The circle shattered like brittle glass, and the lightning dispersed into nothing.
Kurosaki had held back deliberately. If he had put real force into that slash, he could have cut nearby towering trees clean in half.
This was the terrifying part of Unohana's ability. Even in a basic state, it could switch freely between healing and offense.
Most people only saw the brilliance of healing, so the blade's edge stayed hidden.
"You can't block this one. Lightning Spear!"
Seeing Kurosaki still handling everything effortlessly, Laxus panicked and attacked again without thinking.
Powerful currents gathered and condensed into a spear of light, cold and sharp, shooting toward Kurosaki like a thunderbolt.
Kurosaki's gaze tightened.
His grip on Minazuki strengthened as dense spiritual pressure surged onto the blade like a rising tide.
He slashed.
A clearer, sharper white arc ripped forward and split the Lightning Spear clean in two.
The aftershock faded in the air without causing any extra destruction.
Kurosaki knew it. If he used even slightly more advanced sword forms, Laxus would already have lost the ability to keep attacking.
"This game ends here, Laxus."
Before the words even settled, Kurosaki stomped, using the push from spiritual pressure amplification. His speed spiked in an instant, and he vanished like a ghost.
In the blink of an eye, he was behind Laxus.
He quietly withdrew Minazuki and extended his palm instead, patting toward Laxus's back.
No slash, no heavy force. He only wanted to end the fight, not injure a future companion.
Laxus reacted quickly. He spun around, lightning gathering on his fist as he threw a Lightning Punch at Kurosaki's palm.
But his strength was still too weak.
Even with Lightning Dragon Slayer Magic, his magic power was not dense enough. The lightning on his fist was wiped out the instant it met Kurosaki's spiritual pressure, like a mantis trying to stop a carriage.
A weak but heavy force burst from Kurosaki's palm and sent Laxus flying.
He shot backward like a kite with its string cut, tumbling more than ten meters before crashing down.
"I'm using Dragon Slayer Magic now!" Laxus slammed a fist into the ground and sprang up again.
Electric arcs thickened around him. His aura climbed sharply. He was preparing to go all in, a last stand.
"Lightning Dragon's Roar!"
Laxus threw his head back, lightning surging into his lungs, then he unleashed it.
A thick pillar of lightning erupted from his mouth, carrying a terrifying pressure, like an enraged thunder dragon charging straight at Kurosaki.
This was the strongest move he could currently use, perfectly showing the domineering brutality of Dragon Slayer Magic.
Kurosaki understood he could block it easily.
But there was no need.
He could sense the power behind the Roar. If he used Minazuki infused with spiritual pressure to block head-on, he could neutralize it, but it would waste a large amount of spiritual pressure and might cause unnecessary damage to the surroundings.
"Your attacks are still too slow, Laxus."
With spiritual pressure lifting him, Kurosaki sprang up into the air like a light bird, slipping neatly over the raging lightning pillar.
The beam smashed into the ground and blasted out a crater. Dust and debris exploded upward.
Kurosaki adjusted his output slightly. A soft white glow appeared in his palm, and then a broad spiritual pressure wave spread outward toward Laxus.
It carried no killing force.
It came from multiple directions like a tide, pressing in on him.
Kurosaki's goal was to force Laxus to burn through what little magic power he had left. At the same time, he was ready. If Laxus collapsed, Kurosaki could immediately heal him to ease the strain.
Because the wave pressed from all sides, Laxus panicked, unable to tell how to dodge. He could only pour out lightning desperately, trying to cancel it.
But his magic power was already close to empty. It was not enough, not even close.
Boom!
The spiritual pressure wave hit him squarely.
It did not truly injure him, but it smashed away the last remaining magic power in his body. Laxus was knocked off his feet and slammed to the ground. The bright arcs of lightning around him faded completely.
"I haven't lost yet." Laxus gritted his teeth and tried to stand again, eyes burning with stubborn will.
Kurosaki shook his head slightly. "That grit is worth praising. Enough. Let's end it."
He flashed to Laxus's side, put away Minazuki, and placed a glowing palm on Laxus's shoulder.
Intermediate healing activated.
Warmth flowed into Laxus's body, quickly easing fatigue and smoothing out the drain from his magic power. The heat spreading from his shoulder made the crushing exhaustion fade.
In the end, Laxus stopped struggling. He sat down hard, sighed, and let his aura dissipate.
"Fine. I lost." Laxus stared at Kurosaki. There was unwillingness in his voice, but more than that, sincere respect. "You're really strong. Thanks for holding back."
He knew it. Kurosaki had not used full strength even once. If he had, Laxus would have had no chance at all.
"That was a good fight, Laxus." Kurosaki smiled, pulled back his healing, and offered his hand sincerely. "Your Dragon Slayer Magic has huge potential. Right now your magic power just isn't thick enough. If you keep training hard, you'll become stronger and stronger."
Laxus took his hand. Kurosaki pulled him up.
"How is that 'good'?" Laxus frowned deeply, lowering his head. His hand curled into a fist without him noticing. Losing so easily left him feeling heavy.
"It's fine. Training is a process of constant improvement." Kurosaki kept smiling. "I only got stronger by fighting again and again, and training every day."
Inside, he added quietly.
Honestly, a lot of my strength comes from Unohana's absurdly powerful foundation. Her swordsmanship and spiritual pressure still have so many hidden depths waiting for me to dig out and unlock.