Chapter 6: with translation of chapter title

Boom!

One after another, sounds like the heavens collapsing echoed continuously in the forest of 'Liuyan' in East District 37 of Rukongai!

This sound lasted a full two days, and on the morning of the third day it suddenly ceased.

When the roar subsided, a Soul Reaper squad member of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, gripping his Soul-Cutting Sword, hurried here to investigate.

When this Thirteen Court Guard Squads squad member saw the miserable sight of Liuyan District in Rukongai before him, he instantly felt a chill rise, and couldn't help but say: 'Damn it, could this place have suffered a natural disaster?! What on earth happened to turn the whole forest into such a ruined state?'

In the eyes of this Soul Reaper squad member, the once neatly arranged forest had vanished; trees lay scattered like wheat cut by a sickle. The ground was pitted with hole after hole, as if repeatedly struck by endless heavenly thunder.

This Soul Reaper squad member had never witnessed such a horrifying scene; even the daily sparring among the captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads would not inflict such a devastation on a whole area of Rukongai, as if it had been baptized by a natural disaster.

Sigh...

How am I supposed to report this to my superior?

Should I tell the captain that Liuyan District in East District 37 of Rukongai was hit by a massive thunderstorm of unknown cause?!

The captain isn't so easily fooled!

After carefully inspecting the entire area reduced to ruins by an unknown attack, this Soul Reaper squad member gazed at the expanses of scorched earth and sighed helplessly.

Now there's good news, and there's bad news!

The good news is that, for now, he hasn't encountered any threat to the life of a Thirteen Court Guard Squads squad member; simply put, this place is not dangerous.

The bad news is that he cannot give a reasonable explanation for the land that looks as if it were swept away by the Captain-Commander's Soul-Cutting Sword, Flowing Blade Like Fire……

He couldn't possibly tell his superior, 'It seems the Captain-Commander went crazy in Liuyan District?!'—otherwise his superior would wring his neck……

This left him unsure how to report the situation to his superior.

What should I do?!

For a moment, this young Soul Reaper squad member was at a loss before the scene.

Huh?!

Just as this young Soul Reaper squad member kept thinking about how to fudge his investigation report, a black shadow in the deeper woods caught the young Soul Reaper's attention.

Buzz!

The Soul Reaper squad member hesitated not, using Flash Step to chase after the shadow in the woods.

……

In the woods, a boy who didn't look too old, wearing patched, ragged clothes, occasionally glanced toward the Soul Reaper squad member.

Just as the boy thought he had been careful enough not to draw the Soul Reaper squad member's notice, a single unintentional blink made the squad member vanish from the boy's sight.

What?

The boy stared at the empty ruins, stunned, while alarm bells rang in his mind.

Hey! Kid, what are you looking for?

Just as the boy wondered where the Soul Reaper squad member had gone, a cold voice sounded slowly from behind him.

Er……

For a moment, the boy felt an endless chill surge from his heels straight to the top of his head.

Sorry, I was wrong! I didn't mean to spy on you!

I was just gathering wild vegetables in the woods to stave off hunger tonight; I happened to see you and glanced at you a second longer—I meant no harm, please don't kill me.

Without hesitation, the boy turned as fast as he could, dropping to a formal kneel before the person behind him and sincerely apologized.

The boy knew without thinking that he had been discovered by that Soul Reaper; indeed, trying to escape a Soul Reaper's notice was too much for a young spirit like him.

Get up! I'm not some evil spirit, so don't be so afraid of me……

The Soul Reaper squad member sighed helplessly at the boy's practiced, heart-wrenching apology pose; this world is forever filled with endless malice toward the inhabitants of Rukongai, especially boys his age.

Please don't kill me!

The boy did not relax at the Soul Reaper squad member's words; he remained tense, continually pleading.

Troublesome little brat!

Since you say you came here to gather wild vegetables to stave off hunger, you must know this area well, right?!

So tell me—what do you think of this land that looks as if it had been baptized by a natural disaster?

The Soul Reaper squad member frowned, first hoisting the kneeling boy up by the scruff, then asked him about the condition of the scorched earth behind him.

Er……

After hearing the Soul Reaper squad member's words, a flicker of suspicion crossed the boy's eyes; he clearly knew something, but he hesitated whether to answer truthfully.

You want to stay alive, right?

To that, the Soul Reaper squad member merely said something flat to the boy, and the boy confessed everything.

Perhaps you won't believe me, Soul Reaper, but I really saw it!

It was a person—a man wielding a Soul-Cutting Sword, bathed in lapis-colored light, who destroyed the entire forest into this state.

Upon hearing this, the boy dared not delay, telling the Soul Reaper before him everything he knew.

Huh?!

Is there a squad member from another division training for Bankai here?

It looks like he succeeded in doing so……

Honestly, training for Bankai without notifying the other divisions has left me in such a sorry state.

Upon hearing this, the Soul Reaper squad member immediately thought of something.

'Wielding a Soul-Cutting Sword' and bathed in lapis-colored light, having destroyed the entire forest, a Soul-Cutting Sword capable of this is undoubtedly a Bankai.

Thinking of this, the Soul Reaper squad member's eyes flashed with envy—after all, that's Bankai! It symbolizes the ultimate release of a Soul Reaper's Soul-Cutting Sword, a high-level technique few in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads can master, representing spiritual pressure and power.

Um, do you know where that lucky guy who successfully mastered Bankai ended up?

Although the Shinigami squad member had already guessed that the person was half a member of the Guarding Thirteen Squads, he still asked the boy before him.

Oh, that big brother in all white walked in this direction.

The boy, hearing that, pointed toward the direction of the Pure Soul Court and said to the Soul Reaper.

"Hmm, he's indeed heading to the Pure Soul Court."

"Hold on, what did you say he was wearing?"

The Soul Reaper looked in the direction the boy pointed, showing an expression of "as expected."

Immediately after, the Soul Reaper suddenly realized something, lowered his head, looked at the boy before him, and asked aloud.

"All in white..."

The boy thought for a moment, then answered truthfully.

"All white clothing? Not the Shinigami outfit?"

"Damn, that guy probably isn't even a member of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, right?"

The Soul Reaper muttered to himself, as if he had thought of something significant.

"Thanks, take this money and buy some food yourself!"

The Soul Reaper said, casually throwing a few coins emitting spirit particle light to the boy, then immediately rushed toward the Pure Soul Court.

"I hope my premonition is wrong, and I hope there's still time."

The Soul Reaper, while using Flash Step to sprint, silently thought in his heart.

In the blink of an eye, only the boy holding a few coins remained in this forest.

"Th-thank you for your generosity!"

The boy watched the Soul Reaper disappear, then, in the direction the Soul Reaper had sprinted, he deeply bowed, sincerely expressing his gratitude.

Meanwhile...

Outside the Pure Soul Court, where the nobles who have controlled power since before the birth of Soul Society are stationed, stand the Soul Reapers of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

Huangmu, holding a Soul-Cutting Sword, stood outside this grand, massive city, gazing at the distant sky where the radiant sun shone, muttering: "What a nice day today~"

Huangmu said, and his figure vanished from the spot.

(End of chapter)