Fantasy Library, Ch 201-205

Chapter 201: "Adjuchas"

The battle ended in an instant.

When the thunderous lightning blast tore across the sky, blasting those giant Hollows into pieces, Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, Momo Hinamori, and Shūhei Hisagi didn’t even know what had just happened—they were merely shocked by the sudden explosion and thrown to the ground by the shockwave.

By the time the shockwave dispersed, only one person was left standing.

It was Kaiser, his arm extended toward the sky.

“————”

Everyone stared blankly at the scene, speechless for a long time.

It’s over?

It’s really over?

So many powerful Hollows—gone in the blink of an eye?

Those thoughts echoed in everyone’s minds, yet their hearts refused to accept the truth.

Because what had just unfolded before their eyes was far too extraordinary.

A first-year student who had only been at Shin’ō Academy for half a year… had annihilated, in a single moment, a group of giant Hollows—each of which required Seated Officers to defeat?

Just thinking about it made everyone freeze in place, stunned and unresponsive for a long while.

It wasn’t until Kaiser retracted his hand and his reiatsu gradually subsided that they finally stirred.

“It’s… over?”

Renji Abarai still hadn’t accepted the reality.

“It really ended like that?”

Shūhei Hisagi and Izuru Kira reacted much the same, unable to believe it.

Though perhaps, that was a good thing.

“Over?” Kaiser glanced at them, then turned his gaze in one direction. “No, it’s far from over.”

His words startled everyone. They followed his gaze and looked in the same direction.

That area had just been swarming with giant Hollows.

It had been completely shrouded by enormous figures taller than buildings—now, it was empty.

But at the far end of that clearing, a figure still stood.

That figure wasn’t eye-catching—at least, not compared to the earlier giant Hollows.

Its body was smaller, with a hollow hole in its chest and a mask on its face—proving it was also a Hollow.

But unlike the other Hollows, it didn’t emit any empty howls. It just stood there in eerie silence, sending chills down anyone who looked at it.

Its form was bizarre—its torso was humanoid, its head beastlike. Its feet were webbed, its arms hung naturally, with one arm shaped like a fin and the other like a tail. It was deeply unsettling—unnatural and out of place.

It also wore beast-like armor. Its mask lacked eye holes, so its gaze could not be seen.

As Kaiser narrowed his eyes at the Hollow, the others turned pale.

Especially Shūhei Hisagi—an uncontrollable, wild thought surged in his mind.

“T-that’s an Adjuchas?!”

His face turned ghostly pale.

“Adjuchas…”

Renji and the others were the same.

Adjuchas.

They were beings that had broken out from among ordinary Hollows and stepped into a higher realm.

They were higher-class Hollows—dangerous entities that ordinary Shinigami could no longer purify.

If a Hollow continuously devoured souls—whether human or other Hollows—and kept growing in strength and size, it could evolve into a Menos Grande.

There were three classes of Menos.

The first was Gillian—towering with black, cloak-like bodies and long-nosed white masks. Though much stronger than ordinary Hollows, they were slow-moving and had beast-like intellects—classified as lower Menos.

These Gillians were typically formed when one particularly powerful Hollow consumed hundreds of others. Despite their weaknesses, ordinary Shinigami still couldn’t handle them.

Generally, a Shinigami who had achieved Shikai was required to deal with a Gillian. Even a Seated Officer without their Zanpakutō’s true name would struggle.

The second class was Adjuchas. These were evolved Gillians formed when one dominant consciousness overwhelmed the others during fusion. They possessed high intelligence, beastlike armor, no longer moved slowly, and were several times stronger than Gillians. They were mid-tier Menos.

Gillian rarely had individuality—most acted on instinct. But if one among the fused souls had a far superior will and strength, it could assert dominance and continue devouring other Gillians—eventually evolving into an Adjuchas.

Adjuchas were far more powerful. Most Seated Officers couldn’t handle them. Even Lieutenants might not be able to defeat one.

The third class was Vasto Lorde—smaller in size compared to other Hollows, roughly human-sized, but possessing the greatest strength. They were upper-tier Menos.

If an Adjuchas was bitten by a higher-class Hollow, it would permanently halt its evolution and might even be absorbed.

But if that never happened, then two paths remained:

One, its power would eventually plateau, unable to evolve further, and it would remain an Adjuchas forever.

Two, it had the potential to surpass the limit, continuing to devour and grow, until it reached a new peak—

Becoming a Vasto Lorde, the highest-ranked Hollow.

A Vasto Lorde’s strength exceeded even a Captain-class Shinigami. They were exceedingly rare—rarer than the Captains of the Gotei 13. Often, there were fewer than ten in existence—sometimes only two or three.

If ten Vasto Lordes appeared at once, they could destroy the Soul Society.

Gillian, Adjuchas, Vasto Lorde—these were the three classes of Menos Grande.

The horde of giant Hollows just now didn’t qualify. They were merely powerful Hollows—not true Menos.

But the Hollow that had just appeared was different.

It wasn’t huge—about the size of a bear—and it wore beastlike armor. Its actions were calm and calculated, not mindless or savage. It felt… rational. Observant.

It didn’t emit reiatsu, but the air around it was warped—hinting at the terrifying power it held.

