Boom!
A terrifying figure like a demonic god dropped from the sky. Before anyone could react, that low, violent howl erupted again from above.
A Zanpakutō wrapped in blazing light roared through the air, carving a vicious arc as it came down.
The instant it met the Cero, the devouring beam was erased—cut clean out of existence.
Shock twisted across the Menos' ugly face. It couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
That Shinigami's Reiatsu hadn't risen much at all—he'd only changed "modes," yet the sure-kill attack was wiped away as if nothing happened.
If this monster were allowed to grow, he would surely become a massive obstacle to "my lord's" conquest of Soul Society. For the great objective, he must—
Die.
Killing intent flared in the Menos' crimson eyes—then, in the next moment, it felt a bone-deep chill.
The flaming Reiatsu figure was faster than it.
The Zanpakutō, coated in scorching spiritual flames, chopped straight down, screaming through the air with a boom.
Even at a distance, the razor wind it carried stung the flesh.
With Shunpo pushing him forward, he drew a straight line through the wind—
Aiming for the Menos' chest, sweeping across!
Even prepared, the Menos was still jolted by that impossible speed.
But its bestial instincts surged. It raised its claw, and a tide of Reiatsu burst up to block the strike.
And then—
In a span that was hardly even a moment, it shattered.
Broken apart like rotten wood.
Blade and claw collided, sparks exploding. A force even more terrifying than before erupted.
The instant Punishment of Jaya was released, Naraku's power spiked to the absolute limit his current spirit body could endure.
After a brief stalemate, the burning blade swept through again—like a flash of lightning—
Like a hot knife through butter.
The claw was severed cleanly, and the Menos' enormous body was nearly split at the waist.
Scalding, thick crimson liquid gushed from its midsection, instantly staining the charred earth a glowing red.
A few drops splattered Naraku's cheek, adding an even more savage edge to his already brutal aura.
In the split second of stillness, the Menos saw Naraku's eyes.
At their core was an abyssal black.
"I… impossible…"
Its lamprey mouth gaped wide as it rasped out a hoarse scream. The massive body slammed to the ground—its spine broken, unable to stand.
"Is it… over?"
Sui-Feng felt like she was dreaming. Her gaze toward Naraku was unfocused.
A moment ago it had been a life-and-death crisis, and yet in the blink of an eye, an Adjuchas—an enemy even captains would find troublesome—had just died like that?
But just as she thought the battle was finished, the blood on the ground began to gather unnaturally.
In an instant it formed a mountain-like shadow, completely covering Naraku.
A crushing Reiatsu pressed down like a wave, freezing the air around him and leaving him no room to move.
"The greatest weakness of Shinigami is that you underestimate others."
A cold voice rang from that mass of blood. The Menos' face re-formed, its twisted mouth splitting open again.
"My greatest power was never combat."
"It is regeneration."
"A power you Shinigami cannot understand—my lord's greatest gift to me."
"It's over, Shinigami."
"Remember the name of the Menos that killed you: Lumina Griffith!"
Viscous blood poured down like a tide. Once Griffith shifted its consciousness into the blood, its entire fighting style changed.
The moment Naraku was swallowed by shadow, Sui-Feng had already drawn her short blade and shot forward like an arrow.
She hated this man for "stealing" Yoruichi-sama—but she couldn't bring herself to watch him die.
Teeth clenched, she gripped her sword in a forward hold and aimed to cut a gap into the monster from the side—anything to carve out an escape.
The next instant—
Griffith's smile froze.
Its mountain-like blood body collapsed in an instant. Cross-cutting sword pressure shredded through the shadow, blood spraying.
Terrifying heat erupted. A dazzling pillar of flame shot into the sky, burning everything nearby to nothing.
At this point, no regeneration—no matter how strong—could make up what had been erased.
Naraku stepped out of the torn shadow. The burning blood rain that splashed his shoulders evaporated into reishi, dispersing into Soul Society's air.
"Compared to us Menos… you're the real monster."
The remaining blood mass split into another sanity-draining mouth. Griffith's smile turned crazed, a worldview built over countless years collapsing in the face of imminent death.
It couldn't understand Naraku's power.
The Shinigami it had devoured before weren't even the same species.
Honestly, "Hollow" described Naraku better.
"And those idiot nobles thought that by boosting a tiny bit of 'talent' they could become the strongest Shinigami…"
"How short-sighted."
In its final moment, Griffith's gaze became unnervingly deep, locked onto Naraku as if it meant to drag that image into its next rebirth.
As the Menos died, the air in front of Naraku rippled like silk, and the familiar black system screen appeared again.
[Successfully executed criminal Hollow: Lumina Griffith. Sin Value: 3502. Contribution: 100%!]
[Your Reiatsu has increased!]
[Your understanding of Hakuda has improved. You have perfectly mastered "Ikkotsu"!]
[Your Hollow Power has increased. Current: 20%!]
Burning heat erupted from the depths of his soul. A surging force hammered his spirit body.
Like steel being forged under a thousand blows, he visibly transformed under crushing pressure.
His limbs felt as if they were being rebuilt, and his Reiatsu boiled like magma!
However—
In a place Naraku didn't notice, a small patch of bone quietly appeared, like an ornament settling on his forehead.
Then vanished in an instant.
Seeing Griffith finally die, Sui-Feng—who'd been tense the whole time—let out a breath. She hesitated, then looked toward the figure ahead.
"N-Naraku Sixth Seat… what do we do now?"
Naraku snapped out of his insight into Ikkotsu and scanned the area.
The nobles hiding behind cover crawled out in disgrace. The moment they found their footing, they glared at the two of them in anger.
"Idiot! You almost hurt us just now. Don't you know a Shinigami's first duty in battle is to protect nobles?!"
"Who's your captain? I'm filing a complaint!"
Naraku shook his head, a trace of helplessness passing through his eyes. He looked at the girl beside him—who was openly disgusted by the nobles—and said quietly:
"How does this sound as an explanation… 'Hollows fought each other, nobles died in the crossfire'?"
Sui-Feng: "?"
~~~
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