Remnants of a Thousand-Year Flame
—Chapter 3: Worth—
DISCLAIMER: I do not take credit for Danmachi and Bleach and from its characters.
Ren stood unsteadily as he clenched his katana. The recent happening of events weren't something that he would've expected in anytime of the year.
His right hand was scorched black. It has been a miracle that it was still functional and intact in the first place. It seems that the fire resistance that he honed ever the years showed its usefulness again.
Normally, flames wouldn't normally wound him. His katana was basically a embodiment of flames itself, thus, he got an ample amount of fire resistance in the start. But Ren was sure that just having it would suffice. So he honed it, not just the normal method, but that of a extremely insane one.
And it surely paid off once again...
"Genryūsai... Shigekuni Yamamoto..." his voice was hoarse. Those words were relayed as if he had forced it out.
Sudden pain swelled over his body every time he moved. Even though he managed to cover his body with several layers of mana weaved into a barrier as a form protection before Yamamoto pulled off that pillar of fire in zero range, it seemed that his right arm which was the one holding his katana and the one closest to the cause of the pillar of fire wasn't spared from its wrath.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
That name has been engraved in his mind for years already. It was a name that he swore not to forget. His katana... Ryūjin Jakka...showed him snippets of its history...well, if you could say that a mere minute memory recollection every once in a while was enough to be conveyed as a proper history lesson, then it is what it is.
Now that he thought about it, this city's name was also known by Ren. For some reason, why didn't he immediately recognize the place which was also shown in those snippets of history.
Seiretei.
Ren wanted to ponder more, but well, his opponent at the moment won't give him the chance to do so.
In that brief moment of respite, Ren so tried to silently call the SYSTEM through his mind. But to no avail, the SYSTEM didn't respond, however, Ren saw a short ever-familiar flicker in the air.
"It seems that you already know my name, so I'll refrain from introducing myself any further." The old man—Yamamoto said as he aimed his sword with his sole arm, now blazing in fire. "Youngster... it seems that you should know that someone trespassing someone else's place is nothing more than a fool who doesn't know what he is doing, or someone who has the capability to face the consequences in doing so."
Ren would've normally tilt his head in wonder as for what Yamamoto was talking about. For this time, Ren wanted to give an excuse and acquire more information about this place to trace some clues as for how he got here but...
"You won't even hear me out won't you?" Ren mustered up his courage and asked.
Ren knew that any excuses that he will give would probably turn deaf on the ears of Yamamoto considering his actions so far. He doesn't really get what the old man was talking about. In the first place, he didn't even know how he got here! But he doesn't have any other choice now, does he? Yamamoto will strike him down the moment he relaxes his guard. There was no other way to get out of here without a fight.
"I wonder if it is worth even listening to." Yamamoto replied cracking his neck. "But if there is anything I know right now, it's the fact that you need to learn some discipline, brat."
"...you are being unreasonable." The young boy growled.
"I could say the same to you, trespasser." The old man coldly stated compared to the burning atmosphere.
And once more, the dance of blades commenced between the two.
No, this couldn't even be called a proper sword dance to begin with. At a closer look, Ren could be described as being pushed back every time Yamamoto's sword was blocked by him.
The sheer difference of strength between the two was astonishing.
The one who is known as the 'strongest' in this domain, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. The one confronting him, Ren Ashbell, immediately―
"Stigma of Oath: [Liberatio]!!"
―emitted a raging silver aura that coiled around his body, activating the the Stigma of Oath.
In a blur, he stated his laws with his skill. Immediately, as if complying, the atmosphere of the battlefield suddenly changed.
"I declare!"
The silver aura erupted from Ren's body.
"From now on, all magical practices that are to be performed within this realm are prohibited!"
His silver aura then turned that of gray in accordance to what he stated. Over the gray-colored aura, the rules then immediately spread out expanding enough to cover the whole ruined city.