Compared to it, those giant Hollows weren’t even worthy of carrying its shoes.

Intelligence. Beastlike armor…

These were the signs of an Adjuchas.

So then—

“You’re an Adjuchas?”

Kaiser was the only one whose expression remained calm. He looked at the Hollow and asked.

That question seemed to awaken something in the creature.

The suspected Adjuchas slowly lifted its head.

BOOM!

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rang out.

In the blink of an eye, the Adjuchas had appeared before Kaiser—like it had teleported—and swung its fin-shaped hand downward, smashing the ground where Kaiser had stood.

A terrible force struck the earth, shattering it in an instant.

Flash!

Kaiser reappeared behind the creature, holding Momo Hinamori in his arms.

“You guys—find a safe place and hide.”

He set Momo down gently. Before she could answer, he used Shunpo again, vanishing from sight and appearing atop a nearby building.

Almost at the same instant, the Adjuchas appeared there as well, swinging its fin-like arm down at him.

BOOM!

The upper half of the building exploded under the impact, reduced to a storm of rubble and debris.

Flash! Flash! Flash! …

Kaiser reappeared elsewhere, Shunpo flashing again and again as he distanced himself from the Adjuchas.

The Adjuchas immediately gave chase—its speed equal to Kaiser’s.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! …

It attacked relentlessly, slashing with its fin, whipping with its tail-like hand. Each strike caused a thunderous boom, reducing everything it hit to ruins or craters.

Despite the fierce pursuit, Kaiser’s expression remained calm. He used Shunpo over and over, narrowly dodging each swing—evading the fin strikes and tail whips with chilling precision. Not a single blow landed. They all smashed into the ground or surrounding buildings, creating destruction without meaning.

“AAAAAAHHHHHHH——!”

Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, Momo Hinamori, and Shūhei Hisagi were blown to the ground by the shockwaves and surging gusts. They cried out involuntarily, clearly suffering from the force of the aftermath.

“Run!”

Shūhei Hisagi shouted while bracing himself against the wind and calling to the others.

“Get out of here! Contact the Soul Society! Request reinforcements!”

“That’s definitely a Menos Grande! And an Adjuchas-level, mid-tier Menos at that!”

“We can’t deal with a Menos of that class! Even Lieutenants might not be enough! There’s no way students like us can handle it!”

Hearing this, Renji Abarai also shouted back, struggling against the wind, “What about Kai?! What do we do about Kai?!”

“Tell him to use Shunpo and run!” Shūhei Hisagi responded without hesitation. “Even he can’t possibly take on an Adjuchas!”

But just as those words left Hisagi’s mouth—

The battle changed.

Under everyone’s gaze, Kaiser counterattacked.

Chapter 202: A Flash of the Blade

"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen."

Just as the Adjuchas once again appeared in front of Kaiser, slashing down with its fin-like hand, Kaiser suddenly extended his own hand and activated a Bakudō.

A circular shield formed purely from Reiryoku immediately appeared before him, blocking the Adjuchas's strike.

"Boom!"

The fin-like hand, sharp like a long blade, crashed onto the circular shield, causing it to shudder violently, even sending out sparks from the friction.

But the strike was, in the end, successfully blocked.

"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō."

From behind the circular shield, Kaiser's hand shifted from palm to finger-point. Reiryoku gathered at his fingertip, and he pointed at the Adjuchas, which had yet to react. Instantly, six flat beams of light shot forth from every direction like spears and struck the Adjuchas, locking its body in place.

"High-level Bakudō!"

Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, and Momo Hinamori exclaimed simultaneously upon seeing this.

"A high-level Bakudō without incantation…!"

Even Shūhei Hisagi, who had been urging everyone to escape, was shaken.

That was a high-level Bakudō. Even for a Lieutenant proficient in Kidō, casting one would never be that smooth—let alone doing so without incantation. Even among the Kidō Corps, only a handful could achieve such a feat.

But not only had Kaiser done it, he cast another high-level Bakudō while the Adjuchas was beginning to struggle.

"Bakudō #63: Sajō Sabaku."

Thick, serpentine chains emerged from the surroundings, moving like living creatures. They quickly wrapped around the Adjuchas and, in concert with Rikujōkōrō, locked down its movements completely.

Only after doing all this did Kaiser unleash his Reiryoku in full and raise both hands.

"O Sovereign! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, flapping wings—O thou who beareth the name of Man! Engrave twin lotuses upon the wall of blue flame, await the abyss of great fire in the distant heavens!"

A mass of azure flames began to gather between his palms, blooming like a lotus—beautiful and deadly.

"Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui!"

Kaiser pushed the twin-lotus of blue fire directly onto the Adjuchas's hollow hole.

"BOOM!!!"

In the next instant, the blue lotus exploded into a sea of cerulean fire, engulfing everything within hundreds of meters.

The explosion unleashed a roaring heatwave that shook the very air, fierce and overwhelming. Renji and the others were once again caught in the blast, flung backward quite a distance.

"What terrifying power…!"

"This is insane!"

"Is this his true strength?!"

Izuru Kira, Shūhei Hisagi, and Renji Abarai cried out in turn. Their voices were drowned in the tempestuous winds, and they could only cling to the ground like those enduring a passing typhoon, gripping the earth tightly to avoid being blown away.

