Last time Tenka went to assist the 7th Unit in investigating the strange occurrences within their territory. The members of 7th Unit crossed paths with Nelliel and Roka, the two Arrancar making quick work of the Anti-Demon Corps members. Meanwhile Kyouka, Yuuki, and Tenka cross paths with Izuho, who gives them one last chance to heed his warning.

Izuho stared down at the trio, Zangetsu stilled wrapped up and strapped to his back, he honestly hoped they would just listen to him. He didn't want to have to fight a group of humans.

Kyouka: I assume it's you releasing this strange pressure? How did you obtain such power? As a man you are incapable of gaining a Peach Blessing.

Izuho studied Kyouka closely, he could tell from how she spoke that she wasn't angered or even in denial of his power. She was simply curious, which gave the Arrancar some hope, maybe she would listen to reason. Instead of deny something like him could exist.

Izuho: You do not wish to know the story behind how I became what I am right now. It might just make doing your job more difficult.

Kyouka's eyebrow raised in slight surprise by that statement, not expecting such sharp denial of answering her question.

Kyouka: I will not get you in any form of trouble for having such power. If anything I believe it would be a great asset to the Anti-Demon Corps. If men could obtain a power of their own, it would only improve our chances in completely eradicating the Shuuki.

Izuho cocked his head to the side as he studied the 7th Unit Chief, he could tell she was being genuine, however she had no idea what actually happened to him.

Yuuki: You can trust Kyouka, she gave me a chance to help the Anti-Demon Corps.

Izuho's eyes widened in surprise slightly as he didn't think the creature that the two women were riding on was capable of speaking.

Izuho: So Shuuki can talk? Add that to the list of weird things I didn't know about for the last four years.

Kyouka: Yuuki is human, he merely takes on a monstrous form through my Peach Blessing, Slave.

Izuho's eyes widened in surprise slightly, but then he studied Yuuki more closely, he definitely didn't look like any Shuuki he had ever seen before.

Izuho: How about that, you Anti-Demon Corps members are just full of surprises aren't you?

Tenka: That still doesn't answer our question, as the Anti-Demon Corps it is our job to help humans lost in Mato. So please tell us what happened to you, what if others end up in your situation and do not have time to adapt to their new abilities like you?

Izuho grit his teeth in frustration, he was angry at the trio for doing their jobs, but they were flirting with danger trying to get involved with him.

Izuho: Was human......

The trio look at him in confusion, not at all understanding what he meant.

Kyouka: I beg your pardon?

Izuho: Like I said, I was human. After I fell into Mato four years ago, I stopped being one. I'm a monster now, so don't worry your pretty little heads about me. The Anti-Demon Corps doesn't help monsters right?

Kyouka and Tenka looked at one another, concerned expressions on their faces. People were being turned into monsters after falling into Mato? Had they been killing what were once humans at some point?

Izuho: People don't get turned into Shuuki if that's what you think, we're a completely different breed of monster.

The trio let out a collective sigh of relief but Kyouka and Tenka's expressions immediately turned serious once again.

Kyouka: Regardless you must tell us what happened to you, if you were once human that still means you deserve our assistance.

Tenka: Don't you want to prevent others from ending up like you? Please, we might be too late to help you, but there is still time for those who could still fall into Mato.

Izuho grit his teeth in frustration, he wanted to help them, truly he did, but if they got involved with the Arrancar, it would only put them in danger. Izuho turned on his heel and began to walk away.

Izuho: Just forget you ever saw me, this is our mess and we'll clean it up. Trust me, you're better off that way.

Izuho began walking away as Kyouka grit her teeth in frustration. She didn't want to make an enemy of the strange man, but she couldn't let him walk away without explaining any of the mysteries surrounding him. That's when an idea popped into the 7th Unit Chief's head.

Kyouka: I challenge you!

Izuho stopped walking and looked at Kyouka over his shoulder, a look of confusion on his face.

Izuho: I beg your pardon?

Kyouka: I challenge you to a duel. If I defeat you, you answer my questions. If you win, I let you walk away and we forget ever crossing paths with you. I promise, you have my word.

