Without giving the man any chance to react, the female Shinigami raised her Zanpakuto high and then swung it down forcefully-
Using the stamp at the very end of her Zanpakuto's hilt, she pressed it against the man's forehead.
White light emanated from the stamp on the man's forehead.
In this white light, the terrified expression on the man's face gradually softened. Finally, the light enveloped the man's entire body, transforming him into white light particles that scattered away.
"Alright, work completed!"
Chuckling lightly as she sheathed her Zanpakuto, the woman wiped a few drops of cold sweat from her forehead.
Although this wasn't her first time encountering such lecherous male spirits in the living world, she still couldn't get used to it every time.
However, the woman also pitied them for having died, so at most she would just scare them a bit before directly sending them to Soul Society.
Just as the woman wanted to rest for a moment, she suddenly sensed the roar of a Hollow not far away.
"Not good, a Hollow has appeared!"
Immediately, the female Shinigami's expression changed. Her figure flashed as she rushed toward the location where the Hollow had appeared.
"Hado #33, Sokatsui..."
By the time she was about to encounter the Hollow, the female Shinigami had already completed preparations for the Kido.
In her palm, a pale blue flame condensed into a fireball the size of a volleyball, ready to fly from her palm at any moment to eliminate the Hollow that had just arrived from Hueco Mundo.
However, the moment the female Shinigami saw this Hollow, she quickly dispersed the pale blue fireball in her palm.
Because, in this Hollow's claw, there was an orange-haired little girl being held.
If the female Shinigami had fired the Kido from her hand earlier, this Hollow would undoubtedly have been killed instantly.
And when Hollows like this are killed, their bodies dissipate into Reishi.
At that time, the young girl being held by the Hollow might fall from a great height due to the Hollow's death, facing serious injury or death if not killed.
That's why the female Shinigami gave up this opportunity to kill the Hollow.
The female Shinigami's Reiatsu was naturally detected by this Hollow.
For Hollows, souls with stronger Reiatsu are more delicious and provide greater enhancement to their strength.
Immediately, this Hollow forgot about devouring the human in its hand and extended its other hand to grab the female Shinigami in the air-
The female Shinigami's body drew an elegant arc in the air like a swallow, avoiding the Hollow's attack, causing the Hollow's arm to smash into the wall of a nearby building, creating a large hole.
"Ah-"
A white light flashed as the female Shinigami's Zanpakuto left its sheath, directly cutting off the Hollow's arm that was holding the girl.
Then she reached out and grabbed the girl's arm, pulling her from the Hollow's severed limb.
"Groan-"
The pain from having its arm severed made the Hollow let out a miserable howl. Finally, it fiercely swung its remaining intact arm down at the female Shinigami.
"Yuzu!"
Just as the female Shinigami was about to evade with the orange-haired girl in her arms, a boy of about fifteen or sixteen shouted as he ran toward them.
The female Shinigami looked up, and the moment she saw the boy, the familiar face made her freeze for an instant.
"Kaien?"
Without a doubt, being distracted in battle can lead to trouble.
"Not good!"
The sound of wind behind her made the female Shinigami's expression change.
But now, it was too late for her to dodge. She could only concentrate her Reiatsu behind her to block the Hollow's attack.
Splash-
Blood flew as the female Shinigami spat out a mouthful of blood. Protecting the girl in her arms, she herself was slapped away by the Hollow's attack, crashing through the building's wall and falling to the ground.
"Hey, Yuzu, are you okay?"
Ichigo's eyes widened with rage as he hurried through the rubble, only to see a woman in black robes holding his sister in her arms.
The woman's body was now stained red with blood.
Glancing at this woman who had protected his sister, and then at the terrifying monster over four meters tall not far away, Ichigo ultimately couldn't overcome the barrier in his heart. Holding Yuzu with one hand and supporting the woman with the other, he began playing hide-and-seek with this terrifying Hollow.
Boom!
Boom!
This Hollow could sense several delicious foods nearby, but it couldn't see them.
Sniffing the scent of these foods, the Hollow followed behind Ichigo, pursuing the delicious meal.
