Nest of Maggots, Moat Riverbank.
As Kenpachi Kiganjō stepped out of the barrier, the scent of the river filled his nose.
In the dense, thriving forest, more than a dozen figures clad in black night gear followed closely behind him, their expressions wary. They drew their long swords from their waists, ready for battle at a moment's notice.
Gazing at the prison in the distance, Kenpachi Kiganjō wore a look of satisfaction, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Captain Kiganjō!" A group of black-clad figures in Onmitsukidō uniforms emerged from the prison, nodding in greeting.
"Are you ready? What you desire is right in front of you—don't let me down!" Kenpachi Kiganjō patted his large belly and let out a hearty laugh.
His Zanpakutō, still slick with fresh blood, carried an unmistakable air of menace.
The black-clad figures hesitated briefly before one of them stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Everything is prepared. The barrier surrounding the Nest of Maggots can be lifted immediately."
Kenpachi Kiganjō cast him a glance and chuckled.
"Well then, what are you waiting for?"
At his command, the leader of the black-clad figures raised his hand, and the others swiftly got to work.
Standing along the edge of the moat, they formed rapid hand seals. The barrier disintegrated like sand in the wind, dispersing into Reishi as it vanished.
"The barrier is down. We won't take part in the battle beyond this point—it's up to you now."
Kenpachi Kiganjō sneered and waved his hand.
At his signal, the black-clad figures behind him darted forward, their silhouettes merging into the shadows as they charged into the prison.
Seeing this, the Onmitsukidō members instinctively prepared to retreat, hoping to avoid being caught in the inevitable battle. However, before they could act, Kenpachi Kiganjō blocked their path.
Grinning widely, he spoke in what he likely thought was a friendly tone. "Now, now—no need to leave in such a hurry."
"What are you trying to do?" One of the Onmitsukidō members instinctively stepped back.
Kenpachi Kiganjō shrugged. "You know too much. And that's not exactly a good thing."
The Onmitsukidō members exchanged wary glances. Without a word, they drew their short blades and lunged at him.
Screams soon echoed through the forest.
...
Nest of Maggots, Surveillance Room
"Ichimaru-sama, the intruders are closing in on the main entrance to the dungeon," a Detention Unit member reported, bowing.
"Has the distress signal been sent out?" Gin Ichimaru asked.
"No," the team member replied. "The enemy has set up a barrier around the Nest of Maggots, blocking all outgoing communication. There were patrols stationed outside—this shouldn't have happened. It's likely that someone within the Detention Unit…"
He trailed off, but his implication was clear.
Gin Ichimaru gave a slight nod, choosing not to dwell on the matter. The more pressing issue was stopping the enemy's advance.
"Do we know who they are?"
The team member's voice was tense. "Among them, we've identified rebels, assassins… and the Captain of the 11th Division—Kenpachi Kiganjō!"
A heavy silence fell over the surveillance room.
Gin Ichimaru licked his dry lips and let out a slow breath before speaking, his back still turned to the others.
"Ryuuseki, Izumo, the enemy has already infiltrated the Nest of Maggots. Will you come with me to put down these rebels?"
"This time, there's a good chance we won't make it out alive. But the 3rd Seat, Masatsuki, is still inside… Quite the predicament, huh?"
As he spoke, Gin Ichimaru clenched his fists. His narrowed eyes opened slightly, revealing a chilling glint.
A cold, serpentine aura seeped from him, subtle yet deeply unsettling. It was the kind of presence that sent a shiver down one's spine.
The Onmitsukidō members present couldn't help but feel a creeping fear.
Ryuuseki and Izumo exchanged glances before turning their gazes back to the screen. Looking at the striking figure displayed there, their eyes shone with unhidden fervor and admiration.
"Masatsuki 3rd Seat saved our lives. It's time we repaid that debt." The usually silent Ryuuseki suddenly spoke.
Izumo nodded in agreement. "Ryuuseki 6th Seat is right. We were cowards once—we can't afford to be cowards again."
