Bankai

Clouds churned overhead. The Snow Empress suddenly withdrew from the battlefield, leaving Di Tian to fight Du Busi and Jinpeng high in the sky.

Though both men were among the strongest Titled Douluo, they were still hard-pressed against Di Tian, the Beast God and the continent's foremost Ferocious Beast.

After only a few minutes, Jinpeng, who had been fighting Di Tian for some time, began to falter.

Du Busi noticed and frowned.

His gaze drifted toward Song Que below, and worry stirred in his heart. He knew that if the figure from that night intervened, he might be able to stop Di Tian.

But Du Busi could not bring himself to swallow his pride and ask a junior for help.

Watching Jinpeng lose ground, he vented his frustration. "Old Jin, can't you put up a better fight?"

Then Du Busi shouted to the Body Sect members below, "Lao Lang, Lao Gu, get up here and lend us a hand!"

The two hesitated and glanced at the Snow Empress, who still had not moved. In the end, they flew up.

They joined the fight from opposite sides, surrounding Di Tian alongside Du Busi and Jinpeng.

Together, the four barely managed to stabilize the situation.

The battle raged above. Below, it was a different story.

Time passed, but neither Huo Yuhao nor the Snow Empress stirred.

Song Que grew increasingly anxious beside them.

He looked toward the Snow Empress and noticed that the cold radiating from her was gradually subsiding.

What's going on? Are the Snow Empress and Yuhao about to complete the fusion?

Before long, clarity returned to Huo Yuhao's eyes. He looked at the Snow Empress before him, his face full of concern.

"Snow Empress, you..."

The Snow Empress raised a hand to stop him.

"Bing'er and Tian Meng's plan is extremely bold. Since they chose you, I'll trust you too."

"Huo Yuhao, train hard. Don't let Bing'er's efforts go to waste."

Song Que was baffled. "Yuhao, what exactly happened between you and the Snow Empress?"

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "The Ice Empress tried to persuade the Snow Empress to stay, but the damage to her essence is too severe. The spiritual power inside her is violent and out of control. There's no way to form a Soul Spirit contract."

Song Que froze.

He suddenly remembered that in the original story, the Snow Empress's remaining essence and consciousness had entered Huo Yuhao's body only after she self-destructed. But she had not reached that point yet.

I can't exactly tell her to try blowing herself up and just leave her essence and consciousness behind, can I?

The Snow Empress spoke slowly.

"As I am now, I can neither complete my transformation into human form nor return to my original form."

"I'm gradually losing control of my power."

"You should all leave. If you stay, the energy inside me may erupt out of control and hurt you."

Huo Yuhao fell silent. Song Que's brow furrowed deeply. Things had gone nothing like they had expected.

"Di Tian, let them leave," the Snow Empress said calmly.

Di Tian and the others stopped fighting overhead.

Di Tian looked at the Snow Empress, gave a cold snort, and landed beside her.

"You've reached the end of the road. If you lose control completely, you'll bring a terrible disaster upon Star Dou Forest."

The Snow Empress was quiet for a moment before replying, "I understand. When I can no longer control myself, do what you must."

Huo Yuhao spoke up urgently. "Senior Di Tian, is there really no way to save the Snow Empress?"

Di Tian glanced at him without answering.

A gentle woman's voice came from behind them.

"If she were in the Far North, its extreme cold could help her channel her power and temporarily stabilize the violent energy. I might also have a chance to repair her essence."

"But we can't make it back to the Far North in time."

The Snow Empress turned. A woman in green walked over and stopped beside Di Tian.

"Bi Ji..."

"Never mind. Taking human form and starting over was always a gamble. Whether I succeed or fail no longer matters."

After a moment's silence, Song Que said, "I can try changing the weather. I don't know if it will help."

"But my cultivation is limited. If I were a Soul Sage, I'd have a better chance."

Bi Ji looked at Song Que and nodded.

"Then let's try."

Song Que nodded. With his Zanpakutō in hand, his fourth Soul Ring lit up.

"Reign over the frosted heavens! Hyōrinmaru!"

"Celestial Phenomenon Forest!"

Dark clouds gathered at his words, and moisture in the air condensed in great quantities.

Soon, snow fell thick and fast. The world turned white, and the cold pierced to the bone.

The forest's once warm, damp air rapidly chilled, and every trace of floating moisture turned to frost. The soil beneath their feet, the grass, and the tree trunks around them were soon coated in a thick layer of it.

A cold wind swept through the mountains and woods, scattering the heat and smoke left by the battle. The forest within a hundred-meter radius became a small domain of ice and snow.

The Snow Empress's eyes stirred. She raised a hand to feel the cold around her, a hint of nostalgia appearing on her face.

"This feeling... It's lovely."

Di Tian and Bi Ji looked surprised as well. Bi Ji studied it carefully, then shook her head.

"It's an impressive ability, but it still falls short."

"If we pour in some power, can you strengthen its effect?"

Song Que nodded slightly.

Bi Ji turned to the Snow Empress.

"Snow Empress, try channeling your excess power into him."

The Snow Empress paused. "His body may not withstand it."

Bi Ji smiled. "Don't worry. I'll protect him."

With a wave of her hand, Bi Ji enveloped Song Que in a layer of gentle green light.

"We can begin." The Snow Empress nodded, placed her palm against Song Que, and slowly sent her power into him.

As the power poured in, a faint blue light appeared across Song Que's skin, giving it a crystalline sheen.

The surging power crashed back and forth inside him, tearing at his body. Bi Ji's green light flowed continuously, repairing the damage and easing his agony.

At the same time, the purple Soul Ring revolving around him began to darken.

The purple deepened, then shifted to a pale black before turning completely black.

Bi Ji stared in surprise. "Can a human's Soul Ring improve like that?"

Di Tian shook his head and gave Song Que a searching look.

"In theory, it should be impossible. But there's something strange about this boy..."

The dark clouds overhead grew thicker, and the ice element between heaven and earth became exceptionally active.

Song Que could clearly feel himself approaching a strange threshold.

The next moment, a flash of blood-red appeared on the black Soul Ring.

His eyes flew open. An unusual light flashed within them, and he roared.

"Bankai! Great Crimson Lotus Hyōrinmaru!"

Ice surged from his body, and the shadow of a massive frost dragon coiled around him.

A pair of translucent ice wings spread behind his back, and a long, slender ice tail swayed gently. Twelve icy-white lotus petals hovered behind him, slowly circling.

The sky changed in an instant. Heavy black clouds pressed down overhead, bitter winds swept in from every direction, and snow poured from the heavens.

The surrounding trees, ground, and rocks were covered in thick frost in the blink of an eye. Cold surged through the entire forest, transforming the climate around them into a world of utter ice.