Chapter 14: Encountering a Ghost
In a dim, secluded corner of Junrinan, where lantern lights flickered weakly.
"What did you say? You found the culprit?!"
Marechiyo's eyes widened, his expression turning frightening.
The patrol member standing before him broke into a slight sweat and hurriedly elaborated on overhearing Shiba Ganju conversing with his subordinate during covert investigations.
Marechiyo listened in stunned disbelief, hardly trusting his ears.
Just when I thought we'd return empty-handed and get an earful from the captain, the situation took an unexpected turn. That arrogant woman's brother actually knew the whereabouts of the criminal and, of all things, let it slip, accidentally overheard by his subordinate.
Though we didn't catch the full story, as long as we've narrowed down the general area, what's there to fear with the capabilities of our Onmitsukidō?
"Hahaha! As expected, the luck of the rich is just different—no wonder we're wealthy!"
"Just wait until I capture the criminal and drag them before you. Let's see if you can still act so high and mighty then!"
Marechiyo rubbed his hands together, unusually excited.
He immediately gathered all his subordinates and rushed toward the destination indicated by the clue.
Rather than fearing the criminal might escape, it was more that he couldn't wait to see the foul look on Kūkaku's face.
No sooner had he set off than Sōma and the others followed close behind.
"They're moving incredibly fast. If we didn't know the exact location, we might actually lose them."
Ichigo clicked his tongue in amazement.
"Footwork is the specialty of the Onmitsukidō. This level is normal for them. What's strange is that you all can keep up."
Kūkaku was somewhat surprised by the skilled Shunpo of Sōma and the other three. Forget current Shin'ō Academy students—even most active members of the Gotei 13 rarely displayed this level of skill.
"At this rate, you could graduate early. Have you thought about which squad you'd want to join?"
Yuyu: "Haven't really considered it yet~"
Rindō: [Any will do.]
"As for me, probably the Fifth Division."
Sōma replied casually.
"Is this really the time to be discussing this?"
Ichigo retorted.
"Being a Shinigami isn't an easy job. Dealing with death never leads to anything good. If you don't find some joy in it, life would be far too bleak."
Kūkaku's offhand remark shifted the atmosphere within the group.
The ever-present night seemed to weigh heavier upon them, the hazy moonlight in the sky squeezed by shadows until it nearly hid behind the clouds.
The moment the mood changed, the outskirts of Rukongai felt like a place where no life could belong.
"—Is that so? If this is the current state of Shinigami, then when I become a captain, what I must do is beyond doubt."
Similarly, with just one sentence.
The atmosphere shifted once again.
Everyone except Sōma instinctively turned to look at Ichigo.
Behind the arrogant statement was not an arrogant expression.
But the face of a man who understood the difficulties ahead yet could still smile.
The darkness dulled his orange hair, so much so that Kūkaku, who had originally intended to mock his overconfidence, found herself slightly dazed, as if seeing a familiar figure overlapping with him.
"???"
Being scolded or ridiculed was something Ichigo could handle, but he couldn't stand the strange look in Kūkaku's eyes—as if she'd seen a female ghost clinging to his back.
It made his scalp crawl, and he quickly turned to his friend to change the subject.
"Sōma, you've always had a peculiar mind. You must have some weird idea—spit it out."
"No ideas. I just know that with you around, there's never a shortage of amusement."
Sōma responded lightly.
He never turned his head, keeping his focus on moving forward.
As if this alone occupied all his attention.
Or as if he already knew exactly how Ichigo would react and thus paid it no mind.
"Hey, are you mocking me right now?"
"You're being noisy. This isn't the time for that."
Being countered with his own line, Ichigo was instantly rendered speechless.
Sōma didn't give him time to devise a countermeasure either, directly halting the team.
"What's wrong?"
Kūkaku voiced everyone's confusion.
"Ōmaeda and the others have slowed down, meaning they're very close and preparing to launch their assault. If we casually follow and appear before both sides, it doesn't seem like it would serve any purpose."
Sōma pondered aloud.
"What are you trying to say?"
Kūkaku set aside distracting thoughts and asked calmly.
