Rabbit Kicks Eagle

"Clang~" The long blade left its scabbard, the sound echoing incessantly through the narrow alleyway hemmed in by two high walls.

The only two streetlamps nearby illuminated Lin Nan's icy expression and the faces of the surrounding Noble Rights Protection Association members, which were twisted in sheer terror.

A first-year student able to draw a Zanpakuto? This left every member of the association present deeply shaken.

Being able to draw the blade meant one's Rei-Power had reached the minimum threshold required to communicate with a Zanpakuto. The next step up was to converse and harmonize with it.

Most people had to study diligently for three years, only reaching this threshold during their fourth year.

And from this point on, one truly began the path toward the goal that most students dreamed of: the essence of Zanpakuto combat—Release.

Within the entire Noble Rights Protection Association, very few people had reached the level of communicating with their Zanpakuto. As for those who had truly achieved Shikai, only the president, Omaeda Marechiyo, had managed it.

In other words, if it came to a one-on-one duel with Lin Nan, everyone else besides the president was essentially unqualified.

The association members present were all harboring their own secret agendas, their eyes darting between their companions, waiting for someone else to make the first move.

Yet, after waiting for a moment, no one moved a finger—no one wanted to risk offending a first-year who could already draw their blade!

If everyone swarmed him at once, they would certainly have the advantage. But what if they were caught alone later?

Even if the president could beat him, the president was graduating soon! Everyone had joined the association just to ride the coattails of the powerful; why make an enemy for themselves?

"Oh? A first-year who can actually draw his blade?"

Omaeda Marechiyo was also taken aback, a sense of crisis welling up in his heart—Thank goodness I'm graduating soon; otherwise, a genius student like this would definitely become a stumbling block to my service for the nobility!

He couldn't help but tighten his grip on the hilt, eyes wide, as he blustered, "What? You still want to cross blades with our Noble Rights Protection Association? How bold!"

He had originally intended to bully a freshman to create an opportunity to curry favor with the nobles. Usually, as soon as he drew his blade, the freshman opposite him would inevitably cower.

Rarely did anyone dare to resist verbally, and they would eventually be beaten into submission—just like the first-year he had just finished disciplining moments ago.

Why did this white-haired brat in front of him actually want to fight back?

Seeing that the other side remained motionless, Lin Nan felt a wave of helplessness. More than ten seconds had passed; if he didn't act now, the atmosphere would start to get awkward.

Taking advantage of the standoff, he had sensed the Rei-Power of the group. Aside from Omaeda Marechiyo, their Rei-Power was all weak and chaotic. Lin Nan was confident that taking on these dozen or so people alone would be no problem at all.

The only variable was Omaeda. His Rei-Power was no worse than his own, perhaps even a notch stronger.

Lin Nan's current Rei-Power was at the fourteenth grade, and he estimated Omaeda was at least at the thirteenth.

"Rei-Power" was a term coined by the nobles of the Soul Society to measure levels of spiritual pressure. If spiritual pressure referred to the spirit energy released by a spiritual body, then Rei-Power was the standard for measuring the energy density contained within that spirit energy.

The threshold for becoming a standard member of the Court Guard Squad was the twentieth grade. In other words, in terms of raw spiritual pressure alone, both Lin Nan and Omaeda already possessed the qualifications to join the Court Guard Squad.

It seemed the Omaeda family's future rise to the rank of lieutenant was well-deserved. To possess Rei-Power far exceeding that of a regular squad member before even graduating was, without a doubt, a talent.

However, Lin Nan felt no pressure about winning this fight. His spiritual pressure shell had been repaired, greatly increasing his defense; even if he couldn't use his blade within the Spirit Arts Academy, Hakuda combined with Shunpo and Kido would be more than enough to handle them.

Furthermore, he hadn't yet had the chance to test his new Shunpo skill, Shadow Step Stealth.

Besides, even if he did draw his blade, Lin Nan wasn't afraid. The kendo instructor he had put out of commission with a single strike—who still hadn't returned to class—could attest to that.

The theory of spiritual pressure only held true when the gap between opponents was vast.

In a duel between the fourteenth and thirteenth grades of Rei-Power, Lin Nan didn't believe for a second that his opponent could block every attack with spiritual pressure alone.

Calculating his odds of victory, he smiled slightly and extended his index finger in provocation:

"Cowards, you're scared, aren't you? So many of you against one, and you've even drawn your blades, yet you still don't dare to attack? Is your association just a bunch of sissies who have nothing better to do than steal women's clothes?"