Seeing this, Yamamoto narrowed his gaze. This brat is planning to do something big. However, he refrained from interfering it to cancellation. He wants to see how many tricks this brat could pull out from his sleeve, and if that would even give him a challenge as well.
Thinking so, he quickly put strength to his feet and backed out for a considerable distance. Making his stance, Yamamoto's katana who was now covered in fire grew more. The next second, he slashed, and a wave of hellfire was unleashed.
Ren quickly took notice of it and dodged barely. He then continued his chant for his skill.
"Accordingly, everyone within the realm will be compensated for their physical abilities equal to their magical abilities."
As soon a she finished, his body felt uplifted. The muscles of his whole body are awakened. Ren felt the power that began to well up, and looked at his opponent who suddenly stopped attacking him from a distance.
"The alloted time of given for the use of this realm is limited until the host stops so."
An upcoming wave of fire came next, but this time, it was too fast so he decided to confront and counter it with his own. And as expected, he barely managed to do so which then pushed him hard which made him crashing for several meters away. But that wasn't a problem. His laws still are not finished, but some of it are already taking effect.
"Those who break the rules within this realm would cripple their bodies spanning for several days."
Ren who saw Yamamoto just observing him in the distance brought him nothing but even more wariness. The old man was taking this fight lightly. Ren understood that at a single glance. If he wanted to, Yamamoto would've probably cut Ren down from the start.
"All these laws are enforced under the watchful Eye of the World!"
He finished his oath. Thus, the phenomenon took place.
Ren who felt the strength build up in his body according to the rules, raised his sword and leaned forward.
It was not a very favorable situation for Ren. Though the rules that he set up was for his advantage, which is the fact that Ren knew that Yamamoto doesn't have the concept of 'magic' within him. Ren knows that his main source of strength comes from the energy called Reiryoku that is stored within his soul and body, which would lead into Reiatsu which is pressure that a person's Reiryoku exerts.
In other words, Reiryoku is potential while Reiatsu is energy in use and can be sensed by other spiritually aware beings. In general, those with high levels of Reiryoku will often have the highest levels of Reiatsu also. A skilled warrior can overcome a person possessing greater Reiryoku by possessing greater Reiatsu - this is achieved by having greater control over their own spiritual energy. The reason why Ren knew this is because of the dream cycles that he was having as stated earlier. Though it may be short, Ren had gathered an ample amount of information about Reiryoku and Reiatsu through those dream cycles.
The most similar thing you could find similar to both these two are mana and mana pressure.
Meanwhile, while this oath gives him some leeway, it also made a disadvantage which is the fact that he won't be able to use his magic unless he wants to be incapacitated in the next moment. But Ren could go with it. In the first place, he rarely uses his magic unless the situation is most suitable upon it, or unless he is in a dire situation where there are no options left.
And so far, Ren deemed that his magic wouldn't really be significantly strong enough to deal notable damage to the old man.
"Not... enough huh? I guess you're correct...much to my grimace." Ren said in a weary tone as he clutched his blade tighter.
Despite everything Ren had set up, he knew that this won't be enough to take down this old man. This wasn't the same oath that he used when fighting the Dragon. This was a more tame and less heavy version of that. To be completely honest, some would even think Ren was placing the Dragon on top of the higher list of dangerous opponents compared to Yamamoto.
But that wasn't the case at all.
In fact, Yamamoto would be on par, or even on a greater threat compared to the Dragon. If he could use the very same oath that he did last time, then he would. But alas, he can't.
It's because that oath has a set cooldown of months. If he ever tries to use it again without abiding the placed cooldown in it, the same penalties would be applied to him by that very oath that he swore upon, which is that his soul would be dragged and ripped down to oblivion.
Also, he could only use one oath at a time. Ren could not use simultaneous ones in succession. Doing so would only negate both oaths and would make him unable to cast some in the following days.
That's how heavy this skill is. An almost equal exchange is always needed for the benefits you will get.