As for Momo Hinamori, being the lightest and smallest, she was blown away from the start. She had to fling out a rope made from Kidō to catch a building’s edge. Like a kite in a storm, she swayed violently, unable to speak, her eyes locked ahead, filled with worry.

At last, Kaiser's figure appeared in her view, retreating from the sea of blue fire. His body was completely unscathed, his movements still light and natural, and his expression remained calm throughout—as if he never once took the enemy seriously, unlike Shūhei Hisagi, who had looked utterly hopeless.

He stood there with one hand resting on the hilt of his Zanpakutō, facing the wind. That figure—anyone who saw him would think he still had strength to spare.

"Sōren Sōkatsui—that’s the second strongest Hadō I’ve learned so far. Fully incanted, it can destroy a large cluster of buildings in an instant. So far, I’ve only used it at full power once. This was the second time."

Kaiser seemed to mutter to himself.

"Even for a mid-level Menos like you, stronger than a Lieutenant, taking a direct hit from that must’ve hurt, right?"

And indeed, it had.

As the blue flames gradually died out, with only scattered wisps still burning around, the Adjuchas’s figure reemerged.

Its armor was half destroyed, its body charred in multiple places, and its chest was critically burned—glowing red, nearly carbonized.

Blood oozed from it—green, like some kind of pus, nauseating to look at.

Gurgle…

A faint squelching sound came from its body—its flesh and muscle squirming, regenerating rapidly.

"High-Speed Regeneration, huh?"

Kaiser murmured to himself.

High-Speed Regeneration—an ability unique to Hollows. As the name implied, it was a regeneration ability of terrifying speed. Once activated, all parts of a Hollow’s body could rapidly repair—except for the head and internal organs. Its speed even exceeded Asia’s Sacred Gear [Twilight Healing] and Priscilla’s regeneration, truly unreasonable.

Of course, High-Speed Regeneration wasn’t the only absurd ability Hollows possessed.

As the Adjuchas raised its head to look at Kaiser, another unreasonable ability appeared.

Buzz…

A red glow began to gather before the Adjuchas, condensing like a focused beam.

"Not good! It’s a Cero!"

Shūhei Hisagi’s face changed dramatically.

Cero—a high-density reiatsu blast only Menos Grande could use. It was their primary and most well-known attack. Its destructive power was immense.

Kaiser sensed vast reiatsu condensing into that red glow. Its density had already surpassed the Hadō #73 he just unleashed—maybe even more.

"BOOM!"

In no time, the red blast was fired—pure high-density reiatsu, in essence a high-speed bombardment. Within two seconds, it reached Kaiser.

"O Child of Heaven! Iron wall of fortitude! Dragon’s march, lion’s roar, tiger’s cry, wolf’s run—sever the heavens and earth before they collapse!"

Kaiser swiftly chanted and raised both hands.

"Bakudō #81: Dankū!"

At once, a massive transparent barrier like an unyielding wall appeared before him.

Bakudō #81—this was the highest-level Bakudō Kaiser could currently cast. He still couldn’t abandon incantation, but it was said to completely block any Hadō under #89, boasting the highest defensive power among all Bakudō.

"BOOM!!!"

The red beam struck the translucent wall like a nuclear strike. A blinding flash erupted first, followed by a thunderous explosion that shattered and sunk the earth beneath it, leaving the area devastated.

Behind the wall, Kaiser’s clothes flapped wildly. Even his face was cut by flying rubble.

"RAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH——!!!"

The Adjuchas, meanwhile, had already fully regenerated. Cracks formed in its mask as it let out an empty howl like one from hell. The sound was so terrifying it turned the atmosphere into a raging whirlwind.

In the blink of an eye, the Adjuchas charged Kaiser with terrifying momentum.

Kaiser’s pupils reflected the rapidly approaching enemy—watching as that fin-like hand swung down toward his head.

"Watch out!"

Renji and the others screamed in unison at the scene.

"Kai-san…!"

Momo Hinamori’s face went pale.

They couldn’t even track the Adjuchas’s movements, let alone match its speed. All they saw was the sharp fin, swinging down like a great sword, slicing the air and causing sonic booms that even they could perceive.

They didn’t dare imagine what would happen if that blow landed.

Unfortunately for their imaginations, they never had the chance.

Because that strike—was destined to do nothing.

CLANG!!!

At the moment that deafening metallic crash echoed out, the Adjuchas’s blade-like fin was violently deflected—sparks flying, shockwaves blasting through the air.

What deflected the blow was Kaiser’s Zanpakutō.

Kaiser had finally drawn his blade.

At last, the appearance of his long-hidden Zanpakutō was fully revealed to everyone.

"That Zanpakutō…"

Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, Momo Hinamori, and Shūhei Hisagi all froze.

They stared at the Zanpakutō—so unlike a regular Asauchi, ornate and exuding a noble aura. As if they had realized something, their eyes widened in unison.

"To make me draw my sword… As expected of an Adjuchas, just below the Vasto Lorde."

Kaiser’s voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

"But this is where it ends."

The moment he spoke, everyone lost sight of his figure.

Flash!

