On the night before the war, the atmosphere in the Seireitei was unusually tense.
Inside the Eleventh Division's barracks, two young squad members sat on the edge of the communal bed.
One was wiping his sword; the other was staring blankly at his.
"We're fighting the Quincies tomorrow," the dazed one spoke, his voice a little dry.
"When I was in the Spiritual Arts Academy, I heard people say that during the war nine hundred years ago, more than half of the original Gotei 13 died."
The one wiping his sword didn't stop his hands.
"I've heard."
"How many days do you think people at our level can survive once we go there?"
The squad member wiping his sword flipped the blade over, slowly pushing the oiled cloth across the steel.
"Quincies are human too. They'll die if they get slashed. The captains and seated officers will charge at the front; we just need to make sure we don't fall behind."
The dazed squad member fell silent for a moment.
"We aren't familiar with the new captain yet, and we don't know if he'll look out for us... By the way, are you scared?"
The squad member wiping his sword put the oiled cloth down and looked at his blade.
"The Eleventh Division was born for battle. If I were scared, I wouldn't have joined the Eleventh Division."
The dazed squad member nodded, picked up his own Zanpakuto, and began wiping it as well.
All necessary preparations had been made.
The various divisions were operating at full tilt for the war.
The lights in the Twelfth Division's workshop stayed on all night, analyzing Shiba Isshin's data in an attempt to crack the secret behind the stolen Bankai.
The members of the Fourth Division rolled and neatly stacked bandages, piling them several times higher than usual.
A young squad member knocked over some supplies, his hands trembling as he picked them up.
Just then, a figure squatted down and helped him gather them.
The squad member looked at the person helping him and hurriedly thanked her.
Kotetsu Isane softly returned the greeting. After helping him clean up, she looked out at the pitch-black night.
'I wonder what Vice-Captain Hasumi... oh, no, he's a captain now...'
'What is he doing right now?'
...
In the Thirteenth Division barracks, Kaien was sitting on the veranda wiping his sword.
His movements were very meticulous, wiping from the tsuba to the tip of the blade, repeating the motion countless times.
A figure walked up to him. He raised his head and saw a captain's haori.
Looking further up, he saw Hasumi Ren's face. He opened his mouth, an expression of surprise and joy appearing on his face.
"Senior... no, I should call you Captain Hasumi now."
"Senior is fine. We don't need to be so formal."
"Alright, Senior. I really didn't expect this. Your promotion speed..."
Kaien smiled bitterly and set the cloth aside.
"Not long ago when we met, you were still a vice-captain. The next time we meet, you've draped the Kenpachi's haori over your shoulders. I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up to you in this lifetime."
"There's no need to reach for what's beyond your grasp. Just walk your own path well."
Kaien fell silent for a moment, feeling a sharp pang in his heart.
Then, he gently let out a breath.
"Thanks for what happened with my uncle. It's a good thing you arrived in time."
"It was just a coincidence."
Hasumi Ren sat down on the veranda.
"Where are Ganju and Kukaku?"
"Kukaku is in the Rukongai, and Ganju is still managing the shop in the Noble District. I told them not to go out for the next few days and to stay far away from the Seireitei."
Hasumi Ren nodded.
"In this fight against the Quincies, you must protect yourself, and you must protect them as well."
"You too." Kaien looked at Hasumi Ren. "Even though I know you are very strong, Senior, you must be careful."
"Don't worry."
After bidding Kaien farewell, Hasumi Ren went to the First Division.
He had come specifically to discuss matters with the Head Captain.
"Head Captain." Hasumi Ren walked up to Yamamoto Shigekuni. "When the Stealth Force sets out to scout, I will go with them."
Yamamoto glanced at him.
"Your reason."
"I have a foundation in the Stealth Force from my time in the Second Division. I'm no amateur when it comes to reconnaissance."
Hasumi Ren continued.
"The Quincies have hidden for so long; it's impossible for them to be completely unprepared for our invasion. There is a high probability of an ambush on the outer defensive line."
