Chapter 72
"Raikōhō!"
"Sizzle!"
The familiar golden lightning bolt shot straight towards Haruto!
In the audience seats.
When they saw Haruto get slashed, Ayaka and the others weren't particularly worried.
Since they hadn't personally experienced the Zanpakuto's power, in their view, this level of superficial injury, despite the significant blood loss, could be healed quickly by Isane.
But.
When Munechika to unleash the Raikōhō, everyone immediately realized something was wrong:
The two players on the field had similar speeds in their Shunpo. Given the situation where one was prepared and the other was unprepared, it was not certain that the Raikōhō could be taken unscathed. Even if the Raikōhō was Eishōhaki incantation, it would require a high-level Bakudō to block it. However, Haruto's injuries would ultimately affect the speed at which he could use Kidō.
"Oh no!"
Furthermore, no one is certain whether the Raikōhō is Munechika's trump card: his feint of abandoning his Zanpakuto just now gave everyone a completely new understanding of Munechika's combat skills... The Zanpakuto that fell to the ground can probably still be used for a C!
But.
"Use my preferred Kidō against me--"
The left hand holding the knife left the hilt.
Faced with the oncoming lightning, Haruto clenched his fist into a claw, forcefully pulling the Raikōhō from the inside out!
"Daydreaming!"
"Sizzle!!"
The explosive lightning instantly shattered into countless sparks!
After that, facing Munechika a sword—
"Bakudō #62: Hyapporankan"
At the same time, his injured right hand flicked slightly.
Along with the splattering blood droplets, the cyan talisman paper, resembling an enlarged playing card, instantly adhered to Munechika's body like machine gun bullets.
"Hyapporankan!"
"Ding!" x7!
Without the speed boost from Shunpo, Munechika, who crashed head-on into the Hyapporankan, was instantly pinned to the ground.
"Mutsuki- sensei."
"..."
Haruto called out to Mutsuki Shōkaku in the referee's box, but the latter seemed not to hear him and did not respond.
"Mutsuki- sensei!"
Haruto raised his voice slightly.
"Huh? Ah!"
Mutsuki only then realized what was happening.
"Munechika's condition isn't quite right. I think it would be best to bring Principal Mitarai here as soon as possible, otherwise—"
Haruto glanced at Munechika, who was pinned to the ground, motionless.
After his Reiatsu was suppressed by the Hyapporankan, he deflated like a punctured balloon, instantly becoming listless.
This is not only reflected in the external appearance of dark circles and redness under the eyes, but also in one's mental state.
The more exaggeratedly the muscles swelled just now, the more frightening it looks now that the body is just skin and bones.
"I don't want to be branded as someone who murdered a nobleman."
If we're Kaidō who's the best, the one present should actually be Isane. Although her technique isn't very refined, Isane's Sixth-Class Spiritual Pressure is already higher than many of her teachers, so she's naturally faster at rescuing people.
But.
Putting aside Munechika condition, and the possibility of being blamed if he fails to save him, the very act of sending Isane to save the opponent who just injured him...
Haruto isn't that saintly.
"... good."
Mutsuki quickly responded.
Then he immediately used Shunpo to leave the training ground.
This isn't Mutsuki being naive; Haruto's behavior just now was truly outrageous.
She didn't even look at the students and Soul Reaper in the audience; her cheers were suppressed by shock. The previous Shikai and Shunpo had only made Mutsuki feel a little emotional, but not to the point of making her lose her composure.
Only that one grab that tore apart the Raikōhō...
"Hanki Saisai."
The Hanki Saisai at the level of Hadō possession is truly awe-inspiring... a talent that can be described as unparalleled.
"..."
Hyapporankan.
The number falls between "Rikujōkōrō" and "Sajō Sabaku."
Its ability is to create and throw "pointless javelins" that suppress Reiatsu. Compared to the Rikujōkōrō, it is simpler to use. Compared to the effect of the Sajō Sabaku and sealing the body, it is superior in sealing Reiatsu.
This is Bakudō with a very large difference between its upper and lower limits.
