The Hundred-Eyed Demon, Seikyo

Soul Society, West Rukon District, 60th District.

The sky suddenly twisted and tore open, as five black voids manifested out of thin air.

These were Garganta, the pathways used by Hollows to travel from Hueco Mundo to the Human World or Soul Society.

At this very moment, a massive figure of a Gillian, a low-level Menos, stood within each Garganta.

The number of ordinary Hollows trailing behind these Gillians was staggering.

The residents of Rukon District shrieked and fled in a frantic scramble upon seeing this scene.

As a district with a high numerical designation, this area was far more prone to Hollow attacks than the lower-numbered districts closer to the Seireitei.

After all, while Hollows could evolve into Menos by devouring one another, most preferred to feast on Pluses.

Pluses, the complete souls, were the antithesis of Hollows.

However, the even higher-numbered districts, those closer to the 80th, were actually safer.

Because the most volatile elements of Soul Society gathered in those places furthest from the Seireitei, and the great villains residing there possessed enough strength to fight a Gillian head-on.

It was precisely places like the 60th District, stuck in the middle, that suffered the greatest losses when attacked by Menos.

Yet, it was precisely because of this that Aizen and his two companions could return to Soul Society under this cover without being detected by any surveillance agencies.

Aizen was not particularly pleased upon his return to Soul Society.

Because the goal he had aimed to achieve in his plan had not been met.

Although, in terms of results, he had indeed received the greatest possible assistance from Hueco Mundo, and the conditions laid out for him by the King of Hueco Mundo were things he had never even imagined, Aizen still could not be happy.

After all, failing to secure the top position meant a higher probability of complications.

But looking at it from another angle, the strength of Hueco Mundo was sufficient to clash head-on with the Gotei 13, which was a greater boon to Aizen than he had anticipated.

"Tosen!" Aizen remarked to Tosen Kaname. "To think that justice, which cannot be found anywhere in Soul Society, has emerged from the mouth of the King of Hueco Mundo. How ironic!"

Tosen Kaname did not answer. But from his expression, it was clear that he also found it ironic.

Thinking of the Seireitei, the high-and-mighty attitude of the Central 46, and the faces of the nobles led by the Five Great Noble Families as they looked down upon ordinary residents, Aizen felt even more strongly that his actions needed to be accelerated.

Let's start with the Five Great Noble Families!

As long as they were given a pretext, the Central 46 would never let slip the opportunity to dismantle the Five Great Noble Families.

After all, there was a rule stating that if the Soul King spoke, the Council of Nobles of the Five Great Noble Families could supersede the Central 46 and become the highest authority in Soul Society.

Although that wedge had long been unable to speak, the Central 46 did not know that!

Those pseudo-sages within the Central 46, already mired in the whirlpool of power, had long been secretly looking for opportunities to frame the Five Great Noble Families.

It was just a pity that the justification used against the Shihoin Clan last time had not held up. Otherwise, they wouldn't need to rack their brains any further!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just as Aizen and his group were still lamenting, the Menos had already begun their rampage.

However, unlike in the past where they might have had to wait a long time for the Shinigami of the Gotei 13 to come to their rescue, over a dozen figures clad in Shihakusho came rushing over at high speed, instantly obliterating the Hollows that were about to harm the residents of the Rukon District!

"Why did so many Hollows suddenly appear!"

"There are even Menos!"

These rapidly arriving Shinigami all belonged to the 11th Division of the Gotei 13, a group that prized martial virtue and engaged enemies directly without wasting words.

But these were all ordinary seated officers; none had mastered the Shikai of their Zanpakuto. While they could barely manage against ordinary Hollows, powerful Hollows, or even Giant Hollows, they were no match for a low-level Gillian!

Though they were martial, they still needed to know their own limits.

The officers scrambled to contact the seated officers who had mastered Shikai, or even their Captain.

But just at that moment, a figure flew over their heads, leaving behind only the words, "Leave the Gillians to me; whoever dares to contact the Captain, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Upon recognizing the attire of the person who had flown past, the officers breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's 4th Seat Hyakume!"

"That's great!"

"So, do we still need to call the Captain?"

Hearing this, the officers all turned to look at the officer who had spoken last.

"New here?"

"Just transferred from the 9th Division!"

