You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

But Iori found it very strange. As the top leader of the empire, he was always kind and considerate to people, so he naturally cared about the personal life of his subjects, especially young girls like Akame who had lost their parents at a young age and had no one to rely on.

With merits to his name, no desire for fame or fortune, and utterly alone, shouldn't Akame be treated with special consideration?

Is there anything wrong with bringing her to the palace to be taken care of?

Isn't it perfectly normal to place a subject in the back garden of my palace—no, the imperial palace—to show my care for him?

Considering that she only has Kurohime as her family and that she is not very stable mentally, wouldn't it be a logical thing to bring her younger sister to live with her?

It's alright, I'll take care of you two sisters together!

Why is Akame angry? I don't understand.

Moreover, not only did she refuse, but Iori, disappointed, wanted to invite Esdeath to stay for a while to reward the great general who suppressed the dissent in the four regions. However, Akame reacted even more strongly, her killing intent practically overflowing!

To be fair, Iori arrested her on charges of "intentionally assassinating the king" and imprisoned her in the palace—no, I mean, in the cell—where she was slowly tortured. Then he brought Kurome in too, right in front of Akame… cough, that would have been the dark turn, not Iori's style.

You should be gentler with girls!

Iori has always been a magnanimous person, and she generously forgave Akame's rudeness. She even said that she would build a palace in the garden to wait for Akame, and she could come and stay whenever she wanted.

As a result, Akame became shy and hesitant, no longer so decisively refusing. She only said that she wanted to spend some peaceful days with Kurome and also calm down and think carefully about her relationship with Iori.

The Holy Emperor of the new Empire was very generous and granted all requests. He not only allowed Akame to come and go as she pleased, but also allocated a sum of money for her as a settling-in allowance. He also removed the names of the two sisters from the list of Night Raid.

From that time on, there was no longer a female assassin wielding the demon sword Murasame; there was only Akame, an ordinary girl who used Teigu.

-

Amidst his busy official duties, taking a break to play with a beautiful girl with long, straight black hair allowed Iori to relieve stress and feel refreshed. However, as he made his conquests in the battlefield of emotions, he also had to consider the next problem:

flesh!

It's the same old story: Iori, as a Shinigami, is a pure spirit. When she's active in the material world, she's invisible and can't even communicate normally with people.

Although spirits can still interfere with matter, allowing him to move objects like a normal person, and to communicate with people in the form of a "masked man" after dressing properly, theoretically it does not affect combat or handling affairs.

However, there will still be many inconveniences. For example, when you have in-depth communication with characters with full bonds and try to unlock new CGs, you will encounter various problems.

First of all, the "invisible person" play is very immersive. If you don't take off your clothes, it will be in the way. If you take off your clothes, you can't see them. If you only take them off, you can see your clothes moving in the air... It's very immersive!

Secondly, while spirits can certainly exert physical influence and allow others to "feel" their presence, the sensations such as touch, temperature, smell, and sound are very different from those of the physical body!

The only advantage is that she doesn't need contraception... After all, even Shinigami can only marry and have children with other Shinigami, while Akame is a living person. Since their life forms are different, it's impossible for them to create a new individual.

But then again, Iori never intended to use contraception; he just wanted everything to happen naturally—he even felt that deep communication without the intention of getting pregnant was just being a pervert!

In short, you still need a physical body to unlock new bond CGs with Akame or other opposite-sex friends!

In Bleach or Akame ga Kill!, there is no way to directly transfer a soul to a body. But using a "Giga" feels awkward... After all, it's not one's own body, and using it would be like using a sex toy.

After analyzing her current situation, Iori thought it over and over and it seemed that the only solution she could find was in Type-Moon.

In the Type-Moon universe, the transformation, division, and combination of "spirit" and "flesh" are common operations. Not to mention the Age of Gods, many magic spells that can do this are still practiced in modern times.

Of course, the most perfect one is the "materialization of the soul," also known as the "Third Law: The Heaven's Cup."

This is probably the most frequently appearing "magic" in Type-Moon. Although the complete version has never appeared, various simplified and incomplete versions are very common.

For example, the Heroic Spirits (Servants) summoned in the Holy Grail War have bodies (Spirit Origins) composed of pure magical energy, but they can materialize and possess physical properties.

Or rather, it is superior to ordinary physical bodies because it can exist with just magic power, does not need to eat to survive, and is not subject to birth, aging, sickness, or death. In fact, apart from the "spiritual core," it has no biological weaknesses.

—They even retained their libido and appetite!

The "spiritual origin" of a follower is an example of the materialization of the soul, but it is not a complete "third law" and is merely a simple application.

The complete "Third Law" allows the soul to be sublimated into an eternal and indestructible state based on the materialization of the soul. At this point, the physical body can be abandoned, as well as the magic circuits, and magic power can be extracted directly from the soul.

Because the soul is immortal, it is practically a perpetual motion machine, possessing "near-infinite magic"!

Heroic Spirits, Fantasy Species, True Ancestors... there are many examples of "materialization of the soul" in the Type-Moon universe.

