Jun hugged Isuzu. Neither of them knew what to say. Jun didn't want to know the details anymore; she would just wait quietly.
"Pure~"
"Um?"
I'm so happy~
"What is happiness?" Chun wanted to laugh but couldn't.
"Are you really happy?" Isuzu fiddled with Jun's clothes in her arms. "Look, I still have you with me. So many people just die and that's it, they don't even know what happens to them in the end."
"So you're happy now? Is that enough?"
"Yeah, what else can we do?" Isuzu laughed happily, but then, "Oh dear, why are you crying?"
Chun couldn't stop crying, "I don't know either."
"Hehe, come here~ wipe your tears," Isuzu, wiping Jun's tears as she shifted her position and lay down on Jun's lap. "Jun~ I really feel that being your lover is my luck."
"Heh~ But I didn't take good care of you."
"I already told you it's my fault~ I have such a strong lover like you, and you've taught me everything, but I'm just so stupid~ I just can't learn~ I can't even beat a mere Vice-Captain, it's not your fault."
Hehe~
"It's true! Just think about it, I'm completely different from other wives! You help me with housework, cook with me, and even help me become stronger. Those other wives can only arrange flowers and make tea, and they have to clean the house every day. It's really, really different."
"Huh? This little thing makes you happy?"
"Hmm~ That's enough. I don't want anything else. I'm just a little woman, you know~"
Jun was speechless. Sharing his life wouldn't bring Isuzu back, and Isuzu was now a bottomless pit, draining his Spiritual Power rapidly. Jun was barely holding on; the woman in his arms was about to leave him forever.
"Jun~ I'm so happy that we can be together in the end, really."
"Chun~ Don't give up on your dreams. Don't do anything foolish because of me. You're so smart, so amazing. You should remember that doing what you want to do makes me happiest! You've always been the most perfect hero in my heart!"
"Really?" Chun asked, her voice choked with emotion.
"Mmm~", Isuzu nodded vigorously, Jun could feel her head bobbing up with all her might, "I'm a little woman~, my favorite thing is a great hero, and you are a great hero, my great hero!"
Jun was now able to think things through. Since Isuzu had said so, Jun was determined to do it; Jun wouldn't let Isuzu down.
"Then will you listen to me?"
"Mmm~, I'll listen to whatever you say, Chun."
Jun, carrying Isuzu, approached the group of swords left behind by Aizen. "Choose one you like."
"Yes, that one, the one with the blue ribbon wrapped around the hilt. It must have been in the hands of a loving master. What a pity."
"It's no pity, I will cherish her even more from now on."
Jun took out the knife Isuzu wanted, closed his eyes, and watched Jun's actions with a relieved smile, tears slowly welling up in Isuzu's eyes.
No one was in more pain than Isuzu. She wanted to live, but it was too late. Sharing a life with Jun, she could sense his weakened state. This was the Forest of Menos, an incredibly dangerous place. Since she herself was going to die, Isuzu hoped Jun would live.
A moment later, Chun opened his eyes and chanted. "Empty everything to contain what is true, let go! Empty Aspect!"
The sword was unleashed by Jun, but nothing changed. Jun placed the sword in Isuzu's arms. "Lingling, use your power to feel her, merge with her. Listen to me, okay?"
"Hmm~", Isuzu closed her eyes. Perhaps it was because her soul was more sensitive at the end of her life, but in an instant, Isuzu entered the world of consciousness and saw a being that resembled Gigai.
Isuzu savored the last moments of comfort in her Inner World; there was no pain, no death, and she was perfectly fine.
Hello~ Empty Aspect ~
However, Gigai did not respond to her. Isuzu smiled, walked towards Gigai, and merged herself into his embrace.
"What will happen to me~?" Isuzu didn't have much time left before returning to reality. Jun couldn't hold on any longer either; she returned to the dying state she had been in when Jun first met her.
Empty your mind, surrender your humanity to me~
"Will I turn into a knife? You can keep me by your side forever."
Isuzu's language ability is disappearing. She speaks only words, unable to form sentences, and then slowly even her vocabulary disappears. She opens her mouth to make meaningless sounds, and then there is no sound. But her eyes still look pure.
This was her last sense. Junya watched her, watched his wife's body gradually turn grayish-black, watched a bone-like Hollowfication Mask appear on her face and gradually cover her entire face, watched her wounds gradually turn into empty voids.
Chun stared intently into those eyes, and those eyes remained fixed on Chun, until the Empty Aspect Blade emitted a clear, ethereal sound, the Hollowfication Mask completely covered the area, and the Hollow Hole had formed.
