Chapter 215: When It Comes to Being a Villain, It Has to Be You
An exhilarating sensation.
An indescribable exhilaration.
The moment Bankai unfolded, Satoru felt as though he had grasped the entire world.
Reiatsu surged endlessly from every cell in his body, converging into a raging river within him.
Having already mastered the entire river, what could possibly stand in his way?!
Even Senzaemon in his Super Saiyan-like mode now seemed like a mere clay chicken or a straw dog to him, something he could shatter with a wave of his hand.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, Satoru moved.
Swinging his massive metal claws, he lunged toward Senzaemon in a single stride!
Danger.
Danger!
Danger!!!
The instant Satoru moved, Senzaemon felt a surge of immense terror.
His soul, his instincts, every Reishi particle that composed him screamed out in warning.
Run!!
Without hesitation, Senzaemon prepared to activate his Zanpakutō ability to reverse time.
But just as he was about to do so, Satoru's voice suddenly echoed beside his ear—
"Where do you think you're going?"
"?!"
Senzaemon's pupils contracted.
When... did he—?!
Unbeknownst to him, the figure who seemed to have returned from hell had already appeared by his side.
Beneath the silver half-cover helmet, Satoru's icy gaze calmly fixed upon him.
Then, they passed each other.
Thwack!!!!
A massive flower of blood bloomed from Senzaemon's body.
The tall, gaunt, elderly Shinigami slowly pitched forward and began to plummet from the sky.
The Zanpakutō he had been gripping tightly slipped from his hand.
Satoru turned his head to look at Senzaemon.
Then, with a sudden stomp on the air, he dove downward in pursuit.
It was just an ordinary step, yet his speed surpassed even his usual "Ikko Acceleration"!
Crack!!
The next moment, under everyone's gaze, the silver armor, metal claws, and shield-like wings on Satoru's body suddenly transformed into particles of light and burst apart in the air.
"...Huh?"
Staring at the changes on his body, Satoru was momentarily stunned.
Then, he snorted with a laugh.
"Even if my Bankai's gone, I can still fight!"
As he spoke, he clenched his right fist, ready to continue pursuing Senzaemon.
But when he stomped his right foot in the air, he completely failed to create a Reishi foothold.
After stomping twice in midair, Satoru plummeted downward with a "what the hell" expression.
Fortunately, after falling just a few meters, Aizen's figure flashed by and scooped him up.
"To blindly pursue without even confirming your own condition... How utterly foolish."
Holding Satoru by the waist as if carrying a dog, Aizen swiftly moved while scolding him.
Satoru shook his head vigorously:
"Go! Sōsuke, he's on his last legs—finish him off!"
"Move, Iron Sōsuke, why aren't you moving?!"
"Panzer vor!!"
Aizen tightened his grip on Satoru to prevent the "husky" from escaping and said flatly:
"Stop struggling."
"We can no longer pursue. Escaping is the best we can hope for."
"If not for your earlier strike, we wouldn't even be able to get away."
Hearing this, Satoru turned to look downward.
Baraggan Louisenbairn, in his skeletal form, charged toward Senzaemon, wielding his massive axe.
Besides him, many second and third-generation Shinigami of the Tsunayashiro Clan rushed to rescue their clan head.
Szayelaporro, who had been tasked with restraining Baraggan, was now curiously staring at his own arm.
A black mist enveloped his hand, steadily creeping upward.
Wherever it passed, flesh and skin vanished, turning to dust, leaving only finger bones.
Within seconds, even the bones disintegrated into ash and disappeared.
Szayelaporro looked somewhat excited, as if wanting to preserve this phenomenon for research.
But after a moment of hesitation, he sighed.
The black mist spread too quickly, and even his Reiatsu couldn't block it.
If this continued, he wouldn't need to conduct research—the black mist would kill him first.
Thinking this, he drew his sword and, without a hint of regret, cleanly severed his own arm.
Looking up, he grinned.
"The boss is gone, so I won't overstay my welcome."
"Until next time, Baraggan 'sama'~"
With that, he vanished in a flash.
Harribel glanced toward a distant sand dune.
There, a faint, almost imperceptible glimmer of light shone.
It was the signal Sung-Sun had arranged with her, indicating that the other two had been rescued.
Harribel breathed a sigh of relief.
After repelling several approaching Adjuchas with a swing of her blade, she leaped away in a series of bounds and disappeared into the distance.
Watching Senzaemon being rescued by his descendants, Satoru couldn't help but click his tongue in frustration.
Aizen, elegantly sprinting under the moon of Hueco Mundo, glanced down at him.
Seeing Satoru sulking, he chuckled softly.
"Satoru, have you forgotten our original purpose for coming here?"
Hearing this, Satoru was momentarily stunned.
Then he proudly glanced at the second Zanpakutō hanging at his waist.
"Right, we came here to hunt for treasure!"
"Enrakyōten... the treasured heirloom of one of the Five Noble Clans. With this treasure in our possession, we've struck it rich!"
"After we return, we'll find a place to sell it. We'll live in luxury for the rest of our lives, no longer having to endure Head Captain Yamamoto's temper, no longer being those damned Shinigami!"
Watching Satoru laugh triumphantly, Aizen couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Our goal was to weaken either Senzaemon or Baraggan Louisenbairn."
"With two tigers sharing one mountain, they can maintain peace if both remain in perfect condition."
"But if one shows weakness, it will inevitably be devoured by the other."
"Don't worry, you don't need to pursue him. Senzaemon is already finished."
Satoru blinked.
After thinking for a few seconds, he grinned.
"Alright, alright. When it comes to being a villain, you're definitely the expert!"
Aizen:"..."
He felt like throwing this guy off right now.
Landing gently on a sand dune, Aizen touched down.
Even stepping on the soft sand, he maintained perfect composure, as if walking on solid ground.
Satoru jumped down from him, lost his balance, and fell sitting into the sand.
Shaking his head, Satoru stood up.
Just moments ago in Las Noches, he had been completely drained of strength, but now he had already regained his mobility.
Witnessing his friend's recovery speed, Aizen felt somewhat amazed.
Even those Hollows capable of High-Speed Regeneration would probably cry and call him boss if they saw this guy.
Before long, Harribel arrived with her three followers.
Seeing Satoru, she strode over.
Aizen subtly shifted his footing, positioning himself to protect a certain someone.
Under everyone's gaze, Harribel approached Satoru.
Then, without hesitation, she knelt on one knee.
"Lord Satoru, thank you for your assistance."
"If you ever have any needs in the future, please don't hesitate to give me orders at any time!"