Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Shinro Bansho
"Ahhhhhh!!! Despicable, vile, shameless, detestable perverted master, accept divine retribution!"
In the next moment, a sharp and embarrassed voice echoed across the vast grassland, followed by a series of continuous explosions.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"
At that instant, countless blades of grass transformed into towering trees, shooting up into the sky, ruthlessly rushing toward the small figure of Makoto.
Within this mental space, Makoto could only manipulate the small saplings planted in the grass and the towering tree that stood nearby.
However, despite Makoto's spiritual energy infusing into the saplings and the large tree, they were on completely different scales...
In the blink of an eye, the small saplings, instinctively fighting back, were torn apart, leaving only the towering tree to provide some assistance.
"Glurk~"
Though Makoto had experienced this scene hundreds of times in the past year, he still couldn't help but feel a shock as he watched the countless trees, resembling massive dragons, blocking out the sky and relentlessly coming for him.
Under such exaggerated power, what use was martial arts, swordsmanship, or even the Kidō (spiritual arts) taught at the Shin'ō Academy? There was no significance at all.
Only Shunpo... only escape!
In such a scenario, only Shunpo remained useful, allowing Senju Makoto to barely survive for a moment amid this overwhelming, all-encompassing attack.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Each massive tree, like a giant dragon tearing through the air, brushed against Makoto's side, crashing into the earth with a deafening roar. The resulting shockwaves sent earth and debris flying like bullets, scratching Makoto's handsome face.
However, Makoto didn't even have a moment to catch his breath!
The fury of Shinro Bansho came suddenly and unexpectedly, and it was rare for it to strike with such intensity from the start. The colossal trees, each with a diameter greater than ten meters, fell without any gaps between them.
Makoto's pupils constricted. Using the last of the towering tree's strength, he blasted a hole through the oncoming assault and fled, shouting loudly, "Hey, hey, hey! Shinro Bansho, hold on! I have something to say..."
"Hehehehehe... there's nothing left to hear," came the response, the voice twisted as if broken, mocking.
"This despicable, vile, shameless, detestable perverted master, it's time to destroy you!"
With Shinro Bansho's voice fading, countless giant trees rushed towards Makoto, squeezing him in from all sides, leaving him no room to escape.
"Crack..."
The towering tree that had barely held on was instantly shattered, and with no space to dodge, Makoto was reduced to a mass of... jelly.
In the next moment, Senju Makoto's jelly-like form seemed to be absorbed, vanishing without a trace, only to reappear, whole and unharmed, on the trunk of the very same towering tree.
"Pervert master, I barely put in any effort, and you couldn't even last five breaths..."
The voice of Shinro Bansho, both pure and mocking, rang out.
A voice rang out, and Senju Makoto's face involuntarily turned pale. His lips twitched, and he growled angrily.
"Shinro Bansho, it seems that unless I teach you a lesson today, you really think I'm made from a pile of mud, don't you?"
As Makoto's words echoed, a surge of ink-green spiritual pressure erupted from his body, and the small saplings around him suddenly stretched out and wrapped around the towering ancient tree.
From a distance, the massive tree seemed to grow several sizes larger, as though it was reaching towards the heavens, threatening to pierce the sky.
"Hahaha! You despicable, shameless, vile pervert of a master! Now this feels like a proper struggle! Come on, let me see if your power can make me submit!"
In response to Makoto, an infinite sea of trees, each resembling a massive dragon, gathered together and formed a giant, shadowed hand, which then slammed toward the towering tree with terrifying force.
The size comparison between them was almost laughable—like a palm against a toothpick…
---
The next day.
As the morning sun slowly rose, a ray of light landed on Makoto's eyelid. His long eyelashes fluttered, and when he opened his eyes, an unmistakable weariness was visible in them.
Like the aftereffects of a sage's time, Senju Makoto had been killed over ten times in the spiritual realm by Shinro Bansho the previous night, and now he deeply appreciated the beauty of life and his growing aversion to battle.
But aside from that, he felt his Shunpo had improved…
For a Shinigami, achieving the initial release of a Zanpakuto requires listening to the spirit of the sword and learning its name, which triggers the first step of the sword's awakening.
As for the next step—the Bankai—it requires subduing the spirit of the Zanpakuto, understanding it, and mastering its true power.
But… Shinro Bansho's power in battle was simply terrifying!
So far, Senju Makoto had fought against Shinro Bansho more than a thousand times. Forget about victory—there were times when he could barely hold out, depending entirely on Shinro Bansho's mood.
Although Makoto understood that this was part of a shinigami's process of becoming more familiar with their Zanpakuto's abilities, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh, basking in the warmth of the sunlight.
His eyes glimmered with a sense of peace as he thought to himself:
'Being alive… truly feels wonderful!'
From the constant danger of teetering on the edge of life and death, Makoto found himself returning to reality, embracing the stillness and tranquility of the moment. For a brief moment, he was lost in it.
"Did you not sleep last night? From Training?"
After an unknown period, a gentle voice suddenly called out from behind him, waking Senju Makoto from his thoughts.
He quickly turned around, only to see the familiar, warm smile of Unohana-Sensei, his instructor.
"Teacher…"
Senju Makoto quickly stood up, a bashful, youthful look on his face, a little shy and apologetic.
"I couldn't sleep after last night, so I decided to focus on my training. I didn't want to disappoint you, Teacher."
"Such dedication, Makoto." Unohana seemed pleased, nodding approvingly.
"I know I'm not particularly talented. The only way I can improve is by further developing Shinro Bansho's abilities, so I can understand the value of life more deeply and enhance my healing powers."
By the end of his words, even Makoto's steady nature couldn't help but show a hint of bitterness.
That detestable Shinro Bansho, always calling him "Master" so sweetly, then turning around and tormenting him until he was a mess.
"Don't belittle yourself, Makoto. Healing abilities are incredibly valuable," Unohana said, offering gentle encouragement.
Consider joining me on P@treon and K°-Fi For Advance Chapters:
P@treon: [email protected]/JustaPasserby
K°-fi: k°-fi.com/magicreader