Soul Society, Seireitei.
It was nearing noon. The morning chill had faded, and the scorching sun baked the earth, bringing a stifling heat that not even the faint breeze could dispel.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The Punishment Force members leaped swiftly across the ruined roof beams. Clad in black skintight combat uniforms, their movements were perfectly synchronized. Their feet made no sound as they passed, and even their breaths were deep, slow, and nearly inaudible.
Leaping at the front of the entire squad was a petite woman. Beneath her neatly tied hair, her eyes resembled the night sky, while the ringed serpent braids at either side lent her a cold, aloof air. A Zanpakutō hung at her lower back. Over her black Shihakushō, she wore a sleeveless white captain's haori, emblazoned with a large "2" on the back. She was Soi Fon, Captain of the Gotei 13's Second Division and Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force.
Half a step behind Soi Fon stood a fat man with the wooden badge of a Lieutenant tied around his arm. He was Ōmaeda Marechiyo, Lieutenant of the Second Division.
Suddenly, as though she had sensed something, Soi Fon came to an abrupt halt. Shocked, she looked toward the Ninth Division. The Reiatsu from the battle there was unmistakable. Even from so far away, she could feel the violence, madness, bloodlust, and countless other negative emotions within it.
"That..." Soi Fon's eyes narrowed slightly. She gritted her teeth, her brow deeply furrowed. "That is Lord Shadow's Reiatsu. How could this be...?"
"Captain!" Ōmaeda Marechiyo swallowed, forcing himself to remain calm as he spoke. "Isn't that where we found that short blade before? What kind of opponent did Lord Shadow encounter? Such terrifyingly immense Reiatsu..."
"Yes." Soi Fon turned to look at the small squad of Punishment