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Fate In Bleach (263)
🕑 Added 2024-08-13 17:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 263 - Sōken Ishida
“Oh? Captain Kurotsuchi, who told you that I didn't have a Limiting Seal placed on me when I came to the World of the Living?” Ailin asked with amusement.
“Hmph, the spiritual pressure you just released, even within the Seireitei, few captains could match it. Are you telling me that was just your suppressed spiritual pressure, Captain Ailin?”
Mayuri Kurotsuchi glared at Ailin. This was the man who had once effortlessly defeated him and who was now interfering with his plans, costing him a valuable test subject.
Clap, clap, clap…
“Captain Kurotsuchi, your eyesight is truly remarkable,” Ailin said, clapping his hands in mock admiration. “You’re the first person to recognize that I used a Limiting Seal.”
With that, he casually lifted his shihakushō, revealing the black Eleventh Division insignia on his left chest. It was a black sawgrass, the Eleventh Division’s emblem.
Seeing the insignia, Kurotsuchi’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
“This… This is impossible!”
The spiritual pressure Ailin had just unleashed could rival that of a captain in Bankai. And you’re telling me that was his suppressed spiritual pressure?
How strong was he without the Limiting Seal?
Seeing Kurotsuchi’s astonished expression, Ailin smirked. “Why is it impossible, Captain Kurotsuchi? I am the ‘Strongest Shinigami’ of the Seireitei. Don’t use your narrow perspective to judge me. I stand at a height beyond your comprehension.”
Ailin waved dismissively at Kurotsuchi, then turned his attention to Sōken Ishida, who now had a full head of white hair.
“Long time no see, old friend. If I remember correctly, you’re Sōken Ishida, aren't you?”
“Indeed, Captain Ailin. I am Sōken Ishida.” Sōken stood before Ailin respectfully, just like over two hundred years ago.
However, back then, he had been a young boy, dreaming of restoring the Quincy’s glory. After learning from Ailin the reason behind the Shinigami’s extermination of the Quincy, he had abandoned that dream and, at Ailin's suggestion, had become the Quincy representative, signing a peace treaty with the Shinigami.
Thus, he had become, in the eyes of the Shinigami, the “last Quincy.”
Though he had married and had a son, and other Quincy families had given birth to children with potential, he had kept them hidden from the Shinigami.
Since Sōken was intent on keeping them secret, Ailin saw no reason to expose them. He knew Uryu Ishida was watching from nearby, but he didn’t acknowledge the boy’s presence.
“Can you tell me what happened here, Sōken?” he asked.
“Captain Ailin, it’s like this. According to the agreement between the Quincy and the Shinigami, I, as a Quincy, cannot use my Quincy powers to eliminate Hollows when they appear in the World of the Living. However, I can stall for time until the stationed Shinigami arrive to purify them.
But this time, I was attacked by over a dozen Hollows. I resisted for nearly half an hour, but no Shinigami came to purify them. Fearing that something had happened to the stationed Shinigami, I used the device you gave me.”
While Ailin already knew what had happened, he listened patiently to Sōken’s explanation. Once Sōken had finished, Ailin turned his gaze to Kurotsuchi.
“Captain Kurotsuchi, if I’m not mistaken, after the agreement between Quincy and Shinigami was signed, it was included in the Shin’ō Academy curriculum. Don’t tell me that none of you, over a dozen Twelfth Division Shinigami, knew about this agreement.”
“Captain Ailin, what are you implying? Are you accusing my division of abandoning a Quincy in need?”
While his actions did indeed constitute abandonment, Kurotsuchi refused to admit it. He believed that as long as Ailin didn’t have concrete evidence, Head-Captain Yamamoto wouldn't punish him for the sake of a Quincy.
“If you have evidence that I violated the agreement, I urge you to report it to Head-Captain Yamamoto and let him punish me, instead of making baseless accusations.”
