Chapter 34: The Visitor
Nezu Kiyoshi stared in shock at the empty sword stand. For a brief moment, he was dazed. In the centuries since becoming a Soul Reaper, he had never imagined that his Zanpakutō could be stolen—it was fundamentally impossible.
There was a deep connection between a Soul Reaper and their Zanpakutō, a bond rooted in the soul itself. Unfortunately, Bubu Wang had managed to block that connection, or rather, it had caused the Zanpakutō and itself to merge into the surrounding environment.
After the initial shock, Nezu Kiyoshi quickly regained his composure. His gaze swept the area because he could sense that his Zanpakutō, 'Pisacas Jizō,' was nearby.
"Stop hiding. Come out."
Nezu Kiyoshi let out a cold snort, his face showing disdain. He appeared calm, but inwardly he was deeply uneasy. He had already used a special method to notify the hidden sentries in the laboratory building to seal off the structure.
Nearby, Bubu Wang glanced at Nezu Kiyoshi. It had encountered this kind of low-level trick countless times before.
"Since you refuse to show yourself willingly, then die here."
Nezu Kiyoshi flexed his ten fingers. They looked like withered tree branches, giving off an unnatural vibe.
If anyone else were present, they would have thought Nezu Kiyoshi was about to unleash a killing move. Unfortunately, he simply stood there, doing nothing, because he couldn't sense Bubu Wang at all.
Boom!
A loud crash came from outside the laboratory building. The sound was a signal. Bubu Wang quickly dashed out of the room, and Nezu Kiyoshi followed suit, though he still couldn't see Bubu Wang.
Moments later, Nezu Kiyoshi reached the main entrance of the laboratory building. The metal door, reinforced with Spirit Stone, had been blown open. Several corpses lay nearby, their wounds all caused by slashes.
"Captain, the thief fled that way!"
A Soul Reaper with a severed arm leaned against a corner. His face was pale, and he seemed on the verge of passing out.
"No."
Nezu Kiyoshi rushed to the breach in the main entrance, blocking the way. He had pieced together the entire sequence of events.
First, an enemy he couldn't see had infiltrated the laboratory building and stolen his Zanpakutō. At the same time, the thief's accomplice had launched a frontal assault on the building, destroying the main entrance—clearly to clear a path for the thief.
Nezu Kiyoshi's deduction was close to the truth, but he miscalculated one thing: the shadow's attack on the main entrance was merely a diversion to lure him out.
Just as Nezu Kiyoshi secured the main entrance, the sound of a collapsing wall came from the side of the laboratory building. Hearing this, his expression changed. After a moment of hesitation, he decided not to go to the side. It was too late; arriving there now would be pointless.
Nezu Kiyoshi's lips twitched violently. He knew the consequences of losing his Zanpakutō. Seventy percent of his strength relied on it. If it were lost, his old enemies would stop at nothing to kill him.
Thus, Nezu Kiyoshi had to retrieve his Zanpakutō as quickly as possible. The Soul Society was a place of naked survival; the only way to stay safe was through personal power.
Although losing his Zanpakutō wouldn't cost Nezu Kiyoshi his position as captain of the 12th Division—he had made many contributions to the Soul Society—his personal safety would be compromised.
Thinking of this, Nezu Kiyoshi's expression darkened further.
"Captain, someone has invaded our base."
A slightly plump Soul Reaper rushed over, looking panicked.
"Do you think I'm blind?"
Nezu Kiyoshi lowered his eyelids, seething with rage.
"Captain, we should—"
Slap!
Nezu Kiyoshi clamped his hand over the plump Soul Reaper's mouth, the force nearly knocking him unconscious.
"Shh..."
Nezu Kiyoshi raised a finger to his lips, a smile gradually spreading across his face.
"So that's where you are."
With that, he stomped the ground and vanished from his spot.
Nezu Kiyoshi could sense his Zanpakutō because Bubu Wang had stopped blocking the connection. It was testing how far the bond between Nezu Kiyoshi and his Zanpakutō could reach. This time, the test distance was half a kilometer.
When Nezu Kiyoshi arrived at top speed, all he found was a message scrawled on the ground nearby:
'Give up. You can't do it.'
Seeing this, Nezu Kiyoshi's lips began to tremble—from anger. But this was only the beginning.