The two drew their swords at the same time.
Swoosh—
Sōya Azashiro's figure vanished from the spot.
Clang—
Though his eyes were closed, Kaname Tōsen blocked the incoming slash perfectly.
Although Tōsen had already demonstrated his ability to fight blind many times on his way to the finals, gasps of surprise still erupted from the audience.
"Tōsen, I've already found a way to force an opening!"
Sōya laughed and raised his left hand toward Tōsen.
The moment his hand moved, Tōsen had already used the recoil from blocking the attack to quickly leap backward.
However, Sōya's target was not Tōsen himself.
"Bakudō #37: Tsuriboshi!"
A ball of reishi appeared in his hand and quickly transformed into a net that spread across the ground.
Sōya cast 'Tsuriboshi' several times in a row. Before long, the entire arena was covered in reishi nets.
He stood on the net and did his best to suppress his own spiritual pressure fluctuation.
Sōya planned to use the reishi nets on the ground to interfere with Tōsen's spiritual sense!
Tōsen's fighting style relied heavily on his spiritual perception. If that could be disabled, the match would be decided.
"Trying to interfere with my perception this way..."
Tōsen knew Sōya's goal very well.
However, he did not stop him.
His perception was not limited to just his spiritual sense!
Besides being blind, his other senses were sharper than a normal person's.
He could pick up on sounds that were imperceptible to others.
His right ear twitched slightly. He sensed a faint sound coming from his right.
It was the sound of the wind.
Clang—
Tōsen blocked again, stopping a slash aimed at his waist.
"He blocked it?"
Sōya's eyes widened.
In that moment of shock, Tōsen quickly kicked out.
The kick struck Sōya in the abdomen, and the muscles on his face instantly contorted.
Tōsen gave him no time to breathe. He parried the sword in front of him and quickly slashed.
Squish—
Although Sōya endured the pain in his abdomen and tried his best to dodge, he couldn't completely avoid the attack.
A wound now stretched from his right shoulder to his chest.
"Sōya Azashiro's idea failed!"
Shunsui Kyōraku laughed heartily.
All the captains and lieutenants present were Shinigami with rich combat experience. They had seen Sōya's intention at a glance.
"This kid... he's thinking too simply. Tōsen must have located him by sound," Sora shook his head helplessly.
"If he had just fought normally, he would have had a good chance of winning. But he had to be clever, and instead gave his opponent an opportunity," Yoruichi said.
"Things are different now. Tōsen has probably improved a lot recently, which must have put pressure on Sōya," Sora said.
"He can hear even that level of sound... what a prodigy!"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki stroked his chin.
Sōya had tried to use Tōsen's blindness to his advantage and naturally tried to minimize the noise he made, but he still couldn't escape Tōsen's perception.
On the stage, Sōya was trying to create distance.
But Tōsen was pressing his advantage, giving him no chance to breathe.
Clang, clang, clang—
Sōya could only keep swinging his sword to block.
"Bakudō #62: Hyapporankan!"
Sōya finally found an opportunity in a gap between blocks.
Several reishi light bars fell from the sky, forcing Tōsen back.
After pushing him back, Sōya immediately sheathed his sword.
This was a stance very familiar to the disciples of the Katori style.
A stream of light suddenly rose up.
Clang—
The light crashed against Tōsen's blade, and he was instantly pushed backward through the air.
The Shinken Taiketsu was an arena match. Although the stage was large, it still had boundaries. Falling out of bounds meant an automatic loss.
"Your perception is indeed strong, but I still caught my chance!" Sōya laughed. "When it comes to a contest of spiritual pressure, I won't lose to you!"
The spiritual pressure in his body frantically surged into his blade, strengthening the thrust of the reishi blade.
Tōsen was rapidly approaching the boundary.
Sōya's spiritual pressure had always been a notch higher than his.
Before this blow exhausted its power, it would be difficult for Tōsen to stabilize himself in mid-air.
Just as it seemed he was about to be pushed out of the ring, there was not a trace of panic on his face.
"Cry, Suzumushi!"
On the body of his Zanpakutō, his spiritual pressure began to vibrate rapidly.
