Uryū Ishida vs. Mayuri Kurotsuchi

The smoke had not yet completely dissipated, and the air was filled with the stench of blood and the acrid smell of burning Reishi. The severely wounded team member dragged his broken body, staggering towards his Captain, his eyes filled with incomprehension and despair.

"Captain..." His voice was hoarse, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, "This isn't what we agreed on... Weren't we supposed to... bring them back to the barracks quietly?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi his head, his golden pupils flickering in the shadows, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. He didn't answer, but simply pressed the switch in his hand.

"No way," his voice was light and airy, as if stating a perfectly obvious fact, "How can a bomb that's been thrown come back?"

Boom--

The explosion engulfed all the remaining team members, their screams instantly drowned out. Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood rooted to the spot, his clothes billowing in the heat, his face expressionless, as if he had simply conducted a routine experiment.

As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, a triangular shield of light stood silently amidst the ruins. Behind the shield, Orihime Inoue was pale, her hands clenched tightly in front of her chest, three hairpins emitting a faint glow. Fear flickered in her eyes, but even more so, determination—at the very moment the explosion occurred, her body had almost instinctively activated the Santen Kesshun.

"Thank you, Inoue- kun." Uryū Ishida stepped out from behind her, adjusted his glasses, and his gaze behind the lenses was sharp as an arrow. "If you hadn't reacted immediately, I would have been injured in the explosion."

He stepped forward, blocking Orihime Inoue's path, the Reishi Bow already taking shape in his hand.

"Leave the rest to me!"

The bowstring trembled, and a Reishi arrow shot out, aiming straight for Mayuri Kurotsuchi's brow.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi merely tilted his head slightly, the arrow grazing his golden hair ornament and blasting a crater in the distant wall. He raised his hand and lightly dusted off the dust on his shoulder, as if brushing away a fallen leaf.

"Yo, Quincy." His voice carried a morbid excitement. "A rare species... I haven't seen a living one in years."

He slowly turned around, facing Uryū Ishida directly. "Unfortunately, our research on you is over. Get out of my way; I have no interest in you."

"The research is over? No interest?" Uryū Ishida frowned, drawing the bowstring taut once more. "What does this mean? Who exactly are you?!"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi let out a short, sharp laugh that echoed through the ruins, cold and grating.

"No way? You bunch of Ryoka dare to barge in here knowing absolutely nothing about the enemy?" He spread his hands dramatically. "That's incredibly reckless. You should at least have some idea of what the thirteen at the top are like."

He took a step forward, and the surrounding air suddenly became heavy.

"I am the Captain the Twelfth Division, and the second director of the Research and Development Institute— " His voice suddenly deepened, each word carrying weight, "Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

The moment the words fell, a terrifying Reiatsu erupted like a torrent. The air seemed to freeze, and gravity seemed to increase several times over. Uryū Ishida felt his breath catch in his throat, and the ground beneath his feet sank slightly.

"It doesn't matter whether you remember or not," Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice remained clear amidst the roar of Reiatsu, "You won't remember anything soon anyway."

Uryū Ishida gritted his teeth, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He Orihime Inoue behind him and whispered, "Inoue, run!"

"I will fight too!" Orihime Inoue shook her head stubbornly, clenching her hands even tighter.

Just then, the 11th Division member, who had been awakened by the explosion, staggered to his feet from the rubble. He was now fully sober, his eyes filled with fear. He glanced at the two opposing sides, then quietly retreated, trying to escape this dangerous place.

"11th Division!" Uryū Ishida shouted immediately, "Take Inoue out of here right now!"

The team member trembled. "W-why me?"

Uryū Ishida slightly turned the arrow tip towards him. "You don't want to die, do you? Take Inoue away from here right now, or my arrow will pierce you."

The threat worked. The team member gritted his teeth, rushed forward, picked up the still struggling Orihime Inoue, and turned to flee.

"Run, miss!" he shouted as he ran. "I don't want to get involved in that madman's fight, and I definitely don't want to get shot by that four-eyed guy!"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's gaze followed the two fleeing individuals, her voice icy. "I never said you could leave, did I?"

Before he finished speaking, his right arm suddenly stretched out strangely, as if countless mechanical parts were operating under his skin, and his five fingers reached out to grab the two fleeing people.

Call out--

Another Reishi arrow pierced through the air, precisely striking Mayuri Kurotsuchi's outstretched arm. Black liquid spurted from the wound, and the arm hung limply at his sides.

