Another chapter for today!
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Infusing my Death Scythe with the power of death, I began to subtly siphon Hilda's Reiatsu through my breathing, ensuring she wouldn't notice. Aizen also fell within the influence of this breath. Every living thing—every ounce of Reiatsu—within a 200-meter radius was being pulled into me, becoming my own strength.
“Come at me.”
The reason I let myself be battered so miserably earlier was to measure my opponent. The result? Hilda’s physical capabilities and spiritual pressure were superior to mine. Because of that, she had grown careless. Furthermore, as a being whose Aspect of Death is 'Tyranny,' she is the type that is easily baited by provocations.
“Such insolence from a lowly trash-level Hollow!”
Fwoosh!
A whip lashed out toward me with an intensity far different from before. However, since I had already saturated a specific range with my own power of death, that attack would lose its speed and destructive force before it could even reach me. One of the reasons I used Life Absorption was precisely to maintain this 'Space of Death.' My techniques consume a massive amount of Reiatsu; if I don't replenish it quickly, the field collapses, and if my focus wavers, it breaks. It drains more mental energy than Ichigo’s Visored form. That’s why my battle style focuses on using the power of death to instantly slaughter my enemies.
“First, get over here.”
Hilda’s whip, which had been approaching with terrifying momentum, lost all its speed and lethality before hitting me, turning into nothing more than an ordinary leather cord. I intended to grab the whip and drag Hilda into my domain, but I stopped, caught by the expression on her face and a strange sense of dissonance.
“What is this... this feeling?”
The smirk on Hilda’s face and the inexplicable sense of wrongness emanating from the whip made me pull back the hand I was about to use to seize it.
“What a shame. It would have been wonderful if you had just grabbed it and died.”
Hilda retracted her weakened whip. As expected, that whip was her Zanpakuto. I didn’t know what its specific ability was, but grabbing it just now would have been a death sentence. It was all the more peculiar because I hadn't felt that kind of dissonance when she was striking the twenty-nine Arrancar earlier.
“I don't know what trick you're using, but that whip is dangerous.”
Shing.
If I couldn't pull Hilda to me, I simply had to step into her range myself. Long-range whips are effective, but using such a long weapon in close quarters is incredibly cumbersome. I needed to dive into her guard and use the power of death to finish her off.
Dash!
I kicked off the ground and charged toward Hilda with explosive speed. She wasn't about to just watch me infiltrate her space, however.
“Trying your cheap tricks again!”
The whip snaking from Hilda’s hand lunged toward me. Or rather, I was lunging toward it as well. I used my Death Scythe to parry the strike, but Hilda capitalized on that, flicking her wrist to wrap the whip around my scythe. It seemed she had realized that my power of death didn't affect her Zanpakuto directly.
“Exactly as I thought. That scythe radiates a dangerous aura, but if it doesn't touch me directly, it's useless. No matter how great the weapon, if it can't reach its target, the outcome is obvious. Now die, you peasant!”
Having restrained my scythe with her whip, Hilda raised her free hand and pointed it at me.
Vrrrrrrrr!
Reiatsu began to condense at her fingertips. It was a Cero. A staple technique for Gillian-class Hollows. But coming from an Arrancar of her level—especially one charging it like that—the impact would rival a point-blank, full-power Black Getsuga Tensho from Ichigo.
“That’s assuming it hits, though.”
Vrrrrrrrr!
While my other hand held the scythe, I raised my free hand toward Hilda and prepared my own Cero. I could have let go of the scythe and dodged, but doing so wouldn't end this fight. If that's the case, I’ll kill Hilda even if it means taking some damage myself. I could always replenish my spent Reiatsu from the twenty-nine Arrancar later.
“Perish!”
The crimson Cero from Hilda’s hand and the silver Cero from mine collided in mid-air. I might have been behind in sheer quantity of spiritual energy, but I wouldn't lose in quality. Using the electrical discharge from the colliding Ceros as a screen, I yanked the scythe to drag Hilda’s body toward me.
Whip!
“Sorry, but it’s time for your exit.”
“Eek?!”
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Hilda, dragged into the middle of the Cero explosion due to her momentary lapse in judgment, was caught in the blast. I wanted to tear her to pieces, but unfortunately, I didn't have the time. Only one minute remained before the twenty-nine Hollows would be able to move again.
“Now, all that’s left is—”
“How dare you! How dare you! HOW DARE YOU!”
“Don't you know persistent women lose their charm?”
“I'll kill you! I'll slaughter you! Resurrección! Hydra!”
Rumbleeeee!
Just as Soul Reapers have Shikai and Bankai, Arrancars have a release called Resurrección. This release unseals the Arrancar’s true form from their Zanpakuto. It is similar yet different from Bankai, though their power levels are comparable.
“I’ll shred you to pieces!”
Hilda's released state was 100% different from her previous human-like appearance. Her height had ballooned to nearly three meters. The whip in her hand had split into nine branches, slick and gleaming as if coated in oil. Her mask had shifted to resemble a venomous serpent.
“!”
CRASH!
The whip wielded by the transformed Hilda lashed out with terrifying force. Along with a thunderous sonic boom, I saw the ground melt instantly where it struck.
“Venom?”
The dissonance I felt when I almost grabbed her whip earlier... it was likely this poison. If it was corrosive enough to liquify the stone floor, it would be a critical blow to me. One wrong move and I wouldn't just be wounded—I'd be dead. Moreover, if I took a direct hit from that speed and power, my physical form would give out before the poison even finished the job. Worst of all, time was up.
Twitch, twitch.
The twenty-nine Arrancar who had been paralyzed were about to move again. If that happened, any chance of victory would vanish completely.
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Release! Release! Release!
Unfortunately, Hilda's life will end in the next chapter. If you feel that Hilda is unlikable, then I’ve succeeded! I created her as a repulsive character just to kill her off and never show her again.
Hmm, cutting someone’s neck with the scythe doesn’t automatically stop their physical functions. The protagonist must make a declaration. As you’ve seen, he declares it when he intends to 'kill' a function. It's a signature line unique to the protagonist, much like Shichika from Katanagatari.
By making the declaration, it becomes possible to 'kill' even invisible concepts like laws or functions. However, if he doesn't declare it, he cannot kill those concepts. Therefore, the declaration is essential.
Since it’s infused with the power of death, being cut by it hurts significantly. If a finger is nicked, the pain is so intense you’d likely have to amputate the entire arm. This is a threat even to the Espada. Naturally, the scythe becomes sharp enough to pierce through Hierro.
Similar to a Death Note, the protagonist can choose the method of death—whether it’s dying while trapped in an illusion, burning to death, or freezing to death. However, this is only possible if he completely overwhelms the opponent. It’s not something he can just use on anyone, despite being the protagonist.
To be honest, it's a technique riddled with contradictions and flaws, but please bear with me. All techniques have contradictions. Moreover, the more I write about the power of death, the more it feels like a 'Munchkin' ability. Its potential is truly infinite. Because its end is unknown, its contradictions and power are equally unmeasurable.
Lastly, I can see the comments from the deleted parts. I can’t move them, so only I can see them. Heh! Anyway, this chapter might be the longest one yet? Kehehe.
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