Chapter 88 The Death Of Koral
"Hang on! ! "
As Kosuke persisted in healing, Ashido stepped back a few feet; however, his body began to decay, with flesh and blood transforming into a pool of black liquid that dripped slowly onto the ground.
Tssssssss—
Upon contact with the ground, the black liquid emitted a corrosive sound. Observing closely, it appeared as though the sand beneath Ashido's feet had been splattered with intensely hot sulfuric acid, producing a continuous rise of black smoke.
Soon after, Ashido, who possessed the power of a senior officer, fell unconscious as his bones liquefied and merged with the black substance below.
At that moment, the spectators fell silent; even Yasushi, who had been enraged, was struck mute by the dreadful sight.
"Monster, you monster! ! "
Watching his teammates, who had fought beside him for days, perish in such agony pushed Kosuke and Yasushi to the brink of madness, gripping their Zanpakutō and starting to chant, "Turn around. . . . . . . . "
But before Kosuke and Yasushi could continue their incantation, Fiander materialized beside them, and murmuring, "Don't trouble yourself, just die and join him.But before you go, you must assist me in achieving my goal. "
"World freeze! ! "
As Fiander let out a soft breath, a blue rhombus fragment on his forehead momentarily flickered before fading.
Suddenly, immense glaciers erupted from Fiander's form, stretching over a distance of more than ten kilometers, instantly encrusting the ground in frost. Once these glaciers had surged from the earth, they rapidly encircled the area, imprisoning the Shinigami within.
"Hoo-hoo-"
After executing this move, Fiander inhaled deeply and hurled Yasushi, now encased in ice, to the ground.
"What a weak body; using just one law ability has drained all the spiritual energy from me.What a shame "
Staring at the surrounding Shinigami and catching sight of himself and Kosuke frozen as ice statues, fear marked his expression.
Seeing Kosuke frozen with an expression of fear etched on his face,Fiander narrowed his eyes and smiled, saying, "There's no need to fret; you are outstanding experimental subjects. "
At this moment, Fiander opened his eyes and said ominously, "Thus, maintaining the cold is of utmost importance! "
With that, Fiander exited the massive glacier prison. Meanwhile, Reinhard emerged from the shadows, guiding the stunned Koral.
Koral observed the grim fate of his allies, particularly the vividly etched memory of Ashido's demise lingering in his mind.
"Well done, Shinigami! " Fiander commended Koral with a thumbs up and gestured, "As per our agreement, I will spare your life, but."
Suddenly, Fiander placed a small black bead into Koral's mouth and smiled, stating, "You can take your time lingering in this forest! "
"The cries of your allies will perpetually haunt your spirit, and you will seek forgiveness and redemption for this for the entirety of your existence! "
At Fiander's last shout, Koral hurriedly fled the scene, not daring to glance back.
Observing Koral's retreating figure, Reinhard inquired with a hint of suspicion, "What purpose does it serve to keep such a vile shinigami alive? "
Fiander grinned and replied to Reinhard, "The demon has been embedded within him, and I am curious to see how far a person with such a malevolent spirit can go. "
"Then. . . my lord, has your scheme reached fruition? "
Fiander paused for a brief moment, eventually shaking his head slowly as he said, "It seems the spiritual level of these Shinigami is too insufficient to endure the transformation brought by the law's power. "
"I fear I am considering this incorrectly. To evolve a soul, it would appear that you require that particular item. "
"What is that item? With your prowess, Master Fiander, are you truly concerned about acquiring it? " Reinhard took advantage of the moment to flatter him.
"Idiot! Do not merely stare at the skies; you will understand when the moment arrives."
"Perhaps I finally grasp the reason why certain individuals claim that the ceiling of talent dictates everything. "
"At this point, I worry that regardless of my efforts, advancing will be out of reach. "
Fiander's gaze dimmed for a brief instant before he said with ease, "It's all right; the road ahead is long, and chances will inevitably arise. "
"Maintain hope for these test subjects; they will prove to be incredibly useful! "
After this, Fiander waved farewell to Reinhard and departed alone.
Watching Fiander's seemingly solitary departure, Reinhard felt perplexed about why Fiander would engage in actions that appeared aimless to him.
To Reinhard, Vasto Lorde represented the pinnacle of strength and power, and by achieving that status, he believed he would harbor no fears. Yet it now appeared that Fiander harbored some fears of his own.
Koral, having narrowly evaded death, replayed the horrific demise of his companions in his mind. As time progressed, their screams echoed incessantly, leading him to develop a fractured psyche.
The fractured persona blamed the Arrancars for everything, believing that the loss of his allies was their doing, while regarding the Soul Society as another guilty party, having promised to retrieve them after thirty years of waiting.
Not to mention that thirty years have turned into fifty, a hundred, and even one hundred fifty years. . . . . .
As the endless years rolled by, Koral found no sign of the other Shinigami at all. He understood that they were, at that time, forsaken souls, and the Soul Society never intended to bring them back.
Fueled by deep-seated resentment, Koral annihilated the Menos Grandes within the Menos Grande Forest, all the while condemning both the Soul Society and the Arrancar. This turmoil drove him into mental instability, and at long last, he encountered a Shinigami once more.
As a consequence, the Shinigami intervened to defend an Arrancar, clashing with Koral instead. This action seemed to sever the final thread binding Koral's heart, triggering the dormant devil seed planted by Fiander in his early years.
Many years steeped in negative emotions had become rich sustenance, transforming Koral into a skeletal monstrosity.
Upon hearing Reinhard's account, Ichigo and Nell fell silent, bowing their heads, especially Ichigo, despite finding Koral's actions repugnant.
Yet, how does the Soul Society's conduct differ from shoving someone into a fiery abyss?
Just pushing them in, instilling endless expectations, allowing them to cling to a faint glimmer of hope, only to discover it was a ruse—this is essentially worse than outright murder.
"Well, Kurosaki Ichigo, after absorbing this narrative, do you still wish to rescue him? "Reinhard inquired with an indifferent tone.
After a pause exceeding ten seconds, Ichigo gradually lifted his head, expressing resolute determination as he replied, "I want to save him! "
"Are you certain? At present, you're no match for me," Reinhard responded. "Don't assume that I can't eliminate you merely because Master Nell is present! "
Upon hearing Reinhard's remarks, Nell intervened anxiously, standing between the two.
She appeared frightened that a confrontation might erupt.
"Don't worry, Nell."
Ichigo reassured her, gently patting her head and adding, "What I mean to convey is that I intend to take his life myself."
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