Getting into the school wasn’t that bad. Chisai phased through the wall with some concentration. He returned a moment later to say he had covered up all security cameras near where the Portal was with pieces of paper. He looked pleased with himself.

“You have a sword, you could have just bashed them or sliced them,” Maria pointed out with a grin. Chisai blanched as if this was horrible.

“But then the school would have to pay to get more and someone might get hurt and they’ll be no footage to help them with claims in a court of law!” he protested. The school at night looked forlorn and silent but I still felt like it was best not to linger too long.

I shook my head but was a little distracted as the System was showing me something rather cool.

Would you like to save ‘Demonslayer888’ and ‘Sad Reaper ;n;’ as under the group name ‘Antventurers’ so you can invite them all at once?

I definitely did.

Would you like to set Party limits now that you have three members?

EXP: Equal

Gems: Enable for all.

Advance skill learning: Enabled

System and stat sheet access: Enabled.

Options can be toggled for all members or individuals.

This was damn neat. If I had someone in the party for emergencies or to keep an eye on them, I could limit the benefits they got while still having awareness of them and tracking their health. We pushed open the front door and the Portal was near the first set of stairs.

It was pretty visible from the main door which is why I spotted it without having to get near in day.

“Those portals look a little sinister,” Chisai said and Maria nudged him.

“The Port is cool. It gets us out and is like a cool night light in safe zones,” she said. I saw she was sort of enjoying no longer being the newest to ideas of Malice Zones.

I walked us into the G-5 zone. The toughest challenge yet but we had a new teammate and that could reduce dangers by quite a bit.

The Portal swallowed us and we were falling.

---

Urahara frowned as he eyed the distance.

“Up and gone again. Such absolute concealment from an inexperienced kid?” he pondered but he went outside to the feline on the wall.

“Last seen about the school. I doubt you’ll struggle to find them when they ‘reappear’,” he told Yoruichi. The cat flicked her tail for a moment.

“I’m thinking more of a wild card than any true pawn of our foe.This is far too badly handled to be a move. Still, they could prove useful if we swing them under our banner,” she mused. Urahara hid a smile behind a fan.

“I would be interested in figuring out their trick of vanishing and what they did at the hospital. The ambient spirit residue is on the rise but its natural and actually is bringing in Natural Spirits. Nothing much more than sprites and barely sentient but...” he trailed off.

“Druid? Shaman? Is the boy some kind of aspect of the elements bound to human form? Natural Spirits are vastly unpredictable and messing with them can lead to terrible consequences,” Yoruichi reminded seriously.

“No, they are dying breeds and one doesn’t just slip the leash and run off with the news spreading. I think this may be something we haven't dealt with before. I think the Reaper is easy enough to talk to, this girl he has met is... difficult because I sense a bit of Grace Spirit coming off her. I didn’t get too close but she might be connected to the ‘guest’ in the area,” Urahara explained and tapped his closed fan against his chin.

“Angels... last thing we need now. But that was no Cherub that arrived. That group attracted an Archangel and those lot are just as bad as the Soul Society at times. If it can’t be manipulated, it must be destroyed. I was surprised we didn’t see a Captain coming to remind them to keep off their lawn,” she sighed.

“A passing appearance with a hasty departure isn’t going to get more than eyes turned to the area. The odd thing was that angel popped around several different cities quick enough but I lost my reading of his energy after a while so I don’t know where he went but the fact we aren’t drowning in scouts means the angel must have lured them away,” Urahara sat down on his porch with his hat laying next to him.

“Leave the Angels to their own trouble. I’ll be back soon but I’ll be going on a trip before long. Things to check out and I’ve been lazy the last few weeks,” she huffed and vanished over the wall. Urahara merely twirled his cane.

“Angels, Reapers, and oh my... times are getting interesting,” he said aloud to no one.

---

The Safe zone was the entrance hall of the school. I looked around and relaxed as the air wasn’t anything like the pressing feel of an F-Rank. Chisai wandered to the closed doors of the school in confusion.

