Watery Heaven, Surge.
Recalling Nejibana's first words, Yagyū Saemon's expression grew bitter.
Could his strength truly reverse the tide?
In his hands, Nejibana could not even strike the Rainbow Dragon in the sky, let alone Rankle the Seas and Heavens.
In this desperate situation, what could he possibly do?
It was not that Saemon had not thought about running away, but standing beside him was the even weaker Geto Suguru.
As an elder, if I run away, then what happens to the kid?
Is it not the responsibility of adults to protect the young?
Saemon's consciousness began to blur. His movements slowed, his vision dimmed.
He knew he was at his limit. It seemed he could no longer protect the young man at his side.
So, this is where I die?
This feels like the fate a sorcerer should expect. Wasn't this the inevitable end the moment I chose to take up a Zanpakutō and walk the path of a sorcerer?
In Saemon's fading vision, the Rainbow Dragon opened its massive jaws, a powerful sphere of cursed energy forming at its center, aimed directly at Geto Suguru.
Give up, Saemon. You've done enough.
The thought crossed his mind. He was exhausted. Yet, his body moved on instinct, placing itself in front of Geto Suguru, shielding him completely from the Rainbow Dragon's attack.
Geto's eyes widened in panic and disbelief. Though they had only just met, throughout the entire battle, Saemon had done everything he could to protect him.
The attack just now was absolutely fatal.
If it had hit him directly, he would not have survived. But for the heavily wounded Saemon, taking that hit would be just as deadly.
"Why? Why would you go this far to save me?" Suguru's voice trembled, his eyes filled with pain.
Saemon felt the searing agony on his back, cursed energy crushing his bones. It was as if every part of him had shattered under the force of the attack.
Hearing Geto Suguru's voice, a faint smile appeared on Saemon's bloodied, weathered face.
"The strong should protect the weak. That's how it should be."
Those words left a deep mark on Geto Suguru's heart.
As soon as he finished speaking, Saemon could no longer remain standing. His body gave out, collapsing forward onto Geto Suguru.
The weight of the grown man was heavy, carrying with it the scent of blood and scorched flesh. But Geto did not push him away.
The man before him had done everything in his power to protect him. If he had the chance, he swore he would carry on Uncle Saemon's will.
This is the way the world should be.
Pinned beneath Saemon, Geto could only watch helplessly as the Rainbow Dragon prepared to descend for the finishing blow.
Geto's expression became calm. He understood that this was the end.
Before the crushing power of a Special Grade cursed spirit, he could do nothing.
The anger and frustration, suppressed deep within, snapped something inside him. Suguru felt that if he had just one more chance, he would be able to subdue the Rainbow Dragon.
But life rarely offers second chances. He had failed. He would die here, unable to conquer the Rainbow Dragon with his Cursed Spirit Manipulation.
I don't even know why I'm still thinking about this. I'm about to die anyway.
Geto kept his eyes open, staring at the Rainbow Dragon. If this was the end, he wanted to see it clearly.
But just as the Rainbow Dragon prepared to swoop down and crush them both, a flash of white light erupted from the sky.
"The Second Dance: White Ripple."
A voice echoed from above. In the sky, where only icy winds had raged moments before, a waterfall of blinding white snow suddenly surged downward.
The roaring snowstorm struck the Rainbow Dragon with pinpoint accuracy. The once-dominant beast was immediately engulfed by the cascading blizzard, its massive body forced back dozens of meters.
Geto's eyes widened in shock. He had never seen this technique before, but the voice was unmistakably familiar.
This voice... Satoshi?
Satoshi actually came?
Geto's heart surged with surprise and relief. Alongside the shock, a flicker of hope sparked within him.
The appearance of Satoshi meant the Rainbow Dragon was no longer a threat.
If he could defeat Jogo, who possessed a Domain Expansion, then this Rainbow Dragon, which lacked one, could never pose a challenge to Satoshi.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Geto's gaze was drawn to the massive manta ray floating above.
Just like everyone else seeing Minazuki for the first time, Suguru could not help but be stunned.
He stared blankly at the giant ray in the sky before quickly recognizing the figures descending from it.
Satoshi, Satoru, Toji, Yuki, and Shoko.
Geto had assumed that only Satoshi had happened to pass by. He never expected that nearly the entire Yorozuya, except for Okkotsu Yuto, had come together.
Satoshi raised an eyebrow as he looked at Geto, who was pinned beneath the unconscious Saemon, looking battered and miserable.
"You really managed to get a Grade 1 sorcerer beaten this badly. If I didn't know better, I'd think you ran into a Special Grade with a Domain Expansion."
Satoshi's words hit straight to the core, and Geto froze.
"Saemon wields a Zanpakutō. Even if he couldn't defeat the Rainbow Dragon, he should have been able to retreat safely. Looks like you're the one holding him back."
Satoshi delivered three sharp jabs in a row, each one striking right at the wound in Suguru's heart.
The reason the battle had turned so grim was indeed because of his interference. Had he not gotten involved, had he not been so fixated on trying to tame the Rainbow Dragon, perhaps Uncle Saemon would have successfully completed the mission.
Now that he knew the weapon in Saemon's hands was also a Zanpakutō, He understood even more clearly how strong Saemon actually was.
Maybe... if I hadn't dragged him down... if I hadn't been so obsessed with subduing the Rainbow Dragon...
Geto's expression turned gloomy. He did not know how to respond to Satoshi's words.
Satoru quietly tugged at Satoshi's sleeve from the side, giving him a meaningful glance.
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