The Arrancar—Hollows transcending species limits—based in the royal castle Las Noches of Hueco Mundo. Through interception by the Espada, the ten strongest reigning at the pinnacle, the battle against the invaders led by Kurosaki Ichigo tilted heavily in the Arrancar army's favor.
"Well done, gentlemen. This amusing and protracted stage play finally approaches its curtain call."
"Fear not, Aaroniero. I shall clean up your mess."
"Give up. All of you end here."
Ichigo's group had neither individual superiority, home-field advantage, nor numerical advantage. Though reaching within one step of successfully rescuing the abducted Inoue Orihime, despite their valiant efforts, they were driven to the brink of annihilation.
...But the battle that should have been decided by the Arrancar army's victory was reset to square one by four Shinigami who suddenly appeared.
"...Who might you be?"
"Kukuku, 'who am I'...? Does answering that question have any meaning?"
Before Szayelaporro, toying with the near-death Ishida Uryu and Abarai Renji, appeared Captain of the Twelfth Division—Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
"...I am Séptima Espada Zommari Rureaux. Now, identify yourself, intruder."
"The enemy of my kin."
Before Zommari targeting the dying Kuchiki Rukia appeared Captain of the Sixth Division—Kuchiki Byakuya.
"We've only come to heal everyone's wounds. We have no intention of fighting you."
"...!"
Retrieving the defeated Sado Yasutora and Gantenbainne from the Exequias assassination squad was Captain of the Fourth Division—Unohana Retsu.
And.
"Captain of the Eleventh Division, Zaraki Kenpachi!"
"Quinta Espada, Nnoitra Gilga!"
The strongest sword demon against Nnoitra, who had been tormenting the battered Kurosaki Ichigo.
To protect family pride, to fulfill a healer's duty, to satisfy intellectual curiosity, simply to enjoy the greatest blood-boiling battle...
Each carrying their own will, the strongest warriors of the Soul Society's guardians—the Gotei 13—assaulted the Arrancar army.
Thus the turmoil in Las Noches since welcoming its new king approached a major turning point that would betray many expectations...
***
All Shinigami are arrogant.
The new intruder who appeared just before killing Kuchiki Rukia. After exchanging words with this Shinigami who seemed to be a Gotei captain, Séptima Espada Zommari Rureaux reaffirmed his conviction.
"...I consider you my equal and intend to behave accordingly. There is no pride in my heart."
"An Arrancar considering itself equal to me... that very thought is already arrogance."
How insolent this Shinigami was.
Zommari transformed from Hollow to Arrancar, regained reason and "love," and came to know. To this arrogant enemy who dismissed that truth like all other rabble, the man displayed his technique.
"Gemelos Sonído. The footwork I've refined, boasting the Espada's greatest speed. Just as you Shinigami have 'Shunpo,' we Arrancar train this 'Sonído' to gain advantage in combat."
"I have no interest in your child's play."
But the opponent never changed that arrogant attitude. Even his advanced technique equivalent to clones was met with the enemy's equal or superior body replacement technique...
Having his warrior's pride wounded, Zommari thus decided.
—If you don't call that a person, what do you call it?
Ah, yes. That person told us so.
We Arrancar are people. Arrancar who became people from Hollows.
He must show them. He must make them acknowledge. The thousand-year error of Shinigami who look down on and despise them.
"...Be still."
—Brujería—
***
Quinta Espada Nnoitra Gilga, even while clashing blades with the bloodthirsty Shinigami captain named Zaraki Kenpachi, never doubted his own superiority. His Hierro had the highest hardness of all Espada throughout history. It was impossible for a mere Shinigami zanpakuto to cut through it.
And indeed, even in his battle with Zaraki, Nnoitra continued fighting without sustaining a single wound.
...And yet.
"What're you smiling about, bastard!!"
The enemy wouldn't fall. The enemy wouldn't give up. With that ferocious smile, trying various methods, various places, to cut him down.
"Looks like you're finally getting used to it. To how tough you are."
"...Used to...?"
