Unohana glanced at Lin Nan's sword and suddenly chuckled softly. "An Asauchi is not really suited to being wielded with both hands. You lose flexibility that way."
Lin Nan furrowed his brow but said nothing.
Weren't they supposed to be having a sword fight? Why was she suddenly talking about this?
A few seconds passed. Seeing that Lin Nan remained on guard, Unohana continued, "You're nervous, yet you still dare to face my blade. You have admirable courage. Have you ever considered becoming a Soul Reaper?
"The same condition still stands. If you can take three of my strikes and survive, I'll keep my promise from earlier. I'll also take you into my squad..."
Lin Nan's nerves had been taut from the beginning, and he hadn't dared let his guard down for a moment. But Unohana's questions were slowly starting to wear on him. This was supposed to be a fight to the death. Why was she spouting all this nonsense?
Or was she deliberately toying with him?
He was just about to say something when Unohana suddenly vanished from in front of him.
Lin Nan's eyes widened, and every hair on his body stood on end. The next instant, a sudden chill swept over him from head to toe!
He had no time to look up. Instinctively, he raised his sword above his head as fast as he could.
From the corner of his eye, a shadow suddenly appeared, blotting out the sunlight overhead.
The next second, Lin Nan felt as if a bull had fallen from the sky and slammed into his arms.
Unohana leaped into the air, her long sword cleaving down like a bolt of lightning. Her wide haori billowed in the wind, like a banner of death descending from above.
In the battle against the Quincy invasion years ago, she had also struck from the air, cutting an enemy in two and thus opening the battle. Now, she had no idea why a surging battle lust had flared up inside her over an ordinary resident of Rukongai!
Only a full-power strike like this could release the restless urge roaring inside her!
Nearby, the Soul Reaper squad members couldn't even make out their captain's movements. They had no idea what it meant for her to vanish in an instant; they were simply stunned by the spiritual pressure filling the area.
It was icy, with a faint trace of blood. Every squad member felt as if an invisible hand had clenched around their heart, leaving them barely able to breathe.
Nakata, who could just barely follow the strike, was completely dumbfounded.
That expression, that gaze... Kenpachi-sama... had actually gotten serious?
Unlike in ordinary sparring matches, when Unohana truly intended to fight an opponent to the death, she often resorted to anything and everything. Seizing the initiative and catching an opponent off guard were routine for her. She wouldn't hesitate to use hidden weapons if they helped her win.
As someone who had followed his captain through countless battles, Nakata knew her well. He hadn't seen Captain Unohana in this state for a very long time.
An ordinary civilian had actually made the captain get serious? But what had he done to deserve that?
Was it his looks?... No, although he was strikingly handsome, the captain wasn't someone who cared about looks.
Then was it his strength? But Nakata hadn't sensed anything remarkable about the civilian... And even if he had some skill, against a serious captain, he wouldn't get the chance to see a second strike...
In the blink of an eye, Nakata thought of all this. But the next moment, the sharp clang of clashing blades brought him back to reality.
"Clang!"
Lin Nan had instinctively raised his sword above his head. The next instant, a sharp clang rang out, and a tremendous impact shot through the blade, instantly throwing him off balance. His arms went limp.
Lin Nan's face went pale with shock. He hurriedly tilted his head and turned sideways, bracing the unsteady blade against his shoulder as he desperately held its hilt above his head.
The posture was terribly awkward, and Lin Nan had no idea how he'd reacted that way on instinct. But the angled blade really had deflected most of Unohana's force.
The price was a deep gash in Lin Nan's left shoulder. Blood gushed out at once, staining the front of his clothes red.
His left arm went numb in an instant. Overcome by pain, he roared and instinctively swung his sword at Unohana's neck.
After her strike, Unohana's eyes narrowed slightly.
This kid's strength and reflexes were that good? He'd even managed to block her surprise attack?
She calmly pulled back and parried Lin Nan's counterattack.
"Clang!" Their swords collided, showering sparks.
Unohana was delighted. That strike had been far stronger than she'd expected! Lin Nan's blade was about to break through her guard, its sharp edge already nearing the waterfall of blue-black hair beside her face!