A "buzzing" sound came from the blade, somewhat like the chirping of an insect.
The vibration traveled along the blade and into the Ryūkō reishi blade that was pressing against it.
Crack—
Numerous cracks suddenly appeared at the tip of the Ryūkō blade, and then it quickly disintegrated.
"What!"
A look of disbelief crossed Sōya's face.
Tōsen had secretly learned Shikai!
And his Shikai could actually destroy his reishi blade!
After destroying the pressure on his Zanpakutō, Tōsen raised it high.
"Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihikō!"
A dense rain of countless sharp blades fell from the air towards Sōya.
The number of blades was so great it made Sōya's scalp tingle. He didn't dare to take it head-on and quickly retreated to avoid the densest area.
"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen!"
Sōya couldn't dodge all the blades and released a circular reishi shield in front of him.
Clang, clang, clang—
The blades struck the shield, creating a rapid sound of clashing metal.
Fortunately, Sōya was very skilled in Kidō and could cast 'Enkōsen' without an incantation; otherwise, he would have been unable to dodge such a dense attack.
Tōsen wasn't idle either. He followed closely behind the rain of swords.
After blocking the attack, Sōya immediately dodged Tōsen's swing and at the same time reached a hand towards the ground:
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"
Blue fire erupted from his palm.
The reishi network Sōya had previously laid out was still on the ground.
The blue fire landed on the net and rapidly spread along it.
"Rise!"
Sōya quickly raised his hand, and the flaming reishi net on the ground rose with it.
A sky-covering net of blue flame swept towards Tōsen from all directions.
This was Sōya's true trump card!
"So the net on the ground had another purpose?" Shunsui Kyōraku realized Sōya's goal was not as simple as it seemed. "This kid is very cunning!"
Sōya had sparred with Tōsen many times at the dōjō.
Tōsen's perception was too sharp; it was like there was an impenetrable wall around him. Once you got close, he would notice.
Coupled with his outstanding reaction speed, it was very difficult for Sōya to break through his defense.
In the past, Sōya had always won by overwhelming him with spiritual pressure.
But Tōsen was in a period of growth, and his spiritual pressure was increasing almost daily. Sōya felt it was becoming more and more difficult to defeat him this way.
Therefore, he had designed a plan before the match to create a situation that Tōsen couldn't counter with his perception alone.
"Take this! This is a move Kakyō helped me design!"
Sōya laughed loudly.
Tōsen's outstretched sword trembled slightly.
The sky-covering net of blue flame descended upon him.
Sōya's words caused a wave of anger to inexplicably surge in Tōsen's heart.
Although he didn't want to admit it, his somewhat cold attitude towards Sōya was because he had seen how close he and Kakyō had become.
Every time Kakyō went to the Rukongai, she took Sōya with her, instead of him!
He was the one who had met her first!
"You dare try to defeat me with a move that Kakyō taught you?!!!"
The spiritual pressure on Suzumushi's blade vibrated rapidly.
It was as if an angry "buzzing" sound was coming from it.
The anger that welled up in his heart instantly ignited the Suzumushi in his hand.
Tōsen swung his sword in anger.
A tide of flames crashed violently against the incoming fire net.
The net was instantly torn to shreds by the countless blades hidden within the flames.
The fiery wave, carrying the blades, broke through the net and, without losing momentum, rushed towards Sōya.
Suzumushi Sanshiki: Sekichō!
The tide of flames instantly engulfed Sōya Azashiro.
A moment later, the surrounding reishi net quickly collapsed.
It was clear that Sōya no longer had the strength to maintain it.
Tōsen stood coldly in place, with no intention of dispelling the flames. Only when he sensed a spiritual pressure from the guest seats did he let the fire dissipate.
"Did I... go too far?"
Sensing his professor's spiritual pressure, Tōsen was startled back to his senses.
After the flames cleared, Sōya lay on the ground, blackened from head to toe, unconscious.
"Kaname Tōsen wins!"
Sōsuke Tanuki exclaimed in amazement:
"Kaname Tōsen and Sōya Azashiro have shown us a breathtaking match! I never expected the situation to reverse so many times. I thought Sōya was about to win, but Tōsen ended the match with a terrifying move!"
