During his time in the Human World, Shiba Isshin had still found nothing.
Day after day of investigation yielded no results. No abnormal reiatsu. No Hollow activity. No clues.
It was as if everything had been deliberately erased.
At one point, Isshin even considered returning to Soul Society and requesting assistance from the Twelfth Division specifically, having Kurotsuchi Mayuri deploy detection equipment to scan Karakura Town for irregular spiritual disturbances.
But
On this day
Everything changed.
Isshin suddenly sensed it.
A Hollow's presence.
After days of complete silence, that faint but unmistakable Hollow reiatsu was like a spark in the darkness.
Without hesitation, Isshin moved.
Using Shunpo, he pursued the source of the reiatsu at once.
Of course, there was no need for further reasoning.
As a Shinigami, encountering a Hollow meant only one thing
Purify it.
Moreover, with multiple Shinigami having disappeared in this region, Isshin had no intention of letting any potential lead slip away.
He quickly arrived at the location.
The Hollow before him
Was ordinary.
A low-level Hollow, recently formed, its presence unstable and weak.
Isshin narrowed his eyes slightly.
Even so, he did not lower his guard.
He drew his Zanpakutō.
With a clean motion, he stepped forward and struck.
A few swift exchanges
And the Hollow was purified.
Simple.
Too simple.
Isshin stood still for a moment.
Then
Another presence appeared.
A second Hollow.
His gaze sharpened.
"…So that's how it is."
Without wasting time, he moved again, heading toward the new source of reiatsu.
This time
The moment he arrived, he understood.
This Hollow
Was different.
Its form was humanoid, but distorted. Its body was almost entirely black, a stark contrast to the typical white mask and pale body of ordinary Hollows.
Only fragments of white remained.
Its mask.
Its hair-like protrusions.
Everything else
Was pitch black.
Its presence was oppressive.
Dense.
Violent.
Isshin immediately felt it.
This was not a standard Hollow.
Nor was it a Menos Grande.
And yet
Its reiatsu rivaled one.
"…So you're the cause."
Isshin muttered.
The disappearance of the stationed Shinigami.
The unnatural absence of other Hollows.
Everything pointed to this creature.
Hollows devoured souls.
And among them, Shinigami rich in reiryoku were the most valuable prey.
At the same time, Hollows could evolve by devouring their own kind.
Which meant
This Hollow had likely consumed both Shinigami and other Hollows.
That would explain everything.
Why Isshin had found no Hollows in Karakura Town.
Because they had already been eaten.
By the creature standing before him.
Without another word
Isshin attacked.
He swung his Zanpakutō, releasing a compressed burst of reiatsu in a powerful slash.
The attack struck forward with force
But
It was blocked.
Isshin's eyes narrowed.
"…Not bad."
This was no ordinary opponent.
The Hollow moved.
Fast.
Ferocious.
Its attacks were direct, instinctive, yet frighteningly effective like a predator honed purely for killing.
But Isshin was a captain.
Even under the restriction of a Gentei Reiin (limiter seal) placed on Shinigami operating in the Human World, his combat experience far surpassed that of the creature.
Step by step
He regained control.
Gradually
He gained the upper hand.
Then
Suddenly
A sharp killing intent pierced through the battlefield.
Isshin reacted instantly.
At that exact moment, the Hollow launched another attack from the front.
Forced to choose, Isshin evaded the Hollow's strike
But
From behind
A blade descended.
" !"
The strike landed cleanly across his back.
Blood splattered.
Isshin staggered forward, his body tensing in pain.
He turned sharply, trying to identify the attacker.
All he saw
Was a figure cloaked in shadow.
A pair of cold, emotionless eyes beneath a concealed face.
Nothing more.
"Who are you?!"
Isshin demanded.
No answer came.
The figure had already withdrawn.
Vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
The Hollow did not hesitate.
It pressed the attack immediately.
Now injured, Isshin's movements slowed.
The advantage he had built
Collapsed.
Blow after blow forced him back.
Until finally
He was driven to the ground.
Above the battlefield
Three figures stood, concealed through specialized methods.
Aizen Sōsuke.
Ichimaru Gin.
Tōsen Kaname.
It had been Gin who struck Isshin from behind.
Using equipment provided by Aizen to mask his presence, he had delivered a precise and decisive blow.
Not fatal
But sufficient.
Now
Isshin was at a disadvantage.
From Aizen's perspective
The experiment had reached its ideal stage.
He observed calmly, interest clear in his eyes.
What stood below was no ordinary Hollow.
It was something he had personally created
A unique entity.
A Hollow engineered through the fusion of multiple Shinigami souls.
Given form through artificial means.
Its name
White.
A being that inverted the nature of Hollow and Shinigami.
Though classified as a Hollow, its composition was deeply tied to Shinigami essence.
That was why
Its body was black.
A reversal of the natural order.
Compared to previous experimental subjects, such as the parasitic Hollow encountered by Shiba Kaien years ago, this one was far more refined.
More complete.
More dangerous.
Aizen watched closely.
If a captain-class Shinigami were to be overwhelmed by this entity
Then the next stage would begin.
Hollowfication.
Just as the battle reached its critical point
Aizen's gaze shifted slightly.
He sensed something.
Another presence.
Gin and Tōsen followed his line of sight.
In the distance
A figure approached rapidly.
A young girl.
Her movement technique was unmistakable.
Reishi gathered beneath her feet
Allowing her to glide through the air.
Hirenkyaku.
Around her
Spiritual particles condensed visibly.
Her reiatsu was
Remarkably strong.
Aizen's eyes narrowed slightly behind his glasses.
"…A Quincy?"
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