novelblue
Chapter 151
Chapter 151
Chapter 151
T/n; long chapter !! Btw this counts as 2 chapters.
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Several figures descended from the sky, landing on the sand.
Tsunayashiro Takatori, Takada Tai, and five Adjuchas!
Taking in the bombed-out landscape, they looked astonished.
“What kind of battle created these Spirit Pressure aftershocks?” one Adjuchas muttered in awe.
A spider-like Hollow sniffed the air and spoke grimly. “Jieluola is dead.”
Tsunayashiro Takatori quickly scanned the surroundings.
Seeing K?ga collapsed on the ground, his waist gaping and lifeless, Takatori’s eyes narrowed.
Damn it… K?ga lost?
He was one of the strongest Shinigami under Yamamoto Shigekuni—someone who even Ky?raku couldn’t defeat—and yet he lost?
But then Takatori spotted Kaelith, unconscious and battered, supported by Yoruichi, and a gleam of joy crossed his face.
Perfect! Kaelith is down too!
Though losing K?ga was a blow, eliminating Kaelith more than made up for it.
With Kaelith incapacitated, taking out Yoruichi would be child’s play.
Finally, Takatori noticed Aizen standing next to Kaelith, surrounded by shimmering Kid? energy.
Was this the Shadow Killer?
Didn’t he die?
And if not, why was he here?
Although puzzled, Takatori dismissed the questions as unimportant for now.
With two more officers sent by Baraggan, he now had five powerful Adjuchas and Takada Tai, a Captain-level ally.
What could a lone individual do to him? It didn't matter if it was Shadow Killer.
“Adjuchas, attack! Kill all three of them!” Takatori commanded with a wave of his hand.
The Adjuchas exchanged glances, then nodded, adopting fighting stances as they began to encircle their targets.
Aizen held Ky?ka Suigetsu firmly, observing the scene calmly.
Though his Spirit Pressure had weakened significantly, controlling a few Adjuchas was still within his ability.
First, he would incapacitate the Adjuchas and create chaos, then take Takatori by surprise and subdue him.
Without their leader, the enemy would scatter like headless chickens.
The only real challenge was Takada Tai.
Unlike Kaelith, Aizen didn’t have any overwhelming offensive technique to bypass defenses.
Kaelith’s S?kotsu was a synergy unique to his Zanpakut? that Aizen could never replicate.
In the past, Aizen would have avoided such an uncertain confrontation, preferring to prepare meticulously before striking.
But now, he found himself influenced by Kaelith’s reckless approach.
Despite knowing the odds, he was ready to fight.
“S?suke, what have you become?” he murmured to himself. “Next time, don’t let Kaelith’s recklessness rub off on you.”
Admonishing himself, Aizen stepped forward and raised Ky?ka Suigetsu.
The Adjuchas tensed at his movement.
Takada Tai drew his Zanpakut? and released its power, encasing himself in rock armor.
Takatori, meanwhile, wasted no time hiding behind Takada Tai.
So cautious… this battle just got harder.
Aizen narrowed his eyes.
But before the fight could begin, a shadow suddenly descended, landing in the middle of the battlefield!
Aizen paused, blinking at the newcomer.
Golden hair, a commanding presence, a mask covering half her face, and a long shark-like tail swaying behind her…
It was the humanoid Hollow he had encountered earlier!
This creature had barely escaped with her life—why return now?
Shock quickly gave way to a sinking feeling.
Though this Hollow had struggled against him before, that didn’t mean she was weak.
Quite the opposite—her power was immense.
Aizen suspected she might be a Vasto Lorde, one of the most dangerous kinds of Hollows.
If she had allied with the enemy, his plans might collapse entirely.
As he pondered, the Adjuchas cried out in shock:
“Harribel!”
“Damn it! Why are you here?!”
“What do you want?!”
Huh?
Aizen’s eyes flickered with surprise.
Harribel glanced at the Adjuchas dismissively, then turned to Aizen.
“You oppose Baraggan?” she asked flatly.
Baraggan… the self-proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo, the most powerful of all Hollows.
Judging by the Adjuchas’ reactions, they were clearly not Harribel’s allies.
Aizen nodded. “We do.”
Harribel considered this briefly before speaking.
“Very well.”
She glanced at Kaelith, supported by Yoruichi.
“This man… he is the ‘reckless Brute’ you spoke of earlier?”
Aizen paused before realizing her meaning, his lips quirking in faint amusement. His tone, however, remained composed and serious.
“Yes.”
Harribel nodded again, then turned to the Adjuchas.
