Grandma's warning lingered in Sombravida's mind long after she finished speaking.
Rukongai.
Disappearances.
Clothes left behind.
That pattern was disturbingly familiar.
Before the main storyline, Aizen was already conducting Hollowfication experiments in secret. Even without full control of Central 46 yet, his manipulation ran deep. If souls from outer districts were vanishing without trace, it could very well be connected to prototype experiments or data gathering.
Sombravida's eyes narrowed slightly.
If he wanted to avoid becoming a disposable test subject, the safest path was clear:
Enter the Shin'ō Academy.
Have his name recorded.
Become part of the system.
Shinigami disappearances were documented. Civilian souls in outer Rukongai? Far easier to erase.
"I understand, Grandma. I'll be careful."
Fortunately, District One was close to Seireitei's walls. Patrol frequency was far higher than in the outer wards. Unless Aizen used Kyōka Suigetsu on a wide scale — which would attract unnecessary attention — District One remained relatively stable.
For now.
That evening, the four of them ate together again.
Food had become noticeably richer since Sombravida began hunting. The effect on spiritual growth was visible. Momo's reiryoku felt denser. Even Tōshirō's fluctuations were sharper.
Mid-meal, Tōshirō spoke.
"I had a strange dream last night."
Sombravida paused subtly.
"In the dream, I was standing somewhere extremely cold. There was thick mist… and something was calling me. I couldn't see it clearly, but it was huge. Not human."
Momo blinked. "You ate too much cold watermelon."
"It wasn't that!" Tōshirō snapped. "It felt… alive. Like it was waiting."
Sombravida's heartbeat slowed.
Hyōrinmaru.
Too early.
Canonically, Tōshirō begins hearing Hyōrinmaru before entering the Academy — but this felt accelerated.
Diet improvement. Increased reiryoku intake. Near-death encounter with a Hollow.
All were catalysts for spiritual awakening.
"Did you try approaching it?" Sombravida asked calmly.
"When I stepped forward, everything vanished."
Sombravida nodded slowly.
"Don't force it. If something is calling you, it will call again."
Tōshirō grunted and returned to eating.
Sombravida did not press further.
Zanpakutō spirits awaken when the soul is ready. Forcing the issue could destabilize growth.
Later that night, Sombravida arranged for Tōshirō to stay over.
"Help me with the field tomorrow morning," Sombravida said casually.
Tōshirō understood the subtext.
Sombravida did not want him feeling indebted.
The three returned home. Momo and Tōshirō began digging the marked spot for a well outline. Sombravida pushed the cart into the forest.
Nightfall.
Sombravida's perception spread outward in measured pulses.
Then—
There.
A wild boar.
Large. Healthy. Dense spiritual signature from recent feeding.
Sombravida lowered his stance.
He inhaled.
Exhaled.
Compressed reiryoku into his legs.
Burst.
The ground cracked beneath him as he accelerated forward. The modified step technique was rough compared to Sonído, but efficient within Shinigami-compatible circulation.
In a single passing motion, the watermelon knife pierced the boar's skull.
Crack.
Reiryoku surged through the blade, scrambling the creature's nervous system instantly.
The boar collapsed without a sound.
Sombravida landed several meters beyond, exhaling slowly.
"…Seven-tenths," he murmured.
A crude but functional adaptation of his former technique.
His reserves dropped sharply — from roughly full output to a third remaining.
Still inefficient.
Still too costly.
But usable.
He rested and reset traps.
Hours passed.
Then—
Footsteps.
Measured.
Not animal.
Sombravida suppressed his presence slightly.
Kira Izuru stepped into the clearing.
"You really are here!"
His voice carried genuine relief — and admiration. His gaze fell immediately upon the fallen boar, skull pierced cleanly.
"That was done with… that?"
He stared at the watermelon knife embedded in bone.
Sombravida turned his head as if reacting by sound.
"Kira? You came back."
"Yes! I wanted to continue our discussion. And—" he lifted a wrapped bento box, "I brought something again."
Sombravida accepted it calmly.
Rice. Fried fish. Chicken leg.
Noble household provisions.
"Very good," Sombravida nodded lightly.
"I also spoke with my instructor," Kira continued eagerly. "He agreed that foundation training is more important than flashy technique."
"Then you should be at home building that foundation," Sombravida replied evenly.
"I wish to learn real combat experience," Kira said firmly. "I will compensate you properly."
Sombravida considered for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Very well. But understand this — I can teach structure, instinct, and battlefield awareness. I cannot give you spirit."
"Yes!"
Before Sombravida could continue—
A pulse of reiatsu rippled through the forest.
Raw.
Distorted.
Predatory.
Then came the roar.
A Hollow.
Freshly manifested.
Kira stiffened immediately. His grip tightened around his sword.
"Based on the density," Sombravida said calmly, sensing the fluctuation pattern, "low-level Hollow. Newly formed. Not evolved."
Kira swallowed.
"It's night. The Gotei 13 won't patrol this deep."
"Kira," Sombravida said quietly, "are you afraid?"
"…Yes."
Honest.
Good.
"Good," Sombravida replied.
He stepped toward the boar, paused at the watermelon knife — then turned instead.
"You brought your practice blade?"
"Yes."
"Hand it to me."
Kira hesitated only a second before passing it over.
Sombravida tested the balance briefly.
Not a Zanpakutō.
No sealed spirit.
Just forged steel.
Perfect.
"Stay behind me," Sombravida instructed. "I fight using perception, not sight. Watch carefully."
They advanced.
Soon, the Hollow came into view.
Two meters long. Six spiked tentacles. Elongated bone-plated neck. Rooster-like mask with a sharp beak.
Recently transformed soul.
Mask still pristine.
Sombravida measured distance.
Weight distribution.
Attack radius.
"Kira," he said lightly, shifting his stance.
"I'm about to show off."
Reiryoku began to rise steadily around him.
The battle was about to begin!
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