First Battle in the World of the Living

The halo of light from the Senkaimon slowly dissipated behind him, and Hu stepped onto the land of the World of the Living.

The air is different now. The air in Soul Society always carries a faint sweet scent of Reishi, like a bamboo forest after the rain, fresh and clear. But the air in the World of the Living is murky and heavy, mixed with the bitterness and toil of life.

Xitang stood in front of him, expressionless.

Hu closed his mouth and nodded.

The two stood in a narrow alley. At the entrance of the alley was the most common street scene in Kyoto —old wooden houses, telephone poles with tangled wires, and the distant noise of tourists.

"Kyoto, one of the High Spiritual Pressure Area." Xitang pulled a small Reiatsu detector from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and said, "The Reishi concentration is three points higher than the surrounding area, and the Kidō energy defense barrier is functioning normally. I have to do this every time I come."

He handed the testing device to Hu and let him look at it. Several sets of data were flashing on the screen. Hu couldn't understand them, but Xitang said to just write them down and enter them back into the team.

"Let's go." Xitang put away the detector. "I'll teach you how to collect Reiatsu data first."

The two walked through the alley and turned into an even narrower one. Xitang walked quickly, with Amber following behind, memorizing the route as they went. Kyoto's alleys are winding and twisting, and it's easy to get lost if you're not careful.

"We've arrived." Xitang stopped in his tracks.

Hu looked up and saw a small shrine. The torii gate was faded, and the stone steps were covered with moss, indicating that few people came here.

"Spirit Vein Node." Xitang crouched down, took out a small device from his backpack, and affixed it to the stone base of the shrine. The device emitted a soft beep, and the indicator light changed from red to green.

"This is Reiatsu Collector. Placed on Spirit Vein Node, it automatically records the Reiatsu fluctuations in this area. Collect the data and replace it with a new one next time you come."

Hu looked at it intently.

Xitang stood up and dusted off his hands. "The High Spiritual Pressure Area needs to be collected twice a week. Ordinary areas once a month. Got it?"

"I've got it."

"Next one then."

After leaving the shrine, the two walked along a small river. Several elderly people were strolling on the riverbank, a young mother was pushing a stroller, and a few junior high school students were kicking cans under the bridge.

Xitang suddenly stopped in his tracks.

His gaze fell on the direction of the bridge arch, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"What's wrong?" Hu asked.

"It's untrue."

Hu followed his gaze. The light inside the bridge arch was dim, making it difficult to see clearly. Concentration senses, he sensed a mixed and unsettling Reiatsu lurking there.

"Very weak," Xitang said. "It must have just formed. Go and treat it."

Hu planned to draw the Jiku'a from his waist and walk towards the bridge arch.

After walking a few steps, Xitang's voice came from behind.

"Don't easily Shikai your Zanpakuto."

Hu turned around. "Why?"

"Releasing Zanpakuto unleashes Reiatsu, causing a drastic change in the concentration of Reishi in the surrounding area," Xitang explained. "In the World of the Living world, when the concentration of Reishi suddenly rises or falls, sensitive people may experience headaches and nausea, while those with weaker constitutions may faint. And children—their spiritual vision isn't completely shut down; if they see things they shouldn't, it can leave them with psychological trauma."

Hu nodded, released the knife handle, and raised his left hand.

The Phantom Blade condensed in his palm, a flash of blue light. He controlled his Reiatsu, trying his best not to leak out. The Hollow in the bridge arch seemed to sense the danger, letting out a low growl as it rushed out of the shadows.

It is a small, ethereal being. Its mask resembles a shard of pottery, and it has a slender body and long, thin limbs.

Amber gave it no time to react. The Phantom Blade slashed out, imbued with a bolt of Byakurai. The sword light sliced through the void's body, the lightning exploded, and the void let out a scream before its Reishi dissipated.

From the moment the shot was taken to the moment it was finished, it took less than three seconds.

Hu turned around and saw Xitang looking at him. "Well done, Hu," Xitang said. "You're already a trainee with your own unique Kidō? Back then, I could barely use even low- Sequence Kidō."

"Let's go, to the next stop."

Xitang and Koko arrived at a Cemetery. Koko asked in bewilderment, "Senior Xitang, since we're going to the next location, why not just use Shunpo all the way there? Why keep stopping and starting?"

"That's because..." Xitang stopped in his tracks before he could finish speaking. His gaze fell on a tombstone in front of which stood a semi-transparent figure.

Hu followed his gaze. It was a middle-aged man, wearing a hospital gown, standing motionless in front of the tombstone. There was no sadness on his face, he just stood there blankly.

"All?"

"Yes, it looks like he just passed away not long ago." Xitang's voice was very soft.

