Shin and Byakuya stood together, the atmosphere eerily quiet.
After a while, Byakuya sensed Rukia's Reiatsu was so weak it was about to vanish.
"Rukia..."
Byakuya immediately used Shunpo and rushed over.
Shin originally intended to follow, but he suddenly detected a familiar Reiatsu approaching.
Before long, the person arrived.
It was Yanitas, who was responsible for transmitting intel between Gin and Shin.
"Nohara-sama."
Shin nodded. "Is there anything important?"
"Ichimaru-sama instructed me to inform you that the awakening of the Hōgyoku is nearing completion, and Aizen will soon depart for the Human World."
"At that time, Aizen will leave a few people behind to continue holding up you. The specific personnel are currently unknown."
"Furthermore, Aizen recently used the Hōgyoku to create a new Arrancar named Wonderweiss Margela. Aizen seems to value him highly, though the reason is unclear."
Shin pondered for a moment. "Thank you for your effort. This information is crucial."
"You relay this to Ichimaru for me, tell him..."
Yanitas nodded in affirmation. "Nohara-sama, if there are no further instructions, I shall take my leave."
Shin stopped him. "Wait, is it really okay for you to come here directly? After all, this is the outskirts of Las Noches."
Shin and the others were very close to Las Noches, likely under Aizen's surveillance.
"No problem. All surveillance on the outskirts of Las Noches is currently handled by Ichimaru-sama."
"That's good. You may return."
"Yes."
Yanitas bowed slightly, then quickly departed.
Shin watched Yanitas' retreating figure, deep in thought.
The ones Aizen would leave behind as pawns were none other than the remaining Espada. When Aizen headed to the Human World, that would be his time to act. For now, Shin decided to watch a show.
...
By the time Shin arrived, Szayelaporro had already entered his Resurrección state.
It seemed the two scientists had already engaged in a friendly exchange.
Szayelaporro had four wings growing from his back, making him look somewhat like a "pitcher plant."
Mayuri and Nemu were both lying on the ground.
At this point, the others noticed Shin.
"Oh? Another one has arrived?"
Just like Mayuri, Szayelaporro was extremely interested in Shin—a subject distinct from all his previous research materials.
Although he knew Shin might be powerful, Szayelaporro wasn't afraid in the slightest.
Even one of the thirteen Captains of the Gotei 13 had been forced to kneel before him.
Shin shook his head as he looked at Szayelaporro. The poor guy was about to be played like a puppet by Mayuri.
He stepped forward, picked up Nemu, and retreated to the side. "You guys continue, I won't interrupt."
Nemu looked slightly uneasy, worried that Mayuri's plan might be ruined.
Mayuri glanced back at Shin but said nothing.
"Hahahaha, Captain, it seems your companion doesn't intend to save you."
Seeing that Shin had only taken the Lieutenant, Szayelaporro mocked him.
"Captain, let's have some fun."
Szayelaporro held a doll in his hand that bore a striking resemblance to Mayuri.
This was one of his abilities: replicating the target's form into a doll. Through the doll, he could transmit damage, or even take out the doll's internal organs, destroying the corresponding organs in the target by crushing them.
Szayelaporro gently tapped the doll's head with his finger, and Mayuri immediately let out a painful scream.
"Hahaha, a Captain-level opponent is nothing special. They are all just miserable bugs before my ability." He laughed gleefully.
Next, he removed the doll's head and took out something resembling "beans" from inside the doll—these were the doll's organs.
Mayuri showed an expression of extreme terror upon seeing this.
Crunch!
Szayelaporro crushed the organ in his hand, and Mayuri simultaneously vomited a mouthful of acidic fluid.
"Captain Mayuri!"
Nemu cried out in alarm.
Shin found it amusing, these two were truly excellent actors.
Szayelaporro then continued to take out organs and crush them, causing Mayuri to scream repeatedly from the torture.
"How embarrassing, Captain. Your current appearance doesn't match your terrifying exterior at all." He continued to spout trash talk.
Mayuri's eyes flashed fiercely, and he glared at Szayelaporro through gritted teeth. "You bastard, don't think I'll let this go."
Mayuri tried to stand up, but Szayelaporro mercilessly crushed the Achilles tendon on the doll, causing him to collapse again. He then proceeded to crush the doll's parts one by one.
Mayuri was drenched in cold sweat from the pain and couldn't stop panting.
"I never thought I would meet my end in a place like this." Mayuri's tone was full of unwillingness.
"It ends now."
Saying this, Szayelaporro crushed the part representing Mayuri's neck.
A large amount of blood spurted from Mayuri's neck and he was unable to rise again.
"Captain Mayuri!"
Nemu let out a mournful wail.
She then turned to Shin, her eyes filled with entreaty. "Nohara-san, please, save Captain Mayuri."
Shin was stunned.
Why the sudden added drama?
Realizing what was happening, he sighed. "It's too late. Captain Kurotsuchi is already dead."
"Hahahahaha!"
Szayelaporro watched the scene, feeling greatly satisfied.
The next instant, a grotesque face appeared right in front of him.
Mayuri stuck out his tongue, his eyes darting around continuously. "Just kidding."
Szayelaporro thought he was hallucinating, he quickly backed away and blinked.
"You... Why are you unharmed?"
Mayuri first patted his clothes, then cupped his left hand to his ear. "What was that?"
"Hahaha!"
Shin could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.
Szayelaporro looked at Nemu, who was standing up as if nothing had happened, Shin, who was laughing uncontrollably, and the mocking expression on Mayuri's face. He instantly realized he had been played.
"You... you bastards!"
"Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!"
He threw the doll onto the ground and stomped on it furiously to vent his rage. However, Mayuri showed absolutely no reaction.
"Why?"
Szayelaporro could not understand why Mayuri was unscathed.
Mayuri said, "I've seen enough of your abilities. I'll kindly inform you that I replicated every single one of my organs before I came here."
"How is that possible? Did you know about my abilities beforehand?" Szayelaporro looked utterly disbelieving.
"You guess."
"You despicable bastard!!!"
Just then, a tentacle suddenly rose from beneath Nemu's feet, attempting to wrap around her.
"Hahaha..."
Szayelaporro laughed loudly, seeing his plan about to succeed, but he quickly choked on his laughter.
Because Shin's blade flashed, and the tentacle was instantly severed.
"Tch."
Mayuri had intended to use Nemu to administer a drug to Szayelaporro, and he was slightly annoyed when Shin intervened.
Shin ignored this and asked, "Szayelaporro, do you remember Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck?"
Szayelaporro was startled by the question. Of course, he remembered Nelliel. He and Nnoitra had teamed up to ambush her and drive her out of Las Noches. However, he was very puzzled as to how this human in front of him knew Nelliel.
Shin said, "Nel is now my sister, and I know everything that happened to her. Therefore... your death today will be well-deserved."
(End of Chapter)
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