"Roar!" Just as Ito Makoto held up his Asauchi and muttered incantations, a sudden roar changed the expressions of all three.
"Another Hollow?"
Feeling the chaotic and violent spiritual pressure, Ito Makoto and the other two showed grave expressions.
"Why are Hollows appearing in Rukongai so inexplicably often lately?"
Ayasegawa Yumichika felt the spiritual pressure coming from somewhere and said with a helpless tone.
If it weren't for the familiar street scenes around him, he would have suspected he had arrived in Hueco Mundo.
Ito Makoto was equally shocked. At this moment, he actually felt the spiritual pressure of an Adjuchas-level Hollow, and he still hadn't detected any disturbance from a Hueco Mundo this time.
This meant that this Hollow, like the ones that appeared in East District 57 before, was born within the Soul Society.
"An Adjuchas born in the Soul Society? That's impossible!"
It should be noted that for a Hollow of the Gillian level to be born, over a hundred Giant Hollows must devour each other.
Alternatively, a Giant Hollow with sufficient intelligence must consume over a hundred Giant Hollows to form.
As for Adjuchas, a Gillian must frantically consume hundreds of its kind to have even a slight chance of successfully evolving. This is why there are so few Adjuchas in Hueco Mundo.
Of course, this is just the normal evolution process of Hollows, and it clearly does not include freaks like Ronan.
In other words, to cultivate an Adjuchas-level Hollow in the Soul Society would require consuming at least tens of thousands of Rukongai residents.
If Rukongai suddenly lost so many people, even the Thirteenth Division, no matter how slow, would react.
That's why Ito Makoto exclaimed it was impossible.
The three sensed the violent spiritual pressure and simultaneously used Shunpo to rush to the location.
Before long, the three found the source of the spiritual pressure on a severely damaged street.
The moment he saw the Hollow, Ito Makoto froze on the spot.
The 'Hollow' in front of him looked like a miniature Gillian.
That's right, it was the most common, unintelligent type of Gillian, but its body size had shrunk to only five meters tall, much smaller than its original height of nearly a hundred meters.
And the clown-like mask on its face was now only half-remaining, the half-face without the mask had turned pitch black and was covered in sharp spikes.
Based on the aura emanating from its body, it barely reached the Adjuchas level.
"This is... an Arrancar?"
The moment he saw this mini 'Gillian', Ito Makoto finally understood why Adjuchas-level Hollow spiritual pressure appeared in Rukongai.
Aizen used over a hundred human souls from Rukongai to create this Gillian, and then Arrancarized it. This gave it Adjuchas-level spiritual pressure, which caused Ito to mistakenly identify it as an Adjuchas.
However, judging by the appearance of this Gillian, it had not awakened from its chaotic and unintelligent state, indicating that the current Arrancar experiment was still very primitive and immature.
It could only be called a pseudo-Arrancar.
Looking at the pseudo-Arrancar raging in front, Ito Makoto did not intend to make a move.
He knew this must be the work of Aizen Sōsuke, and it was possible that Aizen Sōsuke was hiding somewhere, observing.
If he exposed his strength too early and attracted Aizen's attention, it would be a bit troublesome.
Although there was a greater possibility that Aizen didn't consider him, an ant, important.
But caution is always wise, as it's better to be safe than sorry.
Before this clone possessed the strength of a strong Squad Captain, Ito Makoto did not intend to enter his line of sight.
Moreover, dealing with a mere pseudo-Arrancar comparable to an ordinary Adjuchas would be an easy task for these two.
"Bloom, Fujikujaku!"
Facing the pseudo-Arrancar, Ayasegawa Yumichika released his semi-Shikai, Fujikujaku, and charged forward.
"Gillian was already ugly enough, but you're even uglier than it. How can you be this ugly? It simply doesn't conform to my aesthetics!"
The curved blade of Fujikujaku formed four blades, and Yumichika, with an expression of disgust, slashed at the pseudo-Arrancar's head.
"Extend, Hozukimaru!"
