June stood calmly before Tanaka, his presence alone warping the air around them.
"I hope you remember," June said evenly, "only one Hell Captain is allowed to interfere in a mortal-world battle at a time."
From behind him, Zeke folded his arms. "Then hurry up and win already."
Tanaka narrowed his eyes. "Who exactly are you?"
June smiled faintly. "A Hell Captain. And their leader."
Tanaka frowned. "There's no record of Hell Captains in our database."
"No surprise," June replied. "We rarely leave Hell."
Tanaka exhaled sharply. "I see… Geisterstoß."
A massive beam of compressed spiritual energy erupted forward, tearing through the air like a lance.
June raised one hand.
"Double Counter."
The beam reversed instantly, redirected with terrifying precision—its power tripled. Tanaka barely had time to react, drawing his blade and slicing through the attack. The impact shredded the walls behind him, reducing stone and steel to fragments.
Tanaka stared. "What was that technique?"
"It goes by many names," June said casually.
"Attack Counter. Reflect. Judgment Counter. It simply redirects any spiritual attack—wherever I want—at several times its original strength."
"That should've cost you a huge amount of energy," Tanaka said.
"It cost nothing."
June vanished.
In the next instant, steel clashed against steel. Tanaka barely blocked before June split into multiple afterimages. Fists struck from every direction, launching Tanaka into the air. June appeared above him and drove him straight down, the impact shaking the ground.
"You don't stand a chance," June said calmly. "Surrender."
Tanaka rose slowly, laughing.
"I'm going to enjoy this."
"Crucify — Rhita."
His sword transformed mid-motion—its handle forming a cross-like shape, the blade extending with an additional tip, glowing with green accents.
June's eyes sharpened. "So Akira was right. Your powers resemble those of a spiritualist."
Tanaka surged forward.
Their blades collided again and again—appearing, vanishing, reappearing across the battlefield. Each clash shattered walls and tore through the headquarters, the force of their duel shaking the entire structure.
*****
ELSWHERE
Akira arrived at the site of another distortion.
A massive figure stood amid collapsing walls.
Goliath.
"Well, if it isn't you," Akira said, resting his hand on his sword. "Didn't expect a rematch."
Goliath turned, eyes burning. "Fate has granted me revenge."
"Revenge?" Akira scoffed. "That was barely a defeat."
Goliath scanned the area. "Your lieutenant isn't with you."
"He's busy," Akira replied calmly. "And you've already released your sword I see."
Goliath grinned. "Guess all thats left is you to release yours."
Akira smiled faintly.
"I'll think about that."
Goliath roared and swung his massive hammer toward Akira. The air split apart from the force alone.
Akira slipped past the blow, leaping upward and driving an uppercut straight into Goliath's jaw.
"Tch—!" Goliath staggered back. "You really are a pest, Captain."
Snarling, Goliath raised his left hand and began forming Geisterstoß—but before the attack could fully manifest, a flash of steel cut through the air.
His hand fell.
Akira landed lightly. "I hope you don't think this will be a repeat of last time."
Goliath grinned despite the loss. "I was going to say the same thing."
The ground beneath Akira suddenly erupted. A jagged earth spike pierced upward, impaling him through the stomach.
Akira coughed. "You're a real sneaky fox… you know that?"
He forced himself free, landing on his feet—only to see Goliath already regenerating, flesh reforming as if the injury had never happened.
"I see," Akira muttered. "Your regeneration's improved."
Goliath laughed. "Too bad you can't regenerate."
Akira smirked.
"Who told you that?"
Dark energy surged around the wound in his stomach, twisting and compressing until the injury sealed completely.
Goliath's eyes widened. "You're full of tricks."
"Shadow Chains."
In an instant, black chains erupted from Goliath's own shadow, wrapping tightly around his arms and torso.
"The same trick again?" Goliath scoffed.
"No," Akira replied calmly. "This one tightens—and burns—if you struggle."
Goliath growled. "Then I'll erase the shadow."
Light exploded outward as he released Geisterstoß, flooding the area with brilliance. The shadows vanished—and the chains dissolved.
Akira nodded. "Smart move, giant."
Goliath's expression hardened. "Then let's fight all out."
He shattered his weapon into spirit particles and absorbed them into his body.
Akira narrowed his eyes. "What are you planning?"
"Now," Goliath said, voice echoing unnaturally, "you'll see my true form—CRUSH: REISE."
