Chapter 54: Monster

“How… how could this happen?” The little boy panicked, fumbling over his own body. His fingers froze on the broken chain dangling from his chest.

Yamabuki Haruto’s voice was calm, though his eyes sharpened. “That’s the Chain of Fate. Once it’s broken, it means you’ve died. We’re not asking about the bandits—when people die, their souls should emerge. Just like you. What happened to the souls of the others who were killed?”

The boy stared blankly, trembling. He couldn’t accept it.

Haruto continued, “We’re Shinigami. Guardians of souls.”

“Shinigami…? Then I really am dead?” The boy’s gaze turned to Kano Chiharu, searching for mercy. She only gave a small nod, confirming his worst fear. His face crumpled and he burst into tears.

It took Chiharu a long time to calm him down, stroking his hair as he buried his face into her robes. Watching this, Haruto grit his teeth. Unfair. Why do kids only cling to her?

Next time I’ll cry and rub my head against her too. She won’t cut me down for that… right?

When the boy finally spoke again, his voice was small. “I… I saw a monster. It took everyone’s souls away.”

Haruto leaned closer. “A monster? Do you mean it had a hole in its chest, a white mask?”

The boy shook his head violently. “No! It was a person. Very tall. Big and fat.”

The three exchanged shocked glances.

Not Hollows? Not Hell? Haruto’s expression darkened. Then… Quincies?

The boy pointed north. “The monster dragged everyone’s souls that way.”

Haruto opened his mouth. “Chiharu, stay here and watch over him. Yanagi and I—”

“You stay.” Chiharu’s tone cut through coldly. “You’ll just slow us down.”

Haruto swallowed. Every time children are mentioned, she turns icy. But… she’s right.

Yanagi Jinsuke gave a half-smile, then vanished with Chiharu in a flash step, leaving Haruto behind with the boy.

The child looked up at him nervously. “What… what will happen to me? Do Shinigami eat souls?”

Haruto smirked, jealousy bubbling. “You guessed it. Especially kids—soft skin, tender flesh. I grind them into paste and eat it with rice. That guy with glasses you saw? He skins people and frames the hides on his wall. And the lady you like? She smashes heads open like melons. Fun, right?”

The boy’s face went white. He wailed in terror.

“Good, good. Now if you want to survive, draw what that weirdo looked like.”

Still crying, the boy scratched on the dirt with a stick: a small circle on top of a huge one, two lines for pigtails.

Haruto blinked. “…That’s a dumpling. What kind of drawing is this? Looks more like a bad sketch of Big Stupid Bear than a man!”

But when he glanced up, the boy wasn’t laughing. He was backing away, eyes wide, pointing behind Haruto.

“Me? Don’t freak out, I was just joking. Soul Society’s messy, but it’s still safer than—” He froze. There were two shadows on the ground.

Slowly, Haruto’s hand crept to his hilt. Vice-Captain strength. Unless it’s a Vasto Lorde, I should be fine… No hesitation. Strike first.

“Take my strike!”

His blade flashed like lightning, carving air. But it missed.

Haruto’s eyes widened. The thing behind him… was a man. At least, it looked like one.

Over two and a half meters tall. Morbidly obese. No neck—just rolls of flesh stacked between head and shoulders. Two ridiculous pigtails bobbing, beady eyes glinting with cruelty.

Haruto’s jaw dropped. This is exactly what the kid drew. Damn, I owe him an apology.

The monster of a man grinned.

For a second, Haruto’s brain scrambled, latching onto absurd legends. Wait… isn’t this just like the stories of Ōmaeda Kichiyo? The god among gods? Crushes Aizen with his reiatsu alone. Stands still against Ryūjin Jakka for ten thousand cuts. Stares down Yhwach into retreat…

Haruto swallowed hard. Shit. Those urban legends were real.

The figure’s voice oozed menace. “Shinigami… such strong reiryoku. You’ll make an excellent test subject.”

“Test subject?” Haruto blinked. What? This freak is a scientist too?

The man’s lips curled. “My name is Zenjōji Arihime. A scientist… by passion.”

Haruto’s grip tightened on his blade. The air around them seemed to choke.

The first Captain of the 12th Division had appeared.