"What... what just happened?!!"
"Why... why was Captain Segawa's Kidō forcibly interrupted?!"
"Could it be... could it really be..."
...
In that moment, throughout the entire Seireitei, all the captains and lieutenants who'd just received Tentei Kūra sprang into action simultaneously.
Inside the Fourth Division barracks, Retsu Unohana issued orders with a grave expression—
"Isane, use Kidō immediately... locate Segawa's position!"
"...Yes!"
Isane Kotetsu bit her lip and frantically raised both hands, rapidly beginning the incantation.
She naturally understood the situation was dire. She wouldn't delay or hesitate.
Meanwhile, at the Second Division barracks.
Captain Soi Fon burst directly from the captain's office and leaped into the air with a fierce expression.
Then she decisively called back—
"Ōmaeda, guard the division! I'm going... to find Segawa!!"
"...?!"
Whoosh!
Before Kisenchiyo Ōmaeda could even respond, Soi Fon's figure vanished at high speed.
Ōmaeda stared blankly, startled inwardly.
"Why does it feel... these past two years... the captain's flash step speed got even faster..."
Racing through the air, Soi Fon's expression grew increasingly grim. She gritted her teeth, praying repeatedly in her heart—
"Please... please! Please don't let anything happen... Shigure!!!"
At the same time, at the Department of Research and Development.
The instant Tentei Kūra cut off, Mayuri Kurotsuchi rushed to his instruments, staring intently at the screen as he barked—
"Yoran, immediately conduct full-spectrum spiritual pressure distortion detection around the Fifth and First Divisions!"
"Mitsuha, activate all spiritual particle deconstruction instruments monitoring the entire Seireitei... now!"
"Then, Akon... quickly pinpoint Segawa Shigure's location!"
His eyes locked on the screen as he rapidly issued orders to several researchers.
His hands gripped both sides of the instrument tightly. His expression was equally grave, but his eyes held a hint of excitement.
After hearing Shigure's explanation about the Sternritter's abilities, his curiosity about these Quincies had intensified even more.
He couldn't wait to study those people...
"Yes!!"
"Yes... Director!"
Hearing the orders, Akon and the other two immediately began operating the instruments.
A moment later—
"Captain! Around the Fifth and First Divisions... no distortion reactions detected at all!"
"Currently showing no spiritual particle curvature anomalies either. There... there shouldn't be any invaders!"
"Captain... all spiritual particle monitoring instruments throughout the Seireitei are now fully activated and ready to begin data analysis and collection anytime!"
Two bureau members swiftly executed Mayuri's orders.
However, Deputy Director Akon stared at his instrument results, frozen.
After a moment, a bead of cold sweat rolled down his forehead as he slowly said—
"C-Captain... our instruments seem to be... broken..."
"Hah?!"
Mayuri's eyes widened. Akon looked up, gritting his teeth—
"Captain Segawa's spiritual pressure... is in an unobservable state...!"
"Unobservable...?"
Mayuri quietly repeated the phrase, then his face darkened as he said coldly—
"Impossible!"
"This instrument is my latest modification. It already captured his spiritual particles and memorized his signature!"
"As long as he hasn't died, even the strongest barrier couldn't block it!"
Hearing this, Akon swallowed nervously and said carefully—
"Then... what if... Captain Segawa isn't in Soul Society...?"
"?!"
As Akon's words fell, Mayuri's gaze first jumped, then immediately grew profound.
That seemed... the only explanation...
With Segawa's strength... he absolutely couldn't die that quickly...
Could he really have... already left Soul Society...?!
...
At that moment, in the Fourth Division barracks, Isane Kotetsu also froze.
"C-Captain... I... I can't locate Captain Segawa's position...!"
"Wha... what?!"
Retsu Unohana's pupils contracted slightly. Her heart skipped a beat.
But just then, something suddenly changed—
BOOM! BOOM!! BOOM!!!
Continuous massive explosions suddenly erupted deafeningly from outside the barracks!
Not from one direction, but... throughout the entire Seireitei... erupting in all directions!!
Isane's face changed drastically. Her heart tightened as she called out frantically—
"What's happening?! Enemy attack?!"
BOOM!!!
Another explosion roared. Simultaneously, brilliant lights shot skyward from various parts of the Seireitei!!
Like giant swords piercing the heavens, they stood hundreds of feet tall!
Throughout the Seireitei, everyone was shocked beyond measure by this display.
Division members everywhere voiced similar reactions—
"Hey, what... is that..."
"L-light pillars...?"
"No, those aren't glowing... those... those are blue flame pillars!!"
"Th-those are flames!!"
"E-each one... has incredibly concentrated spiritual particles. Just how many... are there?!!"
Soi Fon, halfway to her destination, couldn't help stopping.
She condensed spiritual particles beneath her feet, standing in midair as she looked up, her face filled with shock.
However, what shocked her wasn't these massive flame pillars, but rather...
The figures appearing within the flames!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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