After waiting several minutes and confirming that no one else intended to join them, Nanao concluded that everyone present possessed both the ability and the courage to face a Hollow.
She clapped her hands twice, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Alright, I’ll assign everyone’s roles now.
First, who among you has already achieved Shikai, and whose Zanpakutō possesses enough offensive power to deliver a decisive blow?”
No one standing there lacked confidence.
Even so, battle was never child’s play.
Whether or not someone had mastered Shikai was the most common standard for measuring combat ability among academy students.
However, awakening Shikai alone did not necessarily mean possessing overwhelming offensive power.
Many Zanpakutō abilities specialized in support, restraint, or defense rather than direct destruction, so confirming everyone’s abilities beforehand was essential for arranging an effective strategy.
As soon as she finished speaking, two people raised their hands.
“My Zanpakutō specializes in close combat.
It can unleash tremendous destructive power in a short period of time.
I’ve even defeated a Shinigami during a training exercise with it.”
The confidence in his voice immediately boosted everyone’s morale.
The second person spoke much more modestly.
“My Zanpakutō is water-type.
It can restrain opponents and can also transform into a spear for close-range combat.”
The speaker was none other than Shiba Kaien.
His answer surprised everyone even more.
No one had expected that someone who had enrolled only two years earlier had already mastered Shikai.
As for Kaien’s humble description of his abilities…
Very few believed that was the full extent of his power.
Element-type Zanpakutō were rarely weak.
After all, even Head Captain Genryūsai Yamamoto’s Ryūjin Jakka belonged to the fire element.
Combined with Kaien’s Lieutenant-class Spiritual Pressure and the combat training expected from the Shiba Clan, everyone naturally believed this mission would not present much difficulty.
The atmosphere immediately relaxed.
Even Nanao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Only Rin continued staring silently at the Hollow in the distance.
Its Spiritual Pressure…
Its life force…
Something about it continued changing.
No one knew what he was thinking.
Without wasting another second, Nanao immediately began assigning tasks.
“I’ll lead Kotarō and Ryūnosuke in launching a barrage of high-level Hadō.”
“If that fails to eliminate it, we’ll move to the second phase.”
“Rin.”
“Use Bakudō to restrain the Hollow and create an opening.”
“Kaien and Chihiro.”
“Take advantage of that opportunity, close the distance, and finish it with your Shikai.”
“As for Noriko and Kaori…”
“You’ll remain behind them and provide support to prevent any accidents.”
No one objected.
Every aspect of the plan had been carefully considered.
Even if they had organized the battle themselves, they doubted they could have done better.
Unfortunately…
Before anyone could move…
The Hollow completed its transformation.
It wasn’t that they had intentionally allowed it to evolve.
The battlefield remained filled with countless Plus awaiting Konsō.
Launching indiscriminate attacks too early might have destroyed those souls before they could be guided safely to Soul Society.
Now, however…
There was no longer time to hesitate.
Everyone instinctively tensed.
The newly born Hollow immediately began devouring the wandering souls surrounding it.
With every soul it consumed…
Its Spiritual Pressure rose rapidly.
Nanao’s eyes narrowed.
“Attack!”
The instant the command left her mouth, multiple Kidō incantations echoed simultaneously.
“O Lord!
Hadō Number Thirty-One, Shakkahō!”
Brilliant crimson explosions streaked across the battlefield.
Several Hadō converged upon the Hollow at once.
Among them…
Nanao even released Hadō Number Sixty-Three, Raikōhō.
Any Hadō above Number Sixty possessed extraordinary destructive power.
For academy students, successfully controlling such techniques was already an incredible achievement.
Fortunately…
Although her Raikōhō deviated slightly from its intended path, it still struck the Hollow directly.
Multiple explosions overlapped one another.
The newly born Hollow disappeared beneath the overwhelming barrage.
According to everything taught at Shin’ō Academy, newborn Hollows possessed relatively fragile spiritual bodies.
Concentrated Kidō attacks were often enough to destroy them immediately.
No matter how one looked at it…
Such an assault should have ended the battle.
Yet…
Neither Rin nor Kaien relaxed.
