It wasn't the fiery orange explosion one might expect. Instead, what bloomed in the sky was a burst of inky black flame, streaked with a ghostly violet glow.
The blast roared behind him, but Seff didn't even glance back. The wind stirred by the impact gently tousled his silver hair.
Thud!
A wet, heavy sound struck the earth behind him.
It was part of the Hollow, what was left of it after it had been torn apart.
Even in its broken, barely recognizable state, the creature glared at Seff's back with its one remaining eye. But the hatred in that eye had been completely drowned out by something stronger.
Terror.
It feared Seff's strength. Feared its own death. Feared that in the moment it had first sensed that crushing pressure coming from him, it hadn't turned and run.
Only now, only as its life slipped away, did it remember where it had felt that suffocating pressure before.
"...Save... me... Lord Baraggan..."
Seff stopped walking.
He hadn't cared to watch the Hollow die, but those final words caught his attention.
"You said... 'Lord'?"
He turned back.
"So there's someone even stronger above you?"
But the Hollow could no longer answer.
Its shattered body lost all color and quickly began to crumble into black ash, scattering on the wind.
"Tch..."
Clicking his tongue in irritation, Seff flicked his sword down in a sharp motion, a blood shake, even though the blade was spotless, before sheathing it.
He wasn't in a good mood.
Since arriving in the Soul Society, from the first time he picked up a blade, from that first kill, Seff had realized something. No one had needed to tell him; it was clear from the start that this was a world infused with supernatural power.
At least... he had it.
Over the past two months, he'd been fighting nonstop, cutting down enemy after enemy. No one, not a single person, had survived more than three blows from him. Most died in one.
This mindless mowing down of weaklings hadn't thrilled him. It had numbed him.
Because no matter how much he fought, Seff still didn't know how strong he actually was. It felt like floating in deep water, unsure where the bottom was.
He also knew he wasn't in full control of his power. Not even close. His skills were raw, barely serviceable, let alone refined.
So when this Hollow appeared, something different from the petty thugs of the Rukon District, it had lit a fire in him.
For a moment, he thought he'd finally get a real fight. Something to unleash the heat surging in his veins.
But it had only taken a few extra cuts to bring the thing down.
In the end, that massive creature had been nothing more than a slightly tougher grunt.
Seff felt... unfinished.
Like someone had interrupted him halfway through a good fight, just before the high point. That kind of frustration was hard to shake.
Still, when he made his way back to Yui, who was now breathing hard but alive, Seff didn't take that frustration out on the boy.
Seeing the kid's condition, he didn't bother offering a hand to help him up. It was better to let him sit and catch his breath.
Seff took a moment to fetch the clothes he'd hidden in the tree canopy earlier. When he returned, he tossed a piece of fruit to Yui.
Now that he could finally breathe, Yui accepted it with a quiet "...Thank you," and took a small bite.
During that short break, Seff had calmed himself somewhat. The heat inside him had simmered down.
He smiled lightly at the boy.
"Name's Seff. Just Seff is fine. Mind telling me what happened?"
Yui looked up, still clutching the fruit. The man's face... was calm, smiling.
And in that moment, something stirred in him.
For the first time in his life, Yui felt what it meant to admire someone.
This man had everything he'd ever dreamed of.
Courage. Strength.
Unshakable composure in battle, and a surprising gentleness outside it.
"Are you... a Shinigami?" Yui asked, the question slipping out before he could stop it.
In his understanding, only Shinigami could have such overwhelming power. They were the ones who fought Hollows. They carried blades like this man.
Seff didn't get annoyed, even though he'd been asked the same thing several times already.
He didn't mock the kid for being scared.
In fact, he respected Yui. Even if the Hollow had been toying with him, the boy had still kept running. He hadn't given up until the very end.
Truthfully, if Seff had been in Yui's shoes at that age, he probably wouldn't have lasted that long either.
He answered patiently.
"Shinigami? Not yet. But maybe someday."
That wasn't just a guess.
In the Soul Society, Shinigami were the only formal armed force.
He had the qualifications. He already carried their blade.
So the real question wasn't if he would become one.
It was when.
"Ah... I see..."
Yui's gaze lingered on Seff's face. Something lit up in his eyes.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he gasped and hurriedly said:
"S-Sorry! I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Yui Senryu."
"Yui Senryu, huh... That's a good name."
Hearing the praise, Yui could only smile faintly, a little embarrassed.
Then, recalling Seff's earlier question, he began to speak.
Slowly. Carefully.
As if etching the memories into his heart.
He told Seff everything, what had happened, how his family had been attacked, how he ran.
Seff listened quietly.
There were things in the story that puzzled him, but he didn't ask.
Even after Yui finished, Seff didn't follow up.
He just nodded, and shifted the topic.
"So you're all alone now, huh... In that case, to be safe, I'll walk you home."
"R-Really? You don't mind?"
"I was heading that way anyway," Seff replied, giving a light shrug. "Besides... no point in saving you halfway. Might as well see it through."
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
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• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed