"Mm!"
Upon hearing this, Yoriichi's expression instantly solidified, and his gaze focused.
The machine showed that the Adjuchas was three kilometres to the north.
Suddenly.
Bang!
Yoriichi's body moved slightly, bending like a bow, and countless cracks appeared on the ground.
His mindset was adjusted in an instant.
"I'll go first!" His words were brief and powerful.
"The reinforcement team will follow!"
As soon as his voice fell, a figure like lightning suddenly vanished from the spot.
The trees in front were all pushed aside, and a surging wave of air stirred up countless dust particles.
Everyone only managed to see an afterimage, and then, the afterimage disappeared without a trace.
In the blink of an eye.
Three kilometres had been covered.
In a bustling commercial district.
On a street, a two-meter-tall humanoid Hollow appeared in his vision.
Its massive body was slightly hunched, and the reishi it emitted was almost tangible.
It made the Rukongai residents who hadn't fled nearby tremble uncontrollably, prostrating themselves.
Visibly, the surrounding buildings had been shattered by it, with tiles and wooden boards scattered everywhere.
At this moment, it held the soul of a child, opening its large mouth, about to devour it.
The child was motionless, already unconscious.
Seeing this.
Yoriichi didn't have time to draw his sword; white lightning surged from his fingertips.
"Hado Number Four: Byakurai!"
The white lightning transformed into a laser, powerful and unyielding, directly striking the Adjuchas.
Zero point zero one seconds later.
Hiss!
Flesh was pierced, and wisps of smoke rose.
The pain made the Adjuchas suddenly snap back to its senses.
It widened its eyes, which were filled with anger and astonishment.
A pair of black eyes with no whites stared intently at Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
The tasteless soul in its hand was tossed aside.
Then.
"Hehehe... Shinigami."
As if it had discovered something interesting, it let out two sinister laughs, its laughter like the hoot of a night owl, sending chills down one's spine.
However, just then.
"Bakudo Number Sixty-One: Rikujokoro!"
Reishi, like a tide, rapidly condensed in the air.
Six golden beams of light struck the Adjuchas simultaneously from six directions.
Bang, bang, bang!
Several continuous roars, like gunshots, firmly trapped the Adjuchas.
Its arms bulged as it struggled desperately, but it could do nothing against the reishi prison.
Boom!
Its entire body's reishi erupted violently, attempting to break through everything with brute force!
Click.
Yoriichi had tightly gripped the sword hilt, his breathing rapid. The moment he leaned forward!
Bang!
The ground in front instantly caved in. He appeared before the Adjuchas like an arrow released from a bowstring.
The Adjuchas was too late to dodge and instinctively condensed a Cero, attempting to blast the charging Tsugikuni Yoriichi into dust!
However.
As soon as its mouth opened.
Whoosh!
A beam of dazzling sword light, with a sound like thunder, transformed into a meteor appearing in the snowy night, suddenly streaking across the sky!
Before the Cero could even condense, the Hollow's mask split down the middle.
The Adjuchas' bewildered eyes were reflected on the pale red blade.
It only felt an itch on its head.
Crash!
As if torn apart, an invisible wound rapidly spread downwards from the centre of its skull, revealing distinct muscle and bone.
Only the sound of blood splattering remained in the air.
"You..."
The Adjuchas only managed to utter one word before the light in its eyes rapidly dimmed.
Before dying, it was still puzzled.
Why didn't the other party even give it a chance to speak?
It had killed his comrade.
Shouldn't he be angry?
Shouldn't he loudly question it?
What was wrong with this Shinigami!
Aizen-sama...
I...
...
The battle began in an instant.
And ended in an instant.
Hum...
The reishi tide stirred in the air and gradually subsided.
Some of the Rukongai residents' bodies slowly stopped trembling.
Yoriichi scanned the Adjuchas' body, which was gradually turning into dust, and as he let out a long breath, a question arose in his mind.
Where did Kaneda of the Twelfth Seat go?
...
"You did very well..."
"Cahalman."
Underground, Aizen observed the entire battle between the two, a faint smile gradually appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Although the process had some discrepancies from what he had imagined.
For example, he had never expected Tsugikuni Yoriichi's strength to be so formidable.
As a Shinigami with only half a year of actual combat experience, he could use Kido with such mastery, even casting Kido of number sixty or higher without incantation...
But no matter how well he performed, he could hardly escape the trap called a sense of responsibility.
"Rest in peace."
Aizen slightly lowered his head, placing his hands lightly on the control panel, and gently pressed a button.
The next moment, a deafening hiss of steam suddenly echoed in the laboratory.
A shirtless man slowly emerged from a cultivation tank.
He lightly licked the corner of his mouth, revealing an eerie smile, and various colored patterns clung to his face.
Fleshy tentacles were occasionally seen protruding from his brain, as if rooted in his flesh and blood.
Aizen had his back to him.
He slowly spoke: "Kaneda, you go and cooperate with Inuno to capture Tsugikuni Rukia."
"I need you to transform into a Hollow and attack her at the critical moment."
"If necessary, you can sacrifice your life."
"Can you do it?"
"No problem, Aizen-sama!" Kaneda of the Twelfth Seat, controlled by the Hollow, said confidently.
The patterns on his face gradually disappeared like a faded photograph.
Within a mere three seconds, he had reverted to the appearance of a normal Shinigami.
Even his closest friends and family would not be able to detect anything unusual about him.
...
"Damn it!"
"Why is the operation today?"
Outside the Tsugikuni residence.
Inuno Yang was crouched in a tree, burning with anxiety.
His gaze pierced through the white high wall, observing the courtyard, faintly hearing the laughter of two girls.
Tsugikuni Rukia, Hinamori Momo.
These were the names Inuno Yang had inquired about a few days ago.
Leaning against the tree trunk.
Snap!
Wood chips flew, and Inuno Yang was filled with indignation:
"The operation is too rushed; there are Shinigami everywhere, I can't make a move at all!"
"Damn it!"
"How am I supposed to kill her?"
"What a crappy plan!"
The words of complaint and cursing had just fallen.
Beside his ear.
A voice suddenly appeared.
"You are Inuno?"
"Who are you cursing?"
Kaneda of the Twelfth Seat appeared like a ghost behind Inuno Yang, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"!"
This sudden touch made Inuno Yang feel as if he had a thorn in his back, and his expression stiffened.
When!?
He quickly turned around.
He had initially thought help had arrived and intended to put on a fawning smile.
But what he saw was a familiar face, and his cheeks, as if he had swallowed a fly, immediately drooped.
"Why is it you?"
...
Not far away.
Due to the inability to find any trace of Kaneda of the Twelfth Seat's reishi, the Tenth Division unilaterally declared Kaneda had died in battle.
Yoriichi was very helpless about this, but the fact was established.
He had killed the Menos Grande.
He had also saved the surrounding Rukongai residents.
But he was still one step too late.
A Shinigami seeing this, softly said: "Vice-Captain, don't blame yourself, it's not your fault. After all, the opponent was an Adjuchas."
"Ultimately, by the time you received the news, Kaneda was already beyond saving."
"How can one succeed in saving someone already dead?"
"You should rest for a bit. You must be tired after slaying an Adjuchas... I happen to remember your hometown is nearby."
"There's still some time until the investigation concludes; leave this place to us..."
....
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