Sōya was carried away by the medical team.
Tōsen sensed Kakyō following behind Rii Hoshino and immediately dismissed his previous thoughts.
In fact, all of his fellow disciples from the spectator seats had come down because Sōya looked seriously injured.
It was just that Tōsen's attention was only on Kakyō.
Sensing her fussing over Sōya, checking his injuries, Tōsen's fists clenched even tighter.
In the guest seats.
Sora frowned. He could tell that Tōsen had intentionally struck a heavy blow, which was why he had used his spiritual pressure to make him come to his senses.
However, he didn't quite understand where Tōsen's hostility towards Sōya came from.
After becoming a captain, his affairs had inevitably increased. He no longer had as much time to interact with his disciples as he did when he was working at the academy.
Yoruichi looked at Kakyō, then at Tōsen and Sōya, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Come to think of it... I think I heard Kakyō mention it..." Yoruichi stroked her chin.
Yoruichi's words drew everyone's attention.
"Kakyō said... Tōsen's feelings for her seem to be more than just friendship, but she doesn't feel the same way..." Yoruichi said helplessly. "I told her to make it clear to him... but it seems to have had the opposite effect?"
As the "big sister" of the group, Kakyō had talked to her about this topic, seeking her opinion. Unfortunately, Yoruichi wasn't good at handling such things either and could only tell her to be direct with him.
"Such personal matters are indeed difficult to handle," Sora frowned.
Tōsen had a grievance, but Sōya was not at fault.
Kakyō was skilled in Kidō, and Sōya was also very interested in it. They had more in common to talk about, so it was natural for them to be closer.
Based on Sora's understanding of Sōya, he probably just liked to hang out with Kakyō, and there were no romantic feelings between them.
But it was unclear what the future held. Boys eventually grow up.
"Let them handle such things themselves," Shunsui Kyōraku said in the tone of an experienced person. "They're young, it's normal for them to be lively! When you get to my age, you'll never find this feeling again!"
"I really don't get it... wouldn't a fight just solve it?"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki shook his head.
With his temperament, if there was a conflict or dissatisfaction, a fight would solve it.
"After they graduate, let's assign them to two different squads. Time will eventually fade these small conflicts."
"Yes... I can take one. The 13th Division is still missing a suitable lieutenant!"
Retsu Unohana and Jūshirō Ukitake began to give Sora advice.
"I remember Sōya saying he wanted to join the Kidō Corps... because of Kakyō, he has a very good impression of it," Sora raised an eyebrow.
"Well, that's it then. This conflict probably won't be resolved anytime soon."
Shunsui threw up his hands.
If Sōya joined the Kidō Corps, it would undoubtedly add fuel to the fire in Tōsen's heart.
"Matters of the heart... it's not something I, as a professor, should interfere with..."
Sora sighed softly.
Even parents would have a hard time interfering in such matters.
The only thing he could do was to keep a closer eye on them, as he had just done, and prevent them from causing any irreversible consequences.
After the Shinken Taiketsu ended, reward notifications also appeared on the panel.
[Shinken Taiketsu has ended. Disciple Sōya Azashiro's result is Runner-up. Rewards settled.]
Received 10,000 general base ability experience points.
Random skill proficiency level +1.
[Shinken Taiketsu has ended. Disciple Kaname Tōsen's result is Champion. Rewards settled.]
Received 20,000 general base ability experience points.
Random skill proficiency level +1 (x3).
Received 1 disciple binding slot (This reward can only be obtained once per student generation).
Sora received a total of 30,000 general base ability experience points.
And he also got 4 skill proficiency level increases.
Sora looked at his skill panel.
The three skill proficiency increases from the champion reward all went to 'Hadō #78: Zangerin'.
'Zangerin' was directly upgraded from Beginner to Grandmaster.
This Hadō releases a slash in the manner of a Kidō spell, which overlapped somewhat with Sora's sword techniques, so he rarely used it.
However, after a mid-to-high tier Kidō reached the Grandmaster level, it could be released with a "quick incantation," giving it some practical value.
The runner-up's skill proficiency reward upgraded 'Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui' from Proficient to Mastered.
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