Outside the Fourth Division.
"Hah!"
Zaraki Kenpachi roared loudly.
He wielded nozarashi, charging through the enemy lines, relishing the fight as blood rained down.
Behind him was Nemu Kurotsuchi, who was busy transporting the wounded.
Nemu Kurotsuchi entered a tent and carefully laid down a Shinigami.
When she stepped out again, she saw that the Menos Grande's assault was gradually weakening with the help of some captains, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
It was terrifying.
She had intended to diligently work in the Fourth Division for a period to atone for the sins Mayuri Kurotsuchi had committed.
But who could have predicted the sudden attack of the Menos Grande?
She tried her best to resist but was outnumbered, on the verge of using her Vollständig, when luckily Captain Retsu Unohana appeared just in time.
As the first Kenpachi, Retsu Unohana's reiatsu and strength were beyond doubt.
Even the subsequent appearance of the Zombie Menos Grande, despite their fierce momentum, were ultimately no match for her.
Zaraki Kenpachi arrived later, alone, probably looking for Yachiru.
Yachiru was currently in his room, happily eating fruits and snacks, due to Hirako Shinji's injury.
Nemu Kurotsuchi was genuinely thankful that Yachiru had this little hobby.
If not for it, given the chaotic scene just now, the casualties of the Fourth Division would likely have doubled.
Exhaling, Nemu Kurotsuchi was about to continue transporting the wounded when a Shinigami came to report news to her.
"Rep-report, Nemu, Third Seat, we... we discovered Kira, Tenth Seat, is missing while clearing the battlefield!"
"Neither his body nor he himself was found; only a pool of blood was left on the ground. What should we do?"
The Shinigami who came to report was Yamada Hanatarō, a gentle and timid person who always panicked in emergencies.
Nemu Kurotsuchi glanced at him, motioning for him to help carry the wounded from the ground into the tent, while calmly analyzing:
"Missing? Don't worry, Hanatarō."
"Although I also regret it, from your description, he most likely met with misfortune and was devoured by a Menos Grande."
"When such things happen, all we can do is pray or mourn."
"Life and death, these are common occurrences on the battlefield."
"The most urgent task is to save these wounded people before us."
Despite saying this, Yamada Hanatarō still felt some reluctance:
"Are we really unable to do anything? Kira, Tenth Seat, was such a good person."
"No matter how good he was, what can you do? Search for the Menos Grande that ate him?"
Nemu Kurotsuchi shook her head, a hint of helplessness and regret flashing in her eyes.
"It's impossible. There were too many Menos Grande invading the Fourth Division, and too many have been killed."
"Unless we can turn back time, no one will know what exactly happened to Kira, Tenth Seat."
"And without knowing what happened to him, we naturally cannot search for or save him."
Yamada Hanatarō fell silent. He knew what Nemu Kurotsuchi said was true.
Even if he was unwilling to believe it, he had to admit that there were currently no clues to find Kira Iziru.
Moreover, not just Kira Iziru, but also some Seat Officers of slightly lower rank than him had gone missing.
Whenever he thought of these things, Yamada Hanatarō felt a pang of sadness; he was simply not as good as his older brother.
If his brother, Kiyonosuke Yamada, were here, with his calm mind, he would surely be able to analyze some clues.
Hanatarō looked somewhat dazed, his mood low.
After the wounded were settled, he drew his Zanpakuto—a slender scalpel.
He looked at the gruesome wounds on the injured, his heart filled with unbearable pity.
He took a deep breath and lightly grazed the wound, and instantly, a soft light flashed, and the injury healed and disappeared at a visible speed.
At the same time, a red pillar of light slowly ascended within the Zanpakuto.
Clearly, these injuries were absorbed by the Zanpakuto.
After the pillar of light reached its limit, Yamada Hanatarō, holding the scalpel towards the Menos Grande outside, softly chanted his release command.
"Be filled, Hisagomaru!"
With dissatisfaction over what happened to Kira, Tenth Seat.
He swung it suddenly.
Swish.
A Menos Grande fell.
Absorbing again, releasing again, everything happened silently.