Soon, Yamamoto emerged from the wall of flames that took place right after Ren finished his oath. He was unscathed. No wounds could be found in his body. If anything, he only has few cuts and burns on his outstretched haori. If Ren has silly thoughts right now, it would be for the fact as for how this haori didn't fall off his shoulders after all those movements and exchanges.
Yamamoto then spoke after he took a brief glance over his haori that was damaged. His aura turned more grim as soon as he did that.
"Not only did you trespass here. You also defiled this place for your own advantage." Yamamoto noted, with a little more edge in his voice. It seemed that what he did only infuriated the old man, causing the old man to take this a little more seriously. "Let's see if this preposterous act of yours changes something."
Suddenly, the atmosphere drastically changed. Ren's expression then turned to a blank one. With that single change of the atmosphere in this battlefield, Ren's instincts roared.
'Shit... it seems that surrounding and making Seireitei with that oath only made him angrier...'
Ren mused in dread, but it's not like he could help it. This is his best shot to keep up with his opponent at the mean time.
"Do your worst." Yamamoto stated lastly before disappearing from plain sight.
Ren's vision then roamed as quickly as it could in attempt to follow Yamamoto's movements. But that was futile effort...
It was none other than Ren's own insight, recognizing that difference between their power and speed. He doesn't have a chance — or so his instincts and observations states.
'Do your worst, huh...'
One minute. It was the limit to how long he could match the strongest swordsman that he would ever know, probably even stronger to the likes of the Hero, Albert. Ren was beyond shocked to the point where he just didn't show any emotion anymore. This was a hopeless fight if some would comment.
But for Ren, he would rather die and lose while trying to seek victory, rather than die and lose while missing the opportunity to even take the first step in winning.
'Why do I keep fighting ridiculously strong opponents one after another...'
He complained in his mind. Suddenly, he instinctively raised his guard intercepting an attack faster than he could follow, or so his judgement has told him. And that judgment was correct. Yamamoto attacked with the flames coiling around around him. From the beginning, Ren was confident that he had not erred in his judgment about his opponent. Each moment Yamamoto swung his Ryūjin Jakka, his eyes often lost sight of the attack. And it was happening again.
In confusion, Ren hurled his body backward.
At that instant, the air where Ren's face had been left a scar and burned. Something invisible and absurdly sharp flitted across his eyes, just barely scraping his face. At the odor of something burning drifted by, Ren understood. The invisible thing that had flitted near had been an attack―was none other than Yamamoto's sword.
'I can barely see his strikes!'
Because it was too fast, too sharp, he could only barely even see the afterimages of the katana with the naked eye. What had just barely been perceived was a glimmer of incandescence in the air due to the sword blades cutting through it at extraordinary speed.
'One small mistake would cost my life!'
Literally, his breath had been taken away by the display of skill that he was unfolding before his eyes.
To deal with the slash of Yamamoto's sword that drew a flash, he mustered all his nerves. Even if his katana, Ryūjin Jakka...or an imitation of it, could at least last long against a fight between the original, it would in the end be broken if he makes a wrong move.
So Ren gave it his all that he could spare with. Precision. Strength. Speed. Adaptation. Flexibility. And more...
Every fundamental element in swordsmanship that he had learned in his life was now being utilized to its fullest against his opponent.
Once, twice, three times, four times―the coiling entangled steel gave births to flames meeting battling other in the ruined city. Ten clashes in all. Against the intense chain of attacks that Yamamoto sent out with little pause, Ren had traced back their movements from his gaze, just barely defending himself.
But from the beginning, Ren's expression as he endured this showed obvious astonishment.
"...amazing..."
Receiving the slashes had sent numbness from both hands to his shoulders. It wasn't just speed ― but also preposterously heavy force. Despite being sent by only one hand, each was far beyond Ren's capabilities at the moment!
Why? Ren understood the reason instantly.
"Kuh!"
