Human World Karakura Town
A distorted ripple flashed across the sky, tearing open into an irregular crack. Behind the裂痕 was the swirling void of Hueco Mundo.
A pale centipede shaped Hollow over ten meters long crawled out.
It was Yekawa's Adjuchas clone.
Because this clone had not existed for long, Yekawa was not yet skilled at controlling its pure centipede form. This was also its first time entering the Human World through Hueco Mundo, so it had wandered for several days in Hueco Mundo before finally reaching Karakura Town.
Yekawa carefully surveyed Karakura Town before him. To his surprise, Karakura Town had already entered a modern era. Power poles stood everywhere, and rows of detached villas lined the streets. It gave him a strange sense of familiarity, like returning to a small county town from his previous life.
Based on his understanding of Hueco Mundo's timeline, he estimated that there were at least a hundred years before the main Shinigami storyline. He had expected Karakura Town to still be in something like a Warring States or Edo era, where people were barely over one meter tall and ready to commit seppuku over the smallest matters.
He did not expect Karakura Town to already be so modern.
Yekawa shook his head.
"This little Japan is not that little Japan."
Then he stopped thinking and eagerly began his plan.
Roar
The centipede clone roared toward the sky, and the spiritual pressure of an Adjuchas level being instantly swept across Karakura Town.
...
Somewhere in Karakura Town, a balding middle aged Shinigami in a soul reaper uniform was wielding an Asauchi, locked in battle with a powerful Hollow.
"This is bad. It's actually a powerful Hollow. I knew I shouldn't have taken this Human World garrison mission. I don't know why, but every time it's my turn for duty, I always run into trouble."
The man's name was Kato Koichi, an ordinary member of the Thirteenth Division, responsible for guarding this area.
With his strength, dealing with newly transformed Hollows was easy. But fighting powerful Hollows was still too much for him.
"Didn't they say only weak Hollows appear here. How could something like this show up. This thing is probably not far from becoming a Giant Hollow."
Kato Koichi complained as he fought a mosquito shaped Hollow.
Clang
The sharp proboscis of the mosquito Hollow slammed into his Asauchi, sparks flying. His grip slipped, and his sword was knocked away.
"Damn it. Hado Number Three…"
Just as Kato Koichi was about to rely on Kido to struggle desperately, a massive spiritual pressure swept over him, making his entire body go cold.
The mosquito Hollow, which had been aggressive just moments ago, panicked from this pressure and fled immediately.
Kato Koichi picked up his fallen sword, staring in terror toward the source of that spiritual pressure.
"This pressure… Is it a Menos Grande."
Low level Shinigami like Kato Koichi did not know about Adjuchas. They only vaguely knew that above Giant Hollows, there existed something called Menos Grande.
"Damn Technological Development Bureau. What kind of detection is this. How did a Menos Grande sneak into the Human World. If I survive, I'm definitely filing a complaint."
Even just sensing that pressure made Kato Koichi feel powerless. Still, he gritted his teeth and ran toward it, gripping his Zanpakuto.
"Oh, did it take the bait. But this spiritual pressure is pretty weak, isn't it."
Feeling a faint spiritual pressure approaching, Yekawa knew his plan was already halfway successful.
From far away, Kato Koichi stared at the terrifying centipede Hollow, his hand trembling.
"What kind of Hollow is this."
This Menos Grande was more terrifying than any Hollow he had ever seen.
Then he saw it begin tearing up the streets, uprooting power poles, as if it planned to destroy everything.
Kato Koichi swallowed hard and charged at it.
"Impressive courage."
Yekawa watched this ant like Shinigami scream and rush at him.
He swept his tail casually, sending Kato Koichi flying more than ten meters. The man rolled several times before barely standing.
Yekawa was holding back. Killing this weak Shinigami now would ruin the plan.
As soon as Kato Koichi stood up, he staggered forward again.
Just as he charged again, a tall young man in a soul reaper uniform with black hair and smoky blue eyes suddenly appeared before him, stopping him with a gentle smile.
"You did well. Leave the rest to me."
"Kaien Vice Captain."
Kato Koichi instantly recognized him. It was Shiba Kaien, the newly promoted Vice Captain of the Thirteenth Division, from the noble Shiba Family.
"Oh. So it's Shiba Kaien. I didn't expect the bait to catch you."
Yekawa's plan was simple. He sent his clone to the Human World to be killed by a Shinigami.
According to the rules, innocent souls that become Hollows will return to human form and enter Soul Society after being purified by a Shinigami. Guilty ones fall into Hell.
If judged innocent, he could use the clone to obtain a human body and enter Soul Society.
If judged guilty, he would go to Hell for further training.
Either way, he would not lose.
So he deliberately created a clone, exposed its spiritual pressure, and waited for a Shinigami to come kill it.
A Vice Captain like Shiba Kaien was perfect. A weak Shinigami like Kato Koichi could hack at him all day and still not kill him.
Roar
The centipede Hollow roared at Shiba Kaien, dark purple spiritual pressure gathering before its shredder like mouth.
A black purple Cero fired straight at Kaien.
Kaien grabbed Kato Koichi with one hand and used Shunpo to dodge.
"Adjuchas. Why would a Menos Grande of this level abandon Hueco Mundo and go berserk in the Human World."
Kaien looked puzzled.
He said to Kato Koichi.
"This Menos Grande is troublesome. Contact the Technological Development Bureau. Apply for a limited release."
Because Captain class Shinigami have overwhelming spiritual pressure, they are restricted to eighty percent when entering the Human World.
This enemy felt dangerous enough to require lifting that limit.
Kaien raised his Zanpakuto.
"Let the water heavens reverse. Nejibana."
The Asauchi transformed into a trident shaped spear with a spiraled tip.
He spun it, summoning a torrent of water. The water blades slashed toward the centipede Hollow.
Then something strange happened.
The centipede Hollow abandoned defense and charged straight into the attack, letting its face take the full force.
"Hiss, that hurts. Shiba Kaien, you can't kill me in one strike without a limited release."
Covered in cuts, the centipede Hollow used Sonido and rammed itself onto Kaien's spear.
"What."
Kaien watched in shock as the Hollow that had impaled itself began to dissolve into spirit particles.
Kato Koichi, who was calling the Technological Development Bureau, also froze.
At that moment, the call connected.
"Moshi moshi, this is the Technological Development Bureau…"