Due to the chaotic battlefield, no one noticed him, and Yamada Hanatarō was brave for once.
...
On the other side.
As soon as Kira Iziru regained consciousness, he felt as if countless needles were simultaneously piercing his entire body, every inch of his skin screaming in agony.
He instinctively gritted his teeth, the last remaining images in his memory making him extremely wary of his surroundings.
But when he came to his senses, he realized that this was no longer the noisy battlefield.
At this moment, Kira Iziru lay on a cold, hard table, the light overhead so dazzling that he couldn't help but squint his eyes.
Not far away, a "Shinigami" was bent over with his back to him, doing something unknown.
Kira Iziru wanted to speak and ask, but when he opened his mouth, he found his throat seemed to be blocked by something, unable to make a sound.
He tried to move his limbs forcefully, but only heard two "thuds."
Only then did he realize his hands and feet were tightly bound by sturdy leather straps.
Seeing this, even though Kira Iziru's mind was still muddled from the pain just now, he instantly sobered up.
—I've been... kidnapped?
"Oh, you're finally awake."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi heard the commotion, put down his microscope, turned around, and said with a smile.
His smile, to Kira Iziru, was filled with an indescribable eeriness.
"It truly took me a lot of effort to save you. Every single cell in your body was eroded by bacteria, your bones necrotic, and even your bone marrow had disappeared."
"Only I could do it; even if Retsu Unohana were here, she might not have been able to save you."
"Boy, thank me. I replaced every single cell, tissue, and even organ in your body."
"Now, your physical functions are at least twice what they used to be; it's no exaggeration to say you've been reborn."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's words made the already confused Kira Iziru even more bewildered.
Saved me?
Did he?
It seemed so; he remembered fighting a Menos Grande, being overwhelmed, and then being knocked unconscious by a single blow.
In that situation, he should have died, but now he was alive, which could only mean what this man said was true.
But why him? He had never seen him before?
Also.
Were his injuries really that severe?
Even if he saved him, why tie him up?
At this moment, Mayuri Kurotsuchi left his chair and walked over to Kira Iziru, looking down at him, and continued to smile:
"Are you wondering why you're tied up?"
"It's simple."
"Replacing cells, bones, and organs is equivalent to creating another you."
"The circulatory system of a new body, no matter how similar to the old body, cannot be exactly the same."
"Therefore, your body will soon develop rejection reactions to these new cells."
"Of course, because the cells originated from you, you won't die, it will just be extremely painful."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi said, revealing a mischievous smile, seemingly looking forward to seeing Kira Iziru's expression.
He rubbed his chin and analogized:
"It's probably similar to falling into a meat grinder. Your awakening is the best proof. Does even blinking hurt right now?"
"Don't worry, this is just the initial stage. The anesthetic has worn off. Cherish this time."
"Now I'm going to send you out."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi finished speaking, then turned and walked to a control panel, pressing a red button.
On the wall not far away, a passage suddenly appeared.
Facing Kira Iziru's trembling, pained gaze, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's lips curved into a smile, and he waved goodbye.
"Goodbye, boy. Let your recovery highlight my appearance."
"The Shinigami Retsu Unohana couldn't save, I can. The bacteria Kisuke Urahara couldn't kill, I can."
"Disguised as a virus, but actually a bacterium that can reproduce and parasitize... Heh, how interesting."
"If only it could become my research material."
As Mayuri Kurotsuchi was thinking, Kira Iziru, along with the hospital bed in the passage, slowly moved and disappeared from the room.
He sat back in his chair, the passage closed, and immediately after, a painful, hoarse wail echoed.
Without enduring hardship, how can one rise above others?
If Kira Iziru could endure it, he would undoubtedly be grateful to him, and at that time, his relationship with Yoriichi Tsugikuni could also ease.
Even if he couldn't endure it, it didn't matter. He saved the person and didn't cause any wanton disruption.
In the eyes of the Quincy, he might even be a hero; he offended no one.
...
Because Mayuri Kurotsuchi found Kira Iziru near the Fourth Division, when Kira Iziru screamed, the Fourth Division also heard it.
Although he didn't know what happened, Yamada Hanatarō quickly sprang into action.
