Chapter 71
Munechika used a fully realized Shunpo of Shunpo, no longer the half-baked version he had before.
But.
Using Shunpo with Seventh-Class Reii is extremely taxing, both in terms of Reiatsu consumption and the physical strain it places on the body.
Regardless of how Munechika used it, his Shunpo Step duration could not possibly be long, especially when he initiated a continuous attack.
The best course of action is, of course, to use defensive Kidō to buy time.
But--
"Clang!"
With an even deeper, duller thud, Munechika's body was sent flying backward once more.
Moreover, because the force of the collision was even greater, this time he was almost two steps away from flying directly outside the training ground.
"..."
The fervor on Munechika's face faltered slightly after that attack.
"Shunpo?"
Haruto raised his left arm.
He glanced again at the knuckles, which were two shades darker than before.
"Who doesn't know how?"
"..."
Those two seemingly innocuous words were nothing short of a blatant insult to Munechika.
"Hiss—swish!"
As the hem of his hunting robe was forcibly ripped apart by his bulging muscles, Munechika launched a frenzied attack on Haruto using Shunpo!
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
The entire training ground was filled with the ear-piercing sound of hammering.
――――
"Flash... Shunpo!?"
In the audience, the mouths of the two, Gondawara, remained open the entire time.
If they hadn't repeatedly confirmed that everyone around them was a student from the Shin'ō Academy, they probably would have thought this was the training ground of the Thirteenth Division.
It was during a vice-captain election.
"When did the Shunpo become so popular?"
"What exactly happened in Soul Society during the years we've been in the World of the Living...? We haven't heard the other members mention it at all?"
"Idiot!"
Kanemitsu gave Gondawara a hard knock on the head.
The two were neighbors in Rukongai, and after becoming Soul Reaper, they were assigned to the same First Division and even the same cell.
I'm used to this bit of noise.
"Look around carefully, it's not that Shunpo has become easier, it's that these two students on the field are way ahead!"
The Grim Soul Reaper named Kanemitsu clearly has a stronger ability to observe:
The fluctuating silence and emotional outbursts in the audience since the beginning suggest that the students themselves were also unclear about what was going on.
"But..."
"This student named Munechika, his Shunpo) seems a bit strange."
How so?
Anything that requires thought, Gondawara would entrust to Kanemitsu, his external brain.
"Captain Ukitake said that although Shunpo is ever-changing, it is still a very agile combat technique overall, but the way he used it... I don't know how to describe it, it just gives people a very 'crude' feeling."
"Although I've only seen Shiba Third Seat use Shunpo in its entirety, it certainly shouldn't look like this."
"Like that student who was his opponent, his use of Shunpo was just right."
Kanemitsu cannot use the Shunpo.
However, as a Thirteenth Division who frequently travels between the Soul Society and the World of the Living, his insight and knowledge are still quite good.
Meanwhile, on the training ground...
"Click!"
This time, Munechika was not bounced away by Haruto.
Their dazzling movements finally came to a stop after more than twenty seconds of continuous combat.
The premise is --
"Click."
Even when the Zanpakuto is being held.
That's right.
Haruto did not deflect Munechika's Zanpakuto as he had done before. Instead, he applied the Kidō of "Repulsion" to his thumb and middle finger, trapping the blade that was about to strike him in mid-air.
To disarm an opponent with bare hands.
If Haruto could catch Munechika- handed sword strike with just two fingers, then it wouldn't be difficult for him to take the Zanpakuto from Munechika's hands if he used a little more force—this was the first time the sword -Zanjutsu teacher had only demonstrated in class, had appeared so clearly in an actual battle.
"Munechika."
The metal trembled between my fingers.
" With Shikai and Shunpo, as long as you further strengthen your Reiatsu, it won't be difficult for you to enter the Fifth Seat in any squad in the future."
Why fight to the death over this?
After fighting for so long, Haruto had naturally noticed Munechika's odd behavior:
His Reiatsu was simply insufficient to support such frequent use of Shunpo; the current situation was achieved through excessive strain on his body.
