The blinding effect of the Dust Blade gradually wore off, and Iba's vision began to return.
However, in dodging the rain of Reiatsu Blades unleashed by Komamura, he'd already stepped outside the ring's boundary.
"Damn it! I completely forgot where the edge was—guess you got me!" Iba scowled, frustrated that he'd lost before even showing much of his strength.
Still, he wasn't the type to throw a fit. "I'll make it into the top eight. Next time, I won't fall to a move like that!"
With that, he turned and left the arena.
"This version of Flowlight is so rough and wild, but it works over such a wide area... that's unexpected," Isshin muttered, surprised to see Komamura use Flowlight in this way for the first time.
Curious, Isshin decided to test it for himself.
He stabbed his Zanpakutō into the ground—charging up as if the earth were a scabbard—and slashed out a beam of Flowlight.
Reiatsu Blades clung to the dirt and sand lifted by the strike, shooting forward in a wide arc.
"It kinda works... but the spread isn't that wide," Isshin scratched his cheek.
Komamura's version had a much broader reach—almost unavoidable inside the ring. You either blocked it, or you dodged behind him with a speed that outmatched even the Reiatsu Blades.
"Komamura's just stronger," Aizen commented. "More power means more debris flying. Plus, the sand he kicked up includes particles from his earlier use of the Dust Blade. Those still carry the blinding effect. Against multiple enemies, this kind of attack has excellent suppression potential."
Only one match remained in Group 1.
Both Lisa and Azashiro had lost twice—once to Komamura and once to Iba.
Komamura had already swept the group undefeated and secured first place.
Iba sat in second.
Lisa and Azashiro were tied for third.
Only the top three would qualify to challenge the winners of other groups.
That made this upcoming match between Lisa and Azashiro critical—whoever won would get one more point and secure the right to advance.
The students gathered beneath the ring were deep in discussion.
"Group 1 is insane this year. Both Lisa and Azashiro are Katori-sensei's students, right? Only one of them can advance..."
"Who's stronger between them?"
"My bet's on Azashiro. I saw him during registration—he can use Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō! Dude's legit."
"Wait, he's a first-year?! And he already learned a level 60 Bakudō?! That's insane…"
"I'm in fourth year and I can barely use anything above level 30."
"Well, knowing high-level Kidō doesn't mean you're stronger. I think Lisa has way better combat instincts."
Azashiro overheard the whispers. Already tense, he started to sweat.
But the referee was already calling them up. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and step onto the platform.
Across from him, Lisa stood with quiet confidence.
She was from Rukongai, and had always cherished her hard-won chance to train at the Katori-ryu Dojo. Compared to Azashiro, she worked far harder every day.
"Give it everything you've got. I'm not going easy on you!" Lisa declared, thrusting her finger forward as a Reiatsu Blade shot at Azashiro.
"Bakudō #8: Seki!" Azashiro raised his hand, forming a spirit shield that deflected the attack.
But the moment he looked up—Lisa was gone.
"Behind me!" He spun around, slashing with his sword—only to cut through a fading afterimage.
On both sides of him, Lisa's figure appeared, slashing inward simultaneously.
"She's already learned Quadrant Shun Strike?!" Azashiro's heart clenched in disbelief.
Quadrant Shun Strike was one of the hardest Katori-ryu Secret Arts, demanding both high-speed Iaido and advanced Shunpo mastery.
He hadn't even begun learning it, yet Lisa could already use it in real combat?
But in truth, Lisa hadn't fully mastered it either. The true form required simultaneous attacks from four directions. She could only manage three for now.
Slash!
Azashiro couldn't react in time. Blades cut into both of his arms.
Azashiro's failure to block the dual strike left deep cuts in both his arms.
"Soya's lacking in combat awareness," Aizen commented calmly from the spectator stands. "His blade speed just isn't there yet. In a situation like that, the best move would've been to dodge."
"Lisa's swordplay and Shunpo are impressive," Isshin added with admiration. "The only thing she's really missing is Reiatsu and a Shikai."
"Lisa always trains hard," Komamura nodded. "She doesn't fall behind me when it comes to effort."
Just then, all three of them glanced in the same direction.
"Kana-neesan's here too!" Isshin waved.
"I heard Sōya was fighting today, so I came by to watch," Azashiro Kana said, walking over. "I had duty transfer today or I'd have come earlier."
"It's Lisa versus Sōya right now," Isshin informed her. "Ah—looks like Sōya's completely overwhelmed."