With a flawless Shunpo, Kaiser passed through the Adjuchas’s body and landed gently behind it.

Behind him, a graceful arc of light shone.

It was the cold glint of a blade.

A flash of the blade.

The slash cleanly swept through the Adjuchas’s body, gleaming behind Kaiser as it gradually faded.

"————"

The Adjuchas, which had been charging forward, froze in place—motionless.

Spurt!

Seconds later, a spray of blood burst from its chest.

A massive, grotesque wound split its body in two.

"…………"

The Adjuchas remained still, its ruined body turning to ash and dispersing on the wind.

Click…

Kaiser slowly sheathed his sword.

Like a cold, distant swordsman, his figure stood isolated beneath the moonlight—so striking it left others in a daze…

Chapter 203: What's So Special About Shikai?

Beneath the moonlit night, the fierce battle came to an end, allowing all the noise to settle.

An Adjuchas-class Menos Grande—its impact was undoubtedly massive. Even though it had already been purified, leaving not even a trace of Soul behind and disappearing completely, the destruction it caused still remained, leaving the land in ruins.

Broken walls and shattered rubble lay scattered in all directions, piled into a battlefield marked by the aftermath of war.

Having sheathed his Zanpakutō, Kaiser walked toward the others, who were still in a daze, and spoke with some annoyance.

“Alright, enough staring. If someone saw you like this, they'd think you had some weird fetish. Snap out of it already.”

That single remark successfully woke the dazed group.

“Y-You're okay, right?”

Shūhei Hisagi was the first to snap back, hastily getting up and asking.

The others helped each other to their feet. Though they had no real injuries, they all looked utterly disheveled and beaten.

“Of course I'm fine.” Kaiser looked them over. “What about you all? No problems, I hope?”

They shook their heads at first, then looked at Kaiser with complicated expressions.

“So… you're really this strong?”

Renji Abarai looked particularly conflicted.

“What kind of question is that? Am I not allowed to be strong?”

Kaiser looked at Renji with a half-smile.

“That's not a little strong! That's ridiculously strong!” Renji muttered as if complaining. “That was an Adjuchas-class Menos! Normal Seated Officers can't even handle one—only Lieutenants stand a chance, and sometimes even Captains are required to ensure they’re taken down.”

“And yet you just one-shot it!”

Saying that, Renji seemed to remember something. His gaze dropped to Kaiser’s waist, eyeing his Zanpakutō.

“And your Zanpakutō—what's up with that shape?”

“That’s not even an Asauchi, is it?”

“Don’t tell me you already…?”

Renji's words caused Shūhei Hisagi, Izuru Kira, and Momo Hinamori to all look over.

They, too, were curious about Kaiser’s Zanpakutō and had a certain guess in their hearts—one so unbelievable that they didn’t dare voice it.

Yet the truth often hides behind what others think is impossible.

“You want to ask if I’ve already unlocked my Shikai, right?” Seeing their reactions, Kaiser knew he couldn't brush it off, so he simply gave a roundabout confirmation. “Since you’ve already guessed it, don’t act so shocked.”

“What, it's just Shikai.”

“It’s not like it’s Bankai. What’s there to be surprised about?”

Hearing this, not just Renji—even Shūhei Hisagi and Izuru Kira had the sudden urge to yell at him.

“Just Shikai”?

Do you hear yourself?

This is a power that not a single student—across all six years of Shin'ō Academy—has unlocked. Even regular Gotei 13 Squad Members haven’t mastered it!

Anyone who achieves Shikai is usually eligible to become a Seated Officer—one of the higher ranks among them, too! And you—an Academy Student, a first-year at that—you’ve already attained Shikai? How is that not shocking?

Besides, wasn’t it only a few days ago that the first-years received their Asauchi?

You’ve unlocked Shikai within a few days?

That’s not shocking?!

But thinking about it more carefully… compared to the fact that Kaiser just one-shot an Adjuchas-class Menos, perhaps this really isn’t that surprising.

After all, while many people have achieved Shikai, there probably aren’t more than a handful of Shinigamis in the entire Soul Society who could kill an Adjuchas in a single blow.

Even Lieutenants wouldn’t be able to do that. Not all Captains could either.

With that in mind, everyone’s gaze toward Kaiser grew increasingly complicated.

“Alright, enough with those looks. If you keep staring, I’m going to start charging you,” Kaiser rolled his eyes at them and changed the subject. “Don’t forget, things aren’t over yet.”

Hearing that, the group was startled.

“S-Still not over?”

“But didn’t you already kill that Adjuchas?”

Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori asked in a panic.

“Yes, I did kill it. But who’s to say it was the only Adjuchas-class Menos here?” Kaiser said. “Even if there was only one of them, what about the other Hollows?”

“There were quite a few of those giant Hollows just now. How can you be sure they all showed up here and not somewhere else?”

“And there are still a ton of students unaccounted for. No one knows where they’ve escaped to. If they run into one of those giant Hollows… they’re as good as dead.”

“So no, now’s not the time to relax.”

This calm and reasonable analysis caused everyone to sober up immediately—some wore grim expressions, others even broke out in cold sweat.