Ren fought back with his Ryūjin Jakka yet again against Yamamoto's approaching attacks. Amidst the crossing steel that gave off sparks, Ren was sure his understanding was correct.
Such moves weren't something a human being pull off, but―without a doubt, this was possible for the human in front of Ren's eyes. Re understood that, and shuddered as he swallowed the saliva gathering in his mouth. In the first place, is the one he was fighting a human?
Apparently, not.
Thinking about that doesn't really changes anything.
'This is… the strongest swordsman…!'
In offensive approach. In swordsmanship. In all of these things, his enemy was beyond the pale. There was no chance to get an advantage.
However...
'Even if that's true, I can't just defend!'
While barely defending against the unpredictable attacks coming endlessly, Ren understood this.
His speed that he was so confident of is just barely enough! Ren can't match him in terms of pure speed or offense! If he just take the next attacks directly for a few more contacts, his instincts screams that he would be cut through in five seconds!
For that reason, he had to shift to another way to attack. Offense was the best defense. He didn't believe those words as is, but the truth was too one-sided here. Even if an attack wouldn't hit or reach the opponent, if it broke his posture, it would have meaning.
Therefore, Ren made his decision. Facing this domain's strongest swordsman―to attack. He was not going to be stingy. Against this opponent, he couldn't afford to be so.
'Give with everything I have!'
Instantly, Ren put his decision to action. The high speed attack clad in flames sent from Yamamoto's katana. Ren took a step back as if running away from it.
Yamamoto immediately lunged, chasing after him with his katana. Raising it as both a defense and a cutting attack was a stance that showed no openings. The opponent he was confronting was pursuing, but at the same time it was also the best state of affairs for him—exactly as Ren predicted.
Against the strongest, Ren set forth. And using a unique way, he created an afterimage by suddenly changing his body's speed as he moved forward―
Because Ren had used one of his skills under his arsenal.
Mystic Eyes of Illusion.
As the title states, it is an ability that relates on making illusions with the catalyst being the eyes.
Normally, it would've fell into the magic category due to its use of mana...and such, but no. It utilizes mana, yes, but direct magic? Not really. This was considered as a skill by the SYSTEM, thus making a small loophole from the oath he had made. He had also used this skill against the Dragon, but unfortunately, it seems that mental or mind affecting statuses won't work against the overgrown lizard. It was immune to it.
It's a skill he received from the SYSTEM. It has the capability to the user to cast illusions and alter their target's perception of reality for a limited amount of time by eye contact.
To be honest, he could've used this skill earlier when he made contact with Yamamoto more than twice...but that was when he was still thinking of the old man as someone who he owes to. But clearly, Ren was not very composed at that time, to the point that even if he had already felt danger — immense danger — coming off from Yamamoto at first glance, he still continued to approach him without any plan in mind, but just plain boldness to answer a single question, which was done. It was a stupid...or foolish choice of judgement at the time.
Now back to the Mystic Eyes, there is one crucial requirement that is needed to utilize it.
And that is eye contact with the target or targets which he had already done the moment he shifted his vision towards the old man. And now that this requirement was met, his purple eyes glowed showing off trails of a hazy purplish hue.
Yamamoto then attacked the afterimage brought forth by his Mystic Eye. His katana sliced through it, immediately bursting in flames upon a faint contact. But since it was nothing more than an afterimage, the blades cut only air. As a result―
'His chest is open!'
—an opening was given.
The distance is perfect and within good reach. This was a chance!
Aiming for that, Ren prepared Ryūjin Jakka and rushed toward it.
But suddenly, Ren brought his body back from his charge in panic. In that moment, another slash went through the space where Ren's neck had been. The next second, he can feel his throat almost burning from the cut. His blood flowed down from the small wound inflicted, slightly emitting smoke.
"...So even that won't work huh. Your speed is truly peerless, old man." Ren commented as he wiped away the blood flowing from the small wound on his neck.
If he had stood within range carelessly, he would've been decapitated just now.
