Chapter 119: Spiriting Away.
Shortly before Zommari's death.
Location of the Fifth Division Pillar.
"Hoo… haa…!"
Tōshirō lay on his back, gulping air like a bellows, his chest heaving unevenly.
The air was bitterly cold. Each breath he exhaled turned into white mist, plain as day in the dark night.
It was no surprise. Hueco Mundo was cold to begin with, and the surrounding desert had been forced into an icy world of snow and frost. Snow clouds hung low. The wind howled through the white wasteland.
"Finally… we still managed to win."
Those words betrayed Tōshirō's lack of confidence.
And no one could argue with him.
Because everyone present felt the same thing.
This victory was too lucky.
Five against six was already a disadvantage, especially when the enemy was not weak.
Especially their leader, Grimmjow.
To Ikkaku and Yumichika, both of the Eleventh Division, he had given them a sense of déjà vu that hit like a punch to the brain.
The last time they had felt that was when they faced Kenpachi.
Which meant that, no matter what they said out loud, somewhere deep down they had already placed the two in the same category.
"His vitality was freakishly tenacious," Ikkaku said, voice rough. "But even worse was his fighting spirit and technique. Perfect."
"And the scariest part? Those Fracción we beat asked Grimmjow to kill them before they died."
"And Grimmjow actually did it."
Ikkaku's eyes were bloodshot as he spoke.
"While we were stunned, he plundered their spiritual power and his strength surged."
"If some stray residual power from another battlefield hadn't distracted him, if Captain Hitsugaya hadn't seized the opening to freeze him, and if I hadn't split him in two with my Bankai so he couldn't recover…"
He exhaled a shaky breath.
"If we dragged it out any longer, we would've had no choice but to retreat."
Bare chested, Ikkaku leaned against a fractured iceberg. He was drenched in blood, like someone hauled out of a sea of slaughter.
He could still stay conscious and talk, but that was only because Retsu Unohana had quickly produced a "healing potion" after obtaining a sample of the Corrosion Potion.
There had not been time to make much. Only their team, the one with the most people, had been supplied.
And it had saved them.
"According to him," Ikkaku continued, "the Espada evolved because of the Hōgyoku. And since the Hōgyoku was based on Arturo Plateado, their evolution was directed."
"They all inherited some of Arturo Plateado's advantages, like Super Regeneration."
"And another ability."
He narrowed his eyes.
"The ability to kill enemies and plunder their strength to grow stronger."
"But from what he said, only he inherited that. He just didn't have time to keep growing, or there's no way he'd only be ranked sixth."
Ikkaku let out a harsh laugh.
"Honestly, that's what I'm most relieved about."
"Dealing with Arturo Plateado's successor and dealing with another Arturo Plateado are two completely different things."
Tōshirō forced himself upright.
Total annihilation was impossible.
Retreat was also impossible.
If they delayed any longer, the ice flowers behind him would dissipate and unleash power beyond his limits.
That was his ultimate trump card, and it would tear his current body apart.
But he could not abandon a position this important just to avoid a little damage.
His only fear had been that even with that power, he still might not be able to kill his opponent, forcing them to retreat anyway.
That fear had almost become reality.
Now that the dust had settled, relief washed over him, and beneath it, dread.
Ikkaku had tasted the same thing.
"Even as just a successor, he was a nightmare," Ikkaku said. "Part of my Bankai got shattered, and I almost got killed too, if it weren't for…"
He glanced at Yumichika, who was administering the potion to the unconscious Rangiku and Momo.
"…Never mind."
"Never mind what?" Yumichika asked, finishing his work. He tossed a gourd of clean water toward Ikkaku.
"I was saying you saved my life at a crucial moment," Ikkaku said, catching it and drinking. "But I was too focused on the fight. I didn't see what technique you used to restrain those Arrancar."
"Bottom line, without you, Captain Hitsugaya wouldn't have had time to free his hands and save me."
"I didn't see clearly either," Yumichika said. "But I'm not interested in prying into other people's trump cards."
He flicked his eyes toward the sleeping Rangiku and Momo.
"They'll probably forget this soon after they wake up."
Tōshirō added, sounding casual.
Yumichika stared at both of them for a moment, then shook his head and laughed.
"It's rare for me to show off and be useful at a critical time, and nobody even saw it clearly. That's just cruel."
"I'm not Lieutenant Hisagi."
"Has Hisagi ever shown off his skills?" Tōshirō asked, pausing slightly.
