"Damn, that really hurts."
Through the drifting smoke, a charred figure stepped out, wrapped in a visibly powerful Reiatsu. A twisted hatred contorted its grotesque face.
A Menos' Hierro defense was strong, but caught off guard and forced to take that slash head-on, it had still been shaken—especially since it hadn't raised its Reiatsu beforehand.
"I didn't expect this sacrifice to hook two Shinigami. And judging by that attack just now, you're clearly not some nobody among the Gotei."
"If I bring you back to Hueco Mundo, 'my lord' will reward me well."
As it spoke, the black scorch marks on its body visibly faded, and the gray-black, steel-like skin re-formed.
Its strange gaze locked onto the two at center stage as if they were already in its pocket.
"Actually, I'm a little curious," Naraku said, pointing toward the Yokota clan head half-buried in scorched earth, barely alive.
"How did they even make a deal with you? Can a Shinigami's spiritual talent really be improved?"
The Menos' mouth split open again, revealing a lamprey-like ring of jagged teeth—an instant sanity drain to look at.
Naraku had seen plenty of Hollows, but he'd never seen one this ugly.
"Doesn't matter if I tell you. They came to my lord on their own."
"At first, they just used our power to eliminate rivals. But by chance, they discovered a way to raise a Shinigami's spiritual aptitude."
"After that, our cooperation expanded completely."
Naraku's curiosity sharpened.
Everyone knew a Shinigami's spiritual talent was usually fixed—it depended on the soul itself.
Like Zanpakutō: everyone received the same kind of asauchi, yet no two Shikai or Bankai in Soul Society were identical.
Of course, uncovering talent was its own kind of technique.
Some Shinigami achieved Shikai the moment they received their sword, and mastered Bankai again by the day they graduated.
Most Shinigami, though, died without ever touching their true power.
Who were you supposed to complain to about that?
And yet here was an intelligent Menos claiming it could raise a Shinigami's talent—shattering one of Soul Society's iron rules.
"Hahaha! I knew it. No Shinigami can resist the possibility of better talent."
It laughed arrogantly, as if everything were already decided.
"Could you roughly explain the principle?" Naraku raised a hand like a student asking a question.
The Menos froze, clearly not expecting the guy who'd been so reckless a moment ago to suddenly start asking about "principles."
Honestly, it sounded wildly out of place coming from him.
"I don't know the principle. I only know it has to do with the soul. It's the supreme power of the one I serve. Even if you gathered every Shinigami in Soul Society, you still wouldn't reach one ten-thousandth of my lord's wisdom!"
Mentioning that "lord" sent the Menos into an almost fanatical devotion—pure zealot energy.
"So? Want to be like the Yokota family and cooperate with us? All you have to do is provide souls—or Shinigami spirits—regularly."
"With your strength, it'd be easy. And then—"
"I can suggest to my lord that your spiritual aptitude be improved!"
Hearing a Shinigami and a Menos talk like they were negotiating business made Sui-Feng's pupils practically quake.
She stared at Naraku with open worry, terrified he might be tempted and choose to cooperate, ending up like the Yokota family.
If he really betrayed Soul Society, she'd probably die on duty today—tragic only because she'd never again be able to serve Yoruichi-sama.
Naraku grinned. "If you don't even understand it, then you're useless to me."
Crimson Reiatsu erupted violently, crushing the field. The nobles hiding in corners and barely clinging to life nearly suffocated under the pressure.
They stared at the aggressively radiant figure, faces full of disbelief.
If the first slash had been a greeting, then this—
Was the real start.
Circuit-like patterns lit up across Naraku's hands, glowing faintly.
Hadō #33: Sōkatsui.
Blue flames condensed in the air and gathered between his fingers, swelling and multiplying, wrapping the flashing blade-light in an instant.
The Menos' scarlet pupils shrank. It didn't even have time to react before the low howl of an incoming strike hit its ears again.
That shadow from before returned.
In a blink, Naraku had burst to the limit of Shunpo and appeared above the Menos' head. His Zanpakutō—raised high—came down with impossible speed.
A single, decisive cut.
He poured all his Reiatsu and force into that one blow, no restraint.
The moment the blade fell, terrifying heat erupted. Blue explosive flames burst outward, and a scorching wind shot into the sky, swallowing the Menos' huge body whole.
But the Menos didn't fall.
Prepared this time, it wrapped dense Reiatsu over its already tough Hierro, reinforcing its defense even further.
"A mere Shinigami dares try to block our great plan?"
The sizzling of burning flesh crackled over its body. Its already dark skin was covered in fresh black scorch, its features twisted beyond recognition.
Naraku's attack had definitely hurt it.
Yet relying on its massive, powerful body, it endured the pain and launched a storm of counterattacks.
Claws unfolded. Air tore and screamed as they struck from bizarre angles, aiming at Naraku's head, throat, and heart.
Afterimages tangled and collided across the manor. Light and Cero streaked everywhere, carving savage scars into the already broken ground.
The nobles cowered behind whatever cover they could find, terrified of being caught by stray shockwaves.
Sui-Feng watched the two figures locked together, anxious. She tried to find an opening to help more than once, but there was never a safe moment.
At her current level, stepping into this kind of fight was honestly too much.
The Menos' lamprey mouth opened wide. Brilliant crimson condensed inside, and a flashing Cero tore across the sky, striking Naraku mid-lunge.
Amid the explosion of smoke, a release call rang out:
"Ten Trillion Kalpas—Punishment of Jaya!"
Something unbelievable happened.
The almost tangible crimson mist around Naraku turned into fuel, igniting into blazing spiritual flames—like a sun dropping into the sky above the manor.
Naraku grinned, falling toward the Menos like a meteor.
"Now comes phase two!"