"I never said you could pursue." Uryū Ishida maintained his shooting stance, his voice calm.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi looked down at her injured arm, then looked up at the two people who had disappeared around the street corner, and sighed softly.

I've already told you, I'm not interested in you.

What happened next made Uryū Ishida's pupils shrink— Mayuri Kurotsuchi his left hand and tightened his grip. A teeth-grinding cracking sound rang out as he forcefully snapped off the extended arm and tossed it to the ground.

Then, he calmly took out a syringe from his pocket, filled with a bright green liquid. He inserted the needle into the severed arm and injected the liquid. Within seconds, a new arm grew at a visible speed, with skin, muscles, and bones perfectly restored.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi moved her newly grown arm, the joints making a slight clicking sound.

"Ouch, that hurts, that hurts." But his tone was devoid of any pain. "That girl seems to have run away... but it's alright."

He raised his hand, his fingertips pinching a strand of orange hair—a strand of Orihime Inoue's hair that he had acquired at some unknown time.

"As long as I have a single hair, I'm confident I can find her." Mayuri Kurotsuchi carefully tucked the strand of hair away, her golden eyes gleaming with fanaticism. "I really want to catch her as soon as possible and study her thoroughly... I feel like every single second right now is being wasted."

Uryū Ishida fell silent. He knew that conversation was pointless. The bowstring vibrated again, and the Reishi arrow shot straight at Mayuri Kurotsuchi's face.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi merely tilted his head slightly as the arrow grazed past. But Uryū Ishida was no longer in the same spot—the instant he fired the first arrow, he had already Hirenkyaku, Reishi surging beneath his feet, his body moving like a phantom to the wall behind Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

The second arrow was fired, aimed at the spot where Mayuri Kurotsuchi had just stood. An explosion rang out, and smoke and dust filled the air.

Uryū Ishida stood on the vertical wall, staring intently at the center of the smoke and dust. His Reishi Bow remained fully drawn, the arrow tip adjusting slightly with his gaze.

"You seem to be quite agile."

The sound came from the side. Uryū Ishida turned his head sharply, his pupils shrinking— Mayuri Kurotsuchi was already standing on the same wall, leisurely walking towards him.

He retreated, drew his bow, and aimed. The series of movements flowed smoothly and effortlessly.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, however, remained unperturbed and continued to approach, "You were using the Hirenkyaku just now and now, right? Using the Reishi flow under your feet for high-speed movement... This is an advanced Quincy Hohō. I didn't expect you to know this move at such a young age."

He kept walking. "We have a similar technique here, called Shunpo. But it's too tiring to use... Unlike you, I need to hurry and catch that girl."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi finally stopped, standing only ten paces away from Uryū Ishida. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

"Therefore, I need to finish this quickly."

Clang--

The sound of the Zanpakuto was crisp and piercing.

"Open your claws—" Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice suddenly turned low and eerie, "Ashisogi Jizō."

The blade twisted and deformed with a whisper, transforming into a bizarre short sword, from which three infant-like arms extended. Even more eerie, three branches split off below the blade, each ending in an infant's face, grinning with a sinister smile.

Uryū Ishida's heart skipped a beat: [His Zanpakuto has been unleashed... What is its ability? If it's the type that absorbs attacks, I can't easily make a move... Ugh, I don't have time to waste!]

In a flash, he made his decision. The arrow was about to leave the bowstring—

Just then, a white figure suddenly darted out from the side. It was Nemu Kurotsuchi, the female adjutant who had always silently followed Mayuri Kurotsuchi. She rammed her body into Uryū Ishida, her hands tightly gripping the arrow he was about to fire.

The immense impact caused them both to fall off the wall. Uryū Ishida tried to push her away, but Nemu Kurotsuchi's strength was astonishing. During their fall, the distance between them increased slightly.

In that instant, Uryū Ishida saw Mayuri Kurotsuchi chasing after him from above, and the strange Zanpakuto he swung down.

[He wouldn't want to kill this woman too, would he?!]

The thought had barely crossed my mind when the blade was already at me.

A sharp pain shot through his chest. Uryū Ishida crashed to the ground, his back against the crumbling wall, blood gushing from his chest. He struggled to lift his head and saw Nemu Kurotsuchi lying not far away, equally badly injured.

What shocked him even more was what happened next—

After Mayuri Kurotsuchi walked straight to Nemu Kurotsuchi, expressionless, and stomped hard on the wound on her chest.

