A Storm of Claws and Blades
The Hollow moved like lightning, its massive claws slicing through the air in a deadly blur.
Asta barely dodged the first strike, tilting his body just enough to avoid getting his head taken off. He countered with a quick slash at the creature's ribs—
But his sword barely scratched its armor.
It's fast.
And tough.
Asta's instincts screamed at him, and he jumped back just in time to avoid a whip-like swing from the Hollow's tail. The spiked appendage slammed into a nearby tree, splintering it into pieces.
Asta landed, sweat dripping down his forehead. "Damn. This thing's got a hell of a swing."
The Hollow didn't give him a chance to breathe.
With a screech, it lunged again, forcing Asta on the defensive.
Their battle turned into a whirlwind of motion—Asta weaving between deadly claw swipes, countering with precise strikes, each attack pushing his reflexes to the limit.
But he was losing ground.
Every time he tried to go on the offensive, the Hollow either shrugged off his attacks or retaliated with even greater force. Its raw strength was overwhelming, forcing him into a defensive rhythm.
Asta's mind raced. I can't keep dodging forever. I need to—
The Hollow suddenly twisted, its tail lashing out from the side.
Asta had no time to dodge.
The impact sent him flying.
He crashed into the ground, rolling across the dirt before coming to a stop near the Zanpakutō His breath came in ragged gasps, pain flaring through his ribs.
The Hollow wasted no time. It charged forward, its claws poised to finish him off.
Asta's fingers tightened around his sword.
Then, for the first time since he arrived in this world—
He felt fear.
Not because of the Hollow.
Not because he might lose.
But because something inside him whispered—
"You are not strong enough."
For a brief moment, doubt crept in.
And in that moment, the Hollow's claw came down.
Breaking the Cycle
CLANG!
Asta's eyes snapped open.
His sword had met the Hollow's strike—but something was different.
The moment his blade made contact, a wave of energy erupted from his sword, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
The Hollow recoiled, screeching in pain as cracks formed along its mask.
Asta's breath hitched. What was that?
The air around him shifted.
A voice echoed in his mind—deep, powerful, and filled with something ancient.
"You still hesitate. But you do not need to."
Asta's pulse pounded in his ears.
"Cast aside your fear. Fight with all that you are."
The Hollow roared and lunged again, furious.
But this time—
Asta moved faster.
He sidestepped, barely a blur in the Hollow's vision, before driving his sword deep into its shoulder. The impact sent another shockwave rippling through the air.
His Zanpakutō gleamed under the moonlight as he dashed forward, blade raised high.
The Hollow swiped with two of its claws, aiming to rip him apart.
CLANG!
Asta's sword met the attack head-on, stopping it cold. The force of the clash sent shockwaves through the ground, dirt and dust blasting outward.
The Hollow's red eyes widened in surprise—
But Asta was already moving.
With a sharp twist of his body, he swung his blade in a clean, precise arc, severing two of the creature's arms in one swift motion.
The Hollow howled in agony, stumbling back as black mist leaked from its wounds.
Asta grinned. "What's wrong? That all you got?"
The Hollow screeched in a fury, its remaining arms whipping forward like spears.
Asta ducked low, his instincts taking over as he dashed past the deadly strikes. He appeared at the creature's side in an instant, his Zanpakutō pulsing with power.
"You're wide open!"
With a single, devastating slash, he cleaved the Hollow in two.
The creature barely had time to let out a final shriek before its form dissolved into nothing.
Asta exhaled, spinning his sword once before resting it on his shoulder. "Man, that got my blood pumping."
Then—
A wave of killing intent crashed into him.
Asta's body tensed. His instincts screamed.
From the darkness beyond, a larger presence emerged.
Slow, heavy footsteps echoed through the air as something massive stepped into the moonlight.
Asta's grin widened.
"Now we're talking."
The air grew heavier. Asta could feel it—a presence far stronger than any Hollow he had faced tonight. His grip on his Zanpakutō tightened, golden eyes locked onto the darkness ahead.
Then, it stepped forward.
A towering Adjuchas emerged from the shadows, its form hunched yet brimming with raw power. Its white mask was elongated like a beast's skull, sharp fangs peeking from its mouth. Midnight-black armor covered its muscular frame, and its eyes glowed with eerie hunger.
The creature stared at Asta for a moment before its mouth curled into a vicious grin.
"You… smell different from the others." Its voice was deep, almost guttural. "You are no ordinary Shinigami."
Asta grinned, resting his Zanpakutō on his shoulder. "You got that right. But enough talk—let's go!"
The Adjuchas vanished.
Asta barely had time to react before—
BOOM!
A massive clawed fist crashed down where he stood, the ground exploding in a cloud of dust and debris. Asta flipped backward, dodging just in time, but the sheer force of the blow sent cracks through the earth.
