Northern Rukongai Border.
Soi Fon had originally intended to seize the chance to question Shimo again about Yoruichi Shihōin's whereabouts.
But before she could even speak, Shimo used Shunpo to vanish from sight.
Gritting her teeth, Soi Fon had no choice but to follow.
To her surprise, no matter how much she increased her speed, the distance between them never changed.
"His Shunpo has improved again…"
She pushed herself to the limit, yet it was futile. Eventually, she gave up the thought.
As they moved further from the Seireitei, the surroundings grew more desolate.
In Shimo's memory, the outer border of North Rukongai was known as the Wastelands—a forsaken region with no Soul dwellers, plagued by turbulent spirit particles storms and an environment hostile even to trained Shinigami.
Even full-fledged Shinigami occasionally lost their lives here while on missions.
By the time Shimo and Soi Fon reached the Wastelands, dusk had already set in.
The rest of the Onmitsukido members were still scattered across Rukongai, searching for clues.
"So this is the Wasteland?"
Shimo looked up in awe.
In the distance, massive vortexes of reiryoku turbulence twisted violently in the air. Any object that came close was devoured instantly—unstoppable.
These storms were one of the region's greatest natural hazards.
Only strong spiritual pressure could neutralize the pressure of the spiritual turbulence. The stronger the Shinigami's spiritual power, the safer they were in these lands.
Alternatively, elite mobility allowed one to sense and avoid these storms.
This made the Onmitsukido, with their unmatched Shunpo skills, the ideal scouts.
Even so, many Shinigami had died here.
As for lost souls who accidentally wandered in… they were countless.
Driven by confidence and curiosity, Shimo approached the storm.
Infusing his body with reiatsu, and to Soi Fon's shock, he walked straight into the vortex.
Shimo emerged, clicking his tongue as if evaluating a flavor.
"Nothing special. Feels just like the test storms in Mayuri's lab."
Soi Fon stood wide-eyed, lips parted in disbelief.
"You… you're not hurt?"
Shimo turned and blinked at her.
"Why would I be? It's just a bit of reiryoku turbulence. Also… was that concern I heard?"
Soi Fon instantly looked away.
"W-Who's worried about you?! I just don't want you dying before telling me where Lady Yoruichi is!"
"I've told you many times already. She taught me the Shihōin stealth steps before she left Soul Society. I have no idea where she is now."
Soi Fon snorted and began the search, clearly unconvinced.
Before the mission, Mayuri had modified a spiritual tracking device based on the residual spiritual pressure left on Ikkaku and Yumichika's wounds.
No one really knew what Aizen was planning, but a mission had been issued—and Shimo had no choice but to accept.
After all, any chance to grow stronger—he wouldn't waste.
The device resembled a Dragon Radar, and could detect remnants of White's spiritual pressure in objects, locations… or even White himself.
But it had limitations—if White concealed his spiritual pressure, it was useless.
A flawed tool, yet still helpful.
Each squad member had one.
Staring at his tracker, Shimo frowned.
"Why is there so much residual reiatsu in the Wastelands?"
Soi Fon was just as puzzled.
"It's like multiple Hollows passed through here recently…"
Once in work mode, Soi Fon became incredibly reliable.
They centered their search on the Rukongai-Wasteland border and began a 100-kilometer sweep.
Thanks to their elite Shunpo skills, they completed the survey quickly.
By the time the remaining Onmitsukido agents arrived, Shimo and Soi Fon had finished scanning the perimeter.
"Captain, no abnormalities found in the Rukongai district."
A breathless operative knelt in report.
Soi Fon furrowed her brow.
"Not a single trace?"
The kneeling agent hesitated slightly—as if second-guessing something.
A massive force struck Soi Fon's waist—Shimo had yanked her away with great strength.
An instant later, a cataclysmic explosion tore through the spot where she'd just stood.
A rising mushroom cloud engulfed the area, flames devouring everything in sight.
The shockwave activated surrounding spiritual energy storms, which began tearing at the space itself.
Soi Fon stood in stunned silence.
Someone in her squad had betrayed them.
And that was inconceivable—Second Division was known for its absolute loyalty.
Their training was different from any other squad—most were brainwashed from youth by noble families.
Soi Fon herself had been raised this way.
Yet someone… had turned traitor?
