Another chapter dump for today!
A week had already passed since Tatsuki brought Nelliel back. Since then, following my command, she had changed her name to Yeriel. Come to think of it, I had some doubts about why Tatsuki was so obedient to my words—considering I should be her sworn enemy. However, I could easily predict the reasons behind it.
My first hypothesis was a shift in personality due to the environment. This is Hueco Mundo, the realm where Hollows dwell. Thus, Tatsuki’s soul, having died and arrived here, reacted to the nature of a Hollow. This reaction makes her follow my orders and prevents her from attacking me. In short, a master-servant relationship has been established.
The second hypothesis was Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological phenomenon. Simply put, the girl known as Arisawa Tatsuki developed Stockholm Syndrome as a result of my kidnapping, causing her to assimilate with me and lose her aversion to Hollows. It’s possible that both theories are true at once, but that doesn't really matter. The important thing is that her obedience makes everything move much more smoothly.
“But the problem is her actual combat ability. The question is whether or not I can drag her skill level up high enough to kill Ichigo and stall the Captain Commander for a short time before the war begins.”
In the plan I’ve devised, Yeriel's role is quite significant. Specifically, her importance skyrocketed once I confirmed she possessed a Fire-type Zanpakuto. First, Yeriel must take Ulquiorra’s place in the fight against Ichigo. In that scenario, Ichigo—who won't be able to kill his friend Yeriel—will certainly die. Conversely, if he does manage to kill her, he’ll suffer a total mental collapse. Either way, the conclusion benefits me. However, if Yeriel just had a normal Zanpakuto, that would have been enough, but being a Fire-type changes the game entirely.
First, she can be added to the war potential intended to handle the Captain Commander alongside Wonderweiss. Just possessing a Fire-type Zanpakuto grants her a high resistance to flames. Furthermore, with the combination of Bankai and Hollowfication—coupled with Wonderweiss dampening the flames of Ryujin Jakka—I believe she can stall for a sufficient amount of time.
Fire is consumed by a greater blaze. If so, she can use Engetsu to absorb the weakened flames of Ryujin Jakka to create an even more powerful conflagration. The only problem is the Captain Commander’s sheer skill. The power of Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto, the pillar who has protected the Soul Society for nearly a thousand years, is unpredictable. Even for the current me, unless Wonderweiss weakens Ryujin Jakka, I can't predict the outcome of a confrontation.
“So in the end, it means Yeriel, Wonderweiss, and I have to be the three people to block the Captain Commander.”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Whenever I'm deep in thought, I find myself tapping my finger against the chair. You could call it a habit; it was something I did frequently before my reincarnation, and even though I could fix it now, I just leave it be. The critical issue is the distribution of forces. I had to calculate everything: the time it would take for Yeriel to kill Ichigo and rejoin us, the military strength of the Gotei 13, and the power of the Espada.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
As I closed my eyes, only the sound of my finger hitting the chair echoed through the room. Tens of thousands of possibilities were flashing through my mind as I searched for the optimal path. A way to minimize our losses while simultaneously grinding down the enemy’s strength. When I look at all the variables—including possibilities I had prepared long ago—one clear, optimal move emerges.
“The problem is Orihime’s choice.”
Orihime is essential for the grand strategy I have in mind. Her Phenomena Rejection is the ultimate recovery technique and instantaneous defense; it could infinitely boost the survival capabilities of the Espada. The issue is whether she will follow my lead obediently. If not, the last resort would be to break her mind and use her as a puppet, but that might slow her reaction time or weaken her power.
“Well, let's think about that a bit more later.”
Aside from the Orihime situation, there were a few more things I needed to take care of. The biggest was the disposal of Gin Ichimaru. Having watched the original series, I already know that Gin Ichimaru is destined to betray us. Leaving such a risk factor alone goes against my nature. Since I have to eliminate every possibility that favors the Gotei 13, Gin Ichimaru is a massive obstacle. Thus, I need to start thinking about what to do with him.
The second major issue is the conflict between Nnoitra and Nelliel. Once Orihime arrives, repairs Nelliel's mask, and she regains her senses, Nelliel will surely try to kill Nnoitra. Nnoitra feels the same. However, right now is the time to preserve as much military strength as possible. I can't just stand by and watch them tear each other apart.
“These Espada... their egos are so pointlessly massive that they're a pain to manage.”
If they were regular Arrancars, I could suppress them through pure force, but the Espada each possess intense pride. On the surface, they follow my orders, but you never know what's going on inside. People like Grimmjow and Nnoitra will pick a fight the moment you turn your back. And that leads to the third problem.
“We need a perfect command structure like the Gotei 13...”
In the case of the Gotei 13, everything revolves around Captain Commander Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto. That doesn't mean the other Captains are weak; they can lead combat at any time. While Is and I will provide the primary leadership, the other Espada aren't suited for it. Ultimately, we lack unity.
“But due to the nature of Hollows, only a tiny minority ever form groups. This is a headache.”
Right now, each of our individual combatants is a match for a Captain, but that's it. The problem is that Hollows tend to rely solely on their own strength, making them unskilled at group battles or coordinated warfare. Eventually, this could lead us to lose a fight we should have won against a group as organized as the Gotei 13.
“I'll have to solve these one by one in the time we have left.”
Nothing is set in stone yet, so I'll wait and see. Before the war begins, I will definitely settle everything. Gin Ichimaru, Orihime, and all the Espada... I’ll have them all in order.
Dump! Dump! Dump!
The issue with Tatsuki has been simplified with the Stockholm Syndrome idea, as suggested by 'OLD-BOY'! Truly a brilliant thought.
Anyway, Tatsuki's new name has been chosen as 'Yeriel,' suggested by 'Knight of Liberty.' We are now in a situation where the full-scale war with the Soul Reapers is about two weeks away. In the original, things kick off after Aizen goes off the grid for a month.
Until then, I’m going to use the 'Skip-Art' to make Yeriel master Bankai + Hollowfication! I couldn't really think of how to write the training scenes anyway.
Looking at the ending I have pictured in my head, if things go well, this might conclude within next week. I don't feel the need to drag it out. I’ve already thought about a sequel story involving the Quincies, so I don't want to take too long. My 'Soul Reaper Chronicles' went on for a long time because it started 210 years prior and covered almost every event, but I think this one will wrap up quickly.
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