Silence gripped the battlefield.
Makoto, bursting onto the scene like a dark horse, stole every gaze with a single line. Several male Shinigami even clutched their genital parts in empathetic pain, wincing instinctively.
Kinroku nudged his glasses with his middle finger, the lenses glinting.
As expected of you, Makoto!
Effortlessly pulling off what others couldn't.
Truly a talent handpicked by Yamamoto… pfft.
Too bad Makoto hadn't yet grasped the gravity of the situation, brushing sand from his lips with a swaggering air.
No wonder his Shunpo was Tier-13.
Maybe the earlier tiers were too close, or hitting Tier-12 triggered some kind of metamorphosis.
Though his mind only gained experience in Reishi control, movement, and burst sequencing, no fancy new tricks, Makoto found his Shunpo speed had doubled.
Even a blindsided Vasto Lorde couldn't dodge.
If he had to benchmark it, maybe a young Yoruichi would have been around this level.
By comparison, his newly unlocked Tier-10 Hakuda felt a bit lackluster.
That kick earlier, if he'd channeled his reiatsu control into an instant burst, the damage would've been massive.
Whoosh!
Pale sand billowed.
Szayelaporro's glare at Makoto carried a sharp edge, his raspy voice snarling, "Damn Shinigami! Are you some freak?!"
"Kicking such a private spot on our first meeting?!"
Makoto sneered back, "Against a vile Vasto Lorde like you, Shinigami honor means nothing!"
"Besides, compared to me, you're the real freak for hiding your mask in your cock!"
His words seemed to ignite the surrounding Shinigami. Seeing their comrades felled by poison gas, they shed their moral burdens and embraced justice.
Many roared in support, cheering him on:
"Fucking right!"
"Kill him, Makoto-sama!"
"Only a freak can beat a freak!"
"Go, the Ultimate Freak!"
Shouts erupted from all directions.
Makoto stood at the forefront, his face turning red.
'Can't you motherfuckers at least say something nice?!'
'Was it my fault where I kicked?!'
'His mask was already there, okay?'
Sure, it was a guess.
But the future Szayelaporro, one of the Espada, had his Hollow hole at his glans, with powers tied to reproduction. Naturally, it'd make you think that way!
Szayelaporro, unaware of his reasoning, just assumed he had some special ability.
"This is… troublesome…"
His gaze swept over the trio.
Kinroku, Katori, Makoto.
Each could match a Vasto Lorde.
If he went all-in with years of research tools, he could probably take them out, but the risk was too high.
Hueco Mundo wasn't some cozy place.
From his superior Baraggan to the test subjects and subordinates below, they all eyed his body hungrily in the literal sense.
Given the chance, no Adjuchas could resist devouring a Vasto Lorde.
"Still, Soul Society's thriving, huh?"
Szayelaporro eyed them, grinning. "Hey, Shinigami, what family are you from?"
"When did Soul Society start churning out so many powerhouses?"
Kinroku and Katori both looked to Makoto, standing ahead.
The figure in a pure white half-coat stepped forward, voice cold. "The old noble politics ended at our hands."
"We're now… the Hueco Mundo Expedition Force, under the Gotei 13!"
As Yamamoto's handpicked successor, this freak Makoto was the most qualified to answer without question.
"Remember that, Hollow."
Szayelaporro's gaze grew heavier, scanning their garb, a faint realization dawning as he chuckled. "Gotei 13… huh?"
"Interesting."
The moment his words fell, a deep purple figure streaked past him.
"Gotcha!"
The blade carved a bloody arc through the air, slicing along his waist, right where his mask hid.
Saitō's lone eye gleamed with a feral, wicked grin.
But then, chaos struck.
Her slashed body exploded instantly, like a balloon pricked by a needle, with a boom that shook the air.
Black mist billowed outward.
Szayelaporro's smug voice rang out.
"Surprise!"
"Gotei 13, Las Noches welcomes you!"
"I look forward to seeing you in my lab."
Spotting the black mist, Makoto's eyes narrowed, shouting at Saitō and the nearby Shinigami, "Scatter!!"
"Captain Kinroku!"
No need for more, Kinroku flashed to the frontline, blade slashing toward the surging black mist.
An invisible rift appeared in its path.
The middle-aged, kindergarten-teacher-looking desk jockey widened his eyes, voice rising sharply:
"Furahara!"
The faintly warped rift morphed into a swelling black line.
It unleashed a massive gravitational pull toward the mist.
Endless black fog and pale sand, laden with countless micro-Hollows surged into the line like a bustling tide.
When the mist was fully sucked in, all that remained was a kilometers-long, pitch-black trench leading downward.
Collapsing sand flowed with the gravity.
Only then did Kinroku raise his voice in warning:
"Everyone! Fall back!"
...
The aftershocks of the battle lingered for hours before finally fading.
The vast Hueco Mundo returned to its usual calm, serene stillness.
The expedition's Big Four regrouped, exchanging intel gathered over the past days.