He put away his Zanpakuto and immediately prepared to leave, not even caring if it was a trap.
Nemu Kurotsuchi saw this and wanted to dissuade him, but just then, she suddenly sensed Yoriichi Tsugikuni's reiatsu.
It was near where the screams came from...
Nemu Kurotsuchi didn't hesitate and followed Yamada Hanatarō out of the Fourth Division.
...
In front of Kira Iziru, Yoriichi Tsugikuni frowned slightly.
After settling Uta, he received news that Yamamoto Genryusai was apprehending a criminal, and he was planning to go to Spiritual Arts Academy to check.
But halfway there, he found Kira Iziru.
What was going on?
Who did this?
Under the observation of Transparent World, Kira Iziru's body was perfectly intact, but the screams didn't seem feigned.
He was about to untie Kira Iziru when he suddenly looked up.
He saw Nemu Kurotsuchi rushing over, followed by a thin figure.
"...A bit familiar, should be Kiyonosuke's younger brother, I met him once at the pharmacy," Yoriichi thought.
The two arrived and spoke with Yoriichi, who quickly understood the general situation.
There was no need to go to Spiritual Arts Academy; it had already fallen, and the suddenly appearing Zombie Menos Grande had infected both captains who went to support.
Currently, both had been transferred to the Fourth Division; although not dead, their breaths were weak, and they would probably only last another two or three hours.
Yoriichi's mood was heavy after hearing this.
However, thinking about the smooth progress in the Forest of Menos, he felt a little relieved.
As long as they captured Leah, he believed all problems would be resolved.
At this moment, Yoriichi Tsugikuni keenly caught a key piece of information from Yamada Hanatarō's words.
"It's incredible, Kira, Tenth Seat's injuries are clearly healed, but why is he still in so much pain? This couldn't be some kind of torture, could it?"
"Which Kaido master did this, after all?"
—A Kaido master?
Yoriichi looked at Kira Iziru's painful twitching and wondered which Kaido master would do such a thing?
Even when Retsu Unohana treated someone, the injured person would only suffer pain during the treatment, but now...
"First, send Kira to the Fourth Division."
Yoriichi decisively spoke,
"While I'm not sure what he went through, judging by his current state, this pain isn't enough to kill him."
He observed Kira Iziru's condition and quickly gave orders, "We'll discuss other matters once he wakes up."
Time was short; they couldn't linger here.
Although the Spiritual Arts Academy had fallen, fortunately, the casualties weren't severe.
After all, the lower-grade students had all escaped.
A portion of the upper-grade students also managed to escape after the Captains arrived as reinforcements.
What remained were the teachers who had stayed to defend the Spiritual Arts Academy…
Fortunately, some of the teachers were Zanpakuto.
The severe injuries they sustained looked alarming, but they weren't fatal; they could slowly recover by warming themselves with reishi for a period.
Therefore, the Shinigami's foundation wasn't harmed.
Yoriichi exhaled, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly, then his figure flashed as he went to support other battlefields.
Nemu Kurotsuchi and Yamada Hanatarō exchanged glances.
Though their hearts were full of questions, they could only obey Yoriichi Tsugikuni's command for now, hurrying Kira Iziru to the Fourth Division for sedative treatment.
…
Forest of Menos.
"Something's wrong… at least ninety percent wrong. Why is Bambietta with the Shinigami?"
"Is that the Captain-Commander?"
Gigi looked down from above, frowning as he overlooked a dense rocky forest not far away.
The moment his gaze landed on Bambietta and her two companions, he seemed to recall something, and his heart gave a sudden lurch.
He felt as if he had discovered a shocking secret…
Bambietta, Liltotto, Meninas—had these three betrayed the Quincy?
This was truly wonderful!
His original list of dolls was about to gain two more… no, three.
He found it hard to believe Candice was innocent.
His lips curled into a smile then disappeared; Gigi slowly held his breath, afraid of being discovered by Bambietta.
His feet moved back like a cat, gently shifting backward, attempting to return to the camp to command the Menos Grande to attack them, catching them off guard.
Unfortunately, Gigi had made too many deliberate small movements earlier.
