Chapter 23: Back Mountain Forest

Chapter 23 - 23: Back Mountain Forest Today was a rest day at the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy, so Katori Nanatsuki didn't have classes. He headed into the back mountain forest with Yadōmaru Lisa. Back at Granny Jiang's izakaya, Lisa had mentioned that wild bears had been spotted in the forest, which sparked his interest in bear hunting. He also brought along three of his disciples—not only for the hunt, but also to search for suitable timber to use for sword training at the Katori-ryu Dojo. There was a type of wood in the forest called Black Ironwood, known for its durability and toughness—far superior to ordinary timber. It was perfect for making practice targets. Chijō Kana spotted a small stream running through the woods and walked up to scoop water in her hands. "The water here is so clear. It's perfect for outdoor cooking." "Cooking out here?" Hirako Shinji said lazily. "Careful or a wild bear might snatch you up!" "We can find a good spot for lunch later," Nanatsuki said as he examined the bite marks on the tree bark. It seemed to be where a bear had gnawed to sharpen its teeth. "These marks were probably left by a large animal. Lisa, was it around here that you ran into the bear?" "Right here," Lisa pointed at a dense patch of shrubbery. "The bear came out of that thicket. I tried to sneak away, but it still noticed me." "I can still sense traces of lingering Reiatsu in these marks. Good thing you were cautious and didn't try to fight it head-on," Nanatsuki replied. Even the ordinary animals of Soul Society are composed of Reishi, and some rare individuals can possess high Reiatsu. Lisa hadn't fully matured yet, so encountering a beast with elevated Reiatsu could be dangerous for her. "Let's see if Fuku can track it." Lisa brought along her small Akita dog to help follow the bear's scent. "Fuku, help me find that bear," Lisa said, lifting the little dog and bringing it near the tree stump to sniff the bear's lingering scent. The clever Akita seemed to understand what she meant. After catching the scent, it barked loudly: "Woof woof!" Lisa set the dog back on the ground. It sniffed the earth and began to follow the scent, stopping and starting as it went. The five of them followed the small Akita deeper into the woods. After a short walk, the dog stopped and began barking furiously at a certain direction: "Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!" Rustling sounds soon came from inside the forest—it was clear that something had heard the dog. A robust, brown-furred wild bear emerged from the thicket. [Wild Bear] [Reiatsu: Lv8] This bear's Reiatsu was equivalent to that of a regular squad member. Most of Nanatsuki's students hadn't even reached this level yet. If it were a humanoid soul instead of a bear, with training at the academy, it could graduate and become a full-fledged Shinigami. "I'll take care of it!" Muguruma Kensei drew the wooden practice sword at his waist—such a beast wasn't worthy of his Asauchi. Nanatsuki didn't stop him. With Kensei's current ability, dealing with a Reiatsu-infused bear was well within his capabilities. [Muguruma Kensei] [Talent: S] [Reiatsu: Lv24] [Reputation: Friendly] [Status: Excited (Let me show sensei the results of my training!)] Nanatsuki glanced at Kensei's Status Interface. When they first met, his Reiatsu was only Level 15. Thanks to his Zanpakutō Meditation Training, it had already risen to Level 24. Chijō Kana and Hirako Shinji had also improved, reaching Levels 21 and 26, respectively. Kensei shouted, stepped forward, and swung his wooden sword fiercely at the bear's head. The bear also lunged with its paw, aiming at Kensei's forehead. Had Kensei ignored the attack and continued the strike, he would have hit the bear—but also taken a direct blow himself. However, he had learned from his sparring with Hirako Shinji. Holding back slightly, he adjusted the angle of the downward swing, shifting it to strike diagonally at the bear's arm. The wooden sword had a longer reach than the bear's paw. Before the paw could hit, the sword had already slashed its arm. Thud— The weapon slammed into the bear's limb with a deep, dull thump. The powerful strike snapped the bear's arm bone instantly, and the paw fell limp. "Rraaah!" the bear howled in pain. Kensei seized the opportunity. With a twist of his wrist, he thrust the wooden sword again—this time piercing the bear's shoulder and leaving a bleeding wound. Enraged, the bear opened its bloody jaws and lunged wildly at Kensei's neck. Kensei kicked the bear in the chest and leapt back, then swung a sharp horizontal strike at its neck. Crack— The bear's spine shattered audibly. Struck at a vital point, the beast thrashed a few times before going still. "Heh, easy as pie." Kensei wiped the blood from his wooden sword on the bear's fur. But Lisa's little Akita was still barking furiously. "Watch out!" Lisa shouted, pointing behind Kensei. Kensei froze for a moment. Then he sensed it—a huge shadow falling over him. Nanatsuki's eyes narrowed. A massive bear, over three meters tall, emerged from the trees behind Kensei. [Wild Bear] [Reiatsu: Lv25] This enormous bear seemed to be a companion of the fallen one. Seeing its comrade dead sent it into a rage. "RAAAHHH!!!" The giant bear roared and charged at Kensei with its jaws wide open. Kensei's expression changed. He heard the sound behind him, but it was too late to dodge. He could only swing his sword backward to block. But the strike was rushed and weak. The bear swatted it aside with ease. It barreled forward, still lunging for his throat. Just as he thought he was done for, Chijō Kana and Hirako Shinji appeared at his sides. One to the left, one to the right—both thrust their wooden swords at once. They struck the bear's eyes, bursting them instantly. They had noticed the giant bear earlier and had prepared in advance. They arrived just in time before the bear could pounce. Blinded and terrified, the bear thrashed wildly. Its earlier fury extinguished, it shook its head and flung away the swords in its eyes, then fled in panic toward the direction it had come from. Bears are often called "blind beasts" due to their weak eyesight. But their sense of smell and hearing are sharp—enough to guide them home even without sight. Just then, a streak of radiant light shot through the forest. Katori-ryu: Flowlight! Splat— The fleeing bear suddenly split in two mid-run. Its massive body crashed into a tree, bringing it and the tree down in a thunderous crash. Everyone stared in shock and turned to look toward Katori Nanatsuki. He hadn't moved from his spot several meters away. His Zanpakutō was still clean—not a single drop of blood on the blade.