Chapter 241

Curly, messy short pink hair; empty, unframed glasses without lenses.

Haruto knew this guy, but he never expected to run into him when he was still at this level.

The original Zero Espada, the scientific advisor under Baraggan, Vasto Lorde, whose Hollow Hole resided in an indescribable location:

Szayelaporro Granz.

"..."

Haruto did not reply.

Vasto Lorde.

At its core, it's the highest level of the Second-Class Spiritual Pressure, the Highest-class Menos Grande.

Facing this level, Haruto would only have a 20-30% chance of winning even if he went all out—and that's assuming the opponent isn't Arrancar and can't Resurrección. Otherwise, Haruto would definitely turn and run without the slightest hesitation.

Certainly.

The most troublesome thing is actually the other party's identity as a scientist.

His bizarre and inexplicable "methods" are far more troublesome than pure strength or speed-type Vasto Lorde: if Szayelaporro hadn't encountered Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who was also a madman, in Hueco Mundo, the outcome of the Soul Society conquest might have been very different.

No...

With Retsu Unohana as a foundation, victory is almost guaranteed, but the price to pay is another matter entirely.

After all, there was still the Zero Espada, known as the strongest, there: Yammy the Ira.

Although Yammy's performance was a bit lackluster, he was able to take on three captains simultaneously, including Kenpachi, Byakuya, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and even severely injured the first two... His title as the strongest when he is at full rage and full Reiatsu is by no means undeserved.

Let's get back to the main topic.

After meeting Szayelaporro, all the previous questions suddenly became clear.

Before Aizen informed Hueco Mundo, Szayelaporro was already working under Baraggan, and was even a vanguard general when Baraggan invaded Soul Society. Baraggan didn't really want to or think he had the ability to conquer Soul Society; he was more likely just looking for fun to pass the time... Szayelaporro, on the other hand, wanted some Soul Reaper test subjects.

This is why Szayelaporro hates the 11th Division so much:

About sixty or seventy years ago, two Vasto Lorde under Baraggan's command led an army to attack Soul Society. As soon as they emerged from the Garganta and descended upon Rukongai, the one shouting "Baraggan" was instantly killed by the then 11th Division Captain: Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.

At that time, he was skilled enough to be selected by the Zero Division, and even completely banned (under any circumstances) from using Bankai in Seireitei —Central 46 Chambers that's right, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi killed Vasto Lorde in an instant without even using Bankai.

With such strength as Kuruyashiki Kenpachi taking action, the situation of Szayelaporro, who went on the expedition to obtain experimental materials, goes without saying.

If he hadn't shut down his Garganta quickly, he probably would have become a victim of Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's blade just like his colleague, if only a few more seconds had passed.

Fear or resentment.

From then on...

Szayelaporro harbored a deep grudge against the 11th Division for causing him such a loss of face, a grudge that remained unchanged even after Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's death.

"Are you short of experimental materials?"

Haruto gripped the hilt of Seisen's sword.

Whether it was the Cero that just killed Kanmuri Yasu and Adjuchas — Haruto was certain that the beam technique that could turn was the Modified Cero —or the Sonído instantly appeared in front of Haruto without any warning.

All of this demonstrates just how terrifying Szayelaporro's Vasto Lorde identity truly was.

Keep it?

That would be tantamount to digging one's own grave.

"Certainly."

Szayelaporro said nonchalantly.

"Then why not keep them?"

Haruto glanced at the mangled limbs in the deep pit.

It's impossible not to be angry.

Right under Haruto's nose, he killed a familiar Soul Reaper and Adjuchas, whom he was about to communicate with. It would be normal for someone with a less mature mindset to fly into a rage on the spot.

But precisely because of this...

Haruto need to control their emotions even more.

When facing a stronger opponent, it's always good to figure out... no, to find out as much as possible about their abilities.

"Please allow me to correct my earlier mistake: I only need valuable materials... especially Soul Reaper."

So... you're planning to capture me alive?

Haruto tried.

"No, no, no."

Szayelaporro wiggled his fingers and head at the same time.

"My latest preservation technology is quite good; the difference between living and dead samples won't exceed 5%. Considering the difficulty of capturing test subjects, I personally prefer --"

Szayelaporro hadn't finished speaking.

"Cease, Seisen!"

Volume 1: 145, Szayelaporro

Facing Vasto Lorde.

Haruto unleashed all of Seisen's abilities right from the start.

However, the real method was not the Zanpakuto, but rather taking advantage of the moment when Szayelaporro's curiosity was entirely focused on the Seisen.

