Fourth Division.
Jushiro was currently briefing them on the situation.
Numerous buildings in Seireitei had been destroyed, and the injured were everywhere. Soi Fon had already led the Onmitsukido to track down the missing Zanpakuto spirits, and Mayuri was researching this phenomenon.
Jūshirō said, "In short, let's use the Fourth Division barracks as a temporary intel gathering point."
"Yes. With the Captain-Commander absent, it falls to us." Unohana agreed.
"Well, nothing can be done about it." Shunsui shifted his straw hat.
Shin leaned against a pillar, quietly listening to the briefing.
Suddenly—
'A fluctuation in Soi Fon's Reiatsu? Could she have found those Zanpakuto?'
Shin activated Wings of Crimson and flew toward the direction of Soi Fon's Reiatsu.
"Everyone, I have something to attend to, so I'm leaving now."
...
Soi Fon was confronting Gonryomaru and Tenken.
She looked up at the heavily overcast sky. "It's raining."
Gonryomaru said, "My source of power is lightning. Only in this rain can I unleash my true strength."
Soi Fon covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Gonryomaru tapped the long staff in his hand.
"The one next to you is Tenken, right? Is he okay getting soaked in all this rain?"
Soi Fon looked at Tenken, who was spewing fire from his mouth, standing nearby.
"No need to worry. Tenken's Flames of Hell won't be extinguished by a little rain."
As Gonryomaru spoke, Tenken even spat out a puff of fire.
Soi Fon retorted sarcastically, "The way you say that makes it sound like your own powers are quite ordinary."
Gonryomaru was speechless.
"Are you really the Zanpakuto of Captain-level Shinigami?"
"Enough talk."
Gonryomaru raised his staff, and a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking toward Soi Fon.
Soi Fon used Shunpo to dodge. "Is that your true strength?"
"Don't underestimate me."
Gonryomaru's staff released a stream of purple lightning. After Soi Fon dodged again, Tenken swung the long ring in his hand and knocked Soi Fon down from the air.
"Hey, I'd say two against one is a bit unfair. How about adding me to the mix?"
The figures looked up and saw Shin, who had just arrived.
"Soi Fon, you take the one with the staff, and I'll handle the fire-breather, okay?"
"Hmph, I can handle it myself."
Even as she spoke, Soi Fon ignored Tenken and rushed toward Gonryomaru, clearly accepting Shin's suggestion.
"Prepare to die!"
A black butterfly pattern, Hōmonka, appeared on Soi Fon's back.
"Is this the first time you've been attacked by your own technique?"
Suzumebachi appeared and even flashed a 'V' sign at Soi Fon.
"Are you Suzumebachi?" Soi Fon asked.
"Correct, correct, super correct."
Saying this, Suzumebachi appeared right in front of Soi Fon.
"How do I look? I always hated your terribly unfashionable appearance."
"So, I decided that the day I became free, I absolutely had to design myself, making sure I looked gorgeous."
Soi Fon was so angered by Suzumebachi's teasing that she couldn't speak.
Shin almost burst out laughing.
"Terribly unfashionable" might be a slight exaggeration. But it was true that Soi Fon didn't own any trendy clothes.
'Hmm... next time we go back to the Human World, I absolutely must take Soi Fon out and buy her some stylish clothes. Lest Soi Fon continue to be scorned by her own Zanpakuto.'
Soi Fon seemed to sense something and glared fiercely at Shin, who was secretly laughing.
"What's wrong? Do you have a problem? Besides, all you do in your spare time is 'Yoruichi-sama, Yoruichi-sama.' Are you stupid?"
"Instead of wasting time on that, you should change your appearance and find a handsome boyfriend. I think that guy is quite good."
Suzumebachi glanced at Shin nearby and winked at Soi Fon.
Hearing this, Shin gave Suzumebachi a thumbs-up.
What a great wingman. Suzumebachi is indeed very cute.
"This is my Zanpakuto..." Soi Fon's lips twitched.
