Amid the watchful gazes of Senju Makoto and the numerous Tenth Division members, a figure slowly emerged from the house.
Yet, compared to the alluring figure from before, the widow now appeared grotesque, her body seemingly swelling unnaturally. Strange, bulbous white growths protruded all over her body, and atop her head, white, horn-like structures jutted out.
With every step she took, various odd objects spilled noisily from some unseen cavity, hitting the ground with unsettling clatters. The scene was as horrifying as it was nauseating.
"What is this? A Hollow?"
"What terrifying spiritual pressure… Could it be a Menos Grande?"
"Everyone, be cautious!"
"That damn creature! How dare it deceive Lord Kujo Taimei! Now that its true colors are showing, watch how I take it down—"
A voice, sharp with anger and frustration, suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere, leaving even Senju Makoto momentarily stunned.
At the same time, the bloated, grotesque figure emitted a furious, hollowed-out, composite voice.
"You infuriating Shinigami! This body was the perfect vessel I found, and you've ruined my plans…"
As the words fell, the swollen mass seemed to implode, bursting outward from within. In its place stood a massive, white figure, its size rivaling that of the entire house.
Its form was void-like white, resembling a grotesque hybrid of spider and crab. A long tail extended from its back, and its head, inverted with sharp horns, was shrouded by a pale mask. As it unleashed an overwhelmingly terrifying spiritual pressure, the Shinigami present felt as though they were suffocating.
"Today, all of you Shinigami will pay the price!!!"
The resonant voice, a roar and a howl, echoed endlessly.
---
Meanwhile, deep within the Twelfth Division headquarters, inside the underground labs of the Department of Research and Development, numerous alarms blared in unison. White-coated team members worked frantically at devices resembling computers, their fingers flying across the keyboards.
"Confirmed! The source of the Hollow spiritual pressure is located near District 79 of Rukongai's western region. The spiritual pressure level is…"
"Adjuchas!"
At this declaration, the expressions of the Twelfth Division members froze.
Akane, her forehead adorned with three small protruding horns and her brows furrowed tightly, exclaimed in disbelief, "How is that possible? There were no spatial disturbances or detection of a Garganta opening. Could it be a mistake?"
At that moment, a sinister and mocking voice cut through the tense room.
"Akane, have you grown so naive after spending just a few days with Urahara Kisuke? Don't rely on so-called common sense. Trust only the data and results in your hands."
The voice's owner appeared: Mayuri Kurotsuchi, a figure whose grotesque appearance could only be described as monstrous. With an air of absolute authority, he issued a command.
"In the name of the Department of Research and Development, alert the Gotei 13. A Hollow of Adjuchas level has appeared near District 79 of Rukongai's western region."
As the directive left the Department of Research and Development, the warning has been issued.
The announcement came from the police: several captains, leisurely making their way toward Squad One to attend the emergency captain meeting, paused in their tracks.
An Adjuchas-class Menos had appeared in Rukongai.
This was no trivial matter.
If left unchecked, such a creature could devour thousands of souls in a short span of time.
Among them, Shinji Hirako, the Captain of Squad Five, instantly turned to glance over his shoulder at "Sōsuke Aizen," a figure with distinct composure and mysterious aura.
Yet Aizen's expression mirrored the gravity of the situation, his face painted with a rare mix of solemnity and surprise, as if he hadn't anticipated this turn of events.
The next moment, a Hell Butterfly landed lightly on Shinji's head, and a flow of information rushed into his mind.
"Support Squad: Captain Kensei Muguruma of Squad Nine and Captain Shinji Hirako of Squad Five, deploy immediately; Medical Squad: Squad Four to dispatch two rescue teams…"
Receiving the direct order from Squad One, Shinji dared not delay. Fearing Aizen might not keep pace, he left him with instructions to catch up and disappeared in a flash step toward District 79 of West Rukongai.
---
Meanwhile, in District 79 of West Rukongai, more than thirty Shinigami stood locked in a tense standoff against an Adjuchas emanating a suffocating spiritual pressure.
No, it wasn't just a standoff.
Under the sheer weight of the Adjuchas' spiritual pressure, most of the Shinigami were utterly immobilized.
The difference in power was insurmountable.
"This… this is not an enemy we can handle…"
A young member of Squad Ten, trembling, was the first to break. His face crumbled, and he staggered backward in despair.
"No… If we don't run… we'll die…"
It wasn't just him. Even Senju Makoto, a seasoned member, felt a sinking heaviness in his chest.
An Adjuchas?!
This was a foe far beyond the capabilities of ordinary squad members or seated officers. Even most lieutenants would stand no chance.
This was a threat only a captain could face.
How could such a powerful Menos appear? And how did it go undetected by the Seireitei?
Makoto's thoughts raced. The captains, including Retsu Unohana and Isshin Shiba, had swept the area earlier—how could they have missed this?
At that moment, a chilling realization struck him: this was no accident. It reeked of a conspiracy.
Worse still, Unohana-sensei was nowhere to be found.
If she were nearby, she would have intervened the moment the Adjuchas appeared.
This is bad… really bad.
Makoto drew a deep breath, locking eyes with the monstrous Adjuchas ahead. He knew he was in grave danger.
Then, without warning, the massive creature, as large as a house, vanished.
For a brief moment, the Squad Ten members froze in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
It was Makoto's voice that shattered the stillness.
"Behind you! Watch out!"
Two Squad Ten members at the rear felt a shadow loom over them. Before they could react, they were sent flying like ragdolls, landing with a thud and rolling several times on the ground. Their chests were grotesquely crushed.
But just as despair began to set in, the barren earth around them erupted in lush greenery.
Thick grass surged upward, wrapping around the fallen Shinigami, while tiny flowers blossomed and began to draw in spirit particles from the air, providing urgent treatment to their injuries.
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