Black Rebirth – Asta’s Journey in Soul Society

The Seireitei was quiet under the veil of night, the usual sounds of life subdued beneath the weight of darkness. The moon hung high, casting a pale glow over the landscape, its light barely penetrating the dense forest where Asta now walked.

His boots crunched against the dirt, his breath steady as he pushed deeper into the overgrown woods. The trees here were massive, their thick branches intertwining like a tangled web, blocking out most of the sky. The further he went, the more unnatural the air became.

This wasn't just any forest—it felt old. Forgotten. As if it had existed long before the Soul Reapers had claimed the Seireitei as their home.

Asta wiped sweat from his brow and grinned. "Alright, final trial. Let's see what you've got for me!"

He had been given no instructions. No hints. Just one simple order from Daichi before being sent into the darkness:

"Find your sword."

Simple enough. Except nothing about this place felt simple.

He moved forward, scanning the surroundings, his instincts on high alert. Even though he was alone, something felt off. The usual sounds of insects and night creatures were missing. The silence was unnatural, pressing in around him like an invisible force.

Then, up ahead—something flickered.

A faint silver glow pulsed through the gaps in the trees. Asta narrowed his eyes and quickened his pace, his steps light but purposeful. The deeper he went, the stronger the glow became, leading him toward an open clearing.

The moment he stepped into the moonlit space, his breath caught in his throat.

Laid out before him, scattered across the ground in a strange, almost ritualistic fashion, were hundreds of Asauchi.

The nameless, unclaimed Zanpakutō gleamed under the moon's soft light. Some were buried halfway in the dirt, others leaned against jagged rocks, their blades catching the night's glow. It was like a graveyard of forgotten swords, each one waiting for a wielder that had never come.

Asta whistled, impressed. "So this is what you meant, huh, Daichi?"

He stepped forward, eyeing the swords carefully. He had no idea what he was looking for—just that somewhere among these blades was the one that would finally accept him.

His hand reached out.

The moment his fingers brushed against a hilt—

A piercing screech split the air.

Asta froze, his instincts screaming at him. His grip tightened around the sword as he spun on his heel.

At the edge of the clearing, something shifted.

The darkness that clung to the trees began to move, twisting unnaturally like ink spreading through water. A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the forest, shaking the ground beneath Asta's feet.

Then, from the shadows, it emerged.

A massive figure loomed before him.

Its form was monstrous, wreathed in shifting black mist that seemed to pulse with unnatural energy. And its face—Asta's eyes locked onto the jagged, cracked white mask that covered it, glowing red eyes glaring at him from the void.

A Hollow.

No—something more than a Hollow.

Its presence was overwhelming, thick with a raw, ancient malice that sent shivers down Asta's spine. He had fought countless enemies before—devils, mages, warriors stronger than himself—but this was different.

The creature didn't just look dangerous.

It felt like something that shouldn't exist.

The Hollow-like entity exhaled slowly, the sound like a thousand voices whispering at once. Then, without warning—

It attacked.

Asta barely had time to react before the monster lunged, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. He jumped back, dodging just as the creature's massive claw slammed into the ground where he had stood. The impact sent shockwaves through the clearing, dirt and stone exploding into the air.

Asta landed, his grip tightening around the Asauchi he had grabbed.

"Alright, big guy," he said, grinning despite the sweat on his brow. "If this is part of the trial, then bring it on!"

The creature roared—a sound so deep and powerful that the very air trembled.

Then, it charged.

Asta moved on instinct, ducking low as the monster swiped at him again, its claws slicing through the trees like they were nothing. He dashed to the side, rolling across the ground before springing back to his feet.

The Asauchi in his hand felt… off. Unbalanced. It wasn't his sword.

He clicked his tongue. "Tch. Figures."

He tossed the blade aside. If he was going to fight, he needed a sword that would accept him.

His eyes darted to the scattered blades around him. One of them was his. He just had to find it—fast.

The Hollow-like entity wasn't going to wait.

It lunged again, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Asta barely had time to move before the creature's arm shot forward, catching him mid-step.

For the first time in a long while—

Asta was sent flying.

The impact hit like a freight train. His body crashed through trees, the force of the blow knocking the air from his lungs. He tumbled across the dirt, rolling to a stop near a cluster of swords.

Pain shot through his ribs. His arms ached.

But Asta was already pushing himself up, shaking off the hit with a grin.

"Hah… That actually hurt!" he laughed, wiping blood from his lip. His eyes blazed with excitement. "Guess that means I gotta take you seriously!"

The Hollow let out another growl, its form shifting, the mist surrounding it growing darker.

Asta's fingers brushed against the hilts of the swords around him. He didn't have time to test them all—he had to go with his gut.

His hand shot forward—

And the moment his fingers wrapped around the right blade, a surge of power exploded through him.

Asta's eyes widened.

The Hollow-like entity paused, as if sensing the change.

The sword in his grip hummed, its presence unlike any other.

Asta grinned. "Heh… Found you."

Then, without hesitation, he surged forward—meeting the Hollow head-on.