Chapter 9: “A Bankai-worthy opponent.”
Silence weighed heavy upon the room. A small pulse of energy resonated from Ichigo bounding across the chamber. Only a second later, his opponent shifted under the dark cloak, slowly standing up.
Ichigo tensed his muscles in anticipation. ‘It’s time.’ He narrowed his eyes menacingly at the unmoving form of the distant figure..
Lifting his foot, he took a measured step forward. The movement unleashed an explosion of reiatsu across the room. In a flash, his fellow knights and the white-haired man fell to their knees unwittingly, eyes wide as the pressure pushed down upon their shoulders.
Ichigo focused, concentrating the reiatsu over his opponent. The person seemed unfazed at the raw display of power. In a stare of dominance, they too, stepped forward.
The pressure in the vicinity instantly doubled. The by-standers found themselves unable to breathe. Getting down on all fours, they heaved for a single breath of air. Ichigo glanced at them from his peripheral.
‘That’s not me anymore.’ Focusing back on his opponent, he raised another step, increasing his reiatsu output.
‘They won’t last much longer.’ Ichigo surmised. ‘I need to take this outside.’ Violent winds swept from the two, blowing volumes of dust off in circles.
The cloaked figure matched Ichigo’s step with ease. With a start, the pressure began letting up, not in its entirety but enough for the occupants to breathe. Heaves of breath resounded across the chamber.
‘I can’t feel an ounce of power radiating from him.’ Ichigo’s face turned grim, tensions skyrocketing.
He continued the daunting walk, each step layering heavier reiatsu on his opponent, who walked forward unfazed at the display of power.
Noelle stared wide-eyed at Ichigo, unable to believe the raw power exuding from the man. Asta looked at Ichigo in wonderment, a broad, wavering smile on his face. Yuno, on the other hand, tried hard to get up, arms trembling to push his own weight.
The cloaked person stopped, looking to their side. A staff lay propped against the end of the wall. They stared at it for a brief moment before walking up to it. Picking it up, their eyes swept along its length, thoroughly analysing it.
They twirled it about themself, nodding in satisfaction. The staff slowly halted as the figure straightened up. Turning back towards the orange-head, they vanished in a blitz of air and dust, not a single sound to be heard.
Ichigo clenched his teeth, parrying the oncoming blunt force at the edge of his katana. Shocked at the strength battering against him, he eyed the frail staff pushing against Zangetsu.
‘What magic is this?’ He wondered to himself. While he didn’t expect to easily cut through the stick, he also did not expect sparks flying from the clash. He turned his focus on the cloaked figure.
Ichigo’s brown eyes shone with a brilliant glow of power and confidence, fuelled by the wars he had fought in. The two stared intensely at each other.
Ichigo could faintly see the bright, emerald eyes staring back, glowing under the shadows of the cloak’s hood.
The two saw nothing but the other, focusing on the slightest twitch of a muscle. Disengaging, the person leapt back a few metres, slouching into position, the make-shift staff slanting ever so slowly.
Ichigo blitzed into a flash-step, materializing in front of his opponent. Cutting an arc from their shoulder to their hip, his katana zipped through the air.
The person sidestepped the slash, easily reading the attack. Gripping the staff in both their palms, they stabbed straight into Ichigo’s gut.
Ichigo used the momentum of his sword to circle around the piercing staff, narrowly avoiding it. With his side facing them, Ichigo whirled around, aiming a roundhouse kick at their face.
The person leapt back, avoiding the kick altogether. Ichigo settled back onto the floor with a screech. Watching the cloaked figure retreat, he rocketed off towards them. His katana bounded against the edge of her staff. Ichigo grit his teeth, reengaging.
A struggle ensued among the two, waves of raw power exuding from them. Ichigo feinted a strong push. His opponent fell to the support of their backfoot.
In the moment of imbalance, Ichigo cut a straight upwards arc through his sword. With no way to move, they jammed their staff against the katana’s momentum.