Gin Ichimaru was still smiling, but the sharp coldness in his expression had softened. He thought to himself,
"That guy really is a magnet for trouble... I wonder if I'll even make it out alive."
He was ready to die.
This time, they were facing a true Captain of the Gotei 13. None of the members on the other side of the screen could even last a single exchange against him.
And among those present, the strongest were merely three Seated Officers, himself included.
Victory was nowhere in sight.
Gin Ichimaru drew his Zanpakutō and was just about to push open the door—
BOOM!
A sudden impact rocked the room.
The metal door of the surveillance room, reinforced to withstand the full force of a Lieutenant's strike, suddenly caved inward with a loud crash.
BOOM!!
A second explosion followed as the sturdy wall collapsed in an instant.
Dust and debris surged through the air like a storm, and the violent shockwave sent Gin Ichimaru and the others flying. They crashed hard into the rubble, coughing up blood.
"Gahahaha! You brats—where the hell did you hide that worthless trash Takasugi Hirofumi!?"
A rough, boorish voice echoed through the dust-filled air.
Ryuuseki and Izumo, blood dripping from their lips, trembled in disbelief as they watched a hulking, dark-skinned figure slowly step out from the swirling smoke.
"Captain of the 11th Division—Kenpachi Kiganjō!"
"So it really is you... How dare you storm in here."
"You've committed an unforgivable crime!"
A chorus of furious voices rang out as Ryuuseki, Izumo, and the others launched themselves at him in rage, drawing their blades in unison.
Ryuuseki's Zanpakutō surged with swirling water.
Izumo's blade shrank into a short sword in an instant, crackling with yellow lightning.
But before they could even react, Kenpachi Kiganjō moved.
They couldn't see him.
All they felt was an explosion of pain tearing through their bodies before they were sent flying.
CRASH!
Their bodies slammed into the thick prison walls, designed to hold the most dangerous criminals. Deep cracks spread through the stone, the impact accompanied by the sickening sound of bones shattering.
WHOOSH!
A sharp whistling sound suddenly cut through the chaos.
A short, razor-sharp dagger shot from Gin Ichimaru's hand like a venomous snake striking from the shadows, slicing through the air with lethal precision—aimed directly at Kenpachi Kiganjō's throat.
Gin Ichimaru, who had been waiting in silence, finally made his move!
But then—something impossible happened.
CLANG!
The unmistakable sound of steel striking an impenetrable surface rang out.
The dagger, honed to a razor's edge, scraped across Kenpachi Kiganjō's throat—only to spark against his skin like it had hit a solid shield.
Gin Ichimaru's pupils shrank.
He saw it.
A thin crack had formed on Kenpachi Kiganjō's neck—small, but there. Tiny fragments flaked off from the fissure.
"Your Zanpakutō…"
He never finished his sentence.
Kenpachi Kiganjō was gone.
BANG!
A brutal fist slammed into Gin Ichimaru's abdomen, sending him flying backward. His body crashed to the ground several meters away.
Kenpachi Kiganjō loomed over him, raising his massive Zanpakutō like a cleaver, grinning wildly.
"Gahahaha! I heard you're Masatsuki Aozaki's little lapdog. I wonder if he's in the Nest of Maggots."
"If he saw you like this, what kind of face do you think he'd make? Just imagining it cracks me up!"
He swung his blade—
Then suddenly frowned.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A series of muffled explosions rumbled through the air, growing louder by the second. The attacks were closing in from behind at an astonishing speed.
Kenpachi Kiganjō didn't even glance back. He simply swung his Zanpakutō down, the sheer force of the strike so immense that the gust of wind alone stung the skin.
CLANG!
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the ruins, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.
His blade halted—less than half a meter from Gin Ichimaru.
No matter how much force he put into it, he couldn't push forward.
A deep, steady voice spoke from within the smoke.
"I'm right here. Do you see my expression now?"
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake