Marvel: Soul King

Lod's Reiatsu had reached the sixth level, which was roughly equivalent to the lowest-ranking officer among the thirteen divisions of the Soul Society. It meant he had just managed to achieve the Shikai of his Zanpakutō.

Though this power wasn't impressive by any stretch, it gave Lod a slim chance to survive in the Marvel Universe.

However, it still wasn't enough.

He laid on a bench and whispered to himself, "I'm still not strong enough…"

Lod knew the depths of danger in the Marvel Universe. With his current strength, surviving in this chaotic realm was a daunting task.

After much thought, he decided to set a trap.

Everything that happened last night had been carefully orchestrated by Lod to stage a scene titled "The Arrival of the Shinigami." The three of them in Hell's Kitchen were his chosen main characters. They possessed high spiritual power and the rare ability to see Shinigamis.

How the hell all three of them could see Shinigamis at the same time, Lod couldn't tell. Maybe humans of this world are more different then he expected—just some food for thought.

He planned for the sole survivor to draw SHIELD's attention, which would give him the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the organization. Using SHIELD's vast resources and influence, Lod aimed to achieve his ultimate goals.

Given Nick Fury's personality and his obsessive need for control, there was no way he would ignore the sudden appearance of a mysterious "Soul Reaper" under his watch.

Lod smirked and muttered, "SHIELD, let me borrow your power for a bit."

When Lod had first arrived in this world, he had intended to quietly grow stronger. Like other transmigrators, he thought he could bide his time, gather strength, and emerge as an unstoppable force.

But reality didn't cooperate.

Over the past year, as a Shinigami, Lod hunted Hollows across the world, completing his system's missions. Eventually, he realized a bitter truth—Shinigamis had limits.

No matter how many Hollows he defeated or tasks he completed, his progress was painfully slow. Even if he worked tirelessly for years, by the time Thanos arrived, his power might only rival a captain's level.

Captain-level strength seemed impressive but was nothing compared to a being like Thanos, who possessed nearly celestial-level power in some comics. Facing someone like him would be hopeless.

He understood that he needed to go beyond the limits of a Shinigami. But time wasn't on his side.

No amount of personal effort would allow him to reach celestial level power within a few years, so he had no choice but to rely on others to accelerate his growth.

There was another pressing issue.

Lod had always wondered why Hollows exists in the Marvel Universe.

Before his arrival, this universe shouldn't have had Hollows. But after he showed up, they began appearing out of nowhere.

It was strange, wasn't it?

The Marvel Universe already had Hell, and the souls of the dead were under the control of Death, one of the five Cosmic entities. So why were Hollows showing up?

According to his system, Lod's body harbored the power of the Soul King. As his strength grew, this power unintentionally corrupted nearby souls, turning them into Hollows.

In other words, the appearance of Hollows was directly tied to his existence as the inheritor of the Soul King's power.

And this was only the beginning.

The stronger he became, the wider the range of his influence. Eventually, his presence might affect all of America, then the entire world, and perhaps even the universe.

This development put him at odds with Death, a Cosmic entity responsible for managing the souls of the deceased. If she discovered that her domain was being encroached upon by a mortal, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Even if Death didn't notice right away, Hell's many rulers, like Mephisto, would undoubtedly take offense at his interference. As a Shinigami, Lod's responsibilities conflicted with theirs.

It was inevitable—he would have to face these entities.

Realizing this, Lod resolved to grow stronger at all costs.

"Let's see how S.H.I.E.L.D. reacts to the revelation of Shinigamis, Hollows, the Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo," he said with a sly grin.

---

The Next Morning

Agent Coulson, accompanied by Agent May, arrived in Hell's Kitchen to investigate the events of the previous night.

"Do we have a report yet?" Coulson asked as he surveyed the devastated street.

May frowned as she examined the damage and said, "The destruction is extensive. It looks like something sliced through the entire street in an instant."

"Sliced?" Coulson muttered thoughtfully.

A technician approached them and said, "It couldn't be caused by high-tech weapons, they would've left some traces or energy signatures."

Coulson crouched down to inspect the smooth cuts in the street and murmured, "These edges are incredibly clean… almost as if they were cut by a blade."

