"Stick to the plan!" Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi retreated together, while Aikawa Ramu and Kūkaku Shiba split off to either side.
The Hollowed Soul Reaper had no mind of his own. He acted entirely on instinct, and of everyone there, Urahara and Yoruichi posed the greatest threat to him. He intended to kill those two children first.
"Yoruichi!" Urahara growled.
Yoruichi understood at once. She stopped retreating, and the two of them charged forward together.
The Fangtian Halberd came down wreathed in lightning. Urahara met it with Benihime in hand.
The two were evenly matched, and neither could gain the upper hand.
Yoruichi had already leaped into the air. With a sweep of both hands, she sent several concealed weapons flying, pinning the Hollowed Soul Reaper's feet in place.
At the same time, Kūkaku opened fire from a distance with both guns. The Hollowed Soul Reaper's arms were blown clean off, and the Fangtian Halberd fell to the ground with them.
"Ramu, finish him!"
A flash of steel cut through the darkness. Ramu struck from behind and severed the Hollowed Soul Reaper's neck with a single slash.
Without a head, even the hardiest Hollow would die.
The Hollowed Soul Reaper finally lost the last of his strength and collapsed limply to the ground.
Urahara's expression did not ease. If anything, it grew graver. He reached out and tore the mask from the Hollowed Soul Reaper's face. Sure enough, beneath it was the face of an ordinary Soul Reaper.
But the muscles and skin had already begun to shrivel. It looked as though he had worn the mask for years.
"Urahara, what's going on?" Yoruichi asked.
Urahara did not answer. He had no idea what had happened either. For now, they needed to get out of there.
But as they prepared