"That person is seriously injured. There's no way to treat him on the spot. He needs surgery as soon as possible."
"Then send a few people over to set up a Purifying Energy Barrier. Once the Eighth Stage surgery is finished, transfer him to the Comprehensive First Aid Station."
"This squad member's life has been saved, but once he's sent back, have an officer write him a 'recommendation to leave active duty.' His Sekketzu is completely destroyed. When he wakes up, he'll only be able to live as an ordinary person."
"He can't be saved..."
"..."
Under Kotetsu Isane's command, the rescue proceeded in an orderly fashion. Some people survived, while others... couldn't be saved even with Duan Mu and Kotetsu Isane working together. Some had also completely lost their Shinigami abilities.
Ironically...
Whether they had died or lost their Spiritual Power, they had all fallen at the hands of their own people. Meanwhile, the four giant Hollows, each as powerful as an elite Shinigami, hadn't caused a single squad member's death.
"Guess that saying really is true: the people who know your weaknesses best are the ones closest to you."
Because they were all Shinigami, they knew exactly what kind of attacks could leave one of their own completely unable to fight back.
"The casualties caused by the four giant Hollows were also low in large part because the combat division squad members are used to fighting Hollows."
Kotetsu Isane, who was bandaging a Third Division squad member nearby, wore a complicated expression. "But aside from Onmitsukidō and the 11th Division, few ordinary squad members are good at fighting other Shinigami."
"True."
Duan Mu nodded and looked into the distance from the tent entrance. The fighting was still going on, but two of the four giant Hollows had already