Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

Chapter 474 474: Ōko Yushima

But...

The current change in Kageroza Inaba's spiritual pressure, however, left Kisuke Urahara somewhat confused.

A trace of worry flickered in his eyes. As the former captain of Squad Twelve, Kisuke Urahara had some understanding of the previous captain's research subjects.

The technology of "Modified Souls" was born from the concept of "Temporary Souls." Reigai, in a sense, could be considered a variation of "Modified Souls."

It wasn't surprising to Kisuke Urahara that Kageroza Inaba could create Reigai, implying he understood Captain Kirio Hikifune's "Temporary Souls."

What puzzled Kisuke Urahara was that absorbing "Temporary Souls" should only enhance the quality of one's spiritual pressure, not fundamentally change its nature.

Yet, the spiritual pressure Kageroza Inaba now radiated felt like a complete fusion with Nozomi Kujō's, giving birth to a new spiritual pressure—belonging neither to Inaba nor Kujō, but to another, unknown Shinigami!

Watching the progress bar on the computer screen, cold sweat beaded on Kisuke Urahara's forehead beneath his dark hat.

As someone explicitly banished by the Seireitei, Kisuke Urahara couldn't openly enter as long as the warrant for his arrest remained active. This was why he had to use the spiritual-pressure-blocking hat to conceal himself upon entering the Seireitei.

Dispersing the Reigai Vice-Captain Sasakibe's thunderclouds earlier to enter Squad Twelve had already allowed the Seireitei captains to lock onto his spiritual pressure. If he revealed himself now, Captain-Commander Yamamoto, after dealing with the chaos caused by Kageroza Inaba, likely wouldn't mind eliminating him as well.

In short, within the Seireitei, as long as he kept a low profile, the captains might pretend not to see him. But openly revealing his spiritual pressure in combat would undoubtedly challenge the Seireitei's enforcement of its banishment order.

This meant that from now on, Kisuke Urahara could no longer intervene directly. He could only hope that Ichigo Kurosaki's Reigai pill would be completed before Kageroza Inaba finished his soul fusion.

...

In a laboratory within Squad Twelve, the bodies of Kageroza Inaba and Nozomi Kujō were submerged in transparent glass tubes filled with green nutrient fluid.

The laboratory machinery flashed with multi-colored lights, culminating in beams of powerful spiritual pressure enveloping Kageroza Inaba and Nozomi Kujō.

Within the light, their bodies began to dissolve into countless particles of white light, ultimately coalescing in another nutrient tank into a tall, slender young man with medium-length green hair, clad in green robes.

This was the original form of Kageroza Inaba and Nozomi Kujō—Ōko Yushima, who had split his soul in two over a century ago to escape Central 46's judgment.

Boom!

Immense spiritual pressure radiated from Ōko Yushima, instantly destroying the surrounding experimental equipment.

Slowly opening his eyes, Ōko Yushima stretched his limbs, a satisfied expression gracing his features.

Over a century ago, Ōko Yushima's spiritual pressure had been so weak that even knowing his Zanpakutō's name and abilities, he lacked the power to wield it effectively. Now, sensing the vast spiritual pressure within him, Ōko Yushima felt terrifyingly strong, even without releasing his Zanpakutō.

Stepping out from the ruins, Ōko Yushima intended to head to the Reigai creation laboratory to produce some replicas to aid in his destruction of the Seireitei. Unfortunately, he had barely left the laboratory when several figures surrounded him.

"Who are you? Where is Kageroza Inaba?"

Seeing Ōko Yushima, Soi Fon asked, somewhat puzzled. She could sense a spiritual pressure from Ōko Yushima that was similar, yet distinct, from Kageroza Inaba's.

"Kageroza Inaba?"

Ōko Yushima looked up at Soi Fon and the Punishment Force members surrounding him.

Over a century ago, even ordinary members of Squad Two, let alone captains, had seemed unattainable figures to him.

After all, his strength back then was truly difficult to describe. Otherwise, Ōko Yushima wouldn't have been bullied by Squad Nine members and subsequently "voluntarily" transferred to Squad Twelve. But now, including Captain Soi Fon, Ōko Yushima felt they were all so weak!