"That explains it!" A veteran officer patted the young officer on the shoulder. "Kid, remember this! The 11th Division is different from the 9th. As long as the combatants haven't requested reinforcements, don't go sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

Most members of the 11th Division were battle-crazed; they truly enjoyed the fight.

"Take this situation, for instance. These few Gillians might not even be enough for 4th Seat Hyakume to cut down on his own. If 3rd Seat Madarame or 5th Seat Ayasegawa were called over, 4th Seat Hyakume might not vent his anger on them, but he would definitely take it out on the officer who called them."

"Remember! In the 11th Division, even if you provoke 3rd Seat Madarame, you'll just get a beating, but if you provoke 4th Seat Hyakume, it will be a fate worse than death!"

The young officer shivered. "Why?"

Could it be that this 4th Seat had a penchant for torture?

His appearance looks perfectly normal! He's neither bald nor a cross-dresser! He's even quite handsome!

"Why, you ask~" the veteran squad member said, drawing out the sound, "Of course it's because 4th Seat Hyakume-ki Seikyo is in charge of the 11th Division's barracks, the cafeteria, and the payroll!"

"Gahaha! If you provoke him, you won't be able to sleep well, eat well, and you won't even get your pay!"

The young squad member's face turned purple upon hearing this... This was indeed far more miserable than getting beaten up on the training grounds.

High above, the sharp-eared Hyakume-ki Seikyo had already heard the discussion among the squad members below... and decided to delay that veteran's salary for a few days.

Chatting during such a tense moment? If I don't punish you, I won't feel at ease.

He vented this foul mood onto the Gillian standing before him.

With his Zanpakutō unsheathed, two of the Gillian were instantly sliced in two.

The remaining three Gillian, perhaps possessing decent intelligence, saw Hyakume-ki Seikyo as a formidable foe and began to condense a Cero simultaneously!

Cero, a technique that can only be used by Menos Grande and above.

It is a beam-like flash attack formed by highly concentrating spiritual energy.

With their massive mouths agape, the orange-red Cero condensed by the three Menos shot toward Hyakume-ki Seikyo from three different directions at once.

"Not bad! But it's not enough!"

Facing the Cero hurtling toward him at high speed, Hyakume-ki Seikyo shouted calmly, "Devour, Hungry Ghost!"

The Zanpakutō in his hand suddenly expanded, transforming directly into a spiked club even larger than Hyakume-ki Seikyo himself!

All three Cero struck the club simultaneously, yet they failed to cause him any harm whatsoever.

Furthermore, a distinct crunching sound emerged; the three Cero were devoured entirely by the club in return!

All the squad members who witnessed this scene erupted in cheers.

The stronger the captains and seated officers were, the higher the morale of the squad members... The Hollows below the level of Menos had gradually been wiped out by the squad members, leaving only a few ordinary small Hollows!

Not a single squad member had suffered a serious injury; this could be considered a resounding victory!

Hyakume-ki Seikyo, up in the sky, certainly wouldn't be outdone by the ordinary squad members.

The next moment, using Shunpo, Hyakume-ki Seikyo appeared beside a Gillian. He swung his club, and even without making direct contact, a chunk of the Gillian's body was bitten away.

After three swings, the head of that Gillian had already vanished!

Only the lower body remained, beginning to disintegrate.

"Time to eat some roasted Hollow thighs!"

Amidst Hyakume-ki Seikyo's laughter, the remaining two Gillian were also devoured clean by the club in his hand.

Feeling the satisfaction of the club in his grip, Hyakume-ki Seikyo smiled, released his Shikai, and descended from the sky.

However, during his descent, Hyakume-ki Seikyo glanced intentionally or otherwise toward the nearby woods.

Aizen and his group had been staying there just a moment ago, but by now, they had already left!

Hyakume-ki Seikyo breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He couldn't quite wrap his head around it...

Since the main body was helping Aizen to overthrow the Soul Society, why send him, a clone, to the Soul Society?

He even made him live like a monk, unable to enjoy anything.

He didn't even let him make contact with Aizen; wasn't he afraid that he would be targeted by Aizen for performing too well?

One had to know, the secret of his Zanpakutō was no secret to the upper echelons of the Soul Society.

It was impossible for Aizen not to know.