Judging from Munechika's mental state, he must have used methods that overdraw his potential... most likely, he took some kind of drug.
Haruto is not a kind person.
Even before he entered the Shin'ō Academy, he had already killed several people who harbored murderous intent towards him.
Among them were members of the Gotei 13.
Munechika had always been hostile towards him, but not to the point where he had to kill him.
Furthermore, this place is, after all, within the Shin'ō Academy, and now that he's a mid-level noble, it no longer poses such a threat to Haruto.
In conclusion, Haruto is actually quite easy to talk to.
However.
Why bother?
Munechika his Zanpakuto with increasing force, and one could almost see the capillaries bulging out of the corner of his eye.
"How could someone from Rukongai possibly understand?"
Haruto's hand gripping the blade trembled slightly.
"This is for someone of noble birth—"
The leg anomalies triggered by the release of the Shunpo began to surge toward the upper limbs: arms thicker than thighs brought forth a power beyond the realm of common sense.
"Destiny!"
The Zanpakuto finally broke free of its restraints, its blade slicing down with the force of severing the hand and right arm in one fell swoop!
"Puff."
――――
Volume 1: Chapter 46, No one will laugh at you if you do your best.
"Tick-tock."
Some viscous, bright red liquid dripped onto the ground.
Haruto glanced at his palm and saw a five-centimeter-long wound at the web between his thumb and forefinger.
"Despair."
At the same time.
Munechika used Shunpo to create distance:
Although his injuries were not serious, Haruto, who was suddenly attacked, instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword with his left hand.
If Munechika hadn't dodged, he might have unleashed Zanka no Tachi.
"... very decisive."
Compared to Haruto's injuries, Munechika's condition looked much worse, with both arms turned purplish-red.
The attack just now had a significant backlash on Munechika, so much so that Haruto could even clearly observe small muscle twitches.
"Paying such a high price..."
"It couldn't have been just to hurt me, could it?"
During that Live-Blade Match half a year ago, Munechika fought just as desperately—for him, battle was perhaps something that required such a desperate struggle: whether he could take the opponent's life was uncertain, but he had to die halfway through first.
Who knows...
Munechika not only spoke softer, but even the Zanpakuto in his hand fell to the ground from his loosened grip.
Even without Munechika's answer, Haruto already had a general idea of Munechika sword's capabilities from the condition of his wounds; with his physical abilities greatly enhanced, Haruto was most able to sense the subtle changes in his body.
The Zanpakuto named "Shiren" can prevent wounds from healing—the reason for using "cannot" instead of "difficult" is naturally based on the premise that the Reiatsu difference is not too great. At least with Haruto's Reiatsu level, it is impossible to heal the wounds over time.
In a sense, the Rope Shiren Technique is actually a rule-based Zanpakuto that can cause a slow death.
――――
"..."
It has to be said.
Munechika attack was indeed effective.
Haruto's wound is so severe that not only would he need help from the Fourth Division, but it would also require Kaidō used by Vice-Captain-level to heal it.
In addition, at this time of year, the wounded soldiers of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force had just returned, so it would be quite troublesome to ask the Fourth Division for help.
Fortunately—
Money and favors— Haruto has neither.
"So what?"
"If you can't even Zanpakuto steady, what other moves do you have?"
With a critical injury to his right palm, it's not very convenient to use powerful high-level Hadō; however, against Munechika, even if his left hand is still intact, or even if he only has one finger left to move, Haruto he can instantly kill his opponent.
"You're quick..."
You'll see!
Faced with Haruto's nonchalant question, Munechika, who had just Zanpakuto, suddenly raised his hands and aimed them at Haruto!
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!"
"?"
They've fallen for their trap!
The reason for throwing the sword was not that my hand was losing strength, but to prepare for the upcoming Kidō.
Perhaps due to an overly strong obsession, Munechika attack technique happened to be Haruto's most proficient technique, the 63rd Hadō—