"If you don't believe me, I'll hit you again, and then you'll understand."
"Heh."
The next second, Suzumebachi launched an attack, but Soi Fon dodged it.
"Good moves."
"A sneak attack? Nice tactic."
The two complimented each other.
Suzumebachi flicked her twin tails and smiled smugly.
Soi Fon, however, immediately left the battlefield. The terrain was highly disadvantageous for her.
"Running away?"
"I'm changing locations, follow me."
Seeing the two of them leave, Shin was about to follow.
What was the point of fighting two rough big men?
A bolt of purple lightning grazed past him.
"I was planning on letting you two off, but since you insist, I'll have to deal with you first."
After speaking, massive amounts of Crimson Flames erupted from Shin, enveloping his entire body, and centered around him, setting everything within a few hundred meters ablaze.
The rain in the sky evaporated before it even hit the ground.
Condemnation!
Shin instantly sliced down the relatively cumbersome Tenken with a single strike.
"Tenken!" Gonryomaru's concentration wavered upon seeing Tengen instantly killed.
Seventh Form: Sunflower Thrust!
Enhanced by Wings of Crimson, this move was even faster, piercing Gonryomaru straight through the heart.
Afterward, Shin once again chased after Soi Fon.
—
Soi Fon and Suzumebachi had arrived at an open space.
During this time, a few more Hōmonka marks had appeared on Soi Fon's body.
The two also noticed Shin catching up again.
"That handsome guy caught up again. Does he have a crush on you?" Suzumebachi stared at Soi Fon's face, trying to gauge her reaction.
"Shut up!"
Soi Fon had actually been conflicted lately.
She had received orders from Central 46 to monitor Shin, as Central 46 considered him an unstable element who might even defect to Aizen. Yet, Shin had never shown any threat to Soul Society.
Even when framed by Aizen and fiercely pursued by the Gotei 13 in Seireitei, he had never used lethal force. In the end, he fought Aizen and even saved her life.
He had also readily agreed to Soul Society's invitation for cooperation.
In the Human World, aside from his daily training, he had no desire to fight and stayed home every day, showing absolutely no ambition for power, to the point where her surveillance reports had little content worth writing about.
Furthermore, just as Shin had said, Soi Fon had come to regard him as one of her few friends.
But orders could not be disobeyed. She had to monitor her friend and even exploit his trust.
Soi Fon wasn't sure if the reason she hadn't pulled her hand away from Shin that day and instead stayed at his house was for the mission, or if there was some other reason.
"Oh my. Is that not the case? Then I might just go after him myself." Suzumebachi continued to press the issue.
Shin's face twitched.
With Suzumebachi's small stature, no matter how he thought about it...
Soi Fon said, "Suit yourself."
The two immediately clashed again.
Although their speed was comparable, Soi Fon couldn't land a hit on Suzumebachi.
'Why can't I hit her?'
All of Soi Fon's attacks were dodged, and Suzumebachi left another Hōmonka mark on her face.
"Ahahaha! Got you again. The next strike will finish you off."
Suzumebachi fluttered around Soi Fon.
Soi Fon stood motionless. The next second, Suzumebachi stabbed Soi Fon's cheek again, but the "Nigeki Kessatsu" ability did not activate.
A whirlwind of Reiatsu—Shunko—erupted from Soi Fon's body. Then, seizing the moment of Suzumebachi's shock, she struck her with her blade.
Soi Fon said, "I concentrated my power onto the Hōmonka mark you were preparing to strike. Your blade couldn't pierce it."
"What the heck!"
Suzumebachi fell to the ground in defeat, reverting to the form of a Zanpakuto.
Soi Fon, breathing heavily, picked up Suzumebachi and returned her to the sheath.
She glanced at Shin on the rooftop. Just as she was about to use Shunpo, her body swayed precariously.
Just as she was about to collapse, Shin caught her.
Soi Fon was reminded of the last time she was injured and held by Shin.
(End of Chapter)
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