A bad move. Ichigo’s cheeks slightly crinkled at the defensive move, his intention now out on display. The sword was coated in a thin layer of reiatsu. Upon contact, the katana knocked heavy on their block.
His opponent managed to grip onto the staff, but at the cost of being pushed up into the air. Ichigo smirked at the floating figure. He began gathering an appreciable amount of reiatsu along the edge of his sword.
In a strong spin, the sword stabbed the air, its tip pointing straight at his opponent. Reiatsu coiling around the sword released in a single blinding line of gold, barrelling towards them.
“Getsuga… Gyōshō” Ichigo iterated coldly as the attack met its mark.
The force from the attack pushed the figure straight upwards. The cloaked figure banged against the top of the room’s wall. The Getsuga rammed them through the layers of stone and dirt.
The wall broke easily under the pressure, opening out to the blue sky. The person forcefully pushed themself out of the raging reiatsu, the Getsuga whistling past them into nothingness.
Back in the dungeon, another blast of pressure overtook the room. The by-standers braced themselves against the violent onslaught of heat and winds.
Ichigo waited for but a moment before leaping into the air. A cowl of blue enveloped his outline, excess energy trailed behind him as he waded through the air, seemingly flying.
‘I’m going to train harder in my Vollständig training if these are the kind of techniques I can use.’ He muttered happily in his mind.
The old man replied in a flash, ‘That was not the aim of your training, Ichigo. This is just a side product.’
Ichigo nodded, a small smile on his face as the cold air hit him steadily.
He zipped through the hole, out into the open air. His eyes quickly found his opponent, staring at him intently, gliding through the sky.
Ichigo stared back. “Is there something you need?” He asked coming to a halt in front of them. Clashing weapons with the cloaked figure, he had chanced upon a quick revelation. ‘Unwillingness to battle.’
“We shouldn’t be fighting.” A clear feminine voice surprised Ichigo. ‘She sounds young.’ Ichigo guessed, squinting at the woman.
“You’re dangerous.” He stated matter-of-factly. “Unless, you surrender willingly and promise to not bother us as we procure the treasures of this dungeon.”
The thrill and urge to fight someone strong was heavy on his mind. However, it was also his ethical obligation to find and stop any interruptions to his mission, which was paid.
“I will not surrender. Though, I couldn’t care less about how much or little you rob this sad excuse of a grave.” She worded emotionless.
The woman twirled the staff around in her hand, juggling the spinning rod across. A showboat.
Ichigo shook his head, annoyed at her antics. “Then, it can’t be helped.” He concurred with the hint of a marked smile.
“As you wish.” Her melodic voice replied. Slouching, she readied herself into a similar stance.
Ichigo stood straight, unmoving. He slowly unsheathed the white Tantō, gripping it tightly in his palm.
The girl tilted her head in wonder. “I could swear the smaller one was for show.” She jested.
A low buzz vibrated through the tanto, ringing at the blatant insult. Ichigo closed his eyes, swallowing the smile blooming on his face. He could only imagine the indignation on the Old Man’s face.
Silence engulfed the two fighters. Tensions rose, tight as a rubber string at its elastic limit. Ichigo’s reiatsu shot higher with each passing second.
Winds blasted across the sky, temperatures rising in the vicinity. Roaring winds further augmented the heat, searing whatever it touched.
Ichigo’s eyes radiated a shade of silver. The woman waited for the energy to subside, a light tremor coursing through the arm holding the staff. She glanced at her arm, thinking to herself.
The reiatsu increase plateaued, Ichigo dropping his head, eyes closed in concentration. A slow chant slipped from his lips. His opponent stepped forward in anticipation.
“The black moon heralds the rise of chaos. The golden moon beckons to the calm of death.”
The silence lay thick as Ichigo paused, eyes opening back up.
“The equilibrium of all three worlds.”
“Zangetsu.” A flood of gold and black reiatsu burst all around him, wind chaotically gushing forth at the release.
The woman ducked under a raised elbow, eyeing Ichigo from the cover. She planted her feet firmly in the air, bracing herself against the onslaught.