Izuho looked at Kyouka, studying her closely, trying to detect any form of lying from the 7th Unit Chief. However it quickly became apparent that the young woman was dead serious about this. Izuho sighed before walking to the edge of the cliff and leaping down. The orange haired Arrancar landed opposite to Kyouka and Yuuki, studying them closely.

Izuho: Come at me whenever you're ready, don't say I didn't warn you however.....

Kyouka studied Izuho, despite agreeing to fight her and Yuuki, his posture was relaxed, arms hanging limply at his sides. Kyouka then studied his face, his expression could be described as bored, mildly annoyed even. Finally she looked at the object strapped to his back, a large object wrapped up in bandages with the tang of a sword sticking out of it.

Kyouka: You aren't going to draw your weapon?

Izuho: I'm not gonna draw Zangetsu unless I need to. So show me what you got and I'll decide from there.

Kyouka's grip tightened on the chain, she hid it well, but she was a little offended that this strange man wasn't taking her seriously.

Yuuki: Kyouka, how should we proceed?

Kyouka was pulled from her thoughts by Yuuki, who looked back at her with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Kyouka: We go for a frontal assault, but approach with caution. We don't know what he's capable of.

Yuuki nodded before he faced forward and crouched down into a low stance as Kyouka tightened her grip on the chain and readied her katana. Tenka watched on a look of concern on her face.

Tenka: Be careful Kyouka, Slave-kun, I have a feeling what I saw was only a small portion of his abilities.

Kyouka then yanked on the chain as Yuuki bounded towards Izuho, who made no attempts to move. Yuuki leaped into the air and swung his left claw at Izuho, who lazily sidestepped the attack. Yuuki however was ready for this and swung his right claw horizontally at the Arrancar, aiming for the upper half of his torso. Izuho quickly ducked down as Yuuki's claw swiped above his head, narrowly missing the tips of his hair. Izuho reeled back his right fist before punching Yuuki in the gut. Yuuki let out a strangled yelp of pain as he was sent flying backwards. Kyouka held tight to the chain as Yuuki dug the claws on his feet into the ground to stop himself.

Kyouka: Yuuki, are you okay?

Yuuki: I'm okay, but we need to be careful Kyouka. Whoever or whatever this guy is, he's strong.

Kyouka grit her teeth as she tightened her hold on the chain and studied Izuho closely. Despite being attacked, the Arrancar still stood with his body's posture still completely relaxed, the bored expression still plastered across his face.

Izuho: Do you wanna forfeit? We don't have to keep going if you don't think you stand a chance.

Kyouka locked eyes with Izuho, an intense glare in them.

Kyouka's Thoughts: He's toying with us, he thinks this is game.....

Yuuki: Kyouka, don't let him get to you. I'm still right by your side and we are still in this fight!

Kyouka was once again snapped out of her thoughts by Yuuki, who was looking at her over his shoulder. Kyouka let a small smile spread across her face, she didn't say it often, but she really did appreciate Yuuki staying by her side.

Kyouka: If he won't take us seriously, we'll just have to force him to submit.

Yuuki nodded his head before he lunged at Izuho again, who still made no effort to move out of the way of the charging duo. Yuuki pounced at Izuho again, both his claws outstretched towards the Arrancar who looked at him with a mixture of boredom and disappointment.

Izuho: This song and dance again?

Izuho ducked down as Yuuki flew over him, however the Arrancar's head quickly snapped forward, seeing Kyouka lunging at him with her katana at the ready. The 7th Unit Chief swung her blade in a horizontal arc in front of her. Izuho kicked off the ground, propelling himself backwards out of the way of the attack. However Yuuki sslashed Izuho across the back with both his claws, sending the Arrancar flying back towards Kyouka. The 7th Unit Chief lunged at her airborne opponent, readying her katana in the process. Kyouka swung her blade diagonally, slashing Izuho from his left shoulder to his right hip, the Arrancar crashed into the ground as Kyouka landed back on Yuuki's back.

Kyouka: Do you take us seriously now, Swordsman in White?

Izuho shakily got up, his robes torn from the attacks. However what caught both Kyouka and Yuuki's eyes was a rather odd tattoo emblazoned on Izuho's back. The tattoo was rather simple, it was solid black in color and depicted the number ten in rather ornate writing.

