Being the former Captain of the Twelfth Division and the head of the Research and Development Institute, Urahara Kisuke believed he had some expertise in intelligence gathering. If it weren't for being busy researching and producing a cure for Hollowfication in the Human World, which caused a delay in intelligence collection, he wouldn't be in the current situation, completely unfamiliar with the new rising talents in the Soul Society.
Urahara Kisuke took out a telescope from his pocket and held it up to his eye.
A pale blue wind surrounded the person with a Tsunayashiro Clan attire, with a Zanpakuto, and extraordinary looks.
"Each factor has familiar traces, but when combined, it forms a completely unfamiliar person."
Putting down the telescope, Urahara Kisuke furrowed his brow, trying to gather relevant information in his mind.
"I feel like I've seen that face somewhere..."
While he was contemplating, the confrontation between the two sides in the distance had reached its peak.
Visible streams of two colors clashed in mid-air, almost dyeing the entire plain into two shades of blue and purple.
Szayelaporro Granz unleashed his Reiatsu to the fullest, and a rich purple color emitted a long and narrow brilliance spread in all directions.
"What a good smell, both in Reiatsu and soul, you can be considered a masterpiece."
He had a smirk on his face, and his right hand was placed on his chest as he elegantly bowed, "For this welcoming ceremony, I extend my highest respect to you, my future test subject. Can you tell me your name?"
Facing the current Szayelaporro Granz, it was impossible not to feel pressure.
Moreover.
In terms of eccentricity, this guy was on par with Mayuri Kurotsuchi, but the difference in the worlds they were in led to some differences in the progress of their scientific research.
In the entire Gotei 13, there were only a few who could stand against him.
"Well, as a rare specimen, a bit of arrogance is normal."
Szayelaporro Granz placed his right hand on his chest and raised his left hand, introducing himself:
"The sole scientist of Hueco Mundo, Vasto Lorde, Szayelaporro Granz!"
Compared to Tokikaze at this moment, Szayelaporro Granz seemed more like a confident superior, doing his best to showcase his elegance.
Seemingly aware of the lack of momentum, Tokikaze sighed lightly. A gentle breeze wafted, creating ripples in the sky like those on the surface of a lake.
"Competing for who has more titles?"
"Then listen carefully. Standing before you is the heir of the Tsunayashiro Clan, the Captain of the Ninth Division of the Gotei 13, and the ally of justice in the Soul Society..."
"Tsunayashiro Tokikaze."
In a standoff, this was the most basic principle.
A series of titles were thrown out, and Szayelaporro Granz's earlier self-introduction clearly fell behind.
This made him, who was originally full of superiority, suddenly lost interest. Even the gaze he cast at Tokikaze lost a few degrees of affection.
"Sounds impressive, but you killed my Berona."
As Szayelaporro Granz spoke halfway, his figure suddenly disappeared in place, appearing near Tokikaze in an instant.
"Let's use yourself as compensation!"
The five fingers wrapped in white bone opened and directly grabbed towards Tokikaze's face.
A dense purple Reiatsu spread, the previously distinct two colors instantly blended, intertwining with each other.
Tokikaze raised Arashigane, swinging it with a motion of his hand. The crescent-shaped compressed air blade was blasted towards Szayelaporro's hand.
The air vibrated, creating concentric ripples.
Szayelaporro Granz showed no intention of dodging, continuing his attack straightforwardly. He looked confident, as if victory was assured.
Tokikaze squinted his eyes, as if he had realized something.
The compressed air blade's momentum didn't diminish, hitting the target's hand accurately.
Buzz!
A strange vibration rippled out. The unstoppable compressed air blade couldn't even shatter the outer bone shell!
Taking a step back, Tokikaze instantly moved away from the incoming attack.
"Hahaha!"
Szayelaporro Granz burst into mad laughter, looking completely insane. "Do you think a mere compressed air blade can harm me? You presumptuous guy, I'm not in the same league as that defective product Berona."
"If I have to use words to describe it, only 'perfection' can depict the greatness of Lord Szayelaporro."
An intense purple Reiatsu instantly filled the air, like poisonous mist, shrouding the sky. The dim plain suddenly gave off a strange and eerie feeling.
"Tsk, using Berona for data collection, then hiding behind the Garganta to analyse my abilities, huh?"
Tokikaze saw through Szayelaporro Granz's trick at a glance, ridiculing him in a disdainful tone:
"What a cowardly fighting style."
"Despite boasting about perfection, are just wrapped in a layer of flesh and skin disguise."
Others might not understand Szayelaporro Granz, but how could he not?
This guy was accustomed to collecting enough information before a battle and then formulating countermeasures through his scientific research abilities.
In this regard, he was surprisingly similar to Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
Perhaps this was the common flaw of scientists.
Although Tokikaze did not use Arashigane to attack that Adjuchas, the nature of his Reiatsu was still recorded and collected by the opponent.
Tokikaze's words immediately bewildered Szayelaporro Granz.
