Katori Nanatsuki knew exactly what those Reishi Light Wings on the Quincy woman's back meant.
She was a Quincy who had removed her Sanrei Glove!
In the air, the Reishi swirled like worshippers drawn to a divine presence, converging toward her from every direction and forming visible streams of turbulent Reishi.
Nanatsuki quickly glanced at the Quincy's status interface.
[Kurosaki Tsukiren]
[Talent: S]
[Reiatsu: ??? (Sanrei Form)]
[Reishi Manipulation: ??? (Sanrei Form)]
[Reputation Level: Hostile]
At this point, her base stats could no longer be detected. Both her Reiatsu intensity and her control over Reishi were shifting constantly, entirely dependent on the local Reishi density.
And this Quincy stronghold was a spiritual hotspot in the World of the Living—its Reishi density rivaled that of the Seireitei. That meant her current power level was terrifyingly high.
Vice-Captain Asada Mitsuya stepped forward bravely. "Vice-Captain Katori, you need to evacuate with Execution Captain immediately!"
Nanatsuki grabbed his arm. "Don't throw your life away. I don't think she's here for us!"
The powerful Reishi turbulence surrounding the Quincy woman severely disrupted the Shinigami's Reiatsu perception. Mitsuya hadn't sensed what was happening behind them.
But Nanatsuki would never lower his guard in such a dangerous battlefield. While en route, he'd continuously used Kagehime's abilities to scatter shadows throughout the valley, creating surveillance points across various zones to monitor the battlefield at all times.
From the feedback given by the shadows, another powerful presence was pursuing the Quincy woman closely.
It was none other than Kuyashiki Kenpachi, Captain of Squad Eleven!
And she wasn't alone—she was fleeing with two Quincy children. It was clear she was on the run.
Asada Mitsuya shouted in alarm, "She's flying straight this way! Vice-Captain Katori, if you don't leave now, it'll be too late!"
"Execution Captain's injuries are far too serious. He still needs time to stabilize—we can't move him yet!" Nanatsuki explained quickly. "I can sense Captain Kuyashiki Kenpachi's Reiatsu. He's chasing her down. That Quincy woman's not here for us."
If they wanted to save Nobutsuna Shigyō, they had to continue treatment. Nanatsuki wouldn't give up until the very end.
"Kuyashiki-taichō is here too?" Mitsuya looked ahead anxiously.
Although the Reiryoku turbulence interfered with perception, as the two drew closer, Mitsuya could eventually sense Kuyashiki Kenpachi's overwhelming Reiatsu through the chaos.
"I'll go help Captain Kuyashiki block her escape!" Mitsuya's voice trembled with emotion. He couldn't let the Quincy woman get away—not after what she did.
With that, Asada Mitsuya vanished in a flash of Shunpo, rapidly closing the distance to the Quincy.
He was highly skilled in Kidō, even once receiving an invitation from the Grand Kidō Chief.
But to repay Nobutsuna Shigyō for recognizing his talent, he stayed in Squad Seven instead of accepting the Vice-Chief position.
That's why he had absolute confidence in his Kidō abilities.
Asada Mitsuya chanted swiftly:
"Child of the heavens, walls of forged steel. Dragons roar, lions bellow, tigers cry, wolves run—sever the heavens and earth before they collapse. Bakudō #81: Dankū!"
A massive wall, over ten meters tall, rose to block the Quincy's path.
Dankū was one of the strongest defensive Kidō spells, capable of completely blocking any Hadō spell under #89. Mitsuya was confident that its formidable strength would delay the Quincy long enough for Captain Kuyashiki to catch her.
The wall appeared before Kurosaki Tsukiren, but her expression didn't change. She stopped mid-air, calmly raised her right hand, and drew her Reishi Bow. Reishi rapidly condensed along the weapon—
—including the Reishi that made up the Dankū wall!
Mitsuya's expression changed dramatically. The Reishi forming the massive wall was rapidly siphoned away. What was once a solid, impenetrable barrier began to collapse and crumble in seconds.
Zzzap! Reishi beams shot forward—Mitsuya's body was hollowed out in an instant. His broken form fell toward the ground.
Nanatsuki's heart went cold. One hit. A vice-captain was gone.
A Quincy in Sanrei Form... was truly terrifying.
Still, she wouldn't be able to maintain this state for long. Once the transformation ended, she would lose her Quincy powers entirely.
That's why she didn't dare entangle herself with someone as powerful as Kuyashiki Kenpachi, choosing instead to flee while she still had strength left.
Though Mitsuya couldn't withstand a single attack, his Dankū had succeeded in slowing her down.
Zzzap! Kuyashiki Kenpachi appeared behind Kurosaki Tsukiren in a burst of Shunpo, his Zanpakutō raised high.
Tsukiren had just enough time to use her Reishi wings to shield the two Quincy children before the Zanpakutō slammed down with crushing force.
BOOM! Kurosaki Tsukiren and the children were blasted into the valley below.
Kuyashiki followed.
But after a short pursuit, he realized—he could no longer sense the Quincy woman's Reiatsu.
He searched multiple times but found no trace.
"Tch. Fast runner," he muttered, frowning. Rather than waste more time, he turned around and headed upstream—there were still enemies to eliminate there.
Some time later, a few bubbles rose from the river downstream.
Kurosaki Tsukiren surfaced, dragging the two unconscious Quincy children out of the water and pulling them to shore.
This would've been easy for her before. But now, she had to give it her all.
She had lost her Quincy powers—her Reiatsu was completely gone.
Such was the cost of removing the Sanrei Glove.
Worse yet, a deep and terrible wound cut across her waist. Her once-white dress, even her white boots, were soaked red with blood. Her life force was fading fast.
Tsukiren forced herself to stay awake and checked the children's condition.
They were still breathing.
She exhaled in relief and immediately collapsed. Her strength was gone.
She tried several times to get up—but couldn't.
"Cough—!" the boy woke first, spitting out the water lodged in his throat.
"Tsukiren-nee!" He panicked the moment he saw her horrific abdominal wound.
"G-Go… wake up your sister... Cough…" Tsukiren coughed blood, her voice strained. "Press on her chest... Get the water out..."
"O-Okay!" The boy scrambled over to the girl and began resuscitation.
After a few tense moments, the girl also coughed up water. "Cough—!"
When she woke, she saw Tsukiren lying limp on the ground and broke into sobs. "Big sis Tsukiren!"
"D-Don't cry... They'll find you... Cough..." Tsukiren rasped. "Follow the river… Watch out for Shinigami..."
"No! I won't leave you behind! We'll go together!"
"Cough... Don't be stupid... I'm mortally wounded... I won't make it..."
The boy and girl sobbed uncontrollably, but in the end, under Tsukiren's urging, they fled the scene.
What they didn't know... was that a silent shadow on the ground had seen it all.
Zzzap! Moments after the children left, Katori Nanatsuki arrived in a flash of Shunpo, carrying the unconscious Nobutsuna Shigyō. He appeared before the dying Tsukiren.
She heard the sound of air breaking and used what little strength she had left to force her eyes open. Her pupils were already dull and unfocused.
"Shinigami-san... please... spare those two children..." she pleaded weakly.