"Clever."
In Hueco Mundo, Angra Manyu appeared before Yammy. Kukkapūro watched him warily, and Angra looked back calmly.
Liltotto truly was a clever woman.
Yammy was the most inverted among the Espada.
Though he was number 9, supposedly the weakest, he was actually the strongest.
A small caterpillar, yet the largest of all.
With this reversed "Ninth Blade," even the positions of the Espada and their officers were reversed.
The Burner Node—this node represents two demons at once: Asmodeus and Samael.
The Burner Node grants the power of both demons.
Yammy's three raging beasts came from Asmodeus's magic.
The other demon, Samael, lent his power to Kukkapūro, Yammy's closest subordinate.
Therefore, though Kukkapūro seemed weak, when Yammy's life ended and his power faded, energy would "transfer"—making Kukkapūro strong.
Yet, none of this really mattered now.
The Burner Node had fulfilled its mission.
Angra approached Yammy, and dark flames condensed in his hand, beginning a sacred transformation.
The darkness vanished, replaced by holy golden light, purifying the evil node.
Yammy's body suddenly shrank from over 300 meters back to its original form.
Without the Burner node, Yammy lost his three forms, reverting to a body only three or four meters tall.
Angra stowed away the purified node, then disappeared.
Kukkapūro ran over to Yammy's side, watching his master still roaring weakly on the ground.
Stupid dog...
At that moment, Yammy opened his eyes again, seeing Kukkapūro calling to him.
Perhaps because the Burner Node had been removed, Yammy felt a strange urge to reach out to Kukkapūro's body.
Have you...
Have you ever met a brave puppy?
With a white mask, turquoise eyes.
Its back straight, a sand-yellow tail wagging behind.
Once the most powerful and domineering subordinate of the Espada.
Now, the bravest and most loyal puppy.
In the end, Yammy couldn't touch Kukkapūro, his palm landing on the puppy as if making a small nest.
And Kukkapūro looked out at the world through the gap between the palms, gazing at Yammy's closed eyes.
Yammy, Yammy...
Our world...
Sunset... has come again.
Kukkapūro closed his eyes, lying down as if time had stopped.
Then, another black light fell, shining on Kukkapūro's seemingly sleeping body.
A familiar spiritual pressure, a familiar feeling entered his body—but nothing was felt.
…
"Looks like we're the only ones left in all of Hueco Mundo,"
Mayuri said to Ishida Uryu, as the tremors of the palace faded.
"I'm really curious about that Arrancar's surprise... but I'm done playing with you. I'll kill you with my next strike."
Before him, Ishida Uryu was panting hard.
He and Mayuri had fought for a long time and were both injured.
Seeing all of Ishida's abilities, Mayuri felt bored and said,
"You seem exhausted, unable to come up with any tricks?
At this level, I'm not even interested in studying you."
At first, the Primordial Moon had said, "Ishida Urahara has something special," which surprised him. But now, he saw Ishida as no different from any other Quincy.
So...
What's so special?
Fine, I'll study it when I get back.
Mayuri approached the fleeing Ishida, but suddenly caught up with him again.
"Your body can barely walk,"
Mayuri stabbed his sword into Ishida's body, instantly softening him and making him collapse to the ground!
"You've been poisoned by me. Even if I do nothing, you'll slowly turn into a pool of blood... but don't worry, I'll prolong it. I won't let you die until you're no longer useful for research."
"But... the pain is still necessary."
Mayuri smiled sadly, throwing something onto Ishida's wound.
"Aaaah!!!"
Ishida screamed in agony, feeling as if he were being roasted alive.
He couldn't take much more!
Don't worry...
It seemed this man would use no further tricks.
Ishida's mind was clouded by pain. He knew he couldn't hold out anymore—he had to end the fight as quickly as possible!
"Antithesis!"
In an instant, Ishida used his ability!
All the wounds on Ishida's body vanished instantly!
At the same time, those same wounds appeared on Mayuri's body!
?!
Spurt!
Blood gushed from Mayuri, who stared wide-eyed.
"What... what's happening?!"
Mayuri's face twisted in pain.
Ishida stood up as before, saying coldly,
"Smart, aren't you? Guess what this is?"
He said coldly,
"This is my ability—what I call 'Antithesis.' Its essence is to completely reverse what happened between two points."
"In other words, all the wounds you gave me are now returned to you!"
Ishida's bow appeared in his hand, aimed at Mayuri.
"So you'll suffer by your own hand—and die by an Quincy's!"
Originally, Ishida's ability required Yhwach's blood to awaken, but he had a light seed implanted in him, which worked as the trigger.
Stimulated by a strong will, even the dormant light seed released its energy.
Even as he helped Kurosaki Ichigo train, it was important for Ishida himself.
In his battle with Mayuri, Ishida had been ready to use Antithesis.
Just as before, he was gravely wounded, but in an instant, he reversed the situation.
Boom!
Ishida fired his arrow, striking Mayuri!
Mayuri's pupils dilated as the arrow exploded, reducing his body to pieces with overwhelming force!
Complete reversal—a god-level ability, rated on the same level as Yhwach's Almighty: "A."
