HRU: Chapter 363/364

Chapter 363: My Game, My Choice

"I see. I understand."

Toji would rather spend so much energy to dodge, which meant Uraume's guess was correct.

Toji seemed able to use that power to wound her directly.

A hint of pride rose in Uraume's heart. She thought she was clever, having unraveled the mystery of Toji's Zanpakutō so quickly.

Yet, even with that, something still felt wrong.

This Zanpakutō's ability was indeed special, but it didn't seem to match the reputation of a Zanpakutō.

Could this be only the Irooni game of this blade?

While Uraume was still thinking, Toji's voice rang out.

"No need to test, no need to guess. If you want to know the rules of this game, I can tell you directly."

This was the duty of Katen Kyōkotsu's wielder.

When the opponent asks about the rules of the game, as referee, you must tell them. You cannot lie.

"When one side or the other calls out a color, both players can only strike at the areas of their opponent covered by that color.

If they strike an area of another color, the attack will be nullified.

The larger the area of the called-out color on your body, the stronger your strike will be.

The smaller the area of the called-out color, the weaker your strike becomes."

Toji's explanation confirmed Uraume's earlier deduction. Still, she was shocked that he explained his Zanpakutō's ability so openly.

Shouldn't this be kept hidden?

But since Toji was so arrogant, it worked in her favor. This meant she could now stand on equal footing with him.

"Depending on the color, right? That means the larger the area that can be cut, the more dangerous it becomes. The smaller the area, the safer it is."

Uraume had grasped the essence of Irooni and waited with confidence for Toji to call out the next color.

Facing her alert expression, Toji smiled faintly, raised Katen Kyōkotsu, and charged forward once more.

Uraume was ready this time to call out a color.

As for Toji's outfit, she only needed to say "black" without hesitation.

The black cloth covered the majority of Toji's body.

Uraume sneered inwardly. What kind of fool was he? He knew this game depended on the colors of the body, yet he still wore such a single-colored outfit?

If it were her, she would wear as many colors as possible, even if it made her look ridiculous.

Had he not explained the rules, most would have had to guess for a long time.

But Toji, the fool, had simply told her everything, making it harder on himself.

This time, Uraume did not plan to use a frost shield. Without it, the colors on her outfit would appear more even, less monotonous than Toji's.

She fixed her gaze on his mouth, ready to shout "black" the moment it moved.

In the blink of an eye, Toji closed the distance.

This time, he leapt high, bringing both blades down in a fierce chop.

What color will he call? White? Black? Blue?

Uraume's thoughts spun. As long as she matched him, no matter how strong his strike was, it would be rendered useless.

"Takaoni!"

"Black!"

The instant Toji opened his mouth, Uraume shouted "black" in return. At the same time, she condensed an ice spear and hurled it at his upper body, intending to pin him mid-air.

But the moment she spoke, something felt wrong.

Toji hadn't called out a color at all.

What is happening?

Her mind raced. The words he spoke just now weren't "Irooni" at all...

Takaoni?

Uraume froze. She didn't know the exact rules of this new game, but she knew Toji was exploiting them to attack her.

His leap turned into a fierce descending strike.

Should I defend, or evade?

She was uncertain, but one thing was clear: she could not use a color to block his attack.

As Toji plummeted toward her, Uraume abandoned her position in the air and dropped swiftly to the ground.

The moment she landed, she rolled hard, narrowly evading his descending blades.

A deafening roar split the air.

Blood flowed from her ears, her eardrums torn by the force of the impact.

Staggering away, Uraume's expression was one of pure shock. She had never imagined that Toji's seemingly simple slash could release such devastating force.

The massive Zenin courtyard was carved into two deep trenches by his strike. If water were poured into them, they would form ditches.

Zenin Naoya's eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

He had only ever learned about Toji's Zanpakutō in theory, and thought it was peculiar. But now, just a single slash had such overwhelming destructive power.

A fall from the sky, and yet it created this.

If he cut down two more times, would the entire Zenin estate be destroyed?

Beside him, Naobito had similar thoughts. But unlike Naoya, he knew more of Katen Kyōkotsu's abilities.

Satoshi had told him before that Toji's Zanpakutō contained many techniques.

Naobito was already familiar with Kageoni, but this Takaoni was clearly another game altogether.

Seeing Uraume's battered state, the onlookers of the Zenin family felt a measure of relief.

Only two techniques, and she was already like this. And yet, Toji's Zanpakutō should still have even more games to play...

(To be continued.)

Chapter 364: I've Never Been so Embarrassed!

Inside the inner room, Zenin Maki and Zenin Mai stood on tiptoe, holding onto the window sill and carefully watching Toji fighting with Uraume.

"Toji-niisan is really amazing!"

Mai's eyes were filled with admiration.

