Boom! Boom! Boom!
Reality wasn't like the anime of Higashino's past life, where enemies politely introduced themselves before fighting.
The three Hollows emerging from the Garganta had barely crawled halfway out when three Ceros blasted forth.
"Bakudō #8: Repulse!"
"Raikiri!"
Higashino and Yoruichi moved almost simultaneously.
Higashino drew his Zanpakutō, layering a Reishi shield with kidō on the blade. Using expert Shunpo, he intercepted the incoming Cero, deflecting it with a slash so it veered hundreds of meters off target before striking.
Yoruichi, meanwhile, had already predicted the Cero's trajectory. With a palm thrust, she unleashed compressed kidō at lightning speed, erasing the blast before it landed.
But even with their quick response, it wasn't enough. The third Cero shot past, ripping through the already-fallen Hollows on the ground.
A lower noble didn't even have time to scream before being vaporized.
Only when the three Gillians and Adjuchas fully stepped out, dust rising, did the nobles finally register what had happened.
Jirō was just as stunned.
"What the hell—why so many Hollows at once?!"
As a 14th seat of the 6th, noble-exclusive division, Jirō rarely faced Hollows directly. Hollows hardly ever breached Seireitei; most were culled in Rukongai by the 10th, 11th, or 2nd Divisions.
His panic was natural.
And against Gillians and Adjuchas, only vice-captains or captains could normally stand a chance. A low-seated officer like Jirō was cannon fodder.
Yoruichi knew instantly she couldn't count on him.
And as for the nobles below—forget it.
"Jirō! Take the nobles and get out of District 62!"
She flashed between him and the Hollows, eyes blazing as she faced the beasts.
"O-okay!"
Shouted at, Jirō's mind finally snapped back.
He thought to call Higashino too, but when he looked over, Higashino was already leaping straight at one of the Adjuchas.
"Aizen's letter said I can 'appropriately show my strength.' Appropriately must mean anything I can theoretically kill is fair game.
That's what it means, right?"
Higashino licked his lips.
Since joining Aizen, he'd feared less for his life—but lived caged. Aizen's creed was absolute caution.
If it wasn't a sure thing, never reveal yourself.
So while Higashino had learned much, he'd rarely used it.
Now, finally, a chance to let loose.
He grinned down at the Gillian beneath him.
Bad day to go out, friend.
"Tazan!"
His voice rumbled, and before the Gillian even realized how Higashino had appeared above, its skull cracked. The massive body smashed into the ground, half-buried in rubble.
"Such Hakuda…"
Yoruichi, one of the few masters of Hakuda in Soul Society, murmured aloud.
Among sword, fist, step, and spell, most favored swordsmanship, then kidō, then Shunpo, leaving Hakuda last.
Only the 2nd Division, bound by duty that limited their use of kidō or swords, trained Hakuda and Shunpo to perfection.
For Higashino to display such mastery—Yoruichi almost wondered if he'd once been hers.
But Higashino, high on battle, had no time for her thoughts.
One stomped Gillian wasn't enough—not even a warm-up.
Still, habit kept him steady. He remembered his task.
"Advance, Heisha!"
He seized the moment, releasing Shikai.
"Shōheisha, Yuribito!"
The blade cut a vertical arc, Reishi scattering.
The Gillian he'd stomped was split clean in two. From the fragments rose seventeen faceless Reishi constructs.
"Not only his own Reishi, but even an enemy's…"
Yoruichi muttered, seeing his Zanpakutō in action for the first time. She'd only heard rumors from the Head Captain and Shunsui.
No wonder Shunsui had called it dangerous.
Not because of raw power—but because it resembled the Quincy.
The Quincy destroyed Hollows entirely, erasing soul and Reishi both.
Higashino's blade, however, selectively disassembled Reishi, reshaping it into obedient soldiers.
Even so, controlled or not, the similarity marked his ability as dangerous.
"Higashino! Stop using your Zanpakutō. Stick to Hakuda and work with me!"
She snapped the order.
Higashino, his objective achieved, feigned embarrassment and bowed. "Sorry, Captain Shihōin. I got nervous. I won't use it again."
But unseen beneath the battlefield, the faceless Reishi soldiers scattered. While some dove at the oncoming Hollows, more slipped away, hidden with kidō and Shunpo—heading for Districts 64, 66, 71, 73, and 75.
//Check out my Patreon for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[[email protected]/Razeil0810](http://[email protected]/Razeil0810)