Crisis

"The first group will be attacking head-on, the second group from the flank, the third group from the rear, while the fourth group remains on standby in case any problem arises."

Suzuki Kusu commanded the Division Members she brought and waved her hands as the sign to begin the operation. Although she has only joined the Division recently, it wasn't a problem for her to deal with a Hollow like the one before her with her skill.

After everyone commenced the battle with the Hollow, Suzuki Kusu sighed in relief as she saw the Division Members fought the Hollow organizedly. Even though she was the one who came up with the plan, it couldn't be helped if she was nervous as this was her first time taking command in a fight.

"Awesome! Well done, 9th Seat Suzuki." Morikawa Nomi said as she walked toward Suzuki Kusu. This girl that joined her Division recently was truly worth praising. She immediately secured a Seated Officer position with her skill right after joining. Moreover, she was also good at formulating tactics and handling other matters. The most important thing was that she was very humble and close with other Division Members. Almost all Division Members adored this girl.

"It's all thanks to your help, Senpai." Suzuki Kusu looked at Morikawa Nomi said with a smile.

"You are the 9th Seat now. There's no need to call me Senpai anymore."

Suzuki Kusu smiled bashfully: "There's no way I can do that. I won't be where I am now without your help, Senpai."

Morikawa Nomi just smiled helplessly. Even after becoming the 9th Seat, this girl named Suzuki Kusu was as humble as ever. She might remain unchanged even if she became a Captain. Then again, becoming a Captain was nothing but a pipe dream for ordinary people like them.

"We've dealt with the Hollow, 9th Seat Suzuki. Should we head back now?" One of the Division Members ran over to ask for further orders. The Division Members already finished off the Hollow while the two of them were talking.

"Good work, everyone! You all must be tired, so let's take a quick break." Suzuki Kusu said out of consideration after seeing the Division Members panting.

Even though they were non-rank Officers, they managed to defeat the Hollow with excellent teamwork. Fortunately, there was no casualty even though some of them did get injured.

"Awesome! Captain will definitely reward you once we return." Morikawa Nomi praised Suzuki Kusu's leadership which allowed them to survive with no casualties.

"Captain Kimura?" Suzuki Kusu suddenly got bashful when she thought of Muyang.

"Aaaah!"

"What is it!"

"Damn it! Get in formation, everyone!"

There was a commotion among the Division Members that have been resting, which drew Suzuki Kusu's attention, and that was when she saw a scene that shocked her. A figure scuttled across the Division Members, followed by screams and blood spurting all over the place. By the time Suzuki Kusu and Morokawa Nomi saw what happened, everyone else was already dead.

"This is...!"

Suzuki Kusu slumped weakly to the ground when she realized everyone else that was still laughing a second ago now died, and she couldn't even react until they all died. Despite how skilled she was, she was just a newbie not long ago, so it couldn't be helped if she was traumatized after witnessing such a thing with her own eyes.

"That's pretty good~" A hoarse voice broke the silence. Even though the rest of the Division Members were already dead, Morikawa Nomi was unshaken and watched the figure earlier vigilantly. After all, Shinigami was the closest being to death, and she has been one for so long.

"This is... Hollow!!!"

Seeing the white mask on the creature's face, Morikawa Nomi shouted in response, and her complexion immediately changed.

"Shinigami is as delicious as usual!" the Hollow that popped out of nowhere maniacally said as he stuck out his long tongue and licked the remaining blood on the corner of his mouth.

"Using some Low-Level Hollow as a bait turns out to be a pretty good idea!"

"What!? Bait!?"

Hearing this Hollow's words, Morikawa Nomi's pupils dilated. To think that the Hollow before her actually used Low-Level Hollow as bait to lure Shinigami!

"Suzuki!"

"Everyone's..." Suzuki Kusu was trembling and her eyes were filled with panic and fear.

"Suzuki!!" Morikawa Nomi yelled to snap Suzuki Kusu back to her senses: "You are 10th Division 9th Seat! Get yourself together already!"

