Shrieker's grotesque form was embedded in a half-demolished concrete wall, dust and fractured debris crumbling around his twisted limbs. His jagged mask barely concealed the sheer rage twisting beneath as he slowly pried himself free from the wreckage, his yellow eyes gleaming with malice.
Shinichi's gaze flicked toward Rukia, who stood slightly behind him, her stance defensive. With a chuckle, he sneered, "What the hell was that weak-ass move?"
Rukia scowled. "It was a Kido spell, idiot!"
Shinichi barely glanced back at her, rolling his shoulders as he muttered, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Stay behind me."
His mind was already racing, analyzing the situation with cool precision. He knew he couldn't kill Shrieker himself—Ichigo had to be the one to do it. If he interfered too much, it could alter the flow of events in unpredictable ways. 'I just need to stall. Keep him busy until Ichigo gets here.'
Shrieker finally wrenched himself free, stumbling forward before cracking his neck with an audible pop. He let out a dry chuckle, brushing dust off his grotesque frame. "That was quite a punch, you little prick… Maybe I should start taking you seriously."
His claws flexed as he lunged.
Shinichi sidestepped with ease, his mind already calculating the trajectory of the attack. He saw it—the predictable movements, the slight hesitation in Shrieker's form as he prepared for a follow-up strike.
A smirk tugged at Shinichi's lips. Let's try out the new ability.
"Activate Combat Insight."
A system notification flared in his vision.
[Combat Insight Activated]
And suddenly—everything changed.
The world slowed to a crawl.
A faint shimmer enveloped Shinichi's eyes, like a ghostly afterimage lingering over his vision. The movements of the world became sharp, unnaturally clear. Every flicker of muscle in Shrieker's body, every minuscule shift in his posture, stood out like a glaring beacon of intent. It was as if the Hollow's entire form was covered in glowing red outlines, each marking a weak point, a flaw in his attack pattern.
Shinichi's perception stretched, warping reality itself. Shrieker's movements—his rapid lunge, his slashing claws—were painfully slow.
It was almost laughable.
A grin crept across Shinichi's face. It feels like I have the Sharingan.
Shrieker's claws raked forward—Shinichi ducked. A downward slash—he sidestepped effortlessly, his body moving like flowing water. Every single attack, every telegraphed strike, it's all so painfully obvious.
Then Shinichi countered.
His fist shot forward, catching Shrieker's stomach like a steel piston.
The Hollow's body folded inward, his breath forced out in a horrific wheeze.
Shinichi didn't stop.
With brutal efficiency, he pivoted, driving an elbow into Shrieker's ribs. A sickening crack echoed through the battlefield.
Shrieker stumbled, his grotesque form bending unnaturally. But before he could react, Shinichi was already behind him. A vicious roundhouse kick snapped against the side of his head, sending his body twisting violently mid-air.
Shrieker was ragdolled.
He slammed into the dirt, skidding back in an uncontrolled heap. The impact was brutal.
Shinichi exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. I can see everything.
Shrieker coughed violently, scrambling to his feet, his mask cracking slightly from the relentless beating. His yellow eyes widened, a sliver of fear creeping into them.
Rukia, watching from a short distance, was stunned.
"H-How is this even possible?" she muttered under her breath, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Even some full-fledged Shinigami would struggle a bit against this Hollow… But Shinichi… he's just playing with him."
Shrieker growled, his body trembling in barely contained fury. "You little shit!"
He suddenly threw his arms forward—dozens of explosive leeches erupted from his grotesque form, scattering in all directions.
Shrieker sneered. "Try dodging this!"
But Shinichi was already moving.
Every single leech, every tiny movement, was highlighted in his mind.
With supernatural ease, he weaved between them, his body twisting, dodging, maneuvering through the gaps like an untouchable phantom.
Shrieker's confidence shattered. This isn't possible.
Shinichi was a blur, a specter of untouchable precision. He closed the distance in an instant.
A brutal uppercut sent Shrieker sprawling backward, gasping in shock.
Another devastating blow to his gut.
A savage kick to the jaw.
Shrieker was helpless—humiliated.
Rukia's breath hitched as she watched, unable to believe what she was witnessing. This level of dominance… it's unreal.
Shrieker roared in frustration, launching another swarm of explosive leeches at Shinichi.
Shinichi was about to dodge again—
[Time Up! Combat Insight Deactivated.]
"Huh—?"
Before he could react, one of the leeches latched onto his shirt.
"Tch—damn it!" Shinichi quickly yanked his shirt off and hurled it away.
The moment it left his grip, the leech exploded mid-air. The force of the blast sent him hurtling backward, his body smashing against a steel pole with a sickening crack. Pain jolted through his ribs.
"Shinichi!" Rukia's voice rang out in alarm.
Gritting his teeth, Shinichi groaned, his body aching as he tried to push himself up—only for Shrieker to appear in front of him and slam a fist into his gut.
