Infinite Anime [322-323] (Patreon)

Chapter 322: A Method to Clear Gusion's Name

Seireitei, 5th Division.

Aizen sat in the courtyard, leisurely sipping his afternoon tea. After confirming the squad members had finished their reports and left, he took out the communicator Gusion had given him.

"Gusion-kun, how's the gadget I sent you?"

A few days ago, Gusion had contacted him, asking for help crafting a device that could suppress or devour spiritual pressure.

Through their exchange, Aizen learned that Gusion had actually found a true Vasto Lorde—one whose spiritual pressure seemed even greater than the King of Hueco Mundo.

Curiosity made Aizen itch to visit Hueco Mundo in person, especially since Gusion mentioned that the Hollow named Starrk intended to undergo self-Arrancarization.

If possible, Aizen wanted to witness that process firsthand.

From their conversation, he gathered that Starrk's spiritual pressure was too powerful to control, causing him to unwittingly kill weaker Hollows who came near—hence his isolation.

Starrk seemed to believe that voluntarily becoming an Arrancar would let him effectively control and seal his power. The idea resembled Aizen's earlier theory on Hollow-Shinigami hybridization.

If he weren't too busy in Seireitei at the moment, he would have gone straight to Hueco Mundo to meet Starrk.

Unfortunately, priorities exist. What he most urgently needed to deal with now was the arrangement for Gusion's return.

"It works great, and it looks stylish too. Starrk loves it and asked me to thank you. He's quite interested in you, his powerful ally."

Gusion's voice came through the communicator. "By the way, Sosuke—you said I can return to Soul Society. Is that true?"

"It'll take a little more time, but preparations will be done soon."

Aizen took a sip of tea, sounding relaxed.

"That's wonderful. But Sosuke, you didn't do anything risky, did you?"

"Relax. I won't act rashly before I wield power enough to overturn Soul Society. I've merely done some groundwork in Soul Society for your return."

Aizen continued, "Do you remember Yoruichi?"

"Shihōin Yoruichi? What's she got to do with this?"

In Hueco Mundo, Gusion was puzzled. He recalled the younger-looking version of Yoruichi from school days.

In Soul Society, souls don't grow at one-tenth the speed of the Human World. Though Rukia once said she'd be a teenager by human standards, that's in terms of lifespan. In fact, souls born in Soul Society grow only slightly slower than humans—nothing drastic.

So back then, Yoruichi looked younger than him and Sosuke because she really was a bit younger. By now, she'd probably be just past a hundred.

Shin'ō Academy students usually appear to be in their youth. Yoruichi had noble lineage and a passing interest in the academy, so she'd transferred in.

Though the future Yoruichi would be a master, given her age during Gusion's current journey, he hadn't thought much of her power level.

"She's now the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, and Head-Captain of the First Unit, the Executive Militia."

Aizen's words almost made Gusion spit out his space-cola.

"What!? Soul Society is that corrupt!?"

Gusion couldn't hold back the complaint. Yoruichi was just over a hundred—at best she'd be a low-tier Captain in raw power, right? How was she already Commander of the Onmitsukidō?

"Well, she is a noble. Soul Society is corrupt, yes—but that very corruption might let you return earlier."

Aizen smiled. He didn't actually look down on Yoruichi inheriting her family business via her noble status. The Shihōin family has always supplied the Onmitsukidō commander—it's no secret, and no one bats an eye.

After coming of age, Yoruichi had shown stunning talent. Her spiritual pressure rose quickly, and her Hakuda outclassed everyone in the Gotei 13. Once she inherited the clan leadership, taking up the Executive Militia was natural.

As for raw strength, Aizen felt Yoruichi was still lacking for now—but promising. Given her age and talent, she'd need about another century to hit her ceiling.

"Can the Shihōin family be trusted? Sosuke, your plan isn't just bribing nobles, is it? Will that even work?"

Gusion was doubtful. The authority of nobles in Soul Society always seemed murky.

After all, when Urahara Kisuke was framed, Yoruichi—already firmly the 2nd Division Captain and Executive Militia Commander, and a clan head—still couldn't protect him and fled to the Human World with him.

But at the same time, nobles clearly have special privileges in some matters.

