Role? Yoruichi, who had been listening to their conversation, asked herself.
Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sung-Sun didn't understand what he had said.
Even some of the crowd looked confused.
But Mila Rose wasn't backing down. She wanted an answer, and she wanted it now.
"Are you deaf? I'm asking you a question."
"Fuck this, let me beat him up," Apacci snapped, angrier than usual.
Sung-Sun didn't bother stopping them. She just shook her head at the two idiots.
Maki looked at them and whispered, "A fishing fight? Might as well join."
They clearly heard him, and they didn't catch what he was throwing at them.
"Are you crazy or something?" Apacci shot back.
He smirked and whispered, "Materialize for me… Demon Light… (Hōzukimaru)."
The three women, Yoruichi, and the bystanders saw him raise his hand. Slowly, particles like tear-shaped drops of light emerged from his palm. From that light, a long katana began to form, piece by piece.
Unlike in the anime, where the sealed Hōzukimaru was just a standard katana, Maki's sealed version was different. The system had integrated every spiritual power Maki possessed, and it would evolve in the future.
The katana stood six feet tall. Its hilt was one foot long, coated in pure black, and at the end hung three dark red ribbons. The guard was shaped like a spade, also pure black. The scabbard that sealed the katana was long, made of obsidian that reflected light. Coiled around the obsidian scabbard was a dark red crystal dragon, its massive serpentine body and tail wrapped tightly around it.👉🏻
The katana itself reflected the spiritual power and personality of its owner.
They all saw the beautiful yet dangerous long sword appear before them.
Yoruichi gulped. You even have a zanpakutō?
Mila Rose stared at the sealed katana before her. It was taller than her. Even Apacci and Sung-Sun didn't come close to its height.
Maki grabbed the middle of the scabbard and rested it on his right shoulder, thinking, This thing looks cool. Might as well pose.
The long katana leaned against his shoulder as he looked down at the three women. His other hand swayed occasionally, as if it were tired.
In Maki's mind, he was posing like a fisherman, resting a fishing rod on his shoulder while holding a bucket full of freshly caught fish in his other hand.
But to them, it looked different.
A tall hooded man with a massive sword resting on his shoulder, looking down at them as if they didn't interest him at all.
They gulped at the sight of him casually standing there.
Mila Rose watched him closely. She could tell the sword on his shoulder wasn't normal. She knew it was a zanpakutō, but it wasn't an ordinary one.
Apacci and Sung-Sun readied themselves for what was about to come. They knew this man would definitely do something if they made the first move.
The orange-haired man widened his eyes at the sight of the long katana. What is that? I haven't seen that zanpakutō before. He shook his head. Maybe it wasn't a zanpakutō. Maybe it was just another piece of bullshit from this world.
The man in white robes gulped as he stared at Maki, muttering to himself, "Tell me… what's going on here?"
Those at the very front half of the line had no idea that things in the back were slowly heating up.
Then they heard his deep voice again.
"Wanna go, Miss Temper?"
The bystanders' mouths fell open at his sarcasm.
Mila Rose's anger flared.
"You've asked for this."
She was about to move when a voice came from behind them.
"Well, I thought you're all here to take the last exam. The others have already entered the hall."
They turned their heads and saw Princess Terumi Mei of the Mist walking toward them. Many eyes lingered on her body as it swayed with each step.
Mila Rose clicked her tongue and glanced at the man before her. She needed to pass the exam first.
As she sheathed her katana, she said, "This isn't over yet. You have to give me an answer."
After saying those words, she turned around.
Apacci was still glaring.
"You bumpkin—"
She was about to explode, but Sung-Sun and Mila Rose grabbed her and dragged her away.
Sung-Sun glanced at the man and gave a small nod before leaving and following the line forward.
Maki tilted his head in bewilderment at the three women.
His eyes then fell on Mei, who was approaching him.
She walked closer and asked, "How have you been, Mister Horsy?"
Maki stared at her. "Horsy?"
"Yup," Mei replied.
🐎