"In a way, Kageroza Inaba is also me," he stated. "However, I prefer you use my original name."

"My name is—Ōko Yushima!"

"Is that so?"

Clang!

Soi Fon drew the Zanpakutō from her back, her gaze fixed intently on Ōko Yushima.

"Then, in the name of the Stealth Force, I am placing you under arrest. If you surrender quietly, you might keep your life. Otherwise, don't blame me if you die at my hands shortly. After all, you don't seem like someone I can defeat by holding back."

With a flick of her Zanpakutō, even without calling its name, Soi Fon's blade entered Shikai, transforming into a golden stinger with yellow markings that fitted onto her right middle finger.

This was something only those who had mastered Bankai could achieve. Shinigami who had completed Bankai training formed a much closer bond with their Zanpakutō. A mere thought was enough to activate Shikai. Of course, even so, captains generally still called out their Zanpakutō's name when releasing it.

"Sting all enemies to death—Suzumebachi!"

Seeing Soi Fon's move, the Punishment Force members surrounding Ōko Yushima also drew their Zanpakutō, pointing them at him.

"While I appreciate the acknowledgment of my strength, Captain Soi Fon, aren't you overestimating yourself somewhat?"

Saying this, Ōko Yushima drew the Zanpakutō at his waist and uttered in a low voice, "Tumble—Sumitsukigasa!"

Following Ōko Yushima's command, his Zanpakutō instantly transformed, becoming a double-headed glaive with a ring in the center.

Gently spinning Sumitsukigasa in his hand, Ōko Yushima's figure vanished from Soi Fon's sight in the next instant.

"How is that possible?"

Soi Fon's pupils contracted. She sensed Ōko Yushima's spiritual pressure appear behind her, but found herself unable to turn.

Shhk shhk shhk shhk shhk...

A sharp pain shot through her, and large amounts of blood suddenly spurted from Soi Fon and the surrounding Punishment Force members.

Darkness clouded their vision, and Soi Fon and several of her subordinates collapsed instantly into pools of their own blood. At Ōko Yushima's hands, Soi Fon had been defeated in an instant!

Without giving Soi Fon and the others a second glance, Ōko Yushima, wielding Sumitsukigasa, continued towards the Reigai creation laboratory.

"Captain Soi Fon!"

Unfortunately, Ōko Yushima had only taken a few steps forward before being intercepted again. Arriving on the scene were Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, who had just finished dealing with the other Reigai Vice-Captains.

Seeing Soi Fon lying in a pool of blood, Rukia and Renji naturally didn't dare to be careless. After all, Soi Fon was a captain who had received guidance from Captain Ailin; she was not weak. Yet, only a few breaths had passed between them sensing Captain Soi Fon's spiritual pressure and its abrupt drop. This demonstrated the strength of the green-haired Shinigami before them.

"Bankai—Zabimaru!"

Renji Abarai's spiritual pressure erupted as he instantly completed his Bankai.

"Haaah!"

Letting out a roar, he swung his Zanpakutō, attacking Ōko Yushima. Renji knew that someone capable of instantly defeating Captain Soi Fon was not an opponent he could handle alone. However, besides himself, Rukia was also here! If he didn't charge forward, Rukia definitely would.

Renji didn't want Rukia to get hurt. Therefore, it was better for him to attack, creating an opportunity for Rukia to strike. At the same time, even if he was defeated, it would allow Rukia to get a better understanding of the opponent's abilities.

"Next Dance—White Lotus!"

However, this time Renji failed to hit Ōko Yushima. A torrent of ice roared towards him, repelling Zabimaru's attack. The ice continued unabated, threatening to engulf Renji.

Beside Ōko Yushima, the figure of the Reigai Rukia had appeared at some point. At this moment, the Reigai Rukia, her eyes gleaming with blue lightning, pointed her Zanpakutō directly at Renji.

After returning from the World of the Living, as the last remaining captain-level Reigai by Kageroza Inaba's side, her orders had been to protect him diligently during his fusion with Nozomi Kujō. It was because of this order that the Reigai Rukia hadn't participated in the earlier harassment of Squad Twelve. Now that Kageroza Inaba had fused with Nozomi Kujō to become Ōko Yushima, the Reigai Rukia could naturally fight without restraint.