"Ah--!" Nemu Kurotsuchi let out a painful scream.

"Didn't I tell you," Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice was icy, "Not to let go even if your arm is broken?"

He bent down and punched Nemu Kurotsuchi in the face. The sound of bones shattering was clearly audible.

Uryū Ishida felt his blood rush to his head. "You--!"

[Weren't they allies? Why did he cut down that woman too?!]

Nemu Kurotsuchi coughed up blood, her voice broken and intermittent. "I... I'm so sorry..."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi released her and turned to look at Uryū Ishida, as if everything that had just happened was a trivial matter.

"Forget it, I didn't have any expectations of you anyway." He strode over. "He's injured like this; killing him would be a piece of cake."

Uryū Ishida tried to stand up, but was horrified to find that his body wouldn't obey him. His limbs felt like they no longer belonged to him; no matter what commands his brain issued, his muscles didn't respond. Only the sharp pain in his chest reminded him that he was still alive.

[I can't move... why?!]

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stopped in front of him, observing his expression with great interest.

"You've sweated so much, it must hurt a lot, right?" He tilted his head, "But you didn't utter a sound, that's really admirable. Is this your first time being slashed?"

Uryū Ishida gritted his teeth and forced out the words, "This is the second time!"

"You're quite experienced," Mayuri Kurotsuchi chuckled. "But this ends here."

At this moment, Nemu Kurotsuchi, lying on the ground, spoke again, her voice so weak it was almost inaudible. "Mayuri Kurotsuchi... my... my lungs... are severely injured... causing difficulty breathing... if this continues... my... bodily... functions... will... not be able to... maintain... please give... me... Flesh Supplement..."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi Uryū Ishida thought he was finally going to save his adjutant.

But he was wrong.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi raised his foot and stepped on Nemu Kurotsuchi's wound again, grinding it forcefully.

"Ahhh--!" Nemu Kurotsuchi's screams were heart-wrenching.

"What are you doing?!" Uryū Ishida roared, "She'll die if you keep going like this!!"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stopped what he was doing, as if he had suddenly remembered something interesting. He bent down, picked up Nemu Kurotsuchi, turned to face Uryū Ishida, and waved the dying woman in his hands like an object.

"Hmm? You're really chivalrous, aren't you?" he sneered. "How could someone in this condition possibly die?"

He released his grip, and Nemu Kurotsuchi fell to the ground like a rag doll.

"How could this injury possibly cause my body to lose its function?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi's tone was filled with pride, as if she were showing off a masterpiece.

Uryū Ishida was stunned. "You... created it?!"

"Yes." Mayuri Kurotsuchi crouched down, roughly grabbed Nemu Kurotsuchi's hair, and forced her to look up. "You don't know her name yet, do you? She's someone I created by combining the essence of Gigai technology and Artificial Soul Technology— "

His voice suddenly softened, a softness more chilling than any malice.

"Nemu Kurotsuchi."

After saying that, he swung his fist again, slamming it heavily into Nemu Kurotsuchi's face. One blow after another. The sound of bones cracking continued.

"Stop..." Uryū Ishida's voice trembled.

Suddenly, he stopped shouting and abruptly looked down at his arm—no, not "looked at," but his eyes moved and his gaze fell on his arm. Because he couldn't turn his neck either.

[When... why am I completely unable to move?!]

"You're really slow on the uptake, aren't you? Only realizing it now?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi stopped beating him, turned to look at him, his golden eyes full of mockery. "After being struck by my Ashisogi Jizō, your limbs become immobile. That's the true power of my Zanpakuto."

"Is it poison... or paralysis?" Uryū Ishida asked with difficulty.

"How could it be something so low-level?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi scoffed. "It selectively cuts off the movement signals from the brain to the limbs—this advanced toxin is self-synthesized. In other words..."

He approached with his sword drawn, the blade lightly pressed against Uryū Ishida's chest.

"You can feel even the slightest pain."

The knife tip pierced in. Slowly, inch by inch, it penetrated the skin and muscle, until it reached the ribs.

"Aaaaaah--!" Uryū Ishida screamed uncontrollably. The excruciating pain was so clear, every nerve was screaming, but his body couldn't react at all, he couldn't even curl up.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi drew his sword, blood splattering on his face. He licked the blood that had splashed onto his lips, a look of disgust on his face.

"That's an awful scream." He turned around. "Hey, Nemu Kurotsuchi, come here and kill this brat."