He never expected that his methods would be exposed by a Soul Reaper he had never met before. Moreover, the opponent, who appeared to be as elegant as a noble, uttered such hurtful words.
"A mere test subject has the audacity to lecture me?!"
Szayelaporro was furious, his expression contorted, and the golden pupils in his eyes radiated dazzling light.
"You are just a rude and brainless lower being!"
A surging Reiatsu erupted, and a purple pillar of light shot up into the sky, instantly tearing open massive rifts in the thick clouds above.
Seeing this, Tokikaze revealed a slightly relaxed smile. Facing such an arrogant, proud, and disdainful opponent, as long as he could provoke the other's anger, the next battle was already half won. As for the other half...
Tokikaze's Reiatsu became more condensed, and the blue-white wind breath continued to refine, its color becoming deeper and gradually transitioning into a darker shade.
Since the nature of his Reiatsu had been analyzed, he decided to change it.
Wind was inherently formless.
Changing its nature naturally became effortless.
Of course, achieving this change required an increase in affinity with Reishis.
The dark wind entwined around Tokikaze, falling naturally like feathers, swaying lightly at the hem, creating a carefree and rippling effect.
This form that he called Shiokaze was something he learned after his spiritual affinity increased.
Through control of the raging wind, solidifying Reishi, and the wind, he achieved a similar effect to Shunko, increasing speed, strength, and defense to a certain extent.
However, it was only similar, with some inherent differences.
Without waiting for Szayelaporro to continue his attack, Tokikaze rushed with Shunpo, and an astonishing wave of energy surged from behind him.
Like an arrow leaving a bowstring, Tokikaze got close to Szayelaporro in an instant.
Arashigane, emitting a cold glow, was raised high, and the sharp wind imbued the blade. With a thunderous slash, it descended!
In his rage, Szayelaporro's lower body suddenly split, and several black tentacles were shot out directly, heading straight for the force of the raging wind.
"I told you, your Reiatsu is ineffective against me!"
Splatter—
Thick and sturdy tentacles fell from the sky, and splashes of purple-black liquid erupted, showering like rain.
The residual force of the slash did not diminish, continuing its descent towards the lower area.
Several tentacles were directly cut off, and the sky seemed to be pouring with torrential rain, Reiatsu constantly oscillating.
"How could it be..."
Szayelaporro had a look of disbelief in his golden eyes.
"In such a short time, you actually changed the nature of your Reiatsu. Just who the hell are you?"
Tokikaze casually swung Arashigane, a compressed wind blade was dished out, directly annihilating the half-tentacle attacking from below.
"A Soul Reaper..."
Urahara Kisuke, who was observing the battle from afar, fell into deep regret. If he had known the battle would be so exciting, he would have brought his snack.
Through lip-reading analysis of the two, he had already recognized Tokikaze's identity.
He also remembered that subtle sense of familiarity. Urahara Kisuke had once seen Tokikaze from a distance at a gathering on the Noble District, so he barely considered him an acquaintance.
However, what he never expected was that the once frail heir of Tsunayashiro Clan would become so strong. Not only did he become the Captain of the Ninth Division, but he also held his ground against the Vasto Lorde in combat.
Due to how dense Urahara Kisuke was, it took him quite a while to digest this information.
"I hope he isn't too involved with Sosuke Aizen."
Casting aside the scary thought in his mind, Urahara Kisuke shifted his focus back to the ongoing battle on the distant plain.
A wave of terror surged, sweeping in all directions, stormy winds reversing, rushing straight to the clouds, the air beneath the sky continuously vibrating, as if endless waves of shock were rolling. Szayelaporro, who had regained his senses, suddenly displayed astonishing combat skills.
On his forearms, white bone extended, transforming into two extremely sharp blades. Countless tentacles writhed behind him, giving off an eerie vibe.
A dense purple Reiatsu erupted, instantly strengthening the writhing tentacles.
When Tokikaze's slash struck, the bone blade confronted it head-on.
Several tentacles followed suit, instantly locking Arashigane within them, and an unknown viscous fluid overflowed from the tentacles, attempting to corrode the blade.
Tokikaze's right leg muscles tensed, and his Reiatsu surged, and in an instant, he dished out a Rankyaku, accurately hitting Szayelaporro's abdomen.
In the next moment.
This Vasto Lorde scientist was sent flying across the plain like a ball!
Boom!
The ground collapsed, soil soaring into the air, creating waves akin to those in a tempestuous sea.
"Damn you, fool, filthy and despicable lower being!"
Szayelaporro's roar echoed from the deep pit.
He considered himself the noblest existence in Hueco Mundo, and all of his movement exuded a perfect aura.
Even in battle, he exuded an elegant aura.
However, he no longer seemed elegant because of that hateful Soul Reaper.
Szayelaporro emerged from the dust, covered in dirt and an unknown sticky substance.
Veins bulged on his exposed forehead, and in the depths of his golden pupils, a faint crimson color appeared.
