Chapter 401: BSUS Chapter 404: Anger is Far More Merciful Than Trust

Knowing full well it is a sin yet continuing anyway—would God forgive such wickedness?

More often than not, the answer might only reveal itself when one is no longer capable of repenting. Fortunately, Gantenbainne had indeed received forgiveness this time. It wasn’t through the voice of God or anything of the sort, but rather a far more direct miracle unfolding right before his eyes!

His proud Dragon Fist, the furious dragon flames shot from the depths of his heart, was met by a longsword. With what seemed like a mere twirl, it was split in two, reduced to the gentlest of streams.

It was a longsword that instilled involuntary dread. A hollow-eyed demon, complete with long, curved horns, formed the tsuba. The toothed blade acted as both claw and fang, capable of slicing and crushing a person with the lightest touch. Yet, the sharp, spine-like hilt was actually gripped by a pair of human hands.

Ginjō Kūgo—this human was still alive! And since he wasn’t dead, there was no sin, so how could there be forgiveness?

No, Gantenbainne felt that if God truly existed, that great deity would not only deny him forgiveness now but would also be furious at his weakness. For failing to eliminate this man wielding a demonic longsword, God would immediately strike him down with punishment.

Something seemed to be stuck to Ginjō’s face, though Gantenbainne couldn’t see it clearly. In fact, he could only rely on the silhouette to confirm that the person standing opposite him was Ginjō, who should have been reduced to dust. As for that longsword, he could only faintly make out its shadow.

His eyes could no longer keep up with Ginjō’s movements. Stemming from his body’s instinctual reaction to danger, a heart-stopping aura rushed at his face!

His feet wanted to retreat, but his hands wanted to block. Gantenbainne’s instinctual reactions seemed to diverge for a split second, allowing the man wielding the demonic longsword to successfully tear an opening in his defenses.

But even if he could maintain one hundred percent focus, he wouldn’t be able to stop that demonic blade, would he? Feeling the warmth on his chest, the foul stench seemed like laughter mocking him. *’To think you could resist a man like this… you really are pathetic!’*

Unable to resist, powerless to resist. Gantenbainne once again felt the approach of danger. Behind him—no, that sticky, murderous weapon had already sliced through the armor on his back and was pressed against his neck. With just a light flick, it could strip the life from his shell.

Just as Gantenbainne was about to close his eyes and accept his fate, the eerie, murderous aura against his neck gradually receded.

Opening his eyes, he was met with Ginjō’s teasing expression and the familiar greatsword resting on the man’s shoulder. The longsword he had only caught a fleeting glimpse of earlier truly felt like nothing more than a dream—a nightmare.

*’What was that just now?’* Such a question merely flashed through Gantenbainne’s mind. Before he could even ask it out loud, the person he wanted to question answered on his own. “Forgot to tell you. Aside from being human, I was once transformed into a Shinigami. So, I happen to have a hidden true form of my own.”

This must be the technique Shinigami could use, known as Bankai, right? To think this human also possessed the power of Hollows’ mortal enemies.

Sensing that Ginjō seemingly had no intention of killing him, Gantenbainne asked, “What exactly do you want?”

“How does it feel to get your life back?”

“What?”

“No way. Were you seriously repenting from the bottom of your heart just now because you were about to kill your enemy?” Ginjō chuckled, looking incredulous. “Hey, have you never felt angry or afraid for yourself?!”

A question like that had never crossed Gantenbainne’s mind, and this time, he had no intention of agonizing over it either.

However, Ginjō’s next question was a bit more interesting.

“Did you feel any hatred in that moment? The kind of hatred toward the guy who sent you here to die, where you wish you could trample him to death under your feet.”

Gantenbainne frowned. He hesitated just as the words were about to leave his mouth. “Failing to finish you off is my own incompetence. I failed to live up to…”

“Don’t you find it strange? You.”

Ginjō impatiently interrupted the rhetoric that the other man probably couldn’t even firmly believe in anymore, continuing, “If that guy named Aizen is truly an omniscient god, then it proves that your former status as an Espada is never coming back. You aren’t here to kill enemies either, but rather as a ‘transaction’—a transaction doomed to fail. Isn’t this just a cruel test?”

“I…”

“You refuse to believe it, thinking you can prove yourself. But at the same time, this also proves that the guy named Aizen is wrong. Deep down in your heart, you’ve long ceased to view him as an omnipotent god, haven’t you?”

The corners of Ginjō’s mouth curled up, smiling like a beguiling demon, yet speaking the most accurate and sincere words. “You really are a hypocritical and foolish guy. You’re dying to say ‘you’re wrong’ to the guy who stripped you of your status, aren’t you? I can even imagine how smug your smile would be if that moment ever came!”

“He… is not wrong.”

“That’s exactly why you’re foolish! Overestimating yourself, harboring unwillingness, yet feeling no resentment! I may have defeated you, but the one who truly wants to kill you isn’t me, your enemy, but the one you’re desperately trying to please—your king? Hahaha! And you? What are you in his eyes? A little puppy?!”

“Are you happy being a little puppy, Gantenbainne?”

*’Happy? No, am I really just a tool?’*

If it were before, Gantenbainne would have definitely been able to firmly tell himself and others, “No.” But now, he couldn’t shake such a question from his mind no matter how hard he tried. The truth seemed glaringly obvious.

“What about you, Ginjō Kūgo?” Perhaps as a form of evasion, Gantenbainne launched a similar attack against his enemy. “Are you not someone’s tool?”

Ginjō’s face darkened. “What a terrible memory. That’s why I understand the pain of betrayal, but I don’t understand this ‘loyalty’ of yours.”

Gantenbainne scoffed coldly. “So, you use excuses like endurance to numb yourself while wholeheartedly assisting the Shinigami?”

“No, it’s because of a terrifying guy. If I didn’t come, he really would have killed me.”

Ginjō said with a laugh, as if this matter wasn’t shameful at all, but rather something he was somewhat proud of.

“Compared to that guy named Aizen, the person I’m dealing with is an undisguised scoundrel. Honestly, even though he pisses me off, he’s probably way better than someone like Aizen.”

“Hmph.”

“Do you think I’m going to say he’s straightforward or something? No. The dignity that anger gives a person is far more powerful than mercy. As it happens, that guy Chōzuka gave me anger, ensuring I will never lose myself. For that, I’m grateful to him. When I snap his neck in the future, I might even shed a few tears.”

Ginjō laughed heartily, walking toward the large doors behind Gantenbainne. “Want to come along? Not just to tell Aizen he’s wrong, but to show him through action that being wrong means accepting punishment. That’s the ultimate truth.”

Rebellion? No, this would be revenge. Gantenbainne had never entertained such a bold thought, yet the prospect seemed somewhat appealing to him now.

But on second thought, it seemed destined to remain a mere fantasy.

“It’s impossible. You have no idea what kind of monsters you’ll be facing next. The Espada…”

“Having defeated you, doesn’t that make me an Espada now too?” Ginjō joked, seemingly at ease.

“They are different from me, not to mention Aizen is there. You are bound to fail this time, and when that happens, you will only be abandoned, Ginjō Kūgo.”

“Don’t look down on me! Besides, we have quite a few monsters on our side too, especially the biggest one. Don’t you want to see it? The sight of the two biggest monsters stepping onto the field to tear each other apart.”

“I wonder if it’ll be any different from us.”