"It'll work. I promised Yoruichi that if we get you back safe, she gets to beat you up once. She's been chomping at the bit these days, brainstorming methods."

Aizen smiled.

"Sosuke, you sold me out!"

Gusion's voice rose. "Also, given your personality, you actually asked Yoruichi for help? Isn't that suspicious?"

"We're classmates. Normal communication. I only said that during the 5th Division's search-and-rescue, we found traces of you. I didn't reveal your current status—just asked her to help save a person. As for the post-return detention and questioning—Gusion, who do you think handles that normally?"

Aizen countered. In truth, he didn't interact much with Yoruichi after graduation. He'd merely gone to sound her out—and she turned out quite proactive.

"Wait, that would be the Executive Militia!?"

Gusion caught on. "Sosuke, you really are a genius!"

He suddenly understood. Aizen's approach made sense: bypass Central 46 and treat Gusion's disappearance as a minor issue.

Years ago, he was just an ordinary squad member—not a prominent figure. Even if he had a genius reputation and a rising profile, Central 46 wouldn't focus on him.

Earlier, he and Aizen had fallen prey to a bias: they were thinking of Gusion as a powerful Captain-class individual. Seventy years in Hueco Mundo without dying implied strength worthy of attention.

But after returning to Seireitei and mulling it over, Aizen realized there was another angle—why treat Gusion as a powerhouse case at all?

Just run him through the Onmitsukidō pipeline, and the problem solves itself.

The Onmitsukidō has five units. The 4th Unit, the Reconnaissance Corps, is responsible for searching for missing Shinigami.

In short, Gusion's disappearance was never the 5th Division's rescue job—it should have been the Onmitsukidō's 4th Unit searching.

Given the special circumstances, once found he'd be questioned—which is also Onmitsukidō's domain. If he were genuinely problematic or suspicious, the 3rd Unit, the Penitentiary Corps, would oversee his confinement in the Nest of Maggots.

And who calls the shots in all that?

Yoruichi Shihōin.

As long as Yoruichi cooperated, Gusion could be treated as a normal missing Shinigami, repatriated, walked through Onmitsukidō procedures, and cleared.

"Hold the praise. Yoruichi's eager to help, but given her power, if she spars with you she'll likely be the one losing, so I promised freely."

Aizen's tone shifted. "But she's a bit too proactive here—she even wants to personally lead a team into Hueco Mundo. I still need to talk her down. In any case, Gusion, your time is limited. How are results on your end?"

They returned to the main topic. Getting Gusion extradited back to Soul Society was good. Aizen also wanted to exchange and spar as usual with his friend.

But their Hueco Mundo operations were the original plan's focus. If Gusion withdrew before establishing a foothold, it would be a loss.

"Relax. Give me one more week. I'll hand Sosuke a brand-new Las Noches."

Gusion spoke confidently, already looking forward to life back in Soul Society.

"I'll leave it to you then."

Aizen smiled. After they ended the call, he stood and left the 5th Division barracks.

Seireitei wasn't peaceful lately. He planned to go investigate something.

…

Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, Gusion pocketed the communicator and stared grimly at the row of dominoes before him.

He watched the expressions of the other people, then carefully drew and played a tile.

"Mahjong!"

Nel cheered, slamming down her tiles—or rather, the mahjong set crafted by Gusion out of a Gillian's mask.

Gusion's face darkened. He'd fed another winning hand. Who could have guessed a casual team-building game would turn into such a rout?

"How come you keep winning? I'm getting sleepy."

Starrk yawned. He hadn't lost much overall, but thanks to the deal-with-discard rules, he'd often ended up as a supporting actor.

Oh—and the one who fed wins the most was Gusion.

"This defies logic, Nel. You aren't using some ability, are you?"

Ulquiorra frowned at Nel. After understanding the rules, he was running probabilities in his head each round, optimizing his shape. Theoretically his win rate shouldn't be low.

In reality, he had a few wins, but most went to Nel. Starrk had won once.

And Gusion hadn't won a single hand.

"What are you implying, Ulq? Don't blame me for your loss."

Nel puffed her cheeks, then pounced on Gusion. "Gimme the pen, time to draw!"

