Soul Burial Practice had not even begun when the unexpected happened.
The performance of the two prodigies immediately put Shūhei Hisagi on guard.
He drew his Zanpakuto in a backhand grip, its gleaming blade reflecting a chilling glint beneath the moonlight.
His grim gaze swept the surroundings, trying to find the danger the two had mentioned.
"Shuhei, you're too tense."
Aoroku reassured him, "There's nothing unusual within the range of my spiritual pressure detection."
"Besides, this area was designated by the Thirteenth Division for Soul Burial Practice. All dangers have already been cleared out."
At that, Shūhei Hisagi furrowed his brow, relaxing slightly. "Even so, I have a bad feeling about this."
"Your instincts are right," Toshiro Hitsugaya said expressionlessly. "Based on combat experience, even the quietest area in the Human World cannot be completely silent."
"Captain Su Feng once taught us that the weak should never let their guard down, no matter when."
Renji Abarai drew his Zanpakuto. His violent spiritual pressure surged freely, filling the academy students beside him with fear.
That monster's spiritual pressure seemed to have grown even stronger.
They instinctively moved away from the two, trying to lessen the pressure bearing down on them.
"There are only two possibilities for this situation."
His gaze swept across the area, fierce fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "First, every Hollow and Plus in this area is dead."
"Second, there is something nearby far stronger than them!"
The instant he finished speaking, he and Toshiro Hitsugaya both looked up into the sky.
Beneath the cold moonlight, the void seemed to have been savagely torn open by the claws of some colossal beast. An irregular fissure stretched toward both sides through profound darkness.
An invisible pressure spread from within, gradually blanketing the city overhead.
Slow, heavy footsteps emerged from