She caught her wildly billowing cloak, pushing her own power to equalize against the reiatsu.
Loud cracks resounded from the ground below them, the trees and the very earth breaking under the weight of Ichigo’s transformation and the rising energy of his opponent to ward it off.
The power spread across the forest, slowly ripping out the lush trees, even outright shearing them off.
Reaching the peak, the power vanished without a call. The crushing weight of reiatsu, the blowing winds, all stilled into a frightening silence.
The hems of the woman’s dress quietly settled back down against her figure. The debris lifted into the air was violently thrown away as the winds abruptly halted.
Straightening up, the woman’s eyes darted across their surroundings, taking note of the widespread destruction below them.
The forest in the surrounding area was cleared entirely by the winds, ground cracked into small pieces, uneven as the searing wind had blown chunks away.
Yet, not once could one spot a speck of fear in her stature.
Her gaze turned back to Ichigo, his black t-shirt snugly fitting his chest and shoulder.
Ichigo lowered the swords to his sides. The black katana transforming with the release, now a long Khyber knife with a rectangular slit on its broad side while the white tanto became a small seax, with a large slot as its hilt.
The cloaked woman slightly nodded at the transformation. “Brilliant swords. I wish I could take them for myself.” She muttered loudly to herself. Her opponent scowled in response.
“Say, why is a transcendent hiding among mortals?” Ichigo’s eyes widened at the jovial question. ‘No way. I fought Aizen with this power.’
Ichigo stared at the lady with mild suspicion. ‘Is she transcendent too?’ The thought crossed his mind. ‘Only another being of a similar or higher power level can know. Does that mean that currently I’m at a lower power level than her?’ He hypothesised.
“Are we going to fight or continue talking?” Ichigo asked in frustration, shaking his head off the train of thoughts.
“I’d much rather talk, you know.” She curtly replied. Ichigo scowled at the woman. ‘She’s just not taking this seriously.’ Ichigo readied himself, falling into a new stance.
Releasing a heavy sigh, the cloaked lady settled into her stance.
She charged not a moment later, appearing underneath Ichigo in a flash, swinging the staff straight upwards. Ichigo sidestepped, countering with a quick diagonal swipe of the longer sword.
The woman deftly ducked underneath the swipe, narrowly backing away from a jab of the smaller sword.
The two reengaged, the long Khyber knife clashing against the wooden staff with a loud boom. As the two neared, Ichigo noticed the green glowing irises behind the woman’s hood.
He quickly stabbed the seax straight at his opponent’s gut. The staff spun against the longer sword, managing to catch the seax with its other end.
‘No wonder. It’s being reinforced by magic.’ Ichigo crossed his eyebrows in concentration, the seax clashing against the staff once more. ‘I don’t sense that kind of magic from her though.’
The two struggled against each other, Ichigo trying to the drive the swords further, while the hooded figure tried to push her opponent away.
Releasing his attack, Ichigo launched a flurry of slashes, each accompanied by a second slash from a different sword. Each time, the staff managed to parry the attack, or the woman outright dodged it.
Violent winds and golden sparks accompanied the other across the battlefield, every clash booming over the sky.
Blade met wood, dancing against each other in tandem. Ichigo quickly noted the unwillingness of his opponent to strike first during their battle.
On the other hand, he showed his opponent no mercy, slashing, stabbing, and guarding consecutively in his own changing rhythm, trying to catch her off guard.
The woman managed to block each attack, with occasional stabs and blunts in an effort to slow down the opponent.
The dance continued for many moments, neither letting up on their intentions. With a zipping slash parried, Ichigo grit his teeth frustratedly. He leapt back away from her, stopping a few steps away.
The woman, too, retreated a few steps back, breathing slightly heavy from Ichigo’s tireless onslaught.
“Why won’t you attack?” Ichigo iterated each word with frustration. The woman looked down.
