"What's wrong? That look on your face… like someone caught doing something bad? Kukukuku… seems my judgment was absolutely correct—
Captain Fūjin, the reason you survived the fatal injuries caused by Captain-Commander Yamamoto's 'Onibi'… was clearly because of the high-speed regeneration granted by Hollowfication, wasn't it?!"
As Mayuri Kurotsuchi spoke, he habitually split his mouth wide, revealing a row of neat white teeth, and continued with a half-smile:
"So when exactly did it happen? A Shinigami infected with Hollow poison who not only didn't die, but instead broke past predetermined limits and completed Hollowfication… I must say, Captain Fūjin, the bloodline you inherited is truly formidable!"
"Mayuri, what exactly are you getting at?!"
Fūjin Taichi understood that Mayuri had clearly already uncovered his identity as a descendant of the Royal Kazama clan. Instinctively, he grew wary—after all, this was a lunatic who would experiment even on his own "daughter."
"Kukukuku… Captain Fūjin, although Captain-Commander Yamamoto has sensed that your body is 'different from ordinary people,' he has yet to confirm that the source of that power is Hollowfication.
So… if you would permit me to conduct a small, purely academic study of your body, I can continue keeping this matter concealed for you."
Beneath his black-and-white painted face, Mayuri's grin widened even further.
A 'small academic study'? From a pervert like you? Who the hell would believe that?!
Taichi understood clearly—Mayuri had already confirmed his Hollowfication. Yet for his own research purposes, he had not reported it to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
He intended to use it as leverage—to turn Taichi into a living laboratory specimen.
At the mere thought of lying naked on an operating table while Mayuri grinned maniacally above him, Taichi felt a chill crawl up his spine. Without hesitation, he refused:
"Mayuri, tell whoever you want. It's baseless nonsense anyway! Even if you inform Captain-Commander Yamamoto, I won't admit to any such thing!"
"Oh? Is this what they call 'a cooked duck with a stubborn beak'? Kukukuku… Captain Fūjin, if you insist on refusing cooperation, then I regret to inform you—
Just now, I've already transmitted intelligence confirming your Hollowfication back to Soul Society. Think carefully—an esteemed captain of the Gotei Thirteen possessing Hollow powers…"
Mayuri's yellow eyes widened like brass bells as he stared at Taichi, grinning broadly.
"So what should we call you? A Shinigami? A Hollow? Or… a monster?"
"Mayuri…"
Taichi's left hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his Zanpakutō. His blue-black eyes burned as he glared at Mayuri.
"In the past, I thought that although you're a complete lunatic, at least you were useful to Soul Society.
But I never imagined you'd sink this low—wanting to dissect a fellow comrade! You're nothing but a criminal!"
"Oh? And what do you plan to do?" Mayuri shrugged indifferently.
"Use your Hollowfication power to kill me here? Kukukuku… that would only confirm your guilt even further."
"Heh. Trying to provoke me into attacking you, are you? So you can file charges with the Seireitei and have Captain-Commander Yamamoto drag me off for slicing and dicing? Dream on."
Taichi sneered.
"But speaking of which, Mayuri—you want to study Hollowfication and Arrancar, don't you? I just remembered a place perfect for you. So…"
As he spoke, Taichi sliced open a cross-shaped spatial rift before him.
In the next instant, his figure flickered—he appeared behind Mayuri, bending his middle finger toward the back of Mayuri's head.
"Oni Dekopin."
"What?! When did—?!"
Mayuri might be twisted, but he was no fool.
The moment he sensed Taichi behind him, shock flooded his mind—he hadn't even been able to perceive the movement!
Bang!
A concentrated burst of spiritual pressure exploded from Taichi's fingertip against the back of Mayuri's head, releasing a tremendous shockwave that blasted him straight into the cross-shaped rift.
"Originally, I was going to send you directly to Las Noches!"
Taichi snorted coldly.
"But out of respect for Nemu Kurotsuchi… I'll instead send you to reunite with your old buddy—Kisuke Urahara."
After finishing all this, Fūjin Taichi sheathed his blade. Seeing that it was getting late, he led the remaining thousand-plus expeditionary troops outside the camp and rushed toward Terror Valley at full speed.
…
Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
Meanwhile, far away in the Seireitei of Soul Society, inside the Spiritual Wave Measurement Laboratory of the Communications Technology Research Division under the Twelfth Division's Research and Development Institute, a sudden alarm rang out.
"There's a reaction! Coordinates 3600, 4000—intense spiritual power fluctuations detected in the eastern district of Karakura Town in the Human World! Begin correction and capture immediately!" Rin Tsubokura of the Twelfth Division shouted urgently.
"What?!" Akon, the 3rd Seat and Deputy Director, hurried over as Hiyosu, the Department Head, frantically worked the keyboard.
"This is bad! Fluctuations of this magnitude are definitely from a Menos Grande, Gillian-class or higher! Matsumoto Kogoro, notify Captain Shiba and the Advance Guard in the Human World immediately!!"
"Yes!"
Matsumoto Kogoro, sporting heavy dark circles and a bandaged head, rushed to the communications room to relay the intel: "Unknown Arrancar attack in Karakura Town!"
"Hey, what's the status?" Akon asked as he entered the lab.
"Perfect timing, Akon!" Hiyosu glanced up, his fingers flying across the keys. "Two Arrancar-class Menos have appeared in the Human World!!"
"What?!" Akon walked to the monitor, staring at the two pulsating red dots. "This intensity... the Soul Society has no record of this. Could it be... the rumored Adjuchas?!"
"Hmph, whatever they are, I've roughly locked onto their position…" Hiyosu scratched his greenish head and asked,
"Should we inform Captain Kurotsuchi?"
"Of course!"
Akōn answered without hesitation:
"The Captain has long wanted to conduct research on 'breaking the limits,' but lacked suitable specimens and had to shelve it.
So regardless of what those two things are, they're certainly related to the Arrancar created by Sōsuke Aizen. They're perfect for providing direction to the Captain's academic research!"
"Okay, then… locking onto the Captain's coordinates immediately—"
Hiyosu's fingers clattered rapidly across the keyboard. Suddenly, a stunned expression appeared on his face.
"The Captain... seems to be in Karakura Town already?!"
"What?!"
Akōn was momentarily startled, but quickly composed himself. A look of admiration spread across his face.
"As expected of the Captain… he'd already made his move!"
...
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