The morning sun streamed through the high windows, spilling across the polished wooden floor. A faint scent of incense lingered in the air.
Dozens of fifth-year students sat cross-legged, each with an Asauchi resting horizontally across their knees.
Hasumi Ren sat among them, his Asauchi resting quietly on his lap as well.
Sunlight caught the silver-white scabbard, reflecting a soft, warm glow.
Today's lesson was Jinzen.
At the front of the dojo, a stern-faced Soul Reaper instructor scanned the students, explaining the essence of Jinzen in a steady voice.
"A Zanpakuto is not a lifeless object; it is an extension of your soul, a manifestation of your inner strength."
"Jinzen is the method of deep communication with your Zanpakuto, a way to enter your own inner world."
"By concentrating your spirit and fully immersing yourself in the connection with your Asauchi, you will have the chance to see the form of your Zanpakuto, speak with it, and understand its essence."
"This is the critical step toward achieving Shikai."
The students listened intently, especially Nanao, who had long since etched this knowledge into her mind.
Unfortunately, this wasn't something that could be achieved through theory alone.
"Of course, a Zanpakuto's Shikai isn't something that can be accomplished overnight. Do not be impatient," the instructor's voice rang out at the right moment.
"Communicating with your Zanpakuto requires patience and sincerity."
"If you fail to enter your inner world today, do not be discouraged. It often takes many attempts or a specific catalyst."
"It's like a relationship; you can't force it."
A few muffled chuckles echoed through the dojo.
The serious atmosphere relaxed slightly.
Ren glanced sideways at Nanao beside him.
She was holding her breath, hands pressed firmly against the Asauchi on her knees. Her small face was tense, displaying an almost sacred level of focus.
Sensing Ren's gaze, Nanao turned to glare at him, silently mouthing the word.
"Focus."
Ren smiled and turned his attention back to his own Asauchi.
After the improvements gained from collecting fragments, the system showed his Zanpakuto resonance had reached 99%.
He could already feel the connection between himself and the blade.
One more step, and he would reach Shikai.
"Now, everyone close your eyes and focus your attention on the blade."
The instructor's voice echoed through the dojo.
"Concentrate. Feel the connection between you and your Zanpakuto. Begin your Jinzen."
Ren closed his eyes as instructed.
The moment his palms touched the blade, he could clearly feel a hazy response from within.
It was a vast, distant feeling, like an empty canvas waiting for him to paint upon it.
He attempted to push his consciousness inside.
Without any resistance, he successfully entered his inner world.
Ren opened his eyes to find the world completely transformed.
The sky and the ground were as clean as a mirror. An infinite space stretched into the distance, with no end in sight.
'Is this... my inner world?'
Ren looked around; there was nothing.
"Hey, is anyone here?"
Ren called out into the distance. His voice echoed far away, but there was no response.
Just as he was beginning to wonder, a familiar tune from his old home drifted from afar.
"Hachimi, hachimi, hachimi..."
"Oi! You white-haired brat over there."
"Are you my Master?"
Ren turned around at the voice and lowered his gaze.
A small, blonde-haired girl in an oversized kimono stood there with her hands on her hips. The cowlick atop her head swayed back and forth, and her emerald eyes flashed with pride.
This familiar appearance caused Ren's eyes to widen instantly.
She overlapped perfectly with a certain character from his memory, except this was the loli version.
"Saber?"
"Artoria Pendragon?"
Ren's mind was flooded with questions.
'Is this still the Soul Society?'
The blonde girl reached up and picked at her ear.
"What are you babbling about? I can't understand you, meow."
"No, you're not..."
"What do you mean 'I'm not'? I'm your Zanpakuto, damn it."
She flicked her finger, looking completely exasperated.
"Oh, right. My Zanpakuto."
Ren suddenly understood.
'Scared me for a second. It's just a similar design. That's fine then.'
"But what's with that weird way of talking?"
"What do you mean 'what's with it'? Didn't you instill all of this into me bit by bit, you trash master?"
She then slumped down onto the ground, her pale legs peeking out from under the hem of her kimono. She lifted her long sleeve to wipe away non-existent tears from her eyes.
"When your massive Spiritual Pressure was repeatedly drenching my body, did you never think about cleaning up the filth you were leaving behind?"
Ren's head throbbed. He felt as if something scandalous had just run him over.
He quickly realized she was referring to the process of the soul merging with the Asauchi.
'Bloody hell...'
"That's enough. I still don't know your name or abilities. Can you say something useful?"
"Hmph. Such an impatient man. You even want to skip the foreplay."
She raised her tiny hand, looking at her palm.
"Speaking of which, thanks to your system, my name and my abilities have both been changed."
"Originally, I should have belonged entirely to you, but because your system got involved, I've become something different."
"Would you consider this... a form of NTR?"
She poked her chin with a finger, thinking seriously.
Although her previous outrageous comments had raised Ren's tolerance, he was still shocked when she mentioned the word 'system'.
A moment later, she suddenly looked up, staring directly at Ren.
"But my will and my existence are both tethered to you."
"If you die, I dissipate. If you are strong, I become strong as well."
"No matter what I become, or what form I am remodeled into, that will never change."
"In short, the stronger you are, the stronger I am! And as long as I am stronger, you will be stronger too, meow!"
After standing with her hands on her hips and delivering that somewhat outrageous, hot-blooded circular logic declaration...
She slowly knelt down, placing her hands on her knees. Her emerald eyes watched Ren.
"When the time comes, please call my name."
"Unbound chains of infinity, where all laws fall silent. My name is..."
"Garenge."
The moment the words were spoken, the entire world began to crack and shatter, turning into a sky full of stardust.
The stardust recombined and condensed in the air, finally taking the shape of a sword.
The sword's overall appearance wasn't much different from an Asauchi, but the crossguard had turned into a hollowed circle carved with a lotus pattern.
A silver-white chain extended from the pommel. When Ren looked closely, he could see faint golden lights shimmering inside it, flowing like stars.
Ren instinctively reached out and gripped the hilt. The chain automatically wrapped itself around his wrist.
Garenge stood to the side, watching Ren hold the sword. Her tone returned to its earlier casualness.
"Now then, I'll tell you about my abilities, meow."