"What I mean is, since we're already using Ōmaeda as a stepping stone, why not make the most of it and use him as bait one more time."
As soon as Sōma said this, everyone fell silent while vaguely understanding his underlying meaning.
"I see..."
Kūkaku stroked her chin, her eyes growing brighter.
"Ōmaeda can't defeat the enemy. Given his personality, he'll flee immediately. We just need to ambush along his escape route, and when the enemy chases after him, we can catch them off guard."
"But what if the enemy doesn't chase?"
Yuyu blinked curiously.
"Ōmaeda will make the enemy chase him."
Sōma's response was full of implication.
...
That cave had no name and nothing special about it. Places like this were too numerous to count in Rukongai. If it weren't for the criminal hiding inside, Marechiyo would never have held his nose and stepped onto the muddy ground to venture deep into the sunless cave in his entire life.
"Damn criminal, making Lord Ōmaeda go through all this trouble. Just wait until you're in prison, I'll teach you a lesson...!"
Though he thought this, Ōmaeda still maintained the demeanor of the Onmitsukidō, carefully advancing with his subordinates in a very professional manner.
This also earned him high praise from the "criminal" when he saw him.
"I thought it was a wild beast, but it turns out to be a Shinigami. To find my whereabouts so quickly, not to be underestimated. As expected of..."
The voice trailed off to inaudibility at the end.
But Marechiyo didn't have time to ponder what the other had said.
His face was currently extremely pale.
Because what appeared before him was an "alien."
Three meters tall, nearly humanoid, with three heads resembling dogs but with sharp bull horns, and terrifying faces as if wearing skull masks.
Perhaps feeling no more need for concealment, the faint, ethereal aura around it gradually changed, becoming cold and dense, like air turning into mercury, flooding out from within as if a dam had burst.
The atmosphere inside the cave, even the entire space, was shaking, roaring, and echoing.
Under this intense pressure, it wouldn't be surprising if it shattered like a mirror at any moment.
Marechiyo and his subordinates were sweating profusely, their bodies trembling slightly.
That they hadn't collapsed to their knees was partly due to their strength not being that poor, but also thanks to their captain's occasional cold-faced outbursts where the Reiatsu released was quite similar, so they had some tolerance built up.
Even so...
The one standing here now wasn't their captain.
But a Hollow with captain-level Reiatsu!
"No mistake about it, it's a M-Menos Grande! And an intermediate Menos Grande at that—an Adjuchas!"
Marechiyo's face twitched as he roared internally.
What the hell is the Technical Development Department doing!
An Adjuchas had invaded all the way to the gates of Seireitei without being detected.
Of course, he knew this was likely due to the enemy's ability to conceal their Reiatsu and erase their tracks.
But this realization only fueled his frustration and resentment.
After all, encountering such a rare event—first thinking himself lucky, only to end up on the brink of death—was a cruel twist of fate.
"Hey, Hollow! State your name!"
"My name is—"
"Smash him! Gegetsuburi!"
Before the arrogant reply could be finished, Marechiyo abruptly released his Zanpakutō, swinging the spiked iron ball like a flail to shatter the cavern ceiling, causing a collapse. He then cast "Bakudō #21: Sekienton" to blend with the falling debris and dust, obscuring vision.
Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and fled, the entire sequence executed with seamless fluidity.
"Hurry, hurry! Everyone, run!"
His shouts were unnecessary—his subordinates were acutely aware this enemy was beyond their capabilities.
But just as they escaped the cavern, a crimson beam shot forth from the depths.
Had Marechiyo and his team not reacted swiftly by dropping to the ground, someone would have surely perished under the Cero.
BOOM!
The missed Cero struck in the distance, triggering a violent explosion.
The light first dyed the earth red, then washed the night into stark whiteness.
Marechiyo and his men turned paler than the bleached darkness.
"Agile and vigilant... It seems you Shinigami are no ordinary figures. Encountering such prey brings me immense delight."
The Menos Grande emerged from the cavern, hovering mid-air as it scrutinized its quarry with satisfaction.
Marechiyo sensed something peculiar in its gaze but couldn't pinpoint the issue. He knew only that unless they acted, all dozen of them would perish here.