The Battle of Bamboo Creek Plain (VI)

The battlefield before the Fon Clan's main gate had been completely engulfed in white steam.

Every head-on clash between water and fire sent a cloud of white mist bursting outward. Again and again, layer upon layer, the steam grew thicker until it was nearly impossible to see a hand in front of one's face.

At the center of the white mist,

Shimizu stood facing Tosaya, no more than five meters away. Water spun frantically around Daku's blade, a stark contrast to Tosaya's armor of lava.

"Shimi—zu—!"

Tosaya struck with a punch, lava tearing through the air.

Shimizu neither dodged nor retreated, meeting it head-on with Daku.

Boom—!!!

Water and fire collided once more. Steam burst outward, filling the air with white mist.

Shimizu was driven back three steps, the webbing between his thumb and forefinger numb. But he immediately steadied himself and charged again.

"What good is clinging to me like this?!" Tosaya roared. "You're just wasting your Reiatsu for no reason!"

Shimizu didn't answer.

He kept clashing head-on with Tosaya.

Tosaya's attacks grew fiercer, his lava fists raining down like a storm. Shimizu gritted his teeth and blocked every one.

"Is that all?" Tosaya pressed down on Shimizu as they struggled against each other. "If that's all you've got, I'm going to get bored very quickly!"

Shimizu raised his head and forced a smile as he strained against him. "Don't get bored so soon, Big Brother. The fight's only just begun!"

Shimizu pushed Tosaya's hands aside and retreated repeatedly.

Tosaya wasn't about to let Shimizu put distance between them. He hurried after him, knowing he had a considerable advantage in strength and intending to use it to completely overwhelm Shimizu.

This time, however, Shimizu slashed swiftly. Tosaya blocked with a fist, but the blow seemed somewhat stronger than before. He found it strange. "Shimizu, you..."

Shimizu didn't answer. Daku formed blades of water, and Shimizu slashed rapidly, once, twice, three times—closing in on Tosaya as he sent out waves of water with each slash, until they met at close quarters.

His attacks came without pause, wave after wave like the tide. Steam burst outward with every collision.

Tosaya's breathing began to quicken.

Something was wrong.

He noticed something unusual. There's something strange about this kid. Ever since he got back up, we've been fighting head-on, but my breathing is getting ragged while he's hardly any different from before?

Tosaya began watching Shimizu warily, trying to find the secret behind how he maintained his condition.

"Don't understand?" Seeing the change in Tosaya's expression, Shimizu kept closing in with his sword raised and explained, "Big Brother Tosaya, you really are strong. Every time the water Daku produces touches you, it evaporates."

Daku collided with Tosaya's arm guard, and the water coating the blade sizzled as if confirming Shimizu's explanation.

"Big Brother, every time you release lava, you have to use Reiatsu to generate more, right? That's why you think I'm squandering Reiatsu by constantly coating Daku in large amounts of water to counter the heat of your lava." Shimizu continued his relentless attacks, and the two began to exchange the roles of attacker and defender.

"But even when my water evaporates and turns to steam," Shimizu said, "that steam remains under my control. If you can evaporate it, I can naturally condense it again."

He charged again and slashed downward.

"Don't you find it strange that the steam won't disperse, even in such an open area?"

Tosaya blocked the slash, but the impact sent him staggering back several steps.

He looked down at his hands. The lava that had once been hot enough to melt steel was gradually losing its glow. His once strong, steady hands were slowly trembling as well.

He looked up at Shimizu.

The young man he had knocked down time and again now stood before him, his gaze calm and the hand gripping his sword steady as a rock.

"Shimizu..." His voice was low. "You've gotten stronger."

Shimizu didn't answer.

He simply tightened his grip on Daku, and the white steam around him began gathering toward the blade in a tremendous surge.

"Big Brother Tosaya, this is my strongest move right now."

Tosaya looked at him, then smiled. There was a trace of relief in that smile.

"All right."

He took a deep breath, and the lava around him flared up again. His last reserves, all his strength, gathered around his right fist like a miniature sun.