May shook her head in disbelief. "A blade? Are you serious? How long would a blade need to be to cause this much damage?"

Coulson didn't respond immediately. His mind was already racing with possibilities.

"We've seen stranger things," he said finally.

Another technician informed them, "We found two dead bodies and a survivor from last night. He's been brought in for questioning."

Coulson's expression lit up. "Perfect. Maybe he saw something."

---

In a dimly lit interrogation room, a nervous man named Ron was tied to a chair.

Coulson sat across from him and said, "Good morning, Ron. I just need you to answer a few questions."

Ron glared at him and shouted, "Who are you people? Why am I here? Let me go!"

"We're with the FBI," Coulson said while gesturing him to be calm. "We're not here to harm you. We just need your cooperation."

After a tense exchange, Coulson finally coaxed Ron into talking.

Ron's face turned pale as he recounted the events of the previous night. His voice trembled as he said, "I saw him… I saw the Soul Reaper."

Coulson's expression changed as he left the room.

He hurried to Director Nick Fury's office and reported the incident.

"We've uncovered evidence of Soul Reapers and Hollows," Coulson said gravely.

Fury leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Great. Another headache."

But even he couldn't ignore the implications of this new information.

Coulson carefully reported the intel he had gathered from Ron to Nick Fury.

"Soul Reapers and Hollows, huh?"

Nick Fury clasped his hands on the desk, staring intently at Coulson with his single eye, and asked, "What's your take on this? How credible is it?"

Coulson pulled out his tablet, swiped a few times, and projected a blue holographic screen in front of Fury.

"Judging by the destruction at yesterday's scene and the unexplained incidents in New York over the past year, the credibility is very high."

Fury glanced at the screen, feeling a sinking sensation in his chest.

As Coulson said, the holographic map showed thousands of unexplained events across New York, marked with red dots. Most of these cases had remained unsolved.

Coulson handed over another report and added, "I reached out to 24 independent labs to analyze and compare evidence from these scenes. This is their combined conclusion. Take a look, sir."

Fury skimmed the report, his expression growing heavier. "So, you're saying the Hollows and Soul Reapers are real?"

"As much as I hate to admit it..." Coulson exhaled deeply and confessed, "The evidence suggests that souls exist and that they're something we can't perceive with our naked eyes."

Fury drummed his fingers on the desk in silence, his mind swirling with unease.

Soul Reapers and Hollows—entities that defied human understanding—had suddenly emerged. What could this mean?

Though he was privy to most of the world's secrets as the head of SHIELD, this situation left Fury deeply unsettled.

After a long pause, Fury stopped tapping the desk and declared firmly, "From this moment, all information regarding Soul Reapers is classified. Establish a file under top-secret clearance. Your clearance is now upgraded to Level Eight. You will take charge of this investigation."

Coulson was stunned. Level Eight agents were extremely rare in SHIELD, reserved for only the most trusted and experienced individuals who had served for over a decade with an unblemished record. Reaching this level granted access to some of the agency's most closely guarded secrets.

Despite his surprise, Coulson answered simply, "Understood."

"There's one more thing," Fury continued. "Keep this investigation covert. Report directly to me about any findings."

"Yes, sir." Coulson nodded before leaving.

After Coulson left, Fury reclined in his chair, picked up another report from his desk, and sighed. "Italy, huh? It's never just one thing…"

---

Meanwhile, Ron found himself dragged into the situation unwillingly. Though he was initially detained, Coulson had coerced him into cooperation by threatening severe consequences while promising to erase his criminal record, secure him a good job, and offer a generous reward.

Ron had no choice but to agree.

What made Ron special was his unique ability to perceive Soul Reapers and Hollows. Coulson believed that this ability made him an essential part of their investigation.

Sitting in the backseat of a sleek black Audi, Ron grumbled, "We've been wandering around Hell's Kitchen all day. Where the hell are we going?"

"Looking for someone," Coulson replied without looking away from the window. "Your job is to see. If you spot anything like last night's creature, notify me immediately."

"Fine, fine," Ron muttered, slumping back in frustration. "But if I do see it, I'm running the hell out of here."

