NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 22: CHAPTER 22
"Oops!"
Shiba Isshin's expression turned serious, and with a swift Shunpo, he vanished from sight.
"It seems something went wrong with the soul burial exercise," Kanbaru said slowly, staring in the direction Isshin had gone.
Shihouin Yoruichi looked up at Kanbaru, her golden eyes filled with surprise.
You even know today is the soul burial exercise?
"Soul burial exercise?"
"What's that?" Kurosaki Masaki asked in confusion.
"Soul burial is the ritual where Shinigami send the souls of the dead to the Soul Society," Kanbaru explained. "If a human dies and a Shinigami doesn't perform Konso, the soul lingers in the Human World. Over time, they become Hollow or get devoured by one."
Most Hollows are just humans who were never purified.
No doubt about it.
"And the soul burial exercise," Kanbaru continued, "is a live-training simulation for students of Shinō Academy—basically a pre-graduation test before they become actual Shinigami."
"To put it simply... it's a designated safe zone established by the Gotei 13. Low-level Hollows are lured into the area so candidates can practice purification and Konso."
If I remember correctly...
This specific exercise ends in disaster.
Aizen, in his quest for Hollow-Shinigami hybridization data, sneaks in a special Menos Grande capable of concealing its Reiatsu. It nearly wipes out the entire candidate class.
"How did you know there's a soul burial exercise happening in Karakura Town?"
Once Kurosaki Masaki left, Yoruichi turned toward Kanbaru with a curious look—and a slight gleam in her eye.
As she spoke, she lazily licked her paw.
"Of course I have my sources," Kanbaru replied coolly.
Naturally, Kanbaru wasn't about to reveal that he'd learned about the event through Shiba Isshin's entry, courtesy of his system.
Even if most entries are… comically deranged, the intel is weirdly reliable.
"Sources?"
"You haven't even interacted with anyone these past few days. Where exactly are you getting 'sources' from?" Yoruichi quipped.
"How do you know I haven't?" Kanbaru raised a brow.
"Because no matter what you're doing, I'm always next to you. Watching," Yoruichi replied nonchalantly. "Aside from teasing that Kurosaki girl and… jerking me off now and then, you haven't done anything else."
Kanbaru: "???"
So that's why I always felt someone watching when I was showering… it was YOU??
"Cough, slip of the tongue," Yoruichi backpedaled. "What I meant was—since I've been with you constantly, I just happen to know everything you've done."
She avoided eye contact as she muttered the excuse, voice weak.
Damn it. I said too much. I actually said it out loud.
Still…
Thinking about Kanbaru's embarrassed face during his shower time made a playful smirk appear at the corner of her lips.
What a funny kid.
"Anyway, have a little faith in yourself, you bastard," she said.
"There's really no helping you," Kanbaru sighed, dragging his palm down his face.
"Are you sure it's okay to let Kurosaki Masaki wander off alone?" Yoruichi asked. She shifted around on Kanbaru's lap, finding a more comfortable position before continuing lazily.
"Don't worry. There's a barrier around that area—she can't enter."
As he casually brushed Yoruichi's silky hair, Kanbaru nodded with certainty.
He already knew exactly where Kurosaki Masaki was going.
That area's already been pre-cleared by Kurotsuchi Mayuri's R&D Department, and an isolation barrier has been established.
No need to worry about Masaki being detected by Soul Society.
Well… probably.
Unless some old man's trying to pry open his shared-bike seal again.
(Shiba Isshin: I'm not! I didn't! Stop making things up! — [Triple Denial].)
"That's right," Yoruichi agreed, "no way she could step into a soul burial zone like that."
The next moment—
She bolted upright from Kanbaru's lap, golden eyes narrowing.
That Reiatsu…! Stronger… sharper!
Something just changed inside the practice zone.
"What happened?" she asked, voice cold.
"What the hell is the Research Bureau doing? Why are there so many screw-ups in one exercise?!"
As a sixth-generation Shinō Academy student, Shinigami candidates were still inexperienced. They might be able to handle stray Hollows—at best.
But Menos Grande?
That's a whole different level.
Even vice-captains would hesitate to take one alone.
Kanbaru's expression darkened beside her.
Because—right alongside the eruption of Hollow Reiatsu…
Kurosaki Masaki's spiritual pressure flared as well.
There's no way the barrier was breached by accident.
Which meant—
Someone opened it on purpose.
---
BOOM!
A crimson Cero blasted across the street, piercing through walls and pavement like a cannon before exploding violently against a building.
"How boring."
"I was hoping for someone actually worth fighting."
On the empty streets, a humanoid Hollow twisted its neck and cracked its knuckles.
It wore a partial mask over its face, and a black hole gaped in the center of its chest.
"Why the hell is something like that here?! This is supposed to be a training zone!"
In the shadows nearby, dozens of Shinigami candidates watched the figure in horror.
"T-That's an Adjuchas, isn't it?!"
"No way! That's definitely Adjuchas class!"
Panic spread among them.
The Hollow race evolves through cannibalism.
After death, souls that fall into darkness become Hollows. Those who devour others grow stronger.
Once a critical number of low-tier Hollows—called lesser Hollows—consume one another, a Menos Grande of the Gillian class is born.
Gillian are giant, mindless beasts—stronger than most Shinigami.
But when a Gillian continues consuming others, one emerges dominant… and evolves into a humanoid Adjuchas.
Adjuchas are mid-tier Menos Grande.
Even lieutenant-class Shinigami can struggle against one.
And these kids? They're not even official Shinigami yet!
"Idiots!"
"Adjuchas-class Menos are humanoid, yes—but did none of you notice? This one has a fully human face!"
Renji Abarai shouted angrily.
"I've never even heard of such a weird Hollow at the academy," Rukia added.
"Little Rukia-chan," a voice purred behind them, "of course you haven't."
A sudden breeze swept by.
The Shinigami candidates turned to see a stunning, curvaceous blonde step onto the battlefield, her zanpakuto at her side.
"Rangiku!" Rukia lit up with excitement.
"Vice-Captain of Squad 10! We're saved!"
"Thank the Soul King!"
The group's morale shot up.
Matsumoto Rangiku was known as one of the strongest lieutenants in Soul Society. With her here, they had hope.
Even if it's Adjuchas-class…
"Don't get too relaxed, kids," Rangiku said, expression grim as her eyes locked on the Hollow.
"That thing isn't just an Adjuchas."
"That's an Arrancar—one who's broken the wall between Hollow and Shinigami."