*Damien Pov*
So after that catastrophe called dinner, Ikkaku told me about his fun trip, I mean fighting against the wyvern.
It was apparently on the level of a seated officer using skikai, so Ikkaku had a bit of fun. He was only injured because he never released his sword, not even Shikai.
He's learned from Zaraki, that monster. He couldn't stop smiling as he told me how he knocked it out of the sky and brawled with it on the ground.
That's some hard-core shit, as expected from Division 11.
Now, we stand before an encampment full of 200 soldiers and their leader.
In the heart of a rugged, untamed wilderness, a barbarian military encampment thrives, sheltering 200 fierce warriors.
Their tents, fashioned from animal hides and rough textiles, stand proudly amidst the surrounding plains. Large bonfires burn bright, providing warmth and a sense of camaraderie throughout the night.
The rhythmic sounds of drums and horns echo through the camp, instilling a spirit of unity and readiness for battle. Weapons, honed to deadly perfection, are strewn about, and the soldiers engage in sparring matches to keep their skills sharp.
The air is filled with the aroma of roasting meat, sustaining the warriors as they prepare for their next conquest. It's a place of primal strength and camaraderie, where bonds of loyalty and brotherhood are forged in the crucible of war.
A fitting place for my first harvest of souls, if I do say so myself. Me and Ikkaku talked about the process before arriving.
Ikkaku will pin down the leader while I slaughter the soldiers, and after they are all dead ill duel the leader without kido.
Ikkaku is adamant that Kido is worthless and that I should fight like a man.
I could order him, but I don't wanna be the kinda leader that disregards the opinions of his subordinates, at least until it's life-threatening.
I'm confident that worst case, I use Hyorinmaru and finish it, with my new spiritual energy I can use Hyorinmaru for a short time.
"Let's go, Ikkaku"
He just laughs and vanishes, perhaps excited to see me in action.
He's certainly had his fun kicking my ass before we came here.
Okay, here we go. I unsheath Hyorinmaru and start to approach the camp.
Soon, I hear scrambling and shouting, moments later an army of 200 men stands before me.
They glare at me, then start to laugh. The countless voices overlap and I don't catch any full sentences, just words like weakling, fool, brat, etc.
It's annoying.
The first enemy soldier rushed forward, a reckless charge fueled by adrenaline and rage. But I was no stranger to such assaults, courtesy of Ikkaku attacking me in various ways earlier today.
With a sidestep, I dodged the attack, swiftly counterattacking with a swift slash across the soldier's chest. The man stumbled backward, lifeless before hitting the ground.
Without a moment's pause, I turn my attention to the next assailant. I moved quickly, like a dancer, my footwork precise and agile. With every step, I try to anticipate the enemies' movements, like Ikkaku said, I predict their obvious strikes and evade them effortlessly.
They're...so slow.
Or maybe I'm just that fast compared to this trash.
I can't help but let a wide smile form on my face, eerily similar to Ikkaku.
As the enemy forces close in around me, my focus and smile only intensified. Hyorinmaru seemed an extension of my arm, an instrument of death that struck with surgical precision. My slashes were clean and lethal, severing limbs and ending lives with cold efficiency.
This is fun.
as the ground beneath me became littered with fallen foes, their numbers dwindle with each passing moment. My movements were a blur of steel and skill, deflecting arrows and parrying blades. I feel Untouchable.
I feel great!
I let out a wild laugh filled with adrenaline, I can't help it, who knew fighting could be this fun when it lasts more than 5 seconds?
The enemy soldiers, once filled with bravado, now trembled in fear and desperation. They fought with greater caution, knowing the perilous fate that awaited them should they dare to engage me head-on.
How Boring
"C'mon, where's that laughter and pride you had moments ago? Charge, dammit, KILL ME!"
I can't help but flare my spiritual pressure, for just a moment, but it's enough. The remainder of the soldiers starts to run in fear.
But there was no escape for them. I pressed forward, undeterred by the odds stacked against me. I moved with calculated ferocity, exploiting weaknesses in my opponent's lacking defense and turning their wild, fear-filled attacks against them.
The battle raged on, and my stamina felt limitless. I fought as if possessed by an otherworldly force, my movements flowing seamlessly from one strike to another. With every swing of Hyorinmaru, more enemies fell, and their blood slowly soaked the grass a deep red.
Weak.
They're too weak.
This isn't fun anymore, I'll end it.
"Sit Apon The Frozen Heavens, Hyorinmaru!"
I feel Hyorinmaru extend slightly and form a crescent-shaped blade attached to its hilt by a long metal chain, which can extend greatly, if necessary, by force of will. The chain itself can be used for attack, or to entangle a target.
Not that I'll need to use the chain.
An immense amount of spiritual power overflows from the tip of the blade, creating a flow of ice shaped like a Chinese dragon.
I slash it out and the dragon devours the rest of the men, freezing them solid. I walk across the frost-covered grass to the leader, standing in fear.
As I walk past the frozen corpses of his soldiers, they shatter into pieces. The man crumples under my spiritual pressure but evades instant death.
"Weak."
I remove his head in one fell swoop, freezing a good portion of the camp behind him as well.
[201 Lesser Souls Gained]
I thought he would be stronger, a pity.
I can't help but notice Ikkakus approving gaze as I return Hyorinmaru to its regular form.
"Not bad, you were like a different person boss! You'd fit well in squad 11."
I...I didn't notice it.
I didn't notice at all.
I'm not that cruel, I've never enjoyed fighting like that, what's wrong with me?
I didn't have fun when Ikkaku or Tyrant were beating my ass, I'm not like a Kenpachi!
It's the Hollow, it has to be, dammit.
Fuck!
"We're resting here tonight, I need to think."
Ikkaku nods and I dispel the frost on the camp.
I head into the camp's main tent, and it's not that bad.
Inside, the tent's interior was surprisingly spacious, with the ceiling supported by sturdy wooden beams adorned with intricate carvings depicting ancient battles and tribal symbols.
Animal furs covered the floor, providing a soft and comfortable surface to sit or rest upon. The walls were draped with rough, handwoven tapestries, showcasing the tribe's history and legends through vibrant colors and striking imagery.
A massive, circular fire pit occupied the center of the tent, and the chief's throne, an intricately carved wooden chair adorned with animal bones and feathers, was positioned near the fire.
A rack of low-quality weapons sits at the far left side of the tent, across from the bed. Overall, not a bad place to spend a night.
I sit on the bed and cross my legs, criss-cross apple sauce style, with Tyrant resting on my legs.
Tyrant, let me in.
...
Tyrant, let's talk. I think...I know what I'm fighting for.
...
Tyr...
Then I'm there, back in that desolate hellhole, with Tyrant standing before me.
"Let's hear it if your worthy to be my master."
"I fight and will continue to fight, towards one goal above all else. I fight too....."