Chapter 40: The Second Bankai Event.

Yun Che and Jasmine hang out outside while watching Retsu's transformation. They couldn't go anywhere, fearing something might happen or interrupt the process. All they can do is stay and observe. It's been three hours since the barrier was activated. They didn't hope the process would take a lot of time.

All of a sudden…

They started to detect massive amounts of energy leaking from the barrier. The power contains a lethal dose of killing intent and bloodlust. The process interrupts Jasmine and Yun Che's conversation as they head toward the barrier.

"What is going on?"

"I don't know, this bloodlust. I don't think this is a good sign... Wait….This energy, it's the energy of a Bankai. She did it." Yun Che's mouth slowly formed a small smile. He knew that if she succeeded, unleashing her bankai meant she had returned to her former self. The problem is this is her first bankai. This event might attract much attention again after Yun Che's last stunt half a year ago.

He removed the barrier covering her to prevent the energy from harming Retsu. Then, he suddenly remembered something. The last time a bankai activated, it brought the entire high-level Profound Sky Continent cultivators towards him, resulting in him asking for Hoyuu's help to finish the fight faster.

"Yare, yare…this might cause a lot of commotion again. Retsu, finish everything and come back to us. If you don't, we must go against the cultivators." She said, looking at Retsu, who was currently berserk with her Zanpakutos energy.

The energy suddenly released itself as a pillar of red power, piercing the skies and forming a gigantic hole in the clouds. While releasing itself, it creates a red blood cloud and atmosphere as it showers, killing intent and bloodlust everywhere. Red lightning travels along the skies as it makes storms of bloodlust around. Yun Che immediately shielded Jasmine as the energy engulfed both of them. Since they have the system, they are shielded from its effect, but the same can't be said for the surrounding beasts. Most of them perished from the pressure alone, and higher levels died on the energy pillar engulfing the mountain region.

In the vast snowy region, a sect was thrown into chaos as the emergence of another heavenly phenomenon disrupted secluding cultivators. The last time this happened was when the energy of the heavens flowed into a singular point, causing all cultivators of the Blue Wind Empire to converge toward it. The lower-level sects could only watch from the sidelines as sacred grounds cultivators decided to interfere with recruiting whoever was releasing the energy back then.

Now, another one has emerged. It was even from the same mountain region.

A beautiful cultivator widened her eyes as she was disrupted again from her cultivation. She turned towards the distance where the berserk evil energy was coming from.

"That mountain region. Is it him? No, this one didn't feel like him at all. This evil energy came from another person." The beautiful cultivator suddenly felt uncomfortable as the energy covered the entire continent. It was even causing the skies above her to turn red. Could another one emerge, another hidden cultivator just like him? She tried focusing on her cultivation again, but the energy was so sinister that she couldn't concentrate. As before, she observed it, hoping it would calm down once it finished revealing itself.

Whoever that person is.

High above the clouds, the couple of watchers were disrupted once more. Another god-level power has emerged from the same mountain region. The energy didn't feel mortal at all. It was divine. No, it might be even surpassed it. That mountain region alone has produced two forces that can destroy the balance of cultivation in the mortal world and probably in the god's realm.

"Master…. Another one has emerged." The young watcher had her eyes on the crimson blood energy pillar the entire time. The mountain region has produced two heavenly phenomena that engulf the entire continent. Similar to the massive twister that engulfs the entire mountain region once. The twister that gives birth to a heavenly person.

"Hnn… I am curious as you are, but you know the laws of the heavens itself." The older watcher spoke as, the younger one nodded. However, they were curious about the birth of another divine-level power. They are in the mortal realm. They could not interfere. However, deep down. They are willing to find more should a third event arise.

It might be impossible, but knowing this continent might be an understatement.

All over the Profound Sky Continent, the cultivators detect the massive energy once more. This energy is full of malicious intent. They felt fear deep within their heart as they shifted their head toward the source. The skies around her started to turn red as if a demon god suddenly appeared in the world. Cultivators from all over the world saw the blood-red sky as they had fears in their hearts.

