Kurenai fell from the sky, the strong wind tugging at her high ponytail. The Zanpakuto in her hand gleamed as it turned into white sword light, slicing through the Hollow cleanly. As it was purified, the Hollow turned into spirit particles and vanished into the air-its soul heading for reincarnation in the Soul Society.
"Awesome... worthy of Kurenai."
Kurenai gave them both a glance. "You're too relaxed."
Nagisa patted Choji on the shoulder. "What are you afraid of? These Hollows are no match for us, right?"
In the actual combat that followed, the three eliminated several Hollows together.
Yuta took the opportunity to observe the mechanics of barrier techniques.
Barriers varied depending on their parameters. In general, they appeared spherical and enclosed small areas completely-isolating sound and vision so that humans on the outside couldn't detect anything occurring within. Only those with spiritual power-Shinigami, Hollows, Quincy-could pass through them. These barriers ensured that operations in the human world remained unseen by ordinary people.
Yuta couldn't help but wonder if barriers could evolve into combat-focused support techniques. A kind of battlefield "field" perhaps? If the chance came, he'd try researching it.
Kurenai and the others soon purified another cluster of weaker Hollows.
They arrived at the prearranged meeting point to prepare for their return to Soul Society.
Soon after, other teams began to gather at the same location one by one.
Kurenai took out her roster and started calling names.
"Team One..."
Those called raised their hands immediately.
"Team Thirteen..."
No one responded for several seconds after she called the name.
At that moment, her communicator beeped. After opening it, they heard a relaxed and cheerful male tone on the other end.
"Kurenai-senpai! We gained quite a bit this time, so we're returning late. We're almost there!"
"Hurry," she replied crisply.
"Hehe, we know..."
Suddenly, that same atmosphere changed sharply-a crushing pressure flooded the air.
Everything around distorted slightly from weight alone, and everyone present stiffened as their pupils widened.
"What is this...?"
"This pressure-so strong..."
"Could it be...?"
They slowly turned their heads toward what looked like the horizon-but wasn't-and saw it: tearing the night sky apart with both arms as if banishing light itself, it emerged slowly with limbs thick as towers and large enough to blot entire fields from view.
It stood hundreds of meters tall in total-its body triangular with large proportions that diminished to its head. The hole in its chest spanned over ten meters wide. Its head, grotesque and heavy with mass, was masked in white bone-like ivory and featured one long protruding nose with spikes encircling its neck like armor rings.
"A... Big Hollow..."
"A Gillian-type? Here?"
"It takes at least someone at vice-captain level to go against that..."
Screams crackled through the communicator. What was just cheerful chatter moments ago turned into pure panic and agony-
"AAAAAHHHHHH!"
"Help us-help... please-!"
Sounds of rushing wind and bone meeting concrete blasted through the channel before ending in high-pitched feedback and harsh clicking-the comm device destroyed.
Everyone saw its tongue lashing out-stretching over one hundred meters wide-wrapping up three Shinigami on the ground and dragging them effortlessly into its mouth.
Their communicators shattered violently on contact with the ground after falling from their limp bodies.
Kurenai narrowed her eyes but said nothing right away. Her strength was levels above hers-but facing this Gillian was unreasonable alone.
She activated her communicator again and contacted Seireitei Rescue Division Five: "Location 3541-we're under attack by Gillian-class Hollow. Requesting immediate support."
Without waiting for confirmation, she turned back to those behind her. "Run! I'll hold it off!"
Immediately after shouting this order, she launched herself forward without waiting for anyone's reaction.
Some fled immediately-gripped by panic and fear-but Yuta stood frozen in place, staring after her figure charging toward certain death without hesitation. He wanted to move but couldn't even lift one foot forward.
Cold sweat ran over his skin. The massive Gillian loomed upward-its shadow swallowing patches of moonlight as it stepped slowly forward-the light overhead being eaten away by darkness inch by inch. It felt like fear had taken solid form and was closing in on him from every direction.
He repeated it under his breath:
Run... run... run...
And then-
What he hated most wasn't fear-it was his own cowardice as he stood doing nothing while Kurenai charged alone toward danger that should've been shared between her and him and Nagisa equally.
Choji gritted his teeth. He grabbed his Zanpakuto tightly from his waist-even if he was terrified-even if he died-it would be better than standing here doing nothing at her back.
Nagisa saw him move and rushed forward too without hesitation.
Seeing this from ahead, Kurenai hissed under her breath without looking back-
"Idiots! Are you both trying to get yourselves killed?!"
Neither responded-they each drew their Zanpakuto and slashed toward the foot of the incoming Gillian Hollow.
Their blades barely left scratches-the creature's skin shrugged off steel as if it had been bitten by dull scissors. The damage was pointless-not even enough to cause it hesitation.
Its tongue snapped outward and wrapped around them both instantly-dragging them up toward its mouth in spiraling arcs of muscle and saliva-streaked grip.
Only then did Choji realize it was completely hopeless-
He couldn't even move inside the binding. There was no room to swing his blade-the tongue bound them painfully tight; not one inch of slack to work with. The difference between them might as well have been infinity itself.
He regretted everything-
Wishing he'd run instead-even if he had lived ashamed-it would've been easier than dying crushed inside muscle tissue like garbage being eaten alive...
Just as they neared its mouth-a silver-white arc flashed past-
SLASH!
Hollow screeched aloud-its tongue split cleanly down its length and dropped to the ground with Choji and Nagisa tumbling alongside it in its death roll motion-
They fought against the spasming tongue now severed-but its muscles remained locked-they scrambled to crawl free-
Kurenai appeared again without words-her Zanpakuto flicked downward once-and cut away what remained wrapping their legs-
However-
From behind-
SCHLICK!
Scarlet light pierced through Kurenai's chest completely-punching through her body from back to front in one clean line of energy.
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