He saw Nemu Kurotsuchi still lying on the ground, paused for a moment, and then kicked her impatiently.

"Oh, right, you got stabbed too... You're really useless."

"Stop!!" Uryū Ishida's voice was hoarse with anger.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi turned around again and looked at him thoughtfully.

"You Quincy really have an overflowing sense of justice," he said softly. "Every Quincy dies feels this way... Is this your belief?"

What do you mean by that?!

"I told you, the Quincy research is over." Mayuri Kurotsuchi paced among the ruins, as if lecturing on a topic in class, "Constantly stimulating their minds and bodies in various ways, observing their reactions..."

He stopped and turned to look at Uryū Ishida, his golden eyes gleaming in the shadows.

"Do you know what those Quincy said before they died? 'Spare the others,' 'Children are innocent,' 'At least let the women leave'... His voice was flat. 'Every single one of them. Such a boring repetition.'"

Uryū Ishida's breathing became heavy. Not from pain, but from anger—an unprecedented anger that seemed to burst from his chest.

"You... treat the Quincy... as experimental animals..." Each word was squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Experimental animals?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi her head, as if seriously considering the metaphor. "No, experimental animals can't speak, they can't beg for mercy, and they don't think about protecting others before they die. Quincy are much more interesting."

He approached, and the blade rose again.

"But don't worry, I won't kill you. And that girl... I want you both to be my research subjects. Live subjects are always far more valuable for research than corpses."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand—not with a knife, but by taking a device from behind his ear. The device deformed and extended in his hand, transforming into a huge scythe, its blade shimmering with an eerie purple light.

The scythe flew out spinning, the chains rattling. Uryū Ishida tried to dodge, but his body remained motionless.

[Move... get moving!!]

Just as the blade was about to touch his neck, the Miracle occurred—no, not the Miracle, but willpower.

Countless tiny Reishi threads appeared out of thin air, wrapping around his limbs and torso like strings manipulating a puppet. Guided by these threads, his body shifted sideways in a bizarre manner, narrowly avoiding the scythe.

Crack. The sound of a rib breaking. The force of the thread pulling was too great, exceeding the bone's tolerance limit.

But Uryū Ishida stood up. Guided by the Reishi threads, he swayed like a puppet, yet stood up firmly.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes lit up.

"Hmm? Ransōtengai!" For the first time, genuine interest appeared in his voice. "Using Reishi particles to generate fine threads, wrapping them around an immobile body, allowing oneself to move like a puppet... I've studied thousands of Quincy, and not a single one of them possesses this ability. I thought it was lost to time."

He looked Uryū Ishida up and down, as if admiring a novel exhibit.

"So you're what they call a genius?!"

Uryū Ishida did not answer. The Reishi Bow took shape in his hand again, this time with a larger bow and more solid arrows. Countless Reishi threads extended from his back, connecting every joint of his body.

"A genius? I'm not." His voice was terrifyingly calm. "I only swore an oath to kill you, even if it cost me my life."

"Alright," Mayuri Kurotsuchi sheathed her scythe and put her hands back in her white coat pockets, "I take back what I said about you being a genius. Now I've developed a little interest in you... I won't kill you, and that girl too; I want you both to be my research subjects."

The battle erupted again. This time, although Uryū Ishida could move, his movements were stiff like a puppet. The Reishi threads could pull his limbs, but they could not replicate the subtle coordination of his muscles. He kept using the Hirenkyaku to dodge while firing arrows, but he was clearly at a disadvantage.

The scythe sliced through the air, leaving wounds on his body. Blood soaked through his clothes, and the Reishi threads were stained red. But he didn't stop, not even once.

[That's not enough... This power isn't enough...]

His hand reached for his left glove—the one he always wore, embroidered with the Quincy Cross. His fingers gripped the edge; one more pull and he was ready to rip it open.

A slender hand suddenly reached out from the side and pressed down on his wrist.

"Uryū, your strength has not yet reached its peak."

Uryū Ishida turned his head sharply, his pupils shrinking. Standing next to him was someone who should never have been there.

Long black hair, gentle features, and a simple Shihakushō —but what's most striking is the Division insignia on his chest: Fourth Division, Medical Squad.

"Remove it now, and it might grant you immense power," the man continued calmly, "But the price is that you will permanently lose this power. Even if a way is found to restore your strength in the future, it will lock your potential."

"It's you! How did you end up here?!" Uryū Ishida was so shocked he almost forgot about fighting.

