A spacious and ancient tatami room. Two people sitting cross-legged across a tea table. The painting of a tiger and demon locked in battle, and the rising steam from the tea, all formed a scene of utter stillness.
Yet, within their minds, battle intent, killing intent, and the sparks of clashing swords raged.
If this were truly an ancient silent film, the audience could already sense blood would be spilled in the next instant. But the deep silence was hard to break.
In the end, what broke the stillness was like a falling leaf drifting onto a pond.
Just then, the water boiled, steam surged, and the sharp whistle from the pot pierced the air.
Ripples spread. The extreme stillness became intense motion, and the scene came alive.
The steam was sliced apart. The delicate fragrance of tea was tinged with blood. Killing intent and fighting spirit clashed, igniting bright sparks.
With the clash of steel and the kettle's whistle, Gusion and Unohana slid back, leaving long marks on the tatami.
Unohana glanced at Gusion, then at her Zanpakutō, which had no blood on it. Her lips curled into a strange smile.
With a graceful motion, she swept her long black hair loose, much of it falling over her front, creating an unnatural look.
The setting sun shone through the paper window, tinting her pale face red.
She stood there, hair disheveled, smiling eerily, her face blood-red, like a demon from hell.
On the other side, Gusion held his asauchi low, body tense like a tiger ready to strike.
"Hikifune's latest invention is quite something," Unohana smiled. "Now I don't have to hold back during your final assessment."
Gusion's mind was sharply focused. He and Aizen had predicted this: the final test would be to fight a captain with matched spiritual pressure. But Unohana as the opponent made it much harder.
For Gusion, it was a nightmare—and a joy.
He couldn't help but grin, baring his white teeth. "If I defeat you, sensei, I can graduate, right?"
"Defeat me?" Unohana placed a hand on her face, hiding her manic expression, her voice trembling. "Gusion-kun... why are you so set on graduating early?"
As if answering herself, her voice came from behind her hand. "If you do that, I can't help but become your examiner... I can't help but want to... pick this fruit early."
She slowly lowered her hand, revealing a face twisted with excitement. No one would expect the gentle, beautiful Unohana to look like this.
She spread her arms wide, eyes fixed on Gusion. "Come, entertain me!"
In the next instant, the wind swept her hair back, blood blooming from her gray-pink haori. Drops of blood slid past her excited eyes.
Gusion and Unohana passed each other. Behind Gusion was a string of footprints embedded in the tatami. He turned, hair tousled from the charge, eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"Sensei, after you cut me so many times, are you satisfied with this slash?"
Gusion was a little surprised he could wound Unohana. He'd thought, that even with her pressure suppressed, her physical strength would still be immense. But the limiter here was extraordinary—it reduced her to level 16, removing her high-pressure body protection.
This device was probably never meant for student duels but as a tactical tool for trapping or killing enemies.
Unohana, back to Gusion, wiped her shoulder wound in an instant, healing completely.
"This is it..." Unohana was exhilarated. The pain she hadn't felt in ages only fueled her bloodlust.
She'd forgotten the Captain-Commander's words. Two beasts meeting on the prairie—one would not leave unscathed.
At the peak of killing intent and fighting spirit, both vanished from sight.
Clang—!
The Asauchi and Minazuki clashed, sparks lighting up the dark room. Their eyes met over their blades, murder in the air.
A storm seemed to rise in the room. In an instant, they'd exchanged dozens of blows.
Tatami caved in and shattered, exposing the pine floor. Blood and scraps of clothing spun in the air.
After another clash, both retreated, standing firm. Unohana's haori was mostly intact; Gusion's uniform was in tatters.
Gusion tore off the remnants, revealing his muscular torso.
His upper body was covered in small wounds—not from direct slashes, but from invisible blades.
Unohana's sword wasn't just sharp—her sword aura could cut even without touching flesh, shredding clothes and skin.
"Oh? You've brought your Kaidō to this level?" Unohana looked surprised at his wounds closing on their own. He hadn't used his hands to cast healing light—yet the wounds healed visibly.
Gusion explained, "Sensei, you never said Kaidō had to be used by hand, right? Once you understand the principle, isn't direct control better in battle?"
He'd developed a new Kaidō technique—controlling spirit particles like threads to heal wounds directly. Not yet perfect, but enough for minor injuries.
Unohana laughed a lovely yet eerie sound. "Gusion-kun, you are a genius. But that level of Kaidō won't save you."
Gusion said nothing. He knew Unohana was hyped up now—she would not hold back. If he lost, she would kill him.
He didn't know what counted as passing this test. But he could not lose.
Defeat meant death!
Death pressed closer.
Gusion trembled—not from fear, but excitement.
Even suppressed, Unohana was his strongest opponent ever.
Unlike the Captain-Commander's instruction, this was a real fight—the battle he craved.
Standing before him was the foe he'd prayed to heaven for, but never met—until now.
How could he not be excited?
Assessment? Mission?
All irrelevant. All he wanted was to enjoy this fight.
Boom—!
Gusion exploded into action, flipping the tatami behind him, slashing faster, heavier, deadlier.
He struck from above. Unohana blocked and deflected his blow.
She stepped in, aiming a palm at his chest.
Just as she thought she'd succeeded, Gusion pulled one hand back, using his elbow to clamp her wrist, stopping her blow.
Both hands?!
Unohana was shocked. She glanced aside—Gusion had dropped his sword!
He'd made the right choice. If she'd hit his chest, she'd have crushed his heart, then finished him with a sword.
Gusion, pushed back by her palm, stomped the tatami's edge, flipping it up to catch the falling asauchi, and snatched it back.
Unohana didn't pursue, but her eyes shone as if she'd found a treasure.
She watched the man charging again, suddenly struck.
Ah, he is free!
His wild fighting style was like a master's spontaneous brushwork—every move was a highlight.
Boom—!
After another clash, Unohana leapt back gracefully, while Gusion crashed into the wall.
She looked at him like admiring a fine gem. She was thrilled, but also a bit regretful to eat this delicious fruit early.
Even Hikifune's limiter couldn't fully suppress her. Gusion's last move should have shattered her wrist, but her body's density was still much higher, so it didn't work.
The device only let Gusion cut her skin; cutting deeper was almost impossible.
Her blood was boiling now—lost in the thrill of battle. The only thing that could stop her was Gusion winning.
But that was impossible. She could see all his moves, had over a thousand years of experience, and even now, her pressure was slightly higher.
The device was imprecise—she was at the peak of level 16, while Gusion was just above average.
She had every advantage; Gusion seemed to have no chance.
She looked at the battered young man, his body covered in cuts, and sighed at the seemingly inevitable outcome.
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