Long Tao did not press his attack. Instead, he folded his arms across his chest, casually waiting for Suì-Fēng to tend to her wound.
Suì-Fēng's eye twitched in annoyance. Damn it, she thought, is this guy narrating the fight now? Is he trying to look cool or something?
Despite her internal complaints, she knew his Zanpakutō was a perfect counter to her fighting style. 'Spider Hunt,' once its Shikai was released, deployed an invisible web of Reiatsu in a twenty-five-meter radius. This ability not only enhanced his perception of any enemy within the web but also delivered a swift slash to anyone who touched a thread. To make matters worse, the web grew denser the closer one got to the center. It was a terrible matchup for her, as her Shikai, Suzumebachi, required her to get in close for its signature two-hit kill.
Of course, 'Spider Hunt' had its own clear weaknesses. After releasing his Shikai, Long Tao had to remain completely still to activate the web's power. Furthermore, the otherwise invisible threads would glow just before a slash was about to connect, giving a brief warning. All of this information was already on file in the Second Division's records, which Suì-Fēng had studied.
Even with its limitations, it was an incredibly powerful Zanpakutō for a Shikai. Many Soul Reapers had Shikai that only changed their weapon's form. A certain bald-headed Third Seat, for example, had a Shikai that simply transformed his Zanpakutō into a three-sectioned staff, which also conveniently held some healing ointment inside. Compared to that, 'Spider Hunt' was easily among the top-tier Shikai in the entire Soul Society, even with the drawback of trapping its user in one spot.
Thinking through her options, Suì-Fēng raised her right hand, palm facing Long Tao.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
A blast of red energy shot forward, but Long Tao was ready.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
His own fireball erupted and met hers in mid-air. The two spells didn't explode as expected. Instead, they collided, merging into a formless shimmer of heat before vanishing completely. Anti-Kidō.
"Suì-Fēng, are you underestimating me?" Long Tao asked, his voice laced with displeasure. "I may not be the best, but I'd say my skill with Kidō is among the top three in the Second Division."
As he spoke, he fired off five more Shakkahō spells without incantation, forcing Suì-Fēng to use Shunpo to dodge the barrage of explosions. He expertly controlled the spacing and impact points of his attacks, herding her around the arena and forcing her to brush against more of his invisible web threads. Thankfully, she was prepared this time, swiftly cutting through the glowing strands of Reiatsu as they appeared. Her Shihakushō gained several new tears and she looked disheveled, but she escaped any real harm.
"Such beautiful Shunpo," Long Tao said with a slow, deliberate clap. "Given enough time, I'm sure you'll inherit the esteemed title of 'Flash Goddess.'" He paused for effect. "After all, our dear former captain... defected when she assisted a criminal." He drew out the word "defected," making sure it stung.
His words caused an immediate uproar among the Second Division members loyal to the Shihōin Clan.
"You're not allowed to speak of Lady Yoruichi like that!"
"There must have been a misunderstanding!"
"What? Are you saying the judgment of Central 46 was wrong?" a supporter of Long Tao shot back.
"That... I didn't mean that!" the first man stammered.
The surrounding arguments and accusations grew louder, grating on Suì-Fēng's nerves. She knew exactly what Long Tao was doing. Mentioning Yoruichi's title, 'Flash Goddess,' and that slow, mocking clap were all designed to provoke her. Everyone in the Second Division knew how deeply she had once admired Yoruichi. Her old self would have easily fallen for such a simple taunt. If she charged recklessly within five meters of him now, she'd be caught in more than just a few strands of his web.
But, she thought, a plan forming in her mind, this is an opportunity.
Suì-Fēng decided to play along and charge forward. She put on a furious expression and shouted, "You! You're not allowed to slander Lady Yoruichi!"
With that, she burst forward, rushing angrily toward Long Tao.
"Suì-Fēng, he's provoking you!"
"Please, don't fall for it!"