Her gaze sharpened. She leaned back at once and kicked Lin Nan away, using the force to retreat several meters herself.
The sudden kick sent Lin Nan flying several meters. He rolled twice across the ground, then struggled to his feet, blood pouring from his left shoulder.
One strike had nearly crippled his left shoulder.
So this was Unohana's strength? How could that slender body unleash such terrifying power?
Kenpachi was truly frightening! Lin Nan felt his hands trembling slightly and thought to himself.
The breeze that had just stirred had now died away completely. The astonishing spiritual pressure seemed to bring even the air to a standstill.
Nearby, both Vice-Captain Nakata Ryunosuke and the ordinary Soul Reaper squad members who hadn't been able to follow the fight were too stunned to speak.
An ordinary resident of Rukongai had actually survived Kenpachi's first strike?
Impossible!
A smile appeared on Unohana's face. She really hadn't been mistaken.
That strike had completely ignited her hunger for battle.
This white-haired boy was no ordinary opponent.
She extended her left hand and crooked a finger at him. "Very good. Again!"
Lin Nan's face was beaded with sweat, and the pain in his left shoulder made him grimace. That strike must have reached the bone. His entire left arm had gone numb.
He slowly moved across the ground, circling Unohana while keeping a safe distance. He knew nothing about swordsmanship, and his mind was in chaos. He had no idea what to do next.
Watching Lin Nan deliberately keep his distance, Unohana's lips curled in contempt. "If you're afraid to die, just drop your sword. I can give you a quick death. After all, it's not every day someone survives taking one of my strikes."
Lin Nan wiped the sweat from his forehead and snorted. "Thanks for the offer. I chose to risk my life, so I'm not going to stick my neck out and wait to die!"
Unohana's words had snapped him out of it.
From the moment they had prepared to fight, Unohana had been working on his nerves, trying to make him angry or afraid with her words, then attack while his attention was elsewhere.
If he let that psychological pressure get to him, he'd be doomed. He didn't know how to use a sword.
Right now, he had to be completely focused. He couldn't let his attention wander for even an instant!
At Lin Nan's words, Unohana showed no reaction. She casually flicked her Zanpakuto, sending a string of blood droplets onto the ground.
"I've come to think a little better of you. You dare answer me to my face. At least my squad members have finally improved a little. They've stopped bringing me trash."
Blood loss had left Lin Nan slightly pale, and much of the front of his gray-white clothes was soaked through.
He couldn't help trying to predict how she would attack and how he should defend and counter.
At the same time, though, his rational mind kept telling him it was pointless. Any planned technique would be useless against someone like Unohana Kenpachi, a master swordswoman.
Perhaps because he had lost too much blood, his body had begun to sway slightly. His hand seemed to lack the strength to lift his sword.
Nakata Ryunosuke watched him and sighed inwardly. It looked as if the fight was about to end. Once again, it would be a day when the captain wasn't satisfied...
At his words, Unohana scoffed. She twisted her wrist and lunged forward, sweeping her long sword straight at Lin Nan's throat!
She still held nothing back. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of Lin Nan. If he reacted even a fraction too slowly, he would lose his head!
Just as the blade drew closer, Lin Nan suddenly dropped low, thrust out his arm, and swung his long sword in an inward horizontal arc at Unohana!
Her blade skimmed past his topknot, while his was already sweeping toward Unohana as she charged into him.
Unohana's eyes narrowed slightly. The kid had been feigning defeat?!
That kind of fighting instinct was truly rare!
Nakata Ryunosuke broke out in a cold sweat. The kid's reflexes were unbelievably fast! If he'd been in Lin Nan's place, he would never have dodged that strike. He would have had no choice but to take it head-on!
The blade was less than thirty centimeters from Unohana's ribs. A glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in Lin Nan's eyes. This strike might land!
But the next instant, Unohana's pupils contracted sharply. She twisted her body and used her left hand to pin Lin Nan's right hand, stopping his attack. Then she swung her long sword upward in a backhand strike...
In the blink of an eye, the two had passed each other.
The third strike.
Unohana stood firm and unmoving;
Lin Nan's right arm and left leg each bore a fresh wound, both drenched in blood.
Before you continue