What You See Is What You Get

Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon.

This is the true name of Seiya's Bankai.

And its ability, just like its name, possesses an extremely unique power.

As is well known, in Buddhism, the Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon are non-human entities—eight kinds of divine beings.

One: Tenbu.

Two: Ryūbu.

Three: Yaksha.

Four: Gandharva.

Five: Asura.

Six: Garuda.

Seven: Kinnara.

Eight: Mahoraga.

Among them, Tenbu and Ryūbu hold the utmost significance.

In fact, Seiya's Zanpakutō, Sāgara Ryū, can also be categorized under the Ryūbu.

Many Mahayana Buddhist scriptures mention the existence of these eight beings, often portraying them as silent observers in various Buddhist discussions.

Each of the Eight Aspects symbolizes a distinct ability.

So, what kind of power does this grant Seiya?

Back to just a few seconds ago.

The roaring Jakuhō Raikōben streaked through the air, surging toward Seiya with an overwhelming force.

—Just as Sui-Feng had said.

This mass, condensed from spiritual pressure through an almost inconceivable compression process, unleashed a force beyond imagination.

Without a doubt, Sui-Feng's Bankai had taken the concept of a powerful assault to the extreme.

So, what's the correct way to counter it?

The original story already showed various methods—

Naturally, one could avoid its devastating explosion, dodging the highly concentrated blast of spiritual pressure.

After all, in the end, this attack doesn't have any tracking capability.

Even in the original, it only managed to blow half of Baraggan's face off because he was trapped inside a barrier.

From a brute-force perspective, this strategy makes sense.

But compared to someone truly ruthless—

"If your strength isn't enough, the brick isn't heavy enough either."

No presence like Yamamoto's, capable of burning down the Three Realms.

No absurd fusion of three different forces like Ichigo's.

Therefore—

Taking a slight risk and testing a new ability seemed like a reasonable choice.

According to Buddhist cosmology, the universe is divided into three realms and six paths, with the Tenbu residing at the highest, enjoying the longest lifespans.

For that reason—

The aspect of Tenbu represents a crucial ability:

Capture, Analyze, and Simulate.

Seiya's shattered Zanpakutō disintegrated into a powder-like substance, surrounding him.

The dispersed fragments, too small to be seen by the naked eye, scattered into the surroundings, immediately analyzing the entire battlefield.

A Bankai is an evolution, an enhancement beyond its Shikai.

Seiya's senses sharpened dramatically, amplifying his abilities.

"I see it. I know it."

And then—

Master it.

In an instant, Seiya had already analyzed and understood everything about Jakuhō Raikōben—its principles, composition, and every detail.

Just from witnessing it once, he knew.

Even if he took a direct hit, it wouldn't be fatal.

All of this happened within a mere moment.

Time continued its course, and in a seemingly insignificant instant, Seiya finished deconstructing Sui-Feng's ability.

Now then—

Let's begin a thrilling experiment.

The gears of time interlocked tightly, slowing everything down to an almost comically distorted pace.

As Seiya observed the expanding heat and light of the incoming explosion—

His body began to disintegrate, mirroring his Zanpakutō.

Every speck of dust contained his spiritual energy, continuously displaying different possibilities within them.

Time had been warped.

No longer a one-way, rampaging beast—

It had been reshaped into a circular form under the power of Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon: Tenbu.

A closed-loop with no exit, a cycle repeating infinitely.

And within that microsecond, countless versions of Seiya stared at the oncoming explosion.

Each one of them took a first—

"No."

A voice.

A voice came from behind him.

But how could there be any sound here? This was his inner world, a mental domain that should be silent and lifeless.

Yet Seiya didn't show the slightest surprise. He even obeyed the voice.

He stopped.

The boy turned in another direction, attempting another step—

"No."

The same voice.

Everywhere and nowhere.

Like a fish submerged in glue, Seiya could hear it pressing in from all directions.

Still silent, he adjusted his course, seeking the correct path forward.

This time—

"That's right."

Without hesitation, Seiya took his first step.

And at that moment—

He looked back.

His body stretched like a drawn-out curve, the version of himself only a single step away—

Was about to take his first step in the wrong direction.

Staring at his past self—

Seiya parted his lips and whispered.

"No."

The one reminding his past self was him.

The one guiding his present self was also him.

And the one answering his future self—

Was still him.

Under the power of Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon: Tenbu, Seiya had made time his plaything.

What you see is what you get.

Time resumed, reality restored.

Seiya raised his right hand, rubbing his chin with an almost playful expression.

"I saw everything. That's how I found the weak point in your Jakuhō Raikōben."

"I found the flaw in its detonation."

"And then—I simply walked out."

A total of thirty-six steps.

That was all.

Which made it all the more shocking.

His opponent's Bankai, in the end, seemed full of openings.

The boy, honest and unreserved, had no intention of lying.

But unfortunately—Sui-Feng couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

A weak point?

This was an explosion—an attack that destroys everything in its radius.

Even space itself cracked under its force.

How could something like that have a weak point?

Could someone really dodge it—by just walking?

It made no sense.

Her lips trembled uncontrollably. This reality was beyond comprehension.

"S-Stay away from me!"

"Why not?"

Seiya crouched slightly, leaning in.

Sui-Feng's breath hitched, her face twisting in a mix of shock and helplessness.

"N-No, you can't come any closer!"

"If you don't make a move soon, it'll be my turn."

Seiya grinned, extending his right hand toward her.

She was trapped. A rock behind her blocked any escape.

The post-explosion fatigue made it impossible to resist.

She had reached a literal dead end.

What should she do?

Sui-Feng instinctively turned her head aside, raising her hands in a feeble attempt to shield herself.

Would Seiya strike her? It would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid.

But—

A light flick landed on her forehead.

A minor sting, followed by a quiet chuckle—

Sui-Feng's eyes widened.

She watched as Seiya retracted his hand, his grin unchanged.

"Even in this situation, you didn't beg for mercy. That's commendable."

"Stubborn, reckless, arrogant—but that's who you are."

"Yoruichi would be proud. You've grown and stayed true to yourself."

"Though maybe you should reconsider your approach? Not everyone can tolerate your bad temper."

And as for this match—

"That flick to the forehead? Consider that your lesson."

Seiya stood up, gazing forward.

Chōjirō Sasakibe stepped forward, raising his right hand.

"The winner of this captaincy duel—"

"The Fifth Division Captain—Seiya!"

The triumphant youth returned to his squad, met with admiration.

And from the distance—Aizen smiled.

"As expected of you, Seiya."

That night.

During a routine meeting, Aizen made an announcement.

"So, Gin, you'll serve as Seiya's lieutenant."

"Since you and Seiya are old acquaintances, the duties of the Fifth Division may feel unfamiliar at first, but with a little effort, you'll adapt quickly."

Ichimaru Gin scratched his cheek, his expression unreadable.

So, he was being made that annoying guy's lieutenant?

Could he refuse?

"Understood."

Refusing outright wasn't Gin's style. Besides, he had no say in the matter.

Following orders was the easiest option.

Meanwhile, Seiya, seated nearby with a pale complexion, flashed a "you're a lifesaver" smile.

"Ah, that's a big help~"

Gin circled around Seiya and frowned.

"So, how did you end up looking like this?"

"This? Ah... well, it's nothing serious."

Just a simple phenomenon.

"A side effect of my Bankai, that's all~"

After a brief moment of thought, Seiya added:

"Something called Ten Declines of the Celestial Realm, I think?"

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Powerstones?

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