Inside the newly renovated training grounds of the Second Division.
"Hadō #1: Shō!"
Soifon appeared ghost-like behind Marechiyo Ōmaeda, her fingertip releasing a white shockwave that slammed into the man's broad back.
His massive frame was sent hurtling forward as if struck by a heavy-duty dump truck, face-planting into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
[Mission Triggered: The Modesty of the Pre-Timeskip God]
[Mission Completed]
[Mission Reward: You have gained Marechiyo Ōmaeda's Shunpo experience. Shunpo experience slightly increased; stealth significantly enhanced.]
As expected, the system mocked her at the same time it issued the mission.
Whatever, let it mock me.
A light, nimble sensation instantly coursed through Soifon's limbs. She tested out a few Shunpo flickers; the faint noise she used to make during movement had almost entirely vanished.
As it turned out, no one who could make a name for themselves in the Second Division while possessing such a bulky physique was simple.
"Too slow! It seems your reactions will only get duller without some exercise, Marechiyo Ōmaeda."
Feeling the changes with satisfaction, Soifon glanced at the groaning Marechiyo lying on the ground and turned to leave.
This kid's acting skills are actually pretty good.
"Cap... Captain... this is subordinate abuse..." Marechiyo's aggrieved voice drifted from behind her.
"Get up and get to work once you've laid there long enough, Vice-Captain. I'm heading out to execute the investigation mission assigned to me by the Captain-Commander."
Soifon waved a hand without looking back. Her silhouette flickered several times before vanishing beyond the Second Division barracks.
Stepping across the rooftops of the Seireitei with Shunpo, it took only a few moments for her to appear at the entrance of the Tenth Division. After announcing herself, she walked straight toward the Captain's office.
"Oh? Captain Soifon, what a rare guest!"
Isshin Shiba was sitting with his feet resting sloppily on his desk. Upon seeing Soifon enter, he sat up slightly straighter, flashing a bright, hearty smile.
He looked every bit the sunny, cheerful young man—hard to reconcile with the image of the scruffy, bearded clinic doctor a century later.
"Captain Shiba," Soifon nodded slightly, getting straight to the point. "As you know, the Captain-Commander has ordered me to investigate the Adjuchas attack in the Rukongai. I need someone familiar with the situation at the time, who also possesses a certain level of combat capability, to assist me."
"You mean Rangiku? That girl was indeed the most direct witness. Sure, we don't have any urgent missions anyway. Captain Soifon, you can head straight to the training grounds to get her. I'll send word down."
Isshin Shiba pulled a document from his drawer, stamped it with the Tenth Division's official seal, and handed it to Soifon.
Taking the transfer order, Soifon randomly selected a lucky soldier passing by to act as her navigator.
Thanks to the Captain's Haori draped over her shoulders, her path was unobstructed. Finally, she found Rangiku Matsumoto pouring her youthful energy into the training grounds.
Rangiku was dressed in her Shihakushō, her orange hair tied in a high ponytail as she struck a wooden training post with clean, sharp movements.
"7th Seat Matsumoto."
Soifon arrived soundlessly at her side and called out softly. Since they were in a public place, she had to use her official title.
Hearing the familiar voice, Rangiku Matsumoto turned her head. She visibly froze for a moment when she saw Soifon.
"Captain... Soifon."
Rangiku instinctively started to say 'Vice-Captain,' but luckily swallowed the word just in time. She walked over quickly and bowed: "Congratulations on your promotion to Captain."
Looking at the other woman's respectful and submissive posture, Soifon arched an eyebrow, feeling somewhat displeased.
Has a tragic, thick wall of estrangement already formed between me and Rangiku?
Soifon took a step forward and suddenly extended a finger, giving Rangiku's massive 'evil' assets a poke that wasn't too heavy nor too light. There was a visible rebound.
"E-Ehh?!"
"Cap... Captain Soifon?!"
Startled, Rangiku's face instantly flushed red as she took a half-step back, her hands instinctively shielding her chest.
"It's nothing. I don't like things being too stiff and formal."
"But you are a Captain after all..."
"Sigh, have it your way."
"Thank you, Captain Soifon."
Soifon considered it; asking someone to address a Captain by name was indeed a bit difficult, so she stopped pressing the issue.
"The Captain-Commander has assigned me to investigate the Adjuchas that attacked you last time. You're coming with me to the Rukongai; your Captain has already approved. Don't worry—with me there this time, you won't get hurt."
Soifon handed over Isshin Shiba's transfer order.
After reading it, Rangiku Matsumoto respectfully handed it back. "I understand. I am ready to depart at any time."
*
Rukongai, 78th District.
Soifon had removed her Captain's Haori. She and Rangiku stood in a quiet alleyway dressed in their black Shihakushō.
Black blood had long since dried on the alley walls. An Asauchi lay silently on the ground, and the air still carried a faint, lingering scent of blood.
In a place like the Rukongai, deaths were perfectly normal, and no one would ever come to clean up.
"Rangiku, is this the place?" Soifon asked, picking up a torn fragment of a Shihakushō.
"Yes..." Rangiku instinctively covered her abdomen, the spot where she had been wounded by that Adjuchas.
"There are almost no souls nearby. Could they have all been devoured by that Adjuchas?"
Within Soifon's spiritual sense, she could still perceive the very faint Hollow Reiatsu lingering in the air. It seemed the Adjuchas was moving toward other districts.
The Shinigami stationed in this area hadn't left any clues either; they likely were killed before they could even react.
Judging by the trajectory of the black Reiatsu, it appeared to be moving toward the neighboring 79th District (Kusajishi District).
"Follow me, Rangiku," Soifon whispered a reminder before leaping out of the alley, following the trail of spiritual pressure.
The further they tracked the trail, the denser the Adjuchas's scent became, as if it had stopped moving.
Soifon even had the feeling that the target might have sensed her pursuit and stopped to set an ambush for the two of them.
"Something is wrong here, Captain Soifon."
Looking at a patch of woods not far away where a deep path of withered vegetation had been carved out, Rangiku Matsumoto accelerated to catch up to Soifon's side.
"I can see that... Rangiku."
Soifon's lip twitched. Anyone who saw this path of decay radiating black energy would know something was wrong.
"Um... right... I suppose so..." Rangiku seemed to realize her words were redundant, awkwardly fiddling with a strand of hair draped over her chest.
This kind of special effect reminded Soifon of an old acquaintance—the former King of Hueco Mundo, Barragan.
Of course, Soifon didn't think Aizen was crazy enough to drop a Vasto Lorde into the Soul Society yet.
"Bypass these woods and track from the air."
Whatever the case, Soifon had no desire to touch that ominous black energy.
*
Far in the outskirts of the Rukongai, beneath the shadow of a towering tree, stood two men in black robes.
"Has Captain Soifon caught your eye, Captain Aizen?"
"I am merely observing the combat potential of a failed Arrancar prototype."
_____
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