"Tap."
Leaping out from the gateway, Shigure landed on the electric pole, standing before the moon.
In front of him, Hell Butterflies fluttered, slowly dissolving into spirit particles.
In the darkness, dozens of trainee Shinigami quickly dispersed, heading to various regions.
Shigure slowly curled his lips into a smile.
This scene was something he had only seen in manga and anime before.
Unexpectedly, now he had become the protagonist.
"Whoo—"
Shigure exhaled softly, calming his mind.
"First, I need to find five wandering souls and complete the soul burial ceremony as soon as possible."
"Then, I can go to Urahara Shop."
Shigure's heart stirred, "System, display the current task."
"Ding, current task: No time limit, please go to the human world, Karakura Town, and check in at Urahara Shop!"
"Ding, detected that the host is already in Karakura Town, please proceed to Urahara Shop to check in and receive system rewards!"
"I'm looking forward to it... I wonder what the reward will be..."
With a smile, Shigure gracefully gathered spirit particles beneath his feet, advancing through the night sky.
To apply for early graduation, he still needed to complete this soul burial internship task.
Shigure began to search earnestly.
In the human world, when people die, their souls detach from their bodies and become wandering souls.
These wandering souls are called "Pluses."
Without the soul burial by a Shinigami, these Pluses would linger in the living world they knew.
The eventual outcome would be either becoming a "Hollow" due to resentment or being devoured by other Hollows.
Thus, the duty of a Shinigami is to guide them to the Rukongai in the Soul Society.
The specific operation is to touch the soul's forehead with the hilt of the Zanpakuto.
This can be done even without releasing the Zanpakuto.
"Why... why... why can't anyone see me... I'm so cold..."
As Shigure was leaping, he heard the sobbing voice of a girl from the street corner below.
His heart stirred; it seemed his first target had appeared.
During this internship, every academy student was required to guide at least five souls to pass.
This would be checked through special methods upon returning to the Spiritual Arts Academy.
Since Shigure wanted to apply for early graduation, he couldn't avoid this.
With a flash step, he appeared before the little girl.
The girl was curled up in the street corner, hugging her knees, her head lowered.
However, she clearly saw Shigure suddenly appear.
She immediately raised her head, surprised to see Shigure smiling at her.
The girl's body trembled slightly, and she spoke with some bewilderment:
"Big brother, you... you can see me?"
Shigure nodded with a smile, "I'm a Shinigami, of course, I can see you."
"Shinigami?"
The girl slowly repeated, her eyes gradually brightening.
The name of Shinigami, she had only heard in movies or stories.
"Are you... here to take me away?" the girl asked timidly.
"That's right," Shigure answered softly.
"Where is it... is it heaven? Or hell?" the girl inquired.
Shigure squatted down, smiling, "Don't worry, it's not hell, it's a world more suitable for you."
Saying this, Shigure slowly drew his Asauchi, holding the blade in reverse, touching the girl's forehead with the hilt.
A faint white halo appeared on her forehead, embedded with the character "soul."
"Live happily over there," Shigure said softly.
Although he knew that once the girl went to the Soul Society, she would lose her memories of her previous life.
"Big brother, thank you... I feel so warm..."
The girl smiled faintly, then her figure slowly disappeared.
Shigure exhaled lightly, standing up.
The first soul burial wasn't difficult.
Next, he needed to find other targets.
He leaped into the sky again.
...
Time passed by.
Shigure easily completed the soul burial for four Pluses, just one more to complete the task.
He sheathed his Asauchi.
But at that moment, the Asauchi suddenly trembled violently, shattering the scabbard!
The scabbard instantly turned into wood chips, floating in the air.
Shigure's eyes flashed, and without hesitation, he tightly gripped the hilt.
And at this moment... that familiar feeling of connecting with the Zanpakuto's spirit returned!
But this time, it didn't vanish in an instant; it lingered completely.
Shigure's heart leaped with joy.
Was the opportunity finally here?!
Suddenly, a strange spiritual pressure appeared ahead.
This spiritual pressure felt chaotic and filthy, completely different from the pure spiritual pressure of Shinigami.
"Is it a Hollow..."
Shigure's eyes shifted, whispering to himself.
But the moment he spoke, the Zanpakuto's vibration intensified.
"Could this be the opportunity?!"
Thinking this, Shigure didn't hesitate anymore, directly using Shunpo to rush toward the direction of the spiritual pressure.
...
"Ahhh! Don't come near!!"
A soul burial intern sat on the ground, facing the huge owl-shaped Hollow in front of him, his expression filled with terror.
"Damn it!! Why can't I contact anyone!!"
"Matsumoto Vice-Captain, help!!!"
The intern screamed with all his might.
He had already tried using the techniques he learned to fight this Hollow, but it was completely ineffective.
It was like they existed in two different dimensions!
The owl-shaped Hollow let out a chilling roar, then spread its black wings, flying directly toward him.
"Ahhh!"
He screamed in horror, his eyes filled with fear and despair.
But at that moment, an anomaly occurred.
The flying owl-shaped Hollow suddenly crashed heavily to the ground!
"Thud!"
Its wings seemed to have been broken, twisted into a bizarre shape.
"Roar!"
It struggled to lift its head, a muffled roar escaping its throat.
The intern was completely stunned.
"W-What's happening?"
At this moment, he heard footsteps.
Turning around, he saw a figure approaching.
It was Shigure.
He held his sword in one hand, a smile on his face.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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