A massive sphere of condensed spiritual energy enveloped him.
"So this is similar to Gōkai," Akira muttered.
The sphere compressed violently back into Goliath's body. As the glow peeled away, a towering figure emerged.
Reise stood over twenty-five meters tall, his body covered in hardened white armor-like skin. Four massive arms flexed as spiritual pressure crushed the surroundings.
"In this form," he declared, "I am no longer Goliath. I am Reise."
Akira looked up unfazed. "I'll just keep calling you Goliath."
Reise snarled. "I'll show you my true power."
A massive fist slammed toward Akira. He dodged—but a second arm struck midair, sending him crashing into the ruins.
"Tch… that hurt."
"Earth Palmer."
Two colossal hands burst from the ground, seizing Akira and crushing inward before dragging him underground.
"You'll die here, Captain."
Silence.
Then—
A violent surge of spiritual energy erupted skyward, splitting the ground apart.
Reise turned slowly. "I knew it wouldn't be that easy."
Akira emerged from the destruction, his presence vastly heavier.
"You forced me to use a power I didn't want to," Akira said coldly. "Now you'll regret it."
"You talk big for—"
Before Reise could finish, two of his left arms were severed in an instant.
"What—?! How did you—?!"
Akira stood before him, sword now cloaked in absolute darkness.
"This battle is over."
"I can still regenerate—"
Reise froze.
"…You noticed," Akira continued. "Your regeneration has stopped."
The darkness around Akira's blade deepened, swallowing light itself.
"Dark Slash: Judgment."
A massive arc of darkness cleaved through Reise's body.
The giant collapsed, his form splitting apart as the spiritual energy dissipated. His eyes dulled, life fading.
Akira exhaled and lowered his sword.
"It's finally over."
He glanced at the fallen giant.
"You fought well."
Akira sheathed his blade.
"I'm drinking a lot of sake after this."
Far from Akira's battlefield,at another distortion in a ruined sector.
A lone demi-spirit walked.
Low-ranking spiritualists lay scattered across the ground, defeated before they had even understood what was happening. The air was thick with fear and residual spiritual energy.
The demi-spirit had long, wild spiky hair trailing down his back, crimson eyes burning with contempt. His uniform matched Tanaka's—black and white, marked with rank sigils.
"Tch," he muttered, stepping over fallen bodies.
"Dancing with fools like these is a bore."
A calm, heavy presence manifested behind him.
"Then why don't you fight me instead, burglar?"
The demi-spirit turned slowly.
"And who might you be?"
"Captain-Commander of Sector 9," the man replied. "Drafus."
The demi-spirit smirked.
"So a captain commander has come to greet me personally."
Drafus's eyes sharpened.
"It's considered good manners to introduce yourself in return."
"My apologies," the demi-spirit said mockingly.
"I am Ranked 21 — Shisui."
Drafus rested a hand on his sword.
"Nice to meet you. Though it's a shame—you chose the wrong group of humans to make enemies of."
Shisui laughed.
"Cocky, aren't we? Monkey."
Drafus didn't flinch.
"Who said I'm cocky? I'm simply stating a fact."
Shisui's grin widened.
"Good. I was hoping for someone worth breaking."
*****
AT THE FOURTH DISTORTION
A woman walked calmly, her boots echoing softly against the ground. The battlefield around her was already decided.
Spiritualists lay motionless, the fight ended before it truly began.
"You never stood a chance," she said flatly.
"For I am Ranked 13 — Demi-Spirit Yachiru."
A sharp voice answered her.
"Then if you're still unsatisfied—
I'll be your opponent."
Yachiru turned.
Teja stood before her, coat fluttering slightly as his spiritual pressure spread outward.
"Oh?" she said with interest. "You think you can keep up?"
"I don't think," Teja replied.
"I know. I am a Captain-Commander—and one of the three lead scientists."
Yachiru smiled.
"Smart men are completely my type."
Teja adjusted his grip on his blade.
"I'm afraid I'm not interested in a relationship."
"A shame," Yachiru said lightly.
Teja's sword shifted.
"Sting — Sasori."
The blade segmented and extended, transforming into a long, flexible weapon ending in a sharp stinger.
"I assume that's your Yonkai," Yachiru observed.
"Correct."
Teja struck.
The stinger shot forward with lethal precision—but Yachiru blocked it instantly, steel ringing through the air.