"Maybe he's killed an Espada by now."
"Really?" Ikkaku's interest sparked. "Which Division is he in again?"
"I didn't bother memorizing it," Yumichika said. "Captain Hitsugaya should remember the personnel assignments, right?"
"I remember it was Ukitake's squad," Tōshirō said, then frowned. "But now that you mention it, I'm suddenly not sure if I'm remembering right."
"…."
"I'll report our situation," Tōshirō said at last, changing the subject on purpose.
He took out his denreishinki and sent a message to the Central Command Tent.
At the same time.
Location of the Seventh Division Pillar.
"Remarkable. Truly remarkable."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi looked down with satisfaction at Szayelaporro, who lay on the ground twitching violently.
"I will now acknowledge your title as a scientist."
"After all, an ordinary Arrancar would have long since died from agony."
"You… beast!"
Even though Szayelaporro was still in Resurrección, his appearance had long since been ruined. He was swollen like a ball, his features crushed together, his words barely forming.
In the past half hour, he had tasted Mayuri's endless malice, tailored specifically for Arrancar.
Biological weapons. Chemical weapons. One after another, all designed for his species.
Even when Szayelaporro wrung out every ounce of his own skill, he was constantly pushed back by a Mayuri who had clearly prepared for this encounter from the start.
In the end, a single mistake lured him into the trap.
He had used Gabriel to parasitize Mayuri's body, attempting to seize Mayuri's life and be reborn.
But at some unknown point, Mayuri had used a higher level mimetic disguise to hide his true body and created a liquid clone.
Szayelaporro emerged from that liquid like a newborn tearing out of amniotic fluid, only to realize too late that it was a clone.
Now, swollen into helplessness, he could do nothing.
"What did I do?" Mayuri spread his hands, looking at him like a fool. "Isn't it obvious?"
"Aren't you proud of your abilities? Rapid self healing after injury, abnormally hard skin, keen sensory organs."
"Then I'll let you enjoy them to your heart's content."
"The official name of the liquid you're soaked in is Superhuman Drug."
"It forces an Arrancar's racial abilities to remain active without stopping."
"Continuous Super Regeneration consumes your spiritual pressure, forces your cells to proliferate, and makes your volume expand endlessly."
"Continuous Hierro makes your skin harder and heavier, stiffening your body, as if you're trapped in an enclosed torture device, unable to move."
"Continuous Pesquisa makes your brain more and more sensitive, flooded by increasing information until your consciousness is gradually paralyzed."
Mayuri's smile widened.
"No matter what you do, you no longer have the strength to fight back."
"So let me turn you into a Hollow corpse soldier before you break completely."
He rubbed his hands and approached, and Szayelaporro's eyes went wide with terror.
"Don't come over here! I surrender! I admit defeat…!"
"Ah! You… beast! Bastard… damn you…!"
His tone flipped from begging to cursing, not because he was fickle, but because Mayuri had already cut open his chest and started operating on him right there.
Nemu carried the toolbox, handing instruments like a nurse.
Watching himself get dissected from the inside was enough to shatter anyone's mind.
"Hm? No, this is…!"
Mayuri's voice sharpened.
"You've already been modified by Urahara?!"
"What?"
Hearing that name, the haze in Szayelaporro's mind cleared slightly.
And then.
His body began to "leak gas."
A strange vapor burst out. Before Mayuri and Nemu could retreat, it swallowed them, draining their strength in an instant.
"Cough, cough… Is this… something like anesthetic gas?!"
"How could…!"
The anomaly hit Szayelaporro too.
"I never… had contact with him!"
"I even collected his reishi, analyzed his reishi data, and made corresponding preparations!"
"What?!" Mayuri's eyes widened with fury. "You fool!"
"You collected his reishi data, analyzed it, and made preparations?"
"That means he noticed what you were doing, or he anticipated you would do it."
"And he deliberately scattered specific reishi, guiding you into reconstructing yourself into the form he wanted!"
"?!"
Szayelaporro could not speak.
As his consciousness began to blur again, Mayuri's teeth gnashed audibly.
"So that's it… It only activates after you're defeated."
"It's not poison gas or anesthetic."
"It's pure spiritual pressure leakage."
"These specific reishi components function like carbon dioxide poisoning from excessive intake. Anyone who defeats you inhales it, then loses strength."
"Damn it…"
"That cursed Urahara."
"He even planted a trap here!"
Las Noches Prison.