Madarame Ikkaku also re-released Hozukimaru, and with a sneer, he charged towards the pseudo-Arrancar, sweeping his spear at its legs.
Thus, under the combined efforts of two powerful Vice-Squad Captain-level experts, this pseudo-Arrancar had no power to retaliate. Yumichika slashed open its neck with one strike, and Ikkaku directly severed its legs with a spear.
"Roar!"
With its legs severed, the pseudo-Arrancar could only cover the wound on its neck with one hand, while the nails on its other hand grew rapidly, piercing towards the two like five steel blades.
Unfortunately, it couldn't even touch the hems of their clothes.
And this pseudo-Arrancar seemed unable to even use Sonido; after its legs were severed, it could only lie on the ground in impotent rage.
"Roar!"
After a roar, it opened its large mouth, and a black-red Cero began to form within it. However, Ikkaku would not give it a chance, directly throwing Hozukimaru to completely sever its already tottering head.
In this way, the pseudo-Arrancar was cleanly and swiftly slain by the two.
Before long, its remains turned into dust and dissipated into the air of the Soul Society.
"Tch, that's it?"
Madarame Ikkaku looked at the slowly disappearing pseudo-Arrancar with a hint of disdain.
Then he looked at Ito Makoto:
"Little Ito, come on, let's fight again!"
Seeing Madarame Ikkaku's unsatisfied expression, Ito Makoto shook his head, then returned the Asauchi to Ikkaku.
"Ikkaku-senpai, let's spar next time!"
Interrupted by this sudden pseudo-Arrancar, Ito Makoto had lost his interest in fighting.
Just as Madarame Ikkaku was about to say something more, Ayasegawa Yumichika stopped him.
"Alright, Ikkaku, don't be so childish. Hollows have been appearing frequently in Rukongai lately, and that Hollow with only half a mask was truly too bizarre. We should go back and report to the Captain!"
After hearing Yumichika's words, Ikkaku reluctantly left with him.
Just after both parties had left the area, a flash of light swept across the original dilapidated street, and a curtain-like object was unveiled, revealing the figure of a Shinigami dressed in soul reaper uniform, with dark skin and dreadlocks.
It was Tōsen Kaname.
...
Eleventh Division Barracks
Ayasegawa Yumichika was meticulously reporting the situation of the Hollow encounter to a burly man wearing a Squad Captain's haori, an eye patch, a perm, and small bells tied to every strand of his hair.
Who else could this person be but Zaraki Kenpachi!
"Oh, you mean this Ito Makoto has great potential, able to fight Ikkaku back and forth without even releasing his Zanpakuto?"
"Yes, that's right!" Madarame Ikkaku chimed in excitedly from the side.
"Captain, do we really not need to report this to the Captain-Commander? That Hollow with only half a mask was indeed very strange!" Ayasegawa Yumichika asked again, his face covered in black lines.
Zaraki Kenpachi was not interested in that strange Hollow at all, only in Ito Makoto, who could fight Ikkaku.
"Hmph, it's just a Hollow, no big deal. Clearing Hollows from Rukongai, I remember that's always been the Ninth Division's responsibility. Go to the Ninth Division Barracks and tell Kensei Muguruma the situation, that's all!"
Zaraki Kenpachi said nonchalantly.
"Yes, Captain!"
...
Night, in a certain dense forest in Rukongai.
"Lord Aizen, the experimental subject's spiritual pressure has increased very significantly, almost reaching the level comparable to an Adjuchas."
"But it has not regained its intelligence."
"It was just unfortunately killed by the combined efforts of the Thirteenth Division's Third Seat and Fifth Seat, who happened to arrive."
Aizen Sōsuke stood with his hands behind his back, listening to Tōsen Kaname's report, then turned his head and looked at his loyal subordinate with a faint smile.
"It's just a low-level Gillian, it's fine if it's gone."
Aizen pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, still as calm and collected as ever, as if nothing in the world could stir him.
"Kaname, next, you need to cultivate your Bankai to an extremely proficient level. The upcoming plan requires it!"
"Yes, Lord Aizen..."
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