Deadly Battle with the White Tiger

Roar!

The Hell White Tiger let out an angry roar, its fetid breath blasting toward the woman. The stench seeped through her mask and into her nose, but she did not care. Her eyes had never left the Hell White Tiger.

Its purple double pupils stared coldly at the approaching woman, filled with doubt.

Why was a support-type fighter drawing her blade and coming at it?

Retsu Unohana gripped her Zanpakuto tightly, her steps light and swift. Feeling the pressure radiating from the Hell White Tiger, the face beneath her mask actually flushed red.

"Meeting amid the bloodstains of this Soul Arena... perhaps this is the best stage for you and me."

Whoosh!

Her figure flashed forward. The petite Retsu Unohana arrived before the white tiger. Compared to its massive body, she appeared utterly insignificant.

Facing a support-type fighter, the Hell White Tiger merely raised its right paw lightly before slowly bringing it down. With a squelch, the blade pierced its paw. No blood flowed; its translucent body merely trembled. The next moment, it turned into a streak of light and appeared behind Retsu Unohana.

The enormous white tiger raised its paw resentfully the instant it appeared, declaring to Retsu Unohana with its arrogant posture that its prestige would not be violated.

The heavy paw came crashing down. Retsu Unohana only had time to turn and block. Her seemingly frail body flew backward like a kite with a severed string.

Thinking the masked support-type fighter had been eliminated by that swipe, the Hell White Tiger turned and headed toward Kuchiki Byakuya and the others.

"Cough, cough... That attack was pretty good!"

The familiar voice reached Dai Mubai's ears. The Hell White Tiger abruptly turned its head. That last blow had shattered the woman's mask, revealing her true face. He recognized her at once—his former classmate, Retsu Unohana!

"I should have known. I should have known! Why else would a support-type fighter charge in? Who else could it be but you?"

Even Frank, seated in the VIP room, shot to his feet in shock and cried, "Why is Retsu Unohana on the opposing team?"

Yu Xiaogang asked curiously, "You know this girl?"

Frank nodded with a bitter smile. "Yes, she used to be my student, but she applied for graduation a year ago. She clearly awakened a support-type Martial Soul, yet she was exceptionally battle-hungry. I knew she left the academy to seek powerful opponents, so I did not stop her from graduating. I never expected her to come to Heaven Dou City. Could the Sword Devil who caused such a stir in the Heaven Dou City Soul Arena be her as well?"

Yu Xiaogang frowned after hearing that, clicking his tongue in amazement. "A support-type Martial Soul, yet she enjoys fighting. How strange."

"Exactly." Frank shook his head, unwilling to bring up the past. Watching the Soul Arena Stage, he murmured, "This is bad. Even with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Retsu Unohana will not be easy to defeat."

Yu Xiaogang immediately rejected Frank's claim. "How is that possible? A Martial Soul Fusion Skill is not simply one plus one equals two. You know that. At the same level, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is basically invincible!"

Frank sighed. "I know how powerful a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is, but that is Retsu Unohana. She is different!"

"Heh, what is so different about her? Have you forgotten that Little San is supporting them too?" Yu Xiaogang said with a cold laugh.

"Sigh, you will understand after you watch." Frank knew he could not win an argument against Yu Xiaogang, so he gave up arguing.

The instant Retsu Unohana's true face was revealed, Tang San recognized her as well.

"Heh, what a small world. You suddenly came out of nowhere and tried to kill me back then. I never got to settle that score with you before you left Shrek Academy. Perfect. We will settle our score from Soul Hunting Forest in this Soul Arena match!"

Retsu Unohana merely gave Tang San an indifferent glance before no longer paying him any attention. The only thing in her eyes now was the Hell White Tiger.

In a blur, Retsu Unohana charged forward once more, her sharp Zanpakuto gleaming with a cold light beneath the lamps.

Spiderweb Binding!

A web shot from Tang San's palm, attempting to halt Retsu Unohana's charge, but she cut it apart with a single slash.

Even such resilient Blue Silver Grass could not withstand one strike from her. It was clear just how skilled she was with a blade.

Though the web had little effect, the Blue Silver Cage that followed stopped Retsu Unohana.

Crack! Crack!

Retsu Unohana's Zanpakuto only cut halfway through the Blue Silver Cage instead of slicing it completely open, making her frown.

At that moment, she saw the Hell White Tiger descending from above. The Blue Silver Cage promptly opened its upper cover and let the Hell White Tiger inside.

The crushing force of the tiger's paw slammed down on Retsu Unohana, sending bloody foam spraying from her mouth.

Yet Retsu Unohana did not find it painful. She found it exhilarating.

"If not even blood is shed in a battle, then it is far too dull and tasteless. Can you become my opponent? Tell me the answer with your strength!"

Rising from the pool of blood, Retsu Unohana wiped the blood from her lips. Ignoring her injuries, she raised her Zanpakuto and slashed down!

"Is this the reward you sought when you entered this cage?"

The Hell White Tiger, trapped inside the Blue Silver Cage with Retsu Unohana, had its chest split open by her slash. The backlash from the Martial Soul Fusion Skill nearly caused Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai to separate, but they barely managed to maintain the fusion.

If they had released the Martial Soul Fusion Skill at that moment, they would both have died without question!

The two trapped within the Blue Silver Cage were like caged beasts.

With no room to evade, they could only endure the other side's attacks.

Blade flashes and claw shadows filled the cramped Blue Silver Cage.

However, Tang San was also restraining Retsu Unohana within the Blue Silver Cage, giving the Hell White Tiger home-field advantage.

Yet even after Retsu Unohana's arm was broken, she continued swinging her blade. Even after her leg was broken, she continued swinging her blade. Even after her blade was broken, she continued swinging it.

It was as though the injured person was not her. Her slashes never stopped.

The constant healing allowed Retsu Unohana to remain standing before the Hell White Tiger.

Even with Tang San's help, the Hell White Tiger was not having an easy time. Its body was covered in blade wounds. Had they not stubbornly held on with their last breath, they would have already released the fusion.

One tiger paw had been severed. Three more gashes had opened across its chest. The tendon in one leg had been cut, leaving it unable to stand.

Just as Retsu Unohana was about to stab the Hell White Tiger's forehead with her broken blade, Tang San could no longer watch. He released the Blue Silver Cage, pulled the Hell White Tiger back, and took its place himself.

Once the threat from Retsu Unohana was gone, the Hell White Tiger finally let out its last held breath and transformed back into two weak, blood-covered people.

Dai Mubai held Zhu Zhuqing in his arms. Looking at Tang San as he rushed forward, he said with difficulty, "Watch out for her healing technique."

After saying that, Dai Mubai fell unconscious.

Tang San, halfway there, watched the wounds on Retsu Unohana's body heal at an astonishing speed, sending a chill down his spine.

Her fractured arm rapidly realigned.

Her broken leg was about to reconnect.

Her damaged blade was restored in an instant.

If not for the blood covering her body, no one would have been able to tell that she had just fought the Hell White Tiger.

In order to strike before Retsu Unohana fully recovered, Tang San immediately unleashed the Eight Spider Lances!

Since Kyōraku Shunsui had cut off two of them, only six Eight Spider Lances remained, and their speed could not reach its peak.

Looking at Tang San charging toward her, Retsu Unohana said calmly,

"I hope you can keep me company a little longer."