Many people were awakened by the commotion caused by this Hollow, fleeing in panic.
They couldn't see the Hollow, only seeing the surrounding buildings being destroyed as if by some invisible terrifying monster.
Fortunately, this Hollow was attracted by the Reiatsu of Ichigo and the others, and didn't actively hunt the fleeing humans.
"Cough, cough..."
"Young man, you can't escape like this for long."
"Huh?"
"You're awake?"
"What exactly is that thing? Why is it chasing us?"
Seeing this, Ichigo quickly asked.
Since childhood, Ichigo had been able to see 'spirits' that ordinary people couldn't see, but this was the first time he had encountered such a terrifying monster.
"This is a Hollow, a monster that feeds on human souls."
"Coincidentally, my soul is the most delicious food in this Hollow's view."
"Put me down, that way you can escape while it's eating me."
"..."
Ichigo didn't speak, but his tightened grip on the female Shinigami's hand already conveyed his answer.
He wouldn't abandon this woman just to ensure his and his sister's survival.
Besides, he had seen earlier that it was this woman who cut off the monster's arm and saved his sister, Kurosaki Yuzu.
If there was any possibility for the three of them to survive, that possibility lay with this woman.
Seeing that this boy, who looked exactly like her husband except for his hair color, was like this, a relieved smile appeared on the female Shinigami's face.
Now her life was no longer just her own.
This boy and his sister's lives, as well as the lives of the ordinary people around them, all depended on her decision.
"I am a Shinigami responsible for guiding dead souls and purifying such monsters."
"To kill this monster, I can only rely on you."
"I can temporarily give you my Shinigami power, allowing you to have the strength to fight this monster."
"Are you willing?"
"I am willing!"
"Young man, what's your name?"
"Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Very good, Ichigo."
"My name is Shiba Miyako."
Leaning against the wall, Miyako handed her Zanpakuto to Ichigo.
Ichigo gripped the blade of Miyako's Zanpakuto with both hands, then forcefully stabbed it into his own chest.
Splash-
Boom!
White Reiatsu shot into the sky, like starlight illuminating the dawn in this dark night.
...
Twack, twack, twack-
In Seireitei, the signal for a Captains' Meeting sounded, causing chaos among the Gotei 13's Shinigami.
For ordinary Shinigami, every Captains' Meeting meant that major events would occur that would affect even them.
And, as expected, they really didn't have much ability to deal with crises of this level.
It had been over ten years since the last Captains' Meeting.
That time, the Gotei 13 lost a Captain.
Fortunately, a few years later, the 10th Division's Lieutenant, Matsumoto Rangiku completed her Bankai training and sequentially became the 10th Division's new Captain.
Over these years, with all Gotei 13 Captains present, they couldn't imagine what crisis this Captains' Meeting would face.
But no matter what crisis it was, they could only face it with gritted teeth.
After all, protecting Seireitei was the duty given to the Gotei 13 by Yamamoto, and also the meaning of Shinigami's existence.
In the 1st Division's Meeting Room, many Captains had already taken their positions.
No, standing in the 13th Division Captain's position wasn't the 13th Division's Captain Ukitake Jushiro, but the 13th Division's vice-captain Shiba Kaien.
Shiba Kaien had been the 13th Division's Lieutenant for over thirty years.
Because Ukitake's health condition wasn't good, most of the time, the Lieutenant, Kaien exercised the 13th Division's Captain duties.
Over so many years, Kaien's character and strength had been recognized by many Captains, who all tacitly acknowledged that Kaien was Ukitake's successor candidate for the 13th Division.
Therefore, no one objected to Kaien attending the Captains' Meeting in place of Ukitake.
"Everyone is here..."
Yamamoto opened his eyes, glanced at Kaien below, then said to Mayuri: "Captain Kurotsuchi, report your findings."
"Okay, Captain-Commander."
Hearing this, Mayuri stepped out from the lineup.
"Captains, recently the 12th Division detected unfamiliar Shinigami Reiatsu in the living world..."