"But...everyone is..."

"Yeah, but there's nothing we can do about it now." Morikawa Nomi said as she turned her back at Suzuki Kusu. "We are Shinigami, the ones that dealt with death and closest being to death itself. It's exactly because everyone has died now that we must live stronger for their sake!"

"Don't forget that you are the 9th Seat of the 10th Division!"

"Yes!"

The look on Suzuki Kusu's eyes finally changed. She was the 9th Seat of the 10th Division. Even if she did go down here, she didn't want to tarnish the 10th Division's name! She had decided to fight until the last moment. This may be her last fight, and maybe she will die here today, but even if she did die, she had no intention to throw away her pride as a Shinigami, much less her pride as the 10th Division's 9th Seat!

"Suzuki, I will hold this Hollow off. So take this opportunity to escape as far as possible."

"Senpai!"

"This Hollow is not something we can handle. You are young and talented. Live!"

"No! there's no way I can escape on my own while you're here fighting the Hollow!"

"Suzuki!" Morikawa Nomi shouted and turned her head towards Suzuki Kusu, "This is probably the last thing I can teach you as a Senpai. When facing the worst situation possible, we must give hope to the young ones so that our soul and pride will live on inside them!"

"Senpai!" Suzuki Kusu looked at Morikawa Nomi with complex eyes.

"Shinigami, are you done with your little chat?" The Hollow before them said mockingly, "Those Shinigami is pretty delicious, but I'm sure they're not as good as you two. It seems that you are the so-called Seated Officer. I wonder how you will amuse me!"

"Crush, Ryuuho!"

Morikawa Nomi used Shikai right off the bat. She wouldn't last a second if she hesitated to use a Shikai against an enemy of this level.

"Waterfall impact!"

As Morikawa Nomi waved Zanpakuto in his hand, a stream of water immediately entangled the Hollow, restricting its movement.

"Run, Suzuki!" Morikawa Nomi immediately yelled at Suzuki Kusu after keeping the Hollow down.

"I···"

Seeing Suzuki Kusu still hesitated to escape on her own that Morikawa Nomi couldn't help but shout out of frustration: "What are you waiting for? Run! Don't let my sacrifice go to waste! "

Seeing the Morikawa Nomi's face, Suzuki Kusu gritted her teeth and ran away with tears dripping from her eyes. If only she were strong enough, everyone would not have to die like this. If only she were strong enough, Morikawa senpai didn't have to sacrifice herself to let her escape. If only she were strong enough...

Then use my power!

An obscene voice called out from the depth of Suzuki Kusu's heart.

Suzuki Kusu's vision gradually blurred, and a silhouette that screamed red when it came to appearance, suddenly popped out in front of Suzuki Kusu. The figure wore red clothes with red hair and a pair of demonic red eyes. The figure was shrouded by smoke, making it hard to completely distinguish its appearance, but its pair of red eyes were like the eyes that saw through everything.

"Why didn't you use my power? If you use my power, you can still easily escape even if you can't defeat that enemy!"

The red silhouette whispered teasingly in Suzuki Kusu's ear.

"No! No! No!" Suzuki Kusu shook his head desperately, "I won't use that despicable ability!"

"Then you insist on not using my power and just let your comrade sacrifice herself? I never thought you're that heartless."

"Huh?" Suzuki Kusu suddenly stopped in her tracks, and the figure's words kept looping in her mind.

"Aaaaah!!!" Suzuki Kusu's body shook when she heard the scream. She turned around only to find Morikawa Nomi's body was pierced by the Hollow's claw.

Suzuki Kusu saw Morikawa Nomi said something, although she couldn't hear it. However, Suzuki Kusu was well aware that the word her Senpai just uttered in her last moment was "Live!"

"Psskkk" The Hollow pulled out the claw that he rammed into Morikawa Nomi's body and licked the blood smeared in its claw and looked towards Suzuki Kusu: "Delicious! You are the last one, Shinigami. I hope you can entertain me better. This Shinigami was just so boring."