Chapter Seventy: You're Not Ready Yet
“Whoosh!”
Without any warning, Tosen appeared directly in front of Nagatsuro, his Zanpakuto gripped tightly in hand.
Clang...
Blades collided. Facing Tosen’s unwavering slash, Nagatsuro likewise met the attack with his own sword, deftly pressing to the side and then using the momentum to retreat in the opposite direction.
...
Sensing Nagatsuro pull away, Tosen paused for a split second before charging toward the spot where Nagatsuro had landed.
Honestly, isn’t this guy supposed to be blind? No matter how keen his other senses are, he shouldn’t be able to locate me this quickly, should he?
“You let your mind wander.”
Catching the moment Nagatsuro was lost in thought, Tosen thrust his blade toward Nagatsuro’s abdomen.
“Hmph...”
Nagatsuro curled his lips, showing none of the tension one might expect with a blade approaching. He simply placed the tip of his own sword against Tosen’s, forcibly deflecting the stabbing trajectory.
“Did you think you’d have an opening just because I was distracted?”
“How boastful of you,” Tosen replied without hesitation. Since his sword had been parried, he simply switched tactics—his arm swung high, aiming for Nagatsuro’s neck with a sweeping strike.
Smack.
Nagatsuro calmly raised his other hand, catching Tosen’s arm with a firm grip. With a powerful twist of his heel, he spun and hurled Tosen aside.
Thud.
Tosen landed lightly against a wall, defying Newton’s second law as he perched on it for an instant, then launched himself off like a cannonball straight toward Nagatsuro.
...
Nagatsuro, who had expected the wall to collapse, was surprised to see that the barrier Tosen had used as a springboard remained perfectly intact.
Clang!
He barely managed to block Tosen’s renewed assault, using the force to retreat hurriedly.
“Not just once—you keep losing focus.”
Tosen ceased his pursuit, standing quietly with his sword at the ready.
“To make such repeated mistakes in a fight between captains, you truly are arrogant.”
“Give me a break—are you here to fight or to lecture me, Captain Tosen?”
Sweat ran down Nagatsuro’s face from the exertion. He’d thought Tosen would be an easy opponent, but to his surprise, the man was relentless. That leap off the wall, delivering such force without damaging it—Nagatsuro couldn’t help but admire the skill.
“You’re right. After all, you’re a vice-captain from another squad. I’ve overstepped.”
Suddenly, Tosen leapt back, his body opening up in the air like a kite.
“Clear Insect, Second Form—Crimson Locust!”
As Tosen’s arm swept through the air, a rain of silvery steel spikes descended from above, hurtling toward Nagatsuro.
“There’s no way Even Strict Spirit could block all of those at once.”
Watching the metallic rain fall ever closer, Nagatsuro scratched his short white hair with perfect calm.
“If I can’t block them, I’ve no choice but to run.”
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The steel rain crashed down heavily where Nagatsuro had stood, sending up clouds of dust—but not the blood Tosen had anticipated.
“My, my, that was truly a heart-stopping attack.”
Nagatsuro stood behind the cluster of steel spikes, sword in hand. Thanks to a rapid flash step, he’d evaded Tosen’s Zanpakuto attack.
“Don’t you think it was rather easy to dodge?”
“Indeed.”
!
Tosen crouched behind Nagatsuro, sword poised for a strike.
Clang!
A rapid exchange! As Tosen thrust, Nagatsuro spun swiftly, intercepting the blade that came perilously close to ending his life. But Tosen’s sword was a feint—while Nagatsuro’s attention was on the blade, Tosen’s other hand formed a fist and struck hard.
Thud!
There was no escape. In truth, Nagatsuro had clearly seen this blow coming and could have dodged—if not for what was behind him.
The steel spikes from Crimson Locust now blocked his retreat like a wall.
With no way out, Nagatsuro had no choice but to take the captain-level unarmed strike head-on.
Ugh...
Slumping against the steel spikes, Nagatsuro clutched his bruised abdomen, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
“To miss such an obvious attack—you have only your own weakness to blame.”
Clink.
The ring on Tosen’s sword chimed sharply.
With impeccable precision, Tosen placed his blade against Nagatsuro’s neck, the cold steel pressing firmly but not breaking the skin—not even slightly.
...
Nagatsuro didn’t move. In truth, he’d been held at swordpoint by enemies countless times before. He could think of several ways to escape in an instant, but now wasn’t the time.
If he broke free, he’d still be in danger—he might even give Tosen an opening to inflict serious harm. That would be unwise.
“It seems this is over.”
Because he was blind, Tosen’s face wasn’t turned toward Nagatsuro. If it had been, Nagatsuro would have had a field day mocking him.
“So that’s what you believe?”
!
“Look out! Tosen!”
!!
Shing!
Prompted by his friend’s warning, Tosen sensed the chill slicing toward him from the front. He instinctively leapt backward, hearing the sound of his shihakusho being torn.
“You...”
Tosen was stunned. He’d had his opponent at swordpoint—how could he still strike so calmly? Was this man not afraid to die?
“Oh dear, that was a slip of the tongue, Captain Komamura.”
Nagatsuro flicked his sword and glanced at Komamura Sajen in the distance.
“Otherwise, that strike would have ended the fight.”
“You really... refuse to surrender so easily, do you?”
Touching the gash in his uniform, Tosen realized that a blow he thought he’d dodged had still managed to cut his skin.
“You assumed you had me restrained, but I never acknowledged that, Captain Tosen.”
Nagatsuro nodded toward the steel spikes behind him, grinning broadly.
“That was only your second form—I haven’t even released my Zanpakuto yet.”
...
Whether or not Tosen sensed it, his face turned unerringly toward Nagatsuro’s Zanpakuto.
“I see now. I understand.”
Tosen raised his sword.
“It seems my regard for you has led to some misunderstandings.”
Beeeeeep—
Clear Insect emitted a piercing cry.
“If this is your pride, then I will utterly destroy it.”
“Destroying another’s pride hardly seems just, does it, Captain Tosen?”
Nagatsuro shrugged with a smile.
“The pride of a shameless enemy is, by nature, ‘evil.’”
Tosen slowly lowered his blade.
“Come then, enemy of justice.”