"Hey now, Captain Kurotsuchi. Why do you keep glancing at me while you're saying that?
Don't tell me you're planning to use this chance to settle personal grudges and take me out too?" Fūjin Taichi squinted toward Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
"Tch, so you noticed. Well, nothing for it then. I suppose I'll have to try this..."
With an indifferent expression, Mayuri drew his Zanpakutō and muttered softly:
"Spread your claws, Ashisogi Jizō!"
Whoosh!
In an instant, the blade in Mayuri's hand split into three segments. At the base of the blades sat a bizarre, baby-like face with indistinct features—an unsettling sight to behold.
Once struck by Ashisogi Jizō, the victim's movements would be sealed, and the signals from the brain controlling the limbs would be cut off!
However, in order to savor the pleasure of torture, Mayuri deliberately did not eliminate the target's sense of paralysis or pain—truly depraved to the extreme.
"Hmph. I think I'd better stay far away from you. If I get poisoned to death by accident, that'd be troublesome… I don't want to owe that guy another favor."
Thinking this, Fūjin Taichi turned slightly and called out toward the bushes outside the park:
"Hey, you over there! This isn't a fight you can interfere in. Hurry up and carry the bodies out!"
"Ah! O-Okay!!"
Orihime Inoue, who had been hiding in the shadows of the park, hurriedly jumped out. Dragging Yasutora Sado along while holding Saitō Keichirō, she ran off into the distance.
"Well then... Ulquiorra, let's go solo."
Fūjin Taichi drew his Zanpakutō and immediately released its Shikai, pointing the blade toward Ulquiorra Cifer.
. "Starrk mentioned you have a Resurrección: Segunda Etapa that's quite impressive. How about you show it to me?"
"!!!"
Ulquiorra's heart jolted. What? Even Lord Aizen is unaware that I possess a second release... How could Starrk possibly know...?
"You're distracted, Ulquiorra!"
Before he finished thinking, Fūjin Taichi had already used Shunpo to appear at Ulquiorra's side, swinging his Zanpakutō down in a backhand slash.
"So fast!"
Startled, Ulquiorra instinctively raised his arm, using his hardened Hierro to block the attack!
Clang!
The blade struck Ulquiorra's left arm with a sharp metallic crash. An invisible shockwave exploded outward with a booming roar.
"As expected, an Arrancar's Hierro is tough… Seems I underestimated you by attacking in just Shikai. Then let's try this—with a mask."
Fūjin Taichi swept his left hand across his face. Instantly, a white skull mask with red markings formed over it. At the same time, violet flames erupted along his Zanpakutō, searing Ulquiorra's arm!
"What?! This is..."
Ulquiorra was shocked to discover that his once-impenetrable Hierro was being eroded by the scorching, destructive purple flames—turning as brittle as crispy fried skin.
Worse still, the violet fire clung to his entire arm like a living thing, relentlessly burning away his immense spiritual power!
"!!!"
Without hesitation, Ulquiorra leapt backward and, in one decisive motion, drew his Zanpakutō and severed his own arm!
Spurt!
A torrent of green blood sprayed from the stump. Yet Ulquiorra did not even frown. He calmly studied Fūjin Taichi and the skull mask, contemplating inwardly:
I see... So this is the man Lord Aizen mentioned—the Visored Shinigami, Taichi Fūjin, who has walked the long path of independent evolution. As expected... he is not to be taken lightly!!
"Hey! Ulquiorra, what's going on over there?" Yammy Llargo, who had been preparing to properly "discipline" Mayuri, sensed the disturbance and turned to ask.
"It's nothing… I've simply discovered someone more interesting than our designated target. I will report this information to Lord Aizen. For now—retreat."
Ulquiorra spoke expressionlessly.
"What?! We just got here and we're already leaving? That's infuriating!"
Yammy complained angrily.
"Idiot. More people are rushing here as we speak. Several have spiritual pressure that rivals or exceeds my own... For safety's sake, we withdraw immediately!"
As Ulquiorra spoke, he had already leapt to Yammy's side. With a flick of his right hand, he opened a Garganta, then grabbed Yammy by the back of his collar and dragged him into the pitch-black corridor. The two disappeared into the darkness.
"Tch. I thought they were something impressive. Turns out they ran after just one exchange. How disappointing." Mayuri Kurotsuchi clicked his tongue and put away Ashisogi Jizō with visible boredom.
"Mayuri, without equivalent intelligence, you'd be dead too if you fought those two." Fūjin Taichi crushed his mask and glanced into the distance.
"Everyone who could come to Karakura Town has arrived."
"Hmph. Boring!" Mayuri spat lightly in Fūjin Taichi's direction and turned to leave.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, need me to give you a ride?" Fūjin Taichi asked in mild surprise.
"No need."
Mayuri paused, then slightly turned his head.
"I'll report all information about you truthfully to Captain-Commander Yamamoto. You… take care of yourself."
"Suit yourself, Mayuri. You're predictable as ever."
Fūjin Taichi smiled faintly, unconcerned. With a full-scale war against Aizen imminent, he doubted Yamamoto Genryūsai would make a move against him now.
...
Not long after Mayuri left, Ichigo Kurosaki, Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihouin, Kaien Shiba, and the rest of the vanguard unit arrived at Shigaraki Park one after another.
"Hey, Taichi!" Kaien Shiba rushed up energetically, looking around.
"Where are those Hollows? Did they run… or did you kill them?"
"They've already returned to Las Noches."
After answering, Fūjin Taichi turned to Urahara, who was approaching.
"Urahara, the number of Arrancars and pseudo-Arrancars in Hueco Mundo is growing. They are all being forcibly created by Aizen using the Hōgyoku."
"Hmm…"
Urahara crouched down, stroking his chin while examining the lingering trace of purple flame on the ground. After a long moment, he sighed instead of responding directly:
"Incredible. This strange flame possesses tremendous heat and destructive power. Once it sticks to someone, it's like gangrene attached to bone—it won't stop until the target is burned to nothing. Hmm… what do you call it?"
"Tenka Ryōen (Scorched Heavenfire). A new ability developed from my Zanpakutō."
Fūjin Taichi glanced at Ichigo, then lowered his voice to Urahara.
"Time is running out. We need the Visored to make their move soon."
"I see."
Urahara pressed a hand to the brim of his hat, his olive-green eyes subtly flicking toward Ichigo before he replied quietly:
"Putting that aside, how do you plan to explain the 'Hollow Taint' on you to the Soul Society when you go back? You know that old man... he's not one to tolerate sand in his eyes."
"It doesn't matter. Now that I'm back, I won't be leaving again."
Fūjin Taichi's dark blue eyes swept across the horizon, staring straight into the vast blue sky.
"The farce of Aizen's rebellion... it's time for the curtains to fall. Because soon, we'll have a much more troublesome enemy crawling out of the shadows."
"…"
Urahara knew he was referring to the hidden Wandenreich in the darkness. But who would believe it?
The Quincies—supposedly exterminated—still alive, hiding within the shadows of Seireitei itself? It sounded absurd.
Would Soul Society believe it?
Would Yamamoto Genryūsai believe it?
The answer was no.
They believed only in their own "justice," often disregarding inconvenient truths.
So Urahara said nothing. He merely sighed faintly, stood up, and walked toward Ichigo, a theatrical grin spreading across his face.
"Well, well! If it isn't the famous Mr. Kurosaki! Long time no see—I've missed you terribly, hahaha~"
...
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