Gradually regaining consciousness from the ethereal landscape of his inner world, Yuichi felt the aftermath of his intense training session in every fiber of his being. Yuichi's eyes opened to a dimly lit dorm room and as he attempted to rise, his body protested with soreness and aches.
Shallow cuts crisscrossed his arms and torso, and bruises painted a mosaic across his skin. These physical marks were souvenirs of the arduous session he had just undergone with Kagami no Jotei. The zanpakuto spirit had not held back during their training, seeking to push him to his limits while maintaining a measure of restraint to avoid excessive bleeding and harm.
Yuichi knew that his efforts were not in vain. Yuichi summoned his knowledge of healing kido, a vital skill in his repertoire. He began to channel the healing energy, directing it towards his injuries. The kido's gentle warm green light enveloped his body, initiating the gradual process of restoration. As the healing energy worked its magic, the cuts began to mend, and the bruises faded somewhat. The relief was palpable as his pain gradually subsided.
The fading light outside his dorm room window indicated that night had fallen, providing him with the ideal cover for his discreet departure.
Yuichi relied on his 'Ash Mirage' kido, a technique that could create an ash duplicate while rendering him invisible. The perfect combination for a stealthy exit. Deactivating the two barriers that had concealed his actions earlier, Yuichi left the academy grounds.
As he approached the forest, he noted a heightened presence of patrolling soul reapers compared to his previous excursions. However, Yuichi remained undeterred, moving with caution and a practiced stealth that allowed him to slip past the increased security undetected.
Yuichi ventured deeper into the forest, away from the prying eyes of the soul reapers who patrolled the area. He wanted to push his newfound abilities to the limit and continue his training, as there are only things one learns in real combat. Releasing the kido, Yuichi's invisibility faded.
Following the same technique as before, he released small drops of his reiryoku into the reishi-filled atmosphere. However, this time, he took a different approach. Instead of drawing the released mix of reiryoku and reishi back into his own body, he allowed it to linger in the air, creating a subtle yet distinct presence of his spiritual energy in the surroundings.
This act was deliberate, intended to attract any nearby hollows within the forest. The lingering reiryoku acted as a beacon, drawing the attention of these spiritual creatures to a free meal. Yuichi was fully aware of the risks, but he sought combat experience, knowing that facing real threats was the path to growth.
As the three hollows, resembling a beetle, a cat-like creature, and an alligator, drew closer, their growls filled the air. Their predatory gaze fixed on Yuichi, who had lured them in with his lingering reiryoku.
Seeing the hollows closing in, Yuichi acted swiftly. He activated his two barriers, each with its unique purpose. The first barrier negated sound, ensuring that his actions wouldn't draw the attention of any passing Soul Reapers. The second barrier concealed their reiatsu, making it appear as though the area was devoid of spiritual energy, trapping himself and the hollows within.
With the barriers in place, the hollows launched their attacks. The beetle-like hollow lunged forward, its carapace clattering menacingly as it tried to snap its jagged mandibles shut on Yuichi. The cat-like hollow pounced, its claws extended, aiming to rake him with razor-sharp talons. Simultaneously, the alligator-like hollow opened its enormous maw, revealing row upon row of serrated teeth, and lunged to seize Yuichi within its jaws.
With swift and decisive actions, Yuichi defended himself against the hollows' onslaught. Using his zanpakuto, he blocked the beetle-like hollow's mandibles, the clash of force causing the hollow to be thrown aside. He gracefully evaded the cat-like hollow's pouncing attack, narrowly avoiding its razor-sharp claws. At the same time, Yuichi used shunpo to vanish from the alligator-like hollow's devastating maw as it snapped shut.
As Yuichi executed his swift defensive maneuvers and used shunpo to evade the hollows, he found himself inadvertently pushed to the edge of the barriers he had created. His control over shunpo in a high-stress combat scenario was still a work in progress, resulting in an unintended consequence.
Despite the minor setback, Yuichi recognized the importance of practicing shunpo under different circumstances, especially in the heat of battle. He was gaining valuable experience and learning to gauge the right amount of reiryoku needed for precise movement.
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his focus and poised himself for the next phase of the confrontation with the hollows. This real battle offered the best opportunity to refine his skills and adapt to unexpected situations.
In response to the coordinated attacks of the hollows, Yuichi decided to implement the new technique he had been contemplating. He called it "Shinkirō" or Mirage Step, a high-speed movement technique based on Shunpo but with a unique twist. The Mirage Step allowed the user to move at incredible speeds while also minimizing their presence, effectively moving within their opponent's blind spots.
With a precise execution of the Mirage Step, Yuichi gathered reiryoku in his legs and feet, sealing any excess spiritual energy within his body. He released drops of reiryoku in a specific direction, creating a mirage-like effect. To his opponents, it seemed as if he had vanished from their sight. Meanwhile, the trace of reiryoku he released in the opposite direction fooled them into believing they had detected his presence there.
The bewildered hollows turned to face the illusory direction where they believed Yuichi to be. This momentary diversion was all Yuichi needed. With a swift, precise strike, he beheaded the alligator-like hollow, vanquishing it.
The remaining two hollows, disoriented and thrown into disarray by the unexpected maneuver, hesitated for a crucial split second. This allowed Yuichi to assess his next course of action, deciding on his strategy for the final stage of the battle.