“I’ll find a way to contact the Soul Society right away and have them send reinforcements as fast as possible.” Shūhei Hisagi realized the gravity of the situation and could no longer stay still. He turned to Kaiser and said, “I know this might be an unreasonable request to make of a first-year student, but please go look for the other students and bring them back if you can.”

Given that giant Hollows might still be roaming around, this request was indeed too much for a first-year.

But when that first-year could one-shot an Adjuchas, use Shunpo with ease, cast high-level Kidō casually, and unlock his Zanpakutō’s Shikai in a few days—then it didn’t sound so unreasonable anymore.

Right now, Kaiser was the only one with the ability to move freely in this dangerous battlefield.

“I…”

Kaiser nodded, about to say he was thinking the same thing, when he suddenly sensed something, and his tone cut off.

“Looks like I won’t have to do anything.”

He spoke those words, puzzling Shūhei Hisagi and the others.

Then a voice answered his words and revealed why.

“Let us handle this instead.”

As this gentle voice entered everyone’s ears, they suddenly noticed—two figures had appeared silently nearby.

“Y-You’re…?!”

Shūhei Hisagi instantly recognized them, his expression turning to one of shock.

Renji, Izuru, and Momo were the same—when they saw who it was, their faces all changed.

“Apologies. We’re late.”

Wearing a white Haori, Sōsuke Aizen approached from the distance, with his Lieutenant Gin Ichimaru following behind. He smiled as he spoke.

“We may be late, but now that we’re here, everything will be alright.”

The Gotei 13’s Division 5—specializing in rescue—had finally arrived.

“C-Captain Aizen!”

Shūhei Hisagi and the others cried out emotionally the moment they came to their senses.

“Gin, have our squad mobilize. Send two to guard the students here. Everyone else—search for survivors and casualties. Exterminate any Hollows that remain.”

Sōsuke Aizen issued his orders to Gin Ichimaru.

“Yes, Captain Aizen.”

Gin replied with a lazy tone, wearing an expression entirely unfitting for the occasion. He turned and walked off, sending two Division 5 Shinigamis to guard Hisagi’s group.

Behind Aizen, more and more Division 5 members began to appear, spreading out across the training grounds under Gin’s command.

Seeing this, Shūhei Hisagi and the others finally let go of their final worries.

With the sense of crisis and urgency gone, fatigue rushed in. Some staggered; some sat down on the ground immediately.

The Division 5 members quickly approached and began tending to them. Kaiser stepped back a few paces, watching in silence.

“You’ve done well, Kaiser-kun.”

Sōsuke Aizen approached him, casting a gaze of praise.

“You were the one who protected them, right? Remarkable.”

Hearing this, Kaiser looked deeply at the kind-faced Aizen.

“It wasn’t that big a deal, was it?”

Kaiser responded with a deliberately ambiguous remark.

“No, it was a big deal. At least, for a first-year Academy student, it certainly is.” Aizen shook his head slightly and casually glanced at the Zanpakutō at Kaiser’s waist before smiling again. “Though I’d like to chat with you a bit more, the situation is still urgent. I need to move as well.”

“Kaiser-kun, if you're interested… would you like to come with me?”

Aizen actually extended an invitation, treating Kaiser with special favor.

“No, thank you.” Kaiser shook his head. “I won’t disturb you, Captain Aizen. I’ll stay here with the others.”

Just as he finished speaking, before Aizen could reply, a Hollow’s empty roar interrupted them.

"RROOOOAAAAHHH...!"

A giant Hollow charged out from a blind spot, lunging straight at Kaiser.

Kaiser immediately reached for the Zanpakutō at his waist.

But before he could draw it—Aizen moved.

“Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu.”

The Division 5 Captain, cloaked in white, drew his Zanpakutō before Kaiser’s eyes and softly spoke its name.

Crack!

Instantly, Aizen’s blade released a sound like shattering glass as it unleashed its power.

In that moment, Kaiser saw something like mist… or perhaps flowing water.

When the mist and water dissipated, the giant Hollow had already collapsed—riddled with wounds, vanishing into dust.

"………"

Kaiser looked deeply at Sōsuke Aizen once more.

He said nothing.

Chapter 204: “Gotei 13”

With the intervention of Division 5, the chaos was finally brought under control.

The Soul Society also finally managed to re-establish communication, and the subsequent squads—Division 2, Division 4, and Division 8—arrived at the scene one after another through the Senkaimon.

Division 4 was the medical team, responsible for emergency treatment and daily healthcare. This outbreak had resulted in many injuries, and even a few deaths. Once Division 5 had quelled the disturbance, Division 4 immediately followed orders and arrived to treat the wounded.

Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, Momo Hinamori, and Shūhei Hisagi departed the World of the Living alongside Division 4 and returned to the Soul Society. They would remain temporarily at Division 4's barracks for observation, taking leave from Shin’ō Academy for the time being.

Division 8, the Gotei 13’s intelligence division, had naturally come to investigate the situation—specifically, to determine the cause of so many Hollows suddenly appearing without warning during a practical training exercise.

As for Division 2, their movements were far more covert.

That was because the full name of Division 2 was the Onmitsukidō. The members of this squad were all experts in high-speed movement, assassination techniques, and stealth. They were a special operations unit that worked in the shadows.

Their objective this time was likewise to uncover whether any unknown, hidden factors were involved in this incident.