“Where did the world go?” he asked and I winced as he peered out the door and down. He shut the door a moment later.

“Knitting! The madness was knitting... they all looked at me!” he said in a wheezing panic. Maria lead him away.

“They’re called Beings. Think of them like staring into the sun. Just don’t,” she explained gently. Chisai swallowed and nodded.

“I’m really worried a place like this is in a school! Will the students be harmed if we don’t do something?” he asked in worry, pushing his own trauma aside for the concern of the kids in the real world.

I shook my head as I looked at the white hazy barrier keeping us safe.

“From what I get, G-rank zones are low and don’t affect much. They’re more like extremely sharp one time events or low-grade negative emotions. The school would have fear, nervousness, lust, isolation, and so on but compared to a prison? The negativity would be like occasional breezes rather than a river of sludge,” I said, having been thinking about this as we explored around town for zones.

The abandoned hospital would have been much higher ranked in the days before it shut. But if Malice leaks away with no source as the years went on or if Watari the Demi-Hollow was using it to grow, I didn’t know.

“Nothing can get in or out,” Maria agreed as she pulled her chain out.

“The creatures ahead will range from G-3 to maybe G-6. I suspect bosses of a G-2 would still crush them but no need to rush through. We have time and can take a few nights to go over the place,” I said with confidence.

“Chisai, Maria? I’ll go first and you lot support me from the back. I’ll summon King and she can act as a mid-buffer-” I began.

“She? King is a girl?” Maria blinked.

“Yeah... she has kids. So King is a Mom as well,” I said dryly. Maria’s eyes lit up and she also shivered.

“Babies but... ant babies... but babies!” she argued with herself.

I lead the way in and straight ahead I saw the school was a graffiti-covered with countless of guidelines on the floor.

Follow for acne fear!

This way for sex shame!

Confused feelings to the right.

Scholarship hopes dashed second floor.

Dropouts spin in a circle until death.

“Oh I think have three of those classes tomorrow” Maria said with a sigh as she eyed ‘eating alone’, ‘no future goals, and ‘crisis of faith’. I pulled her into a one-armed hug and she snorted. Chisai also came near.

“Being alone is awful. Miss Maria, I can keep you company in my spirit state if no Hollows appear tomorrow!” he offered brightly. Maria gave him a sudden shy look.

“You don’t have to Mr Shirudo. I’m used to it,” she tried to say but Chisai looked serious.

“That’s even worse. I’ve been alone most of my life and I hate it. I’ll meet you at lunch. I think I can sense your energy if I get close...” he pondered.

Then he blinked.

“You can call me Chisai. I’m not a Mr or a sir or anything like that,” he told her. I was looking around for danger and was trying to hide a smile.

“Then call me Maria, none of that ‘miss’ stuff,” she huffed.

“Come along, my friendly ants. Monsters are waiting to eat us and I think they might choke on the sweet moment,” I poked at them which Maria swatted at. Chisai was looking between us with a small smile.

“Thank you for inviting me... despite the scary portal and place... I feel better having people at my back,” Chisai bowed.

I needed to get these two like a hundred friends. They were bumming me out with how earnest they were at the hint of kindness.

---

Taking careful steps forward, I lead the group with a newly summoned King who greeted each of us with one of her feeler brushes to the face. The hallways split almost at every junction and I groaned when I understood something.

“It’s a bloody maze. Lovely, I get it. Kids navigate school and have no idea what to do, go, or what to say,” I sighed. Seeing we were going to need to be careful because of the semi narrow spaces, I lead us back to the Safe Zone so I could upgrade things. I would feel better-having everything done. I was hoping to see what kind of enemies there were so I could plan better but I wasn’t risking it now.

First I put a point into my Physical, one into my Energy, and one into my Spiritual. Mental wasn’t as important right now and I had a skill that would feed that if needed. It left me a good stat ratio.

HP: 70

Energy: 65

SP: 60

Physical: 14

Spiritual: 12

Energy: 13

Mental: 10

Points: 0

Next, I finally evolved Purity Stone.