She was so shocked that she didn't even notice the firm hand wrapped around her waist.
"Their reiatsu is wrong," Shimo said flatly. "It's mixed… tampered with. Likely controlled by Kido seals or spiritual tools."
Soi Fon flushed as she realized his hand was still there and quickly pushed it away.
Her sense of justice wouldn't let her be rude in this moment.
She knew without Shimo's reaction, she'd be badly injured—or dead.
And in a place , getting hurt was a death sentence.
"Don't sweat it," Shimo said casually. "But now we know—our enemy is still hiding within Rukongai."
His thoughts ran deeper.
He knew his mission. But what about theirs?
Meanwhile — In North Rukongai's Genmoku District
Within a concealed Kido barrier, three cloaked figures stood watching the distant explosion.
"Yaaawn. Triple-layer Kido bomb didn't even scratch him…"
Gin Ichimaru's foxlike face peered out from beneath his cloak, voice laced with amusement and frustration.
"Lieutenant Shimo's sensory skills are ridiculous."
"Aizen-sama… are you sure we're releasing it? That took a lot of effort to create."
He turned toward the taller man beside him.
Still shrouded in shadow, Aizen smiled faintly.
"To understand every chess piece, you must study its shape."
"If this one is lost, we can always build another. But chances to gather intelligence… are rare."
Gin said nothing more.
Tōsen, standing nearby, gave no objection—he never did.
The decision was made.
White would be released.
Moments later—an immense spiritual pressure erupted in Genmoku District… then vanished just as quickly.
Shimo's senses flared instantly.
"The tracker's reacting!" Soi Fon shouted.
"A massive spiritual signature appeared and vanished in Genmoku!"
"Shimo! We have to move!"
"No need," he replied calmly. "He's already here."
His eyes narrowed, staring into the fog ahead.
Soi Fon felt the shift too—her instincts screamed at her.
"Rain?" she murmured, glancing at the sky.
Gray clouds loomed overhead. Raindrops—formed of dense reiryoku—splattered against her white haori.
Heavy footsteps echoed nearby.
A tall figure slowly emerged.
Captain-class spiritual pressure began to fill the area, drowning them in pressure.
Only now did Soi Fon realize—the enemy had been concealing their spiritual pressure all along.
If not for the upcoming battle forcing a release, they might never have known he was this close.
Clad in black armor, a hollow white substance pulsed in the hole at his chest.
A terrifying bull-mask covered his face—rows of jagged teeth packed tightly together.
"It's White," Shimo confirmed silently.
But he didn't say it aloud. Some truths Soi Fon didn't need to know.
"Target confirmed," she said, her voice steady.
"Eliminate it, and the mission is complete."
"Sting all enemies to death—Suzumebachi!"
Before Shimo could stop her, Soi Fon had already released her Zanpakutō and rushed in.
A crushing wave of spiritual pressure dropped on the battlefield, slowing her speed considerably.
White's arms, blade-like and gleaming, slashed through the air, distorting even space itself.
"Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen! (Beak-Piercing Triple Beam)"
Soi Fon launched the triple-pointed yellow Kido to restrain him, amplifying her own spiritual pressure to resist his pressure.
But White—Aizen's creation—wasn't so easily bound.
With a simple swing, White's arm cleaved through the spell.
The yellow fangs disintegrated into spiritual dust.
"You can't beat him. Let me handle it."
He had meant to pull her back.
But his words only inflamed Soi Fon's pride.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed forward.
Spiritual power surged over her back and shoulders. Her captain's haori disintegrated in the flare of power.
White tilted his head slightly—perhaps intrigued.
In a flash, Soi Fon was upon him.
Reinforced by Kido, her speed and strength surged beyond limits.
Suzumebachi struck his armored chest—
Marking him with the first stinger.
White didn't dodge. He simply raised his arm and brought it down to slice her in two.
But Soi Fon, using the rebound force, flipped away just in time.
A tiny butterfly mark now glimmered faintly on his black armor.
"Next hit will be the kill."
She smiled, confident.
White remained still, unmoved.
Rain slicked the ground beneath their feet.
Soi Fon charged again, aiming for the mark. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveI★Fire.net
But in that final moment—
A red flash gleamed in White's hollow eyes.
His bladed arm swung down—
This time, at blinding speed.
Soi Fon—was in danger.
----------------------///
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