Chapter 65: Carelessness Leads to Defeat

Shin's initial enthusiasm for the battle was mostly worn away by Madarame Ikkaku's comical tiptoe dance.

Once Ikkaku finished dancing and stood still, his expression suggested he was quite satisfied with his performance. However, seeing Shin's speechless look, annoyance surged within him. "Hey! What's with that expression, you bastard?"

"Nothing. Your dance is quite unique," Shin said insincerely.

Madarame Ikkaku let out a cold hum. "Of course! This is my carefully conceived tiptoe dance!"

Helplessly, Shin drew his Asauchi. "Are we going to fight or not?"

Hearing this, Ikkaku's gaze sharpened, and he immediately assumed a combat stance.

"Kid! Since you're in such a hurry to get beaten up, don't blame me!"

Although Madarame Ikkaku was only the 3rd Seat, his strength easily reached the vice-captain level. In the future, even after mastering his Bankai, he would refuse the position of captain, preferring to remain as the 3rd Seat of the 11th Division.

The two stood facing each other, each grasping a blade. After a few seconds of standoff, the atmosphere in the kendo classroom grew heavy and oppressive.

Ikkaku's breathing gradually slowed and deepened. His sharp, narrow eyes locked onto Shin standing not far away, radiating a cold and fierce intent. Yet, after staring for a long time, he realized he could not find a single flaw in Shin.

Shin stood there as if he had completely merged with his surroundings, making Ikkaku feel as though he were looking at a flat portrait.

What is wrong with this kid...

Ikkaku thought to himself. But at the very instant his focus drifted, the "portrait" suddenly moved. A figure seemed to leap right out of a scroll, the exposed sharpness of the Asauchi in his hand making no attempt to conceal itself as it drove straight toward Ikkaku's face.

Ikkaku's pupils constricted to pinpricks, and he violently swung his sword horizontally to block.

Clang!

Metal clashed against metal, producing a dull, heavy roar. The tremendous recoil sent Madarame Ikkaku flying backward through the air.

Ayasegawa Yumichika, who had been watching the fight calmly from the side, widened his eyes in shock.

Madarame Ikkaku retreated several meters before finally managing to steady his footing, a breath of air trapped heavily in his chest.

Shin stood right where Ikkaku had been a moment before, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"3rd Seat Madarame, carelessness will cost you dearly."

Leaning on his sword for support, Ikkaku exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

"Good kid!"

The speed and force of that previous strike were definitely beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Shinigami Academy graduate. No wonder Shiba Kaien had specifically sought him out to spar with this fellow. At first, Ikkaku had thought Shiba Kaien simply couldn't stand the kid and wanted to let him teach the newcomer a lesson by proxy.

Now it seemed that what Tachibana Shin had said earlier was the truth. Could it be that Shiba Kaien was actually afraid of suffering a defeat at this kid's hands?

The blow he had just taken put Ikkaku at a disadvantage, but it didn't anger him; instead, it thoroughly ignited his fighting spirit.

"Kid, again!"

Grasping his sword with both hands, Ikkaku fiercely charged toward Shin.

His offense was fierce and aggressive. Although it appeared reckless and devoid of formal technique, every single strike harbored hidden lethal intent.

As the 3rd Seat of the 11th Division originating from the lawless districts of Rukongai, he had never received systematic kendo training. Every single move and stance had been forged purely through his own experience of surviving years of bloodshed and combat.

Shin parried left and right with his blade, seizing the gap between the opponent's attacks. He abruptly took half a step back, turned his right wrist, and delivered a diagonal slash that brushed past Ikkaku's face, making every hair on Ikkaku's body stand on end.

When that strike missed, it transitioned instantly into a downward chop, which Ikkaku blocked with a horizontal sweep of his sword. The tsuba collided with a grating screech, scattering a flurry of sparks.

Gritting his teeth, Ikkaku shoved Shin's Asauchi aside and once again launched a wild, sweeping onslaught against Shin.

Yet, even in close quarters, Shin's footwork allowed him to shift and glide effortlessly into the blind spots and gaps of his attacks.

Has he seen right through my style?

The moment that thought crossed his mind, a flash of sudden, piercing coldness made his pupils contract violently.

Swish!

A sharp whistle of breaking air echoed by his ear. Though it did not touch him, the murderous chill alone was enough to nearly freeze and halt Ikkaku's breathing and heartbeat.

Madarame Ikkaku froze in place, utterly unable to move.

Leisurely, Shin retracted his blade, wearing a half-smile. He turned his back to Ikkaku, took a few paces forward, and then turned back to face him.

"3rd Seat Madarame, shall we continue?"

Ikkaku finally snapped back to reality. If Shin had not held back his blade just a moment ago, he would already have been decapitated.

"Ikkaku..."

Ayasegawa Yumichika, leaning against the edge of the classroom, voiced his concern.

Madarame Ikkaku possessed immense strength. Reaching the position of 3rd Seat within the 11th Division—a division dedicated entirely to combat—was achieved entirely through his formidable capabilities.

He had accompanied his captain through countless battlefields and slaughters, and had never shown fear even when facing opponents far stronger than himself.

But Shin was different!

As mentioned earlier, all of his combat skills were forged through practical experience. They might look crude, but they were exceptionally practical and effective. Every year, new graduates from the Shinigami Academy joined the 11th Division, and Ikkaku had certainly experienced the swordsmanship taught at the academy firsthand through them. It wasn't that he intentionally looked down on them; he genuinely felt that such academic swordsmanship was far too rigid.

Now it appeared that those students simply lacked skill.

This Tachibana Shin before him followed recognizable patterns with every single movement, just like those academy students, down to his transitions. Ikkaku hadn't detected any profound mysteries in his technique, yet every single kill-stroke unfailingly targeted the exact flaws Ikkaku had exposed!

It was as if the opponent possessed some kind of heavenly insight.

This shocked the depths of Ikkaku's heart. He felt as though he were not facing someone with superior swordsmanship, but rather someone who had completely seen through his entire existence!

"3rd Seat Madarame," Shin spoke up again, a relaxed and casual smile on his face.

"Our spar isn't limited to swordsmanship alone. Releasing your Zanpakuto is permitted, you know."

Madarame Ikkaku let out a cold snort. "No need to remind me. I'm not someone who clings blindly to false pride. Kid, do you even have a Zanpakuto?"

Shin smiled warmly. "That depends on whether 3rd Seat Madarame has the ability to make me release my Zanpakuto."

Ikkaku was by no means weak among the vice-captains, but unfortunately, his combat style was precisely and thoroughly countered by Shin.

"Utterly arrogant!"

Madarame Ikkaku fiercely spliced the hilt and scabbard of his Zanpakuto together, chanting aloud, "Grow, Hozukimaru!"

The combined sword and scabbard flashed with a brilliant light, transforming into a long spear adorned with a red tassel at the base.

Upon releasing his Zanpakuto, the aura surrounding Madarame Ikkaku shifted entirely, becoming even sharper than before while radiating a surge of absolute confidence.

Seeing this, Yumichika couldn't help but think to himself: Has it really come to this, this Tachibana Shin...

A sudden memory surfaced in his mind. Long ago, he had heard rumors of an academy student who had slain a Menos Grande—and if he remembered correctly, that student's name was Tachibana Shin!