"What!?"
The grotesque Hollow's pale mask twisted with cruel amusement as it stomped down on Orihime's body again and again.
"Your sister prays to you every single day. She must love her dear brother so much."
"But you… you'd watch her die? Truly disappointing. So disappointing! If you don't come out now, I'll crush her to death right here! Hahaha!"
Orihime bit her lip hard. "Brother, don't! If you show yourself, this monster will kill you!"
Her plea was cut short by a scream of agony as the Hollow ground its foot deeper.
"Silence!" it roared. "Cry out again, and I'll crush you like an insect. Call your brother, or I'll kill you where you lie!"
"Ahhh!!"
Behind the curtain, Orihime's brother trembled, torn by rage and pain. He had no idea why this creature had targeted him. And now, it used his sister as bait.
He remembered Cole.
The boy who had repaired his household shrine, who warned him to let go of his lingering regrets. He'd been told—cling to the past, and both he and Orihime would suffer.
He hadn't listened.
And now Orihime was in danger because of him.
Teeth clenched, he stepped out of hiding. "I'm here. Let her go!"
But the Hollow only laughed, its mask twisting.
"See, girl? Because of you, your brother will die. Hahaha!"
"Brother, no!" Orihime cried.
Cole's eyes narrowed. This Hollow wasn't just feeding—it was toying with them, twisting emotions into lifelong torment.
And Cole recognized it. This was the very Hollow that had taken Kurosaki Masaki's life.
New and old hatred fused, boiling inside him. His fists clenched tighter.
"Hahaha! Human! Succumb to me! Become a Hollow yourself—and kill your beloved sister with your own hands!"
The monster's laughter shook the room as its clawed arm shot forward.
"Brother!!!" Orihime screamed.
"Orihime…" Her brother's eyes filled with despair.
At that instant, the Hollow lifted its foot from Orihime.
Cole's eyes flashed cold. He kicked the door open and stormed inside.
"What!?"
The Hollow recoiled in shock.
"Cole!" Orihime and her brother cried out in relief.
Cole didn't answer. Reiryoku blazed around his fist like fire, and he drove it forward.
"Get lost!!!"
His punch smashed into the Hollow, blasting it back several steps.
"Now! Get behind me!" Cole barked.
He hadn't drawn his zanpakuto yet—he wouldn't risk cutting the siblings.
They scrambled to his side at once.
The Hollow snarled. Then its gaze sharpened, greed flashing in its eyes. "Not human… that reiatsu… you're a Shinigami?"
Cole's expression didn't waver. "And if I am?"
The monster licked its mask hungrily. "Better than a human soul. Shinigami taste divine."
"Oh? Sounds like you've eaten more than one before."
"Of course!"
The Hollow twitched its fingers—and specters of devoured souls flickered into view.
Cole's eyes chilled further as he spotted her. Kurosaki Masaki.
"That woman… she was a Shinigami?"
The Hollow cackled. "No, no. She wasn't. But her taste was sweeter than any Shinigami. Do you know why? She chose to be devoured—to protect her child! Hahahaha!"
Cole's fury reached its peak. This monster was beyond redemption—feeding not just on flesh, but on the agony of humans.
"Pity," the Hollow crooned. "A Shinigami without a sword. Let's see how you taste!"
It lunged.
Cole's hand pressed against his chest, fingers curling as if gripping a hilt.
Without even drawing his zanpakuto, he slashed.
Silver light erupted.
BOOOOM!
Eighty meters of blade-light split the room in two. Walls, ceiling, and floor all shredded under the force.
The Hollow shrieked, barely leaping back in time—yet its chest was torn open, nearly cleaved in half.
"No… impossible!"
Its howl echoed through the collapsing room.
Cole's eyes gleamed coldly. "A pity. That almost killed you."
His arm swung again.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire building shook apart under the force of his strikes.
At last, fear broke the Hollow. With a desperate roar, it smashed through the wall and fled into the night.
"Stop!!!" Cole shouted, racing after it.
The streets thundered with every swing, massive gouges splitting the asphalt as pedestrians froze in terror.
What they saw, none would ever forget.
......…
.........
(End of Chapter)
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