The instant that small, yet overwhelmingly oppressive presence descended from the gaping tear in the sky, Seff felt, for the first time, exactly what Yui had once described.
It was like an invisible gravity doubling down on his body.
No, not just gravity.
It felt like his organs were being crushed from within, like some unseen hand was squeezing them, slowly, without mercy.
Moments ago, he had already spent nearly all of his energy defeating the hulking, witch-like Menos Grande. Now, caught in this sudden pressure, Seff staggered. His knees buckled. He could barely remain standing.
Soichiro, who had moments ago still worn his usual composed expression, even after the Menos's appearance, had now lost every trace of a smile.
His eyes were fixed on the small figure that had landed atop the Menos's corpse.
His fingers clenched the dagger in his hand so tightly the knuckles had gone white, his entire body coiled like a beast on the verge of lunging.
He didn't even notice Seff swaying beside him.
"…An Adjuchas. A mid-tier Menos class… Looks like we really picked the right day to show up."
Soichiro muttered under his breath.
But he didn't move to attack.
He merely observed the small Hollow that had landed, his voice calm, yet eyes sharp.
The creature that landed atop the Menos Grande's body was small, yes, dwarfed by the colossus it stood upon, but the pressure it radiated was nothing short of monstrous.
Where the Menos had stunned with sheer size and raw power, this one was different.
Its strength had been distilled, refined into something far more deadly.
It was like the difference between a flood and a blade.
This creature wasn't chaotic power. It was precision. Catastrophe with intent.
Unlike the massive, dark-cloaked Menos with its elongated mask, this Hollow bore a bestial, armored form.
Its frame looked like a cross between a lion and a tiger, especially in its muscular forelimbs. Its body was covered in a sleek, bone-white exoskeleton, almost like natural armor, exuding an animalistic, brutal grace absent in most Hollows.
But what drew the most attention was its head.
A pair of unnaturally long sabretooth fangs, at least ten centimeters, protruded from its jaw.
From the back of its skull trailed a strange segmented bone appendage that resembled a braid.
In short, it looked like a sabretooth tiger turned Hollow.
And yet,
"…Oh?"
Unlike the struggling Seff or the battle-ready Soichiro, the Adjuchas-like Hollow was utterly relaxed.
It didn't even look at them at first.
It tilted its head back, sniffed the air, and let out a disappointed sigh.
"So this is Soul Society? Doesn't seem all that different from Hueco Mundo."
It sniffed again, as if confirming something.
"The reishi density in the air is so… thin. Nowhere near as rich as back home. Tch. Did I show up in the wrong place?"
With that, it leapt, gracefully, effortlessly, down from the Menos's body, landing lightly on the ground.
Only then did its golden eyes lock onto Seff and Soichiro.
They were the only living beings present.
Ignoring them was no longer an option.
Its initial indifference only underscored its confidence, neither Seff nor Soichiro had even registered as threats in its eyes.
"…Can one of you answer a question for me?"
The tone was almost polite, intelligent, articulate. A far cry from the brutish arrogance most Hollows displayed.
But even so, beneath that civility was unmistakable pride. A quiet, unshakable belief in its own superiority.
"You managed to kill a Gillian-class Menos with one strike. Not bad. So tell me, between the two of you, which one's been systematically eliminating the scouts we've sent into Rukongai?"
It began walking toward them, casually, slow, unhurried, utterly in control.
"You sound pretty confident."
Soichiro's lips curled into a faint smile, dry, familiar. The kind Seff knew well.
He twirled the short dagger in his fingers, flipping it effortlessly.
It was a little trick Seff had shown him during a casual chat once, something simple and flashy to do with a knife. Seff had joked he didn't even have a knife to demonstrate properly.
But somehow, Soichiro had learned it just from the verbal explanation.
It wasn't exactly useful. Pure flair.
But right now? That flair was exactly what was needed.
As the Adjuchas's spiritual pressure bore down on them, Soichiro let the blade spin.
And just like that, the tension cracked.
"I'll save you the trouble. You've found the right guy. It's me."
He pointed the dagger toward the Hollow.
"I don't know why you've shown up here, but I'm willing to give you a one-time offer. Turn around. Go back to Hueco Mundo. Do that, and I'll forget you trespassed into Soul Society."
"…How arrogant."
The Hollow stopped walking. Its golden eyes narrowed, studying Soichiro.
Then it frowned.
Because suddenly, it felt it.
The danger radiating from the man before it.
In Hueco Mundo, power ruled. And here in Soul Society, the Reapers… they liked to hide their strength.
That could get you killed if you weren't careful.
And yet…
It couldn't sense what it wanted from Soichiro.
Which meant,
Its gaze shifted.
To Seff.
"The one I'm looking for isn't you. Though I admit, I'd love to test myself against you. But Lord Baraggan's mission comes first."
"…Baraggan?"
Seff's eyes widened. The name wasn't unfamiliar.
He'd only heard it once, but it had stuck with him.
It was that very name, that title, that 'His Majesty', that had made him stay behind in District 45 to continue eliminating Hollows.
If what this sabretooth Hollow was saying was true… then the mysterious figure behind the invading scouts was indeed-
"You dare speak Lord Baraggan's name so casually?!"
The beast roared in fury, its voice thunderous.
But just as quickly, it calmed itself, an amused grin spreading across its monstrous face.
"…Oh? Wait a second…"
It sniffed the air again.
"You're the one who killed the Gillian, aren't you? So you're the one who's been culling our forward units…"
It tilted its head, disappointed.
"You look weaker than I imagined."
It sighed, almost theatrically.
"Why do weaklings always insist on meddling? I was hoping for a proper fight… but it looks like you won't even survive a single- "
Soichiro's eyes flared.
Before the sentence finished, he vanished, blade reversed in his grip.
And in the same breath, so did the Hollow.
When they reappeared,
It was already too late.
The sabretooth Hollow wasn't standing in front of Soichiro.
It was right in front of Seff.
A blur of motion.
A claw, wicked and sharp, already swinging toward Seff's unguarded chest.
An attack that,
He couldn't block in time.
"Dodge it, dammit!!!"
<><>---------------------------------------
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🚨 TL/N 💥
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
💥> Naruto: Mind Control (Highly Recommended)
💥> Naruto: Player Start
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed