"What's going on?" Yoriichi gazed at the spot where the Hollows had suddenly vanished, his mind filled with questions.
It was as if those Hollows had been instantly erased by some unknown power.
He stared in that direction, faintly sensing a ripple of spiritual pressure, like a gentle breeze across his cheek, yet not quite real.
Ichimoku quickly scanned the map, analysing in a deep voice, "Third Seat Tsugikuni, in my opinion, there are two possibilities for the current situation."
"One, those Hollows escaped back to Hueco Mundo. Once they cross into another world, my Zanpakuto can no longer track them."
"Two, a powerful entity has appeared."
Ichimoku's tone revealed a hint of solemnity:
"My detection ability is limited by my spiritual pressure level; I can only display creatures with lower spiritual pressure than mine on the map."
"If these Hollows were eliminated by someone, then the speed of their disappearance is truly outrageous."
"I've only witnessed such power from the former Captains."
Hearing this, Yoriichi's gaze deepened.
He lightly pointed to the blank area on the map:
"Are you saying a Captain-level Shinigami appeared there?"
Ichimoku gently shook his head, correcting him:
"Not necessarily, Captain-level Shinigami are not common."
"But a Fifth-grade Spiritual Power is certain. Otherwise, cutting down Hollows wouldn't be so easy."
"Third Seat Tsugikuni, why don't we go and see who is secretly lending us a hand?"
Ichimoku suggested, "If we're lucky, we might even be able to invite him to join the Tenth Division."
"..."
Yoriichi was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Indeed."
It could be a Rukongai resident, or it could be a Shinigami.
If it's the latter, then never mind.
But if it's the former…
With that, the two figures flashed, disappearing instantly like two bolts of lightning, speeding towards that direction.
...
"Whoosh!"
A brilliant flash of blade light suddenly streaked across the sky.
Zaraki Kenpachi, holding a slender Zanpakuto, stretched his body, leaping swiftly upward from below like a leopard, lightly slashing at the several-dozen-meter-tall Hollow in front of him.
Instantly, a nearly imperceptible cut spread silently from the centre of the Hollow's skull.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Immediately after, the massive body was split in two, and blood of an unusual colour gushed out like a fountain, staining the surrounding air.
Bathed in this blood rain, Zaraki Kenpachi's eyes flashed with a hint of disdain.
He flicked the blood off his blade.
He let out a faint snort: "Why are they all such trash?"
"They're so tall for nothing; they can't even take one of my slashes. This District 79 isn't worth staying in."
"Yachiru, don't you agree?"
He turned to look at Kusajishi Yachiru on his shoulder, who was idly swinging her small feet.
Hearing Zaraki Kenpachi's words, she immediately nodded seriously: "Kenpachi, you're the strongest!"
Then, she smiled and clapped her hands, "Of course, I'm very strong too."
Zaraki Kenpachi gave a faint snort: "Let's not… "
As his words fell, all dozen or so Menos Grande in front of him had, without exception, met a tragic end.
Moving through the Hollow corpses like a ghost, Zaraki Kenpachi slowly put away his Zanpakuto.
Yachiru then puffed out her cheeks: "Kenpachi, don't underestimate me."
She was just about to retort to Zaraki Kenpachi.
The next second.
Her head unnaturally turned to one spot, and an even more excited smile than before appeared on her face:
"Kenpachi, it looks like your dream is coming true!"
"A very, very, very strong person is coming!"
She said "very strong" three times in a row, seemingly still not satisfied, and then spread her arms to make a large circle.
This suddenly piqued Zaraki Kenpachi's interest.
The corners of his lips curved upward, and he looked in the direction of Yachiru's gaze.
Amidst the desolate yellow sand, two medium-sized figures in black robes were faintly visible.
Their attire felt familiar to Zaraki Kenpachi.
As the corner of his eye swept over the Zanpakuto in his hand.
A spark of inspiration flashed in his mind.
—They are Shinigami!
...
"How is it?"
Walking through the desolate desert, Yoriichi looked far ahead.
He occasionally looked at Ichimoku beside him, asking in a deep voice, "How much further?"
"Almost there," Ichimoku replied, and at the same time, the dust in the air seemed to sense something, gradually settling.
The sound of the wind also softened.
The two stopped in unison, their attention drawn to a figure in the distance.
It was a tall man, holding a long sword, standing silently there.
The atmosphere fell into an eerie silence.
"Is that him?" Ichimoku broke the silence first, with a hint of uncertainty in his tone.
He scrutinised Zaraki Kenpachi in the distance, his heart filled with astonishment.
The man's figure was unusually thin, looking like a mere stick from afar; a gust of wind seemed capable of blowing him over.
Could such a Rukongai resident truly possess Vice-Captain-level combat power?
Was something wrong with him, or with this world?
"Are you asking me?"
Yoriichi calmly retorted. He knew well not to judge a book by its cover, so he showed no obvious surprise at Zaraki Kenpachi's appearance.
"Ah, my apologies, my apologies." Seemingly realising his abruptness, Ichimoku apologised repeatedly, his voice slowly returning to normal after several deep breaths.
"It should be him, but… he looks a bit difficult to deal with."
Of course, he's difficult to deal with.
Didn't you notice the nearly uncontrollable, almost insane smile on his face?
Like a mad killer.
Yoriichi could even clearly see the blood dripping from that Zanpakuto.
"Ichimoku, you go first."
Knowing that the newcomer meant trouble, Yoriichi stepped forward, shielding Ichimoku behind him, and sternly instructed:
"This man is not right. You should know this is District 79; even a Shinigami might encounter danger."
"The little girl on his shoulder, I don't know where she came from, but… her spiritual pressure isn't weak. A male and female duo of destruction?"
A new term suddenly popped into his mind, one he had learned from the Captain during his years as a Shinigami.
Of course, now was not the time to discuss such things.
While the slaying of Hollows was a good thing, corresponding troubles would follow.
He paused, then continued: "Go back and report to the Captain. Just say I'll be back late and not to worry."
"Ah… this?"
Ichimoku hesitated. Although he was naturally timid and fearful, abandoning a comrade and fleeing alone was something he absolutely could not do.
To become a Shinigami meant his character was qualified; it was nothing more than death.
However, seeing Yoriichi's resolute attitude.
He couldn't say much either.
He could only…
"Third Seat Tsugikuni… please return safely."
After a worried blessing, Ichimoku disappeared instantly using Shunpo.
In the distance, Zaraki Kenpachi witnessed the entire process, a cold sneer escaping from his nostrils.
"Heh heh heh…"
"Good intuition."
"I don't have the patience to fight with the weak."