The red Cero lit up half the sky.
A thunderous explosion followed, shaking the air and sending up a towering mushroom cloud.
The members of the Gotei 13 rushing toward the battlefield saw the crimson light and immediately accelerated.
At the blast center.
A massive crater marred the earth.
Not far away, Rukia Kuchiki lay on the ground, her body drenched in blood. She struggled up, her breath heavy.
She had barely escaped the explosion at the last second, but even that wasn't enough. The shockwave still tore into her, leaving her gravely wounded.
"Damn it… I tried so hard to suppress my Reiatsu, and it still found me…"
Rukia stared up at the towering Gillian, frustration and helplessness clouding her face as her body trembled.
She forced her eyes around the battlefield, scanning desperately.
She had escaped. But what about the others?
"Is anyone still alive?! Report casualties!"
Her voice rang out through the communication channel, shaky and strained.
After a few seconds, weak and scattered voices answered her.
The moment she heard them, her heart sank.
Two dead. Three wounded.
The advance team had six members.
Gillian's single Cero had almost wiped them out.
This is the terror of Menos Grande.
In the distance, the Gillian that launched the attack was recharging, preparing to fire again.
There was no time to hesitate.
Rukia opened the high-level emergency channel and shouted:
"Critical intel! Urgent transmission!"
"There's not just one Gillian—there are multiple!!"
But before she could finish her sentence, she saw shadows on the horizon.
Figures clad in black shihakushō were approaching rapidly.
The Gotei 13 had arrived.
"Rukia!!" A flash of red-brown hair broke from the front ranks.
Seeing him, Rukia exhaled and calmed.
"Renji…"
"Are you alright?!" Abarai Renji rushed over, panic in his eyes.
"I'm okay… nothing serious…"
Rukia looked away, her voice quiet, her expression heavy.
"Hah… thank goodness…"
Renji let out a relieved sigh, then brightened suddenly:
"Rukia, guess what? I passed the graduation assessment. I'm now Fourth Seat of Squad Six! I was heading to my real-world internship today, but then this happened—so the internship got scrapped. Can you believe—"
"Renji!!"
Rukia's head snapped up, brows furrowed sharply.
"This isn't the time for that!"
"My teammates… they're dead!"
Her voice trembled.
Renji fell silent, guilt crashing over him. His face flushed.
"...I—I'm sorry, Rukia. I didn't mean to…"
Rukia shook her head and straightened, face steeled once more.
"We'll deal with it after. First, we fight."
Renji nodded firmly, turning to face the rift in the sky.
His expression hardened. Fighting intent surged in his eyes.
Above, the dark rift had widened.
Hundreds of Gillians loomed beyond it, their eerie masks filling the sky.
Every captain's face grew grim.
Even the most seasoned lieutenants stood tense, eyes locked on the incoming threat.
Among the squads, many were fresh graduates—like Renji—barely out of the Academy.
These rookies stared up at the sky, horrified by the monstrous silhouettes.
Some couldn't keep their legs steady.
Compared to the planned internship, this was a nightmare.
Many had never even seen a Hollow, let alone a Menos Grande.
Just staying conscious was a feat.
The veteran Shinigami were no longer excited.
Their expressions turned serious.
This wasn't like past incursions, where one or two Menos Grandes slipped through by accident.
This was something else.
A coordinated breach.
A horde.
Something strange was happening—and until they learned why, all they could do was brace for battle.
But strategy would have to wait.
The Gillians were already preparing a second wave.
At once, the captains gave orders.
Gotei 13's formation shifted.
They fanned out, slowly surrounding the enemy.
Yet the Gillians showed no fear.
One charged up its Cero and fired directly.
BOOM!
"Don't get cocky, beast!"
A thunderous voice echoed—
"Tengen Myō'ō! God's Judgment!!"
A massive armored arm materialized mid-air. A colossal blade cleaved through the Cero.
The red beam split instantly, diverting into two separate paths.
Moments later, twin mushroom clouds erupted in the distance.
Komamura Sajin hovered in the sky.
Only his eyes showed beneath his helm—glinting with battle resolve. His spiritual pressure was immense, silent but overwhelming.
The broken Cero lifted morale instantly.
Now's the time.
"Wolf cubs, charge with me!!"
Zaraki Kenpachi burst forward with bloodlust in his grin, eyes blazing.
"Faster, Yachiru! Giggle!!" she cheered, bouncing on his shoulder.
"Ancient style, forward!!"
Ikkaku, Yumichika, and the rest of Squad 11 stormed ahead.
"No discipline, these guys…"
Kyoraku Shunsui sighed, tipping his straw hat lazily. "Eighth Division, fall in behind me. Let's not get too bloody."
Behind them, squads moved in waves.
Only the Fourth and Fifth Divisions remained back, handling support and medical prep.
The Third Division stayed on ranged support.
Everyone else charged.
Over 200 Shinigami, elite warriors of Soul Society, rushed toward the lonely pack of Gillians.
To the Gillians, this assault resembled a swarm of wolves surrounding a single wounded deer.
Their massive figures now looked strangely fragile, unnaturally exposed.