The Hollow bit Chun's leg, and Chun released her protective Spiritual Power, allowing it to tear off a large chunk of flesh. Chun stood up as if she felt nothing, Kaido to strengthen herself, and then picked up the newly formed and still very weak Hollow.
Using Shunpo, the connection between the Forest of Menos and the Endless Sea was crystal clear to Chun, and he proceeded towards the Endless Sea.
"Jun~!?" Oka was strolling on the outskirts of the Forest of Menos when he saw Jun being devoured by a Hollow. He wanted to kill the Hollow, but then he wondered why Jun was like this, so he didn't act.
"Thank you~, thank goodness it was you, Oka. I no longer have the strength to stop you. Thank you for sparing my life."
"What exactly happened?" Oka's power was far beyond what a lower-level Hollow could contend with. He detached the Hollow from Jun's body, and the two of them protected each other. "This Hollow..."
It's Isuzu.
"It's Isuzu!? She..."
"Dead," Chun sat down on the ground, now so weak he was almost out of breath.
Do you want us to help you get revenge?
"No need, revenge isn't urgent. This is Isuzu's wish."
"Then we..."
"I'm leaving Isuzu here. Take good care of her, nurture her evolution, help her evolve~" Jun's voice choked with emotion. "Cough~ Let her become Gillian, Adjuchas, a Vasto Lorde, an Arrancar, please~"
Jun couldn't continue speaking; he covered his face and cried bitterly. The other Arrancar arrived one by one, witnessing this bizarre scene. At that moment, Zennosuke Kuruyashiki also appeared, along with Tsunade and the two swords Extinction.
Do you want to take a break?
After crying for a while, Chun wiped her face, shook her head, and said, "No, I have something to do."
"Starrk, you take Jun back," Oka said. "The rest of you, come with me. Let's capture some Hollows for Isuzu. Get moving."
Jun was sent back to where the swords were kept by Starrk, along with Tsunade.
"Alright, Starrk, you can go back now. With Tsunade here, I'll be fine."
"Okay," Starrk hesitated for a moment before asking, "Jun, is your reaction to Isuzu's death because you're sad?"
"Yes"
Is it painful?
"Hmm~"
"I seem to be feeling something too, it's very uncomfortable, and I really don't want to feel this way again. What should I do?"
"Powerful, incredibly powerful, powerful enough to never lose, powerful enough to never die!"
"I see"
Starrk left, and Jun had Tsunade cut a hole in the tree trunk and put all the swords inside. Jun rested the whole way and now had some strength left.
Jun initially intended to hand over the Empty Aspect to Tsunade, but then withdrew it. Taking Thunder Charge with him, Jun said, "You stay here and guard this place for a while. When I return, these swords will all be your brothers and sisters."
"Yes, my lord! We await your return," Tsunade stepped forward and hugged Jun. "My lord, please accept my condolences."
"Ah~", Jun patted Tsunade's head, "Don't worry, I'm much better now, and Lingling wants me to continue my dream, to fulfill my dream. I won't do anything foolish. That's her wish, and I will fulfill her and my shared wish, absolutely! Nothing and no one can stop me now!"
Without tenderness, without a home, without the woman who loved him most, Chun had no weaknesses, nothing at all.
Jun returned to the Expedition's encampment, where Aizen and Kibune Hakuzō were waiting for him. Jun said, "I'm tired," and found a tent to rest in. No one disturbed him.
When Chun woke up, the two people were still waiting for him. Chun asked, "Have you finished reporting?"
"Yes, the Second Division has begun investigating this matter and needs Fifth Seat Shimizu, to return to Soul Society."
Jun interrupted Captain Kibune with a gesture, "I'm not going back. If possible, Captain Kibune, you should go back. I want to stay in Hueco Mundo and stay with her for a while. I think this position as the Expedition leader is quite good."
Seeing the hesitation on Kibune Hakuzō's face, Chun said, "It's alright, I can be the deputy leader, or I can be a member, it's fine either way."
"No, no, no, you've misunderstood, Fifth Seat Shimizu," Kibune Hakuzō explained, "This Expedition captain is in great danger, given your condition."
Don't worry, I'm very strong.
"Alright then, I'll go back and report. The Expedition team is now in your hands."
"Thank you, I owe you a favor, Mr. Kibune. Please let me know if you ever need anything."
"No, no, no, it's a good deal for me to go back. If you ever need anything from me, Shimizu-san, just let me know. See you then~"
See you later~
"Please take care, Shimizu-san, and accept this difficult time."
"Okay, thank you."
Watching the Senkaimon which the two disappeared, Chun remained silent for a long time.
"Soul Society, wait till I get back... Heh~ Making threats isn't my style. Fine, I'll spare your lives."