Caught, This Giant Black Pot

"You had best put away the dangerous thoughts in your head."

Aizen warned, "This is the outskirts, not a wasteland."

Hearing this.

Kisaragi Akira sheepishly reined in his Reiatsu, abandoning the bold idea he had finally come up with.

In truth, his way of thinking was quite simple.

Since he couldn't find the source of the danger, he would simply resort to a blanket of firepower.

The exclusive entry for Kido Mastery allowed him to reduce the consumption of his Kido by fifty percent while simultaneously increasing its power by one hundred percent.

His Reiatsu might be slightly insufficient, but with the support of his cheat, if he went all out, he should be able to spread Red Smoke Escape to the full extent of his vision.

If he could use it, it would be a guaranteed kill.

It was a pity he couldn't...

"I have scanned this entire forest using Reiatsu perception," Aizen analyzed calmly. "But I haven't detected the slightest movement. In that case, there are only three possibilities."

"The opponent's Reiatsu is far higher than yours, or they have used some method to mask their Reiatsu signature."

Kisaragi Akira took over the conversation, frowning as he said, "Or perhaps..."

He looked toward the north of the forest, where the outskirts were even more desolate, with rolling hills stacked together, outlining a crisscrossing landscape.

"The source of the danger comes from even further away!"

Kisaragi Akira affirmed his final guess.

To evade detection by a Lieutenant-level Reiatsu, it seemed only a Captain could accomplish such a feat.

But for a small fry of his level, it shouldn't warrant the mobilization of a Captain.

Judging from the intelligence extracted from the assassin, the rebels had only dispatched this single squad.

In the eyes of the rebel leader, sending several elite Shinigami to kill a genius still attending the Spiritual Arts Academy was already giving him enough face.

Capsizing in a gutter was simply an impossibility.

Based on the current situation, the true source of danger lay elsewhere.

Just as Kisaragi Akira was debating whether to go further out to observe, a heavy humming sound echoed through the forest, and the ground began to tremble violently, as if an earth dragon were turning over.

Seeing this, the two exchanged glances simultaneously, as if asking for the other's intent.

Coincidentally, they did not detect a shred of fear in each other's eyes; instead, they were filled with intense curiosity.

While Danger Instinct had yet to issue a warning.

Relying on Aizen's high skill and bold nature, Kisaragi Akira prepared to head toward the source of the tremors to investigate.

Clearly, no matter who it was, there existed a considerable degree of "death-seeking" genes in their bones.

It was just that one displayed it at any time, while the other hid it deeper.

Meanwhile, at the 12th Division barracks, in the laboratory.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri, his entire face painted with white pigment, pressed his hands against the laboratory bench, his eyes bloodshot, his expression ferocious and fanatical.

"Confirmed, the Reiatsu wave measurement is established!"

"Wait..."

When the massive screen in front of him outlined a radar-like image, Kurotsuchi Mayuri let out a crazed laugh, but soon, his mouth flattened, and his expression suddenly sank.

"This is the specific frequency of a Menos Grande?"

"The location is, Shantei Temple, northwest three-six-zero-three."

"It seems there is also the response frequency of a Hollow Group Circuitry Device..."

Seeming to think of something, Kurotsuchi Mayuri grinned:

"I remember now, so it's that foolish little brat."

"His luck is truly terrible, actually encountering a Menos Grande invasion."

"He's dead for sur..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by another voice.

"That's not necessarily true, Kurotsuchi Mayuri."

The pale-skinned Shutara Senjumaru appeared before the massive screen, watching the red dots fluctuating upon it, the corners of her exquisite mouth curling slightly.

"You really don't put anyone in your eyes at all, Shutara Senjumaru."

"Trespassing into someone else's private space without permission..."

Kurotsuchi Mayuri didn't even intend to turn his head; just by hearing the voice, he already knew who it was.

Or rather, the only person who could enter this laboratory without alerting him was that insufferably arrogant woman—

Shutara Senjumaru.

"Invasion? That's a bit of an exaggeration."

Senjumaru stared at the light dots on the screen representing Menos Grande, speaking with nonchalance:

"I am actually more interested in these two young men."

"I look forward to seeing how they perform under such circumstances..."

Kisaragi Akira stared in shock at the swarm of spider-like Hollows rushing toward them from the horizon, his eyes wide.

"We are still in Soul Society, right?"

"How can an entire tribe of Hollows appear in the heart of Soul Society, the headquarters of the Shinigami?"

Aizen sighed.

To be fair, he couldn't comprehend this scene either.

Based on his knowledge, such a massive swarm of Hollows should not exist in Soul Society.

Judging from the battle just moments ago, these spider Hollows likely dwelled deep within the mountains or underground.

The reason for such a large-scale riot...

It might be because someone pumped Red Smoke Escape into the mountain, triggering a chain reaction of explosions that destabilized the already fragile space.

Of course, there could be other reasons as well.

"Sosuke, let's run."

Kisaragi Akira wore a grave expression. "With a swarm of this size, let alone you and me, even if..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he realized that Aizen, who had been standing beside him, had vanished.

Kisaragi Akira: "???"

Fine, fine. I didn't expect someone with such thick eyebrows and big eyes to be so decisive when it came to selling out a teammate.

Seeing the spider Hollow swarm closing in, the ground began to tremble with increasing intensity.

Kisaragi Akira dared not delay, chasing after Aizen's Reiatsu.

He liked to court death, but facing a swarm of over a hundred Hollows, he would choose to run for his life like a sensible person.

Who knew if there was a Menos Grande lurking among them?

Courting death was not the same as seeking death; the two could not be mentioned in the same breath.

When Kisaragi Akira caught up to Aizen, he found him chanting a Kido incantation he had never heard before in a low, resonant tone.

"...Abrupt spire, sink, drift, pale, fall into the bottomless abyss, ignite the scorching red sun, illuminating all directions."

"Hado #57: Dance of the Earth!"

The moment the words fell, the ground behind them instantly shattered into hideous fissures. The earth seemed to transform into surging waves, stacking layer upon layer as it rose toward the sky, forming two impenetrable barriers.

Between the barriers lay a bottomless, impassable chasm.

"Hiss—"

Kisaragi Akira looked at the spectacular scene before him and gasped: "You truly are something else, Sosuke."

"But, since you're this fierce, why not turn around and slaughter that group of Hollows?"

As soon as these words left his mouth, Aizen gave him a look as if he were staring at an idiot.

Just then, the Hollow Group Circuitry Device tucked in his pocket began to vibrate.

Kisaragi Akira pulled it out and held it in his hands. Before he could channel his Reiatsu to check it, he heard a familiar voice coming from within.

"Moshi moshi, can you hear me?"

Kisaragi Akira was stunned; he hadn't expected this Hollow Group Circuitry Device to have a communication function.

"This is Shutara Research Institute. According to our observations, a Hekisa tribe has appeared at your location. The specific cause is unknown."

"However, please be aware that the Reiatsu fluctuations of a Menos Grande have been detected within this tribe."

Senjumaru spoke into the microphone before her, her voice filled with concern:

"Young men, before reinforcements arrive, make sure you don't die..."