Kuryashiki Kenpachi waved a hand at his subordinates.
"You lot, keep sparring without me for a while."
With that, he strode purposefully toward Ashido and curiously took the novel from his hands, flipping open the first page without much thought.
His eyes settled on the prologue poem titled Blood Blossom.
Right at that moment—
Boom!
Kuryashiki Kenpachi's spiritual awareness was wrenched into an illusion!
A boundless sea of blood surged from between the lines of the text, brimming with murderous intent and bone-chilling despair, swallowing him whole in an instant!
He heard the crunch of throats being crushed echo in his ears. The stench of blood hung thick around his nose, pungent and cloying.
And yet, in the face of such terrifying atmosphere, Kuryashiki Kenpachi didn't flinch. Instead, he slowly curled his lips into a battle-hungry grin.
"Heh... now this is interesting."
He plopped down cross-legged on the spot, ignoring the surrounding clamor of shouted attacks and clashing Reiatsu. With the thin novel in hand, he turned each page with rapt attention, as if completely immersed in another world.
No one knew how much time had passed...
Vmmm!
A surge of wild, colossal spiritual pressure erupted from within Kuryashiki Kenpachi without warning—an overwhelming force like that of a primeval beast crashing into the training grounds.
Thud! "Urgh!"
The Division members who had been barely holding their own instantly crumpled under the weight of that captain-class Reiatsu, toppling like stalks of wheat in a gale. Not one of them could move a single finger.
"Captain Kuryashiki..." Ashido was finally forced to speak up.
"Huh? Oh!" Kuryashiki Kenpachi blinked and snapped out of his trance, glancing around at the training ground where every last member lay flattened.
He quickly retracted his spiritual pressure, scratched the back of his head, and gave a hearty, apologetic laugh.
"Ah, my bad! Got too into it. Couldn't help myself, hahahaha!"
He handed the novel back to Ashido, stood up, and dusted himself off with a grin.
"This place in the story, 'Meteor Street'... it's clearly a reference to the Rukongai, right?
And from the way it's described... it's obviously based on the Zaraki District. Which means..."
Ashido nodded calmly. "Most likely. It's very probable the author used the Zaraki District as the model."
The warmth in Kuryashiki Kenpachi's eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp gleam.
He broke into loud, delighted laughter.
"Perfect timing—we've got nothing important going on in the division! Ashido, get ready. We're heading to the Zaraki District for a little 'walk'!"
Ashido nodded again, showing not a hint of surprise on his cold expression.
If the Zaraki District truly hid a "Killer" like the one described in the book, then that person would fit right into the 11th Division's recruitment standards.
Whether it was a killer or a demon—so long as they were strong enough—the 11th Division would welcome them with open arms.
Gotei 13 – 4th Division Headquarters
Unlike the bloodthirsty or energetic air of the combat divisions, the 4th Division's compound, known for its healing and support roles, always exuded an atmosphere of serenity and calm.
In a tastefully simple and warmly lit washitsu, a few 4th Division squad members who had just finished their duties were enjoying a rare moment of peaceful tea time.
Seated at the head of the room was a woman whose presence felt as gentle as flowing water.
She wore a pristine white captain's haori over her standard Shinigami uniform. Elegant, composed—she was none other than the captain of the 4th Division: Unohana Yachiru.
At this moment, she leaned forward ever so slightly, fully absorbed in arranging a floral centerpiece. Her slender fingers carefully adjusted a single camellia, eyes focused and serene, as though the world beyond the vase no longer existed.
But then—a subtle, rhythmic clack clack clack disrupted the quiet.
Unohana's hand paused mid-adjustment. Slowly, she turned to her side.
There, sitting next to her, was the 4th Division lieutenant—Yamada Seinosuke—holding a book with a pale face and a trembling body.
From Seinosuke, she could sense a wave of pure fear and dread, the emotional pulse unmistakable. Her brow creased ever so slightly in concern.
This was the very heart of the 4th Division—peaceful, secure, and far removed from the carnage of Hueco Mundo.
So what exactly was Seinosuke afraid of?
Her gaze dropped to the cover of the book in his hands: The Killer of Meteor City.
The design was steeped in dark tones, radiating a distinct sense of unease.
A horror novel? she wondered. Is that really enough to shake him like this?
And yet, Seinosuke's trembling didn't subside—it worsened.
Setting down the camellia, Unohana softly parted her lips. Her voice wasn't loud, but carried a strange, calming authority that pierced through the mind like water trickling over stone:
"Seinosuke. Compose yourself."
Those two simple words washed over Yamada Seinosuke's chaotic thoughts like a cold spring.
He jolted as if struck by lightning, then stiffened entirely. A moment later, as if all strength had left him, he exhaled a long, heavy breath.
Only then did he realize his back was drenched in cold sweat, the dampness clinging icily to his skin.
Feeling the gazes of his concerned comrades and his captain's gentle yet inquiring eyes, Seinosuke flushed with embarrassment. Hastily, he lifted the book and stammered,
"S-sorry, Captain! I lost control… It's this—this new release by Master Shika, The Killer of Meteor City. The content is… j-just… terrifying!"
Unohana's gaze remained calm and soft as she replied,
"It's nothing more than a fictional tale. A novelist's invention. Why let yourself be so deeply affected?"
Still shaken, Seinosuke set the book down as if it were burning his hands, his voice trembling with residual fear.
"But Captain… I don't know why… I just can't shake the feeling that this 'Killer'… actually exists!
It's like a real monster, one that crawled out from the depths of Hell—standing there, silently and eternally, in the middle of a sea of corpses. Just picturing it makes my blood run cold!"
"Aww, Lieutenant Seinosuke, if it's that scary, maybe you shouldn't read it!"
"Yeah! Maybe go back to reading Hell Girl instead? Though sadly, Master Shika hasn't updated that one in a while… sigh."
The nearby female squad members tried to comfort him, though their voices carried a hint of complaint toward the author.
Their chatter, however, piqued a faint flicker of curiosity in Unohana's heart.
For a calm, composed vice-captain to react so violently—so physically—to the contents of a novel, even believing the characters to be real...
Perhaps this book wasn't quite so ordinary after all.