade.

[Trial Time Remaining: 00:57]

Less than a minute.

Enough.

Without another word, Bai Zhu turned and left.

"Root them out."

Milluki pointed at the speaker on the floor.

"Still carrying that?"

"Carry it."

"Seriously? We're almost done fighting!"

"Even the last minute has to have style. Don't you get