"If the scouting squad is ambushed, my presence will provide an extra line of defense, at least ensuring the intel makes it back."
"After all, Soi Fon is a newly appointed captain. I'm worried she might not handle it well."
Yamamoto did not reply immediately, remaining silent for a moment.
"You and this newly appointed captain of the Second Division..."
"We have a purely platonic relationship as comrades-in-arms."
Yamamoto stared at Hasumi Ren for a good while before letting out a light chuckle.
"Very well. I leave the scouting squad to you and Soi Fon. Remember, when encountering the enemy, prioritize reconnaissance. Do not linger in battle."
"Send word of the enemy back. I will lead your Eleventh Division in the assault, and you will rendezvous with us then."
"Understood."
Before dawn, inside the Twelfth Division's workshop.
Hikifune Kirio personally oversaw the final round of spell calibrations.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri stood at the control console, his fingers typing rapidly across the keyboard as data on several projection screens refreshed simultaneously.
"Anchoring of the Shadow Realm entrance is complete. Portal stability has met the standard."
"The opening location is random, though it should lean toward the periphery. The Second Division must be careful."
Mayuri pressed the activation button. A ring of pale blue Reishi halo floated above the circular platform in the center.
The space in the center of the halo began to twist. Through the torn rift, one could vaguely see the grayish-white sky and the silver architectural outlines on the other side.
"The portal is open. The estimated duration is sufficient for the first echelon to complete their insertion. Commencing countdown."
Soi Fon stood directly in front of the entrance.
The elite Stealth Force troops behind her had already finished assembling.
However, a conspicuous figure dressed in Executive Militia uniform quietly appeared at the rear of the formation, causing Soi Fon's gaze to narrow.
She was just about to reprimand him when she saw the eyes hidden beneath the mask winking playfully at her, causing her brow to furrow even tighter.
Soi Fon used Shunpo to appear beside Hasumi Ren and ruthlessly pinched his waist.
"Why are you over here causing trouble?"
Hasumi Ren twisted to dodge.
"I already reported to the Head Captain. Hurry up and get ready, we're about to set out."
Feeling utterly speechless, Soi Fon gritted her teeth and returned to the front of the formation.
Soon, she raised her hand.
"Stealth Force, move out."
Nearly a hundred dark figures vanished into the portal almost simultaneously.
The perimeter of the Wandenreich.
The members of the Stealth Force made no sound as they landed, rapidly scattering into the surrounding shadows.
Soi Fon crouched at the edge of the roof of a low building, her gaze sweeping slightly through the dim light.
The scale of Silbern was basically consistent with their gathered intelligence, but the density of the building clusters was slightly higher than estimated, proving that the number of Quincies was quite large.
"Scatter. Maintain sensory distance. Issue a signal immediately upon encountering any anomalies."
Soi Fon's voice was kept extremely low as she rapidly flashed a series of hand signs.
The members scattered silently, dividing into smaller squads to reconnoiter the Wandenreich's terrain and troop distribution.
Once the personnel had mostly dispersed, Hasumi Ren moved up behind Soi Fon, joining the squad she was leading.
Soi Fon pursed her lips but silently acquiesced to Hasumi Ren's actions.
They began to make their way toward the tallest building in the center, the heart of Silbern.
Soon, as a squad member explored the alleyway on the left, he stepped on a stone crevice, causing Reishi patterns beneath his feet to suddenly light up.
Pale gold light patterns rapidly extended to both sides along the ground, activating the entire alleyway in an instant.
Following that, the sharp sound of piercing wind rang through the air. Several Reishi arrows shot out from hidden sentries at the end of the alley, aimed straight at that squad member's back.
A figure moved faster than the light arrows.
Hasumi Ren cut in from the side of the alley, sweeping his Zanpakuto horizontally to chop three Reishi arrows cleanly in half.
Soi Fon cursed under her breath from the rooftop.
The Stealth Force's infiltration formation was exposed in that very instant.
