Chapter 19 – Dual Bankai
While riding comfortably on Elsa's back, Tachibana Kyūjō eventually learned something quite intriguing—Elsa possessed a rare, almost absurdly strange innate ability.
In the established hierarchy of the Hollows, Gillians and Adjuchas typically only wield standard racial powers. That included the ability to command weaker Hollows, open Garganta portals independently, fire Cero and Bala blasts, and maybe a few basic tricks. Unique powers? Almost unheard of.
But Elsa was an anomaly.
Even while still trapped in the stage of a Gillian, she had already awakened a unique talent—one so peculiar that even Kyūjō couldn't quite explain it in logical terms.
If he had to put it simply: "Avoid danger, sense fortune."
It wasn't a combat ability per se, but it had kept her alive all this time. For a Gillian to survive for centuries in Hueco Mundo without losing herself… that was practically impossible without conscious willpower.
Yet here she was, having evolved into an Adjuchas—conscious, alert, and far from ordinary.
That, Kyūjō realized, was why she had instinctively sensed danger from him the first time they met. If she had chosen to attack instead of retreat, he wouldn't have hesitated to erase her.
But she didn't. And now she was still alive.
To Kyūjō, a power like that brushed up against the edges of fate itself.
Given time to grow, she might one day rival the Espada in power. That wasn't just empty praise. It was a genuine calculation.
And so, a thought crept into his mind—was his encounter with Elsa really just chance?
Or had that strange ability of hers drawn her toward him… or maybe drawn him to her?
Could it be fate—woven from two directions?
— — —
As they continued their journey, Kyūjō rested lazily on Elsa's soft, silvery fur, gazing up at Hueco Mundo's perpetually grey sky.
"Hey, Elsa… how long were you living in that place before I found you?" he asked casually.
Without slowing down, Elsa gave the question a moment's thought before replying in a calm voice, "Since I was nearly at my limit as a Gillian. I don't know how long, exactly… but after I devoured the last three Gillians in that area, my body began to change. That's when I evolved into an Adjuchas."
Kyūjō gave a slow nod. "I see."
He didn't pry any further. He wasn't the type to dwell too long on the past.
— — —
After days of tireless running, they finally arrived at their next destination.
Just as Kyūjō had predicted, he discovered three more Gillians who had reached the peak of their evolution—on the verge of becoming Adjuchas themselves. He liked to think of them as this world's version of "rare beast ingredients."
But unfortunately, their minds were still weak. Pure instinct.
The moment they caught sight of Elsa, the three creatures fled, panic overwhelming their primitive survival urges.
Elsa didn't even bother chasing them. As instructed, she walked to the densest spot of reishi concentration, lay down, and waited patiently as Kyūjō began his absorption process.
— — —
Moments later, another storm of spirit particles raged.
But this time, it didn't last as long as before. In just two days, Kyūjō had consumed enough to bring the reishi levels back down to Hueco Mundo's average.
Then it was time to move on.
However, as they traveled, Elsa suddenly came to a halt. Her voice held a note of unease.
"Kyūjō… I'm getting a strange feeling. The next place you're headed… something about it feels off. A little dangerous. Not overwhelmingly so, but… it's the first time I've felt this since we've been traveling together."
"Oh?"
Kyūjō's eyes narrowed slightly. He activated his Infinity Perception System at full power, scanning the spiritual energy of the entire region.
No anomalies.
Even across a vast distance—dozens of districts wide—he didn't detect anything alarming.
Only low-level Gillians in the vicinity. Nothing Elsa couldn't handle. And of course, he was here too.
So why was Elsa sensing danger?
Furrowing his brow, Kyūjō gently stroked his chin in thought. Then, with a swift movement, he drew the Zanpakutō sheathed at his waist.
Elsa's strange ability had piqued his curiosity for a while now.
Time to test it.
"Bankai… Infinity World."
With a soft whisper, Kyūjō activated his Zanpakutō's true form—Mugen.
But unlike the past, Mugen didn't copy another Zanpakutō's power this time. It remained in its original, unmodified state.
"Dual Bankai: Unlimited Overload Mode!"
Without hesitation, Kyūjō flipped the blade and plunged it into his own chest.
A sharp flash of light tore through his flesh. No resistance. No hesitation.
At that moment, the brilliant blue glow in his eyes fragmented—transformed into streams of flowing data.
Kyūjō felt as if he had become a divine entity.
All-seeing. All-knowing. All-powerful.
Of course, he was aware that this was just the illusion brought on by the sudden surge in perception and spiritual pressure.
No god was truly omnipotent. That much, he believed wholeheartedly.
Still… this feeling…
With Unlimited Overload Mode active, Kyūjō's Infinity System surged once more.
Within seconds, every soul particle fluctuation, every micro-movement within the radius of multiple Rukongai districts entered his awareness.
— — —
And that's when he noticed them.
Six spiritual signatures. Six people.
Old comrades. Shinigami from his past.
"No wonder Elsa felt danger," he muttered to himself.
That old geezer Yamamoto really didn't hold back!
To think he'd dispatch such a full team just to track him down?
And what's worse—Urahara Kisuke was among them.
They'd been friends for decades… yet Kisuke had the nerve to bring along Soul Society's latest spiritual particle sensor—technology that he himself had invented.
No wonder they managed to locate him in the endless sands of Hueco Mundo.
With his perception pushed to its absolute peak, even at that distance, Kyūjō could glimpse fragments of their thoughts—just enough to understand the decision Soul Society had made.
They were coming to retrieve him. By force if necessary.
Of course, Kyūjō had no intention of going back.
But if he just ran and kept hiding for a month, maybe they'd give up.
Maybe.
But if Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni himself got involved… that would complicate things.
Kyūjō didn't doubt he could still escape, but the idea of that old man stomping around Hueco Mundo? Absolutely not.
So he made a decision.
He'd confront them himself.
Face to face. Soul to soul.
If they could be reasoned with, great.
If not…
Then he'd let his blade do the persuading—and make Yamamoto think twice before deploying an entire force just to chase after one ridiculously handsome and completely innocent man like himself.
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