The Fire Vs The Blade

The battle setting for today was a wasteland. Completely desolate with not even a spec of grass or life. An empty world where nothing could live nor survive, a place without advantages or disadvantages. 

Balanced, as all things should be.

In that desolate place, two competitors entered.

Yuki Tsubokoniri of class 1-1 and Senjuro Takami of class 3-1.

"Gotta say, I'm impressed. If you didn't argue back then I probably would've jumped in for you. I really wanted to fight you again after last time."

The last time the two fought, it was one sided victory for Senjuro. However, during that confrontation Senjuro could tell Yuki was hiding more of her power.

"An inexperienced person cannot control their power, so even in those mock battles, they tend to use more then they should. But you... I didn't get that feeling from you at all."

He drew his Zanpakutō, and pointed its tip towards Yuki.

"This time show it to me. Show me everything!"

Yuki quickly flash stepped towards Senjuro which surprised him. She instantly drew on her sword and was about to decapitate him, if Senjuro didn't deflect it in time.

Despite countering the attack, a small cut opened up on his cheek.

"Was she always that fast?! No... she got even faster after her match against that guy!?"

The sound of swords clashing rang through the waste land as Yuki unleashed a wave of slashes in Senjuro's direction. He desperately tired to fight back, but even that was becoming difficult. He ended up taking several steps back as he was nearly overwhelmed.

Amongst the flurry, he finally found an opening.

He struck hard, with all the force he could muster in one horizontal swing yet it hit nothing.

She easily ducked the attack as she had anticipated it, and fired a Kido spell right in his abdomen.

"Hadō #33: Shakkahō!"

A blast of crimson energy exploded, sending him back a little. The top of his student Shihakushō was damaged, while releasing a thick black smog.

Kai was hopeful, Yuki might actually win. But that hope turned into despair the black smog faded away. The area which was hit was barely even damaged while Senjuro himself just patted it out.

"Your not much of a talker aren't you?Or is it that you surprised by my endurance?"

"I just don't have anything to say to an opponent. You didn't take the hit straight on did you? You canceled it out with your own spiritual pressure."

He smiled as he ripped off the top half of his Shihakushō. He then began to emit all the spiritual pressure which he was hiding till now.

The air grew heavy as a black and purple aura exploded from him. It was potent and unforgiving, she felt like if she touched it, then she would die.

Since they were in the black box, the effects of the spiritual pressure couldn't be felt outside, but the soul reapers could definitely feel it. It's power was that of a lieutenants, possible even touching a captains.

He jumped up into the air and then launched himself at Yuki which she barely dodged. He slashed at Yuki which she was about to parry but she felt a sudden danger from the attack. Instead she jumped back.

"Good instincts, but that won't be enough."

Yuki attempted to cut away at him once again, but shockingly, Senjuro caught her sword with his bare hands. She quickly let go before Senjuro thrusted the area she was once in.

As Isane watched the fight, she got the chills as she was reminded of Kenpachi. 

"Your Kido and Zanjutsu are useless against me. Your Hohō is fast but I can keep up with it. Don't bother with Hakuda, I doubt your body could even harm me, but that isn't all your hiding right?"

His smile had grown a little more relaxed, but it was still excited nonetheless. He threw her Zanpakutō back at her as he asked,

"But that isn't all your hiding right??? I can feel something much stronger than this. IF YOU KEEP HOLDING BACK LIKE THAT, THEN YOU'LL END UP LIKE SHIDO!"

Up till now, she wasn't largely provoked. But once he taunted her with Shido's name, she snapped. It wasn't a feeling she had felt before, nor one she was used to. Rage for a loved one?

"Bring the world into submission, Saku Hitokōri."

Patterns of red and blue flowers decorated her sword as they grew from its guard, and the handle of the blade lengthened while dyeing red.

Seeing it, Senjuro's smile widened.

"THAT'S THE SPIRIT!"

She swung her sword at the air, and flowing it was a sudden growth of ice. It bursted from the earth as it clawed its way towards Senjuro. He tried to halt it by slashing at it, but the ice then started to grow on his arm.

He quickly jumped away and began to sprint towards Yuki, and in a counter attack she fired a blast of fire at him which took him by surprise. The large attack engulfed him, defrosting the ice on his arm, but also burning him in the process.

All the captains and Shinigami were surprised by this.

"Kai, did you know she could do that?", Shinten asked.

"What do you mean? It's just some ice and fire? Nothing big?"

The self proclaimed Zanpakutō master himself, Shinten took some time to educate him. Despite not having a Shikai himself, he knew quite a bit.

"There are 3 types of Zanpakutō. Melee, Kido and special. Some Kido based Zanpakutō use elements rather than a certain aspect, and as such they are Zanpakutō which are locked into that element. No matter how much a Shinigami may try, their Zanpakutō will never be able to use another element other than the one its born with. That's why Yuki's Zanpakutō is such a big deal! It's capable of the impossible! A Zanpakutō that can control fire and ice!"

Senjuro slashed through the fire quite easily, and was about to cut through Yuki too, but then a fountain of Ice suddenly emerged from under him. Freezing him completely in a pillar of ice.

"You brought up the name of my friend to taunt me, and for that you shall be punished. Suffer in the unrelenting fire,

Gensonohitsugi!"

From the place where the ice grew, a pillar of fire erupted, devouring the ice as well as Senjuro who was held captive inside. The fire went on for quite a bit, making sure that Senjuro was burnt nicely.

Because of this, the stereotype that the 1st years were weak was neatly smashed in the presence of Yuki.

"Amazing!", Kai said as he was in awe of Yuki's ability.

She was truly worthy of someone being called the strongest 1st year.

Suddenly Kitagawa collapsed to the floor. Aiko helped him up, but he was burning hot. He tried to say something but no one else but Aiko could hear.

"Someone stop that bastard... The seal is breaking... I can't hold it back any longer!"

In the black box, Yuki was preparing to leave as she clearly won the fight. But suddenly she felt a strange tingle, or rather a fear.

She felt the spiritual pressure of a hollow close by.