Chapter 218 – Humiliation
Chapter 218 – Humiliation
Izuru Kira treasured his friendship with Momo Hinamori and Renji Abarai. He feared that revealing his status as a low-ranking noble from the Seireitei would drive them away, so he had kept his true identity hidden.
Momo and Renji, assuming Kira's gloomy demeanor stemmed from his Rukongai origins and a sense of inferiority, often shared humorous anecdotes about their life in the slums. They made no secret of their Rukongai upbringing, hoping to ease Kira's perceived discomfort.
Kira appreciated their efforts. On the one hand, he cherished their genuine concern for his well-being. But on the other hand, he felt a deep shame, constantly berating himself for deceiving his friends.
This internal conflict further fueled his melancholic nature, deepening the shadows in his eyes.
…
Bang!
Kitada Yōsuke raised his sword to block, but the force of the blow sent him flying, crashing through a wall and leaving a trail of dust and debris.
“Ugh!”
"Damn it!"
"Where are those bastards?!" He spat out a mouthful of blood, cursing under his breath.
Captain Aizen's announcement, adding a new rule to the exam, had made him infamous among the students.
Those who knew him, and even those who didn’t, rejected his requests to join their teams the moment they heard his name. They either drove him away or distanced themselves from him.
Even when he used a false name to temporarily infiltrate a team, someone who recognized him would inevitably expose his true identity, further fueling their disdain.
Eventually, almost every student knew who he was. They would banish him on sight.
After all, he had backstabbed his rescuer and used a fake name. Who knew what a deceitful, shameless wretch like him might do in a moment of crisis?
No one, in an exam that would determine their future, wanted such an unpredictable element lurking nearby.
Yōsuke had no choice but to become a fugitive, constantly on the run, evading both the scorn of his fellow students and the pursuit of Hollows.
He had managed to survive until this point in an exam with a difficulty level five times higher than usual. In previous years, his skills would have been sufficient to graduate and join the Gotei 13.
But now, his abilities only allowed him to defeat small Hollows and barely escape from weaker medium-sized ones.
If he encountered a stronger or faster medium-sized Hollow, he would be toast.
Unable to find teammates, Yōsuke had resorted to a cunning strategy.
Unlike other students, who fled towards open areas upon encountering Hollows, choosing sparsely populated locations to minimize civilian casualties, Yōsuke did the opposite.
He would engage small Hollows head-on.
But when facing medium-sized Hollows, he would flee towards densely populated areas.
This tactic ensured that the rescue squad would arrive swiftly. While the Shinigami might despise him, they couldn’t ignore the risk to innocent lives. They would have to intervene, even if it meant saving him.
Through this despicable method, Yōsuke had survived for thirteen days.
"Roar!" A shrill cry echoed through the streets. A five-meter-tall, medium-sized Hollow, with a goat's head and a gorilla's body, appeared before Yōsuke.
It locked eyes with him, two crimson lights flickering in its dark sockets.
Crash!
With a single swipe of its massive arm, the Hollow pulverized the wall of a nearby building, reducing it to dust.
"Ahhh!" The sudden collapse of the wall sent debris flying, injuring several people. Screams of terror filled the air as people scrambled to escape.
Most fled in panic.
However, some, driven by morbid curiosity, moved closer, wanting to see what had caused the commotion.
Whoosh!
Yōsuke, emerging from the rubble, leaped onto a nearby lamppost and dashed towards a shopping mall.
He had noticed that many people, in their panic, had instinctively sought refuge in the mall. By now, it must be packed with at least three or four hundred people.
If he could lure the Hollow there, the rescue squad would surely arrive quickly.
Crash!
Crash!
The colossal Hollow pursued Yōsuke relentlessly, its every step leaving spiderweb cracks in the pavement.
“Damn that bastard!” A 5th Division Shinigami, witnessing the scene from afar, gritted his teeth and used Shunpo to give chase.
This student, Kitada Yōsuke, had been testing his patience for days. If not for the fact that this was a graduation exam, he would have taught that brat a lesson.
He possessed none of the pride of a Shinigami, resorting to any means necessary to survive. He was a disgrace.
If someone like him became a Shinigami, it would be a stain on their honor.
Unfortunately, the Shinigami couldn't simply stand by and watch as the Hollow rampaged through the city, harming innocent people.
That was not the way of a Shinigami!
He used Shunpo again, covering dozens of meters in an instant, drawing his Zanpakutō as he approached.
The Hollow’s reiatsu was considerable. Even he had to be careful, or he might find himself on the losing end.
However, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
A figure hovered in the air before him.
Recognizing the white captain’s haori, the Shinigami immediately dropped to one knee.
“Captain… Captain Aizen…”
“Ah, Shimomura. Leave this to me. You should patrol elsewhere.”
“Yes, Captain Aizen.” Shimomura didn't question Ailin's orders. He simply turned and departed.
With Captain Aizen present, there was nothing to worry about.
It seemed that Captain Aizen was also quite displeased with that student’s behavior. He had personally intervened.
As the Shinigami left, Ailin vanished in a flash.
Yōsuke had reached the shopping mall and slipped inside.
However, to his surprise, the rescue squad, usually swift in their response, was nowhere to be seen.
Crash!
A massive arm punched through the wall of the mall, sending Yōsuke flying.
"Ugh!" He coughed up blood, his body rolling across the floor. Before he could regain his footing, a large shadow loomed over him.
He shuddered, looking up. His pupils contracted in fear.
The five-meter-tall Hollow towered over him, blocking the moonlight and casting an imposing silhouette.
People screamed and scattered, but the Hollow, seemingly oblivious to their presence, stared intently at Yōsuke.
“Gulp…” He swallowed his blood. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
It was terrifying!
Where was the rescue squad? Why weren't they here yet?
Weren't they worried about the Hollow rampaging through the city?
As the Hollow remained motionless, its gaze fixed on him, Yōsuke frantically searched for any sign of the rescue squad.
To his dismay, there wasn’t a single Shinigami in sight.
No, wait! There was one!
Besides the Hollow’s shadow, there was another dark spot on the ground. Based on the angle of the moonlight, the source of that shadow… It was in the sky!
The rescue squad had arrived!
Overjoyed, Yōsuke looked up, but his heart sank as he recognized the figure descending from the sky.
“Captain… Captain Aizen?”
“Captain Aizen, help me!” Ignoring the question of why Captain Aizen had personally intervened, Yōsuke channeled his reiatsu, launching himself into the air, hoping to draw the Hollow's attention towards Ailin.
He had undeniably grown from his experiences.
He was no longer the terrified, helpless student from before, his legs turning to jelly at the sight of a medium-sized Hollow. He could at least muster the courage to flee, even in a dire situation.
However…
Whoosh!
The Hollow, with a casual swing of its long arm, swatted Yōsuke away like a fly.
Crash!
This time, Yōsuke’s body smashed through two buildings before landing at Ailin’s feet.
“Gurgle… gurgle…” Blood and foam bubbled from his mouth.
His limbs were twisted at unnatural angles, most of the bones in his body shattered. Without immediate treatment from a skilled healer, he would likely die within minutes.
His life was on a countdown.
Ailin slowly descended, landing beside Yōsuke.
“Captain Aizen, please… help me…” Yōsuke’s eyes pleaded for mercy.
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