But as brutal as that ability was, it had immense recompense.
Unlike the shikai, because it could not distinguish between friend and foe, if fellow Soul Reapers were around him, they would also begin to unleash friendly fire on him. Because there wouldn’t be an object whose perception of friend and foe he could change in a one-on-one match, the ability wouldn’t activate. In a sense, that could also be said to be another form of recompense.
Though if I could do that, I could pretend to be their ally and slash them all I want from behind.
He had thought, just for a moment, that perhaps it would have made sense for him to come to this place alone and have Tokinada and Hikone attack each other, but he couldn’t rely on them conveniently appearing together.
“Well, if somebody on Aizen or Yhwach’s level comes by, it might not have any effect in the first place.”
Hirako once again sighed and started to slowly walk over the sea of corpses.
He patted Sakanade’s handle as though in appreciation, but his grumble revealed the opposite sentiment.
“Seriously, your shikai is for the strong opponents and your bankai is for sweeping foot soldiers… You really are too contrary.”
≡
“It seems the horde that Ikomikidomoe created has been destroyed,” muttered Aura, who had been probing distant spiritual pressures.
“You’ve sure underestimated me if you think you’ve got time to take your eyes off me.”
At Ginjo’s words, Aura broke into a soft smile.
“No, I’m not underestimating you at all.”
Though there was the mood of a conversation before a fight, in actuality, it had already begun.
Before she could start a discussion, Shukuro Tsukishima had turned his sword at Aura in an attempt to insert his bookmark into her. Instead, it had simply passed through her as though cutting through air.
Ginjo had also tried waving his sword as a test several times, but no matter how many times he tried to cut her, her body dispersed like smoke that his sword passed right through, so they had lowered their swords for the time being rather than repeating the process in vain.
“Mere physical attacks will not work on my present self… I will at least inform you of that.”
“You got me beat. I can’t hold a match to that kido stuff.” Ginjo shrugged, then simply went on to question her. “Was that stuff about Karakura Town being sealed off one of your ploys?”
Yukio, standing behind her, answered Ginjo’s question. “To be more precise, it was a joint effort. She’s been maxing out only her konpaku and Reishi Subjugation stats. That’s why when I activate my abilities through her, her performance is next level. It’s like she’s got a booster or something in her.”
“So it’s not from the power we stole from Ichigo, then.”
Actually, if she can vaporize her own body, her basic Fullbringer abilities must be monster-level.
Ginjo realized that Aura, who was in front of his eyes, was reaching dangerous territory as a Fullbringer. With the utmost caution, he decided to feel out what her intentions were. “I was putting this off, but I at least have to ask what your goal is, founder of a new faith and possessor of divine looks.”
“There’s no need for flattery. Actually, my goal will change depending on what it is you seek.”
“You mentioned that earlier, didn’t you? What I seek? What do you expect from me after I died and wandered until I got to the Rukongai?”
As Ginjo questioned her, Aura had a somewhat serious look in her eyes and she responded with a question of her own. “Are you still contemplating revenge on the Soul Reapers?”
“That’s none of your business. Did Yukio tell you about that?”
At Ginjo’s question, Yukio shook his head slightly.
“It’s the opposite, Kugo. She came to me because she knew about your past.”
“What did you say…?”
Ginjo seemed dubious, and Aura answered, “Michibane is my mother’s family name. My father’s name was Tensho Agata.”
“What?!”
At that point, the look in Ginjo’s eyes clearly changed. Tsukishima's eyes faintly narrowed as though he also recalled the name.
“I see…so you’re that old Agata guy’s little girl… Never would have thought both a parent and their kid would end up Fullbringers.”
As Ginjo narrowed his eyes, Aura politely bowed her head.
“I am grateful that you gave my father hope.”
“Are you being sarcastic? Your pops ended up dead because I called him over.”
It had happened as a result of the Soul Reapers of the Soul Society betraying them. Because they had launched a surprise attack on the Fullbringers who were Ginjo’s friends, Aura’s father, who was part of their group, had lost his life as well.
A past he did not want to recall came back to life in Ginjo’s mind.
However, Aura continued to smile as she shook her head slightly. “No, regardless of the result, you brought light back to my father’s eyes, even momentarily, when all he had was fear and despair. Though I am grateful, I have no reason to hold a grudge against you.”
“So then why are you here? Based on the conversation, I understand you’re working with a Soul Reaper named Tsunayashiro.”
“Yes, Tokinada Tsunayashiro is my master. If I can, I would like all of you to gather under Lord Tokinada, and that is why I hastened to join you.”
“What did you say? Why the hell would I join forces with a Soul Reaper?”
When Ginjo voiced his justifiable skepticism, Aura said, “The new world Lord Tokinada is building—that place, at least, should allow Fullbringers to join the strong side again.”
“…”
“I asked President Yukio about it. And did you not say it yourself earlier? That Xcution is a gathering of those with the ability to change the world?”
Then, still with a gentle smile on her face, she continued, “Will you allow me to describe to you what kind of world Lord Tokinada intends to create?”
“Right…” Ginjo thought deeply and called out to his associate next to him as though in consultation. “Tsukishima.”
“What is it?”
Like a surprise attack, the next words he uttered had the effect of reversing the situation.
“Insert yourself into Yukio.”
“Huh?!”
In the next moment, the Book of the End’s blade was sticking out from Yukio’s chest.
“Oh…” a small sound escaped the boy’s lips.
It was a perfect surprise. Needless to say, he couldn’t evade it, and he wasn’t even able to activate his own abilities. However, not a single drop of blood fell from Yukio’s body. When the blade was pulled out of him, there was not a scratch left behind. However, the vestiges of Tsukishima’s spiritual pressure were certainly there, and it was certain that Tsukishima had inserted his own existence into Yukio’s past.
“If you’ve been brainwashed, this’ll cancel that out. First, we’ll take our time hearing the truth from Yukio himself.”
As a safety measure, Ginjo would first try bringing Yukio back to being unquestionably their ally. If he had been hypnotized or threatened in some way, Tsukishima would be able to preemptively obstruct that from happening. Though it was a stopgap measure, he wanted to eliminate the possibility of Yukio stabbing them in the back.
However, Aura showed no signs of being flustered as she continued to smile.
“It seems you are quite a hasty gentleman.” Then, as though she were showing gratitude to Ginjo, she once again gave him a reverent bow. “I must thank you for inserting that bookmark into Yukio, just as we had anticipated.”
“What?”
In that instant, Ginjo felt something strange in his own abdomen. When he lowered his gaze, he saw the familiar glint of silver.
The Book of the End.
The blade Tsukishima gripped was piercing Ginjo’s abdomen from the back.
“Tsuki…shima…?”
As his consciousness grew murky, Ginjo saw Giriko Kutsuzawa being cut as Tsukishima pulled back the blade.
“Wha…”
“Sorry, Ginjo, Kutsuzawa.”
Betraying no shame, a pained, somewhat cynical smile crossed Tsukishima’s face.
Before they could even ask what the meaning of it was…
Ginjo’s past was rewritten instantly through Tsukishima’s bookmark.