Zaraki's Choice  

After doing all this, it was so that in the next battle, Zaraki would not need to hold back and could fully enjoy the pleasure of slaughter... But now, it seems she has been abandoned.

With the strength displayed by Captain Ailin, under his pressure, Zaraki's reiatsu would gradually recover completely.

The one who could let Zaraki fully enjoy the pleasure of slaughter has become Captain Ailin. Unohana herself has become a dispensable person.

Being unable to let the enemy indulge in battle during his fight with them has become an indelible shame for Retsu Unohana.

So, should she battle Zaraki before his reiatsu fully recovers, allowing him to fully awaken in their fight?

Caressing the Zanpakutō on the desk, Retsu Unohana's right hand had already grasped one end of her hair braid.

Just a light tug, and the large braid hanging in front of her chest would immediately scatter, announcing to the world the return of the unprecedented evil in the Soul Society...

***

Ailin was completely unaware that his existence was causing Retsu Unohana to doubt her life's purpose.

After testing the abilities of the King's Treasury, Ailin was very satisfied with the elevated power of his Zanpakutō's Shikai release.

Although in terms of strength, the might of throwing out the highest grade weapon may not be as powerful as Ailin wielding his sword directly, this ability was so cool.

The visual effects were far cooler than the projections thrown out by Unlimited Blade Works.

Strength was temporary, but being cool was for a lifetime!

The aura was too high.

Returning to the Kuchiki Manor, Ailin sensed that Haruko was playing with some members of the Shinigami Women's Association, so he returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and immersed his thoughts into his innate boundary field.

Compared to the previously barren land, Ailin's innate boundary field was now covered in a layer of golden light.

Within this Unlimited Blade Works, all the Zanpakutō were enveloped in a golden glow - a manifestation of the King's Treasury's power upon them.

It was precisely because of this golden radiance that these Zanpakutō could unleash such tremendous might after being thrown by the King's Treasury.

Now, the space within Unlimited Blade Works had expanded several times compared to before.

All things that could be called "swords" throughout history would automatically be collected by the King's Treasury. Then, Unlimited Blade Works would recreate them and store them in this space.

Although these newly created "swords" had varying forms, at this moment they were all low-level Zanpakutō, mere shadowy beings incapable of manifesting spirits.

Currently, Ailin's training involved searching for treasures among these "swords".

Walking slowly forward, Ailin stretched out his hand to pull a Zanpakutō from the ground, and the battle memories of a warrior appeared in his mind.

After a few seconds, Ailin shook his head and casually tossed the sword aside, sending it tumbling through the air before embedding itself among the Zanpakutō he had already identified.

Ailin then continued this process - draw sword, absorb memories, then toss it aside.

Amidst this myriad of swords, Ailin often had to pull out thousands before finding one that reached the "Seated Officer" level, at which point he would fling it away to fly on its own to the Sword Hill, embedding itself at a height corresponding to its strength.

It was obvious that these Zanpakutō on the Sword Hill had a more concentrated golden radiance compared to those on the golden ground. And the higher up, the stronger the golden light within the Zanpakutō's blade.

The Zanpakutō at the peak of the Sword Hill was completely composed of golden light - this was the current embodiment of Ailin's Zanpakutō, the King's Treasury!

Every time Ailin extracted a Zanpakutō above the Seated Officer level from the myriad blades, his reiatsu would increase.

During this selection process of the Zanpakutō, Ailin's comprehension of the "sword" element also gradually deepened.

Whenever he grew tired from this searching, Ailin would forge some of the weapons from his memories based on his understanding of the "sword" element.

After all, as long as Ailin defined their released abilities as a Zanpakutō's power, his innate boundary field would recognize them as "swords".

Who dictates that a Zanpakutō must be a "sword" in this world?

Regardless of whether it transforms into a blade, spear, sword, halberd, hammer, scythe or staff upon release, as long as it was classified as a Zanpakutō in its sealed form, it counted as a "sword".

As long as it was a "sword", logic and reason did not matter. Even using Devil Fruit abilities as a Zanpakutō's Shikai and Bankai wasn't impossible.

The Shikai releases the Devil Fruit power, while the Bankai is the Fruit's awakened state...

As long as Unlimited Blade Works dared to recognize it, Ailin dared to create it!