It was a sudden change. One lucky strike wounded Nnoitra's arm. And somehow afterward, Zaraki's sword paths became incomparably sharper and more refined.
An unreasonable phenomenon that couldn't possibly be explained by "getting used to it." In the middle of a blade lock, Zaraki gave his thanks with a vicious smile to the confused Nnoitra.
"Thanks, you made a great warm-up."
"Don't... mess with meee!!"
Enraged, Nnoitra aimed his free right hand at the enemy's vital spot—the head.
But immediately after his fingertip stripped off Zaraki Kenpachi's eyepatch.
"Tch—"
Nnoitra found himself on his knees in Hueco Mundo's desert from a diagonal slash of a zanpakuto bearing extraordinary spiritual pressure.
"Don't knock it off, idiot. I almost failed to hold back."
"What is... that eyepatch..."
To the irritated Espada at further unreasonableness, the Shinigami stated simply, "It's a seal."
The true power of the man who had been fighting while shackling himself. That was the difference in strength between the calmly standing Shinigami and the Arrancar barely clinging to life.
"...Idiot..."
Like hell I'll die.
Not me, not to your sword.
Me.
Me!
"Like hell I'll diiie!!"
And Nnoitra Gilga released. The Resurrección that returned him to his nature as a Hollow—befitting the name of despair.
"...Pray!!"
—Santa Teresa—
***
"'Domination'? Such a thing holds no meaning before me."
...Why?
Why does he look at me with such eyes? Why does he scorn our Arrancar pride, deeming it worthless?
"You Arrancar are the best!! This is how fights should be!!"
...Why?
Why won't he fall? Why, before such power, does he not despair before me?
In fierce battle with Gotei captains, each Espada was tormented by their respective questions, their hollow hearts. To them, reaching toward the faint light found in despair's depths, the swords the Shinigami wielded were dazzling and frustratingly full of power.
"...Bankai."
—Senkei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi—
The Shinigami's Bankai circled the surroundings without gaps, rushing from all directions. Barely enduring those billions of blades, Zommari hurled his fierce emotions at the hateful Shinigami.
"By whose permission do you Shinigami cut down us Hollows! No, you were never granted anything by anyone! You presume justice in your hands and condemn Hollows as evil!"
What arrogance, what insolence.
They claim the character for "god" in their name and presume to judge them in that god's name.
—One who possesses reason, refines technique, and knows love. If you don't call that a person, what do you call it?
Ah, hopeless.
"...You know? How much stronger a sword swung with both hands is... compared to one hand."
A flash of purple lightning. Following intense pain and blast.
Desperately connecting his darkening vision to light, Nnoitra understood that his fighting spirit had been thoroughly crushed by the enemy's single swing.
"...See ya."
"W-wait...!"
Departing Zaraki Kenpachi. Seeing those bored eyes, the Espada cried out in frustration.
Where are you going? I can still fight. The battle's not over yet. Not yet...
"I'm not dead, Shinigami!!"
"...It's over with that. I got no obligation to finish off a guy who can't fight anymore."
What arrogance, what insult.
Everyone casually showing mercy. Believing with their naive heads that salvation lies ahead.
—Lord Aizen will grant you power, opportunity, renowned powerful enemies. And... a place to die.
Ah, hopeless.
We became beasts from people, then returned to people as Arrancar. In that process we lost much, all fearing the sound of decadence's footsteps like strangling ourselves with silk rope.
While searching for something to fill the gaping, eternally unclosable hole in our hearts.
"...I cut you down simply because you pointed your blade at my pride."
We Arrancar have no salvation besides "love."
"...Tch, what a pain... can't be helped. Come on, you death-seeker."
We Arrancar have no salvation besides "death."
"Banzai! Banzai!"
"Long live Commander!"
"Banzaaaaaai!!"
Only the love that person grants—looking down equally upon both Hollows and Shinigami from that most noble and lofty height—saves us Arrancar. Only that arrogant love acknowledges that we have meaning, value in existing in this world.
