"This chill… Is Captain Hitsugaya in battle?"
Someone muttered as a wave of icy air swept across Seireitei. "Did he encounter an enemy?"
"Well… who knows? Maybe he's just disciplining a few unruly subordinates," another voice responded casually.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō's sudden use of Shikai had not gone unnoticed. Several powerful Shinigami within the Soul Society felt the change in the spiritual atmosphere—but few took it seriously.
After all, for ordinary Shinigami, achieving Shikai was already a major milestone. But to those at the top—the Captains—Shikai wasn't just power. It was intent. Seriousness.
And Hitsugaya… was no ordinary Shinigami.
A genius who awakened Shikai at a young age, he had risen to the rank of Captain while still in his teens. But for the other Captains, if he was only using Shikai, then surely the threat wasn't anything worth panicking over.
Surely.
But not everyone shared that complacency.
"Tōshirō is fighting someone… and Rangiku might be in danger."
A man with sly, foxlike features narrowed his eyes. Though his tone was calm, his expression betrayed unease. In the next instant, he vanished, changing course without hesitation.
Elsewhere, in the barracks of the Second Division...
"So he's rampaging through Seireitei as he pleases now? Does that brat think being a 'genius' gives him the right to act without restraint?"
Sui-Feng, the captain of the Second Division and commander of the Onmitsukidō, stood still, her cold gaze fixed in the direction of the disturbance. Her petite frame, however, did nothing to diminish the oppressive aura around her.
Then, like lightning, she was gone.
"Tch… Just like that Yoruichi Shihōin… First her, now him. Seireitei's filling up with arrogant bastards…"
Meanwhile.
As Daemon released the Noble Phantasm: God's Avoid, the "battle" reached its inevitable conclusion.
Or rather—this wasn't a battle at all.
It was a slaughter.
A one-sided game, nothing more than a casual display of dominance. Against Daemon, Hitsugaya never stood a chance.
"Zheng——!"
A golden flash ripped through the sky, slicing effortlessly through the icy constructs of Hyōrinmaru. The frozen battlefield shattered into a flurry of glittering crystals.
Despite holding back, Daemon's sword pierced the air, cutting through space, time, and all defenses. The attack struck Hitsugaya directly, regardless of distance.
"GHHAA—!!"
Blood burst from Tōshirō's body as a jagged slash tore through him—spanning from his waist to his left shoulder. A grotesque, gaping wound nearly split him in two.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
What… just happened?
There was no warning. No tell. No chance to react.
Was this… a Shikai ability? A Bankai?
How was his Hyōrinmaru sealed so easily? How did that man strike him—instantly—with such terrifying power?
He didn't even see the attack coming.
He didn't understand.
He had lost.
And worst of all...
"Momo…"
Even as pain wracked his body, his gaze instinctively searched for her. The girl in Daemon's arms. His childhood friend. His guilt burned deeper than the wound itself.
He had failed to protect her.
"Thud!"
Hitsugaya crashed to the ground, a dull, sickening sound accompanying his fall. Blood pooled beneath his limp body.
"Tōshirō!?"
Hinamori Momo screamed, eyes wide with horror. Her voice cracked with fear. Without thinking, she took a step forward, hands trembling.
"Don't worry. I went easy on him."
Daemon spoke softly, his tone oddly gentle as he held Momo closer. "He'll be fine. Just needs to rest for a while."
"R-Really…?"
She could barely believe it. Tōshirō was nearly cleaved in two—how could he possibly survive that?
"Yes," another voice reassured her.
Yamamoto Mei, the refined and commanding young lady of the Soul Society, crossed her arms and added matter-of-factly, "That boy needed a lesson. There's always someone stronger. Let this scar remind him that recklessness leads to death."
"I see… That's good. As long as he's okay."
Momo sighed in relief, placing a hand on her chest. Her voice, however, still carried a hint of frustration.
"But why was he so impulsive? I told him I wasn't being forced… He should've listened!"
If Daemon hadn't shown mercy—if he had meant to kill—Tōshirō would already be gone. And it would have been her fault.
[Group Chat]
Uchiha Miyuki: "UGHHHHH the pain! He's her childhood friend! He tried his best! And not only did he lose—He got CUT IN HALF while trying to save her, and now she's worried about him like he's her kid brother!"
Luo Hao: "…It's because she never saw him that way to begin with. Childhood friends are often just that—friends. Or like siblings."
Nakiri Erina: "He didn't do anything wrong. He liked someone and overthought things. That said, Mr. Daemon is… definitely not a good guy."
Daemon: "…Am I the villain now?"
Nakiri Erina: "N-No! I'm not blaming you. Just pointing out the facts. You did nearly cut him in half! Look, poor Momo looks like she's about to cry!"
Uchiha Miyuki: "Eh, it's fine. Momo was headed for heartbreak with Aizen anyway. She's better off being Daemon's silly sweetheart. Safer too! Definitely better than what the original story had in store."
Kocho Shinobu: "Was it really that bad?"
Uchiha Miyuki: "It was. And honestly… she kind of deserved it. Licking the boots of a traitor while ignoring the guy who risked his life for her? Yikes."
At the same time, Matsumoto Rangiku finally snapped out of her daze.
"Captain!?" she cried, her voice filled with alarm.
Her voluptuous figure swayed wildly from the sudden movement, nearly blinding Daemon and the others with the exaggerated motion. Daemon blinked, temporarily distracted.