Over a dozen Quincies emerged from surrounding hidden sentry posts and alleyways, all holding Reishi short bows in their hands.
Hasumi Ren's figure vanished from his spot, appearing the next second in the most densely packed group of Quincies.
With a horizontal slash of his blade, a row of Quincies, bows and all, was sent flying.
Someone on the left attempted to shoot from close range. Before the Reishi arrow could even leave the bowstring, Hasumi Ren's left fist had already smashed squarely into the man's chest.
The strike exploded with a ring of fierce wind upon impact, blasting that Quincy straight through the stone wall behind him.
Soi Fon moved at high speeds above the alleyways, flashing cover hand signs to the rushing squad members. Reorganizing their formation, she led her troops to slaughter the besieging Quincies.
"You exposed our position!"
"They found us a long time ago."
Hasumi Ren said, cutting down another Quincy who tried to sneak up from the side with a single strike.
Soi Fon didn't waste any more breath.
Drawing her Zanpakuto, she fought her way forward, slaying several people with a wave of her hand.
Her figure moved rapidly through the alleyways until she crashed into two Sternritter members responsible for guarding this defensive sector.
One of them was As Nodt, Schrift F, The Fear.
His Reishi arrows could not be defended against physically. Anyone struck by his Reishi arrows would develop a fear of everything around them, ultimately losing their will to fight.
The other was Cang Du, wielding a pair of claw blades, Schrift I, The Iron.
Cang Du could make his body extremely hard, possessing astonishing defensive power.
These two were clearly far stronger than the surrounding Quincies.
After exchanging a blow with one of them, Soi Fon felt a sharp wind assault her ear and used Shunpo to retreat to the side.
Cang Du's claw blades grazed the back of her neck and nailed into the stone wall. Before the crushed stone even hit the ground, she had already circled to her opponent's flank.
Soi Fon's Zanpakuto slashed at Cang Du's neck, but a ring of sparks flew off upon impact.
Cang Du's skin radiated a dark silver metallic luster that spread from the side of his neck. Not even a mark was left where he was struck.
He backhanded a claw strike. Soi Fon leaned back to avoid it, the tips of the claws brushing past the fabric of her collar, bringing with it a few faint tearing sounds.
Soi Fon's brow furrowed.
'Even my Zanpakuto can't break through the enemy's defense?'
She tapped her toes on the ground, flipping one and a half times in the air, and landed several paces away.
Cang Du turned his head, the corners of his mouth stretching into a smirk.
"A Soul Reaper captain, and that's all the strength you have?"
Soi Fon didn't reply. Catching a glimpse from the corner of her eye, she saw that Hasumi Ren was already facing off against the other man.
'So it seems this person is my opponent.'
She took a deep breath and gripped her Zanpakuto tightly.
"Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi."
The Zanpakuto transformed into a golden stinger gauntlet in the palm of her hand, slipping over the index and middle fingers of her right hand.
She lowered her stance and launched an attack once again.
Cang Du's claw blades chopped down at her face.
Soi Fon slipped in from the side, her right stinger grazing the outside of his left arm.
The stinger scraped against the iron skin, emitting a short, high-pitched screech, leaving no wound behind.
The two brushed past each other.
Cang Du glanced down at the spot where his arm was grazed. An extremely small black butterfly pattern was surfacing on his skin.
He frowned and rubbed it with his hand, but the pattern didn't come off.
Soi Fon had already charged back up.
Her attack style changed, using the stinger to continuously jab at the gaps in Cang Du's defense.
Even though every thrust was blocked by Cang Du's iron skin, every point of contact left a butterfly pattern on his body.
His arm, his shoulder—the black patterns surfaced one after another.
Cang Du's claw counterattacks grew faster and faster. Soi Fon's figure constantly changed directions in the narrow alley, her stinger continuing to add new patterns to his body.
"What is this thing?"
Cang Du stared at the cluster of butterfly patterns on his left arm.
