Kain was caught off guard by this new technique, but quickly fired his own Cero Oscuras in defence. But it was no match for Luna's attack. The Gran Rey Cero Oscuras overwhelmed Kain's blast, engulfing him in a massive explosion.
When the dust cleared, Kain was on his knees, badly injured. His mask had a large crack running down the centre, and his skin was ripped and singed.
"That's impossible..." Kain's voice trailed off, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Luna was slightly injured, his expression neutral as he walked over to Kain.
"This is the power of Lord Jin's number one."
"What... what is that attack..." Kain managed, his breathing ragged.
Luna smirked. "A little something, Lord Jin, developed. He's a genius, you know."
"So you weren't lying. Excitement..." Kain's voice was filled with happiness
'Damn, these guys are weird. What did I get myself into...'
"But this isn't over, I'll get stronger. That number one position will be mine." Kain added.
"We'll see about that." Luna said.
Kain's eyes were filled with excitement as he stood up.
'Oh boy, this guy is never gonna give up. I shouldn't get involved with these battle hungry lunatics.' Kiyota thought, looking at the pair.
"Luna, Kain, enough. Let's go." Kiyota's booming voice echoed across the desert.
"Yes, Lord." Luna said, his eyes wide.
"...I forgot to ask. But what do we do anyway?" Kain said, rubbing his mask.
"What...? Are you telling me you joined without even knowing?" Kiyota asked him incredulously.
"I thought we fight random hollows to get excitement and get this... arrancar thing you were talking about." Kain said, sounding like a little kid.
"You idiot. In return for following my orders, you will get power." Kiyota said, looking at him with disbelief.
"I would follow you nevertheless, my Lord." Luna said happily.
'Why are you guys so excited... What have I got myself into?' Kiyota thought.
'Now, let's check my stats, I'm curious. And also, I should check if the quest has been updated.' Kiyota thought, opening the stat panel.
---
Host: Kiyota Jin
Level: 35
EXP: 250/12,000
Health: 78,000/78,000
Dexterity: 5,500
Strength: 62,000
Reiatsu: 80,300/82,000
Remaining status points: 15
Modifications: Obito's Sharingan
Skills: Danger Stop, Basic Genjutsu, Chidori, Instant Regeneration, Acid Touch, Acid Spit, Flame Breathing, Cero, Kūmon, Negación.
Shop: Available
Skill Crafting: Unavailable (unlocks at 50)
---
'I have gotten stronger and so has my reiatsu. Siri, how many vasto lorde would I have to kill to become an adhjchas?' Kiyota thought.
"Two." Siri said.
'That's quite less and actually achievable now that I have two vasto lorde under my command. I guess I'll just ask Luna what the weakest vasto lordes were, then they can subdue them for me to finish them off.'
'Quest panel.'
Kiyota opened the quest panel. And the holographic screen changed.
---
New Quest: Kill 100 Adhjchas
Progress: 30/100
Time Limit: 1 Month
Reward: 900 status points, Gluttony.
---
'I'm almost halfway there, this is going to be easy with Kain and Luna with me. But I still don't know what Gluttony is. I wonder if it's something like Rimuru's skill. Well, I'll find out in due time.' Kiyota thought."Luna, out of all the vasto lorde you met, which two were the weakest? I have no use for the weak. Let's hunt them down. Kain, are you able to travel? Or do you need to heal first?" Kiyota's deep voice boomed.
"I can walk. Don't think I'm some kind of weakling" Kain said with a scoff.
'Well, at least his attitude is fine. Now I can use him and his battle-crazed mind.' Kiyota thought to himself.
'But his personality is a problem. He could betray me, if he feels that I am too weak, or if he can gain something from it. There's no way he would follow a weak leader. As the saying goes, "absentee king and rebellion." I've got to get stronger, faster.'
"My lord, the two weakest are a duo. They were both giants and quite stupid. They didn't even think twice before rejecting your offer. All they seem to care about is eating hollows." Luna said.
"Let's go hunt them down." Kiyota said.
~~~
Back in the world of the living.
As the rain poured down, Rukia stood before Ichigo, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "I will atone for all my sins," she declared, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ichigo, confused and struggling to move, demanded, "What are you saying, Rukia?"
Before she could answer, Renji pinned Ichigo down with his foot. "Give up and die already," he growled. "Stop squirming around."
Rukia turned to Byakuya, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "There's no need to kill him. He will die from his wounds soon enough. Let's go."
As she moved to stand beside her brother, Ichigo called out, his voice strained, "What kind of joke is this? Rukia, look at me!"
Ichigo attempted to rise, but Rukia's sharp command stopped him. "Don't move!" Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked back at him. "If you try to follow me... if you move even an inch... I will never forgive you."
The rain intensified as Rukia continued, her voice breaking, "Stay where you are and live just a bit longer. You're going to die anyway, so... just stay still."
Byakuya, his face impassive, spoke. "I agree. There's no need for a finishing blow. I've shattered the vital points of his soul, the Saketsu and Hakusui. He'll die within the hour. Even if he somehow survives, he'll never regain his Shinigami powers or reiatsu."
At Byakuya's command, Renji opened a Senkaimon. The three Shinigami walked towards the gate, leaving Ichigo lying motionless on the ground.
As the doors began to close, Rukia cast one last glance at Ichigo. The Senkaimon faded from view, and Ichigo slammed his fist into the ground, the rain masking his tears of frustration.
'Protected again,' he thought bitterly. 'I couldn't do anything.'
Time passed, and Ichigo felt his body growing heavier, colder. Blood continued to flow from his wounds. The nearby streetlamp flickered back to life, casting a weak glow over the scene.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over him. Ichigo looked up to see Kisuke Urahara, holding an umbrella and carrying a black cat on his shoulder.
"My, my," Urahara said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "This is quite the predicament you've found yourself in, Ichigo."
Ichigo's consciousness began to slip away.