Chapter 92 - Realization
"This is awesome!" Soifon exclaimed as she looked at the outcomes of her attacks.
The forest floor was littered with fallen trees, their trunks and branches scattered haphazardly about. The cut marks were incredibly precise, and the edges of the cut trees appeared almost as if they had been trimmed with a razor.
The once-dense canopy had been completely obliterated, leaving behind a barren landscape. The remaining trees stood like pillars amidst the carnage, their leaves, and branches seemingly untouched by the laser. The ground beneath them was scorched and blackened, the heat from the laser melting the soil and rock.
Rocks and boulders that stood in the path of the laser were split in two, their jagged edges glowing red from the beam's heat. The laser had easily cut through them, leaving behind a sharp, clean cut that was surgical in its precision.
"Glad you liked it. Suzumebachi also seems to like her new form," Ryu chuckled as he saw the sword spirit excitedly exploring her new self.
"Well, I'll leave you two alone. I have something to take care of," Ryu waved to the exited duo as he walked away.
---
"Took you long enough," Yoruichi said with a smirk as she spun her Zanpakuto in her hand. Though she liked hand-to-hand combat better, Ryu forced her to train with him after he learned she didn't use such a powerful resource. It was a "complete waste of potential" in Ryu's words.
Yoruichi's Zanpakuto, Raidenkyo(Thunder Leopard), was a spectacular work of art.
The hilt of the Zanpakuto was crafted from polished black steel that shimmered in the light. It was encircled by golden rings that spiraled down its length, creating a sense of movement and energy. At the top of the hilt was a round golden guard, shaped like a storm of thunderbolts colliding with one another from a round cloud that encircled them.
The pommel of the Zanpakuto was also adorned with golden engravings, depicting stylized thunderbolts like the guard. It was slightly curved and flared outwards, fitting comfortably in Yoruichi's hand. The grip of the sword was wrapped in black leather, with gold thread woven through it in a criss-cross pattern. The leather was soft and supple, allowing Yoruichi to grip the sword firmly without slipping.
The blade of the Zanpakuto was a work of art in itself. It was long and slender, with a curved tip that gleamed like a streak of lightning in the night sky. The steel of the blade was a dark gray color, polished to a mirror-like finish that reflected the surrounding environment. The edge of the blade was razor-sharp, capable of slicing through even the toughest of materials.
"I had to make something for your former disciple," Ryu said as the atmosphere saddened a little. "Listen, hiding will do you no good. She already heard why you ran away, as a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure she forgave you. She wants her mentor back. If you hide any longer, it'll only rekindle her anger," Ryu advised.
"...I'll think about it. Why don't we move on to the swordsmanship lessons?" Yoruichi changed the subject. "Alright. You're ready to eat dirt again?" Ryu smirked as he readied himself. "I'm definitely pummeling you into the ground today," Yoruichi said with a wide smile that made her previous gloomy attitude look like a lie.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Yoruichi lunged forward, her sword aimed at Ryu's chest. But he was just as quick, parrying her attack with ease. The two swords clashed with a resounding clang as they started to trade blows.
Yoruichi tried a series of feints to throw Ryu off balance, but he was too skilled for such tricks. He simply countered each move with a deft flick of his wrist, his swords moving in perfect synchronization.
Changing the flow of the battle, Ryu began to throw various attacks of his own to test Yoruichi.
Yoruichi adapted quickly, transitioning from an aggressive to a defensive stance. She used her sword to deflect Ryu's attacks, using the flat of the blade to redirect the energy of his strikes away from her. Ryu responded by launching a flurry of quick and precise attacks, forcing Yoruichi to use a combination of blocks, parries, and dodges to avoid being hit.
Yoruichi, tired of defending, started to return Ryu's blows. Using a combination of stabs and slashes she attempted to find an opening in Ryu's defense. Ryu, however, simply continued effortlessly deflecting each of Yoruichi's strikes with a simple parry or block.
Frustrated by her inability to land a single blow, Yoruichi decided to switch up her tactics. Drawing on her skills and experience as a master of stealth, she slipped into the shadows, disappearing from Ryu's sight.