Yuuki: The number ten? That's an odd tattoo to have.

Izuho however began to laugh, he had to admit, that was a pretty good fast one they pulled on him. The orange haired Arrancar tore off the tattered robes that covered his torso, revealing his chiseled and tone physique underneath. Izuho turned to face the duo, the open wound on his torso still lightly bleeding.

Izuho: Gotta admit, it's been awhile since someone outside of my colleagues has managed to injure me.

Izuho grabbed Zangetsu's tang with his left hand as he sunk down into a readied stance. Kyouka and Yuuki noticed an excited smile spread across Izuho's face as he drew Zangetsu from his back, the bandages unraveling, revealing the giant sword's blade. The Arrancar pointed the weapon at Kyouka and Yuuki, cocking his head to the side in a cocky manner.

Izuho: Alright you've impressed me, now try and keep up while I'm taking this a bit more seriously!

As the Arrancar, Kyouka and Yuuki began to circle one another, Tenka watched on with a look of concern on her face.

Tenka: He killed that Hollow with a single swing of that sword. Kyouka, Slave-Kun, please be careful.

As Tenka silently prayed for their safety, Kyouka studied Zangetsu closely. She had never seen such a monstrous sword, she even hesitated to call it a sword.

Yuuki: Kyouka, how should we proceed?

Kyouka: That sword of his could inflict severe damage to both of us if we're not careful. However due to its massive size, it should hinder his agility. If we can keep out of his effective range, we should be able to hold the advantage in this fight.

Yuuki nodded his head in understanding before sinking down into a crouched stance, ready to charge in when ready. Izuho tightly gripped Zangetsu's tang with both hands as he held the sword off to left side. Izuho took a single step forward before seemingly disappearing into thin air. Kyouka and Yuuki's eyes widen in shock, but they had no time to question what happened as Izuho reappeared on the ground right in front of him.

Kyouka: Yuuki block!

Izuho swung Zangetsu upwards as Yuuki raised both his arms in front of him, pressing them together side by side. Zangetsu's blade sliced into Yuuki's arms, causing the slave to get sent sliding backwards across the ground ten feet.

Kyouka: Yuuki, are you okay?!

Kyouka looked down at her partner and noticed the nasty cut injuries on both his arms, blood leaking out of the wounds.

Yuuki: I-I'm fine, that attack really packed a punch. You were right about his sword, that thing could seriously injure us if we're not careful.

Izuho: Gotta admit I'm even more impressed, if you walked away from that attack with just a nasty cut then you're more durable than I expected. Guess I have to put a bit more force behind my swing next time.

Kyouka and Yuuki's eyes widened in shock, Izuho was insinuating that he was still holding back.

Kyouka: How could a human obtain this level of power? Even Peach Blessings do not increase abilities this much!

Izuho: Like I said earlier, I haven't been a human in four years. The moment I died, I stopped being human.

Kyouka, Yuuki, and Tenka's eyes all widened in shock, the Arrancar was now claiming he had died before obtaining his current level of power.

Yuuki: You died?! How is that even possible, you're standing right in front of us!

Tenka: That hole in your torso, right below your neck, is that-

Izuho: The place a Shuuki skewered me on its claws? Yeah it was, but like hell I wanted to die like that. Next thing I know this weird mask covers my face, I start turning into a monster and slaughtered those freaks.

Tenka covered her mouth with her hands, Yuuki looked visibly ill, and Kyouka's grip on the chain tightened as she grit her teeth in frustration.

Kyouka: Are you claiming that when humans die in Mato, they have a chance of-

Izuho: Turning into Hollows? Yeah, that's how it works. Apparently the human soul and demonic energy mixing together has some nasty effects. Turns you into an empty predator constantly searching for a means to fill that void within yourself.

Kyouka, Yuuki, and Tenka all froze at that information, this meant that those the Anti-Demon Corps failed to save possibly ended up suffering a fate far worse than death itself.

Tenka: Then what about you? You clearly aren't like that monster that attacked my Unit, is there hope for the people who suffer that fate?