"Guh—!!"
The impact sent him flying through a pile of shattered debris. He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood as his body refused to move. His limbs felt heavy, his vision spinning.
He clenched his fists, trying to will himself to stand. How much longer…?
Shrieker's laughter echoed through the battlefield as he approached Shinichi's battered form. "Not so tough now, are you?" He raised a clawed hand, a massive leech forming at his palm. "Time to end this—"
Suddenly—
A blue glow illuminated the area.
"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams, unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws!!"
Rukia's voice rang out with authority as she aimed her palm at Shrieker.
"Hado #33! Sōkatsui!! (蒼火墜)"
A brilliant wave of azure flames surged forward, crashing into Shrieker at point-blank range. The Hollow shrieked in pain as he was engulfed in the blast, his body skidding backward.
Smoke filled the air as Shrieker staggered from the impact. Though burned, he recovered quickly, his fury only intensifying. His clawed hand shot out—grabbing Rukia by the throat.
"You annoying little girl," he growled. "I should just finish you off first."
At that moment, another system notification appeared in front of Shinichi.
[New Quest! Keep fighting until Ichigo arrives!]
[Reward: +8 Levels, 1 Gold Ring!]
Shinichi let out a ragged breath. You've got to be kidding me…
He glared at the system screen. "We're getting absolutely demolished here, and you're telling me to keep fighting?"
[Pussy.]
Shinichi's eye twitched. "Damn you…"
Ignoring the pain, he forced himself to stand. Just as he got to his feet—
A sudden, powerful punch slammed into Shrieker's side, sending the Hollow tumbling backward.
Shinichi blinked. That wasn't him. That wasn't Rukia.
It was Chad.
Shrieker groaned, holding his side. "What the hell—?!"
Chad stood tall, his massive fist clenched.
Rukia was just as shocked. He can see the Hollow?
But before she could fully process it, Chad suddenly started swinging wildly and randomly at the air, missing completely.
"…I guess not," Rukia muttered.
Shinichi, still catching his breath, watched the scene unfold. "Man… this looks way sillier in real life than it did in the anime."
Shrieker, regaining his footing, glared at Chad and lunged at him with a furious roar.
Rukia quickly acted, calling out to Chad, "Dodge left! Now punch forward!"
Chad followed her instructions, delivering a devastating blow that sent Shrieker flying.
Shinichi took a step forward, his instincts screaming at him. Something wasn't right.
Shrieker's body trembled as he pushed himself up, his energy significantly weaker than before. He was running out of strength. Unlike in the anime, he had already taken a massive beating from Shinichi before Chad even arrived. But despite his weakened state, the Hollow wasn't done yet.
With a sinister grin, he released another wave of explosive leeches—this time aimed directly at Shinichi and Rukia.
Both of them dodged, but—
Shinichi's eyes widened. Shit!
A large leech had been hidden behind a metal pole—right behind Rukia.
"LOOK OUT!" Shinichi shouted, rushing toward her.
Before she could react, he shoved her aside—just as the leech exploded.
The blast consumed him instantly.
Smoke and debris filled the air, the ground trembling from the force of the explosion.
Rukia and Chad froze, their eyes locked on the scene of destruction.
Amidst the settling dust, Shinichi's form lay motionless in the wreckage.
Rukia's breath hitched, her voice barely a whisper. "Sh-Shinichi…?"
Shrieker let out a crazed, victorious laugh. "HAHAHAHA! How's that, huh?! That's what you get for pissing me off!!"
As he cackled, he turned toward Rukia, towering over her as she knelt, frozen in shock.
But before he could make another move—
A powerful kick slammed into his gut, sending him tumbling backward.
Ichigo had arrived.
He stood in front of Rukia, his expression dark with fury. "Rukia, check on Shinichi," he ordered, his voice dangerously calm. "I'll make this bastard pay."
Rukia, snapping out of her daze, nodded quickly. She pulled out her glove and pressed it against Ichigo's chest, forcing his soul out. Now in his Shinigami form, Ichigo's grip tightened around his zanpakuto as he turned to face Shrieker.
Meanwhile, Rukia rushed toward Shinichi's broken body.
"Shinichi, wake up! Hey! Can you hear me?!"
There was no response.
Ichigo wasted no time, clashing with Shrieker. Unlike in the anime, the fight was completely one-sided—Shrieker, already weakened from his battle with Shinichi, stood no chance. With a single swift slash, Ichigo split his mask in two.
But before Shrieker could vanish—
The gates of Hell opened.
And as the battle came to an end—
Ichigo and Chad turned toward Shinichi, only to freeze.
Rukia's face had gone pale, her lips trembling as she whispered—
"H-He's not breathing… He's dead…"
[Quest Completed!]
[Survive a near death Situation (100%)]
[Reward: ???]