Blade light slashed toward the rear, the cold edge breaking through the constraints of the air.
Without thinking, it was an almost instinctive reaction.
The Zanpakutō, wrapped in Reiatsu, was close at hand.
—Slash!
Seeing this indescribable scene, Shutara Senjumaru narrowed her eyes slightly, a smile of appreciation playing on her lips.
Although he was deceived by the illusion for a split second, that was a move that could even fool a Captain. It should have been impossible for a Seated Officer-level Shinigami to distinguish it.
Yet, the instant after the warning, Naraku Sora subconsciously made the most correct response.
Abundant and condensed Reiatsu wrapped tightly around his body like blood. The Zanpakutō glinted with cold light as it slashed forward, piercing through the illusion once again.
This seemed to be one of the abilities of Shutara Senjumaru's Zanpakutō: weaving illusions.
However, from beginning to end, she was not seen drawing her Zanpakutō, nor did those golden skeletal arms appear.
A pair of fair hands were exposed, making no movements.
Leisurely strolling, relaxed and comfortable.
The gap between the two was somewhat too ridiculous.
Despite this, Naraku Sora still did not give up. This was originally a battle to test his limits.
Success or failure didn't matter.
Without much hesitation, the moment the illusion shattered and collapsed, Naraku Sora tightened his grip on the hilt, stomped his foot on the ground, and turned into an arrow leaving the string, rushing straight forward.
Since he couldn't distinguish real from fake, he would slash everything that appeared in his line of sight!
The Zanpakutō whistled out.
The air let out an overwhelmed wail, parting to the sides like fabric being torn apart by force.
Under the blessing of Reiatsu, this strike burst with unprecedented destructive power.
Even compared to himself before suppressing the intruder, Naraku Sora was confident he could split him in two with one slash.
"What rough Zanjutsu."
Shutara Senjumaru shook her head and said, "There is no elegance to speak of at all, just like a beast out of its cage. However, it is not without merit."
"At least the lethality is astonishing."
As she spoke, majestic Reiatsu surged from her palm, taking the outline of a blade, inching forward until it pressed exactly against Naraku Sora's Zanpakutō.
Blade lights collided, metal clashing.
Shutara Senjumaru's fighting style was not at all like a traditional Shinigami; instead, she seemed more like an artist fully interpreting art.
Every gesture displayed extreme elegance.
"Truthfully, I am not good at Kendō, but I have a friend who is very skilled in this field. If you are interested, silly boy..."
The Zanpakutō and the Reishi blade clashed continuously, bursting with brilliant sparks of light.
Naraku Sora swept horizontally with force, bringing the crimson glow on the Zanpakutō into full play. The tyranny unique to Hollows was embodied at this moment.
The already violent power escalated a notch at this moment.
And Shutara Senjumaru, who had been observing, couldn't help but have a trace of heat in her gaze as she looked at Naraku Sora.
There really was a Shinigami in this world who could perfectly control Hollowfication!
Judging solely from data parameters, even a Captain-level existence would find it hard to discover Naraku Sora's secret.
At most, they would think this guy was a Shinigami with a rather violent Reiatsu nature.
If she hadn't happened to witness the whole process, perhaps she would have been kept in the dark too.
It could only be said that everything was arranged by fate.
The smile on the corner of Shutara Senjumaru's mouth became more obvious, and her strikes became increasingly ruthless.
Just as she said before.
If people don't have some common language, how can they become friends?
Obviously, Shutara Senjumaru, to some extent, was also quite black-bellied.
Vast Reiatsu climbed steadily. The air in the research lab became gradually viscous, and even breathing became heavy.
Naraku Sora widened his eyes and stared at that beautiful face. Although she was still smiling, she gave off a sense of indifference.
Her distinct black and white eyes interpreted a flowing compassion, looking down on all living beings like a true god.
Shutara Senjumaru sighed lightly and raised her hand. A crystalline phantom light shrouded it, as if turning it into an exquisite work of art carved from crystal.
At this moment, alarm bells rang in Naraku Sora's heart. An intense sense of crisis filled his consciousness, causing him to make the most instinctive response.
Reiatsu exploded completely at this moment. The Zanpakutō trembled violently, and a heavy sense of oppression permeated the air.
It felt as if a giant rock had landed on his soul.
Shutara Senjumaru's eyes lit up, seemingly containing light, as if she had discovered a new continent.
She roughly understood the reason for Naraku Sora's perfect Hollowfication.
But the battle did not end there. Her jade-like left hand brought its five fingers together and pushed out.
The movement was gentle, like a tender caress between lovers.
Just like that, it met that crimson, blood-like terrifying Reiatsu.
The next moment, the sound of shattering rang incessantly.
In an instant, Naraku Sora's offensive fell apart. His entire person was blown away with a boom, slamming solidly into the wall amidst the whistling sound.
"What... is this?!"
Naraku Sora lay on the ground with no image to speak of, his whole body aching to the extreme, feeling as if he had been hit by a truck.
"Do you want to learn?"
Shutara Senjumaru approached, looking down at the boy on the ground, smiling gently.
"I'll teach you."
No one would have thought that this existence, warm as sunshine, was the same person who had just taken a Zanpakutō slash with a bare hand and then directly shattered Naraku Sora's Reiatsu with a slap.
The contrast was too great.
Naraku Sora struggled to get up: "Learn, why wouldn't I learn?"
"Let's be clear beforehand, this wasn't part of our previous agreement."
Shutara Senjumaru nodded, not caring about someone's bargaining.
"Regarding the reason you can perfectly control the power of Hollowfication, I have roughly guessed it."
"What?" Naraku Sora poked his head out curiously.
He belonged to the category of knowing the 'how' but not the 'why'. Anyway, it was usable and effective; as for the specific reason, he knew nothing.
Shutara Senjumaru revealed a serious expression, her smile restrained a bit:
"Weight. The weight of the soul."
Naraku Sora's expression became serious, and a look of contemplation flashed in his eyes.
Another term he had never heard of completely.
Following this crazy woman, he could indeed learn things.
However, Shutara Senjumaru had absolutely no intention of continuing. "Even if I explained the specific content, you wouldn't understand. Knowing the concept is enough."
"By the way, have you mastered your Zanpakutō's Shikai?"
"Or rather, do you know its true name?"
Hearing this, Naraku Sora was stunned. He looked down at the Zanpakutō in his hand, then shook his head.
Like a normal Shinigami, he had no unique advantages in this aspect.
Relying solely on the Jinzen taught in the Academy, he couldn't communicate with the Zanpakutō in a short time, let alone know its true name and master Shikai.
"Then you are very lucky." Shutara Senjumaru narrowed her eyes and smiled, like an understanding big sister. "I have recently developed a technology that can help Shinigami quickly master Shikai."
"How about it, want to try?"
For some reason, Naraku Sora actually read a hint of ill intentions from that beautiful face...