Hasegawa

Before long, a faint rush of air approached from the distance, and a figure landed swiftly on the roof.

The newcomer was Hasegawa Shinjirō, sixth seat of the Fifth Division and one of the instructors leading the practical training.

His expression grave, he surveyed the scene. His gaze lingered briefly on Wang Xun and the spot where the giant Hollow had dissipated before he spoke in a low voice.

"I've learned the rough details from Nanao Ise's report. Encountering a large Hollow close to Gillian level was a major accident. We shouldn't stay here long."

He looked at the shaken students, his tone turning commanding.

"Harada, Ise, you two are responsible for leading all the third-year students to the assembly point immediately, following the planned evacuation route. Join up with the other groups there."

"I'll notify the instructors leading the other groups to heighten their vigilance and gradually move toward the assembly point."

"Yes, Instructor Hasegawa."

Hasegawa turned to face Wang Xun. The formulaic severity on his face faded slightly, replaced by a complex, searching look.

"Wang Xun, I hear you dealt with that Hollow on your own, and quickly at that. Well done. You far exceeded my expectations for a fifth-year."

"I was just lucky, Instructor Hasegawa."

"No need to be so modest."

Hasegawa waved a hand and looked into the deeper darkness.

"An accident occurred during the Konsō practical, and I've reported it to the Seireitei. Getting the students out comes first. As for clearing up any risks that might remain..."

He looked at Wang Xun, his gaze sharpening.

"According to Ise's report, you have the strength to deal with threats of this level."

"I'm requisitioning you to form a temporary team with me. We'll make one final sweep of this area and clear it quickly to ensure the safety of the residents of the World of the Living."

The reason was sound and logical, and it carried the authority of a superior.

Wang Xun looked calmly at Hasegawa.

"I understand."

"But..."

Nanao glanced at Wang Xun, who had been singled out to stay behind, and a trace of worry crossed her eyes.

A Soul Reaper requisitioning a Spiritual Arts Academy student seemed a little against the rules.

But Wang Xun gave her a slight nod, and the look he sent her put Nanao at ease.

She trusted Wang Xun's judgment.

Once the students' figures had swiftly disappeared into the night, only Hasegawa and Wang Xun remained on the roof.

The night wind swept through the ruins, bringing a mournful echo.

Hasegawa gave him a long look, then turned and leaped off in another direction without another word.

"Follow me."

The two sped silently through the air above the town, one behind the other.

They moved swiftly, with only the wind and the faint rustle of their clothes cutting through the air.

After crossing the town and reaching a patch of woodland, Hasegawa suddenly stopped.

Wang Xun stopped as well, landing behind him.

Hasegawa didn't turn around. With his back to Wang Xun, he placed a hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto.

The next moment, his figure vanished, and he darted in at a speed far greater than he had shown on the way there.

His blade sliced through the air with a fierce whistle, aimed straight at Wang Xun's throat.

The strike was ruthless and decisive, delivered without restraint-a killing opening move in a fight to the death!

Wang Xun's eyes narrowed slightly, and he drew his sword to block in an instant.

Clang!

The sharp clash of metal rang out across the empty ruins, and sparks flew.

The impact sent Hasegawa sliding back several steps, his sword arm slightly numb.

Wang Xun also retreated, but his hand remained steady as a rock.

Hasegawa stared at Wang Xun. For some reason, he felt a sense of pressure from this student who had yet to graduate from the Spiritual Arts Academy.

"An excellent defense. It seems you knew I was going to attack you. When did you realize?"

"Something felt wrong from the moment you appeared... Instructor Hasegawa, have you betrayed Soul Society?"

"Soul Society's corruption has long been deeply rooted. How can I betray a place I never pledged loyalty to?"

"So your beliefs are very noble, then. Why attack a mere student like me?"

"Hmph. Trying to draw information out of me? Go back and practice for thirty years first."

Hasegawa closed in again.

His footwork was agile, his swordsmanship sharp and seasoned. Every strike targeted a vital point, and combined with his skilled Shunpo, his attacks came in an unbroken tide.