Despite Gusion clutching the pen, Nel snatched it and started doodling on his face. "Hmm… looks like there's no space left. Tough choices."

As Hollows and Shinigami, they didn't have much in the way of money to bet. Pesche had suggested the loser gets their face doodled on.

At first, Gusion didn't mind—just a little fun, and they wouldn't go outside with ink all over their faces.

But then he realized he couldn't win a single round. His face was now truly black—covered in doodles. Nel contributed the most and was the most excessive.

Ulquiorra would draw just a small stroke. Starrk was polite, just a single dot. Nel was different. Every time it was a cutesy drawing—and never repeated!

 Little turtles, teddy faces, pig noses—Gusion's face had them all.

"Sung-Sun, how dare you draw whiskers on Lady Harribel's face!"

At the other table, a roar broke out.

The lion-like Hollow roared in a rough female voice and went to smack the white giant python's pen, clearly seeing it as sacrilege.

"Haha, Apacci, don't be so uptight. Lady Harribel already agreed."

The white serpent giggled and dodged.

"Ugh, you two idiots."

The deer-like Hollow sighed, then turned to the blonde woman seated inside the square. "Lady Harribel, is it really fine to skip hunting and do this stupid stuff?"

The blonde woman had tanned skin, emerald eyes, and an eye-popping bust—only Nel could compete in that department here.

She wore a white, armor-like top, though it didn't look very protective—mostly because there wasn't much of it.

Harribel watched her companions bicker, her expression neutral but her eyes faintly smiling. "Sung-Sun, Apacci, that's enough. Follow the rules."

"Ah! Gusion, you're cheating!"

No sooner had Harribel spoken than Nel's shout came from the other table, accusing the game's organizer of cheating.

Gusion dispelled the ink on his face with a pulse of spiritual pressure. "You already finished drawing, Nel. Time for business."

He'd had enough of this torture. He swore never to touch mahjong again. Now that he thought about it, he'd never won at cards with his master and senior sister, either.

He rose, straightened his freshly restored Nightwalker coat, and beckoned. "Game time's over. We've got a job—and they're urging us."

A month had passed since he entered the Bleach world. These days he'd roamed Hueco Mundo, recruiting powerful Hollows he encountered. Harribel had joined just last week.

He had been doing the tasks Sosuke entrusted him with—he wasn't slacking all day.

Gusion led a group of Hueco Mundo's strongest out of their temporary base and gazed at the distant ruins called Las Noches.

Wind whipped up sand and his coat hem.

Behind him stood one powerful aura after another.

Gusion stepped forward, coat flaring. "Come on. Let's take Las Noches."

Chapter 323: Szayelaporro

Ulquiorra took the left flank and silently followed.

On Gusion's right, Nel's eyes were resolute. "The tyrant's rule ends today."

"This is a pain. I hate infighting."

Starrk scratched his brown hair with one hand, the other in his pocket, laziness radiating off him.

"Starrk, take this seriously. Baraggan isn't easy."

Harribel warned. She'd long been at odds with Baraggan. He'd wanted to recruit her as a subordinate; she refused, and clashes followed.

Baraggan's title as King of Hueco Mundo wasn't baseless. In raw power, Harribel had to admit he surpassed her.

If they weren't both Vasto Lorde class with comparable spiritual pressure—making the fight a long deadlock—she'd have been driven out years ago.

At first, Harribel had resisted Gusion's group. But he hadn't forced her—he'd invited her to travel with them for a few days to try it out.

Unexpectedly, she felt no discomfort. These Hollows weren't mindlessly brutal like ones she'd known. They felt… like a bunch of goofs.

The cheerful daily atmosphere quickly made her familiar with the group, and she no longer wanted to leave.

She didn't care about ruling Hueco Mundo, but if this could settle her long-standing score with Baraggan, she was happy to help.

Because this was a war on the King of Hueco Mundo, Gusion's group hadn't brought any fragile fighters. Pesche and the trio under Harribel stayed behind at base.

Only five of them set out to attack Las Noches.

It was enough. As their spiritual pressures neared, the Hollows in Las Noches began to panic.

…

On his throne, Baraggan rose in fury and stared at the approaching group. "Cursed Shinigami! This emperor spared you once, and you dare show yourself again!?"