My head felt like a dozen hammers slammed into it and my brain was set on fire for a few seconds. I was so stunned I didn’t do more than sway.

“Ow...” I mumbled.

Purity Stone is evolving! Please choose a path for the skill to develop along!

-The Light of Protection: The stones are a gift and their aura can now repel evil.

-The Touch of Life: Holding the Stone is a blessing and soothes the ails of the body.

With mixing stones I could maybe make both effects but my job was to protect. Maria and even Chisai might learn to heal. My gems were utility and aoe buffers. It would be better to keep on that track. I picked the first option as I heard Maria explaining how to open their status to Chisai.

Purity Stone has evolved to Sacred Orb!

Sacred Orb. Rank E. Active. Lv.1: Create a fist sized orb that cleans and purifies a 10 meter radius from the stone. It can decrease stress and fatigue of those in their light. If those with dark intentions to user or allies is in range, they will feel an active force pushing against them physically and spiritually. The force is weakest at the edge and grows in strength at the core. This orb can only repel those with conscious evil intent. Animals and those with no setienence will not be affected. Those stronger than User will easier ignore the effect while those weaker may be unable to enter at all.

Cost 10 Energy. Last for 20 minutes. Does not stack within same range besides cleaning effect.

I created one curiously and a misty orb appeared in my hand. I felt my teeth getting cleaned from the burger earlier and... did my need to pee just get removed?

Chisai and Maria basked in the light for a moment before King shuddered. She focused and also created a Sacred Orb with interest.

Her’s was greenish and I smelled mint. Feeling jealous, I sniffed my orb and got a whiff of vanilla. I now smelled of lemon from my cape, vanilla from my orb, and still felt like King had the better deal.

I would make some Elemental Sacred Orbs later... I wanted cool smells damn it! Finished up, I turned to Maria who was playing with King’s orb.

“What did you use your White Gem on?” I asked and the girl gave me a grin.

“Oh, nothing much,” she promised. She focused and held her palm out. I raised a brow as I was pushed back a foot or two. Maria frowned.

“I was able to move rocks and things farther but I got a skill called ‘Safe Space’ from a red after I choose what I wanted. I guessed I lacked a proper way of defending myself if I was weaponless or the enemy was too close and the gem agreed,” she explained.

It was more like a force push than a safe space but the name was kind of a joke in itself. Maria was making herself safe by pushing people away and being alone. That was a bit on the nose for a gem.

I turned to Chisai who handed me the notebook with his sheet written down for us to see. He looked miserable.

“I’m not very good...” he mumbled.

Chisai Shirudo. G-3. Reaper.

Title: Fourth Squad Forgettable

Level 5

Spiritual: 15

Control: 14

Mental: 8

Soul: 8

Strengths: Calm mind. Hard worker. Beginner Kido. Knowledge gathering. Medic.

Weakness: Crippling doubt. Swordsmanship. Hand to hand. Sensing. Speed. Zanpakuto.

Strongest skill: Barrier Kido.

Weakest: Zanpakuto

Zanpakuto: Unresponsive

“Please don’t kick me out. I’ll do my best,” Chisai said after a moment.

“You got some good stats and barrier kido sounds pretty damn useful for covering me in combat or protecting Maria when she's healing!” I praised. He blinked in surprise, then smiled.

“I can do that! Barriers are my best area!” he agreed happily. Maria hummed.

“Counting on you then to guard my fucking ass against the nasty crap in here,” she encouraged. Chisai gaped.

“M-Maria! You can’t curse so openly!” he fretted. Maria snorted as she brushed her black hair out of her face.

“Yes, I fucking can. Watch, you can too! Tell me a swear,” she pushed. Chisai looked really uncomfortable.

“H-heck!” he stuttered. We stared at him.

“Too much?” he asked with a wince. I just had to smile.

“Just enough. But with some combat experience you’ll shape up nicely,” I continued.

“But my Zanpakuto...” he said before stopping.