"Achoo!"
Urahara rubbed his nose and kept talking to Apache, smiling brightly.
"…In any case, let's put Miss Loly Aivirrne on the operating table first. Her injuries are serious. If we delay any longer, she won't make it."
"I'm warning you," Apache snapped. "If you try anything funny, you're dead."
This former prison, after being quietly and extensively modified by Urahara, had become his private laboratory, though Kaname Tōsen would never admit to that.
The facilities were complete.
There was even an operating table.
As Sung Sun carried the patient onto it, Apache's glare sharpened.
"I'm just an ordinary technician," Urahara said lightly. "What kind of funny business could I possibly try?"
"Don't play dumb. I mean you're not allowed to secretly tamper with Loly Aivirrne's body!"
"…I wouldn't actively do something that wicked," Urahara replied. "If you're not at ease, then let Miss Loly treat her instead."
"Miss Loly…!"
He raised something like a walkie talkie and called out.
Before long, someone hurried in.
A young girl with short black hair, wearing a white uniform, delicate features, and an expression so calm it felt empty.
Her name was Roca Paramia.
"Do you have instructions?" she asked.
"I wouldn't dare," Urahara said. "I'm asking you to treat this patient."
"Understood."
She did not seem to know how to refuse, nor did she seem to understand human emotions.
With the same calm face, she stepped forward and activated her healing ability.
It was miraculous.
She produced orange spiritual threads and wrapped Loly Aivirrne completely, forming a cocoon.
Then she stood quietly to the side and waited.
The treatment ended quickly.
Urahara escorted her to the door personally, smiling as he spoke.
"Wrapping someone in Anti Membrane Threads, letting the threads grow freely inside the body, then injecting spiritual pressure and recorded reishi data through them to reconstruct the body back to its state before the injury."
"Is this what they call one click restoration?"
"Calling it treatment is a stretch, but using something this convenient to make someone lively again is truly practical~"
"This is all thanks to Mr. Urahara's guidance," Roca said humbly, like a servant.
In truth, she was an Adjuchas created by Szayelaporro using the souls of Menos Grande.
She had undergone Arrancarization and gained Anti Membrane Threads, yet Szayelaporro had still deemed her an obsolete product and discarded her.
Nominally, she had been presented to the noble sovereign.
Aizen.
As proof of loyalty.
Unexpectedly, Aizen had made heavy use of her. Her status rose until she vaguely stood above even the Espada.
The reason was simple.
"My guidance is just small tricks," Urahara said, watching her closely. "Insignificant compared to what Mr. Aizen entrusted to you."
Anti Membrane Threads had evolved from Reverse Membrane, the Menos Grande ability to save comrades.
It could grow freely regardless of spatial distance. That meant it could reach anywhere, even beyond Hueco Mundo.
If that were all, it would still be manageable.
But it could also connect to various substances, sharing spiritual power and information.
In the past, Szayelaporro used it to upload a backup of his memories to Roca. Once he died, he could be "downloaded" again through her.
If Roca died, she could self regenerate.
In that sense, Szayelaporro could be called immortal.
However, once Gabriel was completed, he could parasitize and be reborn inside an enemy's body. There was no longer any need to use another person's hands.
So Roca lost her value.
But after Szayelaporro presented her to Aizen, Aizen modified her further.
Now she could record the reishi data of the Espada and, at the moment of their death, use Anti Membrane Threads to recover their souls and preserve them inside her own body, waiting for a future resurrection.
"All living beings adapt and evolve to survive," Urahara murmured. "Let alone Menos Grande."
"The Espada who die once absorb their own death data, growing like an artificial intelligence."
"They'll surely become stronger after being reborn."
"Mr. Aizen's ideas are as unrestrained as ever," Urahara said, then sighed. "But I don't think it stops there. Perhaps the Hōgyoku will be used again?"
"Regardless, his plan has already succeeded."
"The expeditionary force from Soul Society would never imagine they're being used as whetstones, would they?"
Urahara shook his head, then asked, "Miss Roca, what is the status of the Espada?"
"They have been completely wiped out," Roca answered.
"Then let's retreat," Urahara said. "If we don't leave now, I'm afraid it'll be too late."
"Okay."
Central Army Command Tent.
Takeru sat in a chair, a denreishinki resting on the table beside him.
Over twenty people from various squads had been pulled into the workgroup. They could communicate instantly by voice.
