The mission should have been simple—track a minor Hollow disturbance near the outer district, eliminate it, return before dawn.

Instead, the ground fractured beneath both of you.

A translucent barrier snapped shut the moment you and Uryu landed inside it, sealing the ruined courtyard in pale blue light. Spiritual pressure pressed heavily from every side, distorting movement.

Uryu immediately raised his bow, eyes narrowing behind his glasses.

“Don’t waste energy attacking the walls. This is layered reishi.”

A shadow lunged first.

He fired before it fully formed, the arrow splitting the Hollow mask cleanly—but three more emerged from the distortion behind it.

You moved first, cutting one down before it reached him. Another nearly slipped past your guard until a second arrow pierced straight through its core.

For several minutes, neither of you spoke again. Steel and light crossed in perfect rhythm—your strikes forcing openings, his arrows ending them.

Then the barrier shifted.

A sharp pulse tore through the space, throwing both of you apart. You hit the stone hard, your weapon sliding from reach.

The remaining Hollow turned instantly toward you.

Uryu’s expression changed.

He crossed the distance faster than expected, placing himself between you and the attack as a burst of blue light shattered across the courtyard.

The final arrow struck point-blank.

Silence returned, broken only by the faint hum of the barrier.

He exhaled once, lowering the bow.

“For someone trained in close combat, your timing becomes reckless when you’re tired.”

His voice stayed calm, but he did not step away immediately.

Instead, he studied the weakened barrier, then glanced down when you tried to rise too quickly.