"Click."

His left arm, which was not holding a knife, stretched straight out towards Szayelaporro.

The blue light emanating from within transformed the arm into an arrow-like shape.

Blut Arterie.

A technique that transforms Reishi injected into blood vessels into offensive capabilities.

"Shunkō - Water God Battle Form"

The Quincy: Letzt Stil, enhanced by the Sklaverei's power, is also being activated simultaneously.

The shimmering water and surging waves formed a blurry silhouette behind Haruto, resembling a drawn bow ready to fire an arrow—none of these were actual attack moves, but rather preparatory strikes to build up power for the next attack.

"The Sankt Bogen!!"

The Heilig Pfeil, as tall as a three- or four-story building, appeared before Haruto.

"Oh?"

Szayelaporro leaned forward with great interest and carefully adjusted his glasses.

"The combined power of Soul Reaper and Quincy?"

Szayelaporro had seen both of these powers countless times, but to see them both in one person at the same time... Szayelaporro began to think that this living material was definitely more valuable than the dead one.

"You're even more... suitable to be an experimental subject than I imagined."

"But this move..."

Szayelaporro walked forward with his hands shrugged, completely unprepared.

"Too slow."

Even if I give you the chance to use it, it still won't hit me.

Just as Szayelaporro said.

He did not take any measures to stop Haruto from using the Sankt Bogen —a technique that can only be mastered after learning Shunkō, a fusion of one's own Reiatsu with external forces, and the Sankt Bogen is indeed capable of injuring Vasto Lorde -level Menos Grande level.

This demonstrates absolute confidence in one's own abilities.

"Really?"

"Boom."

The bowstring trembled slightly.

An arrow as thick as an arm shot out, and the trajectory of such a dazzling creation of Reishi left no trace on the retina.

"Call out--"

"Boom!!"

A blue-green mushroom cloud rose into the sky.

The burst of flames and fire rings incinerated everything around the point of impact; the extremely high concentration of Reishi flames even ignited the Hueco Mundo desert and the crown-like branches extending from the top of the Forest of Menos.

Thump.

The Sonído sound was completely drowned out by the explosion.

"I already said..."

On one side above the mushroom cloud.

Szayelaporro waved his hand, dispersing the thin, purplish-red shield around him—a defensive modification of Cero, not to prevent himself from getting hurt, but because he was worried about his clothes and hairstyle being burned.

"You can't hit it."

Within the scope of Third-Class Reii.

Haruto's Shunpo, which incorporates the Hirenkyaku, is definitely among the top three in Soul Society.

However, facing Vasto Lorde's... Second-Class Spiritual Pressure power suppression, coupled with the extremely high speed inherent in the Sonído itself, the highest-grade Heilig Pfeil: Sankt Bogen, which was already known for its speed, completely missed its target.

"That..."

The desert surface swept by the impact.

The unmoving Haruto stretched out his gradually dimming arm towards Szayelaporro, and new, deep blue Reishi flames were surging outward from within.

"I wasn't going to shoot you in the first place."

"Bakudō #96!"

Haruto has never used this Bakudō.

The complicated prerequisites are only one reason; the key is that Haruto himself has only recently learned it... To be more accurate, he should be called its inventor, who only recently included it in the Kidō series.

Captain of the Thirteenth Division, Jūshirō Ukitake.

He refined and modified the experience he gained from his teacher Shigekuni Yamamoto's Zanpakuto, Ryūjin Jakka, transforming the original Zanpakuto's abilities into Kido, a widely usable Kidō. Of course, this was inseparable from Shigekuni Yamamoto's support, but Jūshirō Ukitake's genius was also evident.

When leaving the Thirteenth Division, Jūshirō Ukitake specially gave Kidō this Haruto style as a farewell gift.

"The Jōkaku Enjō!"

"Huff!!"

The sea of fire ignited by the Sankt Bogen was completely mobilized.

The tsunami-like flames surged and Flow, and in the blink of an eye, they had completely engulfed Szayelaporro within the flaming fortress.

Extremely high temperature.

Although it is not as powerful as Ryūjin Jakka, even the sturdiest weapon or the strongest body would be reduced to charcoal in an instant.

"..."

Szayelaporro did not attempt to touch it.

Curiosity is the guarantee of a scientist's vitality, but as the saying goes, a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, which is also his principle of conduct.

"A very strong Bakudō."

Szayelaporro exclaimed in admiration.

"But so what?"

"Do you have any techniques that can penetrate this wall of fire that seals me?"