“Don’t need it. If it doesn’t want to help out then we simply don’t count on it. We already have you after all,” I nodded. Most times from what was seen, seeking your Zanpakuto was... less effective than just doing your own shit with a full heart and making it feel ignored as it doesn’t say anything.

If I got Chisai into that kind of state... I had a feeling his sword would come to him. I stretched and pulled out my spare Yellow gem and cracked it over my mace.

The battered old metal on a stick glowed.

“This is the cool shit we get to do once you start rolling with everything,” Maria nudged Chisai who was staring at me.

Old Mace has been upgraded to Solid Quality Mace then upgraded to Black Steel Mace!

Black Steel Mace. G-3. Weapon: A solid metal weapon that is in fresh condition. The steel has tiny reinforced points on the ridged edges to avoid denting and improve damage. The grip is wrapped in a firm material to improve handling.

My little wooden mace with a chipped head turned into a long black metal club that looked like it was made to destroy and crush. It had proper heft now and I was glad for my extra Physical because swinging it took a little effort. The head had thin edged metal sides to potentially slice and cut as it also crushed.

All in all? I likey.

“His mace transformed!” Chisai said in shock.

“One way and only upgraded. Nothing like your Zanpakuto,” I quickly informed him. As we left the Safe Zone once more... Maria and I explained the gems but I knew to give him one would make it easier to understand.

We traversed the area. I marked directions by using my acid to melt arrows into the wall back to the Safe Zone.

“Russ can do acid, fire, ice, ice fire, cleaning, ants, rocks, and sometimes he grows a tail and stings things,” Maria said cheerfully as poor Chisai was struggling to roll with it.

“I can turn into a mouse, heal with prayers, push people, and wrap enemies up in an empowered chain whip to bury spikes of justice into their flesh to bleed out their sins. Oh and I can create little safe zones once a day,” she added as an afterthought.

“And summon angel drones,” I mumbled which I turned to her.

“Maybe you can scout?” I suggested. Maria didn’t answer but closed her eyes.

“Grant me the sight of the light. Be my eyes, Parvum Lumen!” she flicked her hand and a golden orb began to swirl with symbols and a single golden ring in the middle. The light died down to reveal the mechanical winged eye. Maria’s own face glowed to reveal the golden eye patch on her left eye.

“Right oh! Scouting,” she said and the eye flew off at speeds I would struggle to keep up with.

“I feel so mundane,” Chisai mumbled to himself.

“Give it a day,” I promised him which oddly didn’t seem to reassure the reaper. Maria was speaking quietly as her scout went about.

“Lots of halls with no doors. I found some stairs but I’ll keep on this floor for now. Hmm I think this is some sort of library? Looks a bit weird but it's a right, fourth left and another right if you want to go there. No enemies sighted,” she reported as the eye returned.

The lack of enemies was odd but I decided it would be a matter of time.

“Let’s go get some reading done, I suppose!” I announced and we set off. I left more acid arrows as we travelled. This maze was a pain as it was but between Maria’s eye and my arrows, we were mostly doing okay.

I just hoped that would last.

---

“Where is it?”

Tatsuki Arisawa demanded as she looked under her bed for her backpack. Her homework was in there damn it. She frowned and tried to remember when she had last seen it.

“I had it before practise then... I sat down with Orihime outside the gym and- Damn it, she distracted me by getting her hand stuck in a vending machine! I must have left it at the bench...” she put a hand to her head in annoyance.

Orihime was talking about how happy she was to not have lost her wallet and wasn’t paying attention when she talked about that guy, Russel.

Shaking her head, Tatsuki snapped back to the present and thought about what to do.

She frowned and eyed the time.

It wasn’t too late. It might be easy enough to go and grab it. She raced downstairs.

Like she’d let something like night time and a fence stop her! No one stopped Tatsuki Arisawa from winning! She wasn’t going to let her class marks be lowered and let Ichigo or Orihime pass her again.

She closed her door and set her face in a fierce expression.

Even if it was friends or foes... no one moved on and left her behind!