"Ho? Finally showing some respect to these bag of old bones?" Yamamoto for once jested. Ren however doesn't have the liberty to even laugh at it, not that it was intended to be funny in the first place. "That won't save you from what is about to come sadly, brat."
"...I know that." Ren answered his vision slightly darkening. His eyes were now getting wet. He could feel it. The darkness of his vision was not exactly colored black, but that of dark crimson red.
Instantly, the realization hit him.
'Blood...?'
Startled, he immediately brought his hand on one of his eyes. He could feel warm blood flowing from it. Ren then let out a laugh. To think that the burden to cast an illusion to temporarily trick this old man would be this much on his eyes. Well, it was within Ren's speculations the moment he tried to use it, however, he expected that he could at least use it for two or three more times.
'What a blunder.' Ren thought as he wiped away the blood on his vision.
It was then, Yamamoto moved again. Forming a stance, he muttered. "Burn." Orbs of flames forming in the air now surrounded them. With a single gesture, all began to fall over Ren.
Ren tried blocking, evading, and countering it with his own. Keyword tried.
If he wasn't good enough in speed, then Ren attacked a second time, switching to power. Twisting his upper body against his lower body like a spring, putting all his weight and physical strength and concentrating them into a single charging thrust.
And once more, he used his Mystic Eyes to cast an illusion to Yamamoto as if he would attack in the other direction in a different manner. This would act as a backup to further ensure his chances of landing a good hit.
Feeling an opportunity rise, Ren gathered every ounce of strength he could muster in this single thrust. Even someone like Yamamoto would have no response against it―is a naive thinking in the first place.
"Wha…!?"
The next instant, his katana's charge lost power, and was no longer advancing.
Ren's eyes widened in disbelief at the cause of how his thrust was stopped.
Yamamoto was holding the tip of his blade...with his hands, no, to be more specific, he was holding the tip of Ren's sword with just 3 of his fingers being used.
"What a surprise. Absolute hypnosis for a brief amount of time? No... that's not it. Illusions? You also have the abilities to use illusions...?" Yamamoto speculated in amusement as he continued to kill the force Ren tried to push in his thrust. "It's nowhere near that of Aizen Sosuke's but it still achieved its purpose nonetheless."
Yamamoto then released hip grip on Ren's weapon and thwarted it away with a wave.
Ren felt his mind go blank out of ideas. It was a deadlock. No matter what he does, nothing will change. The distance is too close.
'Should I use Bankai?'
Ren's Shikai was already deployed throughout the start. He tried to keep up with Yamamoto specially when using their fire abilities...but obviously, Ren couldn't keep up. What's more is that Yamamoto could also use the flames of Ren to his own advantage. Ren could also do the same feat to some extent, but the bar was too high, and Yamamoto could easily control the flames much faster and more effective than Ren could. And so, that eliminates the option of contesting the control of flames to his advantage.
Furthermore, the old man seemed to be taking him not seriously. Sure, Ren could be defined as strong after considering all the feats and battles that he had gone through in his life. This old man however, was a different case. An entire different case at all. Ren even thought that Yamamoto could give Albert a run for his money if they were to ever clash blades.
And now the thought flashed through his mind which is if he could deploy Bankai.
Many would assume that giving it his all would mean using everything in his disposal, which means that Ren would also use Bankai. But he didn't. Why? The reason for that is simple, there are only limited occasions where he had deployed his Bankai, and each time he deployed it, the similar oath that he had used against the Dragon was required, which has the condition of releasing his mortal body's restrictions, thus, allowing him to use Bankai with a leeway.
Because, using Bankai with the normal state of his body was tantamount to suicide.
There were times where he tried to deploy Bankai without that oath or with using another oath in a lower scale, but it all ended in disastrous cases. There was the time when he deployed it, but the surge of power couldn't be handled by his body resulted it from being nearly turned into a burning crisp if he didn't manage to cancel the Bankai immediately. There was also the time when he once more tried to utilize it by adding an oath, but an oath lower than that of what he used in the fight against the Dragon, resulted from turning the whole landscape burning non stop in a matter of a few seconds because he can't control the output of his Bankai. Other than these two, there are other more occasions.
