The Changes of the Initial Release

Aoto suddenly appeared to block the Cero, causing the residents of the Rukon District on the ground to cry out in relief at having escaped a catastrophe.

But they did not expect that the Shinigami would suddenly roar at them.

What did he mean? Come out of what?

Seeing that there was no reaction after five seconds, Aoto didn't waste any more words; he directly retracted his Zanpakuto and chanted a different Shikai incantation.

"Slaughter the darkness, Shakukuro!"

After the mace transformed back into a Zanpakuto, it suddenly emitted an intense black light, shrouding the entire South 20th District!

This change shocked not only the residents of the Rukon District but also the Adjuchas opposite him.

This Shinigami's Zanpakuto had changed again after its Shikai... so, was this Bankai?

But in reality, it was not!

A Shinigami's Zanpakuto could entirely develop different abilities through training.

Even without Bankai, one could add various attributes to a Shikai.

For instance, Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki had at least three different variations.

And the most prolific was Tosen Kaname, captain of the 9th Division; his Zanpakuto, Suzumushi, was said to already possess ninety-nine different techniques!

Aoto currently had only thirty.

This was because thirty ghosts resided within his Zanpakuto. In the nearly two hundred years since he first achieved Shikai, Aoto had trained each one according to its unique personality to possess different abilities.

The most frequently used Hungry Ghost was one of them, Blue Oni was another, and the current Shakukuro was yet another!

Hungry Ghost devoured all attack targets within the range of his own spiritual pressure... provided they were things it could bite through, of course.

Blue Oni unleashed blue light to attack... an omnidirectional light assault that was very fast, though it had a tendency to accidentally injure teammates.

As for the effect of Shakukuro, it was to form this pitch-black battlefield.

Any entity with spiritual pressure weaker than Aoto's would be "captured" by him and then subjected to his judgment.

Whether to release them outside the battlefield or keep them inside to fight was entirely up to Aoto's whim.

In any case, unless Aoto was defeated, this battlefield could not be breached from the inside.

When Ikkaku and Yumichika arrived and saw this pitch-black battlefield, they nearly started cursing.

Aoto was trying to hog all the glory again!

However, the very next moment, a large number of Rukon District residents and the 10th Division Shinigami who had been fighting the Menos were "released."

They appeared out of thin air outside the black battlefield, effectively out of danger.

Having personally experienced the feeling of being helpless, Rangiku Matsumoto was still somewhat flustered.

But she had no time to panic; the injured squad members needed medical treatment.

Just then, however, a Gillian also suddenly appeared out of thin air on the adjacent open ground.

They had been "released" by Aoto as well.

Seeing this terrifying Menos, the residents of the Rukon District couldn't help but cry out in fear again.

But Ikkaku rushed forward in excitement.

Yumichika arrived at the side of Rangiku Matsumoto, who was directing the 10th Division members, and asked her about the number of invading Hollows.

Upon hearing that it was one Adjuchas leading ten Gillians, Yumichika nodded and then charged toward Ikkaku's position.

The Gillian that had suddenly appeared had already been finished off by Ikkaku, and then two more Gillians were released.

"Bloom, Fuji Kujaku!"

After Yumichika activated his Shikai, he began to compete with Ikkaku for the Hollow kills.

Three! Four!

Soon, all ten Gillians had been wiped out by them.

But it was clear that Aoto had no intention of releasing the remaining Adjuchas for them to share!

However, unlike the fierce battle Ikkaku and Yumichika had imagined, the fight inside the black battlefield had already ended!

That giant wolf-type Adjuchas had fled back into the Garganta after leaving behind its two hind legs.

Aoto didn't pursue it, instead heading toward a residential area.

Seeing that the pursuing Menos had all been beaten back, the people hiding there finally revealed themselves!

A figure dressed as a member of the Punishment Force leaped onto the roof of a residential building.

Judging by the physique, it should be a woman.

However, she didn't say a word after appearing and headed toward the edge of the battlefield.

In her mind, Aoto should have dismantled this battlefield once he saw her attire.

But Aoto's actions were the complete opposite of what she expected. With a flick of his finger, she found herself back on the roof she had just jumped onto.

"Did you not hear me calling you out just now?"

Aoto's expression was currently devoid of emotion.

This person was hiding in a residential area, clearly choosing to use the numerous residents of the Rukon District as shields while evading the pursuit of a Menos Grande.

Although Aoto no longer concerned himself with the ordinary casualties of Rukon District residents or even Soul Reapers, this kind of deliberate act was what he loathed the most.

The member of the Punishment Force opposite him was quite surprised by Aoto's actions, yet still spoke as a matter of course, "The Punishment Force acts..."

"The hell with the Punishment Force, you're doing private work, aren't you! A noble's mission? It must have taken a massive sum of money to bribe a member of the Punishment Force of your level!"

Theoretically, the Soul Society had yet to fully master the technology to enter Hueco Mundo.

Only Hollows possessed the ability to open a Garganta... it was an instinct, something even ordinary Hollows could do.

Therefore, if Soul Reapers wanted to go to Hueco Mundo, they could only follow a Hollow inside when it opened a Garganta itself.

There were many records in the Soul Society of Soul Reapers who, having gotten carried away while killing Hollows, followed fleeing Hollows into a Garganta.

Those Soul Reapers never returned; after all, once they reached Hueco Mundo, even if they killed the Hollows, there was no way to come back.

Would there really be such kind-hearted Hollows that would open a Garganta for them to return?

But in reality, some nobles of the Seireitei possessed items capable of opening a path to Hueco Mundo.

Their history could potentially be traced back to the era of the Soul King.

Supported by the Shihoin Clan, who held the Heavenly Gift Equipment, the Punishment Force did indeed possess such things, and it was highly probable they would head to Hueco Mundo to handle classified matters.

However, in such cases, a clandestine Garganta would only be opened in the underground of the Punishment Force headquarters. That place possessed extremely strong defensive capabilities; let alone an Adjuchas giving chase, even a Vasto Lorde would be beaten back.

Aoto had served in the 2nd Division, and although he had not chosen to join the Punishment Force, he was very clear about these matters.

The situation with this female member of the Punishment Force could only mean she was doing private work... and she had opened the Garganta in the South 20th District, which was densely populated, before she even left.

She had truly planned for a rainy day before departing!

So much scheming.

The female member of the Punishment Force looked at Aoto and said in a low voice, "Since you know, you still dare to block me. And..."

The spiritual pressure of the female member of the Punishment Force before him was at the fifth rank, already reaching the level of a lieutenant, which was why Aoto had said it must have taken a lot of money to move her.

Her heart was surely branded with the idea that nobles were unreachable, believing that even if her actions were discovered, Aoto would not dare to provoke her.

But... nobles were nobles, and she was she.

She did not seem to have grasped this situation.

The Zanpakuto in Aoto's hand pointed at her once more.

As long as he killed her, it would be fine!

That way, no one would speak up for her.