"What is going on? It's not even a year since the last heavenly phenomenon appeared. It feels the same as half a year ago, but this one is even more malicious and has a lot of bloodlusts." A lone fairy commented as she trekked the snowy region. The fairy once arrived in the mountain region with her companions but could only watch as countless high-level cultivators were there. Claiming the heavenly person would be a big mistake on their part. This time, they couldn't get involved anymore and could only watch the crimson pillar from afar.

"What???? Another one?" Various elders from all four sacred grounds shift their heads toward the blood-red sky and the massive energy pillar as they spring into action again. Not one but two heavenly beings appear in the world. The previous one was full of power and the feeling of suppression and domination, but this one is full of killing intent and blood lust.

"Those old bastards will not get this one. Tell all elders to move towards the spot immediately. We will not let this one go." The elders from each sacred ground have plans to find and recruit the cultivator producing this phenomenon.

"The heavens are smiling against us. Our sect will prosper once more. The devil god has descended and led us to salvation. Come everyone, and we will be the first to recruit the god to our side." Various dark cultivators emerged from their seclusion to come and claim their prize. Last time, those dark and devil cultivators could not even join the battle to recruit the first heavenly phenomenon. Not only them, assassin sects and underground sects mobilize their forces again to recruit this one. They missed the first one and will not let it go, either.

"That place again. What is so special about that mountain region to produces two heavenly phenomena. When this is all over, station our disciples in that country to monitor any more heavenly phenomenon. Regardless of the price, we will find and bring those cultivators into our faction." An elder from the sacred ground said to the elite disciples. The elder doesn't seem aware that all factions have similar ideas. The mountain region is where Yun Che unleashed his Bankai, and now it's Retsu's turn. This event shifts their attention toward this place.

"Two bankai achievers in one year, each producing a grand and bizarre event. Looks like we need to find another higher-level farming area after this." Yun Che rubs his forehead, thinking about the recent events.

"You know that we just attract another wave of those weaklings again. Retsu needs to hurry up and finish this." Jasmine suggests.

"System, how long do we have until those bastards get here?" He asked in his mind.

[Ding….. The host has 7 minutes and 56 seconds.]

"That short? Probably they station disciples in the nearby country to monitor any events." He said.

The pillar of rampaging energy suddenly went berserk for a few minutes before returning to Retsu's body. The blood-red sky returns to normal after the pillar is pulled back. Suddenly a bright light appears in Retsu's position, causing a giant explosion. Yun Che and Jasmine hid behind the barrier to avoid the brightness and explosion.

As the light and explosion died, they saw a figure slowly manifest from beneath the smoke. Yun Che and Jasmine saw a white fox mask with red patterns appear on the figure's face. This mask has a red lining on the eyes and similar linings on the cheeks. This pattern is the same as his hollow mask.

"A fox mask? What kind of hollow resides in her body?" Yun Che asked himself as he remembered he pulled a random serum from the system. A random hollow's soul. Could it be he pulled a fox hollow?

The figure was Retsu herself after completing her mask in the inner world. Retsu's clothes remained the same as she wore her shihakushou and the 11th division haori. However, her ears transform into fox-like ears on top of her head and a black fox tail behind her. Her braided hair was undone and grew to the same level as her knees. Her Zanpakuto took a drastic change. Instead of holding a nodachi, she has a short black sword with red linings on its edge. The sword emits a sinister and blood aura around it as it leaks crimson blood to the ground and emits black and red lightning around it.

"What is that?" Jasmine spoke as she widened her eyes at the recent development. Last time, she observed from the inside while the heavenly phenomenon occurred around Yun Che from within. Now, she was right in front of it.

"That will be Retsu, of course. I assumed that's her Bankai and Visored mask." Yun Che explains the mask and the dark malicious form around Retsu.

"Visored?" Jasmine curiously asked.

"It's a term for Shinigami and Hollow hybrids like us. Those Shinigami who can control the powers of their hollow are called visored."