Shimizu gripped Daku tightly with both hands. The water on the blade spun wildly, forming an enormous water blade. Steam surged around him and poured into it.

The two charged at the same time.

Lava and water blade collided head-on.

Boom—!!!

Steam exploded outward, sweeping across the entire battlefield.

When the white mist cleared, Tosaya was down on one knee. The torrent had shattered his armor, and it was peeling away bit by bit. Beneath it was a huge sword wound running from his shoulder to his waist.

He looked up at Shimizu, who stood before him.

Shimizu held Daku in the position of his downward slash. His shoulder and the tip of Daku's blade were trembling.

"Big Brother Tosaya..."

"Good lad. You've grown this much without me even noticing."

Tosaya's voice was soft, and full of relief.

The armor fell away completely, revealing the weary face beneath.

His body began to give out, and he fell.

Shimizu hurried to support Tosaya. Faint strands of red light began to emerge from Tosaya's wound, and a Nether Abyss Insect crawled out of it. Shimizu watched the strange insect shake out the wings it had kept folded away for so long while living as a parasite, then take flight again. Shimizu reached out to catch it, but Tosaya stopped him.

"That's a Nether Abyss Insect, a means of healing a companion left for me. Leave it alone... I suppose your slash was too powerful. It can't help anymore... It's just a bug, so let it go..."

"I'm sorry, Big Brother. I couldn't save you. I'm sorry..."

Shimizu held Tosaya's gradually cooling body. He hadn't been able to hold back on that last strike.

"You little brat... you already saved... from now on... you have to... live well too... don't do it for the nobles... for Keiko... for..." The light gradually faded from Tosaya's eyes, and he came to the end of his life in Shimizu's arms.

Moonlight shone on Shimizu, on the watery gleam of Daku, and on Tosaya's corpse.

Everything fell quiet.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield at Withered Bamboo Hamlet.

Boom—!!!

A muffled, heavy impact rang out, like a giant hammer crashing down.

Several Completed Forms were blasted away, crashing into the ruins dozens of meters away, never to rise again.

Boom—!!!

Another blow.

More Completed Forms fell.

Tessai stood in the middle of the battlefield, twelve prayer beads spinning rapidly around him. With every punch, one bead shot out and pierced its target.

The Onmitsukidō worked together in unspoken coordination.

They used Kidō and Shunpo to keep the enemy occupied, driving the Completed Forms into Tessai's attack range.

Boom—boom—boom—

The rhythmic impacts sounded like a heavy hammer striking the ground.

They demonstrated why this tactic was called "Falling Hammer."

Cilian stood on the command platform, watching the battlefield.

The Completed Forms that had once left the Onmitsukidō helpless were now being cut down one by one. Empowered by the prototype of Shunkō, Tessai's strength swept all before it.

As the last Completed Form fell,

the battlefield fell silent.

The Onmitsukidō stood amid the devastation.

Cilian's voice came through Tenteikūra.

"Clear the battlefield and count the casualties."

The Onmitsukidō received their orders and got to work.

Cilian also came to the front line and walked toward Sakiro and Tessai.

Sakiro was slumped on a rock, her body wrapped in hastily applied bandages. When she saw Cilian, she managed to raise a hand.

"Lord Cilian, how did the battle go?"

Cilian nodded.

"Complete annihilation, naturally."

Sakiro breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the rock.

Tessai walked over to them, the prayer beads around him slowly flying back and reforming into a Zanpakuto. He took a deep breath, and the currents of air around him gradually dispersed.

Cilian was silent for a moment before speaking.

"Something may have happened to the Fon Clan."

Sakiro jerked her head up.

"What?"

Tessai frowned as well.

Cilian briefly relayed the information obtained from interrogating the researcher—Hongming had disappeared that morning, taking some of the Completed Forms with him.

"I'm heading back first," Cilian said. "Rest up, and come as soon as you can after receiving Kaidō treatment."

Sakiro struggled to get up.

"I can go right now—"

"No, you can't." Cilian held her down. "In your current condition, you'd only be a burden if you went back. Follow orders and tend to your injuries."