"Additionally, we discovered the Gigai of the 13th Division's 3rd Seat, Shiba Miyako."
"After professional instrument detection, there is no Reiatsu in 3rd Seat Shiba's Gigai."
"We have reason to suspect that 3rd Seat Shiba violated Seireitei's ban, giving Shinigami Reiatsu to an ordinary person."
"How is that possible?"
Hearing this, Kaien's expression drastically changed.
"Miyako violated the ban?"
"Captain-Commander, could there be some misunderstanding about this?"
Kaien's voice trembled slightly, his gaze toward Mayuri and Yamamoto carrying a pleading quality.
Over ten years ago, his uncle Shiba Isshin was attacked by a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande, went to the living world, and disappeared.
If not for his sister, Shiba Kukaku confirming she had seen their power-depleted uncle in the living world, Kaien would have thought the Seireitei's nobles couldn't tolerate the Shiba Family and wanted to exterminate them.
And now, after such a short time, his wife was being accused of the crime of 'giving Shinigami power to a human'.
"Lieutenant Shiba, although I also wish Captain Kurotsuchi was mistaken about this matter, unfortunately, the unfamiliar Shinigami's Reiatsu that has appeared multiple times in Karakura Town, as well as 3rd Seat Shiba Miyako's Gigai, all prove 3rd Seat Shiba Miyako's crime."
"Now, what we need to consider is first bringing 3rd Seat Shiba Miyako back."
"Additionally, the boy who obtained 3rd Seat Miyako's Reiatsu also needs to be dealt with to prevent causing greater losses to Seireitei."
"Lieutenant Shiba, since this matter originated from your 13th Division, you will be responsible for its execution."
"Of course, considering your special relationship with 3rd Seat Miyako, you can refuse."
"No!"
Hearing this, Kaien quickly spoke: "Captain-Commander, please entrust this task to me!"
"I will definitely bring Miyako back, I beg you!"
Kaien knew that now his wife had become a 'criminal' in Seireitei.
If he went to capture Miyako, he could ensure she wouldn't suffer other harm.
If others went, they might directly kill Miyako to reduce trouble.
Kaien didn't believe Miyako would give her Reiatsu to a human for no reason.
There must be some crisis he didn't know about.
It was possible that Miyako was still in danger now, and he needed to appear by her side quickly to protect her.
'It's all my fault...'
Kaien felt very regretful in his heart.
For the 13th Division, being stationed in the living world was just troublesome, not highly dangerous.
Even though Karakura Town had become this century's Jureichi in the living world, Kaien felt that sending a few elite Shinigami would be enough to ensure Karakura Town's safety.
After all, in the recent hundred years, aside from that Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande that attacked Isshin, including Soul Society, there had been few appearances of Menos Grande above Gillian-class in the living world.
Coupled with some nobles' propaganda, Shinigami who had become squad members in Seireitei in recent decades all thought [Menos Grande] were legendary existences.
And only the Royal Guard's special forces could kill Menos Grande.
Precisely because of this, Kaien didn't think Miyako would encounter any danger when assigning her to be stationed in Karakura Town.
But now, it seemed that something must have happened in the living world that Seireitei didn't know about.
With Miyako's strength, Kaien didn't believe she could be injured by a mere medium-sized Hollow.
'Only if Miyako was injured would she possibly temporarily give her Shinigami power to a human, letting the human become a Shinigami to protect more people.'
'But...'
Although Kaien had almost reconstructed his wife's experience in his heart-
He also had some confusion.
Generally, when a Shinigami gives their Shinigami power to a human, they can set how much Reiatsu to give.
Moreover, because humans have no means to absorb and use Reishi, the Shinigami can completely recover their Reiatsu after the crisis ends.
'Could it be...'
'Just like hundreds of years ago, the human who obtained Miyako's Reiatsu has high Reiatsu potential, so they forcibly took Miyako's Reiatsu for themselves?'
'In that case, unless the human who obtained Miyako's Reiatsu is killed, Miyako's Reiatsu won't fully recover.'
"Very well, then Lieutenant Shiba, this matter is entrusted to you!"