Chapter 89 Soul Society Reinforcements
"You. . . what are you saying? " Koral, who was being crushed under Reinhard's foot, trembled as he processed Ichigo's words
In that moment, Ichigo approached Reinhard, casting a sympathetic glance at Koral, who had lost all shape, and stated, "It's over, Mr. Koral. "
"No. . . I cannot die, I wish to live, I want to return to Soul Society, I want to survive! ! "Koral attempted to fight back, but Reinhard's strength was overwhelming, leaving him unable to move even slightly despite his thrashing.
Ichigo then placed his Zanpakutō on Koral's head, continuing in a clear tone: "Living with guilt is painful. "
"You've wanted to give up on life for a long time, but in honoring the wishes of your comrades, you endured centuries of solitude, existing alone in this dark expanse of Menos Grande Forest, didn't you do it all for atonement? "
Ichigo's words pierced Koral's heart like a razor-sharp knife.
Suddenly, Koral ceased his resistance, his voice breaking as he spoke. He had become a monster, devoid of tears and vocal cords. Even if he wished to convey his sorrow, only a dry rasp emerged from the bones in his throat.
"I. . . I apologize to them, I regret it every moment. Perhaps, back then, fighting and dying alongside my comrades would have been a relief for me."
"I hesitated, I was afraid, I'm sorry Captain Jijima, even in his final moments, he sought to protect me."
At that moment, Koral rambling on was like a dam breaking, striving to release all the pain he had kept bottled up for a century.
Nonetheless, a mistake remains just that; despite any desire to amend, the opportunity was lost.
As Koral's voice faded, Tensa Zangetsu gradually pierced through his skull.
In his final moments, Ichigo heard Kral speaking to himself.
"Thank you very much, Shinigami It's better to die at the hands of a Shinigami than by an Arrancar! ! "
As Koral's life force ebbed away, the enormous skeleton disintegrated into dust, scattering into the air.
Reinhard observed Ichigo with a peculiar expression and remarked, "What? Don't you despise me? You know, we were the ones who ambushed those Shinigami previously. "
Ichigo shot a glance at Reinhard, smiled wearily, and replied, "So what? "
"Now, what power do I have to choose otherwise? "
"My sole purpose in Hueco Mundo was to rescue my ally, nothing more. "
Reinhard lifted the Tensa Zangetsu that Ichigo had embedded in the ground and tossed it to him, saying, "Master Fiander was correct, you are indeed different. "
After catching the Zanpakutō thrown by Reinhard, Ichigo released his Bankai form. Even though his physical wounds had healed, the relentless intensity of the fighting had already drained his reiatsu.
"Regardless, I appreciate your saving me, and I thank you for this chance. "
Ichigo was seated on the ground, legs crossed, eyes shut as he gradually began to regain his strength.
"Don't worry, I'm solely doing this for Master Nell."
Reinhard gestured for Ichigo not to concern himself, then turned to Nell. "Master Nell, would you like to accompany me? Ichigo's friends and Pesche are expecting you."
Nell hesitated as she glanced between Ichigo and Reinhard. Uncertain about her choice, Ichigo suddenly interjected.
"You should go back with him, Nell"
"But. . . Ichigo, you will be all alone. . . "
"It's fine, Nell-chan! "
Ichigo cut Nell off, then faced Reinhard. "Can I ask you for a favor, Mister? "
"Mister? "
Reinhard pointed to himself, shaking his head in disbelief, "Forget it, It's no surprise that kid Grimmjow and Lord Fiander hold you in such high regard. What is the favor you wish to ask?"
Ichigo abruptly got to his feet, brushing off the dust from his clothes, and asked earnestly, "If I recall correctly, you mentioned that Ishida and Sado are both in your territory, right? "
"The one with glasses and the quiet boy? They arrived with those two useless ones, Pesche and Dondachaka. " Reinhard confirmed.
"Then, can I request that you keep them in your territory? "
Reinhard looked confused, "What. . . do you mean? "
"Aren't you all here to save your friend? "
Ichigo expressed concern, "I'll admit that prior to my arrival here, I foolishly thought we could rescue Inoue on our own, but after the recent battles, I believe I shouldn't involve Ishida and the others in this. . . "
"I recognize that Ishida and the others are quite powerful, but they are still ill-prepared to confront the Espada right now."
It was clear that Koral's tale deeply impacted Ichigo, making him realize certain harsh truths.
"As much as I wish to assure you, Ichigo, some things cannot be accomplished merely through wishful thinking."
"To be transparent, it's been less than ten hours since your group came to Hueco Mundo. "
"A report from the Night Palace indicated that a black void has reactivated. You should understand what that signifies, right? "
Ichigo was momentarily stunned by Reinhard's statement and cautiously asked "Could it be. . . ? "
"According to the information, it's likely accurate; the Soul Society won't forgo your significant assistance, and they will dispatch reinforcements. "
"Probably as we speak, they've crossed into the territory of the other Espada. "
"Even though I won't kill you, that doesn't imply the other Espada will share my leniency." Reinhard crossed his arms and spoke persuasively.
"Yes." Ichigo nodded somberly, considering that it was only the three of them who had invaded Hueco Mundo, especially since they had clearly rejected his earlier plea for help.
It is clear who can be present at this hour, aside from Rukia and Renji, two close companions with an exceptional bond—there is nobody else.
Currently, Rukia and Renji, bundled in heavy cloaks to shield themselves from the sand and dust, have made their way into another Espada's domain.
Gazing at the massive black palace before him, Renji expressed doubt, asking Rukia, "Is this possibly where Inoue is held captive? "
"Not certain, it seems too silent, unlike the typical Espada quarters," Rukia replied seriously. "Based on the intel from Urahara Kisuke, Ichigo and his group arrived here ten hours before us. Our top priority now is to find them. "
"Then we. . . "
Renji intended to continue speaking when the colossal palace door began to creak open slowly, as though it was inviting them in.
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