The squad members who supported her cried out, trying to warn her, but she ignored their pleas, pushing her Shunpo to its absolute limit. She darted through the air, cutting down the glowing threads that appeared in her path and narrowly avoiding the slashes they produced.
A flicker of triumph appeared in Long Tao's eyes. He quickly raised his hand and unleashed a continuous stream of Shakkahō spells, forcing Suì-Fēng to constantly change her direction and run into more of his web. For a moment, the entire training ground thundered with the sound of explosions. Amidst the fire and smoke, Suì-Fēng's figure was a constant blur. She dodged Kidō blasts while deflecting the attacks from the web, desperately searching for an opening. Long Tao continued to apply pressure, launching one fireball after another until the explosions created a thick smokescreen that covered the arena. The two were locked in a stalemate.
"Gulp—" A newly promoted seated officer swallowed nervously. "Is... is this the level of a high-ranking officer's fight? Is the gap between us really this wide?"
A strong hand landed on his shoulder. "Don't be scared, kid," a familiar voice said.
The young officer turned and quickly bowed. "Vi-Vice-Captain Ōmaeda!"
Ōmaeda's face was uncharacteristically serious as he stared at the battlefield. "In terms of strength," he continued, "both of them are qualified to be vice-captains."
In the arena, their fierce battle raged on. It was a contest of Kidō versus Shunpo. Long Tao's rapid-fire Kidō, though backed by his immense Reiatsu, was starting to take its toll, and his face had grown pale. Suì-Fēng's continuous use of Shunpo didn't drain as much Reiatsu, but the intense concentration and high-speed movements required to avoid certain death were causing severe physical exhaustion. She occasionally flickered into view through the smoke. Her shoulders, back, and arms, visible through the rips in her uniform, were covered in a mixture of dust and sweat, no longer their usual pristine white.
The area is almost ready, she thought, glancing at the dust-choked training ground. The time was right. Obstructed vision was the perfect opportunity.
Suì-Fēng accelerated, using Shunpo to appear dozens of meters directly above Long Tao. Creating a foothold of spiritual particles, she hung upside down, gathering her power for a final, decisive lunge straight for his head.
The Soul Reapers watching from a distance saw it more clearly. Their eyes widened and their mouths fell open in shock. After all that high-speed maneuvering, she could still accelerate for another attack? Was this the true strength of their Third Seat?
Feeling the subtle shift in the air, Long Tao smiled. "So, you're finally here." He looked up, his eyes fixed on Suì-Fēng with a fervent glow. "I've been waiting for this moment!"
He then forcefully plunged his Zanpakutō into the ground.
"Fall into the hunting net!"
With Long Tao as the center, the web covering the ground erupted in an intense light. In an instant, the massive net of glowing threads shot upward, enveloping the space above him completely. Suì-Fēng, already committed to her dive, had no time to change direction. She had fallen right into his trap.
The massive net swallowed her whole, wrapping tightly around her body. She landed hard on one knee, about five meters in front of him.
The arena fell silent. The turn of events had been so sudden that the watching squad members were all stunned.
"Suì-Fēng, it's over," Long Tao declared, his hand still gripping the Zanpakutō embedded in the ground. His tone was that of a victor. "Bound by the web, you can no longer move. All I have to do is say the release command again, and you'll be cut into a thousand pieces."
Is she going to lose? the young seated officer thought, a bitter expression on his face. Long Tao was merely pale from overusing his Reiatsu, but Suì-Fēng's uniform was torn and dirty, and her left arm hung limply at her side, bleeding. He ignored the chatter of the squad members around him, lost in his own thoughts. He had become a seated officer through succession, not by challenging for his spot. Lately, he'd been challenged by others quite often. Though he had managed to win each time, he couldn't help but wonder, What would happen to me if I failed? Embarrassment? Powerlessness? Shame? Fear?
What was Captain Suì-Fēng feeling right now?
"Everyone! Pay attention!" Suì-Fēng's voice suddenly cut through the silence, sharp and commanding.
Oh, this.