“We really shouldn’t be fighting here.” She shook her head, unreadable emotions flitting across her face. Ichigo scowled at the cowardly statement, glaring at his opponent.
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“Don’t be so reckless, Ichigo.” The woman started in a stern voice. “If you can’t see the big picture, it is better to lay in wait than recklessly charge in.”
Ichigo tilted his head, surprised at her insinuation. “If you know something, why not just tell me?.”
“Hmm, and why would I do that? Do not mistake my unwillingness to fight to be the same as us being allies.” She stated solemnly.
Ichigo dropped his scowl, glaring earnestly at the woman. A small buzz of power rang through the air.
The woman smiled at the rising tension. “Do you really think I went all out in this fight?”
Ichigo raised an eyebrow questioningly. ‘Does she think I did?’
He leapt off the air, flash-stepping towards the woman, arching both swords behind his back, gripping them with all hi strength.
The blades swung in a booming flash, shearing the wind as it moved. Yet, they didn’t meet their target.
The swords stopped dead in the air, mere inches away from the woman’s side, yet unable to move forward. Ichigo tried to push further, gritting his teeth in a struggle but the blades did not budge.
Wide brown eyes rose in blatant shock, finding glowing green irises boring into him.
The imminent attack registered on his senses, his instincts roaring in defence. He flash-stepped as fast as he could, prying Zangetsu off from whatever force held them up.
The air in front of her sparked, a torrent of blue flames following, exploding over the ducking frame of the orange-haired Shinigami.
Ichigo flash-stepped away from the flames. Coming to a stumbled stop, he grit his teeth, smoke wafting from his left shoulder. A tremor rocked through his left arm, Ichigo wincing from the pain.
His t-shirt was completely burnt off around the left shoulder, his skin singed raw from the flames. Taking in a deep breath, he brushed off any remnant cloth particles from the wound.
He turned back to face his opponent; eyes focused intently on her. He couldn’t believe that she had stopped a full-force attack in his ShiKai.
‘It may be my base form, but she isn’t even trying. Is it that simple, stopping my blow? I still don’t sense any energy from her.’ Ichigo’s questions piled on top of each other.
“I know you want to ask how I stopped your swords.” The woman read his mind.
“It is your own fault for having charged into battle without realizing your opponent’s power.” Ichigo felt small at the reprimand.
“From the moment you engaged me in battle, you were at a disadvantage, even in this transcendent stage.” She claimed calmly.
“You say that very confidently, lady, but the same is true for you.” Ichigo countered back, a simmering increase in his reiatsu washing around the battlefield.
“And yet, I stated right from the start that I had no interest in this battle.” She replied. Ichigo pursed his lips. She had him there. This fight was all on Ichigo’s insistence.
“So then, have you had your fill?” She looked at him questioningly. Ichigo looked a bit disappointed. He was itching for a fight. He had read her reluctance in crossing weapons against him. He was all for a good fight but not against an unwilling opponent.
Not that the woman was an enemy yet. She held no ill-intentions against them. Her presence in the dungeon was as much a mystery to Ichigo as the next person.
“I guess.” Ichigo accepted the draw. The hooded figure nodded. Ichigo looked up at her, “You still wouldn’t tell me who or what you are?”
“Correct. It’s not time yet.” She answered in a serene voice, a hint of mirth clear in her undertone. Ichigo did not notice, nodding begrudgingly instead.
“Now, then. I’ll be heading back.” She announced, slowly gliding towards the hole in the dungeon’s wall.
As the woman moved, the Old Man’s hurried voice spoke through his mind.
‘Ichigo. You have never told this woman your name. Yet, she parades it around as if she’s known you for decades.’ Ichigo stilled at the revelation. He racked his brains, trying to remember if someone had said his name out loud.
‘They had not.’ Ichigo stopped. He whirled towards the hooded woman, standing still in her place.
“Is that… a sword spirit?” She muttered in a daze, shocking Ichigo into silence.
“W-What?” Ichigo bumbled, gawking at the woman. Shaking her head, she adjusted her cloak before stepping towards the orange-head.