"What?"
"Kid, do you even know why we're in Hueco Mundo?!"
Kinroku, upon hearing Makoto had the audacity to tame an Adjuchas, shot up, slamming the table and glaring at the young man.
But after Makoto soothed him with a few words, laying out his logic of using Hollows to fight Hollows, Kinroku's brow furrowed, instinctively pondering the strategy's nuances. Truth be told, if any other Shinigami had dared suggest taming a Hollow, Kinroku's first move would've been to draw his blade and clean house.
But Makoto was the Gotei 13's recognized strategist and sage!
Words from his mouth carried a different weight than some grunt's.
Makoto knew his plan couldn't stay hidden.
If nothing else, Senjumaru's Automated Task Processor diligently logged their every move.
So, he chose to lay it all bare.
"…When we crusade in Hueco Mundo, we must weigh the rewards against the costs. Using Hollows as combat support is undeniably cost-effective. But their loyalty is a valid concern. So why not use me and Harribel as a test case?"
"If this works, it'll lay a solid theoretical foundation for future operations."
Makoto spoke confidently at the meeting, his arguments sharp and reasoned.
But whenever he shone, someone inevitably misread his intentions completely.
Katori sat at the table's edge, shoulders hunched as usual, her snow pears tucked under her thick white captain's haori. She cautiously raised a hand, mumbling, "But…"
"Vice-Captain Makoto… aren't you just eyeing that Adjuchas' humanoid form once she evolves into a Vasto Lorde?"
Kinroku and Saitō snapped their heads toward Katori.
A truth laid bare!
They'd just seen a regular Vasto Lorde.
Frankly, if not for knowing those beings had Hollow holes and evolved through endless devouring, even Kinroku might've mistaken them for some alternate human form.
So for a guy with Makoto's… unique tastes…
Saitō and Kinroku's glances at him grew subtly loaded, eyes narrowing.
"Hey! You two!"
"Even if you doubt my character, at least trust my body!"
Makoto's eyes widened, his morality system under attack.
Even his zanpakuto chimed in for support.
[Yeah, yeah!]
[I'm not into just any Vasto Lorde!]
[But I checked, Harribel's Hollow hole is at her womb, so she's probably fine.]
[I'll give it a try later.]
The trio's gazes on Makoto grew even weirder.
Makoto was fuming!
'Why did no one believe him?!'
'Fuck of you gremlin!'
"Anyway!"
Kinroku, with senior authority, made the call. "We'll try it Makoto's way… for now."
"But don't get yourself killed."
"Adjuchas aren't some noble scum."
"Yes…"
Makoto's voice dripped with dejection as he replied.
A proper guy like him.
How'd he end up so misunderstood?
Be it drop-kicking Szayelaporro or proposing a solid plan, he'd been thinking of the team's benefit!
Noticing his slump, Katori quietly approached him after the meeting, where he sat cross-legged by a campfire.
The slightly rustic girl, with oversized glasses and a braided ponytail, glowed snow-white in the firelight. Her softened expression made her look even more delicate and charming.
Standing behind him, she leaned forward slightly, her big breasts spilling out, brushing his shoulders as she lowered her voice gently. "Actually, I believe in you, Makoto-kun."
"You didn't have any selfish motives with this proposal, right?"
Makoto glanced at the snow pears nearly grazing his face, shifting uncomfortably and muttering, "You knew, and still said that."
Katori whispered, "Because I did it on purpose."
"You admit it?" Makoto spun, eyes wide. "Captain Katori, just how little do you think of me?"
"Not at all," Katori chuckled slyly. "If everyone understood you, my trust wouldn't be as special, would it?"
"You…"
Makoto turned, catching the lively glint in her eyes behind those plain glasses, feeling like he was meeting her for the first time.
"No, is this the real Captain Katori?"
"If possible…" Katori smiled, "I'd love for you to call my name with the same enthusiasm as our first meeting in the library."
"Bat~su'un~sai~"
"Pretty, right?"
Makoto instinctively scooched away, shivering. "Tone it down a bit. You're freaking me out."
"Really?"
Katori slid off her glasses, her smile softening further, like she'd spotted a fun toy. She shuffled closer, leaning against his shoulder.
The soft cozy touch of a cute girl had an uncanny persuasive power.
Makoto nearly gave in.
But he wasn't his zanpakuto, he was a bona fide proper guy. "Honestly, I prefer Captain Katori's 'simple' side."
"Could you switch back?"
"Y-Yes~"
Katori agreed with a doting tone, slowly readjusting her slipping glasses.
But as she moved to leave, she caught Saitō's fleeting glance.
When their eyes met, Saitō quickly looked away.
Pretending nothing happened.
Katori's lips curled into a rich smile, her foot accidentally slipping.
"Oh, Makoto-kun!"
She plopped right into his lap as he sat cross-legged.
Makoto blinked, stunned.
The next second, Saitō's eyes bulged, leaping up with a shout.
"Hey!"
"What are you two doing?!"
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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