There's even a "Servant Universe" in the FGO event storyline, a world where all humans materialize their souls, elevating their life forms to Servants... Their combat power is extremely exaggerated!

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be too difficult to obtain, especially for someone like Iori who is familiar with the storyline.

After all, the Greater Grail is right there in Fuyuki. As long as you can win the Holy Grail War, then whether it's "the Heroic Spirit taking on flesh" or "the soul becoming material," it's all a very simple matter.

Furthermore, if one has an exploratory spirit, one can delve deeper into the "Great Grail" itself and learn the complete Third Magic—the Heaven's Cup—by reconstructing the Winter Maiden's magic circuits!

If you master the "Third Method," you can not only elevate your own soul, but also the souls of others!

In the original work, the Einzbern family's long-cherished wish was to realize the "Third Law" to save all mankind.

This ideal is not a fantasy, because if one could truly use the "Third Law" infinitely... one would indeed be no different from a savior.

This also has special significance for Iori:

After learning the Third Law, he was able to bring otherworldly beings like Esdeath and Akame to Soul Society in spirit form.

Then I can fulfill my promise to Esdeath, and I can also build a team for myself... I can't let others have the Espada, Seraphim, and the Gotei 13 while Iori goes it alone, can I?

It's so unrefined to do everything yourself without having underlings!

Previously, Iori lacked the strength and encountered a special world line like the "Dark Reincarnation Version of FGO", so he didn't have any plans to target Type-Moon for the time being.

But now that he's finished *Akatsuki*, his art style is steadily improving, and his strength is practically on par with captain-level characters. If he were to rely on his Zanpakuto's special abilities, some captains might even fall to him, like someone whose name contains numbers and whose voice actor is the same as Goetia.

In Type-Moon, I can't speak for everything else, but we can still try our luck in a Holy Grail War of average size. Although we might not be able to defeat a few overpowered individuals, the Holy Grail War isn't a game where having the biggest fist guarantees victory.

Furthermore, if things become unmanageable, Iori can simply drop out halfway through the race, since it's impossible for him to catch up to Soul Society...

Even in battle, Iori only needs to exchange a few words with the opponent to buy herself a dozen seconds, which is enough to open the portal.

This is no challenge at all, after all, it's Type-Moon, and almost everyone there is a chatterbox and a riddle teller...

After careful consideration, unless an extremely dangerous emergency occurs, Iori should be able to escape unscathed.

In the pursuit of power, how could one possibly avoid any risks on the long path to becoming a strongman?

Alright, let's get ready for the Type-Moon arc, it's decided!

Of course, before that, you need to get yourself into the best possible condition.

Reincarnation pressure training reaches its current limit, mastering the last few Shunpo techniques, becoming proficient in using the Thunder Emperor's summons, and having a serious match with Saito to experience what it's like to fight a true powerhouse...

Looks like things are about to get busy~

Chapter 90: What an incredible monster!

Clang!

Sparks of scorching iron burst forth under the deep night sky.

There is no day and night cycle in Hueco Mundo; at any time, only a crescent moon hangs high in the sky. Darkness and desolation are the eternal themes here, and there is not a trace of warmth in the cold desert.

However, today, two flashing figures broke the silence. Every time they crossed paths, a crisp collision sound would echo throughout the wilderness, and brilliant sparks would be dazzling!

The members of the expeditionary force were not on mission today. Most of them gathered in this open area, holding their breath, their hearts racing, and staring intently at the real sword fight a hundred meters away.

quick! too fast!

Everyone present was a seasoned Grim Reaper, having survived countless brutal battles; none of them were novice. Yet, even to this group, the speed of the two combatants was astonishing.

—Instant Step.

That is one of the basic skills of a genuine Shinigami. One must master the Flash Step to graduate from the Shinigami Academy. Only by skillfully using the Flash Step can a Shinigami move freely in dangerous battles.

However, most Shinigami use Shunpo only for "surprise attacks" and "retreats," and it is a single Shunpo, making it difficult to release it continuously.

Although Shunpo looks like "teleportation," it is not actually a spatial skill. Instead, it concentrates spiritual energy in the soles of the feet and bursts forth instantly, achieving a speed that exceeds what the naked eye can perceive.

Yes, it is essentially still "high-speed movement" rather than "teleportation"!

Since it involves high-speed movement, it naturally puts a certain strain on the body. Furthermore, most Shinigami's nerve reflexes cannot keep up with Shunpo, making it impossible for them to grasp the situation and launch an attack in the blink of an eye after Shunpo ends. Some people cannot even accurately control their landing point, and an error of one or two meters is quite normal. As a result, ordinary soldiers can only use it to avoid danger.

Only elites at the rank of Commander-in-Chief can skillfully combine Shunpo (instant step) with Hakkaku (hand-to-hand combat) and Kendo to create a perfect surprise attack.

Because of their long-term combat in Hueco Mundo and the pressure of life and death, the soldiers of the expeditionary force have developed a Shunpo skill level that is superior to the average level of the thirteen squads. Even ordinary soldiers can accurately judge the landing point of Shunpo or launch Shunpo in succession to coordinate with feint attacks, surprise attacks and other tactical actions.

Even so, they could only marvel at the battle before them!

