"Ohoho, finally asking me for help."
The moment the device in Kensei Kenzuru's embrace sounded the alarm, he sprang up from the sofa like a projectile.
He was just wondering how to lure Harribel over, and here came the opportunity!
"Wait a moment."
Kensei was about to dash out of the lab in one stride but was stopped as Aizen grabbed him by the collar.
"Sōsuke, saving a life is like fighting a fire. A moment later, and they might not even have corpses left." Kensei appealed to her emotions and reason. "Besides, she's a Vasto Lorde. She might even help with your Arrancar experiments."
"Precisely because of that, we need a more effective strategy." There was no urgency in Aizen's eyes, only rational light. "A simple rescue won't make her come back with you. Do it this way."
Aizen leaned close to Kensei's ear, lowering her voice and speaking rapidly for a few moments.
Kensei's eyes brightened as he listened, looking at Aizen with surprised delight. "Such a brilliant plan! Sōsuke, you're my Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix!"
(TN: A Chinese idiom referring to two exceptional strategists, Zhuge Liang (Sleeping Dragon) and Pang Tong (Young Phoenix), from the Three Kingdoms period. Kensei is complimenting Aizen's cunning. The translation keeps the cultural reference intact with the established English terms.)
"Alright. Remember to do as I instructed."
"Don't worry." Kensei grinned, turning and rushing outside with Nelliel.
Watching the two disappear from view, Yoruichi spoke leisurely. "What were you whispering to Kensei just now? I have a feeling you're up to no good."
"Your misconception."
Aizen returned to the operation console, picking up a piece of paper to write and draw on.
On the endless white sands of Hueco Mundo, two figures were moving swiftly.
"Kensei, will we make it in time like this?"
Nelliel asked with concern. Hueco Mundo was too vast. Even at high speed, reaching Harribel would take considerable time.
"Don't worry. I'm the fastest in the three worlds."
Kensei gave Nelliel a reassuring look. They were far before, but now their current location was close enough to sense the marker he had left on the device.
"Hold on to me, Nelliel."
Nelliel grasped Kensei's arm. The next moment, the two vanished from the spot.
-----------------
Cracks had already appeared on Harribel's greatsword, yet it remained steadfastly pointed at the encroaching enemies.
Although Harribel was a powerful Vasto Lorde, she had long adhered to the belief that seeking sacrifice would inevitably cost sacrifice, never killing or devouring her enemies. Consequently, her strength hadn't increased for a long time.
She stood before Apacci, using her own body to barely shield her gravely wounded companion. A ferocious wound had been torn open in Apacci's abdomen, the blood staining the white sand beneath her. Her consciousness was gradually fading.
Rose and Sung-Sun flanked Apacci on either side, their bodies同样 (also) covered in wounds.
The encirclement was tightening.
Six leading Adjuchas, along with the countless Hollow horde behind them, looked at this weakened Vasto Lorde with greedy, mocking eyes.
"Harribel, you still have a chance to survive if you surrender now," one leading Hollow screeched. "As long as you surrender and pledge loyalty to His Majesty, benefits await you."
Harribel didn't reply, merely pointing her sword tip at this Hollow. The stubborn look in her eyes made her meaning clear.
The surrounding Hollows surged forward. Several attacks with vicious angles, carrying considerable power, shot towards Harribel and the Apacci behind her.
Harribel couldn't dodge. If she moved, Apacci would be completely exposed to these attacks. The outcome was predictable.
The three still able to move gathered their remaining spiritual pressure, preparing to block with their bodies.
Then, two familiar figures abruptly appeared in the space before Harribel.
"Why do you all look so ready to die?"
Kensei swatted their incoming attacks aside like flies, deflecting them towards another direction and injuring other Hollows.
"Relax. Now that I'm here, this bunch of little trash can be wiped out with a snap."
A confident smile spread across Kensei's face. Then he turned his head, scanning the dense surrounding horde of Hollows, and sucked in a breath.
Does Baraggan have a screw loose? Why send so many Hollows? What grudge do you have against Harribel?
