Cut Down

In the empty underground cavern, dark red Reiatsu continued to surge.

The white bone mask on Wang Xun's face gleamed with an eerie light, and the dark red patterns on the mask spread like blood vessels, flickering slightly with his breathing.

His Reiatsu had completely changed; it no longer possessed his own unique quality, but rather the rage and chaos characteristic of Hollows.

Wang Xun a deep breath and slowly raised the Zanpakuto in his hand.

His throat was dry and sore, and his heart was pounding wildly in his chest.

The Shackle Lotus hummed excitedly in his hand, and chains extended from the end of the hilt, wrapping around his wrist.

In his Shikai state, his Reiatsu output is virtually unlimited; as long as his body can withstand it, he can continue to output pressure.

The Reiatsu provided by the Hollowfication further extended his endurance.

Unohana stood still, her Zanpakuto hanging at her side.

She looked at Wang Xun, her eyes initially filled with surprise, then turning into anticipation.

"This is what you've been hiding... What's this ability called?"

"Hollowfication."

Wang Xun gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, feeling the surging power within his body.

My Reiatsu is surging, my senses are expanding, and my body feels lighter than ever before.

He could sense Unohana's Reiatsu, and he could feel every subtle fluctuation in her body.

She was excited.

"Team leader."

Wang Xun spoke, his voice carrying a unique double vibrato characteristic of Hollowfication.

Please advise.

Unohana smiled.

The smile was brief, fleeting.

But Wang Xun saw it; it was the smile of a wild beast upon seeing its prey.

Her figure vanished from the spot.

This time, Wang Xun things clearly.

It wasn't that I saw her movements, but rather that I sensed the trajectory of her Reiatsu.

In his Hollowfication state, his senses were amplified several times over. Although Unohana was fast, he could still detect the trajectory of her Reiatsu.

He turned to the side, the blade grazing his mask, then swung his sword backhand, aiming for Unohana.

The two Zanpakuto clashed, sparking dazzling flames.

This time, he wasn't thrown back.

The power boost from the Hollowfication allowed him to withstand the attack.

Wang Xun stepped back, raised his left hand, and fired the Raikōhō from his palm.

Unohana turned her head to avoid the lightning, which grazed her cheek.

Before she could turn around, Wang Xun's second Kidō had already arrived.

A miniature Rikujōkōrō prison appeared out of thin air and sealed Unohana's left leg.

The next moment, Wang Xun was like a mobile Kidō turret.

Several uninvoked, Hadō, mixed with the Reiatsu of emptiness, rained down on the Unohana like a storm.

Unohana swung her sword, shattering the Bakudō on her feet. Her figure weaved through the gaps in lightning and flames, casually cleaving away the Hadō that Wang Xun attacking.

Reiatsu Fragment scattered and flew everywhere, shimmering with an eerie light.

Wang Xun gave her no chance to catch her breath.

His figure vanished from the spot once more, and the sword light and the Kidō struck simultaneously.

In his Hollowfication state, after his Shikai, he becomes like a perpetual motion machine, constantly outputting power and launching attacks.

However, Unohana effortlessly deflected all these attacks.

Wang Xun gritted his teeth and slashed down again.

Unohana parried his attack, then swung her sword backhand, aiming straight for his chest.

Wang Xun dodged to the side, the blade grazing his ribs.

Before he could even regain his footing, Unohana's second slash was already upon him.

This strike was faster than any of the previous ones.

Wang Xun only had time to raise his sword to parry when a tremendous force emanated from the blade, sending him flying.

He flipped over in the air and barely landed.

A crack appeared on his mask.

Dark red Reiatsu emanated from the cracks, flowing slowly like blood, extending from the forehead to the cheekbones.

Unohana stood there, watching him.

"Your strength has decreased."

Wang Xun remained silent.

Unohana is right.

In the Hollowfication state, although Reiatsu is greatly increased, the physical exertion is several times that of usual.

"Can we still fight?"

Unohana's voice came from ahead.

Wang Xun up and smiled.

"Certainly."

His figure disappeared from the spot once again.