"Do what you want," Coulson replied.

For three days, they searched tirelessly through every street and alley in Hell's Kitchen. Yet their efforts yielded nothing—not a single Soul Reaper or Hollow. The only thing they managed to catch was a group of petty criminals.

Even Coulson began to doubt whether Ron had been lying.

Exhausted, Coulson parked the car, stepped out to grab coffee, and returned to the passenger seat to drink it. The three-day chase had taken its toll, leaving even the battle-hardened agent weary. Coffee was the only thing keeping him going.

Ron, on the other hand, had fallen asleep in the car, completely drained.

Coulson rubbed his tired eyes and muttered, "Soul Reapers...where are you?"

Unbeknownst to them, the Soul Reaper they had been searching for was perched on a power line above them, quietly observing.

Lod stood on the high-voltage wire, gazing down at Coulson and Ron below, and murmured to himself, "Three days... It should be ready by now."

During those three days, Lod had been monitoring Coulson and Ron while also preparing something significant.

This "gift" was designed to establish his grand entrance and convince SHIELD that the Soul Society, a fabricated entity, truly existed.

Suddenly, Lod looked into the distance with a smile tugging at his lips. "It's finally here."

---

As Coulson sipped his coffee, the ground beneath him began to tremble violently, causing him to spill it.

"What's going on?" Coulson exclaimed in shock.

"Motherfucker!" Ron jolted awake, yelled profanities, and stuck his head out of the window to see what was happening.

The tremors intensified, and large footprints appeared on the collapsing asphalt about two hundred meters ahead of them.

"A monster! It's a monster!" Ron screamed in terror with his face becoming pale.

Coulson's heart raced as he followed Ron's gaze, but he saw nothing. Realization dawned, and he grabbed Ron by the collar, shouting, "Tell me, is it what you saw before?"

"Yes! It's the same!" Ron stammered, his voice trembling. "It's massive, taller than a building!"

Coulson felt a chill run through him as Ron described the creature—a towering, shadowy figure over a hundred meters tall, with a white mask, a long nose, and crimson, menacing eyes.

It was a Menos Grande—a Hollow born from the fusion of hundreds of its kind.

Unbeknownst to Coulson, this Menos had been carefully cultivated by Lod for the sole purpose of staging today's event.

Above it all, Lod smiled as his carefully laid plan unfolded.

...

The Menos Grande, a higher-level Hollow, could only be born after devouring over a hundred of its kind. Besides its enormous size and the immense Reiatsu equivalent to a seated officer from the Soul Society, it could also unleash a special ability known as Cero.

This technique concentrated Reiatsu into a beam of devastating energy, powerful enough to destroy an entire street in seconds, comparable to a cruise missile in its destructive force.

Under normal circumstances, taking down a Menos-class Hollow required the intervention of highly ranked seated officers from the Thirteen Divisions. However, this particular Menos was not ordinary.

For this dramatic first appearance, Lod deliberately weakened its power during its creation. As a result, its true strength was even lower than that of some lesser Hollows, making it an intimidating but hollow shell.

Yet, despite the restrictions, a Menos's aura and oppressive Reiatsu still overwhelmed ordinary humans, making victory against it nearly impossible.

The moment it arrived, the sheer force of its Reiryoku surged like an unstoppable wave. The asphalt road cracked and lifted as if torn apart by invisible hands, sending shards of concrete flying into the air.

The shockwaves shattered windows in nearby buildings, knocked over streetlights, and sent high-voltage cables whipping around dangerously.

Even an experienced SHIELD agent like Coulson found himself paralyzed with fear. His instincts screamed for him to flee as his body froze.

"This… is a Hollow?" Coulson's entire body trembled as if his nerves were set aflame. He couldn't see it, but every fiber of his being screamed in terror, warning him of the monster's horrifying presence.

Meanwhile, Ron panicked, flailing and trying to escape, but Coulson grabbed him and pinned him firmly to the passenger seat.

"Stay still!" Coulson barked, one hand holding Ron down while the other started the car. He shouted, "I can't see it, so you're going to be my eyes! Tell me where it is!"

