The Rabbit Kicks the Hawk

"Shing~" A long blade slid from its sheath, the sound echoing again and again down the narrow alley boxed in by two high walls.

The only two streetlamps cast light on Lin Nan's icy face and the terrified expressions of the Noble Rights Protection Association members around him.

A first-year student could already draw his Zanpakuto? The members of the Noble Rights Protection Association were all badly shaken.

Being able to draw his sword meant his Rei-Power had reached the minimum level required to communicate with a Zanpakuto. The next step was to speak with and synchronize with it.

Most people had to study hard for three years before they could reach that threshold as fourth-years.

And from there began the true path to the goal most students dreamed of: unlocking the secrets of Zanpakuto combat—release.

Only a handful of members in the entire Noble Rights Protection Association could communicate with their Zanpakuto. And only its president, Omaeda Marechiyo, had actually achieved Shikai.

In other words, if they had to fight Lin Nan one-on-one, no one but the president was really qualified to take him on.

The Association members each had their own agenda. Their eyes kept darting from one another, waiting to see who would make the first move.

But after a moment, not one of them so much as lifted a finger. None of them wanted to risk offending a first-year who could draw his sword!

If they all rushed him at once, they would probably win. But what if they ran into him alone later?

Even if the president could beat him, he was about to graduate! They had joined the Association to latch onto someone powerful. Why make an enemy for themselves?

"Oh? A first-year can already draw his sword?"

Omaeda Marechiyo was startled too. A sense of danger welled up inside him. Good thing I'm about to graduate. Otherwise, a genius like this would become a stumbling block when I try to serve the nobles!

He tightened his grip on his sword and glared, putting on a bold front as he said, "What? You want to fight the Noble Rights Protection Association? How dare you!"

He had only wanted to bully a new student and use the opportunity to curry favor with the nobles. Usually, the moment he drew his sword, the student opposite him would back down.

Few dared to talk back. He would beat them into submission, just like the first-year he had finished pummeling moments ago.

So why was this white-haired kid actually trying to fight back?

Seeing that his opponent still wasn't moving, Lin Nan felt helpless. More than ten seconds had passed. If he didn't act soon, things were going to get awkward.

While they stood at an impasse, he had sensed the Rei-Power of the group across from him. Aside from Omaeda Marechiyo, the others all had weak, erratic Rei-Power. Lin Nan was confident he could take on all ten of them by himself.

The only variable was Omaeda. His Rei-Power was no weaker than Lin Nan's, and might even be a little stronger.

Lin Nan's Rei-Power was currently Fourth-Class. He estimated that Omaeda was at least Third-Class.

The nobles of the Soul Society had coined the term Rei-Power as a specialized way to measure spiritual pressure. If spiritual pressure referred to the spiritual energy a spirit body released, Rei-Power was a measure of the energy density contained in that spiritual power.

The minimum Rei-Power required to become an ordinary squad member was Second-Class. In other words, if they were judging spiritual pressure alone, both Lin Nan and Omaeda already qualified to join the Court Guard Squad.

It seemed that the Omaeda family of later generations had truly earned their way to the rank of lieutenant. Even before graduating, Omaeda already had Rei-Power far beyond that of an ordinary squad member. That was undeniably a talent.

But Lin Nan felt no pressure about winning this fight. His Rei-Pressure Shell had been repaired, greatly boosting his defense. Even if he couldn't use his sword inside the Spirit Arts Academy, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido would be more than enough.

Besides, he still hadn't had a chance to try out his newly acquired Shunpo skill, Shadow Step Stealth.

And even if they really did fight with swords, Lin Nan wasn't worried. The kendo instructor he had taken out with one slash—and who still hadn't returned to class—could attest to that.

The theory of spiritual pressure only held true when the gap was enormous.

With only a difference of one class between their Rei-Power, Lin Nan had no faith that his opponent could use spiritual pressure to block every attack.

After weighing his chances, he smiled faintly and pointed a finger at them in challenge.