"You really are troublesome, Captain," she said.
Teja withdrew the blade, its segments snapping back into place.
"Your instincts are sharp," he admitted.
Yachiru's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"That makes it even more tragic," she said softly,
"that you'll die here."
Their spiritual pressures collided violently, cracking the ground beneath them.
And across the battlefield—
Four distortions.
Four monsters.
And the Spirit Corps standing at the edge of annihilation.
Yachiru lifted her blade, her smile widening.
"I'll fight you at my best as well," she said calmly.
"Rip — Chandler."
Her sword twisted and reshaped itself midair, lengthening into a scythe with a pale white shaft and a crimson blade that gleamed with spiritual light.
Teja narrowed his eyes.
"Based on my previous observations," he said, "Demi-Spirits possess powers similar to ours. That weapon is essentially your equivalent of a Yonkai."
Yachiru shook her head lightly.
"I think you're confused about something."
Teja frowned.
"Confused about what?"
"The weapons we use aren't like your sword spirits," she replied. "They don't grant us power."
Teja stiffened.
"They release it."
Teja's eyes widened slightly.
"Each weapon we wield is formed from our own blood," Yachiru continued. "When we absorb them, we return to our true form—our true power."
Teja exhaled slowly.
"I see. So without them, you cannot access your full strength."
"Correct."
In an instant, Yachiru vanished.
She reappeared directly in front of Teja, her scythe already swinging.
Teja reacted instantly. His segmented blade expanded outward, snapping into a spherical formation around him. The scythe struck the barrier with tremendous force, the impact rippling through the air.
A stinger shot out from the sphere toward Yachiru's chest—
—but she twisted away, narrowly evading it before leaping back. Teja's blade retracted instantly.
"Can't you let me hit you?" Teja muttered.
Yachiru laughed softly.
"You're quick on your feet, little boy."
"Oh?" Teja replied.
He surged forward, blade extending and striking again and again. Yachiru met each attack with precise counters, their weapons clashing repeatedly before both retreated several steps.
"I'm really enjoying this," Yachiru said.
"You're free to enjoy it," Teja answered evenly.
"I don't enjoy battles."
Yachiru raised her scythe.
A wave of spiritual energy surged forward in a sweeping arc. Teja leapt into the air to avoid it—
—but several more followed.
The attacks struck in rapid succession, driving him down into the ground.
"If you had used your barrier instead of dodging," Yachiru said calmly, "you wouldn't be in this position."
Teja coughed once and pushed himself up.
"You're right," he admitted.
"That was a stupid mistake."
As the dust settled, it became clear—he was scratched, battered, but far from defeated.
*****
THE FALLEN CAPTAIN AND LIEUTENANT
Elsewhere, the third battlefield lay in ruins.
Drafus stood no more.
The Captain-Commander's body lay motionless, his lieutenant's insignia shattered nearby. A spear of condensed spiritual energy pierced through his chest, its power still lingering in the air.
Shisui sat atop a mound of fallen spiritualists, resting his chin in his palm.
"Well," he sighed, standing up.
"That was boring."
He stretched and glanced around.
"…Hm?"
A faint but powerful spiritual presence pulsed beneath the ground, deep below the headquarters.
"I sense something interesting underground," Shisui said.
"Guess I'll head there next."
He vanished in a blur of motion.
*****
THE TRAPPED CAPTAIN AND SENTINEL
Deep beneath the headquarters, Sunny stood within the sealed chamber, hands glowing with spellwork.
"Sentinel Homura," Sunny said, breathing heavily, "I'm almost done."
"You're sure this spell will work?" Homura asked.
"I can't fully destroy the barrier," Sunny admitted, "but I can weaken it enough for you."
Homura nodded.
"Then continue."
Two minutes passed.
Sunny stepped back.
"Move away."
Homura braced himself.
"REIRRAB REKAERB."
A surge of inverted spiritual energy slammed into the barrier. It flickered violently, cracks forming across its surface.
Homura raised his arm.
Flames erupted outward in a devastating wave, smashing through the weakened barrier entirely.
As the chamber opened, Shisui stood just outside, grinning.
"So you must be the one I sensed," Shisui said. "Honestly, that Drafus guy was easy."
He tilted his head.
"With you, though? I'll actually have fun, monkey."
Homura's eyes burned.