"You have done it now, Tsunayashiro Tokikaze!"
The roar echoed above the plain, and a purple column of light shot into the sky, piercing through the clouds!
The violent Reiatsu was released recklessly, and the overburdened ground cracked layer by layer on the plain, spreading until reaching the mountains at the edge.
The Vasto Lorde's Reiatsu erupted in full power, turning into surging waves that overturned the sky.
Tokikaze noticed that the severed tentacles exploded like bombs, splattering countless purple-black fluids.
Seeing this, he raised his left hand, pointing his index finger towards Szayelaporro from a distance.
"Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring…"
A bright golden light was concentrated on his fingertip, emitting thunderous power that continuously condensed.
Tokikaze did not stop chanting Kido incantations; instead, his voice got louder.
"Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man. On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens!"
The blue flames smoothly coiled around Tokikaze's left arm, merging with the bright golden thunder until they converged.
Twofold Incantation!
Tokikaze stood in the sky with indifferent gaze. The surroundings were enveloped in a swirling light of gold and blue, as if standing as a god on top of the heavens.
"Hado #63: Raikōhō!"
"Hado #73: Sōren Sōkatsui!"
A blinding burst of light exploded. Winds blew violently, and the atmosphere resonated with a deafening sound.
The combined Kido manifested as a colossal pillar of intertwined dual-colored light, instantly clearing all the purple Reiatsu above the sky, charging straight towards Szayelaporro below!
Boom!!
The raging Reishis lifted scorching heat, and in an instant, pierced through Szayelaporro's purple Reiatsu, falling onto the plain, erupting into a blinding blaze, completely engulfing Szayelaporro!
Seizing the opportunity, Tokikaze did not wait for the enemy to recover. He didn't have the habit of waiting for foes to heal their injuries.
The already devastated ground collapsed in the instant of the fiery eruption, countless cracks turning into ravines, intersecting each other.
The flames surged, almost swallowing the entire sky.
This seemingly grand scene made Tokikaze frown, and a cautious look flashed in his eyes.
Szayelaporro's Reiatsu did not show any signs of weakening; instead, it grew even stronger, continually increasing as if it had no limit.
Plop.
Purple raindrops fell to the ground.
Looking up at the sky, Tokikaze noticed that at some point, the heavy clouds that had dissipated under the clash of their Reiatsus had once again covered the sky above the plain, casting it into complete darkness.
The rain intensified, turning from a drizzle into a pouring rain.
This is not some secret technique or anything, but rather due to the excessively high Reiatsu causing the condensation of Reishi in the atmosphere, forming Reishi droplets.
As the flames dispersed, a figure walked leisurely out of the dust.
At this moment, Szayelaporro's appearance had undergone a significant transformation.
The injuries caused by Tokikaze earlier had completely healed.
White bone swarmed like water, forming a cloak similar to feathers, with black tentacles gathering around the lower body.
Golden and pink hair grew wildly, extending until it reached the waist.
Behind him, four wings in the shape of flower buds unfolded to their maximum extent. The fleshy parts hanging down from them pulsed like a beating heart, resembling a living organism.
What surprised Tokikaze the most was the skull mask.
Under the influence of Reiatsu, the mask continued to grow, extending on both sides of the face, covering the top of the head, evolving into a curved single horn.
"I have to admit, you have truly pissed me off."
Szayelaporro's voice also changed, overlapping as if two people were speaking in unison.
"Kneel!"
"Though this appearance may be ugly, it conceals invincible power."
He closed his eyes, and a majestic Reiatsu erupted. The pouring Reiatsu raindrops descended like a flood from the clouds.
Tokikaze watched the transformed Szayelaporro with a solemn expression, already making speculations in his mind.
after becoming a Hollow, Szayelaporro devoured the souls of his elder brother, the general, and numerous experimental souls, laying the foundation for his evolution into Vasto Lorde.
In the long years that followed, through continuous devouring and evolution, he became the strongest type of Menos, Vasto Lorde.
Though he had not yet learned Resurrección, he could change his form through scientific means.
The current appearance was Szayelaporro's true form.
Meanwhile, in Soul Society.
Inside the Spiritual Wave Measurement Lab.
The piercing alarm sounded once again, and the intensely red lights illuminated the faces of each researcher.
Hiyosu stared blankly at the massive display screen. His agile fingers were now completely stiff, and his body was trembling. His eyeballs continued to bulge, with the possibility of popping out of their sockets at any moment.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood beside him, suddenly leaning close to the numerical display on the screen. His eyes showed a hint of madness. "I really hope these two can just kill each other..."
After a brief hesitation, he decisively pressed the communication button, and an even more piercing alarm resounded in the various squad barracks.
"A Vasto Lorde has appeared at point 1027 in the southeast. Captain Tsunayashiro Tokikaze of the Ninth Division is currently engaging the Vasto Lorde. Urgent reinforcements are needed!"
The alarm repeated continuously!
At this moment, a commotion broke throughout Seireitei!