"Cowards. You're scared, aren't you? There are so many of you against me, you've even drawn your swords, and you still don't dare attack? Is your Association full of fake ladies who sneak around wearing women's clothes?"

At that direct provocation, every member looked toward their president. In the several years since the Noble Rights Protection Association had been founded, its first battle over its reputation was about to begin!

President, it's on you.

Omaeda Marechiyo was thoroughly fed up.

As a sixth-year student, he knew full well that if he drew his sword tonight and caused trouble, he could be expelled. Then all the money his family had spent sending him to the Spirit Arts Academy would go to waste.

As a businessman, Marechiyo would never make such a stupid mistake.

He flourished the Zanpakuto in his hand, sending it whistling through the air. "Fine! I, the president, will take you on! Let's see what a first-year like you can do against a senior!"

Holding his sword in both hands, he charged at Lin Nan. His massive body pounded forward with thudding footsteps, like a rampaging elephant.

Lin Nan felt the ground trembling beneath him and raised an eyebrow. That fatso actually dares to use his sword?!

Omaeda had barely taken a few steps when he thrust out his left hand, the one holding his sword, and pointed his index finger at Lin Nan.

"Bakudō #4: Hainawa!"

A pale golden cord of Reishi light shot toward Lin Nan like a serpent.

Lin Nan couldn't help smiling. Omaeda isn't stupid after all! His looks have really done his brains a disservice. Too bad...

He came up with the same idea I did.

Omaeda watched as the golden Hainawa touched its target. In the next instant, its light passed through the figure and flew off into the distance. The figure vanished with it.

A gust of wind seemed to sweep by.

Then Lin Nan's voice came from behind them all. "Pretty clever. You knew to use Bakudō to restrain me first."

Everyone turned around. Lin Nan was already standing several meters outside their encirclement.

Apart from Omaeda, almost no one had noticed how Lin Nan got there. Of course, it wasn't because Lin Nan's Shunpo was already flawless. It was because these people's basic abilities were simply too poor.

Omaeda narrowed his eyes. Although the first-year had surprised him twice already, he still felt a little smug.

Looks like he's trying to run away. Fine by me. As long as he doesn't actually fight, he can run all he wants. I'm definitely not chasing him.

"Scared?! Omaeda's sword never shows mercy! Even if you can draw yours, you're no match for me! If you regret this, get down on your knees and apologize right now! I might consider sparing your life!" he sneered, shouting.

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

Faced with Omaeda's exaggerated, self-assured expression, Lin Nan looked at him as if he were a yapping animal and said coolly, "Enough with the bullshit."

He pointed his left hand toward the sky. "Bakudō #20: Azure Wave Barrier!"

A mass of blue-green water coiled above Lin Nan's head like a giant serpent. It grew and intertwined until, in the blink of an eye, it had wrapped itself into a huge water sphere more than two meters in diameter.

On closer inspection, each stream of water wove in and out of the others without merging, forming a gigantic, transparent ball of yarn that was constantly flowing.

This was a Kido technique that used water to impede an enemy's movements. Soul Reapers also used it to clear smoke, poisonous gas, flames, and other hazards from a small area, creating an advantage for their side.

Lin Nan waved one hand, and the sphere of water flew toward the group, growing larger as it went until it formed a watery cage.

As it grew, the sphere seemed to lose its support. Small streams of water kept breaking off and falling, drenching everyone to the skin.

The wavering sphere barely managed to cover them all.

Omaeda glanced up at the Kido overhead, looking rather pleased.

"A first-year trying to use a level-twenty Kido? No matter how hard you push, you can't possibly succeed. The fact that it's out of control proves it." His expression was smug, with a hint of confusion. "And what's the point of using Bakudō against so many of us? Do you think your Kido is strong enough to hold all of us?"

Seeing Azure Wave Barrier breaking apart and spiraling out of control, Lin Nan didn't show the slightest unease. Instead, he gave Omaeda a faint smile.

"You love picking on honest people, and licking noble ass, don't you?"

With a swish, he swung his Zanpakuto and pointed it ahead.

"Let me show you what happens when a rabbit gets desperate enough to kick a hawk!"