The greater the danger, the calmer Coulson's mind became. Ron was essential since he was the only one who could "see" the Hollow. Losing him would mean losing the only chance they had to survive.

"Hold on tight!" Coulson yelled as he floored the accelerator. The black Audi roared to life, screeching as it spun around and sped off in a sharp turn.

"Damn it!" Ron yelped as the sudden jolt slammed him against the windshield, nearly flattening his nose.

"Is it still following us?" Coulson shouted over the noise of the engine.

Ron glanced back and screamed, "It's… it's right above us!"

"What?!" Coulson didn't have time to react before the car was violently flipped by an unseen force.

The black Audi spun several times in the air before crashing down.

"Jump out!" Coulson shouted, kicking the door open and leaping out just before the car hit the ground.

The moment the vehicle landed, a massive, invisible foot stomped down on it, crushing it flat like a piece of paper.

Coulson gasped as he stared at the wreckage. His quick reflexes had saved his life, but it had been far too close for comfort.

But then, he noticed the blood seeping out from the crumpled vehicle. His relief vanished instantly.

"Ron…?" Coulson whispered, dread settling in. He realized Ron hadn't escaped. And in that moment, the reality hit him—without Ron, he was effectively blind. Not only was completing the mission impossible, but even surviving seemed out of reach.

The ground shook violently as two massive footprints appeared just ten meters away.

"It's coming!" Coulson bit his tongue to stay focused, drew his gun, and fired multiple rounds in the direction of the prints.

Bang, bang, bang! He emptied the clip and gasped for air, staring ahead intently.

"Is it dead?" he muttered, half-hopeful.

But before he could investigate, a crushing force grabbed him. His body froze as five massive, transparent fingerprints appeared on him, squeezing him in an invisible grip.

The immense pressure bore down on Coulson from all sides. His bones creaked, and his muscles screamed under the strain as he let out an agonized cry.

The Menos let out a piercing roar, its white mask glowing faintly as its red eyes burned with unrestrained violence.

As Coulson's vision blurred from the pain, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the creature's enormous, shadowy outline.

"So… this is a Hollow?" he murmured weakly, finally understanding what Ron had been trying to describe.

From high above, Lod watched the scene unfold with a faint smirk. 'Well, well, Coulson can actually see the Menos now. That saves me some effort.'

Lod had orchestrated this entire encounter for SHIELD's benefit. While Ron had served his purpose, Coulson's ability to see the Hollow made him far more valuable.

'Keep going…' Lod mused. 'This isn't enough. Seeing the outline isn't enough for me.'

What he wanted was for Coulson to awaken fully, to see the Menos and Lod himself in perfect clarity as the Soul Reaper entered the stage. Until then, Lod wouldn't let Coulson die. After all, he was the only audience member for this grand performance.

What kind of show would it be without an audience? And as the proverbial "village chief" for this beginner's level, wasn't it Coulson's role to guide the newcomers?

"Come on, Coulson," Lod muttered. "You've got this. I believe in you."

"Ah—" Coulson groaned weakly, feeling like every bone in his body had shattered, and the crushing pressure forced a despairing scream from within him.

The unseen enemy, its colossal size, and terrifying strength overwhelmed his senses.

A wave of hopelessness he had never experienced before spread through his heart.

In the past, no matter how dire the situation, Coulson had always managed to find a way out, but now he couldn't see any path to survival.

"Am I... going to die?" His blood-filled eyes blurred, and his consciousness started to fade as though death was only a step away.

However, in that critical moment, Coulson's "sight" seemed to sharpen inexplicably.

What had once been a vague silhouette now became clear, revealing the full form of the massive Hollow.

"How ironic..." Coulson's heart filled with bitterness. 'Is it because I'm about to die that I can finally see it clearly?'

Its grotesque mask, with a long, clown-like nose, concealed its bloodthirsty and violent nature. Jack had been right—it was a terrifying creature.

"Goodbye... Director..." As Coulson's consciousness wavered, he saw a black figure racing toward him from the distance.

"Hadō #4. Byakurai!" A white, scorching beam of light tore through the darkness like thunder and pierced the Hollow's wrist with incredible force.

