The night was as black as ink, casting a deep, heavy gloom over the lands of the 7th Southern District in the Rukongai.
Inside the temporary camp, lights flickered gently in the night breeze. The scent of medicine mixed with faint fluctuations of spiritual pressure permeated the air.
Hasumi Ren had just finished instructing the squad members to monitor the spiritual pressure of the wounded when a sharp, piercing whistle suddenly tore through the air.
The spiritual pressure accompanying it was violent and murky, descending directly from the sky.
"Oh no, it's a Hollow horde!"
An Eleventh Division member guarding the camp's perimeter suddenly shouted, his voice carrying unconcealed shock.
The previously orderly and busy camp instantly fell into panic and commotion.
Most Fourth Division members specialized in the medical arts, meaning their swordsmanship and combat abilities were inherently weak. Hearing of an incoming Hollow horde, fear visibly surfaced on many of their faces.
Hasumi Ren's expression darkened. He looked out past the camp's perimeter, only to see several dark silhouettes wrapped in berserk spiritual pressure tearing through the sky.
A few of those spiritual signatures were particularly formidable—they were Gillian-class Menos Grande.
"Why are there so many Gillians appearing at once?"
A Fourth Division seated officer muttered in disbelief, his eyes filled with terror.
Although Gillians were not the highest tier of Menos Grande, they were by no means foes that ordinary Soul Reapers could fight against, let alone an entire pack of them.
The Menos Grande fully emerged from the sky, lunging toward the camp.
The Eleventh Division members stationed nearby didn't hesitate for a second. Drawing their Zanpakuto, they immediately charged forward to intercept them.
The sharp clatter of blades clashing against bone intertwined with the roars of Hollows and the furious shouts of Soul Reapers.
The battle erupted in an instant.
"Isane, instruct the squad members to evacuate the wounded. Move quickly."
"Yes!"
Kotetsu Isane replied immediately, but before turning to leave, she looked back at Ren.
"Then... what about you, Ren?"
Ren looked at the Eleventh Division members struggling to hold the line in the distance and rested his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
"I'm going to help."
Ren vanished from his spot with Shunpo.
Kotetsu Isane's pupils shrank. She watched as Ren appeared in the distance at a blinding speed.
The very next moment, a massive, gaping slash abruptly appeared across the body of a Menos Grande. It roared in agony as it toppled backward.
This sight fell into the eyes of all the squad members, instantly steadying the nerves of the previously panicked crowd.
Supporting an injured soul while hiding behind cover, Kotetsu Isane stared at Ren's back, her breathing slightly ragged.
She had never imagined that Ren, who usually guided her so patiently in the medical arts, would be this incredible in combat.
The speed of his Shunpo and the sheer power of his Zanpakuto were far more formidable than many seated officers of combat divisions she had seen.
"Fourth Seat Ren is... so strong..."
Kotetsu Isane watched all of this blankly, murmuring the words softly to herself.
With Ren joining the fray, the tide of battle instantly began to tilt in their favor.
However, the number of Menos Grande pouring from the sky was still gradually increasing, making it difficult for Ren to fend them all off.
He had already released his Zanpakuto's Shikai, but unfortunately, his total spiritual pressure reserves were still somewhat lacking, making it impossible to cover every single direction.
Ceros streaked through the surroundings, triggering a chain of violent explosions.
A few stray Hollows took advantage of the chaos to bypass the frontline blockade, charging straight toward the wounded in the rear.
Kotetsu Isane was currently carrying an injured Rukongai soul on her back, ducking behind a temporary shelter.
Suddenly, she felt a bone-chilling spiritual pressure lock onto her from behind. She looked back to see that a Gillian had already broken through the Eleventh Division's defensive line.
Dark red spiritual pressure rapidly gathered in front of its mask, causing Isane's pupils to contract sharply.
Right at that moment, a gentle yet profoundly heavy spiritual pressure abruptly descended.
