"Split up and get out of here! Call for backup!"
"Yes, sir!"
There was no time to think up a plan. At Ōmaeda's shout, everyone scattered, dashing off in different directions.
Ōmaeda deliberately chose the path leading away from Seireitei.
As he fled, he risked a quick glance over his shoulder. Sure enough, that massive white Hollow was chasing him through the night sky like a giant bat, relentless and locked onto him.
Which only meant his gamble was paying off.
Higher-ranking Shinigami were much tastier prey.
So he used that fact, deliberately drawing its attention to himself so his men could escape alive.
And those lucky enough to survive wouldn't waste his "sacrifice." They'd use their Denreishinki to call for help from Seireitei right away.
Junrinan was close enough.
With his Shunpo, he could stall for time until reinforcements arrived.
But there was a problem—running the opposite way bought him time, but it also meant he'd never meet up with those reinforcements. Sooner or later, he'd have to change direction.
Just as Ōmaeda turned a corner, the Hollow suddenly fired off a Cero.
It wasn't meant to kill. It was meant to block his path.
The explosion and shockwave disrupted his Shunpo, slowing him down just enough.
The Hollow seized the opening and lunged.
"Gegetsuburi!"
Ōmaeda hurled his massive iron ball. Against a normal opponent it would've worked—but this Hollow was anything but ordinary.
With terrifying experience, it dodged with a smooth sidestep, then rushed along the chain. Its leg lashed out like a kickball strike, smashing square into Ōmaeda's face. He went flying, crashing through the forest a hundred meters away, gouging a bloody trench in the earth.
"You bastard, you kicked me in the face?!"
Wiping the blood from his nose, Ōmaeda cursed, but his heart was sinking fast.
Too strong.
Other than being a little slower, it had no real weaknesses.
The odds of killing it were slim. The odds of dying—much higher.
Against an opponent like this, retreat was the only option.
But as he tried to flee again, the Hollow exploded forward, moving at twice its earlier speed.
"What?!"
Ōmaeda's pupils shrank.
In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of him.
So much for "a little slow." This thing was insanely fast!
"You want to stall for time. I want to get farther from Seireitei. That way, nobody discovers my little secret."
The Hollow clamped onto the wrist of his sword arm before he could swing, locking it in midair.
Secret? What secret?
Ōmaeda didn't understand—but he knew one thing: he'd been played.
The Hollow wasn't worried about catching the Onmitsukidō. It just didn't want to risk anyone escaping and revealing something that would draw the Gotei 13's attention.
So it let the others go, then forced him away from the group, creating a private one-on-one space where it could do whatever it wanted.
"You son of a—"
Suddenly, Ōmaeda caught that strange look in the Hollow's eyes again.
This time, close up, he understood.
The curse on his lips turned into a startled shout.
"You're after my Zanpakutō?!"
Yes. The Hollow's gaze was locked hungrily onto Gegetsuburi.
"See? Way too easy to notice. Instinct's hard to control, so I've gotta be careful. If the Shinigami found out, it wouldn't end well for me."
The Hollow grinned.
All three heads grinned. The sight was horrific.
But the intent behind it was far worse.
"What the hell do you gain from that?!"
For the first time, real panic stirred in Ōmaeda's chest. A Hollow, coveting a Shinigami's weapon? That was unheard of—
"What else? To eat it, of course."
Three tongues slid across jagged teeth. The Hollow's cruel, greedy eyes lingered on Gegetsuburi.
"Surprised me too. Who'd have thought a Hollow could evolve by devouring a Shinigami's weapon? I guess it helps that I can eat metal, and those blades of yours look like they're forged from it."
"But Zanpakutō taste way better than metal. Especially when they belong to strong Shinigami. Shame I only figured this out a few years ago. If I'd known one or two thousand years earlier, I'd already be king of Hueco Mundo."
"So the missing students and instructors—you kidnapped them, stole their Zanpakutō, then killed them?!"
Ōmaeda's eyes went wide.
"My first plan was to use them to lure stronger Shinigami. But those brats? Annoying little pests. Even with their infighting, they refused to give in. No fun at all."
"But the older one… now he was easier to work with. His attitude started softening. So I kept him locked away in a cave, planning to convince him slowly."
The Hollow's tone dripped with false regret.
"Then you showed up. Honestly? I'm pissed. But also kinda glad. My plan's wrecked, but my goal's still within reach."
"So, how about it? Wanna team up? You're way stronger than that guy probably buried under rubble. And smarter too. Perfect partner for me—Kess Soberano, the future king of Hueco Mundo."
Ōmaeda blinked, realization dawning.
"That's why you've been talking so much."
"So? Your answer—?"
Kess's eager smile was edged with cold killing intent.
And honestly, being crushed under this suffocating Reiatsu felt worse than a blade against his throat.
But Ōmaeda… didn't flinch. Didn't cower. Hell, he almost laughed. His rough voice carried nothing but contempt.
"Hey, Hollow."
"Kess Soberano."
"Don't care what you call yourself. To me, you're just another savage Hollow. I don't know what that other poor bastard chose. But if I let you look down on Shinigami—especially the higher ranks—my captain would kill me himself."
"So you're saying no?"
"If you wanna put it that way, I'm making the same choice as those stubborn brats."
"…I see. Then die with them."
Kess fell silent for a moment. Then the two heads on either side began to glow, crimson light burning in their jaws.
"Yeah, figured that'd be your answer."
Ōmaeda drew in a deep breath, pushing his Reiatsu to the limit. He wasn't about to sit here and wait to die.
"You really thought a Shinigami would sell out? Let me show you the backbone of the 2nd Division, you dumb Hollow!"
Schlkk!
Suddenly—without warning—a blade burst clean through Kess's chest.
Hot blood sprayed across Ōmaeda's face.
His eyes went wide, his Reiatsu faltering in shock.
"What?!"
Now it was Kess's turn to snarl in rage.
He hurled Ōmaeda aside by the arm—
But the attacker had already pulled back their blade, ducking low under the swing.
The stance was unmistakable. Soma Kiryu.
"Uwaaaaa!"
Flailing through the air like a human cannonball, Ōmaeda screamed—not a trace of his earlier bravado left.
Soma's eyes glowed blue with Reiatsu.
He shot forward like a hunting cat, Zanpakutō flashing upward. The blade's cold light shimmered more hauntingly than moonlight, slicing across Kess's wrist. Flesh split to the bone, black-red blood spraying into the air.
Kess roared, releasing Ōmaeda, who went tumbling through the trees.
Luckily, Akari snagged him by the collar mid-air, swinging away like Tarzan to drag him into cover.
"Die!"
Kess lunged for Soma—but his feet were suddenly trapped, encased in stone that burst from the ground.
It held for only two seconds before he shattered Atae's binding.
But those two seconds were enough.
A massive golden bolt of lightning tore from the distance, roaring like a thunder-beast as it slammed into Kess.
The world erupted in blinding light, searing flesh and scattering bloody fragments.
Broken and charred, Kess was blasted away, tumbling like a severed kite.
And still—it wasn't over.
Waiting in the direction of his fall, Ichigo had been crouched in the grass all along.
He didn't hesitate. Bursting forward, he swung in a clean horizontal slash.
Kess Soberano's shattered body was cleaved neatly in two.