“You just talked to your sword spirit, didn’t you?” She questioned with a low tone.
Ichigo could only stare incredulously at the woman. “Y-You mean, in my head?” He asked her confounded.
“It’s pretty rare.” She started, turning away from Ichigo. “Sword spirits are treasured, even where I’m from.” She stood in front of him, yet her voice seemed distant.
Ichigo shook his head at the random thought. “It still doesn’t answer my question. How did you hear my thoughts?”
The woman dropped her head. “It’s not my fault. Telepathic conversations are supposed to be guarded. I expect it at all times… seems I was expecting too much.” Another tinge of distance marked her voice.
Ichigo stood muted. He wasn’t aware that making conversation with Zangetsu raised a telepathic link. Suddenly, he remembered the words of the Old Man.
“Also, how did you know my name?” Ichigo narrowed his eyes at the cloak.
The woman back towards him. A melodic chuckle escaped her form. “From the moment you engaged me in battle, you were at a disadvantage.” She parroted her own words, shaking her head lightly.
“There is much for you to learn.” She started, her tone gaining sincerity. She started for the dungeon.
“Though, your soul has suffered a lot.” Ichigo’s eyes turned saucers at the vague statement.
“How-” Ichigo began. Before either could continue, the dungeon tremored, rumbling violently, sending out shockwaves across the already crumbling forest floor.
The hooded woman stopped in her path, regarding the dungeon closely. She looked around for a bit, nodding to herself. She turned back towards Ichigo.
“My work here is done.” Saying this, she disappeared in a small flash, one Ichigo was unable to track. The blast of wind left in her wake pushed back hard against the orange-head.
Ichigo stared intently at the spot where she once stood, a tremor of excitement coursing through him.
“What was she?” He questioned to no one in particular and yet, the old man responded solemnly,
‘An opponent worthy of struggling against our Bankai.’
Ichigo nodded at the statement. ‘Why stay in the base form?’ White complained. ‘We could have whooped her butt in our Shi-’
“I don’t think she really wanted to fight me.” Ichigo cut the rambling of the Hollow. Another rumble burst through the dungeon, signifying its imminent collapse
Ichigo shook his head, hurriedly dashing towards the dungeon ceiling. A small flash of light covered his huge swords, sealing them back into a katana and tanto.
He descended through the levels of the dungeon, arriving straight at the epicentre of what appeared to be the end of a momentous fight.
Craters marred the walls and ground of the room, with most of the chamber’s construction in ruins. A display of wild power could be identified around its corners.
The silver haired man lay across the room, unconscious and beaten. Ichigo turned around, trying to find his squad mates and the knights from Golden Dawn. He saw the group, each in varying degrees of confusion and injuries.
The blue-haired golden dawn knight stood partially encased in a vessel of white crystals.
Yuno stood trembling, his eyes glazing across the room, staring intently at the grimoire floating beside him. “What was that?” He muttered to himself, slowly.
The plump knight from Golden Dawn laid on her knees, surrounded by glowing flora across her back, taking the form of angelic wings that spanned across her shoulders.
Ichigo further spotted Noelle standing beside her, unreadable emotions flitting over her face. Below them, covered in shining aura, lay an injured Asta. His eyes shut tightly; his knuckles turned white as he resisted the pain of his wounds.
Mimosa worked arduously, her forehead lined with sweat and her cheeks flush in concentration.
He walked over to the blue-haired man. Slashing the air around him, he generated enough air pressure to shatter the crystal into innumerable pieces.
The man, freed from his cage, fell to the floor, landing on all fours. He looked up at Ichigo with an annoyed look. He glanced upon the tattered t-shirt near his left shoulder.
Glistening skin met the open air at the tear. He narrowed his eyes at that before turning towards the man.
“Where were you?” The knight looked irate, but Ichigo simply scowled. “Taking care of the other threat.” He replied, turning away from the conversation.
“Yuno?” Ichigo looked at the teenager, who was still in a daze. The older magic knight got up in grunts of annoyance.
