Bleach: In Soul Society, I just want to retire

As Yamabuki Ditang's blade arced through the air, aiming for the back of the Hollow's head, he felt certain that victory was within his grasp. But just as the Zanpakutō was about to strike its target, the Hollow's head performed an unnatural twist, rotating a full 180 degrees.

Before Yamabuki could react, the creature unleashed a devastating Cero (Hollow Flash) directly at him.

"Damn it!" Yamabuki cursed, his instincts kicking in as he used Shunpo (Flash Step) to narrowly avoid the blast.

The beam of crimson energy shot past him, carving a massive trench into the ground behind him. The sheer force of the attack made the air vibrate, and Yamabuki's heart pounded in his chest.

"When I watched Bleach back in my old life, I thought these big Hollows were nothing but dumb, oversized targets," Yamabuki muttered to himself, sweat dripping down his forehead. "I figured anyone could just hack and slash them to death. Turns out I was completely wrong!"

The reality of facing such a Hollow was far more terrifying than he had ever imagined. With its massive body, overwhelming strength, and deadly Cero, this creature was a nightmare for any ordinary Shinigami to face.

In hindsight, Yamabuki realized how wrong Bleach had been in its depiction of Hollows. Back when Ichigo Kurosaki faced his first Gillian-class Hollow, Rukia Kuchiki had explained that only the Royal Guards or captains could deal with such monsters. At the time, Yamabuki thought this type of Hollow was the epitome of power. Later, when the story delved into the Forest of Menos, he discovered the truth: Gillians were mass-produced and not as fearsome as they first seemed.

That realization might have brought some comfort in the anime, but here, facing the towering beast in real life, it was little consolation.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Yamabuki adjusted his footing and launched himself forward with explosive force. His spiritual pressure surged as his Zanpakutō cut through the air, slicing cleanly through the Hollow's left arm.

The creature let out a bloodcurdling roar of pain, its voice shaking the very ground beneath them. But it wasn't done yet. With its remaining arm, the Hollow swiped at Yamabuki, striking him with such force that he was sent hurtling through the air like a ragdoll.

Yamabuki crashed through a series of trees, the impact snapping their trunks like twigs. He finally came to a stop after slamming into a boulder, his body twitching in pain.

"Damn it…" he groaned, coughing as he struggled to his feet.

The Hollow wasted no time, its massive body already moving to charge another Cero. Crimson energy began gathering at its mouth, growing brighter and more concentrated with each passing second.

Yamabuki scowled, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Old man Yamamoto, couldn't you have taught me something more useful?! And you—" he shouted at his Zanpakutō, banging its hilt against his forehead, "—can't you tell me your name already?! How did Ichigo Kurosaki get so strong so quickly?!"

He groaned, lamenting his situation. "Ichigo got stronger just by fighting, and he's the so-called Child of Destiny. Why does everything have to be so hard for me?"

But there was no time to dwell on his grievances. As the Hollow's Cero charged, Yamabuki once again activated Shunpo. He reappeared next to the creature, slicing off its right arm with another swift strike.

The beast roared in agony, its massive frame toppling forward as it crashed into the ground with a resounding thud. Its mask cracked slightly as it let out a pitiful scream, its body writhing in the dirt.

"Good thing this thing hasn't evolved into an Adjuchas yet," Yamabuki muttered, brushing dirt and debris from his robes. "If it had, I'd be in serious trouble."

From the perspective of the captives hiding in the cave, Yamabuki's figure, bathed in the moonlight with his sword in hand, looked nothing short of heroic. To them, he was a shining savior, a knight who had appeared to deliver them from the darkness.

But for the Gillian, its pride and anger burned hotter than ever.

"AHHHHHH!!!" the Hollow screamed, its voice filled with desperation.

This wasn't how it was supposed to end. It was so close to evolving, so close to breaking through to the next stage. To die now, at the hands of this young Shinigami, was unthinkable.

It couldn't accept it.

Desperation gave way to determination as the Gillian's gaze fell upon a nearby corpse—the remains of the spider Hollow Yamabuki had killed earlier.

"This is my last chance," the Gillian thought, its massive body trembling with both fear and resolve. "If I succeed, I'll evolve and survive. If I fail…"

It didn't finish the thought.

With a roar of defiance, the Gillian lunged forward, sinking its massive teeth into the spider Hollow's corpse. Its sharp fangs tore into the flesh as it devoured the remains with terrifying speed.

Yamabuki's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?" he muttered.

Realizing the danger, he darted forward, his Zanpakutō aimed for the Gillian's head. The blade struck true, piercing through the creature's mask and causing it to let out an agonized howl.

"This ends now!" Yamabuki shouted, pushing the blade deeper.

But then, something changed.

The Hollow's spiritual pressure began to shift, growing denser and more chaotic. Yamabuki's heart sank as he felt the overwhelming surge of power radiating from the creature's body.

"What's going on?!" he exclaimed, trying to force his blade deeper. But no matter how much strength he put into the strike, the Zanpakutō refused to budge.

The Hollow let out a bone-chilling laugh, its voice filled with both pain and triumph.

"It worked! It really worked!" the creature bellowed. "From this day forward, I am an Adjuchas!"

In an instant, the Gillian's body began to change. Its massive, lumbering frame shrank, condensing into a more compact and muscular form. The once mindless beast now stood as a four-meter-tall ape-like figure, its long arms covered in a thick layer of white bone armor.

Yamabuki took a step back, his expression grim.

The creature's new spiritual pressure was suffocating. It was on par with that of a captain.

"How is this possible?" Yamabuki muttered, gripping his Zanpakutō tightly. "Isn't on-the-spot evolution something only the protagonist gets? Why does this Hollow have that kind of power? Don't tell me… is this thing a time traveler too?!"

The Adjuchas laughed mockingly. "Shinigami, you were strong… strong enough to almost kill me. But this time, the roles are reversed!"

Before Yamabuki could respond, the creature vanished.

"Where did it—?!" Yamabuki's question was cut off as a cold voice whispered behind him.

"Die."

His instincts screamed, and he spun around just in time to block the Adjuchas' incoming fist. But the creature had concentrated the power of its spiritual energy into the punch, creating an explosive force at point-blank range.

The impact sent Yamabuki flying. His body smashed into a stone cliff, embedding him into the rock face. The collision left him disoriented, his vision blurring as pain coursed through his entire body.

"This… is the power of an Adjuchas?" he thought, struggling to remain conscious. "It's as strong as a captain!"

But the Hollow wasn't finished. It appeared before him once again, its massive fist glowing with another charged Cero.

"I'll smash your head into pieces!" it roared, swinging its arm down.

In that moment, time seemed to slow. Yamabuki felt his surroundings warp, as though reality itself had shifted.

"What's going on?" he thought, his consciousness fading.

Then, a voice echoed in his mind.

"Idiot. Do you think you can survive just because you know this world's plot? This isn't a game. It isn't an anime. This is reality. If you keep acting like a fool, you'll die sooner than later."

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