Chapter 170
Haruto turned around and looked at the lizard-like creature, Utsugi, that was constantly approaching along the wall and telephone pole.
"This one is different from the one we encountered during the day; it's obvious they're after Lily."
Haruto did not make a move.
He wanted to see how Lily would quietly and silently eliminate this threat right in front of him.
"It seems he hasn't been in a weakened state for long. Although he still retains some of his intelligence, he lacks the ability to assess the gap between the two sides."
He doesn't need any special moves at all; a flick of his finger at the air and a snap of the head is enough to blast a Hollow of that level into dust.
Alternatively, you can wait for the opponent to attack and then use the recoil from your muscles to kill them.
But.
Haruto's ability to conceal his Reiatsu only applies when he is not actively engaging in combat.
Regardless of the method used, any attack will inevitably leave a trace of Reiatsu, and Quincy are quite adept at this.
Haruto can't let this small matter expose her.
Just then...
"Despair."
The sound of her little leather boots stepping on the tiles reached her ears—in this encounter at this distance, Lily hadn't summoned her broom dragon for support.
Haruto didn't look up; he simply focused his senses on Lily.
Then he saw...
"Magic #04 • Stun Ball"
The Stun Ball used during the day to lure away the dog-like creatures were launched from one side of the horn's mouthpiece.
The goal is —
Haruto.
"Bang!"
A mini Stun Ball, reduced in power, hit Haruto.
"So that's how it was solved!?"
That's amazing!
Haruto suppressed a strong urge to complain and manipulated his body to fall to the ground: because he hadn't had such a peaceful sleep in a long time, Haruto was a little unaccustomed to it... and fell in a somewhat contorted position.
Fine.
Lily seemed very confident in her control over her magic and didn't specifically observe Haruto's state; otherwise, such a bizarre JOJO-style pose would definitely arouse suspicion.
――――
Two minutes later.
"Call!"
Lily vigorously wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"That scared me to death."
The Giant Hollow lizard on the ground was lifeless, turning into charred black ash that dissipated into the air.
"Luckily, it was discovered in time, otherwise this identity would be difficult to explain."
Lily performed a flourish with her gun that Ichigo never learned in his entire life, and then reinserted the magical weapon into the buckle on her thigh.
My campus life is saved!
Lily walked toward Haruto was lying on the ground.
"Um..."
What's a good reason to use?
After all, it was a Numbered Spells fired at an ordinary person's stomach—it was on the same level as Byakurai in terms of its number, only the effect changed from electric paralysis to stun—even a weakened Stun Ball would have short-term aftereffects.
Haruto doesn't seem to have low blood sugar.
While Lily was still racking her brains trying to find a solution—
You probably don't need to make excuses.
"!!"
The sudden sound rang out from above the lizard's corpse.
Lily's reaction speed was incredibly fast. As she turned around, she immediately drew her gun, and the barrier formed by Reishi instantly took shape at the tip of the gun.
Pity.
Despite her deliberate strategy, Lily was still a beat too slow.
"Puff!"
As the cyan light filled the entire field of vision.
The spurting blood instantly soaked half of the vest, making the originally deep black and red colors suddenly become incredibly vivid.
Thump.
The impact sent her flying five or six meters away.
Lily clutched her still-bleeding chest, her kneeling position causing her stockings to tear completely at the knee.
"Whoosh."
Lily endured the increasingly intense dizziness.
He pulled out a tiny paint can, barely two fingers wide, from the inside of his rusty vest and sprayed it against the penetrating wound in his chest.
A few seconds later, the symptoms of blood loss improved significantly.
At least you can see who is attacking you.
"Despair."
A white figure leaped from the rooftop.
Military uniform, cloak, golden curls under the brim of the hat, and an expressionless face in slippers... he's practically a Haschwalth cosplay.
"Who are you?"
The enemy launched a sneak attack on them.
But Lily was unaware of the pretext: she seemed to have no reason to be hunted by humans, let alone in this unfamiliar territory of the East Branch Bureau.
"Um?"
A hint of curiosity appeared on the Quincy's face.
"Soul Reaper just World of the Living doesn't even recognize Quincy?"
His movements did not stop because of the question; the Heilig Pfeil that had just pierced Lily reassembled into the shape of a bow and arrow between his two palms.
"... Are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?"
Lily was speechless at the other person's comment.
Soul Reaper?
As a civil servant in the West Branch Bureau, she was certainly aware of the existence of Soul Reaper, and her visit to the East was partly motivated by the desire to witness Soul Reaper firsthand.
But...
She doesn't seem to have anything to do with the legendary Soul Reaper who only wears a black robe, does she?
"Mistaken identity? Impossible."
The Quincy shook his head to himself.
"The Kidō you used when you dealt with the Giant Hollow during the day, and the Kido you used when you killed the Lizard Hollow just now."
Alien Zanpakuto..."
The light of the Heilig Pfeil had condensed to a point where it was ready to be unleashed.
"Of all the Soul Reapers I've taken down, only those with even a little resistance could achieve this level of skill."
If I remember correctly...
"You call it 'Shikai'?"
This arrogant maniac who Quincy is impossible to communicate with— Lily realized this fact in the shortest amount of time.
And...
"You went too far just now, didn't you?"
Do I have any reason to hold back?
In response to Lily's question, the Quincy countered with an equally unwavering question.
"..."
To launch a sneak attack on Soul Reaper with the aim of causing death.
Regardless of his stance, he is undoubtedly the villain in maintaining the balance of Soul Society.
However, that's still true.
This arrogant jerk, who seems to have crawled out of some obscure corner, is still quite capable.
Judging from the skill level of that arrow, he was at least at the deputy captain (director) level.
Lily just passed the Level 1 Protector exam.
Although she believed that her combat skills were no worse than those of veteran first-class bodyguards, she would definitely find it difficult to win against an opponent of this caliber.
The best course of action now...
"Reverse Release #0575!"
While treating herself, Lily quietly grabbed the other jar in her hand.
As the black paint drew large circles around us—
"The Shadow of Gluttony!"
A formless, pitch-black monster, like a ghost, sprang from beneath the Quincy's feet, hugging the ground and instantly engulfing him completely.
"Nice!"
She casually tossed the empty jar aside.
As the horn strapped to her leg returned to her control, Lily took a deep breath and blew hard into the magical artifact in her hand.
"Beep!"
A deep, resonant sound, like that of a euphonium, rang out.
The high concentration of magic condensed into a physical halo, dyeing Lily's surroundings a magnificent and dignified gold.
Following closely behind—
"Magic #75!"
Thorn-like, diamond-shaped spears stood upright on the halo.
The magical fluctuations at that moment were far beyond Numbered Spells used before could match; the density of Reishi was more than ten times higher.
"Whoosh!"
Lily swung the demonic weapon in her hand at the Quincy who was enveloped by the Shadow of Gluttony!
"Gatling Crown!"
"Call out--"
Magical translation: Crown Gatling.
This Numbered Spells possesses an attack effect worthy of its name, and a destructive power comparable to that of a high-level Kidō.
"Boom!"
From the moment she used it, Lily abandoned any idea of a covert operation; she left the cleanup to the Soul Reapers of the East Branch Bureau.