"It's starting, it's starting."
"Suì-Fēng, give it your all! Give him a real thrashing!"
Yoruichi stood in the corridor, looking toward the center of the training grounds. From this distance, the figures were as small as grains of rice, their outlines slightly blurred.
The spiritual pressure inside was also suppressed by a barrier, making it impossible to sense from the outside.
However, judging from Suì-Fēng's movements, she had already released her Zanpakutō and was about to launch an attack.
Yoruichi immediately waved her arms, shouting encouragement for Suì-Fēng.
Beside her, Walter withdrew his gaze from the training grounds and bowed to Yoruichi.
"Lady Yoruichi, there are still some chores at home that need handling. This subordinate shall take his leave now."
"Aren't you going to watch a bit longer? Not going to cheer Ren on?" Yoruichi glanced over, a hint of confusion on her face.
Walter looked at the field and lowered his head. "Lord Ren does not care for such things."
"Besides, the outcome of this battle was decided from the very beginning. Only the process differs."
Seeing him speak so bluntly, Yoruichi waved her hand casually.
"Then go ahead."
Pausing, she instructed, "By the way, have someone bring more snacks. I've finished everything here."
"Yes. This subordinate takes his leave."
Walter glanced at the tea and snacks laid out in the corridor, bowed again, and withdrew.
Yoruichi paid him no more mind, focusing her attention on the training grounds, intently watching the battle.
On the training grounds, Ren looked at the clones of Suì-Fēng surrounding him. After a quick scan, there were at least a dozen figures.
"Is this the technique Yoruichi taught you?"
"Indeed. My power comes from Lady Yoruichi herself."
The voices of more than a dozen Suì-Fēngs rang out simultaneously.
Ren took a closer look and soon saw through the nature of these figures.
'It's just afterimages formed by Shunpo combined with special footwork. It's not a very complex technique.'
'Dealing with it will be effortless.'
His gaze locked onto one of the figures, following its movements as it darted around.
Suì-Fēng's voice rang out.
"It seems you've found my real body."
"But that doesn't matter at all!"
With a sharp cry, over a dozen afterimages of Suì-Fēng attacked at once.
Ren remained unmoved. He simply extended his left hand, forming a palm strike, and swung at each incoming afterimage.
These afterimages were dispersed by his casual strikes before they could even get close enough to attack.
Three Suì-Fēngs lunged at him in succession. Ren's arm swept across, slicing through the three figures at the chest.
Just as the three figures vanished, an arm pierced through the lingering afterimages. The metal tip on her finger glinted with a cold light as it lunged toward Ren.
Suì-Fēng's form revealed itself, a cold smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
She had been waiting for this exact moment—the interval after Ren made his move but before he could prepare his next attack.
Now, whether he tried to attack or defend, it should have been impossible.
Seeing Suì-Fēng in this state, Ren immediately realized that the one in front of him was the real body.
His swinging arm instantly changed direction. His hand-blade flattened into a palm, and he swiped toward Suì-Fēng's head with a backhand.
Seeing the back of his hand change direction instantly and close in on her, Suì-Fēng's eyes widened in shock.
Ren's reaction speed far exceeded her expectations.
Just as the back of his hand was about to strike, the shock on Suì-Fēng's face vanished, replaced by a mocking smile.
Thud!
Ren's palm landed, but the moment he made contact, he felt nothing but emptiness.
The Suì-Fēng in front of him wasn't the real body; it was an afterimage.
Simultaneously, a sharp whistling sound came from behind him.
Whoosh!
Suì-Fēng had appeared in Ren's blind spot at some unknown moment. The sharp tip of Suzumebachi was aimed directly at the center of his back.
"I've got you!"
"Yes, you've got me."
Ren's voice rang out, devoid of any fluctuation.
Suì-Fēng suddenly snapped out of it, realizing that at some point, Ren's right hand had reached behind him, grabbing her attack with a backhand grip.
Ren's hand was large, completely enveloping Suì-Fēng's entire hand along with her Suzumebachi.
With a light pull, he hoisted Suì-Fēng up in front of him.
"A feint?"
Ren gave his arm a light shake, and Suì-Fēng, dangling in the air, swayed along with it.
"The tactic is decent, but your execution is too amateurish. I saw through it at a glance."
"Damn it! Let go of me!"
Suì-Fēng threw a flurry of punches and kicks, but her arms were too short to reach Ren.
Even when she tried to kick, Ren casually batted her legs away.
Her only free arm, using fists or palms, continuously struck at Ren's forearm.
But she was in an awkward position. Even if she could land a hit, her strength was pitifully weak, barely a nuisance to Ren.
"Let go of me!"
"Hmph. I'll let you go then."
Ren gripped Suì-Fēng's hand and used the strength in his arm to rotate his wrist, swinging her around in the air. He spun her in circles like she was nothing more than a strip of black cloth.
"Watch your step when you land."
After offering that thoughtful piece of advice, Ren gave a gentle flick and released his grip.
Suì-Fēng was sent flying.
She soared over a hundred meters through the air before finally hitting the ground.
Just before landing, Suì-Fēng managed to adjust her posture, her feet barely catching the ground.
But the force of Ren's throw was still there. Upon landing, she continued to slide backward under the momentum, her feet plowing two deep furrows into the earth.
During her slide, a foot suddenly appeared behind Suì-Fēng.
Suì-Fēng didn't notice it at all.
Caught off guard, she tripped and fell flat on her back.
The world in her vision suddenly shifted, turning from the training ground to the blue sky and white clouds.
The sun hung high in the sky. At this hour, it was at its brightest, and the sunlight was quite piercing.
A square face with thick eyebrows appeared in Suì-Fēng's vision, blocking out the sun.
"Suì-Fēng, I told you to watch your step."
Looking at Ren's face shadowed against the light, Suì-Fēng's heart jumped. She scrambled up and retreated with Shunpo.
After retreating three or four steps, Suì-Fēng felt a large hand press against the back of her head.
Suì-Fēng's pupils shrank. Ren, whom she had been staring at intently, had vanished from her sight.
It was obvious who was standing behind her.
Suì-Fēng turned around again. As she created distance, her eyes remained fixed on the tall figure before her, her expression filled with intense wariness.
'His speed really is incredible!'
'Shunpo of this level far exceeds mine. It's not even inferior to Lady Yoruichi's!'
Ren looked at Suì-Fēng's pale, twisted expression and suddenly felt the amusement of teasing a child.
A child whose power was too weak to resist, capable only of impotent rage.
No wonder Yoruichi always enjoyed teasing Suì-Fēng.
In this moment, Ren felt the same way, understanding Yoruichi's pleasure.
"Suì-Fēng, that speed you're so proud of isn't much to look at."
"Continuing like this will bring shame to the name of Suì-Fēng."
Suì-Fēng's face darkened.
"Shut up! You have no right to comment on my title!"
"Are you angry?"
Ren took a step forward, which frightened Suì-Fēng into retreating hastily to maintain distance.
She retreated over ten meters before finally stopping.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]