The Hyapporankan that Haruto just used is different from the traditional Hyapporankan. Rather than a javelin, the Reishi creation is more like a slightly enlarged card, and it also has a certain destructive effect.
That's right.
If it were only a matter of sealing his Reiatsu, Munechika might have been able to hold on and manage a couple of attacks. The real reason he was restrained was...
The problem lies in the tendons in the hands and feet that were severed by the Hyapporankan.
The wound isn't deep, but I'll need to go home and rest for at least ten days to two weeks...
This is still done under the doctor's orders.
This secret version of the Hyapporankan technique wasn't something Haruto obtained from a few friends' houses; its origin is quite legitimate.
The compensation given to the students of Class One by the Shin'ō Academy.
Speaking of which...
Many students choose this Hyapporankan technique, but apart from Haruto, none of them have been able to master it; even Nanao, who is equally proficient in Kidō, was unable to achieve the same effect after studying it with Haruto's help.
Haruto felt that among the Captain-level experts he had come into contact with, only Kōga Kuchiki was likely to have learned this move.
After all, this is a further step, and it would belong to the original path of the Kidō.
"Whoosh."
Less than two minutes later.
Teacher Mutsuki, who had left using Shunpo, had already arrived at the training ground with the panting Principal Mitarai.
Haruto waved his arm.
The Hyapporankan that Munechika instantly vanished.
"Puff!"
The wound, blocked by the Reishi card, instantly gushed out several thin streams of blood.
"Thank you for your hard work, Principal Mitarai."
Haruto remained calm and obediently bowed to the dean.
"..."
"Sure, sure."
Mitarai's movements were slow, but his eyesight was remarkably sharp.
Although he wasn't present at the scene, he understood what had just happened with just a glance.
"This is... a small matter, don't worry, leave it to me!"
Mitarai forced a smile—a strained one, but genuine—and patted his puffed-out chest as he spoke.
Outside the training ground.
"A-Qing!"
Isane came over immediately.
It wasn't that Isane had the sharpest eyes, but rather that out of the three people present, only she knew how to Kaidō; Ayaka and Nanao, even if they wanted to, couldn't help.
"Are you alright?"
"Good."
Haruto casually covered himself up, preventing the red blood from seeping onto his clothes, but the drops of blood that had dripped down his side were still quite glaring.
"It's tonight, before fulfilling the contract..."
"I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you, Auntie, first."
Tomorrow is the fifth-year students' Konsō internship, and tonight a few of us have arranged to have a small gathering at Isane's house... mainly because Kiyone wants to show everyone her older sister's work:
Flower arrangement.
This is Isane's second biggest hobby, besides tailoring.
By the way...
Since she thought there was nothing to do during the day, Kiyone wasn't at the training grounds. Instead, she went shopping with her friend who lived next door to the Kotetsu Clan.
As for another important role-
Because the auction incident six months ago involved the Tsunayashiro Clan, Byakuya is currently still under house arrest.
He hasn't been to the Shin'ō Academy for six months.
Although the Kuchiki Clan doesn't prohibit "prison visits," the thought of the cumbersome rules and etiquette of the Four Great Noble Clans...
Apart from Haruto took her on one visit, no one else really had the courage to go alone.
"No trouble at all!"
Isane quickly waved her hand vigorously.
The surname Kotetsu sounds rather reckless, but it actually has a very long Kaidō Muslim) tradition.
Whether through bloodline or secret tradition, their family has an extremely close connection with the Fourth Division, which is why the Isane sisters are proficient in the Kaidō.
In fact.
Isane's mother once served as the Third Seat of the Fourth Division.
Both the current Fourth Division vice-captain Kiyōnosuke Yamada, and the Third Seat Iemura Yasochika, belong to families with deep ties to the Kotetsu Clan.
If any help is needed regarding Kaidō, Isane's mother can definitely help.
That is...
This "aunt's" inclinations regarding her eldest daughter's first male friend were perhaps a bit too extreme.
Haruto.
Night falls.
Seireitei, a noble district.
Even with all its opulent aura concealed, the wealth of its architectural complex remains undeniable; the sheer size of the site is enough to prove the owner's status.