Aizen Iori and Saito are immortal, and the Four Heavenly Kings and the expeditionary force captain are two people whose strength and status are not matched. However, the battle between them is not as one-sided as expected. Instead, it is a back-and-forth battle, and it seems to have a bit of an evenly matched feeling!

Even though this "evenly matched" scene had many limitations, such as neither of them releasing their Zanpakuto or using Kido, and it was just a simple contest of Zanjutsu and Shunpo... it was still amazing enough.

It's worth mentioning that the two competitors seemed to be following some "rules of the game," as they didn't engage in much normal running or jumping throughout the match, and almost all their tactical maneuvers were accomplished through instant steps.

Long-distance dashes, close-range thrusts, continuous small-scale maneuvers, feints, and alternating back and forth... relying solely on slashes and instant steps, without any other means, these two techniques alone create an incredibly spectacular dance of blades!

At its most intense, it appeared to onlookers that more than a dozen people were clashing in different locations...

Many team members who were quite confident in their skills tried to put themselves in the shoes of one side in the battle, only to sadly discover that they had no hope and would be killed instantly. The difference in skill was obvious and there was no suspense whatsoever.

Even the Four Heavenly Kings, once immersed in the scene, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, and after watching for a long time, they felt completely exhausted... Only Tenbei Shusuke was alright, but his face was unusually pale.

It's probably because he's stronger that he sees more and more deeply, thus gaining a clearer understanding of the gap.

The Four Heavenly Kings were certain that even if they unleashed their Zanpakuto, they would still be no match for these two, even if they only used Asahi!

"Humph!"

Saito deliberately lowered his spiritual pressure from the beginning, trying his best to control it to a level similar to Iori's. He wanted to avoid a situation where the stronger Saito was bullying the weaker one. Saito wanted to win fair and square, so that Iori would be convinced of his superiority.

She had a beautiful dream: even with all the restrictions that limited her to simple high-speed melee combat, Iori would still be no match for her, and the outcome would be decided quickly.

But to her surprise, even though she had tried to overestimate Iori's progress, she still miscalculated...

This wasn't a mistake in her judgment, but rather because Iori was truly exceptional.

Because of her Zanpakuto, even without releasing her true name, Iori can enter a "hollow" state when wielding the sword, eliminating most emotional distractions and concentrating on improving her insight, which is extremely advantageous in close combat.

—If it is the initial release, the effect can be further enhanced, and with the cooperation of the domain, it can even achieve an effect similar to "predicting the future".

In terms of pure swordsmanship, Saito is superior to Iori, but Iori has the advantage in terms of nerve reaction and predictive ability. This makes Iori resilient like a bamboo in a storm, even though he cannot defeat Saito.

Swish!

The two passed each other once again. Saito did not disappear immediately as before, but instead stood still and created five or six phantoms, which swung their Zanpakuto at Iori from different directions.

Iori was slightly surprised, but in such a fierce battle, his mind was highly focused and his body reacted instinctively. In the blink of an eye, he keenly found an opening between the positions of the illusionary bodies and escaped Saito's strangulation attack by teleporting a long distance just before being surrounded. Only after that did he feel a pang of fear.

You have a long way to go!

But escaping the encirclement wasn't the end of the story. Almost the instant Iori appeared, a strange shout came from above, and a cold glint of light appeared before the boy as he looked up. Saito held his sword in reverse, the tip pointing to the ground, like a razor aimed at Iori—

knock!

With a swift slash, the hem of her clothes fluttered, but Saito didn't actually feel any impact on anyone; all she managed to cut was a light and airy shihaka outfit.

"Huh?!" A hint of surprise flashed in Saito's eyes, which then turned into a look of relief.

Such advanced Instant Step techniques are rare, but that's not what makes her happy. What truly moves her is that Iori was able to calmly and correctly choose the right course of action even in such a tense and unexpected situation.

Mastering advanced techniques may only make you a genius, but understanding how to fight is what makes you a true powerhouse!

Zheng!

A fierce slash came from behind, and Saito had no time to turn around—

knock!

The uniquely designed, ancient longsword also failed to strike the physical object; the torn white was actually the captain's haori, which maintained its human form out of thin air.

Seeing this, Iori, who was holding the sword, narrowed her eyes slightly:

"drink!"

Turn around, bend down, and rotate the blade—

呲!

The sharp jade blade stopped, pointing at the enemy's throat, while a chill swept over Iori, and the slender katana also stopped in front of him.

"...Kongchan, okay!"

Saito took a deep breath and sheathed his katana, while Iori lowered his Ama-no-Kurakumo sword with a sigh of relief.

"I didn't expect you to use it so well. Even in the Gotei 13, your Shunpo technique would rank in the top ten."

"Thank you for your guidance, Captain!" Iori expressed his gratitude from the bottom of his heart this time.

His talent as a "Perfect Reaper" allows him to learn anything quickly, but without Saito's guidance, he could never have reached this level so quickly.

Originally, his four basic skills of "slaying fists and walking ghosts" were quite balanced, but his Ghost Path was particularly outstanding because of the "Breaking Abandoning Incantation".