"What an amazing ability."
"These days, Zanpakutō abilities are truly absurd, one more outrageous than the next."
Mazuru, as usual, offered praise. His tone carried a hint of genuine admiration, but anyone who knew him understood—this was just his habit. After all, compared to his own Zanpakutō, most others looked tame.
Even though Kenpachi Azashiro had only given a brief explanation of his Zanpakutō's abilities, Mazuru had already deduced how he'd managed to escape mid-battle. The ability to fuse with and manipulate inorganic matter composed of reishi particles meant one thing: as long as the matter was part of his fusion domain, he could travel through it at will.
"I just wonder how far that fusion zone stretches... Considering he completely vanished without a trace, it's probably not a small range." Mazuru muttered to himself, eyes scanning the horizon.
Yet there was no frustration in his tone. He knew exactly what Kenpachi Azashiro was doing—he was heading for Roka.
After all, that was his goal from the beginning.
As long as Roka was found, Azashiro would be found.
…
Elsewhere in the white desert, the battered figure of Kenpachi Azashiro staggered forward, blood leaking from his nose and mouth. His every breath was a struggle, and his steps were unsteady.
A familiar figure appeared beside him, her sharp voice dripping with mockery.
"My, my… what a mess. Is this the man with the word 'sword' in his name? You're so fragile—defeated that fast?" Urozakuro teased mercilessly. "Honestly, I think you should just hand over that title to that guy."
She folded her arms and continued, "Weren't you the one going on about wanting to experience the feeling of failure? Well? How does it feel? Is it so unbearable that you want to cry?"
"And here I thought you were like that Kuruyashiki guy—someone who'd rather die than take one step back. But you? You ran."
Urozakuro was clearly enjoying herself. She rarely got to see her usually stoic master in such a pitiful state.
Azashiro gave her a sideways glance, then growled, "Shut up."
Even as he said it, another mouthful of blood spilled from his lips.
Urozakuro rolled her eyes but stepped forward and caught him before he collapsed. Despite her constant ridicule, she understood the stakes. If he died, her situation wouldn't improve.
"Where are you going next?" she asked, supporting his weight.
"To find the female arrancar." he said plainly.
Without wasting time, Urozakuro began tracking Roka using the lingering threads of Negación in the air. Slowly, they made their way across the barren sand dunes.
After a stretch of silence, Kenpachi Azashiro spoke again.
"Aizen once said, 'Failure has meaning'. But the failures I've had before now—those were meaningless. I hadn't left the Muken with purpose. This time is different."
He was answering the unspoken question—why he chose to leave the battle.
He didn't fear failure. He simply saw no value in failing before accomplishing anything. There was no honor in dying meaninglessly.
…
Meanwhile, in another part of the desert—
"My, what a beautiful lady we have here." Shunsui said with a smirk, tilting his hat at Roka.
Ashido, standing beside him, gave him a look that mixed confusion and disapproval. It wasn't uncommon for Shunsui to flirt, but this situation was hardly the time.
Roka, on the other hand, stood frozen.
She had just witnessed Mazuru cut down Szayelaporro before her eyes.
Though she had seen him die once before, that time had been different. She hadn't witnessed it.
Seeing it with her own eyes—his body crumpling, his life vanishing—rattled something inside her.
The last time he died, she had spiraled into confusion. She'd traveled between Hueco Mundo, the human world, and Soul Society, trying to find purpose. That purpose had come when Szayelaporro was resurrected inside her, guiding her actions once more.
But now…
He was dead again.
And this time, it felt like something inside her shattered.
Shunsui's words barely registered in her mind, but instinct screamed one thing—escape.
Ashido noticed her intent and immediately moved to block her retreat.
From the opposite side, Zaraki stepped into her path, grinning with anticipation.
He didn't know who Roka was, but he didn't need to. He knew that Azashiro would come for her. That was enough reason to capture her.
"Sorry, beautiful lady. But I'll have to ask you to come with us." Shunsui said again, his expression soft but his voice laced with steel.
Roka looked around, panic rising.
Three powerful shinigami surrounded her.
They weren't here to talk.
They were here to capture her—and bait Azashiro into showing himself.
She gritted her teeth. Run. Now.
But before she could take even one step—
"Bakudō No. 63 — Sajo Sabaku!"
Chains materialized instantly, wrapping around her limbs. They were thick, heavy, and pulsing with Shunsui's Reiatsu.
He might have used flowery language, but his Kidō was as sharp and precise as ever.
"We need to get out of Hueco Mundo fast." Shunsui said, nodding toward Ashido. "Contact Captain Mayuri. Use the Garganta device."
They hadn't come here intending to battle in Hueco Mundo. That would be foolish. This was enemy territory, and the longer they stayed, the higher the risk.
But it was already too late.
From the dunes, a voice echoed like thunder.
"Well, well… What's this? I'm shocked. Three big, strong shinigami ganging up on one poor, helpless arrancar?"
All three shinigami turned toward the voice.
Shunsui's face grew serious.
He recognized the spiritual pressure immediately.
It was him.
*****
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