Chapter 275 275 Please, Toshiro
"The Law of Ice, huh?"
"But I've studied the Ice Dragon Pearl before. Currently, the most I can do is refine the 'Divine Power' within it. As for the 'Law of Ice', why have I never discovered it before?" Toshiro couldn't help but ask.
"That's because you haven't fully refined the Ice Dragon Pearl yet. So, at most, you can only refine some of the Divine Power within it or use the True Dragon's Eye through the pearl."
"As for the Law of Ice, it lies hidden deep within the Ice Dragon Pearl. Unless you fully refine the pearl and completely possess ownership of it, you cannot directly access the Law of Ice left by the ice dragon."
"But to fully refine the Ice Dragon Pearl requires at least true God-level power, which creates a deadlock." Hyorinmaru explained.
"So, you must have a way, right, Hyorinmaru?" Toshiro smiled.
Since Hyorinmaru brought it up herself, she surely already had a method to handle it.
Hyorinmaru nodded. "Correct. I indeed have a way. I myself was formed from the fusion of your soul and the Ice Dragon Pearl's power, so I possess partial control over the pearl."
"And you, although not fully refined, still possess majority control over the Ice Dragon Pearl. So, if both of us act together, we can temporarily gain complete control over the Ice Dragon Pearl, allowing you to enter its depths to comprehend the Law of Ice."
Hearing this, Toshiro couldn't help but laugh. "What's this, Hyorinmaru? Why didn't you tell me about this method earlier? If you had, I might have already broken through and become a god."
Hyorinmaru's expression darkened slightly, forcing a smile. "I... I just thought of it recently... Besides, telling you earlier wouldn't have been much use anyway."
"Because this method isn't as easy as you imagine. You only broke through to the Demigod-level a little over two years ago. Even if I had told you back then, with your unstable condition just after breaking through, even with my help, you couldn't have immediately entered the Ice Dragon Pearl's depths to comprehend the Law of Ice."
"Even now, after fully consolidating your Demigod-level realm and increasing your strength a bit, you only barely qualify to enter the pearl's depths to comprehend the Law of Ice."
"Is that so? Whatever, it doesn't matter. Since there's a way, I'll just work hard." Toshiro nodded nonchalantly, not noticing the abnormality in Hyorinmaru's expression.
"But in your opinion, if I can enter the Ice Dragon Pearl's depths to comprehend the Law of Ice, how long will it take to break through?" Toshiro asked.
Hyorinmaru thought for a moment, then shook her head. "That's hard to say. Comprehending laws depends on your personal talent. Moreover, luck and fate, those ethereal things, play a significant role."
"Your talent is undoubtedly top-tier. If luck is on your side, it might not take long to comprehend the Law of Ice and break through to the true god-level."
"But if you're really unlucky and fate isn't on your side, even spending a great deal of time might not lead to success."
After hearing this, Toshiro first frowned, then optimistically smiled. "Well, whatever. Although I'm not a 'Child of the World' like Kurosaki Ichigo, I'm at least a Transmigrator. My luck can't possibly be that bad, right?"
"But even though I have a method to quickly... proceed, let's wait until the current matters are over."
"As for the Hogyoku, better keep it safe. Even if not used, it mustn't fall into Aizen's hands again." Toshiro glanced at the Hogyoku in his hand. Then, he applied several layers of seals to it and hid it close to his body.
"Hmm? The 4th Division's people are coming?" Although hindered by the Sekkiseki Stone, Toshiro's powerful senses detected a Reiatsu approaching the Senzaikyu. Based on the Reiatsu, it was someone he knew… the 4th Division's Lieutenant, Kotetsu Isane.
"Hyorinmaru, I have things to attend to next. You..."
"I'll return first, Toshiro." Hyorinmaru said preemptively.
Then, before Toshiro could speak, Hyorinmaru transformed into shimmering ice-blue light particles and vanished.
"Yare yare, though her appearance is aloof, her actions are still fiery."
"But since the 4th Division's people are coming and the Hogyoku is secured, it's time for me to continue my actions..."
…
Toshiro's Inner World.
On the endless icy plains, a towering, majestic iceberg pierced the sky.
Atop the iceberg, Hyorinmaru, in her blue palace attire, stood overlooking the vast, desolate icy plains.
A cold wind brushed against her face, causing her clothes to flutter noisily. However, Hyorinmaru paid no mind, remaining motionless.
"Toshiro... will you still need me in the future?" After an unknown amount of time, Hyorinmaru suddenly murmured to herself.
The matter of helping Toshiro enter the Ice Dragon Pearl's depths to comprehend the Law of Ice wasn't something Hyorinmaru hadn't thought of before. Nor was it because Toshiro had only recently broken through to the Demigod-level and couldn't immediately use this method that she hadn't told him.
The reason Hyorinmaru didn't tell Toshiro from the start was simply because she didn't want Toshiro to break through to the true God-level!
Yes, Toshiro wholeheartedly wanted to break through to the true God-level to have sufficient strength to protect everything he cherished. But Hyorinmaru, as Toshiro's Zanpakuto, didn't want Toshiro to break through to the true God-level.
No other reason. A Zanpakuto originates from a Shinigami's soul and is itself the most important component of a Shinigami's power. Aside from Hakuda, Kido, etc., most Shinigami skills rely on the Zanpakuto to be performed.
But when a Shinigami breaks their own limits and advances to the true God-level, the Zanpakuto's power completely fuses with the Shinigami themselves. At that point, the Shinigami no longer needs the Zanpakuto and they can perform various abilities using their own power alone.
From then on, the Zanpakuto is just a sword, no longer a companion fighting alongside the Shinigami, sharing life and death.
The Shinigami could even casually switch to ordinary swords, spears, or staffs if they felt the Zanpakuto wasn't handy, and it wouldn't make much difference.
Hyorinmaru obviously couldn't accept such a thing, which is why she hadn't revealed the method to help Toshiro quickly break through earlier.
"You're really awful, Hyorinmaru."
"For your own selfish reasons, you've been hiding this from Toshiro all along." Hyorinmaru mocked herself.
"But... can my wish not be realized?" Hyorinmaru's greatest wish was to always be needed, to be needed by Toshiro. That was the meaning of her existence.
If one day, she lost her usefulness and could no longer help Toshiro, that situation, in Hyorinmaru's view, would be like the sky collapsing. And she herself would lose her reason for existing.
But in the end, Hyorinmaru still chose to tell Toshiro the method to quickly help him break through to the true god-level.
Because Hyorinmaru knew Toshiro would face powerful enemies like Aizen and Yhwach in the future, and a single mistake could even cost him his life.
For Toshiro's safety, even if she could no longer help him in the future, even if she lost her reason for existing, even if her beliefs crumbled, Hyorinmaru ultimately told Toshiro without hesitation.
"Please, Toshiro... Even if I lose my usefulness and can no longer help you, please let me continue staying by your side..." As if feeling cold, Hyorinmaru hugged her shoulders tightly, murmuring to herself.