He glanced at Hu. "You go. At this moment, you don't need to say you're an intern. Stand tall and go as a Soul Reaper, and truly feel the weight of life."

Hu stepped forward. The middle-aged man looked up, saw Hu, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

"You... can you see me?"

Amber nodded. "I am... a Soul Reaper."

"Soul Reaper? I..." The man looked down at his hands, then at the name on the tombstone, "Am I...?"

"Yes," Hu's voice was calm, "You are gone."

After a long silence, the man began to weep, his sorrow finally finding an outlet and pouring out.

Hu stood there, not urging him, but letting Zheng cry loudly in front of him. Until the crying subsided, until Zheng accepted his own death.

As soon as Hu stepped forward, the man looked up, staring into Hu's eyes as if trying to find something in them. Hu tried to keep her gaze calm and firm.

After a long while, the man nodded.

"Next, you will be sent to a place called Soul Society, where you will no longer be plagued by hunger and disease. Cheer up for your new life."

Jiku'a, the hilt lightly touched the man's forehead. The man's feet began to glow, gradually sinking into the ground.

The Cemetery was quiet.

Hu sheathed his sword and stood still. Xitang walked over and glanced at him.

"The first Konsō went quite well." Xitang patted his shoulder. "Do you understand now why I kept stopping and starting?"

"Okay, I understand..."

The two arrived at the Kamo River. On the riverbank, there were couples strolling, middle-aged people jogging, and several children flying kites. As evening approached, the setting sun dyed the river surface gold, and the shadows of the distant mountains were layered upon each other.

Xitang walked along the riverbank for a while and stopped under an old cherry blossom tree.

"This will do." He crouched down and took out a palm-sized, round device from his backpack— Reiatsu Recorder.

Hu leaned closer to take a look.

"Time clock?" he blurted out.

Xitang glanced at him. "Reiatsu Recorder! Don't call it the same as things from the World of the Living. If the Department of Research and Development hears this, those guys will definitely jump up and down."

Hu shut his mouth.

Xitang attached the device to the base of the tree trunk and pressed the switch. The device emitted a soft sound, and the indicator light began to flash.

"There are a few things to keep in mind regarding the placement," Xitang, standing up and looking at the riverbank. "First, there shouldn't be too many people, especially children."

"Why?"

"Everyone is born with inspiration, but it gradually closes off as they grow older. Children's clairvoyance isn't completely shut off, so what if they see these devices..." Xitang pointed to the time clock, "They've already broken several of them."

Hu nodded.

"Secondly, it can't be placed in buildings with business hours," Xitang continued. "We can't predict when the Soul Reaper will be available or what state they'll be in. If they're still recovering their Reiatsu inside their Gigai and barge in wearing Gigai, it could easily cause trouble."

Hu nodded again.

"Third, there needs to be a fixed landmark." Xitang pointed to the cherry blossom tree. "This tree has been here for who knows how many years; it's unlikely to disappear. When the other party comes looking for us, we need a clear reference point."

Xitang took out his Area Card and swiped it on the card reader. The indicator light on the card reader changed from flashing to solid.

"Alright." He stood up. "The time clock for this location is set up. Once we get back, use the Denreishinki to notify the Soul Reaper stationed there, tell him the location, and have him come and register his Reiatsu within 24 hours. That will complete the communication."

Should we notify them now?

"No rush." Xitang zipped up his backpack. "I'll let you know when we get back. Calling from the World of the Living is slow because the signal needs to be relayed."

"Ah, Mr. Xitang also thinks this is like making a phone call."

"Shh... We can only say this between ourselves, don't tell anyone else. The Feimou Corps and the Development Bureau often deal with each other, those people often come to our office, be careful..."

The two returned to the Feimou Corps's Office Area. It was already evening. Xitang took a new Area Card from the cabinet and handed it to Hu.

"Change the coordinates to Karakura Town," he said. "I'm going to enter the data I collected today. Go and try it yourself. Karakura Town is High Spiritual Pressure Area, but it's much smaller than Kyoto, so I'll leave it to you. I'll check it out tomorrow morning during my fieldwork."

Amber took the Area Card and operated it on the Terminal. He pulled up the information on Karakura Town, found the coordinates of the location guarded by the Soul Reaper, and entered them into the card. The data on the screen jumped a few times, then showed that the update was successful.

Xitang then handed him a Reiatsu Recorder. "Find a suitable place to put it, then use the Denreishinki to notify Rukia Kuchiki. She requested a text message notification, so don't get it wrong."

Hu took the recorder and put it in his backpack.

"And—" Xitang took a piece of paper from the drawer and handed it to him, "This is Spirit Vein Node Map in Karakura Town. Just place the collectors in these locations."

Amber took the blueprint and glanced at it. It was covered with more than a dozen dots, scattered throughout Karakura Town.