…

Gusion and the others flash-stepped and sonido'd to the front of Las Noches. He looked at the snarling group of Adjuchas before the stronghold and said softly, "Ulq."

Ulquiorra stepped forward. A black-green Cero coalesced in his hand and fired. With a thunderous blast, it ploughed a path through the Adjuchas, opening everyone's view.

Gusion met Baraggan's gaze across the lane. "Baraggan, I'll give you a chance. Submit to us."

"Shinigami, you've lost your mind. Who do you think you are? The one who made me suffer last time wasn't you, but that brown-haired Shinigami."

Baraggan's tone was icy, fury barely contained. In his eyes, Gusion was indeed strong—but still the prey he once hunted.

For such a Shinigami to demand his submission was the year's biggest joke in Hueco Mundo.

"I figured you'd say that."

Gusion didn't push. He raised his hand and flicked it. "Do it."

"Always ordering people around. He looks tough."

Starrk still looked listless, but a classic, antique gun appeared in his hand, aimed at Baraggan.

In the next instant, just as Baraggan was about to unleash aging and obliterate his foes, his heart lurched. He abandoned offense to defend, gathering power in front of him.

Boom—

A lightning-fast Cero fired from Starrk's barrel, smashing into the defenses before Baraggan.

The black aging miasma was blown aside by the impact, revealing a skull-face wearing an expression of shock.

"Vasto Lorde…"

Baraggan's eyes tightened. He glanced at Harribel too, feeling heavy.

He hadn't expected there to be more Vasto Lordes in Hueco Mundo beyond Harribel and Szayelaporro—and this human-looking Vasto Lorde was absurdly strong.

It wasn't obvious before he attacked, but the burst of spiritual pressure wasn't below Baraggan's own.

"Starrk, no need to hold back here. You can take off the eyepatch."

Gusion smiled.

"I wanted to save some effort…"

Starrk sighed, tugged off his single eyepatch, and met Baraggan's stare with his newly revealed eye. "Sorry. I'll get serious."

As his hand fell, the limiter Aizen had procured came free. Starrk's outward spiritual pressure visibly rose another tier.

"Impossible… How can Hueco Mundo still have a Hollow as strong as you!?"

Baraggan stared in disbelief. "I am the King of Hueco Mundo, the eternal emperor!"

He lashed out in rage, going all-in from the start. Black fog poured forth like a tidal wave.

Hollows who served him fled in all directions. Those too slow were aged to bone and dust by his power.

"Same as ever. What trash."

Harribel spoke coldly. Before Starrk acted, she moved.

She swung her greatsword. From the shark-gill pattern along the blade, a massive torrent erupted like a waterfall toward Baraggan, crashing through the aging mist without stopping—water remains water even when aged.

It only eroded her spiritual pressure—the inertia still carried force to wound him.

Baraggan had to dodge, more enraged. In spiritual pressure, he outclassed Harribel, but her ability didn't fear his aging. In a straight exchange, she could still injure him.

Just as he slipped past Harribel's strike and reformed the massive fog to press forward, a duet of Ceros from Ulquiorra and Nel arrived.

With thunderous blasts and clouds of sand, Baraggan misjudged their power. A swathe of bone on his shoulder was shaved off.

"Traitors, all of you!"

Baraggan roared. He hadn't expected even those two Adjuchas to hurt him—an insult beyond bearing.

In fury, his black mist surged forward like a storm tide, pressing right up to Ulquiorra and Nel.

He reckoned that, instead of tackling the two troublesome Vasto Lordes first, it was better to reduce enemy numbers—kill the two annoying Adjuchas—then grind down the rest with death.

Just as the fog neared Ulquiorra and Nel, a cascade of blue light flashed. Countless Ceros burst in an instant, blowing the miasma away.

Starrk stood side-on, gun out. "Can't let you hurt my companions."

With Infinite-Load Cero unleashed, he became a living Cero minigun. The barrage not only dispersed the fog, but pinned Baraggan down, sealing retreat.

Continuous explosions filled the air, smoke and sand rising. Starrk's oppressive spiritual pressure made fleeing Adjuchas go weak at the knees.