Feeling invincible, Ailin went wild creating weapons in the space of Unlimited Blade Works, taking "willfulness" as his motto.

All the Zanpakutō created by Ailin started at the Seated Officer level, with many at the Captain level.

There were even some at the "strongest" level.

As for EX-level ones like "Avalon", that was confidential...

That already involved the "essence", and even Ailin could not guarantee that the weapons he created truly reached the EX level. He could only gauge based on the reiatsu feedback.

But no matter how much these weapons improved Ailin's strength, his reiatsu never stopped growing.

If the "Soul King" was the limit of this world, then he would surpass the "Soul King" and break free from this world abandoned by the "Creator"...

***

"Shhhra..."

In the 4th Division grounds, after sensing his injuries had fully healed, Zaraki tore off all the medical bandages from his body.

"Hey, where is your Captain?"

Fortunately, the Soul Reaper that Zaraki had grabbed was the same one from before. However, unlike last time when he was nearly scared to the point of wetting himself, this time the 4th Division member was just startled, without the same exaggerated reaction.

"Captain Zaraki, I really don't know where Captain Unohana is... But I know who knows where Captain Unohana is."

"Enough blabbering, if you know then hurry up and lead the way."

"Y-Yes yes, but Captain Zaraki, could you please put me down first? Then I can take you to find Lieutenant Isane."

Under this Soul Reaper's guidance, Zaraki arrived at the 4th Division Captain's office.

"What's this, isn't she just inside here?"

Shoving the guide aside with one hand, Zaraki took large strides into the 4th Division Captain's office.

"Captain Zaraki."

Currently in the Captain's office besides Retsu Unohana was also Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu.

Upon seeing Zaraki, Isane immediately stood up and bowed in greeting.

Though Zaraki was just the Vice Captain of the 11th Division, none of the Shinigami in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, including the true Captains, dared to truly treat him as a mere lieutenant.

On one hand, it was because of the strength Zaraki had displayed over the past few decades, earning the Captains' acknowledgment.

They could call Zaraki reckless or stupid, but not weak.

On the other hand, the true Captain of the 11th Division, Ailin, had not managed the division at all since Zaraki joined. Essentially, the entire 11th Division had been led by Zaraki for decades without any issues arising. They handled every enemy well. Zaraki possessed the qualities of a Captain!

"Captain Zaraki, I see your injuries have fully recovered. Instead of returning to the 11th Division, you've come here - what business do you have?"

"Woman, don't speak to me with that face." Zaraki plopped down brazenly in front of Retsu Unohana. "I didn't come here to talk to you in your current appearance..."

"Isane, you go out first." Just as Isane was about to remind Zaraki that Captain Unohana had always looked this way, she heard her Captain's words instead.

"This..." Looking at Zaraki, then at Captain Unohana, Isane hesitated for a moment before ultimately choosing to trust her Captain.

Isane bowed to Retsu Unohana, "Yes, Captain Unohana."

"I'll stand outside the Captain's office. If Captain Zaraki oversteps, please allow me to rush in and protect you."

After speaking, Isane left the Captain's office, closing the large door behind her and standing guard outside with her hand on the hilt of her Zanpakutō.

Though she knew the vast gap in strength between herself and Captain Zaraki, for the sake of her beloved Captain Unohana, Isane would risk her life to protect her.

As the lieutenant of the 4th Division, besides outstanding healing abilities, Isane had also achieved the first release of her Zanpakutō.

Her Zanpakutō "Itegumo" was of the ice-snow variety, not particularly outstanding among the Seated Officers. However, Isane's Kidō prowess was strong.

Given enough time to chant the incantations, she could release high-level Kidō spells above #60.

"Captain Zaraki, what did you want to say?" After Isane left the Captain's office, all emotion drained from Retsu Unohana's eyes, becoming utterly lifeless.

"Heh..."

Seeing that familiar face, Zaraki's body started trembling as his right hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his Zanpakutō.

A sense of delight welled up from the depths of his heart, making Zaraki itch to immediately draw his sword and engage this woman in slaughter. But ultimately, Zaraki suppressed his "instincts".

"Woman, I want to learn swordsmanship from you to become stronger!"

Zaraki looked completely serious as he spoke to Retsu Unohana. He was serious about learning swordsmanship!

As for why he sought out Retsu Unohana... Zaraki believed they were of the same kind.