Chapter 76 - First encounter with Shinigami

Ryu quickly made Zanpakuto for everyone in the group that Nadare was establishing, with special efforts on Nadare and Kettei's swords.

Nadare's soul had an affinity to frost, so Ryu forged him a Zanpakuto in the shape of Brass knuckles with the quake of Niflheim imbued into them, making a creation with terrifying potential.

The Brass Knuckles were made from a dark metal resembling deep, smoky gray titanium. The knuckles themselves were thick and sturdy, designed to fit snugly over the wearer's fingers and provide a formidable weapon in close-quarters combat.

However, what made these Brass Knuckles truly breathtaking was the material infused within them. The quake of Niflheim imbues the metal with an otherworldly power, lending it an icy blue hue that seems to shimmer and sparkle in the light. The frozen planet's essence also created an intricate, swirling pattern within the metal, as if the very fabric of the universe has been woven into the Brass Knuckles themselves.

These Brass Knuckles were a true masterpiece of craftsmanship and power, a breathtaking combination of strength and elegance that would leave anyone who saw them in awe.

Kettai, on the other hand, had an affinity towards healing. As a result, Ryu forged his Zanpakuto in the shape of a ring to allow him to use both his Zanpakuto and Kido with ease. The ring was made with a spark of life harvested just as a dead soul returned to the cycle of reincarnation.

The ring was crafted from the purest gold. It was incredibly sturdy but still delicate in its design. The metal shimmered in the light, and the ring appeared to glow with a radiance of its own. The band was smooth to the touch and polished to perfection. Its edges were slightly curved, creating a sense of fluidity and motion.

Additionally, due to the spark of life, the ring glowed with a warm and vibrant energy that seemed to pulse in an entrancing rhythm. Just being in its vicinity filled people with a sense of vitality and purpose.

Although the ring had no gems, it was adorned with intricate and incredibly detailed engravings. The designs were a tribute to the natural world, with vines, leaves, and flowers twining around the band in a complex pattern. Each detail was perfectly rendered as if the metal itself was alive and growing. The engravings seemed to capture the very essence of life.

The other Zanpakuto Ryu made also had similar properties imbued into them, though not on such a potent scale. Additionally, each Zanpakuto matched the shape that benefitted the wielder the most. Be it axes, spears, or armor, Ryu made each Zanpakuto to perfectly fit the user's strengths.

The members of Nadare's group, now called the Protectors, had a very easy time imbuing their souls into their Zanpakuto just as Ryu predicted. Not only that, the sword spirit was much stronger as a result of Ryu's modification so they also had an easier time interacting with it. That, and Ryu made sure to explain to them how to approach their Zanpakuto.

A common mistake was that people treated their Zanpakuto's spirit as a separate entity from themselves. A partner, slave, subordinate, family, and everything in between, but that was a false approach. Sure, if you put effort into it you can still make good progress, and even achieve Bankai, but you would never be able to reach the full potential of your Zanpakuto.

After all, a Zanpakuto was just a part of the wielder's soul that was imbued into the weapon. They are a part of their wielder, and if that was acknowledged, then progress would be made much quicker. Ryu didn't hesitate to educate everyone on this very important lesson.

And after creating all those Zanpakutos, Ryu finally could move on to what he wanted to do.

Due to the nature of the Soul Society being a place where everyone was practically immortal, it was a perfect place for Ryu to seclude himself and explore his divinity. He had so much to uncover, so much to explore. Of course, if new members would join the Protectors Ryu would make them a Zanpakuto, but every other second he had, Ryu spent exploring his divinity. Finding new ways to utilize it and gaining a deeper understanding of its abilities.

While Ryu was exploring his divinity, the members of the Protectors continued to grow and train. Though Ryu posed a single limitation on them. No one could go out on patrols before achieving a certain level. These kids were his responsibility, and he wasn't going to let them roam free without being sure that they won't get hurt unless something major happened. In which case, other members of the Protectors would rush to help.

Ryu also managed to isolate the space around their training area. The amount of Reiatsu these teen-looking spirits were giving off would instantly alert the entire Soul Society if done in the open, so Ryu used the space aspect of his divinity to create an isolated space for training.