“I’m Klaus Lunettes, a proud knight of the Golden Dawn squad.” The man placed a palm over his breast, adjusting his glasses.
He received a simple nod. “Ichigo.” He was proffered. Klaus pursed his lips in disdain, pushing his glasses up.
Ichigo walked over to the jet-black haired teenager. “Are you alright, Yuno?” He shook the boy’s shoulder lightly.
“I’m fine.” The teen muttered back, brown eyes landing on Ichigo.
“You got a good shot in, Yuno.” Klaus walked up behind the two, complimenting his junior. But Yuno slowly turned around, still somewhat dazed, replying,
“A little girl did it.” He spoke tonelessly. Before any could understand the meaning behind his words, the dungeon began shaking violently.
Luck popped out from behind the girls, looking around in comical panic. “We should get out of here.” He uttered serenely. Ichigo pursed his lips in a thin line. “You’re just being so helpful today.” The sarcasm was apparent to everyone except the recipient.
“Right?” The teenager readily accepted the praise. Ichigo brushed off the folly, walking over to Noelle, who too off-handedly glanced at the tattered t-shirt.
“I’ll take Asta. You guys should head out.” Ichigo started, assuring the plump healer with a lighter scowl. Noelle nodded, putting a comforting hand on the other girl’s shoulder.
“I shouldn’t stop his healing.” The girl resisted but Noelle quickly shot it down. “You can continue once we’re safely outside.” Mimosa nodded in understanding. The two followed Klaus, Luck and Yuno towards the exit.
Ichigo bent down, picking up Asta’s horizontal form. He hoisted the boy over his shoulder carefully. “Next time, Asta. Try dieting.” Ichigo groaned satirically as the weight settled over his shoulder.
He flash-stepped towards the ceiling exiting the failing strutcure. He eyed the others, nervously hacking their way through the falling debris of the failing structure.
He snorted loudly at the sight.
‘With Yuno’s wind magic, I fail to see how they couldn’t have just followed me.’ He thought to himself as he ascended out into the open air once more.
The sun slowly set across the mountain range, evening fading to the black of night. A loud crash followed by a large plume of dust and debris flashed over the desolated forest floor.
The boom shook the earth, the fallout rolling out on to most of the uprooted forest. The smokescreen of dust parted, to revealed the mangled, heap of stones and bricks that once stood proud as a dungeon protecting thousands of years of history.
Ichigo eyed the moving debris cloud as it settled down. The violent tremors subsided. He glided a small distance away from the collapsed dungeon, setting the teenager down on the ground.
“Down bad, aren’t you?” He commented eyeing his wounds. Asta simply groaned. The pain on his face subsided, a comically forced grin taking its place.
He slowly opened his left eye, focusing on Ichigo.
“Was the guy in the black cloak, strong?” He asked groggily.
‘Beyond your wildest dreams.’ He eyed the teenager with a solemn look. “What guy? She was a woman.” Ichigo stated teasingly, shocking Asta. “Heh?” The loud double-take relieved Ichigo’s worry.
The smoke and debris from the dungeon’s collapse began settling down, revealing shadows of movement. An unlikely group comprised of Black Bulls and Golden Dawn hurried out from the mass, dust and grime smearing their panic filled faces.
The people managed to trudge to Ichigo’s location, before falling to their knees in exhaustion. The Golden Dawn girl crept towards Asta, adjusting herself beside him. Outstretching her arm, her grimoire flared to life as she began the healing process once more.
Few moments later, Asta began sitting up with a rather loud groan. Ichigo sighed in annoyance, moderately relieved that the boy was able to get up.
“You’re up already.” The healer remarked. “What an amazing healing ability.” She gaped at the boy in awe. The green glowing wings on her back slowly subsided, the grimoire landing in her lap with a thud.
Noticing the teenager sit up, the group collectively circled him, relieved at the sight. Luck walked up to the boy, a small smile adorning his face.