Izuho looked over his shoulder before smirking at Tenka.

Izuho: I only told you that because those two managed to impress me, you want the rest of the info you gotta defeat me.

Kyouka: So be it......

Yuuki lunged at Izuho who took a step forward and seemingly disappeared again. Yuuki dug his claws into the ground as he slid to a stop. Yuuki and Kyouka scanned the area around them, in search of Izuho. Yuuki turned his head to the left and spotted something out of the corner of his eye.

Yuuki: Kyouka, behind you!

Kyouka whipped around to see Izuho falling towards her with Zangetsu raised above her head. The 7th Unit Chief quickly raised her katana above her head as Zangetsu's blade collided with the blade of her sword. Kyouka was launched off Yuuki's back as she desperately held on tight to the chain. The chain went taut as Kyouka locked eyes with Yuuki.

Kyouka: Yuuki, now!

Yuuki grabbed the chain before yanking on it, causing Kyouka to come flying right back at Izuho. The Arrancar raised Zangetsu in front himself to block Kyouka's incoming attack. However Izuho felt a sudden sharp pain in his abdomen, looking down to see that Yuuki had stabbed the claws on his left hand into him. This momentary distraction gave Kyouka the opening she needed. Kyouka swung her katana horizontally, slicing Izuho across his torso. Blood sprayed out of the wound as Izuho was sent flying backwards, crashing into the ground twenty feet away from Yuuki as Kyouka landed back on his back.

Kyouka: Well done Yuuki, that attack should have significantly injured him. If we keep up this pressure we should prove victorious.

However Kyouka's statement was interrupted by laughing as both her and Yuuki turned to see Izuho had gotten back on his feet, blood still spilling out of his newest injury as he rested Zangetsu's blade across his shoulder.

Izuho: Man it's been awhile since I've had this much fun fighting someone! You two are the real deal, even if both of you still have a ways to go!

Izuho let out another laugh as he locked eyes with Kyouka and Yuuki, who both stared at him stunned that he was still able to stand up somehow.

Yuuki: H-How is he still able to stand?! He barely looks like he's been weakened by our attacks!

Izuho: Consider this a thank you for making this little duel fun! I'll show you what's it's like when I put some actual power behind my attacks!

Suddenly crimson energy burst out around Izuho's feet and shot up into the air around him.

Kyouka, Yuuki, and Tenka all tensed up, the pressure in the air seemed to have doubled in an instant. Sweat started to run down Yuuki's face, his eyes widening slightly in fear, what kind of monster was the orange haired Arrancar? Kyouka and Tenka did a better job of hiding it, but both of them were intimidated as well by this display of power.

Tenka: Just how big is the gap between him and us?

Izuho clutched Zangetsu's tang as he rested the tip of the blade against the ground. Izuho then swung blade along the ground before swinging the blade upwards into the air. A blade made of crimson Cero was generated as it roared across the ground towards Kyouka and Yuuki.

Kyouka: Yuuki! Defensive formation now!

Yuuki quickly crossed his arms in front of himself  while Kyouka held her katana out in front of her horizontally in a defensive position. The Cero Blade collided with the duo, it dug into Yuuki's arms, cutting deeper into his already existing wounds, causing blood to splash onto the ground in front of him. Sparks flew off Kyouka's katana blade as she grit her teeth in frustrated determination, this attack had a lot of force behind it. A cracking sound was heard as Kyouka noticed that the blade of her katana was starting to break. Yuuki let out a howl of pain as his arms couldn't take much more of this abuse. Suddenly the Cero blade exploded, engulfing the duo in a large cloud of smoke.

Tenka: KYOUKA!!! SLAVE-KUN!!!

Tenka watched on in horror as the cloud of smoke began to clear away. Kyouka was still standing, her uniform reduced to rags and half of her Katana's blade was missing, it was stabbed into the ground behind her. Collapsed on the ground behind her was a a young man with short black hair in a simple white shirt, jeans, and sneakers. There was a bloody cut on the left side of Kyouka's face and Yuuki's arms were still bleeding slightly from his earlier injuries. Despite her terrible condition, Kyouka still shakily raised her broken katana in front of her, still ready to fight.

