"As for why the Gillians were chasing us… truthfully, we still don't know."
Kurozane Masakane shook his head with a bitter, helpless smile.
"Captain Aiyan, we've fought in Hueco Mundo for years. We've seen Gillian packs, we've broken through the Menos Forest itself—but never have we seen anything like this. A pursuit lasting seven days and nights... and still continuing. It's unheard of."
"And stranger still—there were no Adjuchas at all."
"No Adjuchas?"
Shihōin Yoruichi's eyes narrowed.
Gillian were known to roam in groups, yes—but for hundreds of them to organize an extended pursuit over such a vast distance? That could not be attributed to their base instincts.
Such an unnatural display required the direction of higher intelligence—at least one Adjuchas, maybe more.
On the way here, she had fully expected that the expedition force had drawn the ire of some Adjuchas-level hollows.
"Had there been any Adjuchas among them," Kurozane Masakane added grimly, "I doubt we'd be standing here waiting for Captain Aiyan and Lady Yoruichi to arrive. We'd already be corpses scattered across the sand."
Aiyan frowned. The pieces didn't fit. Something was wrong.
He extended his hand and began casting a sequence of sensory-type Bakudō.
Observation haki.
Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
Reiatsu Detection Field.
Wave after wave of Kidō spread outward, rippling gently over the expeditionary force.
In an instant, Aiyan caught it.
A subtle trace of spiritual residue clung to Kurozane Masakane—and not just him. Nearly every Shinigami present bore the same aura.
It was faint. So faint that no ordinary sensor could detect it.
But Aiyan recognized it instantly.
He had encountered it before.
Back when Aizen was experimenting with Hollows.
Neither Hollow nor Shinigami…
"…Quincy."
Aiyan spoke the word just as Shihōin Yoruichi opened her mouth to say the same.
"The first-generation Captain of the Second Division came from the Shihōin family," Yoruichi explained softly. "He fought in the Quincy Invasion War a thousand years ago. Since then, our clan has preserved extensive records on them."
"One such item... is called Hollow Bait. It resembles a pill. Shatter it, and it disperses particles that attract Hollows en masse. But even then, it usually only draws in low-level Hollows. Rarely Gillians. Never Adjuchas."
She glanced sideways at Aiyan, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of perfect synchronicity.
To be on the same wavelength as him… felt too natural.
"…So you're saying we were caught in a Quincy trap?"
Lieutenant Miyano Fujimaru's eyes blazed with rage.
Aiyan, however, raised a hand to steady him. His voice was calm, yet laced with hidden meaning.
"True. The Hollow Bait is a Quincy tool."
"But whether the bait on your bodies came from a Quincy… still remains to be proven."
He narrowed his eyes.
"The Shinigami and Quincy are mortal enemies. If one were truly behind this, provoking the Hollows to devour an entire expeditionary force would make sense."
"But if it wasn't Quincy..."
"...Then who has such hatred for us?"
Shihōin Yoruichi blinked. She heard the implication, but couldn't yet grasp the full shape of it.
"Captain Aiyan, I've asked every single member of the expeditionary force—none of them have had contact with Quincy."
Kurozane Masakane had been thorough. He made sure before reporting back.
"Then it's not Quincy."
"Quincy wouldn't have bothered with something like this."
Aiyan's voice turned cold. "Yoruichi, who else could it be?"
Without waiting for her reply, Aiyan raised his hand again.
"Hadō #58 — Tenran."
BOOOOM—!
A massive spiral wind burst forth, engulfing the entire expeditionary force.
Kurozane Masakane, Miyano Fujimaru, and all the others were caught in it—but there was no damage, no pain. Only confusion.
When the storm finally faded, a thin mist of silver dust scattered in the air—like the glimmer of metal filings vanishing in moonlight.
"I've dispersed the Hollow Bait powder clinging to your bodies."
"Now, find somewhere safe to rest."
"When you're ready, return to Seireitei."
"If they don't give you an explanation—don't give you justice—go to the First Division and find Aizen. He is the Lieutenant, my brother. He'll know what to do."
At those words, everyone's eyes sharpened.
Aiyan didn't need to say it outright.
They weren't fools.
Only someone within the Gotei 13 could plant Hollow Bait on their bodies.
Only a Shinigami would benefit from their deaths.
And if Aiyan hadn't arrived in time…
They would have died in Hueco Mundo, never knowing the truth.
"Captain Aiyan… we owe you everything."
Kurozane Masakane's voice was thick with emotion.
First, Aiyan had saved them as if descending from the heavens.
Now, he uncovered the invisible dagger pointed at their backs—and gave them the strength to survive.
At that moment—
The entire expedition force knelt.
Their reverence, their loyalty, their gratitude—boundless.
"Bakudō Transfer Seal: Amaterasu."
Aiyan stepped forward and gently placed his finger between Kurozane Masakane's eyebrows.
A burning heat flashed through his eyes—but it quickly vanished.
"I've sealed a Kidō technique into your pupils—Amaterasu."
"You only need to look at your enemy and inject Reiatsu."
"Even a Gotei captain who takes it head-on… will burn to ashes."
"If the Hollow hordes attack again, or if someone else comes for you… this will ensure your safe return to Seireitei."
The entire force was stunned.
Such a technique…
Such power…
"…Let's go," Aiyan said softly, already turning.
Before anyone could speak, he was walking away—his white haori trailing through the moonlit sand.
Shihōin Yoruichi followed at once.
"…Captain Aiyan."
"…Lady Yoruichi."
"We'll see you again… in Seireitei."
Kurozane Masakane and the others did not chase after them. Instead, they watched the two figures fade into the night—and when they finally vanished into the silver mist, they bowed in unison.
Deep.
Silent.
Then, they turned, and began the long walk home.
…
Elsewhere—
After some time walking in silence, Yoruichi finally asked:
"Aiyan, the one who used Hollow Bait on the expeditionary force… wasn't aiming to kill them, was he?"
"…No," Aiyan said.
"It was us."
She stopped.
Her gaze burned with clarity.
"…A drunkard's heart is not in the wine."
"Someone didn't want us to be in Seireitei right now."
Aiyan gave a faint smile.
"Then tell me…"
"Who doesn't want us to go back?"
Yoruichi paused.
And then her eyes widened.
Aiyan continued walking forward without breaking stride.
"Think carefully."
"When we were in the council chamber… who was the first to speak?"
"And who responded?"
...
If you enjoyed this book, don't forget to vote with a Power Stone and take a few seconds to leave a review
Join my P@treon for advance chapters and special content!
[email protected]/Ren_Saga