"Never actually knew it had a term." Yun Che nodded as he undid the barrier and jumped before Retsu's new form. They still keep their guard up to check whether the one in control is her hollow or not.

The hollowed Retsu didn't say anything as she looked at them. All of a sudden, she started to move towards them. Strolling as she drags her blood drip bankai sword behind her. Yun Che relaxed and kept his sword because Retsu didn't emit any killing intent despite all the bravado she just showed.

"Retsu"

"Young master," The hollowed Retsu said to him with Visored's double hollow voice.

"You're back, and you did it." Yun Che smiled as Retsu succeeded in her mission to control her powers. The woman before her nodded before she lowered her head. The man slowly raised his hand to pat her head, but the hollowed Retsu shifted her face away.

"Monster."

"No, you're not. Remember what I said. You'll always be my Retsu. Hollowed or not." He attempts again, and this time, Retsu doesn't resist his touch. The mask slowly breaks apart around his hand so he can touch her cheek. It reveals her beautiful face, and it is full of tears. She relaxed her face and felt the warmth of his hand. After a moment, Yun Che hugged her, calming her down.

He sensed Retsu was still the girl that he had met. If she achieved her bankai, she probably remembered everything in her previous life. If she did, she would turn into Unohana Yachiru. The real owner of the bankai. Pulling a deep breath, he asked the fox Visored in his arms. "You remember everything?"

Slowly letting him go, Retsu shook her head. "No, I can have my previous life's memories back, but I chose to let them go. The only thing I have right now is my previous composure. I refused to lose the feelings I have for you, young master. I can be Yachiru again, but I became Retsu to start my new life." Even if Yachiru remembered everything in her past life and she offered to restore her memories, she turned it down. Her past is her past. All she wanted now was to start a new life with the man who freed her from Hell. He gave her a new life, and she will use it to repay him.

As Unohana Retsu.

He kissed her forehead before tightening the hug. "Let's make new memories together and look forward to the future." Then, Yun Che decided to return her feelings. He shall take responsibility by reciprocating if she disregards her previous life to be with him. It was also a confession to his previous life anime crush. "By the way... my feelings for you deepened from the day I saw you in my past life. Now, I could say it in front of you."

"I love you, Unohana Retsu. No matter who you choose to be." He confessed with a genuine expression.

"Will we always be together like you said? Promise you won't leave me? " She looked at him with her beautiful eyes.

"Yes, I promise I won't leave you; we'll always be together. I still owe you that date am I?" He snickers, and Retsu tightens the hug while holding her bankai sword. Despite the dreadful aura from her bankai, she could still smile like a sweet angel. "Hnnn… I look forward to our date."

"Ehemm, you two seem to have your moment." Jasmine's voice shocked them both, and they looked in her direction. Usually, she would let go in embarrassment, but instead, she stayed in his arms and spoke relaxedly. "Jasmine-san, I did it. I finally returned here. I fulfilled my promise to you."

"Welcome back, Retsu. What happened in there anyway?" She asked. Jasmine noticed something different about Retsu. Usually, Retsu would be someone who squeals in embarrassment. She would be someone Yun Che would call a klutz cutie. After regaining her Bankai, she seems a bit relaxed and composed.

"Sorry, Jasmine, looks like that'll have to wait. We have another two minutes till they get here. Retsu, I assume you know how to use Sonido, right?" Yun Che spoke while slowly letting her go.

Slowly donning her Inari Kitsune Hollow mask, Retsu's voice doubled as she spoke, "Hai, Yachiru poured every technique she knew into the mask. I managed to learn the gist of it. I need more time to comprehend the techniques she gave me."

"Yachiru?" Jasmine and Yun Che wondered. Is it really what he thought it was? Yachiru was Retsu's inner hollow? She said before that Yachiru remembered every single detail from her previous life. Does it mean he can meet the real Unohana Yachiru?

"I'll explain later," Retsu spoke as she got ready. Jasmine and Retsu nodded to each other before Yun Che manifested his Hollow mask. Retsu grabbed Jasmine's waist before all three disappeared from their current location.