Chapter 22: Responsibility


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya flexed his arms. The strengthening of his muscles by Oppression was still present and would remain until he used Oppression again to lower the density of his muscles.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He looked at Dordoni. “How will Baraggan respond when he gets today’s report?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Depending on his mood… In the best-case scenario — he sends more Espada. The worst-case scenario — he sends more Espada.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Huh? What’s the difference in the best and worst scenarios then? The orders he gives to Espadas?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dordoni grinned. “You wouldn’t want to know the worst orders.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I won’t ask then. Let’s start.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I was about to say the same, Ni?o.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya charged recklessly. Dordoni roared like a ferocious beast, and his Reiatsu swelled to nearly its peak. More tornadoes emerged from his armor pieces, bird heads attached to their ends.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dordoniunched kicks and punches from a distance. The bird-headed wind creatures mimicked his movements and struck Kazuya. The assault flung Kazuya towards the ground. Using his wings, he steadied himself and assessed his chest. Apart from superficial cuts, he had sustained no significant injuries.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘This method is brilliant for improving my defense.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dordoni widened his eyes. “Even an Arrancar’s Hierro is cut upon contact with my razor-sharp wind. What kind of technique are you using to protect your body, Ni?o? Why are your clothes unharmed?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“My clothes are special.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">His shirt and jeans had remained the same since he arrived in this world, apart from being stained with his blood. He had used Reiatsu to clean the shirt time and time again, but its durability couldn’t be denied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I see, Ni?o.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Following their strange exchange, the two resumed exchanging blows. Unable to prate the multitude of cyclones, Kazuya opted tounch Cero Rays from a distance.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Battered and bruised, Dordoni persistently countered Kazuya’s every attack, his wind cyclones ying a big part in keeping Kazuya away from melee range and stopping the Cero Rays. However, he couldn''t keep it up indefinitely. Eventually, his ability depleted his Reiryoku, and his Resurrión deactivated.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Although Dordoni had gained a substantial amount of Reiryoku after bing an Arrancar, he couldn''t match Kazuya''s absurd efficiency and monstrous rate of Reiryoku recovery. His endurance was unmatched among the Vasto Lorde ss — the main reason for his rapid improvement in thest month.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya smirked. “We’re on an even field now.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dordoni held his katana with a purple hilt and drew a cross in the air. “Not even close, Ni?o. Your spatial awareness is subpar. You can hardly distinguish between a feint and a genuine attack. And you’re pathetic at concealing your intent. In short, Ninoo, you are solelycking in experiencepared to a veteran Espada such as I.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya''s lips lifted in amusement. "Apologies for being so young. I wouldn''t choose to be a one-month-old Vasto Lorde if I had the option."


    <span style="font-weight:400">“One month?! Ni?o is only one month old? That’s impossible. It takes decades to go from a Gillian to an Adjuchas… unless you’re one of those.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Natural born Vasto Lorde? Indeed, I am one of those anomalies.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No fucking wonder you could beat the crap out of Ciri. She never stood a chance against someone of your potential.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">With a chuckle, Kazuya unleashed a sonic boom, instantly appearing in front of Dordoni. The yful Arrancar didn''t hesitate to sh at Kazuya''s neck with his chipped katana. Kazuya reached out, seizing the de with his bare hands. The metal bit into his palm but couldn''t sever it entirely.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Blood oozed down like a crimson waterfall. His regeneration tried to heal his wound, but the katana stuck in his palm made it impossible to do so. He had the blessing of the pain resistance skill, otherwise, the pain would force him into a pitiful state.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Ni?o," Kazuya called Dordoni with a wicked grin as a blue Reiatsu surged from his wounded hand. "Say goodbye to your Zanpakutō."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Before Dordoni snatched away his Zanpakutō, Kazuya activated his Aspect of Death.


    <span style="font-weight:400">An Arrancar’s Zanpakutō embodied their Hollow powers from before they became an Arrancar. It also sealed away their Hollow attribute, allowing them to attain human-like emotions.


    <span style="font-weight:400">One could argue that an Arrancar''s Zanpakutō held equal or perhaps more importance for a Hollow than it did for a Shinigami.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Despite Zanpakutō''s extraordinary capabilities, the katana clutched in Kazuya''s hand was a physical object. With the power of Oppression, he could manipte any physical matter, as long as he understood its nature or brute force it with immense Reiryoku.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As Kazuya tightened his grip on the katana, the entire de cracked before snapping in two.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dordoni stood frozen, clutching the hilt. After a tense moment of silence, he lowered his head. “I should have been more cautious after I saw you fooling Ciri.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Dordoni fell victim to his own veteran experience. A true warrior would cut down their enemy without hesitation. That very impulse led to the demise of his Zanpakutō.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I have been outsmarted… your ability, your Reiatsu can alter physical properties of anything it touches.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah. I made your Zanpakutō extremely brittle.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Despite his defeat, Dordoni threw his head back andughed heartily. "Well yed, Ni?o. You might give the old king some trouble... I certainly hope you do. Well, you have to conquer me before you go anywhere… As long as I breathe and my body can move, I’ll continue to fight. That’s what a soldier does, Ni?o."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Refusing to grant Kazuya a simple win, Dordoni lunged forward, showing his sharpbat abilities with an intense barrage of punches and kicks. Unyielding, Kazuya expertly parried each of Dordoni''s strikes, ensuring that none found their mark on his body.


    <span style="font-weight:400">After what seemed like minutes, Kazuya found an opening and struck Dordoni''s face, propelling him toward the ground. He caught up to Dordoni using Sonído and unleashed a powerful kick that sent him crashing into a nearby mountain. Blood sttered from Dordoni''s mouth as he gasped for breath.