“He helped me once. As a matter of principle, I will help him in return.”
“Since you oppose Baraggan, keeping you alive serves my interests.”
“Understand? This battle is mine.”
Without waiting for a response, she raised her arm, the bone-like blade covering it gleaming sharply.
With a powerful slash, she charged forward!
------------------------------------
In a desolate corner of the Soul Society, a jagged black fissure tore through the air with a sinister creak.
Aizen emerged cautiously, his sharp senses scanning for any lingering Spirit Pressure.
Once assured of safety, he nodded toward the fissure and stepped out of the Garganta.
Behind him, Yoruichi followed, carrying the unconscious Kaelith on her back as she leaped gracefully onto the ground.
She glanced at Aizen, still cloaked in a protective glow of Kid?, hesitating to speak.
Today had utterly shattered her perception of reality.
The Tsunayashiro family conspiring with Hueco Mundo's king.
The strongest Shinigami of the Kuchiki family, K?ga, defecting to the Tsunayashiro faction.
Kaelith single-handedly defeating K?ga…
Any one of these events would be monumental enough to shape the history of the Soul Society.
Yet in just over a day, they had all unfolded before her, one after another.
But the most shocking revelation had been the appearance of that female Hollow.
Her small frame and humanoid appearance belied overwhelming power.
Yoruichi suspected she might be a Vasto Lorde, the mythical pinnacle of Hollow evolution.
That woman had single-handedly dominated the battlefield.
Tsunayashiro Takatori’s attempts to seize the upper hand through tactical maneuvers had been completely countered by Aizen's meticulous strategies, preempting every move.
Under Harribel's raw power and Aizen’s battlefield control, the Adjuchas were swiftly eliminated.
Takada Tai, despite his formidable rock-based armor, had suffered grievous wounds from Harribel’s water-based attacks.
His armor, usually impenetrable, had been significantly weakened by her slicing strikes.
Realizing the battle was lost, Takatori attempted to flee.
But Aizen had no intention of letting him escape.
While Harribel engaged Takada Tai, Aizen launched a decisive attack, subduing Takatori with ease.
Standing over Takatori with his foot pressing firmly on the man’s chest, Aizen called out, “Captain Takada, look this way. I’m about to end him.”
Distracted by Aizen's words, Takada faltered for a split second—a moment Harribel capitalized on, delivering a deep, bone-revealing slash across his body.
Aizen smiled in satisfaction.
In a flash, he was beside Takada, injecting him with a strong sedative.
With K?ga, Takada Tai, and Takatori incapacitated, Aizen's mood was uncharacteristically light.
Who would have thought that Kaelith, who often caused trouble, also had a knack for delivering gifts?
Initially, this trip to Hueco Mundo had been intended to capture a few Adjuchas.
Instead, they had received an unexpected bounty.
If Kaelith weren’t still unconscious, Aizen would have praised him thoroughly.
Once the enemies were defeated, Harribel reverted from her combat stance.
She had no love for needless slaughter.
If possible, she always preferred to avoid killing.
However, she despised leaving dangerous foes alive to retaliate.
Those she spared were enemies who posed no real threat to her.
In this case, she deemed the three Shinigami as harmless, knowing any hatred they bore would be directed at Aizen, not her.
Her gaze shifted briefly to Kaelith, still slumped and asleep.
Then, she turned her attention to Aizen.
After ensuring he harbored no treacherous intent, she vanished with a flicker of movement, disappearing into the distance.
Only when Harribel was gone did Yoruichi finally exhale a long breath of relief.
---
While Yoruichi processed the events, Aizen had already begun his work.
He dug a pit and buried K?ga, Takatori, and Takada Tai within it.
When he buried Takatori, he retrieved the man’s Zanpakut? and set it aside as evidence.
Finally, he placed a Kid? barrier within the pit, ensuring a flow of air to keep them alive.
Of course, if left too long, even air wouldn’t save them.
Without immediate medical treatment, their injuries alone could be fatal.
Satisfied with his handiwork, Aizen nodded approvingly.
Without looking back, he addressed Yoruichi, “Proceed as planned.”
He then turned toward the direction of the Central 46, prepared to leave.
Just as he took a step, a voice called out from behind him.
“Don’t rush off just yet. Wait for me.”
Aizen turned, startled.
Kaelith was stretching, standing upright as if he had just woken from a nap.
“...What?”
In disbelief, Aizen strode over, gripping Kaelith’s arm and channeling his Spirit Pressure to assess his condition.
“Hey, what are you doing?!” Kaelith yelped, grimacing in pain.
