In the Soul Society, the Asauchi—or "Shallow Hit"—is the blank canvas of a Zanpakuto. Without one, a Soul Reaper cannot manifest their true power. They are the ultimate potential, forged by the Zero Division member Nimaiya Oetsu.
While the rest of the squad was busy creating chaos, Yae Miko had a different objective.
Her target was the armory housing these uninitialized blades.
With everyone's attention focused on Beidou and the Captains, the inner defenses of the Seireitei were lax. Thanks to the map Su Han provided, the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine slipped in effortlessly.
Inside the courtyard, several guards—manifested Zanpakuto spirits in human form—lay unconscious on the ground. They had fallen victim to her Fox Spirit Charm. They wouldn't be waking up for at least three hours.
"My, my... fewer than I expected."
Yae Miko stood before the racks, her eyes gleaming. She waved her hand, and the Asauchi began to vanish into her spatial storage.
"Only about a hundred? Well, I suppose it's enough for a first haul."
She chuckled softly. "Next up is Aizen's betrayal. With that chaos about to unfold, no one will even notice a few missing swords."
With a swirl of sakura petals, the Fox Envoy vanished into thin air.
Meanwhile: The Shrine of Penitence
The duel between Rosalyne and Toshiro Hitsugaya had escalated into a catastrophe.
Ice versus Fire.
Normally, elemental advantages are simple. But Rosalyne wielded the Hellfire of the Crimson Witch, and Hitsugaya was fighting an uphill battle.
"Ice Dragon: Tail Whirl!"
Hitsugaya roared, unleashing a massive slash.
Two beams of ice-blue sword energy, shaped like vipers, tore through the air, freezing the very atmosphere as they lunged at Rosalyne from both sides.
But as the ice approached, a thin line of crimson fire ignited in the air.
"Your ice is commendable, child. But the flames of purgatory cannot be frozen by mere frost."
Rosalyne raised a single finger. The ambient temperature skyrocketed. The ice vipers hissed and evaporated into steam before they could touch her.
Hitsugaya froze. He sensed something terrifying above him. He looked up.
The sky had turned red.
Two massive meteors, encased in magma and black smoke, were plummeting from the heavens. The heat was so intense that the trees around the shrine spontaneously combusted, turning into ash instantly.
"Damn it! Shikai isn't enough to stop this?!" Hitsugaya gritted his teeth. "I have no choice!"
The moisture in the air condensed rapidly. Twelve ice-flower petals bloomed behind him—the timer of his immature power.
"Bankai: Daiguren Hyorinmaru!"
Ice formed around his right arm and back, creating wings and a dragon's tail.
"Hyoten Hyakkaso (Frozen Heaven Hundred Flower Funeral)!"
Hitsugaya swung his blade. A massive pillar of ice rose to meet the falling stars. Countless ice flowers bloomed upon contact, trapping the meteors in a frozen coffin.
BOOM.
The collision shook the entire Seireitei.
"Hah... hah... what a troublesome opponent," Hitsugaya panted, the ice slowly cracking from the residual heat. "Where is she?"
The steam cleared. Rosalyne was gone.
In the distance, he saw her silhouette retreating alongside Ichigo and the others. The meteors were just a parting gift—a distraction to ensure their escape.
"Damn it! She forced out my Bankai and then just ran away?!"
Hitsugaya cursed, deactivating his form as his spiritual pressure stabilized.
Meanwhile: Keqing vs. Shunsui Kyoraku
Keqing was breathing heavily. She had used everything—Haki, Senjutsu, and the Five Elements. She was currently in her strongest state.
Opposite her, Shunsui Kyoraku hadn't used Bankai, but the pressure he exerted was immense. Yet, he looked at Keqing with genuine appreciation.
"Alright, let's stop here," Shunsui said, tipping his straw hat. "I acknowledge your strength. For a human to possess such combat talent... it's terrifying. I almost want to take you on as a student."
He glanced sideways. His senses told him that Rukia had been secured.
"Your friends are coming back. You should go."
Shunsui parried one last strike from Keqing, using the impact to push her back towards her group. He then turned and walked away. The message was clear: I've seen enough. You pass.
Keqing sheathed her sword and regrouped with Ichigo and the others. She wasn't unharmed—blood stained her clothes in several places—but she was still standing.