Whoosh—

Baraggan burst from the smoke, now disheveled instead of imperial. His ornate attire was gone, the crown reduced to a few chains hanging off the skull.

The black flames around him were mostly extinguished, and many bones in his frame were broken—he was badly injured.

Still, as a Vasto Lorde, while he lacked unlimited instant regeneration, nonfatal wounds could be mended. He hastily healed as his pride as King of Hueco Mundo lay trampled.

He hadn't just lost to that nameless Shinigami earlier—his status as strongest Hollow was now in doubt.

That lazy-looking hollow, once serious, didn't seem like someone he could defeat.

"Granz! Get out here!"

Under pressure, Baraggan called forth his top general.

Top general wasn't quite right—Granz was a researcher.

But he had combat power—because Szayelaporro was a Vasto Lorde.

"Your Majesty, my research is at a critical point."

A voice sounded. Szayelaporro crawled from the ruins behind Las Noches, displeased. "Who bombed my lab?"

As a researcher, nothing enraged him more than ruined experiments. He'd been on the verge of success, testing the feasibility of splitting a Gillian's soul, when ceros collapsed his lab.

Szayelaporro valued his base and built it from high-grade materials. Even so, it fell—meaning the assailant was exceptional. He'd already observed the fight from the shadows.

Hearing Baraggan call, he had to reveal himself.

"As much research fodder as you want. Kill these traitors first!"

Baraggan's voice was low. He hated asking Szayelaporro for help—it made the King of Hueco Mundo look weak, needing a scientist to repel invaders.

In truth, the mere fact someone dared assault Las Noches showed his authority waning.

"So you're here, Szayelaporro."

Gusion looked at the newly arrived pink-haired man—mostly humanoid, tall and slender, pink hair tied up for experiments, four pale antler-like branches behind him with black sacs hanging down.

"Oh? A Shinigami? Sounds like you were looking for me."

Szayelaporro eyed Gusion with interest. He wasn't immediately attacked—Gusion had only said to kill Baraggan.

Faced with a new, unknown Vasto Lorde, Nel and the rest didn't instantly go hostile.

And although Baraggan had called him out, Szayelaporro didn't want to fight.

Smart Hollows don't make unwise moves. In his view, Gusion's team were all strong—especially the Vasto Lorde firing infinite ceros, the strongest Hollow he'd ever seen.

Under these circumstances, even if he fought for Baraggan, the odds weren't good.

And if they lost, death was likely.

"I've heard of Hueco Mundo's scientist. I need an excellent researcher. As long as you can do your work, I doubt you care who you serve."

Gusion smiled. Though Szayelaporro lost to Mayuri later, that didn't mean he was outclassed in pure research.

That loss came from arrogance—underestimating Mayuri and falling into layered traps.

Also, at that time, Szayelaporro was weaker, having split himself for experiments—devolving from Vasto Lorde and even being kicked out of the Espada once.

In the Hell arc, Szayelaporro was quite powerful—his research prowess unquestionable.

With him, Sosuke's Hueco Mundo lab would thrive.

"Oh? Are you speaking for yourself—or for Soul Society?"

Szayelaporro was clearly intrigued.

"Granz!"

Baraggan barked, furious at his subordinate's wavering stance.

Szayelaporro ignored him, studying Gusion.

"Soul Society? I'm just a Shinigami wandering Hueco Mundo. I can't speak for them—only for myself and a friend who's good at research."

Gusion said, "Well? You're a smart one. You should see Baraggan has no chance."

Szayelaporro smiled, then turned to Baraggan. "That's right, Your Majesty. I'm changing jobs."

"Szayelaporro, you traitor!"

Baraggan shouted, forgetting his duel and diverting power to ambush Szayelaporro. He hated nothing more than betrayal.

But the attack never landed.

Szayelaporro raised both hands. Pink-violet light flickered, and a vast pink spiritual pressure fell like a rain-curtain, proclaiming his status as a Vasto Lorde.

"Cero Oscuras."

He smiled as the condensed blast met the black fog, instantly punching through the hastily-split wave.

It didn't stop there. The pink cero cut through the layers and shot straight at Baraggan's back.

Having chosen to betray, Szayelaporro wouldn't hold back. Killing Baraggan as a pledge was only sensible.