In a nutshell, that oath was need so that his body could adjust itself to handle the Bankai at least to some extent. His body was...not ready—or rather, immature or not developed enough to handle the burden of his Bankai.
Ren could claim that his power was not mature enough to use his Bankai to its fullest, but as he uses his oath that literally liberates the limits of the body himself, this also includes an adult body transformation that he presumed was needed to reach completion in order to achieve its full potential. As an adult using his Bankai, Ren could use his Bankai properly to some extent.
That's why Ren only managed to train his Bankai when fighting ridiculously strong opponents to the point where these opponents could overwhelm him in a matter of time. It took years for him to be able to do so, and those hard work of his definitely paid off.
"One more time...!" Ren once again used his Mystic Eyes to cast illusions in attempt to buy some time, no matter how short it was.
Ren tried to make distance between them. He leaped away in succession while his eyes still locked on the figure or Yamamoto, trying to keep track on him as he was distracted by the illusions he casted. It won't last long, but that was enough. Once Ren deemed that the distance between them is far enough already, he decided to cast his Bankai.
"Bank—"
But before he could even utter the first word for his chant, he stopped.
Suddenly, he felt as if he was falling sideways.
'Huh?'
It was a strange dreadful feeling.
One more thing to note is that Yamamoto who probably should've been in a distance was now in front of him. Did he make a mistake? Obviously. If he didn't, then this situation shouldn't have happened.
"It seems that you reached the stage where you could deploy Bankai... incomplete as far as I had sensed it was." Yamamoto said as if he was slightly disappointed. "But in the end, it seems that my conclusion is that you aren't worthy on wielding it yet, brat."
As if the world's time slowed down, Ren started to piece up what just happened.
He was falling sideways. What is happening? Ren couldn't pin it out until his eyes slowly shifted upwards.
'My...body?'
To add more context, he was seeing his headless body. At that moment, Ren realized that this old man could've probably ended him in their first exchange of blades. Now, Ren knew that fighting back was a impossible endeavor. It was even a miracle that he could still form up these thoughts considering his current state. Really, this was one of the worst outcomes that could've happened.
'Ah... Damn it all.'
That was the single thought that Ren had until he closed his eyes. Finally, he would be able to rest... Though the journey of his life was filled with mistakes, he will still choose to walk the very same path if he were given the chance. After all, alongside those mistakes that he had made were beautiful and cherished moments as well. If some of those mistakes were to be erased, then those might've not happened. In short, he won't regret everything that happened up to this point.
Or so he thought.
'But if there is anything...or someone...'
The figure of a golden haired girl giving him a flower as thanks with the brightest smile that he had ever seen. The only regret of his was that he was unable to fulfill his due promises to that girl.
And so, the young man's life ended with a final bitter smile on his face.
As the old man said, this is the end... or not.
(X-x-X-x-X)
"Ah...!"
Ren snapped his eyes open. What just happened? Isn't he dead already? His hands was quickly put on his neck. It was still intact much to his relief. Was everything that happened not real? No, that would be possible, but not by a high chance at all.
"How are you still alive?"
Ren suddenly jolted out as his instincts screamed. As he had expected, it seems that all of that happening with him dying was real in the first place.
Just by hearing Yamamoto's words is a decent proof of that.
"..." Ren responded with nothing but silence. His eyes widened, how is he still alive? A question that needed to be answered...if that was possible at this time it is.
Quickly recounting his recent memories however, he immediately shot up on his feet. The enemy still stands before him. Yamamoto was visibly intrigued, and shocked as for how the young man was still alive. He was there all along. Yamamoto decapitated the young man just a few seconds ago, and as if reality bended, the young man that should've died was alive was more with his head intact.
