Katori Nanatsuki's figure flashed swiftly, racing up along the outer wall of the tall white tower.
He had once again climbed the white tower within his Inner World.
The last time he tried to scale this tower, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach the top. It had seemed endless.
But now, with his Reiatsu reaching the level of a vice-captain, he could finally approach the summit.
Moments later, Nanatsuki stood at the peak of the white tower.
The silver-haired girl he had briefly seen before sat at the edge of the tower's summit.
Nanatsuki walked over and sat beside her.
"It's really not easy to see you again."
From this height, the vast black desert below and the night sky above looked almost like one continuous sheet of darkness.
The silver-haired girl continued gazing into the distance and spoke softly,
"You couldn't withstand the cost of using me before."
"Are you… a Divine Blade?" Nanatsuki had a question in his heart. "Why are you with me?"
According to the dream that had guided him before, this Reishi Shell of his was originally a discarded vessel.
When he woke up in Rukongai, the sword had been lying next to him.
He had picked it up and started using it right away, thinking it was just a standard Asauchi. After all, it worked for Zanpakutō Meditation Training, though he could never truly connect with it.
But if this sword was a Divine Blade, then there was a good chance it had been placed there by Shutara Senjumaru.
"I don't know. I was still asleep back then," the silver-haired girl turned her head toward Nanatsuki. Her silver eyes were completely emotionless. "I only awakened after you began your meditation training. My memories begin from there. You're the first Shinigami I've seen."
Nanatsuki raised a brow. So that meant… he was the sword's first wielder?
He began to suspect this wasn't an ancient Divine Blade passed down through generations, but a newly forged one.
Someone capable of forging Divine Blades, and connected to Senjumaru—he thought of another member of the Royal Guard: Ōetsu Nimaiya.
Ōetsu Nimaiya was the creator of the Zanpakutō, the greatest smith in the world—of course he had the ability to forge Divine Blades.
Nanatsuki continued,
"I'm Katori Nanatsuki, as you probably already know. But I don't know your name yet. Can you tell me?"
The silver-haired girl replied flatly,
"Datenshinkotsu."
"Datenshinkotsu…" Nanatsuki repeated. He had successfully obtained the name of his Divine Blade—proof that he was now qualified to wield it.
"Using me comes at a cost," she added. Though her face remained blank, her words carried a faint trace of concern. "Don't die."
"I'll keep that in mind…" Nanatsuki scratched his cheek. He was beginning to suspect the silver-haired girl was just extremely stoic. He hadn't seen even a flicker of expression from her.
"Your Reiatsu is too low. Right now, you can only access a portion of my authority. Try it here."
She stood, her flawless white feet touching the ground.
As she did, the top of the tower rapidly expanded, becoming a platform about the size of a basketball court.
Nanatsuki also stood, a sword now in his hand.
"You won't die here."
Though her head only reached his stomach, her long braided silver hair trailed across the ground as she stood.
Nanatsuki nodded and gently stroked the blade.
"Balance… Datenshinkotsu!"
There was no change in the sword itself.
But his Premonition of Danger kicked in—his temples began to sting, and chills ran down his back.
This blade was extremely dangerous!
Still, this was his Inner World—he could test freely.
He activated the ability and swung the blade. One-third of his Reiatsu vanished instantly.
He swung a second time. Another third disappeared.
On the third strike, his Reiatsu was completely depleted—his body crumbled and dispersed.
After a while, Nanatsuki's body reformed within the Inner World.
"You can use it twice at most for now," the silver-haired girl said.
"…Reiatsu suppression?" Nanatsuki finally understood the sword's power.
It was a rule-type ability. It cut Reiatsu.
For every portion of Reiatsu he sacrificed, the enemy would lose double that amount.
It was especially effective against Shinigami and Hollows, whose bodies were composed of Reishi.
If their Reiatsu couldn't withstand the drain, their very Reishi bodies would collapse.
However, the effect only triggered when the blade physically struck the target.
The power was immense—but the cost to Nanatsuki himself was equally steep.
The girl continued,
"I'm not a Zanpakutō. I have no Shikai. But once your Reiatsu reaches the level of a captain, you'll be able to access more of my authority."
Nanatsuki's awareness snapped back to reality.
"Datenshinkotsu…" he murmured again, picking up the sword resting across his lap.
There wasn't much in Datenshinkotsu's memory—besides her power, she seemed to know nothing at all.
Nanatsuki still leaned toward the idea that she was a newly forged Divine Blade.
But if she really had been forged by Ōetsu Nimaiya and placed beside him by Shutara Senjumaru… then the reason behind that deserved serious investigation.
There were no coincidences in this world.
It's not like Senjumaru gifted him a Divine Blade just because she thought he was handsome.
Nanatsuki stood and left his quiet room, heading into the city to shop for medicinal herbs.
He had recently acquired a formula for Spirit-Recovering Pills, which could restore Reiatsu. Perfect for pairing with Datenshinkotsu's ability.
Most of the ingredients in the formula were common and easy to find in the market.
Two of the more valuable ingredients, though, could be found in the nearby wilds—which was great, since Nanatsuki was planning to take his disciples out into the mountains for training during the break. He could collect them then.
Later, in the mountains—Nanatsuki brought his disciples to a spring beneath a waterfall.
"The Katori-ryu Dojo was built near this mountain for a reason. Try feeling the water here."
Aizen Sōsuke stood on the shore, sensing the active Reishi all around him. He couldn't help but sigh—it was a sacred training ground.
Muguruma Kensei dipped his hand into the water and exclaimed,
"The Reishi here is super dense! It's even thicker inside the water!"
This spring had a higher Reishi concentration than even the spiritual hotspots in Karakura Town—though the area was small.
"This spiritual hotspot was discovered by the founder of the Katori-ryu," Nanatsuki explained.
"That's why he built the dojo at the foot of this mountain."
"I can't believe the Fuwai District has a place like this," said Shihōin Yoruichi, wide-eyed.
"This Reishi density rivals the central zones of the Seireitei!"
Azashiro Kana focused on something else entirely. She cupped some water and took a sip.
"Whoa—this spring water is delicious!"
"The Reishi density here fluctuates cyclically," Nanatsuki said with a smile.
"Right now, we're in a high-density cycle."
"And this is where you'll all be training next."