This time, he poured all his Reiatsu into this strike.

The blade gleamed with a dark red light, as two completely opposite forces intertwined and collided on it, bursting forth with dazzling light.

Unohana raised her sword and faced the attack head-on.

The entire void trembled the moment the two Zanpakuto clashed.

Gravel fell from the rock face, and cracks spread across the ground like a spider web.

The shockwave exploded from the point of impact, blowing away all the surrounding instruments and utensils.

The cave was filled with billowing smoke and dust.

Through the smoke and dust, Unohana saw that Wang Xun's mask had shattered.

Fragments peeled off his face, turning into Reishi and dissipating into the air.

His Reiatsu reached its limit, and the power of Hollowfication receded from his body.

The Shikai of Shackle Lotus was also released, the chains fell off her wrist, and the Zanpakuto returned to its normal form.

Wang Xun stood there, panting heavily.

His Reiatsu was almost depleted; he didn't even have the strength to move a finger.

After a brief period of numbness, a slight pain came from my chest.

Wang Xun down and saw the cold blade piercing his chest.

Unohana's Zanpakuto through his chest, the tip protruding from his back.

Blood flowed down the blade, dripping onto the ground with a soft pattering sound.

Wang Xun looked at the knife in his chest, then raised his head to look at Unohana.

The excitement in Unohana's eyes hadn't completely faded.

Then, she suddenly froze.

The excitement in those eyes vanished abruptly, replaced by an emotion Wang Xun had never seen on Unohana's face before.

Panic.

She suddenly pulled out the knife, and Wang Xun's body was propelled forward by the force.

Then, Wang Xun felt himself fall into a soft embrace.

Excessive Reiatsu and severe physical injuries caused him to lose consciousness.

In the darkness, Wang Xun vaguely heard someone calling his name.

Warm Reiatsu surged into his body, Wang Xun could feel the wound in his chest being repaired.

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Xun opened his eyes.

The wound in his chest was still throbbing slightly. Wang Xun down and saw that the wound had been bandaged.

He looked up and surveyed his surroundings.

On a rock not far away, Unohana sat with her back to us, re-braiding her hair.

Her movements were slow and meticulous, as if she were doing something that required complete concentration.

Her fingers weaved through her hair, stitching the braid she always wore coiled in front of her chest.

But Wang Xun could sense that her mind wasn't on this.

Wang Xun watched her retreating figure, he suddenly felt that she was somewhat unfamiliar.

It wasn't a difference in appearance, but a difference in temperament.

It seemed to be an ancient, long-suppressed emotion, mixed with an undeniable depth and darkness, lurking in her heart.

Wang Xun touched the wound on his chest.

At the last moment, Unohana deflected the blade, avoiding his heart.

This injury is not fatal.

He slowly sat up.

"Thank you, Captain... for sparing my life."

Hearing the noise behind her, Unohana's fingers paused slightly.

"Still in the mood for jokes, looks like everything's alright."

She didn't turn around, but continued braiding her hair.

Then, Wang Xun heard a faint murmur.

"Feel sorry."

Her voice was soft, with a slight hoarseness.

Wang Xun opened his mouth, then shook his head.

"Captain, there's no need to apologize. It's my own fault for not being good enough."

Unohana didn't say anything, she just continued braiding her hair.

Wang Xun looked at her and remained silent for a moment.

"Captain, why did you make that expression just now?"

Unohana's fingers stopped.

She sat there, motionless.

Her profile was no longer as gentle as before; her eyes were hidden behind her hair, making it impossible to see her expression.

After a long silence, she spoke softly.

"Want to know?"

Wang Xun nodded.

"Yes."

Unohana did not answer immediately.

She simply finished braiding her hair and coiled it around her neck.

Wang Xun noticed that her hand paused at her chest, her fingertips lightly touching the area covered by the braid.

Although Unohana didn't say it, Wang Xun knew what it was.

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

"Then keep getting stronger. When you're strong enough that I can accept you, maybe I'll tell you."

7

Wang Xun looked at her and remained silent for a moment.

"Good."

jy0216