Wrapped in a suffocating, tyrannical Reiatsu, Araki Shuto struck out fiercely in the stance of a swordsman.
Ketsureimaru slashed abruptly across the air. Following Araki Shuto's rotation, the sharp blade aimed for the lower body of the young man in front of him.
The strike, filled with rage, was blocked by the long sword in Naraku Sora's hand, sending sparks flying.
The Zanpakutō trembled violently as a majestic force transmitted from the blade, causing Araki Shuto's arms to ache.
At this moment, he finally realized what his subordinates had encountered earlier.
Aside from that bizarre Reiatsu, which didn't feel like a Tenth Level Spirit Power at all, the sheer physical strength of this guy before him was terrifyingly high. It was completely unlike the strength a Soul Reaper of this species should possess.
Like splitting bamboo!
The slash, savage and completely unreasonable, caused Araki Shuto to lurch violently to the side, his body looking as if he were about to slip.
But immediately after, a heavy, bloody scent strong enough to suffocate anyone began to permeate the surrounding air.
The blood from the pool was surging up!
Naraku Sora subconsciously held his breath, his eyes widening.
'Ketsureimaru can be used like this?'
Araki Shuto's eyes were full of bloodshot veins as he stared dead at Naraku Sora, gritting his teeth.
"Blood Tide."
The instant his voice fell, the massive underground space was instantly polluted into a blood-red hue, and the space within became viscous.
The air seemed to turn into greasy blood under Araki Shuto's manipulation.
Undercurrents surged.
Countless invisible impacts bombarded Naraku Sora's body incessantly, leaving him completely unable to guard against them; he could only avoid his vital points as much as possible.
Araki Shuto watched everything before him with a cold gaze, quietly awaiting the death of the disrespectful one.
"Slowly welcome the end that belongs to you."
The storm-like impacts continued to land on areas Naraku Sora found difficult to defend, erupting with dull thuds of collision.
The immense impact force made him somewhat unable to stabilize his stance.
Victory seemed right before his eyes; Araki Shuto could already see the brat's death.
However, as time passed, the impact of the Blood Tide did not stop, yet Naraku Sora never fell.
On the contrary.
He was gradually adapting to the rhythm of the attacks. If his brain couldn't memorize it, then he would use his body to remember.
Pain is the best teacher.
As his blocking stance became more proficient and more impacts were defended against, Araki Shuto began to panic.
He finally realized that the situation seemed to be developing in an uncontrollable direction.
"Wouldn't it be better to just die obediently?"
"I will have Central 46 bestow upon you a heroic title. Your name will be sung by ten thousand people and recorded forever in the history of the Soul Society."
"This is an honor ordinary Soul Reapers can never touch in a lifetime. Didn't you join the Gotei 13 exactly for this?"
In the crimson mist, Naraku Sora raised his head. A pair of bright eyes looked directly at the ferocious Araki Shuto as he grinned, his white teeth particularly striking.
"When did I ever say I was part of the Gotei 13?"
Araki Shuto stared tightly at the nearly unscathed figure not far away, and an unspeakable chill rushed from his tailbone straight to the top of his skull.
The impacts of the undercurrent were all blocked; the Blood Tide could no longer touch the opponent.
Araki Shuto stared dead ahead at the black figure walking constantly toward him.
A strong sense of absurdity and horror rose in his heart.
'Is this really a damn Soul Reaper?'
In an instant, the untouchable undercurrent impact was broken open. A cold blade of light pierced through the mist, rushing out from the other side.
Blood flowed over the blade.
The next moment, the crimson mist exploded outward. Araki Shuto knelt stiffly on the ground, an exaggerated gash extending from his left shoulder all the way to his right waist.
It had almost sliced his entire person diagonally in two.
Amidst the sharp sound of blades colliding, Naraku Sora expressionlessly raised his leg and delivered a violent kick, sending the struggling Araki Shuto flying.
Bang!
Amidst the huge sound of impact, the faint sound of shattering bones could be heard.
Araki Shuto collapsed on the ground with his limbs twisted, unable to struggle even a bit.
"You... you killed a noble without authorization. You will be executed by Central 46."
Looking at the blood-soaked figure that suddenly appeared before them, the researchers were so frightened they hugged each other, wishing they could bury their heads in their chests.
"Who said he's dead?" Naraku Sora curled his lips, speaking with disdain. "Just letting him die like that, wouldn't that be letting this guy off too easily?"
"Everyone, the time to choose has arrived."
"Surrender, or..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the others. Someone exclaimed in surprise, "You're willing to let us go?"
"Araki Shuto forced us to do all this. I can provide you with evidence of his crimes."
"Or be crippled by me first, and then surrender?"
The Zanpakutō in Naraku Sora's hand lowered, the tip pointing to the ground. A drop of blood rolled off the bright blade, merging into the viscous plasma on the floor.
Killing intent was palpable.
Facing a group of guys who helped a tyrant do evil, he couldn't possibly have a shred of compassion.
If Araki Shuto's sin value was 1000, then this group of so-called researchers before him was at least over 900.
Even if they had no extraction value, they absolutely could not be let off lightly.
"We surrender!"
They were all smart people. A terrifying Soul Reaper that even Araki Shuto couldn't defeat was not someone these civilian staff could mess with.
Let alone fighting with swords, just making eye contact made their scalps tingle and their hands and feet go soft.
"A wise man submits to circumstances. First, explain the Araki family's plot, then tell me the specific plan and what stage the implementation has reached."
"Strive for leniency."
Before Naraku Sora could list the various cruel punishments in the Central Great Prison, this group of people spilled everything they knew like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
Specifically, the Araki family was dissatisfied with their current status and attempted to control a more powerful force. It just so happened that Araki Shuto, who could control blood, appeared in the family at this time.
Driven by ambition, they extended their hands into the Rukongai.
They cultivated a rebel army and, using the name of the rebels, acted recklessly in the Rukongai while harvesting residents from various places.
They used the flesh, blood, and souls of commoners to create a peerlessly powerful monster.
At this time, Aizen suddenly appeared beside Naraku Sora, took over the conversation, and said calmly:
"Their research direction was wrong."
"Whether it is Hollows or Soul Reapers, both are composed of Spirit Particles. Their difference actually lies in the soul. However, looking at the entire Soul Society, there are very few people who can touch upon this domain."
Naraku Sora sighed, a trace of imperceptible fatigue flashing in his eyes.
He prided himself on having a very flexible moral baseline and could ignore the lives and deaths of strangers, but if he were asked to do this kind of thing for status and profit...
It was still too difficult for him.
Yet the Araki family could easily obliterate their conscience and treat this kind of thing as commonplace.
Next, everything followed the procedure. Aizen assisted Naraku Sora in binding everyone with Bakudō and brought them all back to the Seireitei.
After sending the criminals to the holding cells first, Naraku Sora returned to his room alone.
However, when he slid open the door to the living room, he saw Shutara Senjumaru waiting there.
"For your first time going out on a mission, you seem very tired."
The bad woman extended a warm finger, lifted a wine cup, and smiled. "Care for a cup?"