And that possibility could not be ruled out.

After all, why was it that the Soul Society completely lost contact with the Academy students the moment the incident began?

The instructors from Shin’ō Academy were supposed to be monitoring the exercise in real-time from the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. How was it that they failed to notice anything amiss, despite the sheer scale of what transpired?

If the students hadn’t been out of contact for so long—long enough to prompt the Soul Society to take action—they might still not know what had happened even now.

With abnormalities this glaring, it was hard to believe there wasn’t something shady behind the scenes. Other people might buy that excuse—but the Onmitsukidō, who specialize in dealing with the shadows, definitely wouldn’t.

Thus, Division 2 sent operatives as well. They simply moved with such stealth that, apart from Kaiser, who sensed a few of their traces, no one else noticed their arrival.

Of course, Kaiser himself was not entirely off the hook.

After the Gotei 13 members arrived in the World of the Living and began the cleanup, he followed Sōsuke Aizen back to the Soul Society.

However, he was not allowed to return to Shin’ō Academy.

Because, upon his return to the Soul Society, a gentlemanly middle-aged man appeared before him.

“I am Chōjirō Sasakibe, Lieutenant of Division 1.”

Chōjirō Sasakibe looked at the youth before him—one who hadn’t even completed his first year at the Academy, yet whose name had already spread across all of Seireitei and the entire Soul Society. Then, he spoke words that momentarily stunned Kaiser.

“Please come with me. The Captain Commander wishes to see you.”

……

Division 1 of the Gotei 13.

This was the command squad of the Gotei 13, tasked with issuing orders from Central 46 and convening regular meetings among the captains. It also oversaw the entire organization of Shinigamis.

The Captain of Division 1 concurrently served as the Captain Commander of the entire Gotei 13—a title currently held by the Shinigami who had founded both the Gotei 13 and Shin’ō Academy. He was one of the strongest and oldest beings in the Soul Society.

Today, that very individual—the man with the greatest reputation and authority in the Soul Society—summoned Kaiser to Division 1’s barracks.

The Division 1 barracks were located at the heart of Seireitei.

In fact, the barracks of all thirteen squads were located in this area. Even facilities related to accommodation and meals for Shinigamis were found nearby—only the specific locations varied.

Each squad’s barracks were spacious, equipped with offices, captains’ private chambers, training grounds for members, and various administrative sections. The functionality was all-encompassing.

On the way to Division 1’s barracks, Kaiser passed by several others, sensing the fluctuations of various spiritual pressures within. For a moment, he couldn’t help but take notice.

“You needn’t be so wary.”

Walking ahead, Chōjirō Sasakibe seemed to have been watching him. Seeing his attention on the other barracks, he spoke up.

“You’ll be working in the Gotei 13 yourself in the future. This whole area will become your main activity zone. Once that happens, you can ask someone to give you a proper tour. For now, meeting with the Captain Commander is the priority.”

Hearing this, Kaiser withdrew his gaze and gave a light nod to indicate he understood.

This reaction caused Chōjirō Sasakibe to silently admire him once again.

“To be this composed on your first visit here… as expected of the most gifted genius in a thousand years.”

Thinking back on the rumors, Chōjirō suddenly felt that the boy before him could no longer be simply regarded as a genius.

Despite his youth, he was already an undisputed powerhouse.

Looking at the ornate and noble-looking Zanpakutō at Kaiser’s waist, Chōjirō kept his thoughts hidden and led him into Division 1’s barracks.

The Division 1 barracks were majestic and dignified—resembling a solemn dojo. In both scale and design, they stood out as the finest among all thirteen squads.

Chōjirō led Kaiser through several corridors and side rooms before arriving at a chamber deep within the barracks.

There stood a massive lift-gate with a large “一” (One) inscribed upon it.

“Lieutenant of Division 1, Chōjirō Sasakibe, has brought Kaiser to present himself!”

He called toward the door, and with a rumble, the lift-gate began to rise, revealing the interior.

But before Kaiser could clearly see the inside, an overwhelming spiritual pressure washed over him.

It was a field formed by the convergence of multiple reiatsu—each one powerful enough to overwhelm a Lieutenant. The combined force of them all was terrifying, like stepping into the belly of a beast.

“Go in.”

Chōjirō Sasakibe stopped there, clearly not intending—or perhaps not qualified—to enter.

Kaiser glanced at the gentlemanly man, tempted to curse.

This was “the Captain Commander wishes to see you”?

With all these reiatsu gathered here, clearly more than just the Captain Commander wanted to see him.

If it were someone else who got lured here unawares and suddenly faced this display of power, they’d probably wet themselves on the spot.

That bastard… was this a setup to intimidate him?

“Academy Student Kaiser,” Chōjirō said, seemingly unaware of any impropriety in his actions. Seeing that Kaiser hadn’t moved, he urged, “Hurry and enter. You mustn’t keep the Captains waiting.”

Well then… he’s not even trying to hide it now.

That “Captains” phrasing was rather telling.

Kaiser had already guessed what kind of gathering was inside. He rolled his eyes at Chōjirō, who looked puzzled by the gesture.

Before Chōjirō could figure it out, Kaiser stepped through the gate and entered the chamber brimming with spiritual pressure.