Sakiro gritted her teeth but didn't argue.

Cilian glanced at them, then turned and raced in the direction of the Fon Clan.

Under the moonlight, his figure quickly vanished into the night.

Time returned to the moment Hu had just rushed into the courtyard.

He had raced down the corridors, heading straight for the courtyard.

The explosions of Kidō grew clearer and clearer.

The moment he rushed into the courtyard, this was what he saw—

Fon Shaoling's figure flickered in the moonlight, the afterimages left by her Shunpo not yet dispersed. The golden stinger on her right hand glinted coldly in the moonlight.

Hongming stood in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by swarms of insects. His fearsome armor gleamed purple-black in the moonlight.

"Hahahaha—Captain Soi Fon, has that dog of yours not come back yet?" Hongming's laughter grated on the ears. "Once your Reiatsu runs out, I'll feed you to my Nether Abyss Insects."

Fon Shaoling ignored him and continued attacking.

Hu stood at the courtyard entrance, watching that figure.

The figure dressed in close-fitting black clothes, her hair tied in two long braids.

The figure with a golden stinger on her right hand, every thrust sharp and fierce.

Completely unlike her usually delicate appearance, her brows were tightly drawn, her movements in battle were decisive, and she displayed Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō to their fullest.

Hu's mind went blank.

He had always thought Fon Shaoling was Soi Fon's younger sister. He had always thought Fon Shaoling was a princess who needed protection, skilled at Kidō at most.

But now—

The one fighting Hongming fiercely, Suzumebachi flashing in her hand... was unmistakably Soi Fon.

Fon Shaoling was Soi Fon.

When Hupo realized this, his entire body froze.

Scenes from the past flashed through his mind. Was all of that fake?

She's that Soi Fon!?

The Second Division Captain.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force.

Hu didn't know what to say or what to think.

He didn't even know what expression he should wear.

"Hu!"

Fon Shaoling had noticed that Hu had been standing at the entrance in a daze ever since he arrived, and she was a little annoyed. Is this the time to be standing around in a daze?

"What are you staring at? Get over here and help!"

Only then did Hu come to his senses and see Fon Shaoling darting through the swarm of insects.

He instinctively charged over.

Jiku'a unleashed a Judgment Cut, clearing out a patch of the swarm.

Hu stood beside Fon Shaoling, back-to-back with her.

"Shaoling, you..." He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

Fon Shaoling didn't look back, keeping her eyes fixed on Hongming.

"Whatever you have to say, save it until after the fight! This guy's very hard to deal with!"

Hu nodded.

But his thoughts were still in disarray.

The battle continued.

But something was clearly wrong with Hu.

Hongming's swarms came at them from every direction. Hu instinctively swung his sword to block, but his reactions were always a beat too slow.

An insect lunged at him from the side. Just as he tried to dodge, Fon Shaoling's Suzumebachi pierced it.

"Watch out!"

Hu nodded and continued fighting.

But another wave of insects attacked, and he was a step too slow again.

This time, a huge Nether Abyss Insect lunged at him from behind. By the time he turned, it was already too late—

Bang!

Fon Shaoling kicked him out of the way and fired Shakkahō at the same time, blasting the insect apart.

"What are you doing?! What happened to your Concentration?"

Her kick sent Hu stumbling. He steadied himself, his face burning.

He knew he shouldn't be acting like this.

But right now, his mind was filled with that one thought—

Fon Shaoling is Soi Fon.

He couldn't even swing his blade straight,

and he couldn't use Shunpo properly, either.

He left more openings in battle than a sieve had holes, and Fon Shaoling had to cover for him.

Hongming's laughter rang out.

"Hahahaha—this is the fierce tiger you were talking about? That's all he's got? A house cat would be stronger than him! Calling him a dog would be paying him a compliment! Hahahaha—"

Fon Shaoling gritted her teeth, swallowing the humiliation of being made to eat her words, and ignored him.

But she was puzzled too.

What's wrong with Hu?

