7 Chapter 7: Protect Me, Jingu Bang

Looking at the ground, Kizuru felt his stomach churn. Neither in this life nor his previous had he been so high above the ground nor moved so fast.

The mysterious man that invaded his house was pulling him by the arm through the air, the trees whizzing by below.

Every so often the figure would land, only to step off again with incredible speed.

Kizuru felt like his arm would be ripped off, but he tried his hardest not to let the man drop him. It seemed the man did not care for Kizuru's comfort or safety.

After only a few minutes of moving at high speeds, the man stopped in front of a large cave on the side of a mountain.

Kizuru could not keep track of the man's movements, but he could tell he was far, far away from his house.

When the man stopped before the cave, Kizuru's legs felt weak and he fell on the ground. He was really not used to traveling at this speed.

When they arrived, the man walked several steps away from Kizuru and said to him:

"To manifest a Zanoakuto's Shikai, you must learn its name. Your Zanpakuto will reveal its name to you through training, in times of desperation, or a combination of both." The man explained.

"My Zanpakuto's name? I can't just name it whatever I want?"

"No. Once you imbue a Zanpakuto with your reiatsu, it becomes an extension of your soul. A Zanpakuto has its own name and spirit, you cannot just name it whatever you want."

"So how will I learn my Zanpakuto's name?" Kizuru asked.

"Through desperation!"

As he said this, the large helmeted man flickered and disappeared, reappearing behind Kizuru.

*SLAM*

With a slam, the man punched Kizuru in the side of the head, sending him flying sideways.

'Again?!' Kizuru complained in his mind.

"I will push you to the brink of death!"

Kizuru jumped to his feet, drawing his sword and readying it to block the next attack.

However, unable to even respond, the man once again disappeared and reappeared behind his back, sending him flying back to his original position.

Kizuru stuck the tip of his sword into the ground to stop himself. Preparing for the same attack once again, he swung around and sliced behind him.

Unfortunately, he had predicted the man's moves incorrectly. The man stayed in his position and chanted:

"Hado #31 - Shakkaho!"

Kizuru was stunned and tried to dodge, but his arm was caught in the red beam that fired toward him. The force caused him to spin around and fly backward - his arm covered in second-degree burns.

'His spiritual pressure is surging.' The mysterious man thought to himself.

"Time to turn this up a notch!"

Kizuru heard the man shouting and the sound of the man's sword being unsheathed. He knew that he had to defend himself seriously or else the man might truly hurt him.

Kizuru lifted his head to see the man holding his Zanpakuto. Seeing that a possibly lethal force was coming his way, Kizuru decided to go on the offensive.

"HAAAAAH!!!"

Kizuru screamed as he ran towards the helmeted member of the Wolfman Clan.

*CLANG*

Kizuru brought down his sword, which was blocked without effort by the man.

*SLICE*

The man parried Kizuru's sword, and in a fluid and imperceptible motion sliced Kizuru's clavicle, spraying blood in the air.

Feeling a stinging pain, Kizuru jumped backward. He only noticed the damage he sustained when his arm fell limp and he almost dropped his Zanpakuto.

With no usable arms, Kizuru was rendered unable to wield his sword.

A bead of sweat dripped down his face, and his pupils shook. He felt a sensation of true danger. Although he thought the man wouldn't kill him based on the story he told about his father, he was not so sure anymore.

Thinking of this, Kizuru decided to run. In his previous life, he had learned an important lesson, know when to fight and when to flee.

However, the man did not let him do this.

"Bakudo #61 - Rikujokoro!"

*SLAM*

Six pillars of light slammed into Kizuru from all sides, pinning him at the waist and crushing his arms.

"Pluurgh!"

Kizuru spit up a mouthful of blood. He had been shot in his previous life, but this was the most substantial injury he had ever received.

However, he had not let go of his Zanpakuto.

*FLASH*

He looked up and saw the man flicker and appear in front of him.

"Die!"

Kizuru heard the man's words and felt his killing intent. There was now no doubt in Kizuru's mind that the man intended to kill him.

The man raised his fist and slammed it down toward Kizuru's head.

"PROTECT ME, JINGUBANG!!!"

*BANG*

A Huge explosion rang out, and a cloud of dust covered the area.

When the dust cleared, the man's eyes widened, visible through the gap in his helmet.

Kizuru had not blocked the man's attack. In fact, the man's fist had made contact with Kizuru's forehead.

However, Kizuru was not harmed at all.

Instead, a giant crater appeared to the side of both of them, like the attack had been relocated.

Kizuru's sword had also disappeared, replaced by a long bamboo pole he held in both his hands.

Seeing this scene, the man started laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHA. A FINE SHIKAI!!!"

The man paused for a few seconds, before saying:

"My name is Hoshoku! Remember it!"

Then he flickered and disappeared. But unlike the last few times, he did not reappear.

Kizuru stood in the silence of the mountain, looking at the bamboo pole he held.