As Ryu searched for her, Yoruichi reappeared behind him, launching a lightning-fast thrust with her sword aimed at his back. Ryu skillfully parried the attack with his left sword and then counterattacked with a swift thrust from his right sword. Yoruichi managed to dodge the thrust, but Ryu quickly followed up with a slash from his left sword, which Yoruichi barely managed to block.
Ryu and Yoruuichi continued to exchange blows, each one relying on their unique set of offensive and defensive swordsmanship skills.
Yoruichi suddenly leaped into the air and descended with a swift, powerful slash. Ryu quickly countered by swinging his sword so quickly that it created a vacuum that sliced through the very air, deflecting Yoruichi's powerful attack and pushing her back.
Capitalizing on the effect of his attack, Ryu quickly charged forward, his swords flashing as he executed a series of feints and slashes that targeted various areas of Yoruichi's body.
To deflect Ryu's onslaught of attacks, Yoruichi used fluid, circular movements to redirect Ryu's strikes, and quick, precise movements to parry and counter Ryu's blows.
Ryu was unrelenting, however, and he managed to break through Yoruichi's defenses with a counter-attack that sent her stumbling backward. He followed up by lunging forward with his sword aimed directly at her. Yoruichi reacted quickly, twisting her body to the side and avoiding the thrust, but that left her vulnerable to Ryu's second sword.
Before she could even comprehend what had happened, Ryu's sword was already at Yoruichi's neck, drawing a trickle of blood.
"See? With just a little bit of polish, you can already fight incredibly well. And you didn't even use your Shikai or Bankai," Ryu complemented Yoruichi as she sheathed her sword. "Still, it doesn't feel right," Yoruichi said.
"Hm... I have an idea as to why that is. I'm guessing you had a very disciplined upbringing?" Ryu asked. "Yeah, how'd you know?" Yoruichi said with a surprised tone.
"Your swordsmanship. It's elegant and graceful, but also very... Textbook, I guess? It reminds me of Byakuya's style. But that swordsmanship clashes with your current wild and free persona, hence why it feels uncomfortable," Ryu explained.
"I guess that it makes sense. So I should stick with Hakuda, just like I told you," Yoruichi shrugged.
"Not going to happen. Instead, we'll be creating a new style of swordsmanship for you. One that'll fit you perfectly," Ryu announced.
"I'm touched by the effort, but I don't think it's that serious. I can handle myself just fine without my Zanpakuto, I made it this far without using it," Yoruichi said with a prideful expression.
"The fact that you got this far without it just speaks of your abilities. But if you'd learn to perfect both your Zanpakuto and Hakuda skills you'd be practically unmatched," Ryu commented.
"But I'll always need to choose one or the other, so why not just stick with Hakuda?" Yoruichi inquired. "What are your Shikai and Bankai abilities?" Ryu inquired.
"Honestly, it's been so long I don't remember. And even if I did, Raidenkyo doesn't listen to me anymore. She sees me as a traitor," Yoruichi shook her head.
"And she has any right to do that. You created her, lived and trained with her for dozens of years, so much so that you managed to achieve Bankai. Yet you abandoned her in a heartbeat, just as you did with Soifon," Ryu hammered his point in as Yoruichi wore a shameful expression.
"Raidenkyo is made from a part of your own soul. She is a part of you, whether you like it or not," Ryu pushed further.
"Fine! Tell me, how do I deal with this?" Yoruichi asked with a hint of desperation in her voice. "By regaining Raidenkyo's trust. From now on, you're not allowed to use only Hakuda. You must always involve Raidenkyo in your training, fights, and everything in between. In the meanwhile, I'll work on a sword style that fits your predicament. If all goes well, you should be able to restore contact with Raidenkyo soon," Ryu said.
"Thanks, Ryu. I mean it," Yoruichi said as she had a complicated look in her eyes. "No problem, who wouldn't want to lend a hand when you're already so brilliant?" Ryu winked teasingly as he vanished, leaving a smirking Yoruichi behind.