Upon spotting the immense Menos Grande before him, Cheon Jin narrowed his eyes, assessing the enemy and already anticipating its next move. He knew that a creature of that level would not retreat and that the battle was inevitable.
Without hesitation, Jin slightly bent his knee and shot forward at high speed, his body transforming into a red and black blur in the sky. He drew a straight line toward the Gillian, determined to face the creature head-on.
However, as if anticipating his movement, the Hollow began gathering more spiritual energy in its mouth, the red glow intensifying as the air around it grew heavy. The pulsating energy of the Cero seemed to want to consume everything in its path.
"Damn it!" Jin muttered through clenched teeth, realizing the Hollow was already prepared to attack.
With an earth-shattering roar, the Gillian unleashed the beam of energy. The Cero tore through the air like a spear of pure destruction, rushing directly toward Jin at high speed.
Without showing any hesitation, Jin steadied his gaze, gripped his Reishi katana with both hands, and channeled his own spiritual energy into the blade, causing it to glow even brighter. The sword seemed to pulse, radiating a blinding light that illuminated the night sky.
"Let's see who wins: your untamed energy or my refined blade."
With a firm and decisive movement, Jin swung his katana in a horizontal arc. From the blade's motion, a wave of Reishi was unleashed—a sharp, vibrant slash that traveled through the air like a concentrated ray of light. The attack seemed like an extension of the sword itself, carrying Jin's energy and the strength of his resolve.
Boom!
The Reishi slash collided with the Cero mid-air, and the two energies clashed. The impact caused a massive explosion, illuminating the sky with flashes of red and white. Shockwaves rippled in all directions, violently shaking the nearby trees and leaving the ground below cracked.
Jin held his position in the air, his eyes fixed on the point of impact as he felt the Hollow's resistance through the clashing energies.
"What brute strength..." he muttered, realizing that the Gillian's power was not to be underestimated. The Menos Grande's Cero wasn't just powerful—it carried an unstable and chaotic energy, typical of a creature driven by wild instincts.
For a moment, it seemed as though the Cero would prevail, but then, with a determined shout, Jin channeled more energy into his blade, increasing the intensity of the Reishi slash.
"I won't lose to a mere Hollow!"
The wave of Reishi began to push against the Cero, slowly breaking through the barrier of red energy until it finally cut through completely. The remaining Cero dissipated into the air as the Reishi slash continued its trajectory, heading straight for the Gillian.
The Hollow tried to react, but Jin's attack was too fast. The beam of light struck the creature's chest, causing an explosion that forced the monster to stagger back. The roar of the Gillian echoed through the night as it writhed in pain from the attack.
Jin took a deep breath, hovering in the air as he observed the results of his move.
"Still standing, huh? I guess you're not going down that easily." He muttered, gripping the katana in his hands. The blade's glow seemed even brighter now.
On the ground, the Gillian began gathering energy again, showing it still had strength to continue the fight. Jin, in turn, assumed an attack stance.
Reacting at high speed, Cheon Jin launched forward with Shunpo, his body turning into a blur as he rushed toward the towering Gillian. The Reishi blade in his hand shone brightly, slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The Gillian, sensing the imminent attack, raised its massive hand from beneath its dark cloak, attempting to block the strike. However, Jin's spiritual blade cut through effortlessly, tearing the tough flesh and leaving behind a gleaming trail of energy.
The creature let out a roar of pain, but even injured, it didn't falter. The energy it had been accumulating in its mouth was unleashed all at once, transforming into a devastating Cero that shot straight at Jin.
"Tch, so persistent!" Jin tried to move to dodge, but the initial blast of the Cero was too large and hit him directly. The red beam of pure destruction completely engulfed Cheon Jin's figure, as an intense light and suffocating heat consumed the area.
Boom!
The explosion that followed was colossal, creating a shockwave that scattered dust and debris in all directions. The ground shook with the impact, cracking under the force of the attack. The Gillian, massive and arrogant, raised its head, letting out a triumphant roar that echoed across the area.
The creature seemed satisfied with itself, convinced it had completely eliminated the intruder who dared to challenge it. Its enormous hands swung in the air as if celebrating its victory, and the energy around it began to stabilize.
But then, something changed.
At the center of the destruction, a faint glow began to emerge, radiating through the dense cloud of dust and residual energy. The Gillian tilted its head, its red eyes fixated on the point of light with an expression of confused curiosity.
As the dust began to settle, a figure slowly started to emerge.
Standing at the center of the crater left by the explosion was Cheon Jin. He was unscathed.
With a calm and imposing demeanor, Jin raised a hand and brushed the dust off his clothes, shaking off the black cloak he wore. The moonlight reflected on his Reishi sword, which still shone brightly, as if the devastating Cero attack had never happened.
"Was that all?" Jin asked, his voice carrying a coldness that even made the Gillian hesitate.
The creature, which seconds ago had roared triumphantly, fell silent. It was as if it finally realized that the opponent before it was no ordinary foe.
Jin took a step forward, his sharp gaze fixed on the giant Hollow. An intense aura of spiritual energy began to envelop him, making the air around him vibrate with pressure.
"Did you really think such a predictable attack would be enough to defeat me?" he continued, adjusting his stance and gripping the Reishi katana with both hands. The blade seemed to glow even brighter, pulsing with the energy Jin began to channel into it.
The Gillian roared again, but this time, there was no confidence in the sound. It was a cry filled with instinct and fear, like that of a cornered animal.
"Now... it's my turn," Jin declared, his voice filled with determination.
He bent his knees slightly and, in the blink of an eye, vanished from the creature's field of vision. Jin's Shunpo was far too fast for the slow eyes of the Gillian to follow.
A moment later, a sharp flash cut through the air, lighting up the night like a lightning bolt. Jin's sword descended with force, slicing through the body of the Menos Grande.