"So much?"

"Karakura Town, this High Spiritual Pressure Area, has been acting strangely lately," Xitang said. "The concentration of Reishi is still increasing, and the frequency of Hollow appearances is also rising. The Department of Research and Development requested an investigation into the cause."

Hu put away the blueprints, nodded, and walked towards the Senkaimon...

After passing through the Senkaimon...

Amber stood in a narrow alley, the typical grey-blue sky of Karakura Town overhead. From the alley entrance, she could see the road and telephone poles, and hear the sound of a tram passing by in the distance.

The Denreishinki suddenly vibrated, and a red alert popped up on the screen.

"A false alarm has appeared!"

Hu was taken aback. He'd only just arrived and already felt weak?

He stuffed the Denreishinki into his pocket and hurried toward the coordinates marked by the alarm.

Just out of the alley

Boom--!

Something exploded.

Hu quickened his pace, turned the corner, and saw—

Rukia stood in the open space, covered in blood. Beside her lay a tall, curly-haired man in a dazed state (Yasutora Sado), and opposite her was a Hollow resembling a humanoid bird, its wings spread, circling in the air.

The creature hovered in the air, emitting a piercing laugh.

"What's wrong, Lord Soul Reaper?" Its voice was shrill, its tongue flicking in the air. "Is that all you can do?"

The mark on its forehead lit up, and several small, leech-like Hollows emerged from it, lunging at Rukia. Rukia dodged to the side, but the leeches exploded in mid-air, shards cutting her arms. The Hollow's laughter grew louder.

Rukia gritted her teeth and knelt on one knee. She was extremely weak. She spun around in the air, her voice becoming even more triumphant.

"You know what, Soul Reaper? I love hunting down people like you! The weak, the wounded, the desperate—just like that woman!"

Its sound became distorted.

"That woman was carrying a child and running so slowly. I hit her once, and she fell down. She was still shouting 'Run!' -- Haha!"

As Hu listened, he gradually recalled this scene from the original work.

"Then that brat actually dared to pull my shoelaces! He made me fall down the stairs! Haha—it's better he's dead!"

Hu's fists clenched tightly. He had just performed his first Konsō today, and he had just Complete Form the grief of losing a life.

"I ripped that brat's soul out and stuffed it into the Parakeet-- "

"Enough!!"

The creature lowered its head and saw the young man standing on the street corner. He wore a black stand-up collar jacket, had a knife at his waist, and stared intently at it.

"Another Soul Reaper?" Hollow tilted his head, letting out a piercing laugh. "Not bad luck today!"

Hu Ke was no longer in the mood to laugh. He raised his left hand, and three Summoned Swords condensed in his palm.

Xu was still laughing, flapping its wings, preparing to rise to a higher place. But in just a moment, with a wave of Hu's hand...

The first Summoned Swords pierced through the void's left wing.

"Ah--!" Xu screamed in agony, his body suddenly tilting to the side.

The second Summoned Swords pierced through the right flank.

The creature plummeted from the sky, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. It struggled to get up, but its wings were useless, so it could only scratch the ground with its claws and crawl to the side.

"You... you--"

Amber ignored him. The third Summoned Swords was embedded in the ground half a meter in front of it, the blade humming. The Void was so frightened that it shrank back and crashed into the tree trunk behind it.

Amber walked up to Rukia first, and Rukia recognized who it was.

"You are... Amber!"

"Long time no see, Rukia- senpai. Let's talk later. I heard some disgusting things just now, and I'm not in a good mood right now. Please allow me to vent." Amber then turned and walked towards the Hollow huddled by the tree trunk.

"Run!" Hu's voice was calm.

Xu was stunned.

"Don't you like chasing people?" Hu walked towards it step by step. "Now it's my turn."

Amber removed the Summoned Swords stuck in its wing, and the void's pupils contracted. It turned to run. Its claws scratched at the ground, and its body shuffled forward, but although the Summoned Swords was gone, the two bloody holes in its wing meant it had lost its ability to fly.

It got up, and after taking only two steps, a blue light flashed past its knee, and a Summoned Swords was embedded in its leg.

The clatter of leather boots walking could be heard from behind...

It gritted its teeth and continued running despite the pain.

Another whooshing sound came, this time from its other leg. The Summoned Swords, as beautiful as blue crystal, was even more stunning when its base was a phantom leg...

With both legs unable to support him, he fell face-first into the mud, his legs trembling uncontrollably, whether from pain or fear.

"Keep running, you know what? I love hunting down people like you! The weak, the wounded, the desperate—yes, just like you right now, all bruised and exhausted!"

Hu followed behind at a leisurely pace, a glint of blue light flashing in his silver eyes.