His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Fast!"
The Adjuchas wasted no time. It lunged again, claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Asta twisted his body, narrowly avoiding a strike aimed at his throat.
CLANG!
His blade met the Adjuchas' claws, sending sparks flying. The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, knocking back loose stones and dust.
Asta gritted his teeth, feeling the raw strength behind the Adjuchas' attack.
This thing's strong.
But that only made him more excited.
He pushed forward.
Asta pivoted, breaking away from the deadlock before darting under the Adjuchas' guard. He slashed upward, aiming for its exposed chest—
But the Hollow twisted at the last second, its tail whipping toward him like a battering ram.
THWACK!
The hit connected.
Asta was sent hurtling through the air, crashing through several dead trees before finally slamming into the ground.
CRACK!
The earth caved beneath him.
Smoke and dust filled the air as Asta lay still for a moment. His vision blurred, pain radiating through his back.
Then—
He started laughing.
"…Man, that was a good hit."
The Adjuchas tilted its head, watching as Asta pushed himself up, grinning.
"Not bad. But now it's my turn."
In an instant—
Asta vanished.
The Adjuchas' eyes widened as—
SLASH!
A blur of black and silver tore across its side, and suddenly—a deep gash appeared on its armored flesh.
The Hollow howled in pain.
Asta skidded to a stop behind it, his Zanpakutō still humming from the strike.
"Too slow." He smirked.
The Adjuchas snarled, its wound already beginning to close. "Annoying little pest."
Then—its spiritual pressure spiked.
Asta's smirk faded as the air around them grew dense, crackling with power.
Something big was coming.
The air around them crackled with raw spiritual energy. The Adjuchas' wounds were already sealing, its golden eyes glowing with renewed hunger.
Asta planted his feet firmly, gripping his Zanpakutō as the ground beneath him trembled. The weight of the Hollow's spiritual pressure pressed against his body, but a wild grin spread across his face.
"Oh yeah… Now this is getting fun."
The Adjuchas let out a low chuckle. "Your confidence amuses me. But let's see if you're still smiling after this."
Then—
It vanished.
Asta's eyes barely had time to widen before—
BOOM!
A massive fist collided with his guard, sending him skidding backward across the shattered earth. He barely caught his balance before the Adjuchas appeared again, its claws slashing down like guillotine blades.
Asta twisted, barely avoiding the strike, but the sheer force of it sent a deep crater ripping through the ground.
"Fast!" Asta breathed, excitement burning in his eyes.
But he was faster.
The moment the Adjuchas pulled back for another attack—
Asta was already moving.
He dashed forward, closing the gap in an instant. His blade gleamed under the moonlight as he swung in a devastating arc—
SLASH!
A deep gash tore across the Adjuchas' side, black blood spraying into the air. The Hollow roared in pain, staggering back as Asta pressed his advantage.
He leaped into the air, flipping over the Adjuchas and aiming for its exposed back.
But—
The Adjuchas was ready.
Its tail lashed out, faster than Asta expected—
THWACK!
The impact sent him hurtling through the air, crashing into a large boulder with a deafening CRASH!
Dust and debris erupted around him as he groaned, shaking off the impact. His vision blurred for a second, but he quickly refocused.
"Okay… That actually stung."
He stood, rolling his shoulders before setting his stance again.
The Adjuchas sneered. "Still standing? Then let's see you handle this."
It raised its arms—
And the air around them shifted.
Asta's grin faded as he felt it.
A heavy, crushing force began to gather in the Adjuchas' palms. Dark energy swirled into an unstable mass—a Cero.
Asta's fingers twitched around his Zanpakutō. He had seen Ceros before. They were fast, destructive, and if he wasn't careful—deadly.
But he wasn't the type to back down.
The Adjuchas fired.
A beam of pure destructive energy tore through the night, racing toward Asta at blinding speed.
He had seconds to react.
With a deep breath—
Asta moved.
He kicked off the ground, dashing to the side just as the Cero obliterated the boulder he stood in front of. The shockwave sent him tumbling midair, but he flipped, regaining his footing before launching himself forward.
He closed the distance in an instant.
"You're wide open!"
Asta swung his Zanpakutō, aiming straight for the Hollow's mask—
But just before his blade could connect—
The Adjuchas caught it.
Asta's eyes widened.
The Hollow grinned, its massive claws gripping his blade tight. "Not this time, brat."
Then—
It pulled him in.
Asta barely had time to react before the Adjuchas' other claw slammed into his stomach with a brutal punch, sending him flying.
His body crashed through the trees, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs. He coughed, shaking off the pain as he forced himself to his feet.
His vision refocused on the Adjuchas, now striding toward him, confident.
It was stronger than he thought.
But that only made this fight more exciting.
Asta wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned.
"Alright… Let's get serious."
To be continued…