The moment Toji had saved them earlier, Mai had already decided he was her lifelong idol.

As the elder sister, Maki had also engraved the image of such a powerful Zenin deep in her heart.

The Zenin clan possessed Heavenly Restriction.

And Toji himself bore Heavenly Restriction. In her heart, the young Maki regarded him as the goal of her life.

"Mai, I will definitely be strong as Toji-niisan!"

Maki waved her fist violently, as if swearing an oath.

Mai also nodded firmly and held her sister's small hand.

"Sister, I believe in you! Mai will also become a strong sorcerer, and I will never lose to you."

The two little girls made their vows by the window. Toji himself did not expect that his arrival would change the path of their future growth.

...

Uraume exhaled deeply, forcing herself to calm her pounding heart.

At this moment, she finally realized something. Toji was not stupid. No wonder he had explained the rules of Irooni so generously before.

I see.

Toji had no intention of using Irooni again.

"What are the rules of this Takaoni?"

Uraume questioned directly. She no longer intended to waste energy on guessing. If she had doubts, she would simply ask.

Toji rested Katen Kyōkotsu across his shoulders and shrugged slightly.

"Rule: the one who climbs higher wins."

He stated it plainly, not even bothering to elaborate. The rules of this game were simple and easy to grasp.

Uraume's pupils shrank.

I see, no wonder Toji leapt high before.

It turned out that whoever climbed higher to strike would win.

Irooni, Takaoni, these were already two games. Could there be a third?

She did not doubt the potential of his Zanpakutō. Since it could produce these abilities, Katen Kyōkotsu must surely hold more.

In this case, Uraume realized she could not rely on her preconceived thinking to judge Toji's moves.

Even if he jumped high, it might not be Takaoni.

There was no fixed connection between his movements and the game he chose.

This was the first time Uraume felt so miserable since awakening. Just two techniques had already pushed her into such a state.

But she was not someone who would accept defeat so easily. She still fought within her Domain. As long as she pushed harder, she would have the advantage.

Her expression turned solemn. With a wave of her hand, an ice bow appeared.

In an instant, countless ice arrows shot out, densely packed, leaving Toji no space to dodge.

As long as my attack is strong enough, Toji won't have time to activate any techniques.

Uraume was confident in this strike. But what shocked her was that in the blink of an eye, Toji, who had been at a distance, vanished.

She instinctively looked to the sky.

Toji had not leapt up to use Takaoni.

But neither was he anywhere to be seen. Not on the ground, not in the air. Could he have hidden underground?

Naoya, watching from the side, was also confused. As a bystander, he should have seen more clearly, yet even he had not noticed Toji's movement. One moment he was there, the next, gone.

Only Naobito had a faint smile.

He had seen this move before. Finally, Toji had used this technique.

Uraume's Domain was indeed formidable. But compared to Toji's monstrous body and the versatile games of Katen Kyōkotsu, she was still far too immature.

"Being here is like being in his own territory."

Naoya looked bewildered. He had no idea what his father meant.

A territory?

Wasn't that an ability only sorcerers could use?

Toji's techniques were released through his Zanpakutō, Katen Kyōkotsu. How could he possibly use a Domain?

Could Katen Kyōkotsu have evolved further? Was it capable of releasing a Domain?

Naobito did not answer his son's doubts. He only looked at the shadows beneath the largest building of the Zenin estate, the Pavilion, with deep emotion.

Shadow techniques. This was the Zenin clan's unique ability.

At that moment, both Uraume and Toji were within the great shadow cast by the Pavilion.

Before Uraume even realized it, the vast shadow had already become Toji's territory.

This shadow was the perfect medium for releasing Kageoni.

For Uraume, who had lost sight of her enemy, danger was closing in.

She immediately gathered all her power into her Domain. Heavy snow fell, every flake carrying her perception.

To her, Toji must have used some sort of invisibility technique.

The third game of Katen Kyōkotsu might be invisibility.

But as the snow fell harder, she still sensed no sign of him.

Toji hadn't hidden at all. He had simply vanished.

Uraume frowned. Katen Kyōkotsu's games were too strange. She could not waste time searching any longer.

If he hides, I will destroy everything. Then he will have no choice but to appear.

He was tied to the Star Plasma Vessel. If I obliterate the Zenin estate, Toji will be forced out.

And if he does not appear? All the better. It suits my plan. I am not a battle maniac. I don't need to fight him to the end.

My goal is simple. To kill the Star Plasma Vessel.

In an instant, the snow inside her Domain grew heavier. Each flake fell with the weight of a thousand pounds. Houses, pavilions, and mansions of the Zenin clan were crushed to rubble beneath the storm.

Within a few breaths, the ancient Zenin estate was reduced to ruins.

At this rate, it would not take long before the entire Zenin household was destroyed.

(To be continued.)