———

Instantly, all the reiatsu within the room solidified, falling upon Kaiser like a crushing weight.

The air itself felt heavier. The space vibrated faintly, emitting a low hum.

This kind of overwhelming pressure would’ve rendered most Lieutenants unable to move forward.

But Kaiser walked in with a calm face, completely unaffected—causing many present to show subtle reactions.

Looking closely, a number of Shinigamis stood in the room, each exuding immense spiritual pressure.

They stood in two rows, flanking the chamber. There were not many—about ten—but unlike ordinary Shinigamis, every one of them wore a white Haori.

On the backs of their Haori were the numerals of their respective squads: “2”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, “9”, “10”, “11”, and “12”. All were present except for “3” and “13”.

The “1” Haori was worn by the elder sitting at the center.

Kaiser’s gaze was immediately drawn to that old man, ignoring even Sōsuke Aizen—who had somehow appeared here as well.

It couldn’t be helped. The old man’s reiatsu was simply too overwhelming and too scorching. Kaiser felt as if he had stepped before the sun itself.

The others in the room also radiated powerful reiatsu—some even rivaling Kaiser—but only this elder made him feel truly pressured.

If Kaiser was classified as Second-Class Spiritual Pressure, then this man was undoubtedly First-Class—or perhaps even beyond, if such a tier existed.

Facing him, Kaiser felt as though he were confronting a Demon King.

If this reiatsu were converted into magical energy, it would be equivalent to a top-tier Demon Lord.

This was—

“The Captain of Division 1. The Captain Commander of the Gotei 13. The strongest Shinigami in a thousand years—Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.”

Their eyes locked, and for a time, neither spoke.

The other Captains remained silent as well—save for Sōsuke Aizen, who wore his usual gentle smile. The others simply studied the young prodigy who had made waves throughout all of Seireitei.

“So this is Kaiser?”

Many thought the same, especially one man whose entire presence radiated bloodlust. His hair was wild, and one eye was covered by an eyepatch. His uncovered eye was fixed on Kaiser like a predator eyeing prey.

Thunk!

At that moment, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto struck the ground heavily with his staff.

The silence shattered.

Chapter 205: Let's Talk About Your Future

"Academy Student Kaiser."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stared with wrinkled eyes at Kaiser, who stood before the gathered Captains without the slightest change in expression. His voice sounded slow and heavy.

"Do you know why you've been summoned here?"

His tone carried the weight of reprimand, commanding authority without anger.

Unfortunately, Kaiser was not intimidated.

"It's about the incident during the practical training, right?"

Kaiser answered calmly.

"Correct." A trace of barely noticeable admiration flickered in Yamamoto's eyes before he continued, "We already have a general understanding of the incident, but we still need to hear your account as the person directly involved."

"This incident is of great significance—not only because it concerns the safety of numerous Academy students, but also because it contains many unresolved irregularities."

"And you were not only involved, but turned the tide of the crisis singlehandedly after it began."

"Therefore, report everything you know. We need more detailed information."

Clearly, the anomalies involved in this incident were serious enough to warrant the Gotei 13’s full attention—so much so that Kaiser had been summoned, and nearly all the squad Captains had gathered for the occasion.

Kaiser cast a glance at Sōsuke Aizen, who wore his usual gentle expression, then nodded slightly.

"In that case, I’ll recount what I know."

With that, Kaiser began explaining what he had experienced during the practical training.

Of course, it was a refined version.

After all, he couldn’t exactly admit that he knew the original storyline, or that he had been prepared in advance for the incident.

He portrayed himself as a regular student participating in the training with his classmates. Because one member was absent and couldn’t form a team, he volunteered to act alone. He claimed to have carried out his duties properly, hunting simulated Hollows throughout the training grounds, until he noticed the Reiatsu of the sixth-year students had suddenly grown faint, which made him realize something was wrong. Upon investigating, he found the students had been attacked.

As for healing the critically injured sixth-years, Kaiser downplayed it entirely, stating that he had only used a bit of Kidō to stabilize them temporarily before setting off again to locate the source of the anomaly.

He then encountered the massive Hollows attacking Renji Abarai and the others, dealt with them, and subsequently confronted the Adjuchas-class Menos Grande. After defeating the Adjuchas, Division 5 had arrived on the scene and intervened.

In short, Kaiser omitted all traces of foreknowledge, yet was candid about everything else—hiding nothing beyond what needed to be hidden.

Some Captains were uninterested, while others listened attentively. Including Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto himself, none interrupted even once. Only after Kaiser finished recounting the entire event did some furrow their brows or show thoughtful expressions.

"Hollows that can’t be sensed by Reiatsu?" Yamamoto said slowly. "Captain Aizen, is Academy Student Kaiser’s account accurate?"

"It is indeed accurate." Sōsuke Aizen adjusted his glasses and said, "The Hollows we encountered on the scene also emitted no detectable Reiatsu. It doesn’t seem that they lacked Reiatsu, but rather that they possessed some means of concealing it."

As soon as he said this, the Captain wearing the Haori marked with “12” spoke up.

"Now this is truly fascinating."