This ability could turn the tide of battle!
Seeing Mayuri's body blown apart, Ishida felt a rush of happiness.
This feeling of "revenge" was truly refreshing.
Mayuri had killed many Quincy over the years, even attacking Ishida's grandfather multiple times.
At last, the culprit was dead!
With his heart filled with peace, Ishida's tainted light seed was also purified in that moment.
Having defeated evil, his own darkness was cleansed.
Ishida turned his gaze to the core of Hueco Mundo.
He didn't care about anywhere else—Kurosaki Ichigo and Inoue Orihime were there, and he had to check on them.
Ishida hurried away!
…
About three minutes after Ishida left, Mayuri's scattered remains began to stir once more.
"Damn... you brat!"
The fragments liquefied, condensing again into Mayuri. Gritting his teeth, he said,
"Did you think you could capture me with my own drugs and poisons?!"
Ishida used Antithesis to heal his wounds and give them to Mayuri.
But the same injury affects people differently.
All the poisons and drugs Mayuri used on Ishida were of his own creation—how could they kill him? He had natural antibodies!
It was just that the sudden reversal was too fast for him to react.
He had been wary of Ishida's ability, but at the last moment, he thought it was the same as before.
He never expected a decisive move at the very moment the outcome was decided!
Luckily, he had his own backup.
Hmph, Antithesis, right?
Interesting... remarkable.
The Primordial Moon's message was right—this ability truly was "special."
But every ability can be countered.
Just wait, Ishida.
Mayuri pulled himself together, taking a deep breath.
Damn! It had been a long time since he'd been this embarrassed!
He might need at least three days of treatment to fully recover!
What about Nemu?
Was she still fighting those skeletons?
Mayuri leaned against the rubble, wanting to see Nemu before falling asleep.
Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation.
!
Mayuri's pupils contracted. He looked down—suddenly, a hand had reached out in front of his chest!
In the hand was a black, obsidian-like crystal.
This... what was it?
Mayuri was stunned; the dark crystal suddenly began to glow strangely from within.
In the next instant, a golden light burst forth—the crystal transformed into a sacred golden sphere!
What dazzling light...
Mayuri's eyes shone with inexplicable brilliance.
He really... wanted to know
What was this?!
He wanted to see its structure, know what it did...
But in that instant, his consciousness blurred.
The desire deep in his heart gradually faded.
Mayuri never saw who stood behind him.
He might still have had strength left, but his eyes were completely drawn to the point of light.
So...
As the hand withdrew, Mayuri collapsed to the ground.
Bang...
As the sound echoed, Nemu's eyes suddenly widened far away.
Wait...
Mayuri-sama's spiritual pressure... disappeared?
The spiritual pressure she had sensed before sharply dropped, but she had believed Mayuri couldn't die.
But now, she couldn't sense his reiatsu at all!
"No...!"
Nemu roared, smashing a skeleton soldier before her. But immediately, another wave surged forth!
She had tangled with these skeletons for a long time, but at this moment, she unleashed her true power!
"Konpaku Sessaku!"
Nemu's hand condensed golden reishi, instantly forming a spear. She threw it forward, piercing the road before her!
Any skeletons touched by it—even if they got close—were instantly vaporized by its powerful spiritual pressure!
"Mayuri-sama!"
Nemu rampaged—these skeletons couldn't stop her at all!
She...
She had always possessed power far beyond her previous displays, but had never shown it.
Because she knew Mayuri hated "perfection" above all.
So Nemu could never show "perfection"; she had to act "imperfect" around Mayuri.
No matter how much she was scolded or mistreated, Nemu gladly bore it.
During the battle with Ishida, Mayuri had completely suppressed him, able to kill him at any time.
Even if Ishida reversed the situation at the last moment, Nemu wasn't worried—she knew Mayuri couldn't die.
But Ishida left... and for some reason, Mayuri's presence suddenly vanished!
Who was it?!
Nemu had no idea who the enemy was!
She rushed to Mayuri's side, finding him collapsed on the ground, a single wound running from his back to his front, as if something had been taken from him!
"No...!"
Nemu hurried over, quickly taking out a muscle stiffener, but even with it, it was useless—Mayuri had no breath at all!
Nemu's pupils widened!
No, there must be a way!
Nemu hugged Mayuri, caring for nothing else—her mission was to protect him!
She couldn't let anything happen to him!
The Research and Development Bureau...
Right!
The R&D Bureau!
If she could return, there was hope!
Nemu's eyes reddened; because Aizen had sealed the Garganta, they couldn't return to Soul Society through it!
What could she do?
That's right!
There must be other ways—Aizen!
Hueco Mundo must have laboratories too; with the right equipment, she could save Mayuri!
Still holding Mayuri, Nemu immediately changed direction, searching for the palace's labs. Aizen's, or anyone's—it didn't matter; as long as she could use the equipment to save Mayuri.
"...It seems..."
Watching Nemu rush about "seeking a doctor in desperation," Angra's face grew odd.
"It's as if she's in 'my' lab... There really is a way to 'save' Mayuri."
But... it feels odd.
It's not Angra Manyu's lab, but Yoshio's, where there is an "artificial human" device.