Even if he belatedly realized he shouldn't have done so, it was already too late.
"It's Gigi. That guy is nearby."
Liltotto casually broke off a piece of quartz from nearby, put it in her mouth, chewed a few times, and showed a disgusted expression.
But in stark contrast to her disgusted expression, she nodded affirmatively, with a look of certainty in her eyes.
Upon hearing this, Yoriichi began to capture the reishi threads in the air.
Tokito Iwákatsu, as an external body, also reacted swiftly, using artificial life to probe the surroundings.
Countless nanobots, as he opened his palm, scattered rapidly in all directions, leaving no corner or crevice unchecked.
Seeing this, Gigi's eyelids twitched, and he inwardly cursed that it was bad.
Even without hearing their voices, he knew from years of experience.
Liltotto was detecting his position through residual reishi.
This place was about to be exposed!
He wanted to escape, but in an instant, he realized he couldn't escape at all.
When moving, reishi carrying his own aura would always be left behind.
Unless he used a Quincy body, but this was Hueco Mundo.
His active nature had instead become his death warrant.
…
On the other side, after Gigi left, Kiruge contacted Haschwalth and then learned the news that Bambietta was suspected of betrayal.
Instantly, his eyes widened.
"What? Betrayed?"
Haschwalth's tone was calm, seemingly quite displeased with Kiruge's exaggerated reaction.
He frowned and slowly said:
"No need to make a fuss; it's just betrayal. As long as they can't reach Seireitei, I can take their lives tonight."
Haschwalth could never forget the scene of the failed Seeleschneider before, so Seireitei became a place he strictly guarded.
Kiruge, however, couldn't sit still:
"This is not a small matter. If she really betrayed us, Giselle will be in danger; she won't last until tonight."
"Bambietta appeared in Hueco Mundo, and Giselle thought she was a helper, so she went to find her."
"If what you say is true, and the opponent has four Sternritter, Haschwalth, you should be able to imagine how dangerous Giselle's current situation is, right?"
"Should we retreat?"
Hueco Mundo?
The location where Bambietta and the four appeared made Haschwalth slightly stunned.
A trace of thought flashed in his eyes, and then he instantly understood their purpose.
—Disease.
Haschwalth snorted coldly. No wonder Tokito Iwákatsu was so decisive; it seemed his actions had provoked him.
Well, to prevent the Shinigami from turning the tide, he immediately issued a retreat order and told Gremmy to open the Black Cavity connecting to the Wandenreich.
It would have been better if this Black Cavity hadn't been opened.
Once it opened.
Gigi, who had been quietly lurking, waiting for a chance to escape, looked at the huge black hole that appeared beside him,
and then at Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who instantly appeared in front of him due to the Black Cavity's fluctuations, and couldn't help but curse out loud.
He turned and ran.
At the same time, he inwardly cursed Gremmy for what he was doing, opening the Black Cavity at such a critical moment; wasn't this clearly setting him up?
It's over; I should have known not to get so close.
There's not even time to escape…
…
Gremmy felt a bit wronged; how could he know that Giselle's environment was so dangerous?
The Forest of Menos and the Wandenreich were far apart, making it impossible to install surveillance, and even communication was plagiarized Shinigami technology.
It was already extremely difficult to precisely locate Giselle and give her a chance to survive.
Death… it couldn't be blamed on others.
There were as many Sternritter as one could wish for.
At this moment.
After Gremmy opened the Black Cavity, he calmed down and observed the performance of the prisoners.
Although most of the hundreds of prisoners had been captured by Yamamoto Genryusai, dozens still remained.
These dozens performed well, hiding and disguising themselves all the way; even if Shinigami passed by, they failed to detect their identities.
One of them caught his attention.
If Gremmy remembered correctly, this person should be named Mayuri.
Mayuri's methods of punishing Shinigami were extremely cruel, forcibly reviving people who were already on the verge of death, making them endure unimaginable pain…
—Truly worthy of being a prisoner of Muken; even his methods of revenge are so unique.
He originally wanted to see when that revived Shinigami would die, but he didn't expect Yoriichi Tsugikuni to suddenly appear.
