On the stage, the head of the Yokota family continued his incessant tirade, expounding on how unjust the world was. He complained that while they were granted inexhaustible wealth and honor, they were cruelly deprived of the powerful spiritual talent that should have been theirs by right.
In contrast, those lowly, common souls from the Rukongai were becoming students of the Spiritual Arts Academy one after another, learning world-shaking Kidō and obtaining unique Zanpakutō.
Those things should have belonged to them.
Below the stage, Fong Shaolin's eyes flickered with a trace of disdain, though she offered no comment. Despite being a noble herself, she had no desire to be classified in the same rank as people like this. To become a direct subordinate of Lady Yoruichi, she had sacrificed almost all her leisure and rest. As long as her body could endure it, she trained without pause until she achieved her goal.
Looking at these people in the manor, they did nothing but shout empty slogans and complain, unwilling to put in even a fraction of the effort. Did they truly believe they could become powerful among Soul Reapers based on talent alone?
Naraku Sora, however, wasn't paying the slightest attention to that vacuous speech. The level of the Yokota family head was far too poor—not even a hundredth of Aizen's ability. Aizen was a man who could bewitch the human heart with just a few words.
Naraku's gaze kept drifting toward the remote corners of the estate, trying to locate the source of the unease he felt. He found nothing.
"So that we too may become existences that transcend even Yamamoto Genryūsai, I pray to the God!"
The head of the Yokota family wore a fanatical expression, looking like an extremist.
"As long as we offer enough sacrifices, we shall obtain unparalleled spiritual talent and become the supreme beings of the Soul Society, even replacing that Yamamoto Genryūsai!"
As his voice fell, two members of the Yokota family pulled back the wide curtains on the high platform.
A shocking scene appeared. Dozens of Rukongai residents, dressed in rags and bound in chains, were imprisoned within a massive iron cage.
Fong Shaolin's brow furrowed tightly. Most of the missions she executed involved Soul Reapers; she rarely dealt with ordinary residents, let alone a scene of such inhumanity. The other nobles seemed long accustomed to this. Those who showed a moment of surprise were quickly overtaken by other emotions. In their eyes, the residents of the Rukongai were clearly nothing more than consumables. If sacrificing some useless things could be traded for spiritual power, the deal was more than worth it.
Under countless expectant gazes, the ritual mentioned by the Yokota head began. However, the so-called ritual procedure was somewhat different from what Naraku Sora had imagined.
There was no buildup.
A massive, ancient-looking gate opened atop the high platform. A pitch-black, deep void manifested within the doorway. Accompanied by the surge of heavy Reiatsu, a grayish-white figure slowly stepped out.
A look of realization appeared on Naraku Sora's face. He had finally found the source of his unease. It turned out the "God" the Yokota head spoke of was actually a Hollow!
The heavy pressure continuously extended from the Senkaimon. The sturdy platform sagged slightly as the misshapen creature forced itself through the open gate, presenting itself fully before the crowd. Unlike the berserk creatures he had encountered before, this Menos was not only extremely humanoid in appearance, but its every move and gesture was identical to a human's.
Only its terrifying height—comparable to a building—its claws covered in steel-like spikes, and the horrific bull-horned skull mask ruined its overall poise. Perhaps to flaunt its power, it released its Reiatsu wantonly. The thick atmosphere enveloped the entire manor like a mountain torrent.
The platform and the earth trembled. Ugly, fawning expressions appeared on the faces of the nobles as they prostrated themselves on the ground, hoping to win the favor of this so-called "God."
Naraku Sora watched the nobles bowing down, a trace of pity in his eyes. While the Soul Reapers of the Gotei 13 fought and died against all sorts of powerful enemies to maintain a hard-won balance, these high-and-mighty nobles in the rear were kneeling before a Menos. Such a posture was truly nauseating.
Staring at the terrifying figure on the platform, sweat broke out on Fong Shaolin's forehead, and her body trembled slightly. This was the first time she had encountered such a fearsome Hollow. After a simple assessment of the difference in Reiatsu, the young girl was already prepared to die.
They weren't even in the same league. There was no mistake; it was definitely a Menos, and an Adjuchas-class one at that.
"N-Naraku, Sixth Seat."
Though her voice was shaking, Fong Shaolin maintained a facade of composure as she stood in front of Naraku Sora and whispered, "I will stall for as long as I can. You must break out as quickly as possible and contact reinforcements. An enemy like this isn't something we can—"
Before she could finish, a predatory gaze fell upon the two of them, who stood out from the kneeling crowd.
"Failing to bow before me... you are quite different from those weaklings. Are you Soul Reapers of the Gotei?"
The Hollow's mouth opened like petals, revealing countless rows of fine, sharp teeth, making its appearance even more horrifying.
"Yokota, did you leak word of this?"
Beside it, the head of the Yokota family turned pale as a ghost. Trembling, he stammered, "M-Messenger, I never leaked anything to the Gotei 13. They must have investigated it on their own..."
The Hollow gave him a cold look that immediately silenced him in fear.
"I do not care about the process, only the results. Your cooperation with the Lord must not be known by those people. According to our agreement, seal the manor. I will handle these two."
The Yokota head looked relieved and nodded repeatedly. As the Kidō ritual was released, a massive barrier instantly expanded, shrouding the entire estate. Judging by the practiced movement, this was clearly not the first time they had done this.
Fong Shaolin's expression turned grim to the extreme. Just as she was about to strike, a hand pressed down on her shoulder.
In a daze, a blistering heat erupted from beside her. In the moment the blade flashed, a sword pressure like a falling meteor cleaved through the Kidō barrier that was about to close.
And it didn't stop there. The residual force fell directly toward the high platform.
Boom!!
A deafening explosion swallowed the figures above. Flames rose from the earth, and the entire manor shook violently, letting out a groan as it buckled under the brutal devastation.
It was the 31st Hadō, Shakkahō, released in the form of sword pressure.
With multiple layers of power stacked together, the massive platform was nearly erased. The sweeping aftershocks claimed the lives of the nobles standing in the front, who didn't even have time to scream.
As the dust settled, a massive crater appeared where the platform had been. Soil that had turned to lava flowed across the scorched, blackened earth. The Hollow was nowhere to be seen; even its Reiatsu had vanished. It seemed to have died completely within that terrifying strike.
Just as Fong Shaolin was about to speak, a thick, viscous Reiatsu suddenly erupted from beneath the ground, turning into a colossal pillar of light—
Soaring straight into the sky!