Night, West Rukongai District 78.
Beneath a large tree, three men clad in black cloaks stood expressionless, observing a humanoid creature rolling on the ground, covered in a strange white substance.
"This one is also a failure."
Leading the group, Sōsuke Aizen held a pen, meticulously recording every state of the male Shinigami's progression from the start of the experiment to his eventual collapse.
Gin Ichimaru wore his signature fox-like grin. "Why does Captain Aizen keep using such trash for these experiments?"
Decades ago, even Captains couldn't withstand Hollowfication. Why did Aizen think these ordinary rank-and-file soldiers could endure it? Gin found it baffling.
Snap—
With the sound of the notebook closing, the Hollowfied Shinigami's body finally gave out. A mixture of red and white matter splattered across the ground.
"I must admit, using Captains for experiments too early was a mistake on my part," Aizen said.
"I am currently considering lowering the ratio of power implantation. This might allow for the mass production of combatants at the Lieutenant level."
Aizen was in a good mood today, offering a rare explanation of his experiments to Gin.
After his conversation with Soifon, Aizen had realized that even she—who commanded the Stealth Force and the Punishment Force—harbored prejudices against the nobility. It seemed the Gotei 13 was no longer a monolithic entity.
Even if Soifon wasn't an ally, the decay of the Soul Society was becoming impossible to hide.
Regardless, the 'Plan to Defect to Hueco Mundo' would involve the three of them against the Gotei 13. The advantage was his!
Aizen turned and walked away with confidence. Kaname Tōsen released a disc-shaped purple flame from his hand that spun rapidly through the air. The gruesome remains of the monster were instantly consumed by the fire.
In the end, it was just another talentless piece of trash. How pathetic.
Casting a merciless glance at the burning corpse, Aizen led his two subordinates back toward the Seireitei.
Just as they were about to leave, the waste-flames burning on the corpse began to flicker out. The red and white mixture on the ground began to crawl and fuse erratically. Finally, it transformed into a humanoid 'aberrant' wrapped in white matter.
It stood up unsteadily from the ground, threw its arms wide, and tilted its head back. A bloody slit cracked open through the white substance on its face.
"Wuuu—"
A shrill roar accompanied an indiscriminate release of Spiritual Pressure. The surrounding air grew heavy, and the resulting sonic booms sent clods of earth flying.
This ominous Reiatsu forced the three men to turn back—though Tōsen, being blind, could not see it.
This was...
Gin Ichimaru's grin widened. "High-Speed Regeneration?"
"It seems this ratio is correct," Aizen mused. "Even a creature this weak can possess Lieutenant-level Spiritual Pressure..."
Before Aizen could finish his sentence, he sensed a familiar Reiatsu moving rapidly toward them. Or rather, the target was the experimental subject that was recklessly venting its power.
Who could have known? Since becoming a Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki had finally found some free time to come to the Rukongai for a date, only to run into this mess.
"Such an evil Spiritual Pressure."
After bidding farewell to Hisana, Byakuya Kuchiki pressed his right hand onto his sword hilt, rushing toward the scene in a stance ready to draw at any moment.
The Hollowfied Shinigami had discarded all reason, retaining only the most primitive biological instincts: hunting and feeding.
When it spotted Byakuya Kuchiki entering its field of vision, it lunged forward without hesitation.
Swish!
Byakuya's silhouette appeared beside the monster. Senbonzakura was quietly returned to its sheath.
A silver-white flash of a blade flickered by. Crimson blood stained the leaves on the trees as a pale arm was severed cleanly at the shoulder.
"Wait... a Shihakushō?"
Byakuya's eyes widened as his gaze fell upon the tattered black clothing clinging to the monster's body.
However, the creature gave him no time to think.
At the wound where the Hollowfied Shinigami's arm had been severed, the pale matter began to squirm frantically like living sludge. In the blink of an eye, a new arm had already finished regenerating.
A piercing sound of breaking air rang out.
Taking advantage of his momentary shock, the newly grown arm lashed out like a whip, sweeping across Byakuya Kuchiki's chest at a bizarre angle.
Rip—
By the time he reacted, it was too late. The Shihakushō on Byakuya's chest was torn open, and three shallow bloody gashes appeared on his skin. Beads of blood seeped out and slowly trickled down.
He still had too little combat experience.
Such sharp claws and ridiculous regenerative abilities... was it a Hollow?
Meanwhile, in a bustling street in Rukongai District 1.
"Teacher Soifon, would you like some dumplings?"
Nom, chew, chew.
"Teacher Soifon, this peach is so crunchy and juicy!"
Crunch, chew, chew.
Sitting in a snack shop, Soifon was caught in a pincer attack by Rukia and Momo Hinamori, who were taking turns feeding her.
Soifon's hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly. She looked up. "This Spiritual Pressure is..."
She immediately set down her cup and looked at the two girls. "Something's happened. Return to the Seireitei immediately. Do not stop along the way; go straight back to the Shin'ō Academy."
"Teacher Soifon?" Rukia put down her chopsticks instantly, and worry appeared on Momo Hinamori's face.
"Be good. I'll bring you out again next time."
Soifon reached out and ruffled both Rukia and Momo's heads. She stuffed the rest of her peach into her mouth and vanished from the spot.
Within a minute, Soifon appeared at the edge of the battlefield. After seeing the two sides fighting, her expression became somewhat subtle.
The Captain's Haori on Byakuya Kuchiki was already stained with dust, and the bloody scratches on his chest were quite prominent against the white fabric.
Was fighting a Lieutenant-level Hollowfied monster really this much of a struggle for him?
Hm...
Soifon thought about it. It seemed that before becoming a Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki had always trained in solitude and hadn't experienced much actual combat.
He was likely around the same level of strength she had been when she first learned Bankai—all style, no substance.
That explained it.
Byakuya sliced off the monster's arms once more. This time, he aimed his blade directly at its neck...
Crunch.
Soifon bit into the crunchy peach in her hand. The intentional sound made Byakuya retreat warily to create distance. She couldn't let this monster die; it was hard enough to find a living piece of evidence.
When he looked toward the source of the sound, Soifon was standing on a tree, waving a hand at him.
"Keep it up!"
Chew, chew, chew.
Byakuya swung his blade to parry another pounce from the monster. A vein throbbed at his temple. "You... are you here to mock me again?"
"Not at all."
Soifon finished the peach in one bite and clapped her hands, jumping down from the tree. She pulled out a signal flare and fired it into the sky.
"It would be such a waste to kill a thing like this."
Soifon pointed a finger toward the Hollowfied Shinigami. Six rectangular yellow beams of light manifested as shackles, slamming into the creature's waist in a circular formation.
Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!
The previously ferocious Hollowfied monster was pinned in place by the Bakudō, able to do nothing but let out mindless howls.
'She restrained it with a chantless Rikujōkōrō?!'
Suppressing his shocked expression, Byakuya Kuchiki silently sheathed Senbonzakura and took out bandages to wrap his wounds.
He wouldn't say another word to Soifon until the people from the Seireitei arrived.
In terms of having a wicked sense of humor, this woman had perfectly inherited the will of Yoruichi Shihōin.
The most frustrating part was that he still couldn't beat her.
_____
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