He wasn't like this normally. Right now, he didn't look like someone who could kill a Gillian single-handedly and capture a Hollow with his bare hands.

A few more exchanges followed.

Hu made another mistake and was nearly buried by the swarm. Fon Shaoling had to use Shunpo to rush over, grab him by the collar, and pull him out.

"Yexing Hu!"

At last, she couldn't hold back and shouted his full name.

"What on earth are you thinking?!"

Hu looked at her, at her golden eyes.

Only now, they were burning with rage.

Hu felt a surge of frustration. He thought he was the one who should be angry, then looked away without a word.

Throwing a tantrum on the battlefield was a serious taboo. How could Soi Fon, the Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force, indulge him?

"If you have no will to fight, then get out of the way! Stop being an eyesore!"

Fon Shaoling kicked Hu aside and charged at Hongming again, paying Hu no further attention.

Those words made the resentment bottled up in Hu's heart burst out.

"Huh?"

Hu immediately charged forward with Shunpo, wielding Phantom Blade and Jiku'a in both hands. He whipped up a huge storm in front of Fon Shaoling, killing a swath of insects.

"You're getting angry at me? If you're Soi Fon, why didn't you say so?"

Fon Shaoling's expression froze. Hongming sent the swarm at her, and she raised a hand and cleared it away with a Kidō. After two seconds of silence, veins bulged on her forehead:

"You're throwing a tantrum on the battlefield over something this trivial?"

Hu nodded.

"That doesn't matter at all, you idiot!"

Fon Shaoling shouted at Hu, nearly beside herself. Hongming tried to use the swarm to sneak up on her unguarded back, but Hu used Shunpo to get behind her and quickly unleashed two Space Slashes, scattering the swarm.

"What do you mean, it doesn't matter? You and everyone in the Fon Clan lied to me for a whole month!"

"What do you mean, lied? I never personally denied being Soi Fon. Which member of the Fon Clan told you I wasn't Soi Fon?"

Hu went a little blank and began recalling his experiences over the past month. It seemed no one really had...

While he was lost in thought, the swarm began rushing at him, and Fon Shaoling had to come over and scatter the attacking insects.

Once Hu came to his senses, he shot back, "But no one came to clear it up either! You let me go on misunderstanding the whole time and made me look like a clown!"

"Enough, you two!!!" Hongming really couldn't take it anymore. This was a fight! A fight to the death! They were up against an Adjuchas-level Menos Grande! Couldn't they show him, the final boss, a little respect?

"Save your lovers' quarrel for hell! I'll send you there right now!"

Hongming charged at the two of them, the swarm surging around him.

"Can't you see we're talking? If this doesn't concern you, get out of the way!"

Hu immediately brought out Beowulf, while Fon Shaoling unleashed a high-level Kidō, blasting Hongming away. Hongming spun several times in the air before stopping himself.

"When you get right down to it, it was your own misunderstanding, wasn't it? Don't go blaming other people for it!"

"How can you say that? Besides, what kind of Commander-in-Chief acts so refined and proper at home? Who could tell you were the head of the spies?"

"What do you mean by that? That's rude to both spies and career women!"

Hongming watched the two below, so absorbed in their argument that they were oblivious to everything around them, and felt as though the insects in his head were about to burst out.

"All right! Looks like you won't know how powerful I am until I teach you a lesson..."

Immediately afterward, Nether Abyss Insects on every battlefield took to the air, flying toward their master with the Reiatsu of their original hosts. Strangely, the Onmitsukidō on the battlefield at Withered Bamboo Hamlet acted as if they couldn't see the vast, eerie red mass, even though the Nether Abyss Insects had been perched on their heads earlier.

Inside the Fon Residence, Gin watched the Nether Abyss Insects crawl out of a mountain of corpses and smiled.

"Oh my, Tsuchimikado Kōmei is getting serious. Shouldn't we go watch the final act, Captain Aizen?"

"Yes, Gin. It's time to bring the curtain down on this play."

A figure used Shunpo to appear beside Gin. It was Aizen, who had returned from Withered Bamboo Hamlet.