Yet Wang Xun's defense was just as flawless.

Every block and dodge was perfectly timed, precisely shutting down all of Hasegawa's avenues of attack. His strength and speed also held a clear advantage over his opponent's.

After dozens of exchanges, Hasegawa was visibly tiring. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing grew ragged.

Hasegawa leaped back to open the distance, panting heavily. Looking at Wang Xun, whose breathing remained steady across from him, the self-mockery on his face deepened.

Heh, what a sorry sight...

Ever since I released my Zanpakuto, I've relied on its ability to fight for years and neglected to hone my own Kendō.

I never expected a student to give me so much trouble when I wasn't using Shikai.

Lord Aizen is probably watching, and he'll be disappointed by my performance too.

He slowly raised his sword upright before him, his gaze growing focused and solemn. His Reiatsu began to rise, giving off a completely different fluctuation than before.

"Confound them, Labyrinth River."

As he softly chanted the release command, the Zanpakuto in Hasegawa's hand changed shape.

The blade itself did not change much, but it became covered in a flowing sheen like pale gray mist.

The next moment, the sword abruptly vanished, leaving only the hilt in Hasegawa's hand.

Wang Xun's gaze sharpened.

You're using Shikai against me?

"Hey, Instructor Hasegawa, aren't you going to explain your Zanpakuto's ability to me? Isn't this a bit unfair?"

Hasegawa gave a cold snort and swung the hilt in Wang Xun's direction.

In the next instant, a deadly blade slashed silently toward Wang Xun from behind and to the side!

Relying on his senses, Wang Xun barely managed to twist aside, but the hem of his clothes was cut.

Immediately afterward, Hasegawa's attacks grew even more unpredictable. He stood in place swinging his sword, while invisible attacks struck at Wang Xun from every direction.

Wang Xun had to be more vigilant and focus all his efforts on dodging.

These attacks, whose direction he could not predict, did give Wang Xun some trouble.

He could no longer anticipate and block them as easily as before. He had to expend more mental effort sensing and responding to the elusive attacks, and several cuts appeared on his body before he knew it.

Zanpakuto abilities really are troublesome...

"It's working," Hasegawa said, slightly breathless but resolute. "Then it's time to end this."

"Bakudō #21, Sekienton!"

A vast cloud of smoke spread out, instantly blocking Wang Xun's vision.

At the same time, Hasegawa poured all his Reiatsu into his blade, preparing to thrust.

In both speed and power, this would be his strongest strike.

Wang Xun's eyes hardened.

With this interference, he couldn't fully pinpoint the trajectory of the strike.

But he didn't panic. He lowered his body slightly, ready to use Shunpo to break out at any moment, and held his Asauchi upright before him as his Reiatsu began to rise.

However, just as Hasegawa was about to strike-

"Stop!"

"Hasegawa! What are you doing?!"

Several sources of Reiatsu rapidly approached from afar, accompanied by sharp shouts.

They were the other Soul Reapers leading the groups, who had come after receiving the news and sensing something amiss.

Hasegawa's attack visibly faltered, and a trace of hesitation crossed his face.

He gave Wang Xun a long look, his expression hard to read, then withdrew without hesitation and quickly fled under cover of the smoke.

"After him!"

The Soul Reapers who had arrived were shocked and furious. Leaving one of their number to keep an eye on Wang Xun, several of them immediately pursued Hasegawa in the direction he had fled.

That Soul Reaper came over to Wang Xun and watched him warily for a moment, his eyes full of disbelief.

He had seen it clearly: sixth seat Hasegawa had already used Shikai, yet he still hadn't been able to take down this student.

"Put away your weapon. What happened here just now? Why were you fighting?"

Wang Xun sheathed his sword and looked toward the quietly falling experience fragments in the direction where Hasegawa had vanished.

"I don't know either. Sixth seat Hasegawa attacked me for some reason."

"If you can catch him, give him a thorough interrogation."