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Chapter 317 B
🕑 Added 2025-04-13 15:03:01 +0000 UTCChapter 317
2-in-1 chapter:
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Hearing Shiba Isshin’s order, the squad members froze in confusion.
A noble had been killed – shouldn’t they be rushing to apprehend the culprit, not helping with…whatever Isshin was planning? Yet there was no time to question him: the vice-captain, Kuchiki Sōjun, raised his voice immediately:
“First and Second Platoons, encircle from the left! Third and Fourth Platoons, take the right!”
Though they hesitated for a second, the squad members moved out. They were used to obeying Ginrei Kuchiki’s commands, and as Sōjun was also a Kuchiki, they instinctively did as he said.
While the area teemed with nervous activity, Ichimaru Gin squinted at Ulquiorra as he fought Muguruma Kensei.
They couldn’t drag this on any longer.
Ulquiorra was a Hollow; if that came to light, it would create huge complications for Kaelith. Ulquiorra had so far managed to fight competently against Kensei and Rōjūrō thanks to his immense battle experience and skill. But if even stronger opponents joined in, things could get out of hand.
Sure enough, Gin spotted Shinji Hirako using Shunpo toward Ulquiorra’s position. Without delay, Gin moved. He flickered in front of Shinji.
“Oh my, what’s this about?”
Shinji raised an eyebrow.
This man…an officer of the Eleventh Division, part of “Kaelith’s group.” He was formidable enough to have a Bankai. His sudden interception—did that mean he intended to shield the killer?
Shinji smirked. “Officer Ichimaru, are you…covering for a criminal?”
“Fufu, why would I do that?” Gin said lightly, smiling. “It’s just that the Eleventh Division, as the designated combat squad, has every right to apprehend violent offenders terrorizing the streets. If your Fifth Division, which is supposed to handle support or rescue, intervenes now, it might complicate things.”
Shinji gave a short laugh.
“I’m a captain, you’re just an officer. Who does what is up to me, not you.”
With that, he drew his Zanpakutō:
“Collapse, Sakanade.”
A spark of light, and the weapon changed shape. A ring-like hilt with circular cutouts along the blade.
Immediately, Gin also drew his sword.
Shinji gave him an eerie smile—then, ignoring him completely, continued charging for Ulquiorra.
Gin slashed crosswise to bar Shinji’s way, but Shinji simply phased through him with no resistance.
“Huh?” Gin’s eyes narrowed.
He thrust his Zanpakutō toward Shinji’s retreating figure.
“Shoot to kill—Shinso!”
A glint of silver streaked across the distance, piercing Shinji’s image.
But…there was no sensation of hitting flesh.
He realized at once: an illusion-type ability. Gin hated illusions. From childhood, he’d despised Aizen’s Kyōka Suigetsu. In hopes of countering illusions, he’d studied them at length. Though he never found a surefire way against Aizen, for lesser illusionists, he had a straightforward method:
“Bankai—Kamishini no Yari!”
Boom!!
A dazzling column of light shot skyward from Gin, his spiritual pressure exploding.
“H-hey…you must be joking, right?”
Shinji, sensing the shockwave in the air, glanced backward in alarm. He’d known Kaelith’s subordinates could all do Bankai. But to see such raw power from Gin’s was terrifying—and the fact he’d dare break the Seireitei’s code by using Bankai without permission was equally shocking.
In Bankai form, Gin’s Reiatsu soared to multiple times its former level. Pinpointing Shinji’s real location was simple now. Shinji’s illusions might distort front/back or left/right, but a large enough spiritual difference could see through it.
Better neutralize him before he whips out his own Bankai, Gin thought.
He thrust the Kamishini no Yari at Shinji without hesitation.
Sure, striking a fellow Shinigami was a grave offense, but if Ulquiorra’s identity got exposed and backfired on Lord Kaelith, then so what if Gin got locked in Mūken?
Shinji’s pulse pounded. He could tell the silver-haired officer’s killing intent was genuine—he truly planned to end him. The Eleventh Division…a pack of maniacs, as always.
He twisted in midair, trying to let Kamishini no Yari hit a nonfatal spot.
Just then, another figure dashed upward, putting themselves between him and Gin.
“Shatter it—Tengumaru!!”
A massive black iron club manifested, blocking Kamishini no Yari.
Swish!
Even so, Gin’s lance-like extension tore right through Tengumaru. That momentary block, however, gave Shinji just enough time to dodge the lethal path. Staring at Gin from a short distance, Shinji shouted angrily:
“You bastard—were you seriously trying to kill me?!”
“…” Gin merely kept smiling in silence. His intent needed no words.
Shinji exhaled sharply through his nose, not bothering to hide his scowl.
“Alright. So that’s how it is. You want me as your mortal enemy? Fine.
He turned to the big-haired captain next to him.
“Thanks, Love. If you hadn’t stepped in, I’d have been a goner.”
“No need for that, Captain Hirako.”
Aikawa Love frowned at Gin.
Like Shinji, he couldn’t believe someone would violate Seireitei’s ban on Bankai in broad daylight and attempt murder on a fellow captain. Didn’t he fear the consequences?
While Love pondered that, someone flashed over to Gin’s side.
Tōsen, Zanpakutō in hand, said curtly, “Gin, we join forces and buy time.”
