Boom!
As if to confirm her words, a dull, heavy explosion suddenly erupted from inside a two-story wooden warehouse about a hundred meters to the front right.
The fragile walls and slanting roof could no longer support themselves, collapsing inward with a thunderous crash amidst the sound of shattering wood.
Wood chips and dust soared into the sky, creating a rolling cloud of soot under the thin moonlight.
Behind the screen of dust, a massive, terrifying shadow slowly stood tall.
This Hollow was over five meters tall with a burly frame and dark blue skin. Its limbs were disproportionately thick, ending in sharp claws that glinted coldly.
Its face was covered by a hideous, pure-white bone mask. The lower edge of the mask was split open, revealing jagged fangs.
Most heart-stopping of all were the pair of crazed, scarlet eyes peering out from behind the mask's eye holes.
"It's a Large Hollow! Prepare for combat!"
Staring at the gaping hole in its chest, everyone drew their Asauchi, standing ready for the encounter.
But in the next moment, a surging and chaotic spiritual pressure flooded the area like a physical tide, reeking of nauseating malice.
Under the pressure of this Reiatsu, several third-year students instantly turned pale as sheets, their breathing becoming labored.
Their legs shook uncontrollably, and they could barely maintain their grip on their Asauchi.
"No... it's impossible..."
Harada Heita's voice trembled, filled with unbelievable terror.
"This level of spiritual pressure, this size and these traits... This isn't just a normal Large Hollow anymore. It's a Menos that's about to evolve into a Gillian!"
His voice now carried a sob of near-total collapse.
"How could we run into a monster like this..."
"It's over... we're dead..."
The third-years were nearly overwhelmed by fear, their mental defenses on the verge of crumbling. Some even slumped to the ground, their eyes vacant.
Even the usually calm Nanao felt her heart seized by a cold hand, her fingertips turning icy in an instant.
Related data flashed through her mind. She knew exactly what a monster nearing the Menos level implied.
Such a massive gap in spiritual pressure was not a chasm that could be crossed with mere courage and teamwork.
"Ren, what do we do..."
Nanao turned her head in a panic, but Hasumi Ren showed no surprise or fear.
Not even a hint of tension could be seen on his face.
The cold moonlight outlined his exceptionally calm profile.
"Figures. Exactly what I was afraid of."
Ren muttered softly to himself, his right hand already resting casually on the hilt of his sword.
He was hesitating whether to make a move.
All his previous hiding and disguises were solely to avoid the attention of dangerous individuals.
But since Aizen had already noticed him, continuing to hide seemed like self-deception.
Maintaining a low profile wouldn't guarantee that Aizen wouldn't target him again.
Might as well just show what I'm capable of.
Before meeting Kaien, his strength was at most at the top level of the elite class—not particularly outstanding.
It was thanks to Kaien that his strength had increased significantly during this period.
If I slightly adjust my persona...
Changing from a seemingly ordinary fifth-year student with secrets to a low-key genius hiding his strength.
This way, Aizen likely wouldn't continue testing him for a while.
To Aizen, an ordinary student who was no longer hiding and only possessed some level of talent would probably seem uninteresting.
After realizing this, Ren felt a sense of clarity.
There were still over ten years before Aizen's development of the Hogyoku neared completion and he moved against the Captains.
It should be enough time to grow stronger.
Ren looked at the terror in Nanao's eyes, then at the Hollow in the distance.
He had made his decision.
The spiritual energy within the Academy students was a great delicacy for Hollows.
The massive Hollow had already spotted them, and the hunger in its eyes was no longer concealed.
Its crimson eyes locked onto the group on the roof. Letting out a muffled, greedy roar, its thick hind legs slammed against the ground.
Boom!
The ground where it stood exploded into a shallow crater. Despite its size, the massive body lunged forward like a cannonball, bringing with it a gust of foul wind.
Claws tore through the air with a piercing shriek, seemingly ready to shred the roof and everyone on it.
Fine beads of cold sweat broke out on Nanao's forehead. The icy touch of death felt as if it were pressed against her skin; she couldn't even think.
But a warm, familiar hand gently pressed down on her cold little head.
"Don't be afraid."
In the next second, Ren's figure vanished from where he stood.
The aggressive Large Hollow, lunging with destructive power, suddenly froze in mid-air.
Its forward momentum came to a screeching halt. Its crimson eyeballs rolled upward in disbelief.
A cold, glinting blade tip pierced through the top of its head with pinpoint precision.
Without anyone noticing, Ren had appeared behind the Hollow.
If not for the blade protruding from its skull, it would have looked like Ren had simply strolled past it.
The Menos-to-be let out a low growl from its throat. Inside the bone mask's sockets, the crimson light faded rapidly.
Its massive body began to twitch violently. Spider-web cracks appeared across its knotted skin, and its spiritual pressure began to disperse.
Ren gave his wrist a slight flick, smoothly withdrawing the blade.
The Hollow's movements froze completely. Its massive body lost all strength, falling heavily in front of Nanao and the others while still in its lunging posture.
Upon hitting the ground, its body rapidly shattered into Reishi fragments, leaving only a white mask covered in cracks that quickly dimmed.
A moment later, with a soft sound, the mask broke into pieces and vanished.
From the moment the Hollow lunged to the moment Ren struck...
The entire process happened in an instant.
Silence fell over the surroundings.
No one saw clearly what had happened.
Several third-years sat slumped on the ground, the terror still etched on their faces, soon replaced by an even deeper daze.
Eh?
They stared blankly at where the Hollow had vanished, then stiffly turned their eyes toward the white-haired senior who had already sheathed his sword, their minds completely blank.
It was as if everything that just happened was nothing more than a hallucination.
Their emotions fluctuated wildly like a roller coaster before slowly returning to a calm state.
What surged next was an indescribable, complex feeling.
"Did you all see the combat demonstration just now?"
Ren's voice broke the silence, his tone as steady as ever.
"When killing a Hollow, especially this humanoid type with a large mask, remember: try not to strike the mask from the front."
Hearing this, they subconsciously looked at Ren's tall silhouette under the moonlight.
"Because there is a high probability that, through the shattered mask, you will see the distorted and pained face of the human it once was."
"The shock of that moment... if it causes even a split second of hesitation or soft-heartedness, that single moment of delay might cost you your life."
He walked over to the dazed Harada Heita and patted his shoulder.
"Alright, Harada, snap out of it. The crisis is over. Count the heads according to the procedure and check if anyone is injured."
He turned to Nanao, whose face was equally stunned.
"Nanao, use the Denreishinki to contact Instructor Hasegawa and report the situation."
Harada Heita jolted back to his senses, looking at Ren as if he were some prehistoric monster, stuttering.
"R-Ren... you just..."
"Oh, just good luck."
Ren waved his hand dismissively, his tone nonchalant.
"That guy just looked intimidating. It was actually quite easy to kill."
Leaving the bewildered Harada behind, Ren offered no further explanation.
At that moment, his gaze was drawn to a dark red fragment.
Was this... left behind by that Hollow?
Ren quietly touched the fragment.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Hollow Spiritual Pressure Fragment, Hollowfication EXP +450]
[SYSTEM: Hollowfication: Lv.1 (EXP 460/1000)]
Ren's brow twitched ever so slightly.