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Human World.
Amidst an endless expanse of ancient buildings, Aozaki Reiji walked, clad in a black cloak, sensing his surroundings.
Three full days had passed since he left Soul Society.
Fortunately, he often used various excuses to slack off, so disappearing for a few days was nothing new.
"This era is truly backward; the entertainment options are too monotonous!"
Just as he was lamenting, a long cry suddenly echoed from high in the distant sky.
He followed the sound and saw a giant eagle circling high in the distant sky, wearing a white mask on its face, seemingly searching for something.
Clearly, the white-faced eagle in the sky was not an ordinary bird, but a Hollow with considerable spiritual power.
Aozaki Reiji's lips curved into a smile, and he said, "It has the strength of a low-ranking seated officer, not bad. The probability of encountering a Hollow in the Human World is indeed much higher than in Soul Society."
Hollows also appeared in Soul Society, but the probability of their appearance was pitifully low.
Some Hollows were fallen Souls, while others were remnants left behind by Vasto Lorde Menos Grande when they invaded Soul Society in the past.
After smiling, he made no further moves, but stood quietly in place, seemingly waiting for someone.
Soon after, a figure landed in front of Aozaki Reiji, knelt on one knee, and spoke in an extremely respectful tone:
"Lord Sephiroth, your subordinate has found the Hollow gathering place."
"You've done very well." Aozaki Reiji did not stingy his praise: "…Kūgo."
This figure was none other than the first Substitute Shinigami, Ginjō Kūgo!
Of course, he was still young at this time, and his status as Substitute Shinigami had not yet been recognized by Soul Society.
Time rewinds to two days ago—
After leaving the Human World, Aozaki Reiji returned to this familiar yet strange land for the first time.
His first reaction was not to return to his family from before his death, but to find a high spirit ground, which was this Naruki City he was currently in.
"There's a Reiatsu fluctuation in that direction," Aozaki Reiji said, looking into the distance.
He walked nonchalantly down the street. Compared to its rapidly developing military strength, the urban construction of this country seemed to have fallen into a strange state of stagnation, with various old and new things mixed together, barely maintaining a balance.
Aozaki Reiji, wrapped in a black cloak, stood on a large tree. A smile gradually appeared at the corner of his mouth as he vaguely heard the distant sound of a bell.
The echoing bell came from a Gothic-style wooden chapel not far away.
More than thirty years ago, this country, which had been isolated from the world for centuries, was forced to open its doors under the impact of strong ships and powerful cannons.
Western culture and technology followed, gradually occupying this land, and churches and chapels were among them.
Aozaki Reiji looked around.
The entire chapel was enveloped in cold, watery moonlight. Most of the wooden chapel had collapsed, and monsters wearing white masks wantonly ravaged the crumbling building.
A blonde, blue-eyed Westerner, a black-haired Eastern youth, and a middle-aged man in Shinigami robes formed a strange combination.
They stood before the monster, like heroes challenging a wicked dragon.
"Is that a 'dragon'?"
The blonde, blue-eyed priest murmured as he looked at the white-masked monster before him.
Apart from its head, the masked monster was entirely dark green, with long forelimbs and short hindlimbs. Large wing membranes connected its forelimbs to its body, making it look like a giant bat!
"You can actually see it? How does that ugly thing resemble a dragon? That's a Hollow, you foolish Westerner!"
The middle-aged man in Shinigami robes stood in front of them, panting heavily.
"Damn it, how could a guy of this level appear here?"
"You can see us, which means your spiritual power is very high. Did you attract it?"
"I… I don't know," the priest said in a panic. "I don't know why it's here, I just saw similar monsters when I was in my hometown, and some people called them 'dragons'."
"Don't insult the word 'dragon' with your Western lizards with wings!" The Shinigami gritted his teeth, seemingly disdainful of the "dragon" mentioned by the Westerner.
"This damn guy's Reiatsu is stronger than mine. I'll hold it off, and you two find a chance to escape."
"But…" the black-haired young man hesitated.
"What's wrong? What is there to say at a time like this? Do you want to die, kid?"
The Shinigami's tone was urgent. His asauchi clashed wildly with the Hollow's sharp claws, producing metallic sounds. He didn't even have time to ponder why this young man could also see him.
The young man clutched the cross necklace hanging around his neck and fell to the ground behind the Shinigami.
The blonde, blue-eyed priest helped him up and tried to escape, but was stabbed through the chest by a man in noble attire with a single sword stroke.
The young believer and the sword-wielding man just looked at each other silently, the moonlight bathing them as if they were two old acquaintances.
"Still haven't decided?" the sword-wielding man asked softly.
"Do we really have to do this?" The young man knew what he was referring to.
"Don't forget your parents. Think about how they died. Don't you want to avenge them with your own hands?" the sword-wielding man asked again.
The young man asked, "But how can I make him give me Shinigami power? You said it, a Shinigami giving Shinigami power to a Human is a grave sin!"
"Make him hold this spiritual blade," the noble man grinned, pulling out a long sword glowing with a light blue sheen, "Then stab the sword into your body, and you won't need his permission."
As the two spoke, the Shinigami, who was fiercely fighting in front, took a heavy punch from the Hollow and flew backward, landing beside them.
"Why are you still here?"
He looked up and saw a strange figure.
"Who are you?"
The noble man said nonchalantly, "That's none of your business. You have no right to know!"
The Shinigami couldn't care less, and quickly reminded, "Kid, hurry and go…"
Before he could finish, the young man slowly turned his head.
In his brown eyes, burning flames were reflected, like a mirror ablaze with a raging fire.
The Shinigami, stared at by that scorching gaze, trembled violently, as if the flames would consume him.
He suddenly tried to flash backward, but his body abruptly stopped.
"I'm sorry."
As the young man spoke, the cross he held tightly transformed into a giant, gem-encrusted greatsword. The blade pierced directly through the middle-aged Shinigami's body, and warm blood flowed out along the blade.
"Ah!"
The Shinigami's scream made the noble man laugh with satisfaction.
He walked forward, holding his long sword.
Noisy sounds came from inside the chapel, like the whispers of demons or the roars of beasts. The bat monster flew in front of the two, and the raging fire burning the chapel had not yet extinguished.
The bat Hollow said, "Powerful spiritual power, become my food!"
"I don't want to waste any more time with you, you bastard!" The noble man squinted at it, gripping the young man's hand.
At the same time, the young man's body emitted a powerful Reiatsu. The swirling wind blew the noble man's long hair.
The noble man pushed forward, and the greatsword in the young man's hand slowly dissipated, replaced by the long sword symbolizing Shinigami power, which pierced into the monster's mask.
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