“Until the Captain-Commander arrives? We must help Ulquiorra slip away first,” Gin replied calmly, withdrawing his extended blade.
Tōsen nodded. “Precisely.”
Though it sounded simple, it was a tall order. Shinji, Love, Rōjūrō, Kensei—four Captain-level fighters. Not easily stalled.
Nearby on the ground, Komamura also drew his sword, ready to summon his Bankai and create an opening. But just before he could, a sudden shout rang out:
“Hey! Move away—now!”
“Hnnng!!!”
Everyone reflexively looked over. They saw Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri racing in their direction, eyes wide, looking as if he’d seen something horrifying, both hands clutching his Zanpakutō hilt.
“An experimental accident! My Zanpakutō’s gone out of control—everyone evacuate!”
At those words, the assembled Shinigami blanched.
Since Mayuri had become Captain, tales of his bizarre habits had spread. Everyone knew this new Twelfth Division Captain researched all manner of freakish stuff. His Zanpakutō had been modified personally, grafting on who-knows-what. Now it had gone berserk?
Under everyone’s petrified stares, Mayuri, still sprinting, hoisted the blade overhead:
“Bankai—”
“Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō!!”
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
A gargantuan wormlike monstrosity, tens of meters high and over a hundred meters long, slammed down.
“Raaaagh!!!”
Its front end was a golden infant’s face. The creature opened its mouth and spewed billowing purple fumes.
Mayuri shouted in time:
“That’s poison gas! Anyone below lieutenant-class will be unsalvageable if they inhale it!”
Panic overwhelmed the Shinigami on all sides. Without waiting for orders, they turned and fled faster than they’d arrived. The nobles and bystanders also wailed and scrambled away.
Kensei, Rōjūrō, and Ulquiorra all had to retreat from the all-pervasive purple smoke.
“Kensei, don’t let him get away!” Rōjūrō tried to remind him. The suspicious pale youth was obviously dangerous.
Kensei gritted his teeth, lunging to chase.
Boom!
Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō burst through a nearby wall, interposing between them and Ulquiorra.
Kensei stared blankly at the colossal worm, “like he’d seen a Komamura.”
Mayuri alighted on top of the golden baby’s face.
“Aah… My Zanpakutō lost control during an experiment, and I can’t hold it in check. Sorry, you two— better run for your lives.”
Rōjūrō scowled. “Captain Kurotsuchi, watch that man— I suspect he’s a ryoka.”
“Ryoka? I don’t know that term. I haven’t been Captain long. Hard to keep track…”
Mayuri’s tone was laced with faux curiosity.
Rōjūrō started to explain but halted. The mad glint in Mayuri’s eye…he realized the Twelfth Captain was stalling him.
Panicking, Rōjūrō tried to force his way past the giant worm to chase Ulquiorra. Mayuri let out a broad grin:
“My my, good for me— I’ve already regained control of my Zanpakutō in such a short time.”
He spread his arms wide. In a flash, the huge golden worm vanished, returning to sealed form in his hand.
Casually sheathing it between his legs, Mayuri announced:
“All better now. You can continue your pursuit.”
Then he sauntered off, humming.
Rōjūrō’s gut churned with dread. He looked at Kensei to confirm what they should do, only to see Kensei roaring after Ulquiorra’s trail.
“That fool…” Rōjūrō sighed but could only follow.
…
By the time Captain-Commander Yamamoto arrived, he almost had an aneurysm on the spot.
Half the Noble District lay in ruins:
- Some buildings leveled by the shockwaves from Gin’s Bankai.
- Others destroyed by Kensei’s wind-based Zanpakutō.
- And the biggest swath flattened by Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō’s rampage…
Kaelith stood aside, watching the crowd with mild interest. He and Yamamoto had gleaned the gist of events via Reiatsu sensing on their way over.
Quite the lavish melee. Thankfully, Ulquiorra had slipped away; if he’d been caught, the day might’ve ended in utter disaster.
Seeing Yamamoto, the once-cowering nobles rushed forward:
“Yamamoto! A noble has been murdered—just look at our district, completely destroyed! This is on your head as Captain-Commander!”
“Seize the culprit—execute him!”
“And those scum who unleashed their Bankai in the Seireitei—kill them too!”
Fuming with indignation, they clamored for justice. Yamamoto frowned, gaze shifting toward the carriage. Indeed, a noble was dead.
He asked, “Where’s the killer?”
Kyōraku Shunsui flickered over to explain, but before he could speak, Kaelith raised a hand:
“I killed him.”
“…?”
A vein seemed to almost pop on Yamamoto’s forehead as he glowered at Kaelith.
He knew perfectly well Kaelith had come here with him; what nonsense was he spouting now?
Under everyone’s stare, Kaelith grinned:
“That dead scion…whatever his name was, he and my family have always been at odds. I disliked him, so I had him offed.
“It’s a private affair between two noble houses, teacher. You’re just a commoner, so please stay out of our aristocratic feud.”
At those words, Yamamoto took a deep breath. His heart was about to burst with all that blood pressure.
Comments
אביעד ווקנין
Thanks for the chapter, loved it! Hope you will keep up with the good work 🙂
N
I mean...he's not wrong?
