Chapter 210: Baraggan, Aid Me!
"YOU LITTLE THIEF!!"
Senzaemon roared, leaping into the air as he charged toward Satoru.
Aizen frowned slightly and glanced in Szayelaporro's direction.
Satoru grinned.
"Though the process was a bit strange, the outcome isn't bad."
"Old man, time to cough up the gold!"
With that, he yanked out Enrakyōten.
Aizen: "?"
A vein pulsed on his forehead as he watched Satoru's actions.
Did he already forget what we just agreed on?
"Satoru!"
Aizen called out to remind him.
When Satoru turned to look, Aizen gestured at the sword in his hand.
Satoru snapped back to reality and sheathed Enrakyōten, tucking it back into his belt.
Aizen nodded slightly.
Good. Now hurry up and release Rikujōkōrō.
But then, Satoru grinned and tore open his upper garment.
"Oh, pluck your feathers!"
With a stomp, a circular shockwave erupted beneath his feet as Satoru shot into the sky, meeting Senzaemon head-on.
Aizen: "..."
What he wanted was a sneak attack—or at least a surprise assault.
Not this reckless, full-frontal charge.
Sometimes, he envied Satoru.
Even in the heart of enemy territory, he could charge straight at the enemy commander without hesitation.
Aizen had that kind of courage too, of course.
But for him, it was a last resort—when all other strategies had failed and he had no choice but to step in himself.
Satoru, though reckless, had an inexplicably infectious energy in his unyielding charge.
Aizen chuckled softly and raised his hand.
"Kidō #63, Raikōhō!"
Midair, Satoru collided with Tsunayashiro Senzaemon.
When the latter got a clear look at his opponent, his eyes widened.
"Satoru?!"
"Your grandpa's here!"
"?"
After a brief surge of shock and fury, Senzaemon couldn't help but grin excitedly.
Good, good!
What a fortunate encounter! He'd been planning to sneak into the Soul Society someday to settle the score with Satoru.
But before he could act, this brat had come to Hueco Mundo instead!
This was like a free meal delivered right to his doorstep!
Just as his excitement peaked, something felt off.
He turned his head and saw a massive bolt of lightning hurtling toward him.
Senzaemon was puzzled.
He hadn't gotten a clear look at the person beside Satoru, but judging by their build, they seemed around the same age.
For such a young Shinigami to cast an incantationless Raikōhō…
And with such terrifying power, rivaling even a fully incanted version from a typical captain-level fighter!
Since when did the Soul Society produce another monster like this among the younger generation?
With this confusion in mind, he Flash Stepped midair, changing his position.
But the moment he reappeared, Satoru—as if he'd predicted the move—was already waiting for him.
Bare-chested, Satoru grinned widely, his entire face cast in shadow, exuding an eerie gentleness.
His fist, carrying terrifying force, roared toward Senzaemon's face—
Double Ikkotsu!
Senzaemon sneered.
A mere junior, Yamamoto Shigekuni's disciple or not, was far from ready to bare his fangs at him!
He didn't even draw his Zanpakutō, merely using the hilt's pommel to block Satoru's punch.
The next instant, Senzaemon's expression twisted.
An indescribable force, like a tidal wave, surged through his Zanpakutō.
The power behind that punch was no weaker than a fully incanted high-level Kidō!
Worse, the punch carried a bizarre vibration.
It was as if two fists had struck simultaneously, their forces resonating in a way that sent shockwaves through his organs.
Senzaemon's stomach churned violently.
If not for his immense Reiatsu suppressing the discomfort, he might've vomited on the spot.
This brat… was strange.
That punch was definitely not just a simple "Ikkotsu"!
Senzaemon Flash Stepped again, putting distance between himself and Satoru.
He reached for his Zanpakutō, ready to draw.
But before he could, several blue flames shot toward him from all directions.
Sōren Sōkatsui?
He could even use Kidō of this level?
Senzaemon's eyes widened in shock.
With a swift motion, he drew his blade, weaving a dense net of slashes around himself.
The Sōren Sōkatsui flames were struck one by one, exploding on contact.
Amid the explosions, Senzaemon raised his sword.
Smoke and dust billowed around him—any normal opponent would hesitate, wary of traps, before attacking again.
This was his chance to release his Zanpakutō.
"Scatter—Huh?!"
To his utter disbelief, Satoru tore through the smoke, laughing maniacally as he charged again.
That terrifying fist swung toward him once more!
"Damn it!"
Senzaemon cursed, forced back into close combat with Satoru.
This fight was beyond frustrating.
In terms of raw stats, he far outclassed Satoru.
But the latter's relentless, suicidal fighting style made it impossible for him to find his rhythm.
Not to mention Aizen, who kept harassing him with Kidō from a distance, adding to his irritation.
Most importantly, it had been far too long since he'd last fought seriously.
When was the last time he'd engaged in a life-or-death battle?
Five hundred years ago?
Eight hundred?
He couldn't even remember.
Over the centuries, Senzaemon hadn't been completely idle.
But all his fights had been one-sided stomps.
A battle like this—requiring skill, reflexes, and adaptability—was something he was no longer accustomed to.
So much so that he couldn't even find an opening to release his Zanpakutō.
Frustrated, he shouted:
"Baraggan, aid me!"
Below, on the elevated platform, Baraggan stood with his massive axe, locked in a standoff with Szayelaporro.
The pink-haired madman neither fought seriously nor stepped aside, content to stall indefinitely.
Meanwhile, on the plaza below, Harribel was gaining the upper hand, her momentum unstoppable.
Baraggan had initially considered telling Senzaemon to handle his own problems—after all, the Shinigami residing in his domain only nominally acknowledged his authority.
If things went south, who knew what they might do?
Injuring a few of them might not be a bad idea.
But given the current situation, he reluctantly abandoned that tempting thought.
He bellowed:
"Third Division, assist Tsunayashiro!"
The moment his order rang out, over twenty Adjuchas nodded and soared into the air, charging toward Satoru.
From a distance, the Hollows opened their maws, aiming at Satoru.
One by one, crimson orbs of energy began to glow!