『—I want to be cut down...』
『Die on my feet before I fall』
『That's the kind of death I want』
It's not "mercy." Even if Aizen exists, even if that annoyingly perfect goody-two-shoes brat is here, we Arrancar have no salvation. Fighting, fighting, and the overwhelming "strongest" single strike we eventually meet—that alone saves us.
Therefore.
For granting me the greatest love that intoxicated me.
For giving me the greatest battle that intoxicated me.
—Gratitude.
***
—So this is him.
Through the peculiar strategy of that brainless boar Abarai Renji, the collapsed Octava Espada palace. Facing enemy reinforcements atop scattered rubble, Octava Espada Szayelaporro Grantz saw through the true identity of that bizarrely dressed Shinigami at a glance.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri. Captain of Gotei 13's Twelfth Division and Director of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
In the future that wicked goddess foresaw for Szayelaporro, the harbinger of destruction who would defeat him.
"...Why do you want to know my name?"
"Are you stupid? That's obviously decided...
—So I can write your name on the jar when I bottle you."
Exchanging provocations, the battle between technicians began. With his final safety already secured, this confrontation was from the start meant to draw out and steal Kurotsuchi Mayuri's techniques. Actual combat was merely means to that end; victory or defeat held even less value.
"Damn... given time, I could counter this poison...!"
"Stop your whining. ...Kill him."
—Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō—
While observing his own act of pretending frustration at disadvantage, Szayelaporro carefully observed the opponent's capabilities.
The "Modified Soul" his adjutant brought. The "organ replication" countering his Teatro de Títere. The "zanpakuto modification" incorporating deadly poison into his zanpakuto. The rare "biological-type Bankai" he'd never seen. And above all, Kurotsuchi Mayuri's tactical eye wielding them all.
Every single one was precious intellectual property far more valuable than any jewel, deeply fascinating.
"—Guh..."
『!?』
And Szayelaporro's first body was devoured by Mayuri's Bankai and defeated.
While leaving a wonderful parting gift for his adjutant.
"Uah, ah, ahhaaah..."
"...What, something's wrong...!? H-hey, Kurotsuchi Mayuri! Quickly remove those tentacles!"
Yes, even without any advance preparation, I'm not one to perish at this level. There must definitely be something else.
Something unavoidable that will decide this Szayelaporro Grantz's fate.
『—Did you think you killed me?』
"Szayelaporro!? You're still alive...!"
Let me educate these inferior lowly species. The most important and most prideful ability of my Fornicarás is called... "Gabriél."
"—Haaaahn♥!?"
"...Huh?"
That ability is.
『To impregnate my enemies with myself.』
Everyone stunned speechless from emotion. Among them echoed a woman's sensual, inappropriately seductive moan.
The experiment succeeded.
『Invading through the navel into the body, laying eggs in a certain organ...』
"Ah, n-no, mmm♥ D-don't look—haaaahn♥"
"L-Lieutenant Kurotsuchi!?"
Though this modification was meant for future payback, even an artificial female Shinigami is still female. I should be grateful for obtaining precious data before the "main target."
『And without harming the host at all, the egg hatches. With "gratitude" to the mother's body, while granting the maximum euphoria a woman can feel...』
"Ah♥!? A-ah, ahh, ah♥ ah—haaaaaaaahn♥♥!!"
"H-hey what's that Szayelaporro doing!? The pregnant female lieutenant has such an erotic face and is ahe—" "Don't narrate, Pesche Guatiche!!"
The male audience making a fuss with beet-red faces saying "someone stop him." Not my fault, but it's regrettable that the mother herself lacks the mental composure to be embarrassed by the surrounding reactions.
While considering improvements like reducing sexual pleasure signals, Szayelaporro transferred samples of the countless drugs administered inside Mayuri's lieutenant's body to his hideout via closed dimension device.
And crawled out from between her legs in semi-liquid form, viscous red and white.
...Now then.
"Let's start over with introductions.
—Kurotsuchi Mayuri."
I'm endlessly curious how you'll bring about my destruction.
***
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