"Suzumebachi, my Zanpakuto. Its ability is two-hit sure kill."
"The first strike leaves a Homonka. The second strike on the exact same spot, and you die."
Soi Fon stopped in her tracks and raised her right hand, aiming the tip of the stinger at Cang Du.
"No matter how tough your skin is, the moment you clash with me, your fate is already sealed."
Cang Du's expression changed.
'Could there... really be such an ability?'
He pulled both claws back in front of him, no longer attacking rashly. He began intentionally using his claw blades to guard the spots on his body marked by the butterfly patterns.
A few of the patterns were under his ribs and on the back of his shoulder. He clamped his elbows tight against his sides and arched his back, hiding those spots within the defensive range of his claw blades.
Soi Fon dashed forward, her stinger thrusting rapidly.
Cang Du's defense became noticeably several times more cautious. After every claw strike, he would quickly pull back to protect his vitals, refusing to give Soi Fon any opportunity to accurately jab the same spot.
Soi Fon struck several times in a row, all deflected by his claw blades.
The stinger and claw blades clashed continuously, the sharp sound of metal striking metal erupting throughout the narrow alley.
She thrust at his right shoulder; Cang Du turned sideways and took the hit on his chest, while simultaneously backhanding a claw strike to force her back.
A butterfly pattern appeared on his chest—yet another new mark.
"You say two-hit sure kill, but it's useless if you can't hit the same spot."
Cang Du grinned.
"Your speed is fast, but hitting the same spot twice is probably not that easy."
"Wait until my teammate finishes off your companion. Once that happens, how long do you think you can stall?"
The corners of Soi Fon's mouth curled up slightly.
"Why don't you take a look at your teammate?"
Cang Du curled his lip. Such a cheap trick...
He slightly glanced to the side with his peripheral vision, and then his pupils contracted sharply.
As Nodt was lying in a pool of blood.
His Reishi bow was broken in two, and an expression of sheer disbelief lingered on his face behind his mask.
Even in death, he couldn't believe that his Fear actually had no effect on Hasumi Ren.
Hasumi Ren stood next to As Nodt's corpse, casually flicking the blood off his blade.
Just then, Hasumi Ren looked at Cang Du and raised his hand to instantly cast a Bakudo.
Bakudo #30: Shitotsu Sansen.
Three golden beams of light shot out rapidly, forming a triangle as they locked onto Cang Du's feet and right arm.
Despite his shock, Cang Du reacted swiftly. He shattered two of the light beams with his claws and stomped hard on the ground with his right foot to dodge the third.
But in the exact same instant he dodged, Soi Fon had already closed the distance.
Her stinger thrust upwards from a very low angle, aimed at the spot under his left armpit where a butterfly pattern had already surfaced.
Cang Du's expression drastically changed. His left hand desperately pulled back, his claw blade barely managing to knock the tip of the stinger away.
The stinger deviated by half an inch, scratching right beside the butterfly pattern under his armpit without overlapping.
Soi Fon didn't pull her hand back.
Using the momentum, she shifted her stance, hooking her left hand around Cang Du's left elbow joint to forcibly straighten his left arm.
Cang Du let out a low roar and exerted force to break free. The muscles beneath his iron skin bulged, jarring Soi Fon's left hand until it went numb.
She threw her entire body weight onto Cang Du's left arm, forcefully pulling his center of gravity off balance. But the next moment, she abruptly let go, using Shunpo to circle behind him.
Taking advantage of his delayed reaction, her right stinger accurately pierced right into the dead center of the butterfly pattern on the back of his neck.
The second strike. The Homonka overlapped.
The two-hit sure kill ability took effect. The Homonka suddenly expanded, swallowing Cang Du's body.
Cang Du's movements froze.
His body began to collapse starting from the back of his neck. Flesh and bone turned into fine black ash, peeling away and dissipating piece by piece.
His face still bore the terror and unwillingness of his final moments, ultimately turning into Reishi dust and dissipating into the air.