Izuho: I'm impressed, you can barely stand, yet you're still trying to protect that slave of yours. I figured you'd sacrifice him in a heartbeat to get some form of advantage.

Kyouka's face contorted into an expression of pure rage at what Izuho was insinuating about her and how she viewed Yuuki.

Kyouka: Yuuki is a member of my Unit and puts his complete faith in me! I would never betray his loyalty to me by treating him as a mere pawn!

Kyouka pointed her broken katana at Izuho, she was clearly still determined to fight despite her legs being ready to give out at any moment. Izuho studied the 7th Unit Chief, impressed by not only her resolve, but the clear care she had for her subordinates. The orange haired Arrancar then let out another laugh before smirking at Kyouka.

Izuho: You impressed me, but now you've earned my respect. Anyone who cares about their subordinates that much is alright in my book. So what's your name?

Kyouka: Kyouka Uzen, the boy is named Yuuki Wakura!

Izuho smirked at Kyouka before nodding his head as the bandages wrapped up Zangetsu's blade once again before he sheathed in on his back.

Izuho: Kyouka Uzen and Yuuki Wakura, I'll remember those names. If you ever cross paths with me again here in Mato, feel free to challenge me anytime you want. If you can one day overcome me, I'll answer your questions.

Izuho then leaped into the air and landed back on top of the cliff he had been standing on earlier. Suddenly both Nelliel and Roka appeared next to him.

Nelliel: Sorry for being late Izuho, we got held up by members of the Anti-Demon Corps. We managed to escape them after we incapacitated them.

While Nelliel explained this, Roka looked over Izuho's body, stunned by his injuries.

Roka: Boss, who managed to injure you like this?

Nelliel also took notice of the injuries and began to fuss over Izuho slightly. Izuho however locked eyes with Kyouka, a small smirk spreading across his face.

Izuho: When I was human, my name was Izuho Kurogane, most people just call me Izuho now. I look forward the next time we cross swords Kyouka Uzen.

With that Izuho, Nelliel, and Roka began sinking into a quicksand pit of bone white sand, completely disappearing into the ground. Tenka immediately ran up to Kyouka, whose legs finally gave out as she fell forward towards the ground. Tenka caught her fellow Chief as she let out a sigh of relief.

Tenka: I'm starting to think investigating whoever those people are is a bad idea.

Kyouka: I don't think we have anything to worry about.

Tenka looked at her fellow Chief, slightly shocked by this statement.

Kyouka: He could've ended that battle with a single attack, yet the entire time, even that final attack. He held back, a monster doesn't control their power for the sake of their opponent.

Tenka: You do have a point, however that brings up another concern. Izuho continued to say getting involved with him would put us in danger. Do you think there is possibly something much larger at play here in Mato?

Kyouka looked at Tenka a serious expression on her face.

Kyouka: Our next course of action should be regrouping at our base. We get the needed medical attention. Then our Units hold a meeting and discuss what we know so far.

Tenka nodded her head in agreement before she rested Kyouka's arm over her shoulders and grabbed Yuuki by one of his arms. Tenka then opened a portal that would take them back to the 7th Unit's base. However the 6th Unit Chief once again found her thoughts wandering to Izuho.

Tenka's thoughts: Strong, yet gentle. Brutal yet compassionate, may you just keep becoming more and more interesting Izuho.

Tenka let a small smirk spread across her face before she took Kyouka and Yuuki through the portal, transporting them back to the 7th Unit's base. This however is only the beginning of the Anti-Demon Corps involvement with this strange third party in the ongoing conflict within Mato.

So Izuho clashed with Kyouka and Yuuki. Despite the duo putting up an impressive fight, they were unaware of just how different the level of power was between them and the Arrancar. However Izuho has seemingly taken an interest in them, believing they could both grow far stronger with time. As always please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments! What awaits Izuho as he returns to Hueco Mundo and reports to Las Noches? What will the members of the 6th and 7th Units do moving forward with the limited information they have? What exactly is Izuho looking for in Mato? Find out in the next Chapter of Chained Soldier: Resurrección of the Forsaken!