Chapter Two: Bleed, Break, Learn

Subaru lunged forward, sword in hand. He had lost count of how many times he had died. Ten? Twenty? More? It didn't matter anymore.

Kenpachi grinned, standing still as Subaru charged at him. Too slow.

With a flick of his wrist, Kenpachi's massive blade came down. Subaru barely had time to register the movement before—

Slash.

Pain.

His world turned red as his body was split in two, blood spraying into the cracked sky.

Then—

Darkness.

Then—

Subaru gasped, jerking awake. He was alive again. Whole. But the memory of pain still burned through his body like a phantom sensation.

Kenpachi crouched in front of him, watching with amused curiosity. "Still not giving up?"

Subaru panted, gripping his sword. His hands weren't shaking anymore.

"Again," he growled, forcing himself to his feet.

Kenpachi's grin widened. "Now we're talking!"

The Lessons of Death

The pattern repeated.

Subaru charged. He died. He woke up. He charged again.

At first, it was pure slaughter. Kenpachi killed him in seconds, barely even trying. A slash to the gut. A stab through the heart. A blow to the skull that caved it in instantly.

But something was changing.

At first, it was subtle—so subtle Kenpachi didn't even acknowledge it. Subaru started lasting longer. A fraction of a second more. A half-step away from instant death.

Then, he started dodging.

The first time it happened, Kenpachi actually raised an eyebrow. Subaru twisted at the last second, Kenpachi's blade grazing his ribs instead of splitting him in two.

"Well, look at that," Kenpachi chuckled. "You're finally learning."

Subaru didn't answer. He was too focused. He was getting better. His body was remembering.

Kenpachi swung again, and Subaru ducked. The wind howled as the massive blade missed him by inches, the sheer force sending shockwaves through the ground.

For the first time in this hell, Subaru smirked.

Days? Weeks? Months? Time didn't exist here, only battle.

Subaru's muscles ached, but he no longer collapsed from exhaustion. His sword arm felt like it belonged to someone else—faster, stronger, deadlier.

But what shocked him the most was his mind. The fear was still there, but it was different now. Controlled. Channeled.

Kenpachi noticed it too.

"You're not flinching anymore," he said after another round of combat, leaning on his blade like it was a walking stick.

Subaru wiped blood from his mouth and nodded. "Because I know I can't die for real."

Kenpachi laughed. "Nah. That ain't it. You finally understand."

Subaru furrowed his brow. "Understand what?"

Kenpachi grinned, his single eye gleaming. "Pain ain't something to fear. It's a lesson. Every time I cut you down, your body learns. Your instincts sharpen. And now? You ain't just surviving anymore. You're fighting."

Subaru clenched his fists. He was fighting. And for the first time, he felt like he actually belonged on the battlefield.

Kenpachi cracked his neck. "Alright, brat. Playtime's over. Time to see if you're worth a real fight."

Subaru's heart pounded. A real fight?

Kenpachi raised his blade.

"Try not to die too fast."

Subaru tightened his grip on his sword.

Let's go.

Subaru steadied his breath, sweat dripping from his chin. Across from him, Kenpachi grinned like a predator that had finally found prey worth chasing.

This wasn't training anymore.

This was a real fight.

Kenpachi cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. "You've lasted longer than I expected. Guess that means I don't have to hold back anymore."

Subaru tightened his grip on his sword. His arms ached. His body screamed. But for the first time, he wasn't afraid. He wasn't just waiting to die.

Kenpachi lifted his blade, pointing it at Subaru.

"Come."

Subaru moved.

The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself forward, closing the gap between them in a heartbeat. His sword flashed, aimed for Kenpachi's ribs.

Kenpachi's grin widened. He didn't dodge.

Instead, he swung his blade in response—faster than Subaru expected.

Subaru's eyes widened. He's faster than before!

He barely managed to shift his momentum, twisting out of the way as Kenpachi's sword roared past him, carving through the air with a force that sent shockwaves through the battlefield. The sheer wind pressure alone sent Subaru skidding backward.

Kenpachi's laughter boomed. "You dodged! Not bad!"

Subaru didn't have time to celebrate. Kenpachi was already moving again.

A blur of steel. A monstrous pressure.

Subaru barely blocked in time. Kenpachi's sword slammed into his own, sending a brutal vibration through his bones. He grit his teeth, digging his feet into the ground.

He's pushing me back!

But he didn't break.

He twisted his body, redirecting the force, sliding just out of Kenpachi's direct strike zone. His sword flashed—this time aimed at Kenpachi's exposed side.

A hit!

Or so he thought.

Kenpachi barely shifted, Subaru's blade scraping against his skin but not cutting deep. It was like trying to slice through solid rock.

Kenpachi glanced down at the small cut. Then he laughed.

"Kid, that actually hurt a little!"

Subaru didn't let him recover. He pressed the attack.

Step in. Slash. Step out. Rotate. Strike again.

For the first time, he wasn't just overwhelming Subaru with raw force—he was enjoying this.

Subaru moved faster, sharper, reading Kenpachi's counters before they fully formed. Every swing had purpose. Every dodge was precise.

But no matter how much he pushed himself, Kenpachi wasn't going all out.

Subaru knew it. He could feel it.

"You're still holding back," he growled, blade clashing against Kenpachi's once more. "Why?"

Kenpachi's grin widened. "Because you still haven't made me go all out."

Subaru's stomach tightened. He had thrown everything he had, and Kenpachi still wasn't serious?

Then—

BOOM.

A surge of energy erupted from Kenpachi, like an invisible storm. The air turned thick. Heavy. The battlefield itself seemed to buckle under the weight of his spiritual pressure.

Subaru's breath caught. His instincts screamed at him.

This was it.

This was real.

Kenpachi lifted his blade, his single eye gleaming with pure, violent joy.

"Alright, kid. You wanted a real fight?" His voice was laced with excitement. "Then survive this!"

And then he vanished.

Subaru's heart stopped.

Kenpachi reappeared in front of him.

Subaru barely had time to react before the blade came down.

He moved.

Steel clashed against steel.

And the real battle began.