‘Maybe he’ll apologize for leaving them alone.’ Ichigo thought to himself.
“Glad you’re alive.” He smiled widely. Ichigo lowered his head in faux disappointment.
Noelle smiled as the boy rubbed his head sheepishly, thanking Luck for the compliment in the process.
‘Bakasta he may be, he’s not bad.’ She looked up, only to find a glancing eye on her. Ichigo simply looked away as their eyes met, but a snide smile bloomed on his face.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized she’d been staring at Asta continuously. Her face heating up, she quickly turned around in embarrassment, refusing to acknowledge Ichigo’s gesture.
Asta looked up at Noelle’s back with a confused look. The shenanigans were stopped by the blue-haired Golden Dawn knight, walking to the middle of the group.
He looked around, a small pause landing on Ichigo’s figure before speaking,
“We should set up camp for the day. Considering the state, we’re in right now, I say we’d deserved it.” The man closed his eyes. He turned towards the girls, opening them right back up.
“Noelle, Mimosa, try to gather some firewood.” He ordered pointing straight at the lining of trees in the distance. Noelle scoffed but began walking without fuss. Mimosa nodded fervently before following the fellow noble. Klaus then turned towards Ichigo.
“You and I are going to scout the area.” He worded bluntly, taking no excuses. Ichigo sighed.
“We should probably split up, cover more ground.” He suggested to the senior knight. Klaus looked to the side, thoughtfully considering, before nodding lightly.
Ichigo nodded back, heading off northwards.
Ichigo’s eyes opened to a dark grey sky, coloured with little splits of sunlight streaking across the expanse. Looking with focus, one could still spot the brightest of the stars in the sky, twinkling slowly.
Ichigo rubbed his eye, slowly propping himself up with the other arm. A heavy yawn escaped his lips. He craned his neck relieving the crick he had suffered on the hard ground. His eyes lazily danced across the camp.
Yuno, Asta and Luck were fast asleep, with Luck piling over the sleeping form of Asta. Yuno laid off to the side, primly straight.
Mimosa, the floral healer, slept to the side of the camp, beside an empty space. ‘Noelle’s up.’ His mind supplied. To his own side, he noticed an empty space.
A little to his left, Klaus sat on a wide, decaying log, stroking the embers of a long drowned out fire with a long stick. Noelle sat opposite to him, looking bleary and dazed.
“You two are up early.” Ichigo noted, slowly standing up to his feet. Klaus turned to look at him, donning the spectacles he had laid to the side.
"Nobility are accustomed to getting up early.” Noelle stated as a matter of fact, still rubbing her eyes.
‘You say that as you are both, half asleep.’ Ichigo realized the irony of her statement.
“Good morning, Ichigo.” She greeted, straightening up a bit. Ichigo nodded, greeting her back. “Good morning.” He sat beside her, supporting his head in his arm as he stared at the crackling fire before them.
“How much longer are we going to let them sleep in?” Ichigo broke the silence with a start, pointing at the heap of teenagers to the back.
“Honestly.” Klaus started. “As long as they like. I feel they’ve earned it.” He said in a low voice. Ichigo could hear the slightest hint of guilt in his tone.
His words surprised Ichigo. He was sure that the guy was a stickler for rules, which stated that any knight must return to base as soon as possible once a mission is completed.
He remembered Magna telling him in the sternest tone, not to frolic around and report straight to base or suffer the wrath of the Captain. Only to make Ichigo wonder if he wasn’t already suffering it.
Ichigo shook his head lightly, nodding at the suggestion. Silence pervaded the three once again, the crackling embers of the campfire making the conversation for them.
Sitting comfortably, Ichigo remembered his fight from the previous day. He was curious about the other man he had seen.
“Who was the guy you fought with?” He asked, turning to look at both Klaus and Noelle sequentially. Klaus pushed his spectacles up, looking away.
Noelle stared at him incredulously. “Really? You’re one to ask? With all that power you were giving off, I’d say we’re more interested in the result of your battle.” She paraded on.
