Cutting Through the Chaos

Following the intelligence and general location map provided by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Tokikaze headed through Naruki City toward Jinggen City, with Ishikawa Naoto trailing closely behind.

Ten minutes later, at the central tower.

Tokikaze stood before the building, releasing his spiritual pressure and scanning it from bottom to top.

On the surface, it looked like an ordinary office building, with so-called elite workers carrying briefcases coming and going, seemingly unaware of the true nature of the place they were entering.

"Should I just slice this building in half?" Tokikaze muttered to himself.

Ishikawa Naoto, who had just arrived, broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this and hurriedly reached out to stop him, "Captain Tokikaze, you can't do that!"

"It's broad daylight, and there are many humans around."

"If we cause a large number of human deaths, the Rukongai will be thrown into chaos due to the inability to process them all."

Tokikaze waved his hand, indicating that he knew what he was doing.

The two swaggered into the building, heading directly towards the source of the Bount's spiritual pressure.

Unlike the stable spiritual pressure of Shinigami or the chaotic pressure of Hollows, the spiritual pressure of the Bounts, being human-derived, was similar to that of Kūgo Ginjō and Tsukishima Shūkurō.

However, strictly speaking, Quincy is also a branch of humanity.

However, they differed completely from the other two regarding spiritual pressure.

"So these are the Bounts?"

Ishikawa Naoto stared at the busy figures in the office, seeing no difference from ordinary humans.

"The sooner we deal with this, the sooner we can go home."

Tokikaze flexed his wrists and pushed open the door, walking in directly.

As expected, the Bount immediately noticed Tokikaze's presence, knowing normal humans couldn't see Shinigami.

"Shinigami?!"

The middle-aged Bount exclaimed, his hand reflexively pressing on his desk as his chaotic spiritual pressure erupted:

"Schlangen des Todes: Fritz!"

With a cry similar to a Shikai release, the desk transformed into brown-yellow pythons, leaping at Tokikaze with their jaws wide open, aiming for his neck.

The sharp attack cut through the air with an intimidating force.

However, as the pythons flew through the air, Tokikaze grabbed one by its seven-inch point, squeezing it until it went limp. Then, it reverted back to wooden boards that fell to the ground.

"Interesting, but not much."

Tokikaze briefly sensed the Bount and lost interest.

As Mayuri said, these were failed experiments with no research value.

Considering that these beings attained immortality by consuming human souls, Tokikaze had no desire to delve deeper.

Before the Bount, Udagawa Rin could react, Tokikaze's large hand gripped his face, slamming him into the ground with a crack.

Blood splattered, staining the fine floor red.

With a crisp snap, Udagawa Rin died at Tokikaze's hand without a chance to explain his background or dreams.

Wiping the blood on the Bount's clothes, Tokikaze stood and locked onto his next target.

The Bounts numbered only about a dozen, and Udagawa Rin was among the stronger ones.

The only ones of significance were Kariya Jin and Sawatari Yoshino.

The former could barely match a captain in strength; the latter was noted for her looks, the face of the group.

The other rough types weren't worth remembering.

Udagawa Rin's death alerted the other Bounts in the building.

Soon enough, three Bounts appeared before Tokikaze, each with chaotic spiritual pressure similar to calm Hollows.

"A mere Shinigami…"

The burly leader was cut off mid-sentence by Tokikaze's whip-like kick, sending him flying.

Boom!

A massive hole appeared in the wall, embedding the nearly two-meter-tall man.

"Sorry, I'm in a hurry."

Tokikaze retracted his right leg, his cold gaze fixed on the remaining two, as his overwhelming spiritual pressure crashed over them like a tidal wave.

In the hallway, the wind roared, transforming into slicing blades that instantly pierced the two Bounts' hearts.

Seeing the turn ahead, hope flickered in the Bounts' eyes, only to be swallowed by despair.

Their spiritual pressure dispersed, and their lives ended.

"A few smart ones have already fled the building."

Tokikaze looked out the corridor window, where the sky was swirling with fierce winds, gradually engulfing Jinggen City.

Leaving the office building, he followed the spiritual pressure trail westward, stopping in front of an old castle.

Sensing carefully, he found no human presence nearby, only the remaining spiritual pressures of a few Bounts within the castle.

This must be their base.

Under Ishikawa Naoto's horrified gaze, Tokikaze raised his right hand, pointing forward with his index finger:

"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!"

Buzz—

A pillar of lightning, like divine retribution, struck the castle ahead, shattering and ripping it apart with a deafening roar.

Walls collapsed instantly, the ground trembled, and dust rose, reducing the castle to ruins.

Several figures emerged, glaring at Tokikaze with fierce hatred.

They couldn't understand why the Shinigami, who had created them, now sought to destroy them. Was it merely for the sake of appearances?

Kariya Jin stood at the front, surrounded by gray-white currents, his gaze filled with extreme anger towards Tokikaze.

After seeing four companions die, he knew the Bounts' fate was sealed.

Tokikaze regarded him with interest, as the Bount leader, Kariya Jin, had striking features.

White hair, red eyes…

But he was male, unfortunately.

"Meisā!"

With a challenging look, Kariya Jin raised his hand, summoning several tornadoes that enveloped Tokikaze.

A peculiar expression crossed Tokikaze's face as the tornadoes surrounded him, swallowing him whole.

Kariya Jin rejoiced, hoping the wind would tear Tokikaze apart. But as he put his plan into action, he realised the massive tornado had lost control.

The fierce, wild winds calmed and parted to the sides.

A figure walked out slowly, the wind cheering and rejoicing as if welcoming its supreme ruler.

"Kariya Jin, do you truly understand what wind is?"

Tokikaze's cold gaze fell on the Bounts in the ruins. With a flick of his thumb, his Zanpakutō released with a clear ring, the blade gleaming as it sliced forward.

A terrifying wave of force erupted, a reverse storm shooting skyward, shaking the air with violent turbulence.

In an instant, the castle's surroundings transformed into an apocalyptic scene.

As the weather drastically changed, the Bounts' eyes were filled with ultimate despair…