“Captain Kurotsuchi, it seems you’ve forgotten that I was the one who facilitated that agreement. Your decision to abandon a Quincy right before my eyes is not only a violation of the agreement between Shinigami and Quincy but also a betrayal of my trust. And Captain Kurotsuchi, have you perhaps misunderstood something? I, Ailin, do not answer to Head-Captain Yamamoto.”
With those words, Ailin vanished in a flash of Shunpo, reappearing behind Kurotsuchi. He held a severed arm in his hand. Blood dripped from the wound.
“Argh!”
Kurotsuchi screamed as everyone realized that his right arm had been severed at the shoulder.
He stared at Ailin in horror, drenched in cold sweat. He never imagined that Ailin would dare to attack him directly.
“Captain Kurotsuchi, this time, I’m only giving you a warning because Sōken Ishida is unharmed. But remember this. If anything like this happens again, I will hold you personally responsible. If you don't want to be harmed again, pray that Sōken Ishida dies of old age.”
“Now, get out of my sight.”
“Damn it!”
Humiliated and enraged, Kurotsuchi glared at Ailin, then, drawing his Zanpakutō, opened a Senkaimon and led his trembling subordinates back to the Seireitei.
Undeniably, Kurotsuchi would become a valuable asset during the Thousand-Year Blood War, even earning the title of MVP. But that was the future Kurotsuchi.
Before he learned his lesson from Uryu Ishida, or rather, before he developed a genuine affection for his creation, Nemu, Mayuri Kurotsuchi was a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
To ensure his subordinates’ loyalty, he had even implanted spiritual bombs within their bodies. It wasn't until Nemu had shielded him from harm on multiple occasions, earning his recognition as his “daughter,” that his methods became less ruthless and he began to show some semblance of humanity.
Currently, it seemed his experiments had progressed to Nemu #6. He hadn’t yet begun creating Nemu #7.
The members of the Twelfth Division, throughout history, all possessed a burning desire to create something new, as if their worth was measured by their ability to surpass their predecessors.
Kurotsuchi, eventually, would prove himself with Nemu #8, a miracle that surpassed even Kisuke Urahara’s achievements. However, no matter how great his future accomplishments might be, Ailin wouldn't tolerate anyone violating the agreement he had personally witnessed and facilitated.
After watching Kurotsuchi’s departure, Ailin’s hand ignited with azure flames. The flames swiftly consumed the severed arm, leaving behind only a wisp of smoke. He then turned to Sōken Ishida.
“Captain Ailin, thank you. If it weren’t for you, my Quincy lineage would have ended with me.” Sōken bowed deeply, his humility startling even Uryu, who had never seen his grandfather act so submissively.
“Stop it, Sōken. You can use those words to fool the Shinigami, but you can’t fool me. I know there are other Quincy in the World of the Living. However, I don't care about their numbers. What I do care about is your health. It seems you only have three or four years left. If you have anything you want to pass on, do it quickly. Don’t wait until you’re on your deathbed to regret not teaching your disciples properly.”
Sōken was stunned.
Ailin's claim that he didn't care about the number of Quincy in the World of the Living made him think of his son and grandson. If there were other Quincy, then it could only be those two, right?
As for Ailin's statement that he only had three or four years left to live, Sōken wasn't surprised. He had lived a long life. With his spiritual pressure, he had already surpassed his natural lifespan. It was time for him to pass on.
What Sōken didn't realize was that Ailin’s words weren't referring to his natural lifespan.
In three or four years, Yhwach, the progenitor of the Quincy, would regain consciousness and initiate “Auswählen,” reclaiming his power over nine years.
Sōken, with his current strength, couldn't escape Auswählen.
“I understand, Captain Ailin.”
Despite learning of his impending doom, Sōken accepted it calmly.
“Good. I’m glad you understand. While I’ve resolved this issue for you, that man won't give up so easily. Don’t bother confronting the Hollows yourself anymore. Or rather, if you encounter any danger, use your Quincy powers to eliminate them. After all, Captain Kurotsuchi’s actions practically nullified the agreement. Don’t be constrained by it.”
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