Renji Abarai's Troubles

"Leave it to me, leave it to me, hand your body over to me."

"Hmph."

Renji Abarai abruptly opened his eyes in the darkness. He looked around—still pitch black.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Renji Abarai let out a sigh.

This situation had happened again. It wasn't the first time he'd been jolted awake in the middle of the night.

Lately, ever since he graduated from the Central Pear Tree Academy and joined the Fifth Division, Renji Abarai had been plagued by a recurring nightmare.

In it, some figure wearing a snake-head mask kept circling in the darkness, whispering incessantly in his ear.

In his sleep, that figure put immense pressure on Renji Abarai. The snake-head mask seemed vaguely familiar, even stirring a hint of recognition, but no matter how hard he tried to recall, he couldn't place it.

He had seen that snake-head mask before. And he felt that this mask was somehow eroding his Spiritual Power, corroding his body.

This sent a flicker of panic through him. Renji Abarai knew in his heart that this was inseparable from the Third Division's Captain, his former classmate Nara Dan.

He had once made a deal with Nara Dan—trading his loyalty and his future for a surge in strength.

But now, it seemed Renji Abarai hadn't just broken even; he might have gained even more than he'd bargained for.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!"

Suddenly, an alarm bell rang out. Renji Abarai jolted in surprise. It was the Fifth Division's emergency assembly signal. Without a second thought, he got up, changed into his Shihakusho, and rushed toward the Fifth Division.

Arriving at the entrance of the Fifth Division barracks, Renji Abarai saw that many Fifth Division members and Seated Officers had already gathered.

"Sixth Seat Abarai, you're here."

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