Chapter 24: Something Unexpected

Chapter 24 - 24: Something Unexpected "Sensei, how did you do that? You cut that giant bear clean in half from so far away!" Muguruma Kensei asked in confusion. His teacher was clearly standing several meters away, and his Zanpakutō wasn't anywhere near that long—yet the fleeing bear had been split in two. "Sensei's blade didn't touch any blood," Hirako Shinji observed, feeling like he had caught on to something important. "Could it be..." Chijō Kana's eyes lit up as she thought of the technique she'd been practicing. "Sensei, did you use a Reiatsu Blade to cut the bear in half?" "Kana guessed correctly. But it's actually a more complex technique than the Reiatsu Blade," Nanatsuki nodded slightly. "At the moment of the slash, I extended the Reiatsu coating on the blade—essentially creating a longer cutting edge. This technique is called Flowlight." Though Chijō Kana usually lacked focus, she had a sharp intuition when it came to swordsmanship. "The Reiatsu Blade can do that? You can actually extend it?" Kana's eyes widened in disbelief. She had practiced the Reiatsu Blade herself and knew just how difficult it was. Creating a single layer of Reiatsu along the blade was already a challenge—yet her teacher had managed to stretch that layer outward. "Once a Reiatsu Blade separates from the weapon, it's hard to maintain. That's why it must be released with extreme speed—so it hits the target before dissipating. You also need precise control over distance. Otherwise, you'll either hit something unintended or swing at nothing." Nanatsuki gave a reminder. "Alright, this is all for later. Don't overreach—focus on mastering Shun Strike first." "Yes! I'll learn Shun Strike as soon as I can!" Kana nodded vigorously. Nanatsuki stepped forward and turned to Kensei. "Kensei, your sense of alertness is too weak. Don't think that just because you've defeated the enemy, you can let your guard down. Fatal danger usually strikes when you're most relaxed." "When we return, add an extra hour of Flagfish Suburi practice." "Understood!" Kensei didn't dare object. He knew full well that he'd let his guard down. If his teacher and companions hadn't been there, the bear might've bitten him. With a body that size, even one bite would've meant serious injury. Nanatsuki glanced at a newly appeared system prompt: [Muguruma Kensei's Reputation Level has increased. Current Reputation: Close] Kensei's reputation had risen to Close, which meant the daily guidance bonus from him would now double. Nanatsuki pulled out a Reishi pocket and stored both bear carcasses inside. "Sensei, are we having bear paw for lunch?" Kana's eyes lit up, recalling how her teacher once said bear paw was a rare and delicious delicacy. "No bear paw. It's too much trouble to prepare, especially in the wild. We'll have roasted rabbit for lunch instead," Nanatsuki replied. He'd spotted a rabbit den earlier on the trail—there were definitely rabbits nearby. "Roasted rabbit? But rabbits are so cute!" Kana was horrified. How could anyone eat something so adorable?! ... The group ventured deeper into the forest. After chopping down some black ironwood, they found a relatively flat spot to set up camp. A mouthwatering aroma, rich with spices, drifted through the woods. "Smells amazing!" Kana sat by the campfire, her chin resting in her palms as she watched the roasting rabbit. Tears for the rabbit's passing rolled down her cheeks from the corners of her mouth. Nanatsuki sprinkled some chili powder and removed the rabbit meat from the spit, slicing it into five portions. "It's ready. Dig in." Kana couldn't wait and took a bite. The rabbit was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside—perfectly cooked. As she bit in, the seasoned juices exploded across her palate. "It's delicious!" Kana thought her teacher must be a Culinary Sage of the Soul Society. How else could someone cook like this in the wild? "This is really good!" Lisa was stunned. The last time Nanatsuki roasted sweet potatoes, he had burned them—but now this rabbit was somehow amazing. "I told you, people improve. Don't judge me by the past," Nanatsuki said with a smile. "Sensei's food is the most delicious thing I've ever had," Kensei praised. "Seriously, after eating Sensei's cooking, the stuff from the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy cafeteria tastes like pig slop," Shinji added, sighing in agreement. "So good! Sensei's cooking is incredible!" Kana sipped her mushroom meat soup and gave a blissful, silly smile. Nanatsuki paused slightly as he lifted his soup bowl. Another system message had appeared: [Chijō Kana's Reputation Level has increased. Current Reputation: Admiration] Kana's reputation had gone up too! This gluttonous disciple really was leveling up fast. "There's plenty more—eat as much as you like." Nanatsuki smiled even wider. The group quickly devoured all the food—nothing was left. Even the bones ended up in the belly of the Akita dog, Fuku. After putting out the campfire, they set off for home. The black ironwood grew deep in the forest, so it would take time to make it back. "Sensei, what's wrong?" Kana asked. Nanatsuki, walking ahead, had suddenly stopped. He motioned for her to stay quiet and scanned the area carefully. After several seconds, he finally spoke. "There's no sound." "No sound?" Kensei looked around. "Idiot. The birds and insects—they've all gone quiet," Shinji said grimly. He remembered reading about this in textbooks—this meant they might have encountered a Hollow. Nanatsuki's right hand settled on his sword's hilt as he focused on sensing Reiatsu fluctuations. Hollows sometimes appeared in the Soul Society. Occasionally, distortions would form in the spatial barrier between Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society, creating small rifts. Hollows could slip in through these naturally occurring tears. But that usually happened in lower-ranked districts. The Katori-ryu Dojo was located in the Fuwai District of West Rukongai's 6th area. The Fuwai District was fairly well-off, with good food, safety, and environment. It had lush forests and a strong hunter presence. As a top-ranked district, it was close to Seireitei. The odds of a rift appearing here were low. This was Nanatsuki's first time encountering a Hollow in the Fuwai District. But it wasn't his first time dealing with Hollows—Batsu'unsai had taken him Hollow hunting before. Nanatsuki's expression shifted slightly as he sensed a disturbance in the surrounding Reiatsu. With a flick of his wrist, he slashed toward the right. A shadow suddenly appeared on his right—followed by the unmistakable roar of a Hollow. Rooaar— The blade cleaved through the shadow, severing a grotesque tentacle and leaving it writhing on the ground. Then the shadow vanished again. The Hollow seemed especially adept at hiding—even after being hit, it remained hidden. Suddenly, Nanatsuki raised his Zanpakutō and blocked in front of himself. At that moment, a long, grotesque tentacle came whipping toward him like a whip.