Watching Masaki leave, Ryuken fell silent.
Only after Masaki completely disappeared from sight did Ryuken take out a small communicator from his pocket.
"-Katagiri, deploy. Prepare Spirit Weapon."
…
Isshin's location.
Isshin was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the pitch-black Hollow in mid-air.
Swish!
The pitch-black Hollow flickered, instantly appearing before Isshin, then swung its black bone blade at him.
Seeing this, Isshin hurriedly blocked with his sword.
Clang!
Blades clashed, sparks flashing, immediately extinguished by the rain.
Upon impact, the force from the Hollow's bone blade pushed Isshin back repeatedly.
'Unbelievable! I'm at a disadvantage!' Isshin thought, shocked.
Although usually unserious, Isshin believed few in the entire Soul Society could match him. Yet now, he was completely suppressed by an unknown Hollow. This was truly unbelievable.
Then, Isshin fought while observing the pitch-black Hollow's combat style.
'Physical form unknown. Appearance distorted but still maintains Hollow shape. Yet combat techniques resemble Shinigami's.'
'Really troublesome!!' After observing, Isshin found this Hollow combined Shinigami combat skills with a Hollow's violent and powerful Reiatsu, merging both advantages… like a fusion of Shinigami and Hollow.
Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind Isshin.
"Captain Shiba!"
"What are you doing?!"
"Karakura Town is the 13th Division's jurisdiction!" A Shinigami in black Shihakusho used Shunpo to run through the air from afar, shouting at Isshin.
Hearing this, Isshin couldn't help but glance around.
"Damn! Overstepped jurisdiction—!!" After the battle started, Isshin and the Hollow fought from Narumishi City to Karakura Town.
Of course, Narumishi City and Karakura Town were adjacent. Isshin's initial location was near their border, so he hadn't actually gone far.
Although overstepping from Narumishi City to Karakura Town, Isshin, in the midst of battle, had no time to deal with the 13th Division's Shinigami.
"Hah!" Isshin shouted, slashing fiercely at the Hollow with a powerful strike.
"Huh?" After striking, Isshin couldn't help but feel surprised.
Because the Hollow didn't block his attack. Instead, it retreated, distancing itself.
In terms of strength, the Hollow had been superior, suppressing Isshin, never retreating before.
After distancing itself from Isshin, the Hollow charged towards the newly arrived 13th Division's Shinigami.
"Not good-"
"Run!!!" Isshin immediately shouted at the 13th Division's Shinigami.
Unfortunately, despite the warning, the Shinigami couldn't escape death.
After Isshin's warning, the Shinigami immediately used Shunpo to flee. But the Hollow fired a black Reiatsu beam, instantly obliterating the Shinigami.
"What was that just now? Cero?" Isshin wondered.
"Don't joke around! Cero is a Menos Grande's combat method!!" Isshin shouted angrily.
Although the Hollow displayed astonishing combat power, Isshin hadn't considered it a Menos Grande, only a mutated Hollow.
Because the Soul Society closely monitored the Living World. Once a Menos Grande appeared, the Soul Society would immediately detect it. It couldn't appear repeatedly undetected, let alone kill several Shinigami.
Unless there was a traitor within the Soul Society! Hiding this Hollow's existence. This was what angered Isshin.
Isshin immediately charged forward, shouting, slashing down heavily at the Hollow.
Clang!
Isshin's strike was easily blocked by the Hollow.
"Yo, quite strong. But a monster like you can't wreak havoc in the Living World without the Soul Society noticing!"
"There must be someone in the Soul Society sheltering you—"
"Who? Who's controlling you?" Isshin asked repeatedly.
Unfortunately, whether unable or unwilling to speak, the Hollow ignored Isshin's questions.
"Not answering?"
"No matter—"
"Whether silent or speaking—it won't change my resolve to slay you here!!"
Six Shinigami had died by this Hollow's hands.
Five were from his 10th Division. The other died because Isshin overstepped jurisdiction, fighting into Karakura Town. So Isshin was furious and full of guilt.
Regarding this Hollow that directly killed six Shinigami, Isshin absolutely couldn't let it go.
Then, Isshin stepped back, distancing himself from the Hollow. Gripping his Zanpakuto with both hands, he shouted, "Burn! Engetsu!!!"
Boom!
Immense Reiatsu erupted from Isshin.
Simultaneously, his Zanpakuto began burning with blazing flames.
Isshin's Zanpakuto, Engetsu, was a fire-type Zanpakuto. Upon release, it concentrated vast Reiatsu on the blade to release flames and could control fire to scorch or detonate enemies.
Though incomparable to the Strongest Fire-type Zanpakuto, [Ryujin Jakka], its power was extremely formidable. Coupled with beyond Captain-level Reiatsu, Isshin believed he could definitely slay this Hollow.
So even though disadvantaged earlier, Isshin wasn't worried at all.
He believed once he released his Zanpakuto, this Hollow would be no match.
Thinking this, Isshin swung his flaming Zanpakuto and charged at the Hollow.
"Hah!" Isshin shouted, slashing fiercely at the Hollow.
Schlick!
With the sound of cutting, blood sprayed into the air.
But this blood wasn't the Hollow's… it was Isshin's! A huge wound appeared on Isshin's back, blood gushing out!
"What?!" Isshin exclaimed incredulously.
Behind Isshin, three mysterious figures in black cloaks, faces concealed, had silently appeared!