At the instant of drawing the blade, he replaced the draw itself with a sweeping arm motion, giving the opponent the illusion that an attack had already been launched. Once the enemy raised their guard, he adjusted his stance and completed the draw, breaking through their defense.
This was the true essence of Reverse Shadow Flash.
It was completely useless against opponents who attacked without defending, but against enemies who prepared their guard before striking, its effectiveness was outstanding.
Because it relied on a reverse-hand draw and a deliberate feint that disrupted its momentum, Reverse Shadow Flash lacked the raw power of a standard quick-draw technique. That weakness was why it had to be followed by a decisive overhead cleaving strike to finish the enemy.
The wounded Strong Hollow flickered and vanished before Muten Natsu's eyes.
Facing the swift blade, the Shadow Hollow kicked off the ground and retreated backward.
He could dodge it! The Shadow Hollow saw it clearly. Given Muten Natsu's arm length and the length of his Zanpakutō, the blade tip could no longer reach him.
The corner of Muten Natsu's mouth lifted slightly. He loosened his grip with one hand, relaxed the other for a split second, then tightened it again.
Carried by inertia, the Zanpakutō briefly left his hand before being caught once more. The hand that had been gripping near the guard now held the very end of the hilt.
As a result, the blade tip that should have fallen short effortlessly sliced open the Shadow Hollow's chest.
Turning with the momentum of the swing, Muten Natsu followed up with a horizontal slash.
This time, the Shadow Hollow didn't dare take any risks. He submerged into the shadows to evade, only reappearing after putting some distance between them.
Muten Natsu sheathed his sword and did not press the attack. Looking at the Shadow Hollow clutching his chest, he asked considerately, "Are you okay? Does it hurt?"
Blood-red fury burst from the Shadow Hollow's eyes. "What do you think?!"
"I honestly don't know." Muten Natsu spread his hands. "Over the past few decades, I've suffered injuries far worse than this hundreds of times a day."
"You…" the Shadow Hollow subconsciously took half a step back, then froze as if he had heard something. "Really?"
"Of course." Muten Natsu looked genuinely puzzled. "So I'm curious. Why would a weakling like you think you could beat me just because I lost part of my power?"
"So that's how it is…" the Shadow Hollow muttered. His tense body relaxed, and his claws tapped together, producing a crisp sound. "You really were bluffing!"
Muten Natsu rested a hand on his sword hilt, raised an eyebrow, and smiled faintly. "Oh?"
"If you were truly that strong, I'd already be dead." The Shadow Hollow sneered. "You know perfectly well that with Shadow Stealth active, you can't escape. That's why you went all out to show off your strength, backing it up with intimidation to scare me away!"
"Not entirely," Muten Natsu shook his head. "I wanted you to pass a message to the one behind you."
"Fine." Shadows surged as the Shadow Hollow appeared behind Muten Natsu. "I'll deliver news of your death!"
A burst of cold light flared as Muten Natsu drew his sword and slashed backward.
The Strong Hollow appeared out of nowhere, blocking the strike with his armored arm.
The Shadow Hollow didn't disappear. Attacking from beneath the Strong Hollow's armpit, his claws shot straight toward Muten Natsu's heart.
Convinced that Muten Natsu was bluffing, the Shadow Hollow abandoned his earlier tactics. He attacked together with the Strong Hollow, aiming to end the fight quickly, kill Muten Natsu, and devour him.
As the Shadow Hollow swung his claws, the Strong Hollow swept his other arm across, sealing off Muten Natsu's route of escape.
"Thanks for the thought." Using his body as an axis, Muten Natsu swung his arm to increase his rotational force. The blade scraped against the Strong Hollow's arm armor, building momentum. Before the Shadow Hollow's claws could reach him, he completed an upward slash, sending the Shadow Hollow that had lunged from under the armpit flying into the air. "But I don't need it now."
Bending his knees slightly, Muten Natsu leapt up, dodging the Strong Hollow's sweeping arm as he closed in on the Shadow Hollow midair. "You can't touch shadows in the air. That means Shadow Stealth won't work."
The Shadow Hollow's pupils shook violently. "What?!"
The Shadow Hollow was right. Muten Natsu really was bluffing.
But not quite.
Muten Natsu was pretending to bluff.
The reason was simple.
Given his current physical condition, if the Shadow Hollow wanted to flee, Muten Natsu really had no way to stop it.
So he pretended to bluff, letting the Shadow Hollow think he was bluffing. He made it believe it had a chance to turn the tables, drew it in close, and baited it into attacking first. And then…
Slash!
A sharp flash of the blade severed the Shadow Hollow's arm. Muten Natsu swung again, cutting toward the Shadow Hollow's neck.
"Save me!" The Shadow Hollow cried out in terror, with nowhere left to dodge.
The Strong Hollow reached out with its massive hand, yet Muten Natsu's swing did not slow in the slightest.
He had already prepared himself to take the Strong Hollow's attack head-on, and his blade cut through half of the Shadow Hollow's neck.
However, the Strong Hollow's huge hand did not land on Muten Natsu.
Instead, it grabbed the Shadow Hollow.
"You tricked me—" The Shadow Hollow's voice cut off abruptly.
The Strong Hollow shoved it straight into its mouth and swallowed it.
Everything happened too fast. Even Muten Natsu couldn't stop it in time. By the moment he slashed toward the Strong Hollow, the devouring was already complete.
A violent surge of Reiatsu erupted from the Strong Hollow, blasting Muten Natsu away.
A series of cracking sounds rang out as bones collided within its body. The Strong Hollow's skin split open, fracturing and peeling away in pieces.
Muten Natsu raised his eyes to look at the newly transformed Strong Hollow.
Its previous hulking frame was gone, replaced by a more proportioned body. It looked far closer to human than ape. The bulging muscles still carried its former strength, but now there was a distinct sense of agility to them.
The shield-like arm guards had clearly shrunk. Though thicker than before, they now sported sharp arm blades, their cold gleam unsettling.
"Many thanks…" The Strong Hollow flexed its fingers, adjusting to its new body. "I've wanted to eat it for a long time. I just never had the chance."
Muten Natsu's bluff had truly frightened the Shadow Hollow. When it was about to flee, the Strong Hollow had spoken up, making it stay behind and even attack of its own accord.
The Strong Hollow didn't know whether Muten Natsu was genuinely powerful, bluffing, or pretending to bluff.
None of that mattered to the Strong Hollow.
Its way of thinking was simple.
If Muten Natsu was weak, then eat him.
If Muten Natsu was strong, then eat the Shadow Hollow.
As long as it didn't run away, no outcome was a loss.
After devouring the Shadow Hollow, the Strong Hollow's power increased, and Muten Natsu now looked even more tempting in its eyes.
"Like you, I also lost my original power because of certain events." The Strong Hollow stepped closer to Muten Natsu. "I understand your experiences completely, and I know the pain and unwillingness that come with losing one's strength."
"So, as repayment for your help, I'll put an end to your suffering." Looming over Muten Natsu with its height advantage, the Strong Hollow raised its fist. "The method might be a little rough… try not to cry."