He recognized the man. Years ago, in the family hospital, he had seen this man standing with his father, Ryūken Ishida, treating the wounded Quincy. He was just a child then, but he remembered the man's face clearly.

"Hmm?!" Mayuri Kurotsuchi also noticed the newcomer, and for the first time, a serious expression appeared on her face. "Liu Hao... the former Fifth Seat of the Fourth Division, and the first Captain of the Medical Guard Team."

Uryū Ishida's mind was in complete chaos. The Fourth Division? Soul Reaper? His father knew Soul Reaper? And their relationship seemed quite close?

"Who... who are you?!" he practically roared.

Liu Hao did not answer him, but turned to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, nodded slightly, and wore a gentle but unquestionable smile on his face.

"Captain Kurotsuchi, is it alright if we just leave it at that for today?"

"Oh?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes. "Do you think you have the strength to rescue them from me?"

"Your ingenious methods have limited effect on me," Liu Hao said with an unchanged smile. "Besides, I believe you've already analyzed my abilities. I can launch an attack from places you can't reach. Even if I'm no match for you, I can still leave unscathed."

"So what?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice turned cold.

Liu Hao took a step forward, his gaze passing over Mayuri Kurotsuchi and landing on the dying Nemu Kurotsuchi in the distance. His gaze was calm, yet it made Mayuri Kurotsuchi's body tense up suddenly.

"Captain Kurotsuchi, you'll know the truth on the day of your execution." Liu Hao withdrew his gaze and looked back at Mayuri Kurotsuchi. "Also, if you anger me, your dream... might come to an abrupt end."

The air froze.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's golden pupils shrank to pinpoints. He stared intently at Liu Hao, his fingers trembling slightly—not from fear, but from rage, a violent fury that had been touched on a sensitive spot.

"You can give it a try!!" he forced out through clenched teeth.

Liu Hao still smiled, but there was a hint of warning in his smile, "Captain Kurotsuchi, don't worry. We are not enemies. You will understand in a couple of days."

The two stared at each other. Their Reiatsu collided silently, causing the surrounding ruins to tremble slightly.

After a long while, Mayuri Kurotsuchi snorted coldly and turned around.

"Is that so? That's all for today." He started walking forward without looking back. "But since you dared to show your face here, aren't you afraid of being targeted?"

"Don't worry, the truth will be revealed soon," Liu Hao said calmly. "So I'm not afraid of being targeted."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi paused in his steps.

"Heh... I'm actually looking forward to seeing you lying on my lab table."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the shadows of the ruins. Also vanished Nemu Kurotsuchi, who had been taken away without anyone knowing when.

Only after Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Reiatsu had completely dissipated did Liu Hao turn around and look at Uryū Ishida was still in shock.

"We should go," he said. "I know you have many questions, but this isn't the place to discuss them. I'll see you out first."

Uryū Ishida opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. The Reishi slowly dissipated, and he staggered, almost falling. Liu Hao reached out to support him, gently touching his chest with his finger. A green healing light flickered, and the bleeding from the wound gradually stopped.

The two traversed the ruins, evaded the patrols, and arrived at a secret room deep within the Fourth Division Barracks. Yasutora Sado was imprisoned here, and upon seeing Uryū Ishida, he abruptly stood up.

"Ishida! You're injured!"

"I'm fine." Uryū Ishida pushed Liu Hao's hand away, steadied himself, but his gaze remained fixed on the mysterious man. "Where are Inoue and Kurosaki?"

"Don't worry, they're all fine." Liu Hao walked to the door and glanced back at him. "From now on, you can stay here without worry. The Seireitei will soon... undergo a change."

After saying that, he opened the door and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.

Uryū Ishida collapsed to the ground, the wound on his chest still throbbing. Chad handed him a glass of water, which he took and drank in one gulp.

[Liu Hao... Fourth Division... Father...]

Countless questions swirled in his mind. But he knew now was not the time to dwell on them. He had to regain his strength, find Inoue and Ichigo, and rescue Rukia.

Meanwhile, Liu Hao's figure moved swiftly between the rooftops of the Seireitei. His Reiatsu was perfectly concealed, like a shadow blending into the night. He was gathering intelligence to confirm whether Rukia's execution date had been moved up.

Suddenly, a familiar Reiatsu caught his attention—cold and sharp, like icicles in winter.

"Captain Hitsugaya..." Liu Hao muttered to himself, changed direction, and sped off in the direction from which the Reiatsu was coming.