"Sorry, Captain Shimiya," someone said through the device. "Although I defeated these former Espada, they didn't understand what happened either."
"No matter," Takeru replied calmly. "I've already guessed most of it."
Ukitake's squad, the only one that had not clashed with the Espada, had also finished their battle and reported immediately.
They had not uncovered key intelligence, but after hearing the reports from each battlefield, Takeru had formed a judgment.
"It's almost certain they possess some unknown means of resurrection."
"Reckless suicidal attacks with no regard for consequences."
"If their goal was rapid resurrection and then a disguised war of attrition to wear us down, they would inevitably use Hollow swarms to encircle us."
"Yet not a single Gillian has appeared."
"The reason is simple."
"Arrancar possess Shinigami powers."
"In other words, they can increase spiritual power through training like Shinigami do, and fighting strong enemies counts as training."
"Because of that, the situation we should have faced on their home turf, being absolutely besieged by massive Hollow swarms, never happened."
"The enemy forces are clearly using our hands to train their troops."
"If that's the case, they will become stronger after resurrection."
"But that does not happen overnight. At the very least, they won't reappear on the battlefield in the short term."
"Then it isn't hard to judge what they do next."
"With their manpower exhausted, their choices are limited."
"Besides using other methods to defend Las Noches to the death…"
"They retreat."
"What did you say?!" Ichigo's shout came through the denreishinki. "Then shouldn't we hurry up and attack!"
"It's too late," Takeru said. "Ichimaru, Tōsen, and Urahara must have prepared in advance."
"It doesn't matter where they run. The world is only so big. We'll find them sooner or later."
"We might be late."
"But someone else is on time."
Takeru picked up the denreishinki and walked out of the tent, gazing toward Las Noches.
The Kidō cannon was cooling down.
But inside that pure white palace complex, a pillar of fire erupted.
Fierce and terrifying, like a volcanic eruption.
It dyed the sky crimson.
Then more flames burst from other sections of the palace. Pillars of fire punched through the structures one after another, riddling the complex with holes.
It was easy to imagine how massive the inferno was inside Las Noches right now.
"If they want to run," Takeru said quietly, "they'll have to ask the Captain Commander if he allows it."
Inside Las Noches.
The Sealing Chamber built specifically for Yamamoto Genryūsai had already been reduced to ash.
The Kyōka Suigetsu originally left here had also been quietly taken away by an invisible force before the blaze spread.
It was obvious.
Aizen had sent the materialized Kyōka Suigetsu to retrieve the Zanpakutō.
Because the seal could no longer be maintained.
Only two of the ten pillars were destroyed.
The remaining eight reitō pillars exerted their power simultaneously, shaking Urahara's seal and letting Yamamoto Genryūsai escape, exactly as Takeru had predicted.
And the moment he escaped, he seized Urahara, who was maintaining the senkaimon.
"Captain Commander sama…"
Urahara chuckled, but sweat flooded down his body instantly.
He did not know if it was heat or fear.
Yamamoto Genryūsai entered the hall with his sword, and an endless sea of flames surged with him, swallowing the chamber and melting the floor and ceiling into lava.
"You're setting fires like this," Urahara said, forcing a smile, "you could easily injure innocents."
"Brat," Yamamoto growled, "do you think this old man can't perceive what's happening outside?"
"Eh?"
"I know exactly how you cast the seal, and I know I was transferred to Hueco Mundo."
"There's nothing to worry about. Smart brats will hide far away."
"Only traitors are here."
"No, no, no," Urahara protested. "Aren't the abducted sages of Central 46 still here?"
Before he could finish, Ichimaru Gin's voice rang out, smooth as ever.
"Ah, sorry about that."
"They're all dead."
"?!"
Urahara's pupils contracted.
Yamamoto Genryūsai slowly turned.
Ichimaru Gin and Kaname Tōsen walked in side by side.
"Ichimaru Gin. Tōsen Kaname," Yamamoto said coldly. "All the traitors have gathered."
"All the better."
"…Captain Commander sama," Gin said cheerfully, "aren't you going to ask about Central 46?"
"No need," Yamamoto replied. "This old man can't sense their reishi."
"Which means they're either not here… or they've already been killed."
"Either way, it won't stop this old man from acting."
"…As expected of Captain Commander sama," Gin said, voice light. "You seem angry, but you thought it through."
"Standing before you, I can't help but feel a chill."
Gin lifted his hand. His sleeve slipped down, revealing a mirror clutched by five slender fingers, held directly before Yamamoto's eyes.
