DxD: Trait Plunderer

Seireitei, Fourth Division barracks.

In a clean white hospital room, Rangiku awoke from her slumber, a hint of confusion in her sleepy eyes.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Staring blankly at the ceiling for several seconds, Rangiku suddenly sat up with a swift movement.

Two 'basketballs' shook and collided with her movement, making a slapping sound.

Watching this scene, Rukia, who was sitting beside her, twitched the corner of her eye and looked down at her own 'airport'.

Hmm... it's okay.

She's still young, there's room for growth.

"Rukia? Why are you here?" Rangiku blinked, finally noticing the caregiver sitting beside the hospital bed.

Rukia replied, "Tatsuma said you drank too much and might feel uncomfortable after waking up, so he asked me to take care of you."

Rangiku rubbed her forehead. "Now that you mention it, you're right."

Before heading to the First Division for the test, she had gone to a tavern in the Rukongai to have some drinks.

Participating in the test while drunk, and then being beaten by Tatsuma's clone.

To be able to last until the end of the battle, in a sense, could be considered having strong willpower.

Although it sounds quite embarrassing.

"Here, this is for sobering up." Rukia handed over a piece of candy.

"Hoo... Much better."

Rangiku narrowed her eyes, feeling a warm current rise in her abdomen and flow to her limbs. Her body no longer felt heavy, the pain in her head visibly dissipated, and her consciousness became completely clear.

Rangiku asked, "Rukia, where did you get this candy? It's really effective, give me some more."

Rukia said, "I don't have any more either. If you still want some, you can ask Tatsuma."

"Tatsuma... Huh?"

Rangiku suddenly froze.

Having recovered from her drunken state, she finally realized something was wrong.

"Rukia, the Tatsuma you're talking about... couldn't possibly be the Red Dragon Emperor, could it?"

"Yes, didn't I just say that Tatsuma asked me to take care of you?"

"Uh... that is a bit unexpected." Rangiku scratched her head.

Although she had heard many rumors about Tatsuma, she didn't have much interaction with him. Aside from the previous Aizen and Yhwach incidents, this strength test was the second time she had met him.

"I didn't expect the Red Dragon Emperor, who is rumored to be terrifying enough to make people change color... to be quite gentle?"

Rukia said, "Tatsuma is indeed quite easy to talk to, he's just more ruthless towards enemies."

"Speaking of which, Rukia, you were living with Captain-Commander Tatsuma when you were in the Human World before."

A hint of curiosity appeared on Rangiku's face as she asked, "Can you tell me what kind of person he is?"

"It's a bit difficult to describe. If there's anything particularly memorable... he's a bit lustful."

Recalling what she had seen and heard at Tatsuma's house, Rukia's expression became subtle.

As the young lady of the Kuchiki clan, Rukia had met many different kinds of people.

Among the nobles in the Soul Society, there were also many who had harems, taking concubines and wives.

However, Rukia had never seen anyone like Tatsuma who brought one or two women home every few days, and whose quality was astonishingly high.

"A bit lustful, huh... I have heard similar rumors before, I didn't expect it to be true."

Rangiku rested her finger on her chin, a look of contemplation on her face.

"Don't worry, Rangiku. Although there are many women at Tatsuma's house, it's basically consensual."

"Compared to women, he prefers to fight people and train to get stronger."

Perhaps feeling that Rangiku might misunderstand, Rukia added a couple more sentences.

However, after hearing her words, the desire for exploration in Rangiku's eyes increased instead of decreasing, and she pulled Rukia to ask other questions about Tatsuma.

But just as the two were talking heatedly, the door of the hospital room was pushed open.

Unohana walked in from outside and used Kaido to check Rangiku's condition.

"No problem, you can be discharged now."

"Isane, there are extra beds available. Send the Head of the Kidō Corps here."

"I'll go right away."

Isane, who was waiting outside the ward, replied and hurried towards the hospital's operating room.

Seeing this, Rangiku's face showed a hint of confusion. "Captain Unohana, did something happen? Why was the Head of the Kidō Corps admitted to the hospital?"

"Hmm? Didn't Rukia tell you?" Unohana's face revealed a faint smile.

"Not long ago, Tatsuma returned from the Soul King Palace and convened a new round of strength tests."

"However, this time the participants are not the Gotei 13, but the Kidō Corps and the nobles."

"Ah?"

It was understandable for the Kidō Corps to participate in a strength test but what about the nobles?

Saying goodbye to Unohana, Rangiku walked out of the hospital feeling a bit lost.

"Now you understand what I meant when I said Tatsuma likes to fight, right?" Rukia's voice sounded.

Rangiku came back to her senses and nodded silently. "I understand a bit, but if Tatsuma likes to fight, shouldn't he be looking for strong opponents like Captain Zaraki?"

"I don't know about that. Anyway, Tatsuma never refuses a fight and never misses an opportunity to fight." Rukia shrugged, then looked up at the dark night sky.

"It's getting late, I should go home. If you have anything else you want to ask, we can arrange a time to meet tomorrow."

"No need, this is enough. After all, I was just gossiping." Rangiku waved her hand, as if not too concerned.

Leaving the Fourth Division area, the two quickly parted ways at the next intersection.

After watching Rukia walk towards the Kuchiki clan's direction, Rangiku looked towards the First Division, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. However, this hesitation quickly turned into determination.

A faint Reiatsu fluctuation rose, and her figure flickered, disappearing from the spot.

A few minutes later, Rangiku arrived at the First Division barracks and met Chōjirō.

"Lieutenant Matsumoto, is there something you need at the First Division at this hour?"

"I want to see the Captain Commander."

"The Captain Commander is currently testing the strength of the Kidō Corps and the nobles. He might not be available at the moment."

"I can wait."

"..Then come with me."

After looking at Rangiku for a few seconds, Chōjirō seemed to sense her determination, nodded slightly, and agreed.

Inside the First Division barracks, Reiatsu continuously rose, and Hado and Bakudo fell from all directions.

In the center of the training ground, a man wearing a black robe stood still, blocking all the overwhelming attacks with just a flick of his hand and a movement of his foot.

After that, his figure flashed and rushed into the crowd, knocking away all the members of the Kidō Corps in his path.

The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed. The Fourth Division members standing nearby ran into the training ground to clear the battlefield.

Chōjirō seized the opportunity and walked over to report.

Rangiku stood further away and didn't know what the two were saying.

But after Chōjirō finished reporting, Tatsuma turned and looked at her.

The next second, a magic circle unfolded beneath Rangiku's feet.

The surrounding scenery changed rapidly. When Rangiku came back to her senses, she had already arrived in a spacious courtyard.