"Hadō Number 58—Tenran!"

Facing the oncoming White Lotus, Rukia extended her right hand and unleashed the fifty-eighth Hadō spell.

Whoosh!

A fierce tornado erupted from Rukia's hand, destroying the icy White Lotus released by the Reigai Rukia with its powerful winds.

Rukia, having studied "Data Kendo," understood her own power well. If it were an ice attack released by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of Squad Ten, a wind-based Kidō like Tenran wouldn't be very effective.

This was because Hitsugaya's Hyōrinmaru attacked with solid ice. Its hardness and coldness were related to the amount of moisture frozen within its range. The Reigai Rukia's "White Lotus," however, was fundamentally an attack of cold air.

The roaring ice torrent was merely moisture frozen by the cold air as it passed. Rukia used Tenran's tornado to disperse the White Lotus's cold air outwards, spreading it thin and naturally reducing its power significantly. The ice formed by this weakened cold air was easily scattered by the wind.

Just as Rukia and Renji intercepted Ōko Yushima, captains from several neighboring squads arrived. Captain Sajin Komamura of Squad Seven drew his Zanpakutō and released it directly.

"Roar—Tenken!"

Subsequently, a massive blade, over forty meters long, slashed down directly towards the area permeated by purple mist in the sky.

Boom!

Already severely weakened by the poison from Mayuri's Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō, the Reigai Vice-Captain Sasakibe couldn't evade Komamura's attack. He was cut down by the single strike, falling lifelessly onto the grounds of Squad Twelve.

Afterward, Komamura glanced at Mayuri before immediately heading towards Rukia and the others.

"Captain Kuchiki, what's the situation?"

"Captain Komamura, Captain Soi Fon is severely injured. I've frozen her wounds with my cold air for now. However, if she doesn't receive treatment soon, I fear Captain Soi Fon won't last much longer."

During the time it took for Komamura to arrive, Rukia and Renji had engaged in a fierce battle with the Reigai Rukia, resulting in a temporary stalemate.

"Where is Kageroza Inaba?"

"That guy seems to have transformed into another, stronger young man. He headed towards other laboratories in Squad Twelve."

"I apologize, we were blocked by my Reigai and couldn't successfully intercept that man here," Rukia explained.

Glancing at the battle ahead, Komamura drew his Zanpakutō.

"Captain Kuchiki, I wonder if you would mind this old man interfering in your fight?"

"We couldn't ask for more!"

...

In the Fifth Division, Ailin sensed the commotion over at the Twelfth Division. Glancing at Momo Hinamori sleeping soundly at her desk, he stood up, cast a barrier around the captain's office, and vanished in a flicker.

Kageroza Inaba had returned to the Seireitei later than Ailin had anticipated. However, the chaos he caused in the Twelfth Division was within Ailin's expectations. After all, even after Ailin had killed all of Kageroza Inaba's powerful Reigai, even after fusing into Ōko Yushima, his wariness towards Ailin surely wouldn't have diminished much.

When Ailin arrived at the Squad Twelve laboratory, Ichigo Kurosaki, having regained some of his spiritual pressure, was already locked in combat with Ōko Yushima.

Blackish-red and green spiritual pressures clashed, sending powerful shockwaves radiating from the epicenter, causing further destruction to the laboratory equipment.

Ailin slowly descended, stopping beside Kisuke Urahara, joining him in watching the battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Ōko Yushima.

"Captain Ailin, aren't you going to intervene?"

Seeing Ailin merely observing the fight after arriving, Kisuke Urahara asked curiously.

"Ichigo has had a hard time recently, hasn't he..."

Instead of answering Urahara's question directly, Ailin simply remarked this to him.

Kisuke Urahara remained silent. How strong had Ichigo Kurosaki been before? Even before receiving the dual blades forged for him by Ailin, Ichigo possessed captain-level strength. After obtaining the dual blades, his power reached the very limit of a Shinigami; even Kisuke Urahara didn't think he could have defeated Ichigo at that time.

But what happened afterward?