“She wasn’t an enemy. For now, at the very least.” Ichigo started. “She was quite powerful though. She completely refused to fight me. It seemed like she was waiting for someone, or something?” Ichigo shook his head.
“She was headed back to the dungeon after our battle, but stopped noticing the dungeon was collapsing.” Ichigo considered her actions thoughtfully.
“Maybe they didn’t turn up.” Noelle suggested with a raised eyebrow. Klaus exhaled strongly in contradiction, “I don’t think she was there for a friendly meet up. After all, the woman was present way before we even came in.
If anything, it felt like an ambush.” He reasoned. Ichigo pursed his lips, agreeing with the blue-haired man. He continued,
“Nothing else stood out to me. The woman did sound young. Like in her twenties.” Ichigo looked up thoughtfully, trying to remember if he’d missed anything.
Noelle yawned. She didn’t find the information useful at all. “You didn’t see her face?” She asked, wiping a lone tear from her eye.
Ichigo shook his head. “Nope. When prompted, she told me it wasn’t time, yet.” Noelle rolled her eyes, turning to look at the dark forest. “Guess we haven’t seen the last of her, huh.”
“Say, was that your real power or are you still hiding it?” The white-haired girl gave him a suspicious side eye.
“I will fight with my full power when need be, Noelle-chan.” Ichigo deflected the question, teasing the girl in the process.
Noelle shook with a start, deftly turning towards the orange-head. “Never call me that!” She rumbled indignantly, her face heating up in embarrassment.
‘I’m beginning to understand the great pleasure Geta-Boshi and Yoruichi take in teasing others.’ He was surprised at his own revelation, smiling lightly as the teenager glared on.
Ichigo tilted his head, looking down at the ground. ‘I do kinda wanna fight her again.’ He wished to himself, remembering the girl’s previous statement.
Noelle sighed. “Well, the one we fought was a soldier from the Diamond kingdom. An augmented soldier.” Ichigo looked at her confused.
“Augmented magical powers. Probably using magic stones.” Noelle added casually. “You can do that?” Ichigo blurted in surprise. The teenager nodded in reply.
She continued talking about their fight, Klaus facing away as the explanation went further. Ichigo understood the guilt in his voice. He had to be saved by his junior knights.
Ichigo was somewhat impressed with the man’s attitude though. He was taking it in stride, trying not to let it hurt his pride.
Noelle continued further, mutedly praising the courage and perseverance shown by Asta and Yuno, in particular the musclehead. Ichigo was enamoured by her tale, liking Asta’s attitude of never giving up. Something he liked to think he, himself had developed over the years.
‘Resolve. But does he have enough?’
A loud snore erupting from the teenager begged to differ from him on the subject. Ichigo shook his head in amusement.
The tale ended with Yuno’s surprise attack knocking the opponent out. Noelle took a deep breath, taking in her audience. Ichigo looked thoughtful before questioning,
“So, the white-haired guy never mentioned the cloak lady?” Noelle regarded the question before turning to look at Klaus, deferring it to him. Klaus nodded at the look.
“After examining the grimoire of the fallen knight, I can say with a high degree of precision, that the guy was sent by Diamond Kingdom.
No other kingdom would willingly send their knights over to the border between two enemy kingdoms.” He spoke, staring at the blazing, charred wood.
Ichigo nodded. “True enough.” ‘Another nation could try and start a war between Clover and Diamond Kingdom for their own gains, but it seems too far-fetched for now.’ He concluded.
Klaus continued his downward gaze, observing the charred wood fall from the red stalk.
“Asta is an excellent Magic Knight. I hope he achieves his dream of becoming the Wizard King someday.” Ichigo was taken aback at the sudden statement. He nodded lightly, deftly turning to Noelle who looked back questioningly.
“What do you think?” Ichigo spelled it out for the teen.
“That doesn’t concern me.” She haughtily cut off the question, before turning away.
“Though…” She muttered, slowly to herself. ‘I wouldn’t particularly mind.’