Driven by its limbs, which were riddled with holes, it crawled forward on the ground, too afraid to look back and face the Soul Reaper that was about to befall it!

Another Summoned Swords pierced the Hollow's claw. Another shrill scream escaped from the Hollow's mouth.

"It's so noisy! You were so talkative just now, how come you can't say anything except yell now?"

"No... don't come any closer..." Xu saw Hu's shadow in his vision and knew that it was getting closer and closer, but its claws were pinned to the ground, and no matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't pull them out.

Hu stood in front of it, looking down at it.

The creature huddled on the ground, its wings torn, its claws scratching at the earth, trying to retreat but unable to muster the strength. The arrogance that had filled its eyes was gone, replaced only by fear.

"You just said you enjoy hunting the weak?" Hu asked.

Xu dared not answer.

Do you enjoy seeing people despair?

Xu shook his head frantically.

Amber's hand rested on the hilt of Jiku'a's sword.

The sword was slowly drawn. The blade rubbed against the scabbard, producing a piercing metallic sound. The hollow body trembled with that sound.

"Please... please... spare me... spare me!"

The sword was fully drawn.

Jiku'a.

"Ah--!"

The knife pierced straight through Xu's chest and plunged into the ground. Hu stirred the blade repeatedly. "Scum like you dare beg for forgiveness?"

Just like Ichigo did in the original Ichigo, or even Ichigo so, Koko shattered half of the Hollow's face with his left hand, which was formed from the Beowulf, tearing out the tongue and the structure attached to it.

The void writhed in agony, unable to utter a sound. A burst of intense light erupted from the shattered mask, and then the ground cracked open.

A colossal door rose from the ground, topped with two enormous skeletons, and a dark red light emanated from its cracks. The door slowly opened, revealing a raging inferno and endless darkness.

The ethereal soul was drawn in by a force and dragged through the door.

Just then, Ichigo finally arrived. Rukia kept gesturing for him to hide. Ichigo was confused and was about to speak when Rukia pushed him into the bushes next to them, where he watched everything unfold.

"Only by falling into hell and suffering endless torment can a creature like you find solace in the afterlife!" Amber said as she watched Hollow being sucked into the Gates of Hell.

The door closed, and the floor returned to its original state.

Amber sheathed his sword and let out a long breath. He turned around and saw Rukia had already gotten up, her wounds still bleeding, and was looking at him.

"Rukia- senpai," Amber approached, "Are you badly injured?"

Rukia glanced back at Amber's new outfit. "It's just that the Gigai is quite badly damaged. But you, have you changed your style in the past two weeks?"

"Haha, my friend made this dress for me, what do you think? Isn't it beautiful?" Hu even twirled around to show it off.

"You're really handsome! By the way, what brings you to the World of the Living?"

"Oh, it's like this. I'm currently interning at the Feimou Squad of the Second Division thanks to the Fon Clan's recommendation." He pulled Reiatsu Recorder from his backpack and waved it in front of her. "Here, put your attendance recorder here."

Rukia somewhat subtle. "... A time clock?"

"Reiatsu Recorder," Amber corrected herself. "The senior members of the Feimou Corps said calling it a 'check-in device' might upset some people."

Rukia paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed. The laugh aggravated her wound, and she hissed, clutching her shoulder.

"Rukia- senpai?" Kou asked.

"It's nothing, I've just been too weak lately." Rukia leaned against a tree trunk, catching her breath. "I had to rely on Gigai to recover my Reiatsu, and then this happened..."

She glanced in the direction the Hollow had disappeared, her expression complex. Amber didn't press the matter. He knew Rukia was lying—this incident occurred in volumes four or five of the original story, meaning she had already transferred all her Reiatsu to Ichigo Kurosaki and was now forced to remain in her Gigai.

"Then I'll come more often in the future," Amber said. "When I came out, my senior also said that Karakura Town has been acting strangely lately, with too many Hollows."

"Are there too many Hollows? "Rukia pondered after hearing Amber's words.

"Ah, it's getting late, Rukia- senpai. The Feimou Corps's work isn't finished yet. I'll go finish the mission first. I'll leave the rest of the work and this big guy next to me to you."

"Yeah, good luck with your internship!"

"I'll be going now. Remember to check your email for the time clock location tonight."

After saying that, Amber ran off into the distance. In order to avoid changing Ichigo Kurosaki's growth path too much, Amber still planned to leave the Konsō ceremony of the little boy in the Parakeet to Ichigo.

Ichigo Koko leave, Ichigo emerged from the bushes. "That guy was really strong. Was he your colleague?"

"Yexing Hu, an intern with the Feimou Corps, is just here to set up the time clock."

"Time clock? You guys have those things too?"

"It's something similar, it feels quite fitting. Never mind that, Chad has fainted, hurry and lend a hand!"