Kana's smile stiffened. She couldn't help but reflect: Was I too soft on him...?
The Azashiro family didn't believe in tiger parenting. Kana had always thought Sōya was still young—his playful nature seemed natural. So she never pressured him when it came to training.
But now, Lisa was completely outclassing him.
Combat sense, swordsmanship, Shunpo—Sōya lagged far behind.
Back in the ring, Sōya, both arms injured, finally realized that dodging earlier would've been the better choice—but it was too late.
All he could do now was retreat, trying to gain some distance.
'I'm injured… I can't afford to drag this out. I need a chance to cast my strongest Kidō... Ngh...' The pain radiating from his arms was intense, making it hard to even grip his sword.
"Hang in there, Sōya!"
He heard a familiar voice. Turning his head—his sister had arrived!
"This is bad… I'm gonna embarrass myself in front of Kana-neesan…" Regret gnawed at him. Why didn't I train harder?
Lisa didn't give him time to regret. She closed in—faster than his retreat.
"Carriage of thunder, gap of spinning wheel—" Sōya began chanting, preparing to cast Rikujōkōrō.
"Not happening!" Lisa, quicker by far, swatted aside the sword guarding his front with her right hand.
Her left hand snapped up—two fingers extended. A sharpened Reiatsu Blade formed at her fingertips.
Her fingers became a sword, and she thrust straight for his face.
Azashiro's heart leapt. He stopped chanting, reaching out to grab Lisa's wrist to stop her strike.
But in the very next moment, sharp pain flared in his abdomen.
Lisa's Finger Sword had been a feint. The real attack came from her knee—slamming into his gut.
The Reiatsu Blade at her fingertip dissolved. She grabbed Sōya's wrist in return—and flipped him over with a powerful twist.
BAM!
Sōya's body hit the ground hard. Before he could recover, a cold blade pressed against his neck.
It was over.
He had lost.
A blade pressed to a vital point meant immediate disqualification.
"Yadōmaru Lisa wins! One point awarded!" announced referee Danmu Zōsuke.
"The teacher is our guide," Lisa said calmly, "but becoming strong comes from day-by-day effort. You've been slacking."
For her, winning this match had been expected.
And she had every right to say it—Sōya left the ring in shame.
When they'd first joined, he had actually been slightly stronger than her.
Now, he had clearly fallen behind.
Sōya lowered his head as Kana approached, unable to look her in the eyes.
"Kana-neesan... I lost... It's my fault. I didn't train seriously…"
"A loss is a loss." Kana didn't scold him. She just ruffled his hair. "But from now on, no more goofing off. You've gotta train seriously, alright? Next time, let's see a stronger Sōya out there!"
He nodded furiously. Losing in the group stage of the Live Blade tournament was just too humiliating. He swore to double his efforts.
With Group 1's matches concluded, Kotetsu Isane walked over.
"Isane, did you qualify?" Kana asked. "You're all bandaged up!"
Bandages wrapped around Isane's arms, legs, and even her forehead.
"My swordplay, Shunpo, and Hakuda are just average… so I had to go all in," Isane replied shyly. "The injuries are mostly healed now. The bandages were done by a teacher from the Kaido Advanced Class."
"Trading injury for injury, huh… That's a dangerous way to fight," Isshin muttered. "Were there any real powerhouses in your group?"
"There was one stronger than me," Isane admitted. "If I hadn't fought recklessly, I would've lost."
"If it wins the match, it's a valid strategy," Aizen said with a smile.
"Wait—so I'm the only one who got eliminated during the group stage?!" Sōya's scalp tingled. He didn't know how he'd face Katori-sensei later.
"I still have to fight other group winners if I want to advance," Lisa added. She was already scouting potential opponents.
Most of the other group matches had concluded, with winners decided.
Lisa asked classmates who'd watched the other matches for intel.
"Group 8's Kyōraku Munemitsu is a high-grade student who already has Shikai. Best not to challenge him."
"Same for Group 7's Ichinose Masaki. He's got Shikai too."
"Those two, along with Iba, are the three aces of the sixth-year class. All extremely strong."
Lisa took it all in with a frown.
'So there are two seniors who've already achieved Shikai… Even if I make it to the top 8, it's gonna be tough.'
She made up her mind—tonight, she'd ask Katori-sensei for one-on-one guidance.
If only I can learn Shikai before the quarterfinals begin...!
"I'll challenge the winner of Group 4," Lisa decided. That was the only winner who hadn't shown signs of Shikai.