A dark aura shrouded the sky overhead, where the death star shone without cease.
{T/N: Death Star is a Chinese Idiom for when someone is dying. 'Your death star is shining, therefore you're close to death'. Something like this.}
Standing atop corpses, Akira's pupils contracted as several Shinigami suddenly emerged. From their Shunpo speed alone, he could tell they were elite-level warriors.
Yet something didn't add up. Hadn't these assassins gathered proper intelligence beforehand? What fool thought mere elite Shinigami would be enough for this mission?
Akira held his ground, surveying all directions as a savage smile crept across his lips.
In the cruel territory of Sakahone District, mercy alone means nothing!
Under Aizen's shocked gaze, the usually carefree priest underwent an earth-shattering transformation.
Killing intent erupted like volcanic magma above the Hollow corpses. A bone-chilling coldness intertwined with it, enveloping the attacking shadows and freezing their breath.
This was nothing like the Akira who had fought Sōya before. Now, he seemed to have shed his outer skin, revealing his true nature.
If anything, the current Shinigami with the terrifying smile above the Hollows resembled Captain Unohana from that day at the Coordinated Relief Station!
{T/N: He's talking about the first time he met Unohana.}
Aizen composed himself, the glint in his eyes fading as he watched the battlefield's center with a tranquil gaze.
Blood flowers bloomed brilliantly in the air. Amid the shrill clash of metal, naked horror dawned in the assassins' eyes.
The Asauchi hummed, weaving intricate attack patterns at his side, clashing with the Zanpakutō. Blade lights crisscrossed into a heaven-and-earth net, encompassing everything around!
⤫ Jigoku Kumo Wakatsu ⥤ Hellish Cloud Parting! ⤬
The blade descended like an invisible hand, pushing back the attackers as brilliant light and bone-piercing cold pierced their bodies.
The air trembled as blades struck true. Flesh tore in the silence, and more blood flowers bloomed, painting the battlefield in macabre beauty.
⤫ Jigoku Kage Satsujin ⥤ Hellish Shadow Murder! ⤬
In a single strike, the shadows crashed to the ground, their lifeless bodies splaying across the blood-slicked earth. Their eyes remained wide with disbelief.
Even in death, they couldn't fathom how a mere Shin'ō Academy student had displayed power far beyond a Shinigami Officer.
Terror filled Takemoto Shinya's eyes as he gripped his Zanpakutō, its tip trembling forward.
He stood paralyzed with disbelief. Their supposedly foolproof assassination mission had capsized in mere moments, too swift for him to even react.
Damn it, which idiot provided this intelligence?! Since when did elite Shinigami have this level of power?! The flaws in intelligence led to the mission's complete failure.
After the initial clash, only he remained standing among the attackers.
"Rebels?" The tip of Akira's blade drooped, a drop of blood rolling off its bright surface and merging with the viscous pool below.
The other party remained silent.
"It doesn't matter if you don't want to talk. I'm sure the Second Division can pry open your mouth."
Akira had no intention of interrogating. He was certain he hadn't offended anyone — except for killing that deserter Shinigami in the 32nd District.
Then it hit him... He suddenly raised his eyebrow, asking with slight surprise.
"The Kuchiki clan?"
Hearing this, Takemoto's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly recovered, determination flashing in his eyes.
He knew well that in this situation, his opponent could kill him as easily as turning over a palm. The only reason he was still alive was so they could extract intelligence from him.
As a former Officer of the Gotei 13, Takemoto knew the 2nd Division's methods all too well. Not even a Captain could resist their interrogation techniques.
Dark memories flickered through his mind, making him shudder before he fixed his gaze forward with fierce eyes.
Akira walked slowly toward him, sword in hand.
"Hmph, we shall never surrender!" With these words, Takemoto suddenly raised his blade and plunged it toward his own abdomen.
Slash—
The blade struck true, clean and swift. He noticed anxiety flash across the distant youth's face, and satisfaction bloomed in his heart.
Though I couldn't kill you, I've protected the intelligence. This mission isn't a complete failure!
Akira approached the fallen man, sighing helplessly.
"Why do this? The mission was almost over — now you're making me work overtime."
Blood gushed from Takemoto's mouth, rendering him speechless. Hearing the youth's sigh beside his ear only strengthened his satisfaction.
As long as the enemy didn't get what they wanted, then... Wait, why are you starting to take off your clothes?!
His eyes widened, unable to comprehend the youth's actions. He watched as Akira pulled out a set of common ceremonial robes from nowhere and brazenly changed clothes on this blood-soaked battlefield.
Seeing this, Aizen sighed helplessly. Well, Akira was still Akira — as unreliable as ever.
Wooden table, incense, teacup, ritual wand... When the handsome and well-dressed priest finished his preparations, he noticed that Mr. Assassin hadn't yet breathed his last.
"Your seppuku technique needs work. If you get the chance in the future, make sure to practice diligently."
{T/N: Seppuku is committing suicide… MC's a menace}
⤫ Jigoku Kōtetsu Dageki ⥤ Hellish Steel Strike! ⤬
With these words, under Takemoto's dumbfounded gaze, Akira ended his vitality with a single slash.
"Death isn't a way to escape reality. Especially not before me, the handsome priest of Sakahone."
The water in the teacup began to tremble, ripples spreading in circles before bouncing off the cup's walls. When everything finally stilled, faces full of terror and disbelief appeared within.
Takemoto couldn't believe his eyes. How was he still able to see this brat after death? Had he truly died?
While his confusion mounted, Akira dipped his finger into the teacup. Instantly, infinite agony erupted from the depths of Takemoto's soul — as if he were being torn into countless pieces and forcibly stitched back together.
A familiar voice echoed in his ears.
"Tell us everything you know, and I'll grant you a quick end."
Before Takemoto could even react, his colleagues had already spilled everything like beans from a broken basket. This inhuman torture could break even the most resolute Shinigami — no soul could withstand being torn apart.
After extracting intelligence from the dead, Akira frowned slightly. Something felt off. His Danger Instinct continued to warn him that the situation wasn't safe.
His heart tightened. Were there even more powerful enemies lurking nearby?
⤫⤬⤫
T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! I'm constantly translating and the difference will keep getting bigger!
For just $1 you can access all the extra content, and descriptive images, costs only $2!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
https://www.patreon.com/mrblackwing