Chapter 198 The Battle of Karakura Town Concludes!
"That was truly magnificent, Kurosaki Ichigo. It was well worth all my prolonged efforts!"
Just as Urahara Kisuke and Kurosaki Ichigo believed the Battle of Karakura Town had finally concluded, a languid voice emerged from behind them.
The instant they sensed someone approaching, both turned their heads simultaneously to identify the voice's owner. The expression on Urahara Kisuke's face transformed instantly, and cold sweat slipped uncontrollably down his forehead.
"Impossible! Why... why are you still alive?!"
Urahara Kisuke bent slightly forward, placing his hand on Zanpakutō's handle, prepared to strike at any moment.
"Calm yourself, Urahara Kisuke!"
Beneath Urahara Kisuke's trembling gaze, Fiander and Ichimaru Gin leisurely approached from the distance. At this moment, Fiander applauded mockingly. "I have no intention of killing you, Urahara Kisuke! Now then, please—hand over Aizen's seal to me!"
As he spoke, Fiander extended an open hand toward Urahara Kisuke and said with a light smile: "Kurosaki Ichigo, whom you regarded as your final hope, has been neutralized. Surely you're not tempted to fight me, are you?"
Seeing Fiander and Ichimaru Gin approaching, Kurosaki Ichigo staggered to his feet without regard for the pain wracking his body. He extended his hand to block their path. "That's absolutely impossible! We've sacrificed so much to seal Aizen away. How could we possibly hand him over to you just because you demand it?!"
Hearing Kurosaki Ichigo's righteous declaration, Fiander suddenly grinned and addressed Kurosaki Ichigo with amusement: "Very well. I respect your conviction!"
Hearing what the Arrancar before him said, Kurosaki Ichigo felt momentarily bewildered. He couldn't comprehend what the other party intended. As he hesitated, he heard Fiander speak mockingly: "Since a single request cannot persuade you to relinquish him to me, then I'll make a second request. If you refuse again, that will constitute disrespect toward me."
"Generally speaking, I become quite angry with people who don't show me proper courtesy!"
Realizing he was being toyed with by his opponent, Ichigo's expression darkened. He prepared to swing his fist to attack, but heard Urahara Kisuke shouting to stop him.
"That's enough, Kurosaki!"
Hearing Urahara Kisuke's words, Ichigo froze with his fist raised stiffly. He turned his head and spoke with reluctance: "But—"
"No 'buts.' Give up, Kurosaki. You've already done everything you could!"
After finishing those words, Urahara Kisuke threw the seal container toward Fiander's position, allowing him to catch it. "Although I don't know what you intend to do... you're not here to rescue Aizen, are you?"
"And you, Ichimaru—did you betray Aizen as well?"
Urahara Kisuke studied Fiander's refined features, then directed his question toward Ichimaru Gin standing behind Fiander.
"Betrayal?"
Ichimaru Gin maintained that iconic smile, then responded with amusement: "Who knows..."
Seeing that the other party wouldn't answer his question directly, Urahara Kisuke showed no annoyance. Instead, he continued: "Since you've achieved your objective, what else do you intend to accomplish?"
Having finally secured his goal, Fiander handed the seal container to Ichimaru Gin. Then he glanced at Urahara Kisuke, smiled, and said: "Naturally, I intend to depart from this world. But... before leaving, there's one matter I must attend to."
At this moment, Fiander suddenly drew the Zanpakutō from his waist. Under everyone's watchful gaze, he slashed through half of Urahara Kisuke's torso in an instant.
SLASH!
The blade swept across Urahara Kisuke's chest, yet no blood spilled forth. The moment the wound appeared, it was sealed by crystalline ice. The blood had already been frozen within.
"Manager Urahara!"
Seeing Urahara Kisuke severely injured, Kurosaki Ichigo startled forward to help. But Ichimaru Gin, who had suddenly materialized behind him, seized his arm and pressed him forcefully to the ground.
"Remain quiet, Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Fiander raised a single finger, signaling Ichigo to make no sound. Then, gripping his Zanpakutō, he walked toward Urahara Kisuke, who had collapsed to the ground. Slowly crouching down, he brought his face close and spoke: "You've been quite attentive toward me, Urahara Kisuke!"
"Cough! Hack—"
At this moment, Urahara Kisuke's face had turned deathly pale. He didn't dare speak extensively at all, because the tremendous quantity of frigid air remaining within his body was eroding his internal organs continuously.
"Did you think I wouldn't know? Yamamoto Genryūsai has been secretly rescued by you, hasn't he? When the barrier pillars shattered, did you truly believe I was unaware that you'd infiltrated the Dangai to save him?"
Fiander extended his palm, pressed Urahara Kisuke's face against the ground, and spoke with a sneer: "Weren't you proud of yourself? You thought you'd manipulated both myself and Aizen in the palm of your hand. What a joke! Who exactly do you think I am?!"
As he spoke, Fiander's palm exerted tremendous force. A wave of frigid cold burst forth, directly freezing all the land within a radius exceeding ten kilometers, transforming it into an ice sheet.
After completing this display, Fiander rose slowly to his feet. He looked down at Urahara Kisuke—whose head had been frozen to the ground—with contempt and spoke in an icy voice: "I'm a person of my word. If I say I won't kill you, then I won't kill you!"
Then Fiander walked toward Kurosaki Ichigo, raising his hand to motion for Ichimaru Gin to release him.
Kurosaki Ichigo, having just been freed, witnessed Urahara Kisuke suffering such humiliation. He struggled desperately, wanting to rush forward and save him. But Fiander extended his arms and seized him directly. "Are you concerned about him, Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"Let go! Release me! You bastard—what you did to Manager Urahara—"
Hearing Kurosaki Ichigo's insults directed at himself, Fiander showed no concern. Instead, he extended his fingers and flicked the other's forehead lightly. "Calm yourself!"
SNAP!
After being struck solidly on the forehead, Ichigo finally regained his senses. Either of the two individuals standing before him could eliminate him with ease. Without his Shinigami power, it was extraordinarily difficult for him to even walk at present.
"You... what exactly do you want?!"
"You already obtained Aizen's seal! So why would you still commit such acts? Karakura Town has been reduced to this state because of you. What more could you possibly desire?!"
Ichigo, filled with resentment, roared and threw off Fiander's arm. He collapsed to his knees on the ground, screaming helplessly and hysterically at Fiander.
"Nothing in particular... I simply thought it would be entertaining to torment you. Well then, we're leaving! We shall meet again!"
"Let's go, Gin!"
"Of course, Fiander. Farewell then, young Ichigo. You truly are a fascinating child!"
Observing the retreating backs of Fiander and Ichimaru Gin, Ichigo's eyes turned bloodshot. The other's casual statement—"I simply thought it would be entertaining to torment you"—continued reverberating endlessly in his ears.
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
After Aizen's defeat, the sky above this world became clear once more. The dark clouds gradually dispersed. The scorching sun fell upon Ichigo's face, yet it couldn't make him feel any warmth whatsoever. Because at this moment, his heart felt utterly desolate.
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