"Arghhh!" The Hollow screamed in pain, releasing Coulson, who plummeted from mid-air.

Before he hit the ground, the black figure caught him, and the two landed gently on the ground.

"Gasp... gasp..." Barely escaping death, Coulson gasped for air and weakly raised his head to see his savior.

Silver hair, blue eyes, a black long-sleeved kimono, loose black pants, and a short blade resembling a Zanpakutō hung at his waist.

He looked exactly like Ron's description of a Soul Reaper.

"A... Soul Reaper?" Coulson's heart trembled. "Are you a Soul Reaper?"

"Hm?" Lod raised an eyebrow and feigned curiosity. "You... know about Soul Reapers?"

'He really is a Soul Reaper!' Hearing Lod admit it, Coulson's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, "I learned about you from Ron, the man you saved the other day. We've been searching for you!"

"Searching for me?" Lod played along. "You're humans, aren't you? Why are you looking for a Soul Reaper?"

Coulson coughed up blood before weakly replying, "We have many questions for you, like about Hollows and Soul Reapers, or how long you've existed..."

A roar interrupted their conversation.

Lod glanced back with an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry, this isn't the time for talking. Let me finish off this Menos Grande first."

"Menos Grande?" Coulson was stunned as he turned toward the massive creature, "So this is a 'Menos Grande'..."

The Menos glared at Lod with an intense, bloodthirsty rage, Its hatred surged, driven by memories from countless devoured souls trapped within it.

"Yo... mut die!" The Menos roared in broken speech and charged at Lod.

"Oh?" Lod smirked. 'Didn't expect a Menos to retain memories. It seems your transformation wasn't complete after all.'

"Die!" The Menos raised a pale, clawed hand and slashed through the air, causing ripples to spread out.

"—move!" Coulson panicked when he saw Lod standing still and shouted for him to dodge.

"No need." Lod's expression remained unchanged as he slowly raised his right hand. "This level of attack doesn't warrant me taking a step."

"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!" 

Six rods of light appeared instantly, shooting out and pinning the Menos in place.

Coulson's jaw nearly hit the ground as he stared in shock, "What is that? Advance technology? Magic? Sorcery?"

"Nope." Lod lowered his hand and explained, "This is Kidō, an advanced binding technique used by certain Soul Reapers."

Coulson was utterly confused. "Kidō? Advanced techniques?"

The Menos roared angrily as it struggled against the restraints, its crimson eyes glowing brighter with fury. Humming sounds filled the air as red energy gathered in the creature's mouth, radiating an oppressive force.

"Crap!"

Coulson's heart sank as he recognized what was happening, "Is that some kind of energy weapon?!"

'A Cero?' Lod's eyes flickered with surprise. 'Didn't expect it to know that move.'

Ceros were techniques used by true Menos, and it shocked Lod that this low-level amalgam could perform it.

'Well, this makes things interesting.' Lod chuckled, 'Let's see how much power it packs.'

"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, 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!!"

"Hado #33: Sōkatsui!" 

Blue flames roared to life, forming a massive dragon that clashed against the red Cero.

The resulting explosion shook the ground, reducing the street to rubble. Coulson stood frozen, staring at the destruction as if a missile had just detonated, "So this... is a battle between Soul Reapers and Hollows..."

Amid the smoke, Lod floated calmly in mid-air, his expression slightly strained. 'As expected, breaking through a Cero head-on with a Level 30 Kidō wasn't going to work...'

But he wasn't surprised, after all, with his current Reiatsu at the lowest officer rank, it was a reasonable result. One day, when he reached captain-level power, his mere presence would be enough to crush a Menos.

The Menos roared as its Reiryoku surged, shattering the Rikujōkōrō restraining it.

"Well..." Lod's gaze turned cold. "Your time's up."

He drew his Zanpakutō, its silver blade gleaming under the sun.

"Ikorose, Shinso." 

A silver flash streaked through the air at supersonic speed, and the Menos fell silent.

Lod sheathed his sword as the Hollow's massive head tumbled to the ground.

The Menos Grande—slain.

(End of Chapter)