Yamamoto merely stared at the young man with an incomprehensive gaze. He could understand why Ren distanced himself. Fear was an emotion necessary to keep someone alive. And right now, Ren deemed Yamamoto as a threat.
That was alright.
That's just how it should be...
"No answer?" Yamamoto inquired. "...hm. That doesn't change anything then. I'll just have to take you down again until I get my answers either from your mouth, or from what I observe."
After that brief moment, Ren Ashbell would die again, not just once, but several times.
Death by decapitation.
...
Death by burning alive.
...
Death by being sliced into pieces.
...
Death by being slashed in half.
...
Death by torture.
...
Death by stabbing a sword in the heart.
...
Death by being blown to smithereens.
...
Death by turning to ash.
...
Ren Ashbell received these endings in succession, and in fact, this was just a small glimpse of everything he would experience for the next few 'rounds'.
...
Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again.
(X-x-X-x-X)
"Finally awake?"
Ren's eyes snapped open for the umpteenth time. In an instant, he placed his hands on his chest. He was fully healed. There was no hole or whatsoever on it. Cold sweat dripped from his face as sudden fear took over him.
Is he going to die again? How long will he last? These questions swirled in his mind as his survival instincts shot up to its maximum.
"You are still alive for reasons unknown." Yamamoto said, not bothered by Ren's reaction to him. He was...too used to it if you were to ask him.
Well, Yamamoto was the old man who took the...lives of this young man several times.
"Looking at you right now, you're still sane enough, brat. After experiencing those deaths continuously within an interval, I am surprised." Yamamoto chuckled unbefitting from the situation right now.
"..."
All Yamamoto got as a response however was silence. Ren didn't answer. Yes, he was still sane enough to still barely think straight after all those deaths that he experienced consecutively in short amounts of time.
"Not going to talk?" Yamamoto asked before adding with a sigh. "I would let you speak freely this time. I won't kill you." he added as he lowered his blade.
"..."
Being Ren... well, of course he couldn't trust Yamamoto's words. His mind was full of thoughts about being paranoid as for when and where he would die again.
Noticing this, Yamamoto just sighed as he spoke his next words that forced Ren to talk, whether he likes it or not.
"Hm... then if you are not going to talk, should I cut you down once more, brat?" Yamamoto's tone then changed. The once relaxed tone of his just a second ago was instantly replaced by that of seething bloodlust.
"...this is a misunderstanding..." Ren voiced out. His voice was hoarse and tired.
Is he going to die again?
How many times did he die already?
How long would he last?
Wouldn't buying time like this just be useless?
Should he run?
In the end, Ren closed his eyes surrendering to his fate... surprisingly though, he didn't die.
"'Misunderstanding' you say?" Yamamoto raised a brow. "Elaborate."
Much to Ren's surprise, he didn't die. Still, Ren tried to hide his surprise... this doesn't change the fact that he would die sooner or later if he by chance doesn't do anything.
He would probably die again.
And dying was unpleasant.
It's something that one could never get used to unless they are insane...or something bordering that state.
"... it's not my intention to be in here..." Ren growled faintly. That was the truth. He doesn't even know how he got here.
'Run away... no, he will catch up with me in just a matter of seconds. Besides, I already tried it several times that resulted my death in different ways...'
"And you expect me to believe that?" Yamamoto asked quizzically.
"..."
The old man then asked once again. "No answer?"
There was no answer. After all, Ren doesn't have...any strong evidence at the moment to prove that claim immediately.
"..."
"..."
The two remained still in silence. Yamamoto then spoke up as he slightly shifted his gaze upwards, as if he was trying to search something.
"Now that I think about it, we already have similar conversations like this before." Yamamoto hummed to himself. "What do these brats call this again...? Deja Vu...? Is it?"
"...you are surprisingly talkative this time." Ren commented, still wary. Just a minute more, then he would achieve his record of the time being alive while confronting Yamamoto.