Hearing this direct insult, all the members couldn't help but look toward their president. The first battle concerning the honor of the Noble Rights Protection Association since its founding years ago was about to begin!

President, we're counting on you.

Omaeda Marechiyo was truly annoyed to the core.

As a sixth-year student, he knew full well that if he drew his blade tonight and caused a scene, he might get expelled from the academy. All the costs his family had invested to get him into the Spirit Arts Academy would go down the drain.

How could a businessman like Marechiyo commit such a foolish act?

He swung his Zanpakuto with a flourish, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle: "Fine! This Seat will take you on! Let's see what kind of skills a first-year has to challenge a senior!"

He charged at Lin Nan, holding his blade with both hands. His massive frame, accompanied by the "thud-thud" of his footsteps, rushed toward Lin Nan like a crazed elephant.

Lin Nan felt the ground trembling and raised an eyebrow—This fatty actually dares to draw his blade?!

After rushing forward a few steps, Omaeda suddenly extended his left hand, pointing his index finger at Lin Nan.

"Binding Spell #4, Crawling Rope!"

A golden-hued rope of spirit particles flew toward Lin Nan like a serpent.

The corners of Lin Nan's mouth curled upward—Omaeda isn't stupid after all! His intelligence is being overshadowed by his looks! Too bad...

You thought exactly what I was thinking.

Omaeda Marechiyo watched as the golden rope touched its target. In the next instant, the golden light passed through the figure and flew into the distance; the figure itself vanished along with it.

A gust of wind seemed to blow past.

Then, Lin Nan's voice rang out from behind everyone: "Very clever~ knowing to use a Binding Spell to control me first."

As everyone turned around, Lin Nan was already standing a few meters outside the encirclement.

Except for Omaeda, almost no one had noticed how Lin Nan had moved. Of course, it wasn't that Lin Nan's Shunpo had reached a divine level, but rather that the basic abilities of these people were simply too poor.

Marechiyo Omaeda narrowed his eyes; although this first-year student had surprised him twice in a row, he still felt a sense of smug satisfaction in his heart.

It looked like the kid wanted to run away. That was fine, too—as long as they didn't actually come to blows, he could run all he wanted; he certainly wouldn't be chasing him.

"Scared, are you?! Master Omaeda's blade never shows mercy. Even if you can draw your sword, you're no match for me! If you regret it now, kneel down and apologize to me immediately! Master might consider sparing your life!" He curled his lip and shouted loudly.

In front of his subordinates, he had to save face!

Facing Marechiyo Omaeda's confident and exaggerated expression, Lin Nan looked as if he were watching a clamoring animal, calmly saying, "Too much bullshit."

He pointed his left hand toward the sky: "Binding Art No. 20, Azure Wave Barrier!"

A mass of cyan-green water spiraled above Lin Nan's head like a giant serpent, growing and intertwining until, in the blink of an eye, it coiled itself into a massive water sphere over two meters in diameter.

Looking closely at the sphere, each stream of water was interwoven and staggered yet did not merge, resembling a giant, constantly flowing ball of transparent yarn.

This was a Kido used to impede enemies with water currents; Soul Reapers also used it to disperse smoke, poison gas, flames, and other adverse factors in a small area to create an advantage for their side.

Lin Nan waved a single hand, and the water sphere flew toward the group, gradually expanding to form a cage made of water.

As its size continued to increase, the sphere seemed to lose its structural support, and small trickles of water began to fall from the currents, drenching everyone present to the bone.

The entire water sphere wobbled, barely managing to enclose the group.

Marechiyo Omaeda looked up at the Kido above his head and said with a hint of smugness:

"A first-year student attempting to use a level twenty Kido beyond their rank—no matter how hard you try to act tough, it's impossible to succeed. The fact that the Kido is out of control is proof of that." His expression was one of smugness mixed with a trace of confusion.

"Besides, what is the point of using a Binding Art against so many of us? Do you really think that with your level of Kido, you can lock down this many people?"

Seeing the Azure Wave Barrier shatter and lose control, Lin Nan did not feel the slightest bit of unease. On the contrary, he offered Marechiyo Omaeda a faint smile:

"You like bullying honest people, don't you? You like licking the boots of nobles, don't you?"

He swung his Zanpakuto with a swish, pointing it forward:

"This young master will make you understand what it means when a cornered rabbit bites back!"