With Rikai as his guide, Ryu began to explore his divine abilities. He summoned his divinity and focused it inward, channeling it through his body and mind. He felt a surge of power coursing through him, and he knew that he was on the right path.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, Ryu continued to delve deeper into his divinity. He discovered new powers and abilities, honing his skills and pushing his limits. And due to Rikai, he was able to learn and grow at an incredible pace.

And so, a century passed

---

Over the years Ryu wasn't the only one making good progress, as the Protectors developed as well. several hundred out of the several thousand members of the Protectors were patrolling the areas up to the 60th district in the north, south, west, and east parts of Rukongai after reaching Ryu's requirements. They managed to instill peace with their might, and the quality of life improved drastically in those areas. It was still far from being comparable to places like the 20th districts and lower, but with the newfound order, people managed to live quietly.

And since the Soul Society completely neglected the farther areas of Rukongai, the two groups didn't meet each other yet. But that was about to change.

"Ryu!" Nadare, now looking like a handsome young man in his early twenties, barged into Ryu's smithy.

Nadare stood tall and confident, exuding a sense of strength and power. His short, spiky white hair was perfectly styled, giving off a rebellious yet refined aura. Each strand seems to have a mind of its own, but it all fell perfectly into place to create an effortless look.

His deep gray eyes were piercing and intense. They seem to have seen it all and were a testament to the harsh training he was subjugated to.

Looking down a little, Nadare had tightly packed muscles that seem to ripple under his skin. He was the epitome of physical strength and fitness, with broad shoulders and a chiseled chest. His arms were powerful, with bulging biceps and veiny forearms that spoke volumes about his preferred way of combat.

Nadare had several scars that crisscross his skin as if he has faced many battles. The scars on his face and arms are particularly striking and served as a reminder of the danger that comes with using an incredibly close-range weapon in a place ruled by swords.

"W-what?!" Ryu yelped as he jumped in surprise. He was in the middle of examining his divinity, so he didn't notice Nadare approach. And this urgent tone, something must've happened.

"What's going on?" Ryu asked as he quickly exited the smithy. "Our group at the 70th district in the eastern zone encountered Shinigami that were slaughtering the population," Nadare briefed Ryu as the two went outside.

"Did they discover why they were doing that?" Ryu inquired. "Yeah, I ordered them to subdue the Shinigami and question them. After a while I received word that the balance of souls is off so the Shinigami want to come and exterminate a hundred thousand souls here to fuel the reincarnation cycle," Nadare said.

"I see, did you let them go?" Ryu inquired. "After a severe beating and a warning, yeah. Buy they brought backup, what do you suggest we do?" Nadare asked with nervousness in his eyes. Even though he was incredibly strong, the imagery of the devilish Shinigami that he had before Ryu took him in was still present in his mind

"If you ask for my opinion, I say let them come. That's exactly the reason why I set the bar so high before allowing you to patrol. Try to talk it out, but if worse comes to shove you'll be able to win in a fight," Ryu said.

"...You're right. I received word they came back with backup to the area. Right now the squad leader there is trying to negotiate, but I don't know how much longer they will stay calm. We need to arrive there ASAP," Nadare said as he prepared to run.

"Stop, let me handle it," Ryu said as he snapped his fingers, teleporting the two of them to the place of the altercation. While Nadare was talking Ryu scanned the area with Miru, so he had the location nailed down.

Startling the group of Shinigami, Nadare wasted no time to approach the girl that was clearly leading things seeing as she was standing face-to-face with the presumed leader of the Shinigami.

He was a tall, slim man with a muscular build and a dignified bearing. His striking appearance was both elegant and austere.

His most distinctive feature was his long, flowing hair, which was in a majestic black color that he kept up in intricate white headpieces.

The man's face was chiseled and angular, with high cheekbones and a prominent nose. He has narrow, almond-shaped eyes that were a deep shade of lavender. His eyebrows were thin and perfectly arched, giving him a somewhat haughty expression.

He wore a uniform consisting of a black kimono with white trim and a white hakama, which are loose-fitting trousers. His kimono was adorned with intricate embroidery in the shape of cherry blossoms, which is a symbol of his noble status. In addition, a simple white scarf hung loose around his neck.

"Rukia, what's going on?" Nadare asked as he walked forward. But upon hearing the girl's name, the man that stood in front of her widened his eyes in surprise.