Like a heavy stone tossed into a tranquil lake, it instantly overwhelmed the chaotic spiritual pressures raging across the battlefield.
"Bakudo #61: Six Rods of Light Prison."
Six dazzling pillars of light shot out instantly, accurately locking the Hollow in place.
The light pillars tightened, and the Menos Grande roared in agony, instantly suppressed and completely immobilized.
Kotetsu Isane looked back to see a figure wearing a Fourth Division Captain's haori slowly walking over.
Unohana Retsu's face lacked her usual faint smile; instead, a trace of icy coldness seeped through her features.
She raised her eyes to sweep over the Hollow horde on the battlefield, gently lifting her hand as pale blue spiritual pressure gathered at her fingertips.
"Hado #63: Thunder Roar Cannon."
A massive pillar of lightning instantly pierced through the Gillian's bone mask. It didn't even have time to let out a wail before it completely dissipated into reishi.
"C-Captain Unohana..."
Hearing her voice, Unohana gave a gentle nod of acknowledgment to Kotetsu Isane beside her.
She then looked toward Ren and the Eleventh Division members battling the Gillians in the distance.
Ren's feet didn't stop moving. Activating Shunpo once more, he circled to a Gillian's blind side, his blade flashing in overlapping, deadly arcs.
Every strike landed precisely on the Gillian's vital spots. His fierce method of exerting force carried the swiftness and ruthlessness unique to the Second Division, not at all resembling a Fourth Division Soul Reaper who specialized in the medical arts.
The Gillians were beaten back repeatedly, their massive bodies crashing into the ground and carving out several deep craters. Roaring furiously, they raised their heads, attempting to gather Ceros in their mouths.
But before they could release the blasts, Ren had already closed the distance. With an indomitable momentum, his blade pierced viciously into their vitals.
Mournful roars tore through the night sky as the Gillians' massive bodies turned into a shower of reishi and dissipated into the air.
Ren sheathed his blade and stood still. The spiritual pressure around him remained perfectly steady, though a thin layer of sweat now clung to his forehead.
He raised his eyes to scan the surroundings, his grip slightly shifting on his Zanpakuto.
The Menos Grande had finally stopped appearing.
Meanwhile, on the far side of the battlefield, Aizen Sosuke, hidden in the darkness, took all of this in.
He gently rubbed his sleeve with his fingertips, an imperceptible smirk forming at the corners of his lips.
*Since Unohana has appeared, let's end this little play here for now.*
Aizen was in no rush. After all, there would be plenty of opportunities later.
Following Unohana's arrival, the battle in the camp was quelled in an instant.
She walked slowly to Ren's side, her gaze falling on the Zanpakuto in his hand. The blade was still stained with the faint black mist of slain Hollows, yet it remained chillingly bright.
There was not the slightest hint of surprise in her eyes, as if she had long anticipated Ren possessing such combat prowess. She merely observed him closely for a moment before offering a calm evaluation.
"Your foundation from the Second Division is quite solid. Your spiritual pressure control is precise, and your strikes are fierce enough, but your swordsmanship appears somewhat clumsy."
Ren fully sheathed his blade and bowed to Unohana, his tone humble.
"Your assessment is correct, Captain. I only practiced some basics during my time in the Second Division; I truly haven't put in the hard work to study it deeply."
"I have yet to truly step onto the path of swordsmanship."
"However, you arrived right on time, Captain. You were a huge help."
Ren had actually sent a message to Unohana earlier using Tenteikura.
He had anticipated that Aizen wouldn't just leave so easily and might make a move in the shadows.
He just hadn't expected Aizen to draw out so many Gillian-class Menos Grande at once.
Fortunately, Unohana arrived in time. Otherwise, relying solely on these Eleventh Division members and Ren himself, it would have been difficult to keep everyone safe.
However, hearing Ren mention his lack of swordsmanship, Unohana looked him up and down thoughtfully.
She then turned her gaze to the surrounding wounded, her tone becoming gentle once more.
"Alright, go tend to the injuries of the wounded first."