It was a ridiculous thought, really. In the end, Ren would admit that he was slowly turning insane after all those deaths. A few more would make him snap and be a complete madman.
"It seems so. I ask, you answer. Simple, right? If you refuse, then I could just simply cut you down, burn you, and use other methods to fish out the information I needed." Yamamoto's grim words made Ren shudder. "We've got all the time you will need here, brat. Now stand up and follow me. Let's talk over this with some tea. Besides that, I still need to reevaluate your worth in using it."
Yamamoto then started walking away without looking back. Ren on the other hand was taken back by the sudden decision of the old man.
'Worth...?'
In the end, Ren just nodded. His legs felt weak. But still, he got up on his feet. Gritting his teeth, memories flooded on his mind. He won't die this time... or at least, not yet if he was lucky...or unlucky enough. He had already lost count of dying after a few dozens or so. Ren could honestly assess that it would be normal if he has a mental problem due to the stress and trauma his mind had received from dying several times.
"Worth... huh..."
Ren then let out a hollow laugh.
And so, he followed the back of the old man. The distance between them was so near...but it felt too far as well.
Author's Note: Man, writing fighting scenes is hard... hope the fight turned out to be satisfying with you guys.
Well, it's been uh, several weeks from the last update. Now let's get into the chapter and answer inquiries that some would probably be interested off.
Q1: Is the MC really OP? Because Yamamoto literally killed him a lot in this chapter.
- Well, he is OP in a sense, specially if we use the Danmachi Verse power scale, Ren is definitely OP. That changes however when we come to the Bleach Verse, well, the MC can contend with some Captains, Vice-Captains and Lieutenants to some extent in the Gotei 13, but the one he is fighting is Yamamoto here.
So it's like they both practically have the same powers abilities and such. But if you honestly think about it, our MC here, Ren Ashbell only got a hold of Ryūjin Jakka for only a few years compared to Yamamoto who got it for like 2000 years already. Don't get me started saying that I downplayed Yamamoto and Ren's skills here in using Ryūjin Jakka, I think I did it...okay I guess.
Moving on, the years and experience between Ren and Yamamoto already shows the huge skill gap difference in wielding the weapon between the two. Besides, this is also the Fake vs. Original setting, whereas the fake is a more weaker version compared to the original. The winner would be obvious.
And as some would conclude, Yamamoto didn't use any Kido and other Shinigami tricks that he could probably use at his disposal in this battle. In short, Yamamoto didn't really need to use them against this fight.
Q2: Why did Yamamoto fight and kill the MC several times?
- Well, to prove his worth. Besides this reason there are several more...but that would be revealed later.
Q3: Yamamoto seems OOC here.
- ...well, I might've done some screw ups in the dialogue if that's the case. I also need to reread or watch some scenes of Yamamoto's in the manga and anime if I have the time. There's also the wiki... well, if it seemed really OOC, I'm sorry for that, and I will try my best to fix the issue next time.
Q4: What the hell is really happening here? Confusing as heck.
- Welcome to the ride. Let confusion be the law. Jokes aside, I'll try to piece up everything as chapters progress, hope you have enough patience for that if you are still reading the fic.
Q5: What happened in Danmachi after the MC was gone?
- Everything in Danmachi would continue as it is from where Ren left off. The world would keep revolving as usual, it wasn't centered on him in the first place.
Q6: Would he come back to Danmachi? Also, how did he get to Seireitei?
-Yep, Ren will come back to Danmachi and regarding of the fact as for how he got to Seireitei would be tackled at a later date.
Q7: How does he still revive after all those deaths?
- He pulls a Subaru thing xD... uh, well, jokes aside once more, that will be explained in the future.
Q8: What happened to the SYSTEM?
- Probably asleep...?
Phew that's it guys. If you have more inquiry or criticisms that you would like me to say, please give a review or PM me so that I could fix and improve my writing in the future. Especially about the grammar...
With that said, look forward guys in the next update!