Gin Ichimaru watched Chen Fan's retreating figure, his expression turning serious. But then, as if remembering something, his brows relaxed, a smile returned, and he left.
Meanwhile, Miako Shiba, leading four Shinigami from the 13th Division, was fighting a Hollow.
Before the Hollow had even done anything, all the Shinigami were already panting heavily, kneeling on the ground.
"What's wrong? You're already done for? I haven't even put in any effort and you've already fallen. So, Shinigami are really fragile!" the Hollow said. This Hollow's body was grayish-green, with six thick arms supporting its entire body. It had a Hollow mask on its head and a bunch of brown tentacles on its back, constantly shaking. It was Metastacia, the Aizen used for experiments.
"Tch...! What do you have to be proud of? You're just a mere Hollow. Lord Chen Fan has killed countless of them, and you sensed that spiritual pressure just now, didn't you? That was our Shinigami's captain. Hollows of your level can be killed as many as they want."
"Reiatsu?" Metastacia recalled the reiatsu she had just sensed; it was far too dangerous. There were still such terrifying beings in Soul Society.
"I was hoping to play with you guys a little longer, but it's all messed up when that kind of guy suddenly appeared, so you're all going to die!" Metastacia shouted, her brown tentacles rapidly extending from her back as she charged towards the Shinigami;
"Everyone be careful!" Miako shouted, her expression changing.
"Ah..." All the Shinigami raised their swords and shouted as they slashed at the void;
"It's no use! Just become my food! Become one with me!" Metastacia shouted.
"Whoosh..." Tentacles wrapped around the bodies of several Shinigami then Zanpakuto at the tentacles with their Zanpakuto.
"Bang..." The Zanpakuto had just touched these brown tentacles when they twisted, melted, and shattered into fragments, much to the astonishment of all the Shinigami.
"My ability is to make Zanpakuto disappear, so it's impossible for Shinigami to defeat me," Metastacia declared loudly.
The Shinigami immediately turned and shouted loudly at Miako Shiba, "Lady Miako! Run! We'll buy you time to tell Captain Jushiro Ukitake, Kaien Shiba, and Lord Chen Fan about this Hollow's abilities."
Miako's hand holding the Zanpakuto trembled slightly, as if she hesitated between leaving and continuing the fight;
"Lady Miako! Run! We can't let our sacrifice be in vain!" The Shinigami shouted to Miako again when they saw that Miako hadn't left, and then fought the tentacles with their bare hands;
"Oh my...! How interesting! Is this what they call companions? It's so touching, I'm almost in tears. Let me eat you all, so I can feel the hearts of my companions."
"You bastard! I'll never let you go, even if it kills me! Lady Miako, run! Do you want us to die with our eyes wide open in disbelief?!"
"Idiot! How could I possibly run away! Aaaaaa...!" Miako raised her Zanpakuto towards Metastacia;
"What a powerful female Shinigami! I really can't bear to kill you. I'll take over your body first, and then let you watch as I kill my comrades with my Zanpakuto. Shinigami would be much more interesting, ahahaha..." Suddenly, all the tentacles binding the four Shinigami released them, and her Hollow body twisted.
Finally, it exploded, and brown tentacles flew towards Miako, trying to possess Miako body;
"Lady Miako!" The other Shinigami cried out anxiously upon seeing Miako in danger, but they were all too badly injured to arrive in time.
"Bakudo #81, Danku!" Suddenly a voice rang out;
"Boom...!" All the brown tentacles seemed to have crashed into some kind of impenetrable wall, letting out a miserable scream before falling to the ground. All the tentacles rushed towards the other Shinigami; this form of its needed a vessel, otherwise it wouldn't last long.
"Whoosh...!"
"Boom..." All the tentacles that had just reached for Shinigami were severed, and a chasm appeared in the ground, as if it had been slashed by an extremely sharp blade of energy;
"Who goes there?" Metastacia shouted in the direction from which the blade energy emanated;
Soon, Chen Fan emerged from the shadows of the trees. "Lord Chen Fan!" several Shinigami exclaimed in surprise.
"Chen Fan!" Miako also came up behind Chen Fan;
"How are you? Are you alright?" Miako shook her head, then quickly helped the injured Shinigami up.