The speaker had yellow irises and wore a black-and-white mask. His white Haori was layered over a black kimono with a deep purple collar. He wore bizarre headgear, and his hands—visible from his sleeves—were pallid, with an unusually long fingernail on his right middle finger.

"I’ve never had such a specimen in my lab—Hollows that can conceal their Reiatsu. Were they a newly evolved strain formed by nature, or mutants altered by some unknown factor? This is extremely interesting!"

His shrill voice conveyed sentiments that made others uncomfortable.

There was no concern in his words for casualties or the incident itself—only interest in what he called “specimens.”

"Captain of Division 12, Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto spoke without even glancing at him.

"Has the Shinigami Research and Development Institute still not detected any anomalies?"

The Institute operated under Division 12 and was responsible for the development of new technologies and spiritual tools. It was essentially the Soul Society’s research division, staffed entirely by brilliant minds.

The Institute also included the Communication Technology Research Division and the Radio Wave Measurement Research Division. With these, it possessed the ability to monitor and detect spiritual waves, Reiryoku, and Reiatsu in both the Soul Society and the World of the Living, functioning as the Gotei 13’s surveillance system.

During the training, Shin’ō Academy instructors had been monitoring the students through these systems—and yet such a massive incident occurred without any forewarning.

This was clearly a serious oversight on the part of the Institute.

"Nope." Mayuri showed no hint of guilt, tilting his head as he replied, "Both communication and monitoring were cut off during that period. We tried to trace the source, but haven’t found a single clue yet."

"I’d like to say it was a coincidence, but saying that would call the Institute’s professionalism into question."

"So, while I’m not particularly interested, I will continue tracking the source. Just don’t get your hopes up. Whoever did this covered their tracks quite well."

The implication of his words was clear. As Captain of Division 12, head of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, and the Soul Society’s foremost expert in research, Mayuri believed this was no accident—it was caused by someone.

He even suspected that the Hollows’ ability to hide their Reiatsu was the result of someone’s modifications.

But who had the skills and resources to do such a thing?

…Could it be that detestable man?

A certain figure flashed through Mayuri’s mind.

"Then, what about Squads 2 and 8?" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, clearly accustomed to Mayuri’s eccentricities, ignored his disturbing tone and quietly asked, "Your investigation results should be ready, yes?"

At this, the Captains wearing the Division 2 and Division 8 Haori both spoke.

"…Our people found signs that the Barrier had been opened from within. The marks don’t seem to be from a forced breach. If Hollows had broken in by force, the sixth-year students of the Academy would surely have noticed."

The speaker was Suì-Fēng, Captain of Division 2 and Commander of the Onmitsukidō.

She was a small-framed girl with short bangs, a ringed snake braid, and an exposed-back outfit under her white Haori. White wraps covered her chest, back, and thighs, and her forearms were wrapped in black sleeves.

Despite her adorable appearance, her expression was cold and her voice even colder—giving the impression of someone wholly unapproachable.

"Our Squad also questioned the students carefully," added the Captain of Division 8, Shunsui Kyōraku. "All of them insisted they noticed nothing unusual beforehand—including the sixth-years in the barrier class. None of them knew the barrier had been breached before they were attacked, nor did they have any idea how the Hollows got in."

Shunsui was a laid-back-looking man with medium-length wavy brown hair tied into a ponytail, flower-decorated hairpins, and a pink floral Haori draped over his white Captain’s Haori. He also wore a straw hat and had stubble on his chin.

His relaxed tone contrasted sharply with Suì-Fēng’s icy one. He didn’t seem the type to be in charge of intelligence operations.

But only Kaiser knew the truth—that this seemingly unreliable man was, in fact, one of the top-tier Captains in the Gotei 13. Aside from the Captains of Squads 1 and 4, Kyōraku was among the most experienced and powerful.

Though he was suppressing it, Kaiser could still sense his immense Reiatsu. Conservatively estimated, it was at least Second-Class Spiritual Pressure—perhaps even higher.

Thump!

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto struck the ground hard with his wooden staff, and the spiritual pressure he emitted grew even more oppressive.

"So in other words, not only is this a clear act of sabotage, but the Gotei 13 can’t even identify the culprit? We’re being toyed with?"

Anger was now evident in his voice.

Immediately, all the Captains bowed their heads and fell silent.

"Continue the investigation," Yamamoto said coldly. "To raise a hand against children—such petty lowlifes are not qualified to challenge the dignity of the Gotei 13."

"Designate this as the highest priority. All squads are to cooperate and locate the perpetrator as quickly as possible."

"Is that understood?"

The Captain Commander had spoken. No one dared to object. Even if they felt differently inside, they all voiced their agreement and accepted the task.

Kaiser listened in silence, saying nothing.

He knew full well who the real culprit was—but even if he said it aloud, it would be meaningless.

After all, that person had more than enough ways to deflect blame. If they weren’t capable of operating on this level, they wouldn’t have been able to play the entire Gotei 13 like puppets in the future.

Given that, Kaiser would not make any unnecessary moves to avoid arousing suspicion.

However, the gathering of all these Captains clearly wasn’t just about the incident.

"Academy Student Kaiser."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto locked eyes with Kaiser once more and said:

"Your strength has exceeded all our expectations. It is now time we discuss your future."

(End of Chapter)