novelblue
Chapter 180
Chapter 180
Chapter 180
“Hado #90: Kurohitsugi!”
As Aizen completed the full incantation, black spiritual pressure surged upward, forming a towering wall of energy. Like layered data stacking upon itself, it enclosed the lingering smoke from the previous Raik?h? blast—and Szayelaporro along with it.
A massive, pitch-black cuboid of spiritual pressure rose several dozen feet tall in the air, a truly imposing sight. Yet beneath its calm exterior, the interior raged with a storm of razor-sharp energy.
After a few seconds, the black spiritual energy dissipated, revealing Szayelaporro’s figure. His body was now riddled with wounds of varying sizes.
The teamwork between Kaelith and Aizen had been almost too seamless. Szayelaporro felt like a character caught in a fighting game combo, launched into the air and pummeled repeatedly. He’d let his guard down for just a moment—yet by the time he regained his senses, half his health bar was gone.
More than the damage from Kurohitsugi, what stood out was the long gash across his chest, deep enough to expose writhing internal organs. Blue flames danced along the wound, preventing it from healing. He hadn’t suffered injuries this severe since becoming a Vasto Lorde.
He glanced at Kaelith and Aizen, who were already gearing up for their next attack. So young, yet so powerful. Perhaps that old Shinigami’s warning about Kaelith being troublesome hadn’t been entirely off.
Still, if these two brats thought this would be enough to beat him, they were sorely mistaken.
As Kaelith and Aizen watched, Szayelaporro smiled, just about to speak when a sharp voice cut him off:
“What are you smiling at? No smiling! We’re in the middle of a fight—show some seriousness!”
Szayelaporro froze. “…?”
Irritated, he looked toward Kaelith. Moments ago, Kaelith had been grinning the whole time. Now he wouldn’t let Szayelaporro smile even once? But before he could retort, another thought crossed his mind. Curiosity won out over anger.
“Kaelith, why aren’t you affected? My reishi toxin clearly invaded your body, so why hasn’t it done anything?”
Kaelith paused, a hint of melancholy flickering across his features.
In the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, there were two top-class inventors: Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Both enjoyed creating various drugs. To research these substances, they needed test subjects. For ordinary drugs, it was easy—they could just find a few “volunteers” from the Stealth Force.
But high-level drugs targeted at elite Shinigami posed a different challenge. During their long years of experimentation, Urahara and Kurotsuchi had conducted countless tests on themselves. Both had developed tremendous drug resistance. Most new concoctions barely had any effect on them.
After hitting a research dead-end a few times, they came up with a bold plan. Armed with their latest game concept, they approached Kaelith for help as a test subject. To ensure Kaelith wouldn’t refuse, they swore that their drugs were harmless, and even if there were some danger, it would remain within controlled limits.
Kaelith greeted their promises with a cold smile. Kurotsuchi swearing an oath was about as trustworthy as a vow made beside a dried-up river. Yet the two seemed to anticipate Kaelith’s skepticism. For an entire day, they hovered around him, showering him with lavish praise:
“Kaelith, your strength is unmatched through the ages, your physical prowess so great that even former Kenpachis would be children at play before you!”
“Kaelith, your luck is extraordinary. Where others see hardship, you find opportunity!”
“Surely with your keen intellect, you can see these drugs pose no danger.”
“Your wisdom shines like a beacon, illuminating our path forward!”
Hearing their flattery, Kaelith tilted his chin upward.
“Though your motives are impure, at least you’re honest. You could have fabricated virtues I don’t possess, but instead you praised the qualities truly mine. Very well, in light of your honesty, I shall assist you!” (t/N; haha this guy)
At this, Urahara’s eyes lit up. “Bring the medicine!”
That night, Kaelith felt he understood the origins of the universe and the future of humanity. He imagined colorful little people dancing in his room. Aizen, Urahara, and Kurotsuchi held hands, their bodies shining in all sorts of hues, performing a dance like the Four Little Swans. Smiling all the while, they looked at him as if to say: “We’re three and need one more—join us?”
The next day, Kaelith swore he would never drink their concoction again. Immediately, Urahara and Kurotsuchi began their second round of praise.
On the third testing attempt, Kaelith adamantly refused, insisting that no amount of flattery would change his mind. Then, as he watched, Urahara and Kurotsuchi pulled out a manuscript—a book still in progress, titled “Kaelith’s Wisdom.” It covered every aspect imaginable: system development, programming logic, software creation, modeling, and illustration. Though each chapter was only partially complete, Kaelith could already envision the grand spectacle it would create once finished.
Overjoyed, he then frowned slightly.
“I didn’t contribute that much to the game’s development… We should revise the title.”
This surprised both Urahara and Kurotsuchi. Had Kaelith changed his personality?
Then Kaelith said, “Let’s call it ‘The Wisdom of Kaelith and His Subordinates’!” (t/N; I am dying over here)
Urahara, Kurotsuchi: “…”
Excellent. Still the same Kaelith they knew, reassuring in his predictability.
Enticed by the book, Kaelith continued testing the drugs a third time, fourth time… and many more times after that.
Over the course of a year, forget mere anesthetic toxins—even lethal poisons would only have about a fifty percent chance of affecting him now.
As Kaelith’s gaze grew heavy and resentful, Szayelaporro swallowed nervously. He had no idea what this guy had gone through, but it seemed weighty indeed.
Well, so what if the toxin didn’t work this once? Poison wasn’t his only specialty.
With a cold sneer, Szayelaporro spread his arms toward several Gillians emerging from a Garganta. The massive, black-cloaked figures writhed in pain, then lost control and drifted toward him.
Pa!
Szayelaporro seized one of the Gillians and tore a chunk from its head with his teeth. A surge of spiritual power flowed into his body. As the Gillian’s body shriveled, Szayelaporro’s wounds began to heal rapidly…