Aizen's eye twitched.
From Kaelith’s nonchalant demeanor, he had thought this idiot had somehow achieved Hollow-like regeneration.
Instead, his bones were still shattered, barely held together by shadow manipulation.
“What do you think you’re doing? You’re in no condition for anything. Go get treatment!”
Kaelith, unfazed, grinned cheekily.
“What? Don’t think I’ve still got it in me?”
With a loud shout, he leapt into the air, performing a series of flashy martial arts moves before landing neatly on the ground.
“See? The blade’s still sharp!” he declared, grinning broadly.
Aizen took a deep breath.
There was a kind of pain one felt just by watching.
Kaelith’s stunt might not have hurt anyone else, but Aizen knew it had to be excruciating for him.
Yet Kaelith seemed utterly indifferent to the agony.
“How… are you doing this?” Aizen asked, genuinely perplexed.
Kaelith smirked, proud of himself.
“I used a modified soul pill to shut off my pain receptors.”
“Right now, I’m invincible!”
Aizen’s vision darkened.
Though he himself was no stranger to madness, Kaelith’s audacity was in a league of its own.
He opened his mouth to reprimand Kaelith for his reckless behavior but stopped short upon meeting his gaze.
Kaelith’s usually lazy, carefree eyes were now filled with resolute determination.
This idiot… he must have figured out the situation with the Central 46.
After a long pause, Aizen sighed.
“If you’re going, then take Yoruichi with you.”
“She’s the key to breaking this stalemate.”
Kaelith grinned, his expression brightening.
“Deal.”
“See? I knew you’d agree,” Kaelith teased with a sly grin.
Aizen sighed heavily, his tone tinged with exasperation. “I’m only agreeing because I don’t want to waste time arguing with you.” He gestured forward. “Let’s go. With Yoruichi alive and back, this charade should finally come to an end.”
He paused briefly before adding, “However…”
Kaelith cocked an eyebrow. “However?”
“…Nothing. Let’s go.” Aizen shook his head, though his thoughts were far from settled.
Logically, he knew the Tsunayashiro family wouldn’t place their entire wager on the return of Yoruichi alone. They had prepared meticulously for this moment, seizing every opportunity to gain the upper hand. Surely, they had another contingency.
But what could it be?
The Kuchiki family, their sworn enemies, would never ally themselves with Tsunayashiro.
The Shiba clan, fiercely loyal to the Seireitei, would stand steadfast even if every other noble betrayed the Soul King.
As for the mysterious fifth noble family, they rarely involved themselves in Central 46 politics, instead devoting their generations to guarding the gates of Hell itself.
The scattered minor nobility had already been absorbed into various factions.
Kuchiki’s key members and their allies were securely protected.
So what move remained that could alter the outcome of this conflict?
Aizen frowned faintly. Perhaps he was overthinking this.
---
As the sun dipped below the horizon, frustration mounted within the halls of the Central 46.
One nobleman could no longer hold his tongue.
“Lord Yamamoto, while we respect your authority and your dedication to this matter, this endless delay is becoming unreasonable.”
Another noble chimed in, nodding his agreement.
“This incident happened in Rukongai, far from the heart of the Seireitei. It is a minor matter. Why has it taken so long to address?”
A third noble rose to his feet, his voice ringing with indignation.
“If the Gotei 13 cannot handle their responsibilities, I propose we vote on punitive measures against their negligence before anything else.”
“Excellent idea!”
“Agreed!”
As accusations and agreements filled the chamber, Yamamoto Genry?sai Shigekuni stood silently at the head of the room, his steady gaze fixed on the blood-red sky beyond the window.
Even as smoke curled faintly from his staff, its intense heat suppressed before it could spread, he remained unmoving.
Finally, he spoke, his deep voice carrying over the room.
“Gentlemen, calm yourselves. Regardless of the outcome, I assure you, by the end of this day, you will have your answer.”
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.
Though many wished to press their advantage, none dared push Yamamoto further. If provoked, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Among them, the Tsunayashiro representative was seething inwardly. Yamamoto had long avoided meddling in noble affairs, keeping strictly to his Gotei 13 duties.
Yet here he was, shamelessly siding with the Kuchiki family, stalling the proceedings in their favor.
He clenched his fists, preparing to escalate the pressure, when a strange, fleshy device near his ear hummed softly.
A chilling voice whispered from the other end.
“Let it be. Keep waiting.”
The representative stiffened. “Lord Senzo…”
The Tsunayashiro patriarch’s voice was cold but assured.
