More climbing

*CLANG*

Ignoring the sound of clashing blades, Hessian sat cross-legged in meditation. His body was healed again despite the major damage he sustained. How? Magic. Nanashi was rested on his lap as a serene aura engulfed him. Why was he meditating? He was just training for bankai within his mental world, without actually using his reality marble. Sweat began to form on his temples, the aura of serenity fluctuated. Seconds ticked by until.

*COUGH* he coughed out blood.

"RIP, he kicked me off again." Hessian sighed as he created a bottle of water to spit out the rest of the blood. Supposedly if he wants to rush bankai, he'd have to keep fighting Nanashi. Which is a lot harder without the use of magic.

[Master Hessian, why do you need Bankai? You could have defeated the Head-Captain if you had used your other abilities.] Onyx asked as the young magician was taking a break.

"It's not that I NEED Bankai. I just want it." he clarifies to his friend "And while it's true that I could beat the old man if I had used magic. It'd be counter-intuitive since I'm training for Bankai."

[Is it not possible to use your magic to attain bankai?] Onyx questioned

"Oh, it's definitely is possible. I just don't want to cheat to get it. Even Nanashi knows that I could, but he wouldn't be happy if I cheated for it." he says while taking a dip in the hot spring

[Then, would it not be wise to create a more durable body to fight longer?] Onyx asked as he never understood why his master didn't just create an indestructible body

"There are many reasons why I avoid doing that. Hell even when the Kaleidoscope affected my mind, my insane self knew not to do that." Hessian sighed

"First, I am a researcher in a sense. I can get the best data by testing it on my own body." he gestured to his own body.

"Second, there are no absolutes in the world. True Magic really is incredible, in fact I can't fathom it's limits. However the fact of the matter is, I myself am the limit to it." he admits honestly "Even if I were to make a body that was completely invincible to everything, there is still no real guarantee that nothing in all the universes could destroy it. I would over rely on it until the day that something even more bull shit appears to wreck my shit."

"Third, It's just no fun." Hessian smiled

[Fun?] Onyx seemed confused

"Indeed, I have no doubt in my mind that I could completely curb stomp most of the universes in existence. Besides the completely insane cultivation ones where they can literally destroy galaxies with a fart. However It'd be no fun Onyx." Hessian looked to his floating friend "I just do things for the hell of it, for the amusement. While completely dominating things has it's charm, it get's boring incredibly fast." He sighed as he stepped out of the hot springs

"The same goes for if I wanted to create an orb, that when broken would give me all the knowledge I could ever want. What's the point in doing something so boring? It's far more interesting to research it myself."

"I have no reason to bore myself with being overpowered. If there was ever a reason I needed to use all my power, then it wouldn't be for fun. Plus what kind of readers would enjoy if I just instantly beat everything in less than half a chapter." he looked over to the protagonist, still fighting with his zanpakuto

[Master Hessian, our life is not a story.] You could feel the deadpan in his voice

"Silly Onyx, life itself is a story. And some bored asshole is out there enjoying it." Hessian spoke sagely as he got back into a meditative position.

∞

Hessian POV

You know, when I started training for Bankai. I thought it'd simply be fighting my own Zanpakuto for supremacy or something. But nope, if I want to get to the fighting... I HAVE TO CLIMB! Dear gods, I could be a professional mountain climber one day. Each time I lose to Nanashi, he kicks me off the mountain. So I'd have to climb the mountain ALL OVER AGAIN!

The insane pressure that I felt when I first started this is gone. I don't even register it anymore, I think it's still there though. I've noticed that time in this mental world is different from outside. I could spend months climbing and only an hour passes outside. Or perhaps I've lost my sense of time, who knows?

"HAH!" I triumphantly laugh as I re-scaled the mountain to the peak again.

I was greeted by a kick to the chest as I went soaring through the air and back down to the water below. "YOU DIIIIIIIICK!" my shout echoes through the air as I hurtle towards the ground

AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME LATER

"I'M BACK ASSHOLE!" I grin maniacally while guarding the incoming cheap attack that greets me when I reach the top.

I position myself away from the edge, so he couldn't just push me off again. He hasn't spoken a word ever since I began this struggle of attaining Bankai. No matter which style of swordsmanship I switch to, he responds accordingly. Of course he does, he's watched through everything that I've been taught. No matter what other servants have taught me, he's seen it through my eyes and memories. I don't doubt that he's experienced it as well.

Both our blades become even more resplendent as our fight continues. Every clash creates a spark in the air. He's matching me blade for blade. There's something I don't understand though, he has never once cut me. Clashed with my blade? Yes. Forced me off the peak? definitely. But I've noticed that any time where he could have cut me, he didn't. Each of his swings was methodically targeted at my own blade in some form.

Ah... I get it now. This dude's been watching way too much bleach. I think to myself as I stood at the center of the peak. I watch his blade rip through the air at blinding speeds towards me. I stood there calm and motionless. Then, I dropped my blade.

*STAB sfx*

I watched his eyes widen as I calmly accepted his blade. No pain was felt as I peered at the sword through my chest.

"This was too soon." Nanashi sighed as we stood still at our positions.

"Sorry, there's a limit to my patience." I apologetically smiled as I grabbed the blade that was impaling me.

"Very well, although I feel it to be too soon. You may stand at this peak, for now." He says as the world around us begins to fade. "But never forget, you must continue climbing and I shall stand with you till the end." His eyes seemed to glow a resplendent light. I didn't notice that when my eyes met his, mine were the same.

∞

"Ichigo, the execution's moved up." Yoruichi informed as Ichigo stopped his training.

"So soon? Alright, let's go." he prepared to leave

"You finished training?" she asked unsure

"No. But, it's enough to win" Ichigo spoke confidently despite not trying out Bankai yet. He felt that he could use it.

The sound of an engine roaring got their attention. The young magician lowered his shades with a grin. "Let's go wreck their shit!" he exclaimed

However in the next moment, Ichigo and Yoruichi had already fled the scene in fear.

"HEY WAIT, WHERE YOU GUYS GOIN!?" Hessian cried out

"I'M NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO LET YOU DRIVE AGAIN!" Ichigo shouted back

"I'll pass as well!" Yoruichi silently agreed with the protagonist's statement

"I'm not that bad of a driver am I?" Hessian asked out loud

[Master Hessian, 100% of the vehicles you drive have ended up in a wreck.] Onyx informed

Hessian wondered if he should go test for a driver's license.