Gremmy cursed his bad luck, then decisively switched his perspective.
Just a small Shinigami; their life or death was irrelevant. What came next was the main event.
Gremmy's ethereal voice slowly echoed in the ears of the prisoners.
He was responsible for informing them of the locations of some lone Shinigami, for the prisoners to slay.
Once successful, they could immediately enter the Wandenreich, escaping the pursuit of Yamamoto Genryusai or Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Naturally, Mayuri's target was Nemu Kurotsuchi.
Upon hearing this, Mayuri's keyboard tapping stopped abruptly, and he snorted lightly.
"A boring trick, but it's no harm to play along with him."
"The materials are all prepared, and the viruses and bacteria collected from some Shinigami have been analyzed.
Now is my time to shine."
Mayuri quickly closed the laboratory door and rushed to the Fourth Division.
He wasn't worried about the plan failing in the slightest.
Because from previous interactions, he could conclude that Gremmy didn't understand pharmacology at all.
A person who doesn't understand pharmacology monitoring an expert through a screen… will ultimately only be led in circles.
It just depended on when Kira Iziru would awaken and reveal his existence.
With these thoughts, Mayuri quickly arrived near Nemu Kurotsuchi.
At this time, Nemu Kurotsuchi had already been tricked out by Gremmy using some means.
Perhaps Gremmy had used Mayuri's identity to say some apologetic words; the two did not directly fight upon meeting, and the atmosphere seemed a bit subtle.
When they were in close proximity and about to make a move, Gremmy attracted Yoriichi Tsugikuni, attempting to create a scene where he saved Mayuri at the last moment.
The idea was beautiful, and the implementation process was smooth, but a small accident occurred along the way.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi could actually absorb reishi!
This change allowed Mayuri Kurotsuchi to escape; the attack, which was originally certain to hit, was like striking cotton, completely ineffective.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who arrived shortly after, also successfully rescued her from Mayuri's grasp.
Gremmy suffered a silent loss.
—Is this even a Shinigami?!
Gremmy had no way of knowing; he only knew that his actions had pushed Mayuri to a desperate situation.
Just like Gigi.
They both couldn't escape.
…
"Mayuri, you actually…"
The weather turned gloomy, with dark clouds overhead.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni looked at Mayuri, who was constantly coughing up blood in front of him, and felt a sense of having misjudged him.
He had thought this guy would become more restrained after being confined to Muken, but he had unexpectedly become even worse.
He just escaped from prison and could even harm his own biological daughter…
He was simply insane.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni gently comforted the still-shaken Nemu Kurotsuchi while swiftly acting to firmly bind Mayuri.
This time, merely sending him back to Muken wouldn't be enough; he wanted Mayuri to pay a heavy price for his actions.
Looking at Yoriichi Tsugikuni's actions, and then at the fleeting "Black Cavity" beside him, which was the Shadow Domain, Mayuri coughed blood while kneeling and suddenly began to laugh.
Everything went smoothly, although Yoriichi Tsugikuni appearing so early was something Mayuri hadn't expected.
Perhaps that Gremmy guy wanted to play the "suspension bridge effect" to gain his loyalty.
But, as expected, he messed up this time, which conveniently gave him an opportunity.
He had put in so much effort, even resorting to a self-inflicted injury scheme; in the end, he should be able to successfully atone for his sins through meritorious service, right?
Mayuri's consciousness gradually blurred, and he felt his body growing heavier and heavier.
In his gradually dimming vision, he seemed to see himself escaping his life in Muken.
After the Shadow Domain closed, he knew that Gremmy had completely given up on him.
So, before losing consciousness, Mayuri used all his strength, his finger moving slightly.
Immediately after.
A small hard drive, almost blending with the ground, "accidentally" fell out of his pocket.
Yoriichi noticed the hard drive, furrowed his brows slightly, and after a moment of thought, decided to take it to the Twelfth Division for examination.
Not long after, following analysis by the Twelfth Division's technical personnel, he received unexpected news.
This was actually the manufacturing method for a certain special medicine that could perfectly counteract the disease raging within Seireitei.