“The more Yamamoto involves himself, the better. His bias only strengthens our case.”
The representative was momentarily confused. Yamamoto’s interference was advantageous?
Sensing his doubt, Senzo chuckled.
“The more Yamamoto invests in this outcome, the more it proves he remains tethered to the authority of the Central 46. If he truly sought to impose his will through force, he could simply draw his Ry?jin Jakka and compel obedience from everyone present.
“The fact that he has not means he still values the sanctity of the Central 46’s decisions. That is what matters most. Remember, decrees have no inherent power—only the recognition of the strong grants them weight.”
The representative’s eyes brightened with understanding.
“Of course… You’re absolutely right, my lord.”
But then a flicker of worry crept into his voice.
“Still, if Yoruichi were to…”
“She won’t,” Senzo interrupted, his tone unwavering.
“Our plans in Hueco Mundo were meticulous. Not even a beast of Kirio Hikifune’s caliber could have ensured Yoruichi’s survival. Rest easy.”
Emboldened by his patriarch’s confidence, the representative allowed a small smile to surface.
But just as his relief took hold, a hell butterfly flitted into the chamber, followed by a messenger Shinigami.
“Report!” the messenger called.
“Second Division Third Seat, Kaelith, requests an audience!”
The declaration sent a ripple through the room.
Yamamoto’s weathered eyes gleamed as a smile crept onto his face.
The Tsunayashiro representative froze, his smile vanishing.
Across the hall, the Kuchiki family delegate leapt to his feet, elation clear on his face.
“Let him in!”
Moments later, the battered figure of Kaelith stepped into the hall, every eye fixed upon him.
His appearance drew collective gasps.
Kaelith’s uniform was in tatters, leaving him with barely half a pair of pants. Wounds and bruises covered his body, and he moved as though death were only a breath away.
Even Yamamoto’s stoic expression faltered.
The old man inhaled deeply, steadying himself.
*You reckless brat… You’ve outdone yourself this time.*
Behind Kaelith, another figure entered—Yoruichi.
Her presence sent shockwaves through the room.
The Tsunayashiro representative shot to his feet, his face pale with terror.
The Kuchiki delegate followed suit, but his expression was one of joy.
Kaelith raised his gaze, scanning the nobles seated high above him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, judging by my condition, I’m sure you can guess what has transpired.”
He let his words hang for dramatic effect before continuing.
“That’s right. The Tsunayashiro family orchestrated an attack on the Commander of the Stealth Force and Head of the Shih?in family, Yoruichi!”
The hall erupted in stunned murmurs.
The Tsunayashiro family… would they really go that far?
Yamamoto’s deep voice cut through the noise.
“Kaelith, accusations against a noble house require evidence.”
Kaelith smirked. “Of course, Sensei.” He turned toward Yoruichi, who stepped forward, her voice clear and composed.
“I witnessed it myself. The mastermind behind the attack was Takatori Tsunayashiro.”
Another wave of murmurs swept through the room.
Takatori?
But wasn’t he supposed to be dead?
Even the Kuchiki representative looked baffled.
Kaelith unslung a Zanpakut? from his back and threw it to the ground with a resounding clang.
“Behold, Takatori’s Zanpakut?!”
Attendants rushed to inspect the weapon, quickly confirming its authenticity.
Yamamoto reached out with his Spirit Pressure, feeling the residual energy clinging to the blade.
It was unmistakable. This Zanpakut? belonged to Takatori Tsunayashiro, and it had been used in battle recently.
Turning to Kaelith and Yoruichi, Yamamoto nodded.
“With the victims present and their evidence submitted, there is no need to delay further.”
“The session may now continue.”
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.
Yamamoto’s stance was clear, as was the evidence Yoruichi had brought.
The Shih?in elder rose eagerly to his feet.
“I declare the Tsunayashiro family guilty!”
His allies immediately echoed his vote.
With the Shih?in and Kuchiki factions united, the Tsunayashiro representatives found themselves hopelessly outnumbered.
The Tsunayashiro delegate sank into his chair, his face ashen.
At the room’s edge, Yamamoto observed his pupil with quiet pride.
Kaelith may have been infuriatingly lazy and irreverent, but when it mattered most, the boy always delivered.
Yet as he watched Kaelith, Yamamoto’s sharp instincts detected something amiss.
He extended his Spirit Pressure, probing the younger man’s battered body.
Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
*Every bone is shattered… yet he walked in here on his own?*
Staring at Kaelith’s beaten yet smiling face, Yamamoto’s grip on his staff tightened.
*This reckless fool…*