Landing softly on the ground, Jin let out a long sigh, watching as the Gillian's spiritual energy dissipated into the air like ashes in the wind.
"Looks like I'm strong enough to defeat a Gillian," he murmured to himself, his hand gripping the hilt of the Reishi katana that still glowed faintly. "Now... I want something more challenging. An Adjucha would be interesting."
Behind him, the enormous body of the Menos Grande began to tremble, red energy lines appearing at its core. Within seconds, the Gillian exploded, its existence completely annihilated in a wave of spiritual light. Jin glanced over his shoulder, his expression calm, though his eyes held a faint trace of melancholy.
"What a shame..." he said in an almost nonchalant tone, though there was a shadow of guilt in his voice. "Without my Zanpakutou, I ended up destroying countless souls together."
The thought bothered him. Jin knew that Gillians were made up of thousands of human and spiritual souls fused into a single being. Destroying a Hollow like that meant eliminating all those souls at once, without any chance of purification. He looked at his hand, still feeling the faint pulse of Reishi energy that had shaped his katana.
"I feel... like a Quincy." He chuckled softly, a dry laugh filled with irony. The Quincies, with their ability to destroy Hollows instead of purifying them, were controversial figures in the history of the Soul Society. Comparing himself to them was almost a provocation toward his own identity.
Jin closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening his hand and completely dismantling the Reishi sword. The gleaming blade crumbled into particles of light, vanishing into the night air, leaving behind only darkness and the sound of the wind around him.
"Well, that's enough for today," he murmured, turning his gaze toward the distant Rokungai. Despite the momentary calm, Jin knew this battle was just a small glimpse of the challenges yet to come. The Gillians were powerful, but he was certain that the Adjuchas – and perhaps something even more terrifying – awaited him somewhere.
With one last glance at the starry sky, Jin adjusted the black cloak he wore, preparing to return to the Soul Society. Yet, in the depths of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder: "How far can I go without my Zanpakutou?"
His journey resumed, his steady footsteps echoing in the emptiness around him as the night continued to deepen.
[Did the results reach the master's satisfaction?]
Nano's voice echoed in his mind with its usual mechanical neutrality, but Cheon Jin only smiled—a smile that bordered on arrogance and carried a hint of something almost sinister.
"Yes, we've reached a fairly acceptable level, Nano," he replied, confidence overflowing in his words. His tone was calm but laced with pride, like someone who knew just how far they had come.
As he spoke, his eyes turned to the horizon, where the lights of Rokungai glimmered in the distance. The wind blew fiercely, tousling his hair, which danced gracefully in the movement of the night breeze. Jin raised a hand, brushing away a strand that stubbornly fell over his eyes.
'My hair is growing...' he thought, noticing how the dark tips now touched his shoulders. The simple observation made him reflect for a moment on the time that had passed since he began his training. Every battle, every refinement, every evolution—it all shaped him, not only spiritually but physically as well.
Cheon Jin was no longer the same. He knew it, and the world was beginning to notice.
With one last glance at the void left by the explosion of the Gillian, Jin adjusted his clothes and began walking back to the academy. His posture was confident, almost intimidating, while a faint smile lingered on his face. The wind continued to blow, carrying with it the promise of new challenges—challenges Jin was eager to face.
"Let's keep going, Nano," he murmured, almost like a command. "This is just the beginning."
...
It took exactly 3 months, 3 weeks, and 21 days of unwavering dedication, sweat, and pain for Cheon Jin to achieve his current result. During this period, he immersed himself in relentless training, pushing the limits of his endurance and skills. Each day was a battle against his own body, which he forced beyond its limits time and time again.
The training was anything but kind. Broken bones, torn muscles, and deep wounds were constant companions. His body, once rigid with the natural limitations of a Shinigami, now stood as a monument to sheer strength and determination. He not only surpassed expectations but redefined the standards of excellence.
And the result of all this effort? Physically, Cheon Jin was at a level equivalent to a Shinigami with 1,000 years of experience and bodily development. He had reached what many would consider the pinnacle—a body embodying strength, speed, and endurance in its purest form.
(Insert image here)
In addition to perfecting his physical body, Cheon Jin also dedicated a significant part of his training to developing his spiritual abilities. Although he had yet to unlock the full potential of his Zanpakutou – as he didn't even know its name – his Reishi manipulation had reached a level far surpassing other Shinigami of his age, and even some veterans.
He mastered techniques up to Hado 50, demonstrating enough proficiency to unleash devastating attacks, such as concentrated energy blasts and controlled explosions capable of decimating dozens of opponents in a single strike.
Although his specialty wasn't in binding arts, he managed to reach Bakudou 40, developing a solid ability to restrain and limit his opponents' movements. His spiritual barriers and bindings were strong enough to hold even some of the most violent Hollows, as long as he maintained total focus.
However, his true spiritual strength resided in his manipulation of Reishi. Unlike other Shinigami, who primarily relied on their Zanpakutou to channel and manifest power, Jin developed a unique approach, creating a sword made entirely of pure Reishi. This weapon was not just a temporary substitute – it became an extension of his abilities.
Even so, Jin knew that this sword was merely a placeholder for the true power that awaited him in his Zanpakutou. He often wondered, "Why does my Zanpakutou remain silent?" This doubt haunted him, but at the same time, it drove him. Until the moment he discovered its name and unlocked its true power, he would continue refining his Reishi manipulation, using it to bridge the gap and solidify his position as a formidable Shinigami.
'I don't need a Zanpakutou to prove myself,' Jin thought as he watched his Reishi sword pulse in his hand. 'As long as it remains silent, I'll use the power I have to reach even greater heights. And when its name is finally revealed... this world will never be the same again.'