Seriously? That's watermelon-sized... How does physics even allow that? he thought, shaking his head.
Even Kasumigaoka Utaha, usually calm and detached, stared at the orange-haired woman in disbelief. That's not a figure—it's a phenomenon... What did she eat growing up?
Matsumoto dropped to her knees beside Hitsugaya, quickly inspecting the wound. Relief washed over her face.
"It's okay… He's seriously injured, but he'll live."
She exhaled deeply, her tone softening with the news. Then, in a flash, she stood up, eyes blazing. Her spiritual pressure surged, and she yanked her Zanpakutō from her waist.
"You dare attack a Gotei 13 captain in the heart of the Seireitei?" she roared.
"Yamamoto Mei, I now seriously suspect you of colluding with outsiders to bring chaos to the Soul Society! No one is leaving here until the other captains arrive!"
"Presumptuous!" Yamamoto Mei's voice cracked like thunder. "Who do you think you're speaking to, Matsumoto Rangiku?"
A suffocating pressure exploded from Mei's body, heavy as a mountain. It crashed into Matsumoto like a tidal wave, forcing her to her knees. Her body trembled, pinned to the ground.
"This... this spiritual pressure...!"
Her eyes widened in terror. For the first time, Rangiku understood why Yamamoto Mei—despite having no formal position—was respected by even the captains. It wasn't politics or connections.
It was raw, overwhelming power.
So this is why they call her "Miss"...
But Rangiku clenched her teeth. "Even so… I can't just let you hurt other captains! The Captain wouldn't want that either!"
Blood ran from the corners of her lips as she bit down hard, forcing herself to move. Whether Mei had pulled her pressure back or pain fueled her determination, Rangiku gathered her strength and shouted:
"Growl, Haineko!"
Her blade dissolved into fine ash, drifting into the air like smoke, the hilt still gripped tightly in her hand.
She slashed the air, and the ash followed her command, ready to cut anything it touched. Though not the strongest Shikai, it was dangerous in the right hands. A weapon of precision, not brute force.
But power in Soul Society was built on spiritual pressure—and hers was clearly outmatched.
Before the ash could strike, a violent gust of wind exploded outward.
"Bad Wind!"
A roaring hurricane, strong enough to cleave a hill, tore through the courtyard. It blew away the ash like dust, scattering her attack.
Then came a roar.
"RRAAAAARGH!"
A shadow loomed overhead as the quiet, seemingly harmless girl who had been trailing behind Daemon suddenly transformed—her petite form growing into a massive dragon.
Pink scales shimmered, wings unfurled, and in a single motion, the dragon's claw crashed down.
"BOOM!"
The ground shook as Rangiku was slammed to the earth, unable to react. Her body screamed in pain as she was pinned beneath the dragon's weight.
"Enough already, woman," the dragon rumbled. Her voice still held Utaha's trademark annoyance, only deeper, more powerful. "If Mei and Mr. World Noble hadn't held back, do you really think you'd still be breathing?"
But instead of gratitude, Rangiku fought harder, her Shikai reforming in the air.
"She's… not giving up?" Daemon blinked, amused.
Rangiku glared, struggling beneath the claw. "A Zanpakutō that transforms…? And that power—it's beyond excessive…"
As she tried to launch another attack, Utaha's dragon eyes flared—and twisted into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
A swirling vortex formed midair.
Rangiku watched, stunned, as her ash was sucked into the vortex—swallowed whole by the warping space.
"Space manipulation?" she gasped.
Despite the crushing pressure on her body, Rangiku's instincts told her one thing: If that space distortion had targeted me directly, I'd be nothing but paste right now.
"I said… don't move," Utaha growled.
Her dragon claw tensed slightly. Lightning crackled across her scales, arcing toward Rangiku. The vice-captain screamed, her nerves flaring in agony. Her limbs convulsed violently.
"There's… thunder too?" she groaned. "Fine! I won't move! I swear I won't move again!"
She hadn't expected it.
After transforming into a dragon, warping space, and now even wielding thunder, Kasumigaoka Utaha's power felt almost limitless.
Rangiku's body trembled under the immense weight pressing down on her—she couldn't move even if she wanted to. Her Shikai had been completely dismantled.
She gritted her teeth, her pride bruised far worse than her body. There was no point in resisting any further.
"Tch… was all this really necessary?" a voice drawled lazily beside her.
Rangiku's eyes widened as she felt fingers lift her chin—firm, confident, and unbearably smug.
Daemon.
His face came into view: annoyingly handsome, but with a glint in his eye that made her want to punch him. Unfortunately, she couldn't even twitch a finger.
"Little Momo and I? We were both on the same page," he said with a mock sigh. "But your captain—what a guy. Ends up seriously injuring himself just trying to stop me, and drags you into it too."
His voice dropped into a teasing whisper.
"Or… maybe you're actually his apology gift? Sent here because Toshiro was too embarrassed to face me himself? Using you as his peace offering?"
Rangiku's eyes blazed with fury, but she still couldn't move. Her clenched teeth said everything.
Daemon chuckled, unfazed. "Oh? Did I hit a nerve?" His hand reached down, gripping her chin and lifting her face. "Damn, you're pretty up close. That figure—are you sure you're a vice-captain and not a goddess in disguise? A divine maid, maybe?"
Rangiku glared up at him, seething.
Daemon smiled wickedly. "Tell me—did your little captain just lose the fight and a woman in one move? Or is this what they call a two-for-one special?"
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