"So you killed him."
"That's right."
The air ignited.
In a single moment, Homura's flames surged forward—overwhelming, absolute.
When the fire faded, nothing remained. No body. No lingering spiritual energy.
Sunny emerged from behind him, staring at the aftermath.
"…That was brutal."
Homura turned away.
"If you can still fight," he said coldly, "go help the others."
"And you?" Sunny asked.
"I'm going to kill Yosuke."
Homura vanished in a blaze of fire, heading straight for Spirit Hill.
June watched the flames streak across the sky.
"Oh…Boy," he muttered, "he's pissed."
Akira folded his arms.
"It's been a long time since I've seen him this furious."
Homura descended onto Spirit Hill with explosive force.
Yosuke stood and calmly turned around, while Yuko and Konami and Yugo's fight halted at his arrival.
"So," Yosuke said, "you managed to escape."
Homura's spiritual pressure surged violently.
"This is where all of you die," he growled.
Yugo glanced toward him, eyes wide.
"…I've never seen him this angry before."
Yosuke stood calmly atop Spirit Hill, the wind tugging at his coat as flames still burned in the distance.
"Have you come for revenge," he asked evenly, "for the deaths of your subordinates?"
Yuko glanced sideways.
"Should we give them some space?"
Konami shook her head.
"Don't be silly. We still have our own fight to finish."
Homura stepped forward, his expression unreadable, his spiritual pressure suffocating.
"Listen, Yosuke," he said coldly. "I'm not angry at you. I'm not going to ask why you betrayed us."
His eyes hardened.
"But as a Sentinel… it is my duty to kill you."
Yosuke smiled faintly.
"The reason I'm doing this—do I really need one?"
Yugo clenched his fists.
"So you're saying you'd kill innocent people for no reason?"
"Innocent?" Yosuke echoed.
"Who told you any of us were innocent, boy?"
"That's enough," Homura said.
"I didn't come here to talk."
Yosuke's spiritual energy flared.
"You're right," he replied.
"But you'll be the one to die here today."
They moved.
In a flash, Homura and Yosuke collided, blades meeting with a violent shockwave that tore through the ground beneath them. Homura followed with an upward slash, flames spiraling toward the sky—
—but Yosuke slipped past it effortlessly.
Afterimages filled the air.
Homura's flames erupted outward, incinerating every false image in an instant.
"By the time you realize it," Homura said, advancing,
"the battle will already be over."
Yosuke stepped back, unshaken.
"Sorry," he replied calmly, "but it seems destiny has decided our fight is not meant to end today."
The air warped.
Tanaka and Yachiru appeared beside Yosuke.
"Lord Yosuke," Tanaka said, kneeling slightly.
"We're ready to leave."
Yuko glanced around.
"Already?"
Konami smirked.
"Looks like it."
They leapt back to Yosuke's side—
—and in that moment, captains and lieutenants appeared all around them, surrounding Spirit Hill in a tight formation.
Shinji drew his blade.
"You don't seriously think you can escape."
Shuba stepped forward.
"He's right, traitor."
Yosuke surveyed them all, utterly calm.
"My, my," he said.
"How naive."
From the rear, Yugo stepped forward, his spiritual pressure exploding outward.
"Yonkai — Despair: Thorfinn."
Dark metal surged across his body like living armor. His right arm was wrapped in massive chains that spiraled endlessly, connected to a pitch-black sword pulsing with oppressive power.
"You will all be confined," Yugo said, his voice cold and distorted.
Chains shot forward, screaming through the air—
—but a violent burst of wind shattered them mid-flight.
Everyone looked up.
A massive white gate had appeared in the sky, engraved with skulls and ancient weapons. As it opened, stairs of bone and flesh formed downward.
From within, countless Hollow spirits poured out.
Yosuke smiled.
"Sorry," he said.
"But we'll be leaving now."
"You cowards!" Yugo roared.
Yuko, Konami, Tanaka, Yachiru—and finally Yosuke—ascended the stairs. Every attempt to reach them was blocked as the Hollow spirits surged forward, forcing the captains back.
At the top, Yosuke stopped.
He turned around, looking down at the captains, lieutenants… and the last Sentinel.
"You have all served your roles well," he said.
"Very useful pawns."
The gate slammed shut.
It vanished.
Silence followed.
Then—
The Hollow spirits remaining on Spirit Hill began to swell, their forms distorting violently.