Rin immediately began chanting another incantation.
Meanwhile, Kaien rested his hand upon his Zanpakutō as Reishi gathered beneath his feet, ready to perform Hohō at any moment.
Taking advantage of everyone’s brief moment of relief, Rin continuously cast several Bakudō.
“Bakudō Number Four, Hainawa.”
“Bakudō Number Thirty, Shitotsu Sansen.”
“Bakudō Number Sixty-One, Rikujōkōrō.”
Layer after layer of restraints descended upon the Hollow.
The Kidō successfully pinned it in place.
Yet Rin’s expression only became more serious.
Something was wrong.
Far too wrong.
An ordinary newborn Hollow should never have survived such concentrated Kidō.
Especially one that had only just transformed.
Where…
Was such overwhelming vitality coming from?
Years earlier, while studying within the Fourth Division, Rin had once assisted the Twelfth Division in examining the corpse of a Hollow for medical research.
Its life force had been nowhere near this terrifying.
Yet…
The creature before him clearly wasn’t a Menos Grande.
At that very moment…
Kaien seized the opportunity.
Using Hohō, he instantly closed the distance.
Chihiro followed only a heartbeat behind.
Then…
Everything changed.
The moment the two approached within several meters of the Hollow, both suddenly froze.
Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Cold sweat poured down their faces.
For an instant…
They couldn’t move at all.
Kaien gritted his teeth and forced himself to overcome the fear.
Chihiro, however, seemed completely overwhelmed.
His Zanpakutō slipped from his trembling hand.
He couldn’t even react.
At the same time…
The restrained Hollow suddenly released a deafening scream.
Its Spiritual Pressure exploded outward.
With terrifying force, it shattered every Bakudō restraining it before lunging directly toward the two students.
Its enormous claws descended.
Just then…
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“Nejibana!”
Kaien released his Shikai.
His Zanpakutō transformed into a trident.
The flowing water surrounding the weapon barely managed to deflect the Hollow’s claws before wrapping around its body in an attempt to restrain it.
Using that brief opportunity…
Chihiro finally recovered.
However…
The moment he picked up his Zanpakutō…
He didn’t release Shikai.
Instead…
He used Hohō to flee.
Without even looking back.
Completely abandoning Kaien.
“Chihiro!”
Nanao’s furious shout echoed across the battlefield.
His footsteps paused only for an instant.
Then…
He continued running.
Never once turning around.
Meanwhile, the students who had launched the opening Kidō barrage had nearly exhausted their Spiritual Pressure.
No one could immediately reinforce Kaien.
They could only watch helplessly as the Hollow repeatedly tore bloody wounds across his body.
“Damn it!”
Nanao frantically searched the battlefield.
“Where are Noriko and Kaori?”
“They were supposed to support Kaien!”
The next moment…
She found them.
Unfortunately…
It wasn’t what she had hoped to see.
Another Hollow had appeared.
Its entire body was covered with countless sharp spikes, making it resemble a walking mass of blades.
It relentlessly pursued Noriko and Kaori.
The two girls could only defend themselves with their Zanpakutō while repeatedly using Hohō to escape.
Yet every time they reappeared…
The Hollow instantly followed.
Instead of escaping…
They were gradually forced toward the center of the battlefield.
Closer and closer to Kaien.
Everyone who witnessed the scene felt their expressions change.
“T…
there are two Hollows…”
“How is that possible?”
The confidence everyone had felt only moments earlier completely disappeared.
Even within Nanao’s heart…
An ominous realization surfaced.
The Hollow fighting Kaien was clearly abnormal.
This newly appeared Hollow was equally unusual.
Even if she cast another high-level Hadō…
She would now need extraordinary precision.
Otherwise…
She would injure Kaien, Noriko, and Kaori together with the Hollows.
Among everyone present…
Only she and Rin possessed enough Kidō control to even attempt such a feat.
Even then…
She lacked complete confidence.
Everything…
Was rapidly spiraling toward the worst possible outcome.
As wounds accumulated across the students’ bodies and their Spiritual Pressure steadily dwindled…
The balance of the battle tilted further and further toward despair.