Sigh, can we still make peace?
"Really don't know how you held out." Kensei frowned upon seeing the barely breathing Apacci behind Harribel. "Nelliel, cover us for a bit."
"Leave it to me."
Nelliel grasped her double-headed javelin, her eyes sharp and fierce as she looked at the enemies before her. Her figure flashed rapidly, each disappearance and reappearance accompanied by several Adjuchas sent flying backward.
Kensei crouched down, bringing his palm close to Apacci's wound.
"Witness my Palm Immortal Technique!"
Gentle spiritual pressure flowed from his palm, covering Apacci's wound. Within minutes, Apacci's wound had stopped bleeding and scabbed over. But time was pressing; he could only do simple first aid to stabilize her life. The rest would come later.
Harribel looked at Apacci's improving wound, feeling relief and a flicker of regret.
If she hadn't held onto those naive beliefs before, would her companions have been put in such danger...?
"Alright. Further treatment can wait until we leave here."
Kensei sensed Harribel's emotional shift but had no time to address it now. He stood up, his eyes sweeping around. While treating Apacci, he had sensed an anomaly mixed within the Hollow horde.
Not a naturally born Hollow, but something that felt like several formed Hollows fused together through special means.
In Hueco Mundo, only that pervert Szayelaporro Granz could have such methods. It seemed he was also responsible for attracting so many Hollows simultaneously.
Kensei's gaze locked onto a lizard-like Hollow towards the rear of the horde.
"Found you."
Calling Nelliel back, Kensei aimed in the direction of the modified Hollow, drew Kūkon, and slashed down.
A spatial slash, ignoring space, appeared on the modified Hollow. Before it could react, it split into two halves from the middle, falling to the ground separately.
The remaining Hollows were somewhat stunned. Though they had experienced many battles, such bizarre abilities were only seen on Baraggan.
Though he wanted to pack up all these Hollows and take them back for Aizen's experiments, the sheer number was too troublesome to handle, especially with Harribel and the others in critical condition behind him.
One leading Hollow mustered its courage, snarling at Kensei. "Shinigami! You can't escape! How dare you resist His Majesty's orders!"
"Baraggan, right?" Kensei waved his hand dismissively, glancing at it. "Not being able to finish you all off today makes me, the Crown Prince of Soul Society, lose face. It has already incurred the sin warranting death!"
"In a while, I'll make that old fossil know what 'thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river' means. Today's humiliation will be repaid tenfold another day. I'm definitely going to dismantle its bones and use them as bone meal for planting vegetables."
After dropping a few classic lines, Kensei and the others vanished from the spot.
-----------------
Deep underground in Hueco Mundo, frenzied laughter erupted from Szayelaporro Granz's laboratory.
On the main screen, the last image transmitted by a previously placed monitor froze on the scene of Kensei disappearing with five Hollows.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Szayelaporro braced his hands on the operation console, his face unable to suppress his excitement.
He had seen Kensei's ability to appear out of thin air—neither a Shinigami's Shunpo nor a Hollow's Sonído, but genuine spatial movement. Moreover, the other party could quickly identify his modified Hollow...
"What an excellent specimen..."
Szayelaporro murmured to himself. Originally, he just wanted Baraggan to focus on that female Vasto Lorde to avoid disturbing his own experiments. But now, his own interest had been ignited.
That Shinigami with his unfathomably bizarre abilities far surpassed any sample in Hueco Mundo; even Gorudo Roikodium paled in comparison!
"What exactly is he? What's the structure of his body and soul? How did he obtain his power?" Szayelaporro rewound the footage, revealing Kensei's image. He licked his lips. "Ah~ I want to make him my experimental subject, then dissect him."
His interest in Kensei had now surpassed his previous perfect creation, Gorudo Roikodium, reaching a new peak.
"But before that, let the esteemed His Majesty test the waters first."
Szayelaporro sat back in his chair, his fingertips constantly tapping the armrest. A new plan was taking shape in his mind.
***
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