Homura's eyes widened.
"Everyone—!"
Too late.
One by one, they detonated in massive bursts of corrupted spiritual energy.
Spirit Hill was consumed in destruction.
As the dust finally settled over Spirit Hill, silence followed.
Slowly, figures emerged from the haze.
To everyone's surprise, all captains, lieutenants, and remaining Sentinels stood unharmed. Burn marks scarred the land, the hill itself nearly erased—but no lives had been lost in the final blast.
Homura clicked his tongue.
"How annoying… We let them escape."
Akira exhaled slowly, resting his blade against his shoulder.
"There was nothing more we could do," he said. "Don't torture yourself over it."
June crossed his arms, surveying the ruined landscape.
"So," he said, "what does the Spirit Corps plan to do now?"
Sunny stepped forward, his expression grave.
"The Spirit Central Elders are dead. From this point onward, command authority falls entirely to the Sentinels."
Martha raised a hand calmly.
"Pardon the interruption, but tonight we must leave—with the ones we were instructed to take."
Suzune stiffened.
"What?" she snapped. "The Spirit Corps is already in chaos, and you want to weaken our forces even further?"
Aries scoffed.
"Weakening?"
He smirked.
"Or making them stronger."
June nodded.
"The ones we're taking were chosen by the Spirit God himself. They're meant to be trained."
Martha stepped forward again.
"Besides," she added gently, "I can restore the infrastructure and heal those who still cling to life."
Shinji frowned.
"You think we would just—"
"That's enough," Homura cut in sharply.
Everyone turned toward him.
"They have their duty," he said. "And we have ours. If you can help… then do it."
June glanced at Martha.
"You heard him."
Martha closed her eyes and raised her hand.
"EMIT ES RE VER LA EH EN OZ."
A massive pulse of spiritual energy spread across the Spirit Corps like a wave of light. Broken walls reformed, collapsed buildings stitched themselves back together, and wounded spiritualists gasped as their injuries sealed.
Moments later, the glow faded.
Martha exhaled.
"I'm finished," she said.
"But… half of those underground were already dead."
Homura clenched his fist.
"If only I had acted sooner…"
Teja turned sharply.
"Lieutenant Kurotsuchi."
"Yes, Captain," Kurotsuchi replied immediately.
"Collect the bodies of the two fallen demi-spirits."
"Yes, sir."
Homura raised his voice.
"Everyone—inspect your sectors. Confirm casualties and damage."
"Yes, Sentinel Homura!"
As the officers dispersed, June stepped closer.
"I truly am sorry," he said. "Taking your people at a time like this…"
Homura shook his head.
"There's nothing that can be done."
Akira turned toward Yugo and Yuki.
"You two—go find Maya and Mikasa. Tell them what's happening and have them pack."
Zeke waved dismissively.
"No need. Hell has more than enough essentials."
Akira nodded slightly.
"They should still be informed."
Yugo bowed.
"Yes, Captain."
June glanced at Akira.
"They're like your foster children," he said lightly. "You raised them well."
Akira scoffed.
"What's with the compliments? Don't worry about it."
*****
THREE HOURS LATER
A funeral ceremony was held beneath darkened skies.
Three Sentinels.
A captain commander.
A lieutenant.
Countless fallen spiritualists.
Their bodies were lined with care, banners lowered in mourning.
The master of ceremonies spoke solemnly.
"They fought with honor. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Moments later, Homura stepped forward.
"Light the funeral fire."
Flames rose into the sky, carrying the fallen with them.
Akira stood silently.
"We've suffered a massive loss."
Suzune clenched her fists.
"The real question is whether the lower ranks can recover—emotionally and mentally."
*****
ONE HOUR LATER
On the central tower roof, five figures stood ready.
Yugo.
Yuki.
Mikasa.
Maya.
And the seven Hell Captains.
Akira looked at them seriously.
"You four… be careful."
Homura crossed his arms.
"And don't cause trouble."
Shuba smiled faintly.
"Eat properly."
Yugo nodded.
"We'll be fine."
Yuki added softly.
"Please don't worry about us."
Martha raised her sword.
"We should hurry. The gate is ready."
The Hell Gate appeared in the sky once more, opening with a deep, echoing resonance.
June turned toward them.
"Let's go."
One by one, they stepped through.
The gate closed.
And with it, the world grew quieter.