"Is the mission done?" Keqing asked.
"Not yet," Hu Tao replied, checking the perimeter. "We need to get Rukia past the white walls. Two more gates and we're clear!"
The group sprinted through the ruins, arriving at the site of the fiercest battle.
Beidou vs. Kenpachi.
The area was a wasteland. Both warriors were drenched in blood. Kenpachi had two new, deep gashes on his chest, while Beidou had cuts on her arms and thighs.
"You guys got her? Great!" Beidou grinned, wiping blood from her lip.
She turned to the demon standing amidst the rubble. "Hey, Big Guy! This is my last strike! We're leaving!"
"Hah! Good!" Kenpachi laughed maniacally, hoisting his jagged blade. "Show me!"
Beidou gripped her Serpent Spine. The violet light of Electro condensed into a blinding star at the tip of her blade.
"Starbreaker!"
She roared, her body wrapped in thunder, launching herself like a railgun.
ZOOM.
The two crossed paths in a blur of violence. Beidou landed behind him.
SPLURT.
Blood sprayed from Kenpachi's chest. He staggered, coughing up crimson, but his grin never faded.
"Cough... strong move," Kenpachi laughed. "If you had a Zanpakuto... you'd be even better. I look forward... to our next fight."
He remained standing, but he was done. He couldn't chase them.
"Let's go!" Beidou panted, leading the charge.
The Outer Wall: The Final Obstacle
With Yae Miko's illusions clearing the path, they easily bypassed the gates. But the moment they landed in the Rukongai, the sky tore open.
ROAR.
A dozen towering figures stepped out of the void. Long noses. Black cloaks. Unmistakable pressure.
"Gillian Menos!" Ichigo shouted, raising his sword. "There are so many!"
Keqing frowned. "What are they?"
"Evil spirits," Ichigo warned. "Big ones."
Keqing sneered. "Oh? Free souls delivered to my doorstep? Let's harvest them!"
Yae Miko raised her Kagura Suzu. Rosalyne summoned the fires of hell. Hu Tao unleashed her butterfly spirits.
It was a massacre.
In less than sixty seconds, twelve Menos Grande were vaporized. Their accumulated soul energy was sucked into Tenseiga like water into a sponge.
[DING!]
[Mission Complete: Rescue Kuchiki Rukia.]
[Reward: 300,000 Points (60,000 per member).]
[Time Remaining: 25 Minutes. You may return at any time.]
"Mission complete. Time to go home," Beidou said, stretching her sore muscles.
"Agreed. See you around... boy in black," Hu Tao waved.
Their bodies began to glow, fading into particles of light.
"Wait!" Ichigo shouted. "Who are you people? Where are you going?"
No one answered him directly. But as she faded, Hu Tao offered one final piece of advice.
"Hey, Strawberry! You're still too weak! Go learn your Bankai! Otherwise, the next time we meet, you won't be able to keep up!"
"You..."
Flash.
They vanished completely.
Rukia stared at the empty space, eyes wide. "Ichigo... you didn't know them?"
"Of course not! I've never seen such monsters before! Did you see them fight the Captains?!"
Ichigo explained the battles—Beidou matching Kenpachi, Keqing holding off Shunsui. Rukia listened in stunned silence.
Seireitei: 1st Division Barracks
Head Captain Yamamoto Genryusai sat in his office, the atmosphere heavy enough to crush a lesser soul. News of Aizen's betrayal had just arrived. And now, this.
"Report."
A messenger bowed, trembling. "Captain Kyoraku has returned. He failed to stop the intruders. Reports confirm Kuchiki Rukia has been rescued. Captain Byakuya fought a strange girl to a draw. Captain Zaraki is wounded."
"And the intruders?"
"They... vanished. They disappeared into light. No Garganta. No Kido. And sir... according to all reports... they were humans."
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed.
"Humans? Humans fought my Captains to a standstill?"
This was unprecedented. Not since the Quincies had humans posed such a threat.
"Go," Yamamoto ordered, his voice low and dangerous. "Investigate everything. We cannot allow an unknown faction of this power to exist unchecked."
"Yes, Head Captain!"
As the messenger left, Yamamoto stroked his beard, his eyes reflecting the flames of a coming war.
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