The familiar object made Yamamoto's eyes widen.
"Blazing water mirror."
"So that's it."
"You abducted Central 46 and killed them to use this divine artifact, correct?"
"That's right," Gin said with a smile. "It's a divine artifact. Ordinary people can't use it."
"Only a descendant of the person who once saved you, by sacrificing their life, can activate it."
"Otherwise, like Arturo, even after a thousand years holding the mirror, he couldn't fully unleash it."
Gin's smile did not change.
"Even though the family that guarded the blazing water mirror has perished, it was still an ancient noble house."
"And it was highly likely tied to the lineages of the Central 46 sages."
"So I drew blood from all the sages and tested them one by one."
"And it worked."
"Evil ways," Yamamoto snorted.
"Using such methods, how long can you keep it active?"
"Besides, mere reishi absorption cannot harm this old man."
In a flash, he was on them.
One slash and one punch sent Gin and Tōsen flying.
Urahara tried to seize the opening and escape into the senkaimon.
There was no need to worry about their safety.
If Loly could revive the Espada, she could revive them too.
But a dart stabbed into the ground, blocking his path.
"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
"…."
Urahara looked up helplessly.
Yoruichi had flipped down from the ceiling.
"Miss Yoruichi," Urahara said with a faint smile. "You came too."
"Of course I did," Yoruichi replied. "Otherwise, how would I figure out what you're really up to?"
Her lips curved, but her eyes were razor sharp, impossible to meet directly.
"Don't tell me you've actually been recruited."
"Well…" Urahara pulled his hat brim lower. "I can only say I have my own unspeakable difficulties."
"Oh?" Yoruichi's smile turned colder. "Then say them. Quickly."
"If they're unspeakable, how can I speak them to others?" Urahara snapped back.
"Heh. Even if you don't say it, I can guess," Yoruichi said.
"You were never a good person."
"Aizen's plan tempted you, but you don't trust him."
"So you're trying to find a chance to flip the table and steer his plan into the outcome you want, right?"
"…."
Urahara sighed silently, then suddenly asked, "Miss Yoruichi, have you ever played with dice?"
"What are you talking about?" Yoruichi frowned. "Of course I have. I'm not interested in gambling, though."
"Then do you know the odds," Urahara said softly, "of rolling a six one hundred times in a row?"
"…."
Yoruichi's expression turned strange.
"You're not telling me you decided to help Aizen after rolling a six one hundred times in a row, are you?"
"Of course not," Urahara said.
"But I've seen things with probabilities infinitely more absurd than that."
"And it made me realize… maybe there is a possibility worth trying."
"But no matter what I do, it won't satisfy everyone."
Urahara removed his hat, pressed it to his chest, and bowed deeply.
"So, Miss Yoruichi… I'm sorry."
"I might disappoint you this time."
"Kisuke, you…"
Yoruichi's heart trembled.
Before she could finish, the Urahara in front of her swelled and burst like a balloon.
"Portable gigai? When…!"
The senkaimon snapped shut.
Where it led was completely unknown.
Yoruichi's brows knit tightly. Her gaze fixed on the corridor outside the hall.
"Now the only way to understand their true plan is to take down Ichimaru and Tōsen."
"I just hope the Captain Commander didn't kill them."
In the next moment, a strange reishi fluctuation spread.
Incredible light replaced the crimson flames, filling every corner of the building, piercing through the palace, and reaching the outer perimeter.
"Has it come?"
At the location of the Tenth Pillar.
Aizen watched the light sweep toward him and smiled, satisfied.
He did not move.
He only held the Eight Mirror Sword and casually waved it at the light.
The light was absorbed into the Eight Mirror Sword.
Then it spread again, instantly, with even greater intensity, flooding the region enclosed by the ten pillars.
"That is…"
In the main camp, Takeru sensed the anomaly and appeared a hundred meters in the sky in an instant, staring at the front line drowned in light, his expression solemn.
It was undeniably a large scale reishi phenomenon.
But it was unstable.
Like it had gone berserk.
When the light vanished, he lifted the denreishinki to contact the squads.
Nothing.
No response at all.
Takeru immediately rushed to the front line.
And found only the lone pillars.
Not a single person.
Las Noches was the same.
Empty.
Only battle scars and unextinguished flames remained.
There were no living creatures left.
Even if something still existed, it was only Hollows buried in the sand, oblivious to what had just happened.
.....
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