Szayelaporro wore a cold sneer as he gazed at the figure standing straight in the white sand, completely ignoring Aizen's approach from the side.
His eyes were fixed only on Akira.
After his humiliation in Soul Society, he had returned to Hueco Mundo to reflect on his failures, identify his weaknesses, and search for ways to become stronger. Through dissecting various Gillians and even Adjuchas, he deeply analyzed the essence of Hollows.
As time passed, Szayelaporro uncovered crucial insights.
Vasto Lorde was not the limit of Hollow evolution — there were higher levels of power beyond. After countless experiments and explorations, he finally obtained a power that transcended Vasto Lordes.
He named it — Arrancar!
⤫ Hadō #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō ⥤ Flying Dragon-Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon! ⤬
An explosive roar like rolling thunder erupted as a brilliant blue pillar of light, wrapped in crackling electric arcs, shot forward.
The blast obliterated the white sand in its path, carving a deep black scorched trench through the desert as it surged toward Szayelaporro's position.
BOOM!!
A earth-shaking shockwave exploded outward!
The silver sand for miles around erupted layer by layer, like ocean waves shooting skyward. A figure burst from the dust cloud, landing steadily on an intact dune.
Szayelaporro looked with surprise toward the source of the Kidō, not expecting his opponent to have such a capable ally.
The last time he had witnessed a Hadō of this level was centuries ago, from a Shinigami Captain of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. He regretted not capturing that one — it would have made a fine addition to his collection.
Seeing the opponent's minor injuries, Aizen frowned.
This Szayelaporro had grown far stronger since their last meeting. Could there truly be an even more terrifying power beyond Vasto Lorde?
If this were the Szayelaporro from before, Aizen might have been confident in defeating him alongside Akira. But now...
"You're not bad." Szayelaporro sneered, "You're worthy of me remembering your name. I'll prepare an even more perfect container to hold your body..."
"Akira Kisaragi."
Szayelaporro: "..."
Did these Shinigami brats think him an idiot?
The one he had just struck down had clearly called out "Save me, Sōsuke," and then this one had instantly appeared to unleash that Hadō. And now he claimed his name was Akira?
Szayelaporro laughed with bitter rage — Soul Society's standards had truly fallen. They wouldn't even give their real names anymore.
When he had invaded Soul Society, even Kenpachi Kuruyashiki had refused to sacrifice his subordinates, insisting on fighting one-on-one. How times had changed.
"Fill the Void…"
⤫ Shikai: Kūkan Mukai ⥤ Initial Release: Unbounded Emptiness! ⤬
Just as he was thinking this, deep purple flames suddenly erupted in his peripheral vision.
Black chain links ground against each other, sending sparks flying that fueled the intense heat distorting the air. Sharp metallic sounds rose and fell, mingling with the low rumble of moving sinews and bones.
In a flash, a figure rushed in close — right before him!
⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Ikkotsu ⥤ Origin Style: Single Bone! ⤬
Akira had no intention of holding back — moves like Crushing Palm Stroke were only good for bullying weaker opponents. Against a Vasto Lorde as powerful as this pink chinchorro, going all out was the only choice.
⤫ Sonído ⥤ Reverberating Turn! ⤬
Szayelaporro instinctively retreated, his Sonído making a piercing screech as he shot backward like a bolt of lightning.
He raised the blade in his right palm high, pink-purple Reiatsu swirling around it as he thrust straight toward Akira's fist.
"Although your defense is impressive, my blade's destructive power is equally terrifying!"
But then something unexpected happened — the black chains wrapped around Akira's right arm suddenly came alive, roaring out like giant snakes. One part coiled around his fist for defense, while another locked onto Szayelaporro's chest.
⤫ Rensa Shūgeki ⥤ Chain Assault Dance! ⤬
The violent force surged wildly, making him stumble. His prepared slash lost more than half its power, leaving no time to readjust.
CLANG!
The sound of clashing metal echoed throughout Hueco Mundo.
⤫ Kūkyō Genso Henkō ⥤ Empty State, Elemental Transformation! ⤬
The next moment.
BOOM!
Hurricane winds exploded! Deep purple flames erupted as Ikkotsu pushed through, a flash of iron light passing by!
A pillar of light too dazzling to look at directly shot into the sky. The Jōshō Denkaen Henkō, now formally renamed to Kūkyō Genso Henkō with the addition of Haien power, was unleashed freely in the silver sand sea.
In an instant, thick, scorching purple flames engulfed Szayelaporro.
But the expected one-sided scene did not occur — the pink dog stood tall in the sky, letting the purple flames burn across his body.
Across from him, Akira saw a layer of white bone armor blocking his fist, as layer upon layer of Reiatsu accumulated to form an impenetrable defense.
"Since the day we parted." Szayelaporro's elegant voice rang out, "I've focused on developing my own power. Your existence posed a threat to me. I've made thorough preparations to put you in the container I've prepared. Now, game over."
As his words fell, his Reiatsu rose steadily, seeming to have no upper limit as it continued to increase.
Akira took a deep breath.
He became even more certain of his earlier thought — this pink-haired hollow had definitely evolved. If that was the case, he wouldn't hold back either.
His Reiatsu erupted at full force, his Zanpakutō Kūkan Mukai unleashed to its maximum!
⤫ Mugen Kusari Sekai ⥤ Infinite Chain World! ⤬
Black chains extended endlessly from his palm, quickly blanketing the sky and sealing off all of Szayelaporro's escape routes.
Looking at the scene before him, Szayelaporro remained calm. Based on his experience, these chains that resembled heavy dark clouds were merely the Shinigami brat's Zanpakutō. Judging from the Reiatsu increase, it was only a Shikai.
It wasn't even Bankai — how could it compare to himself, who had transcended the limits of Vasto Lorde?
Even genius has its limits!
⤫ Kūkan Kōsoku ⥤ Void Chain Restraint! ⤬
But what happened next defied all understanding. The black chains shot downward, wrapping around Szayelaporro in an attempt to restrain him. The moment the chains made contact, his expression changed dramatically.
Suppression! The Reiatsu surging within his body instantly vanished!
Stripped of his power's support, Szayelaporro was yanked close to Akira, face-to-face with a fierce grin that resembled an evil demon.
Despite still being in a dominant position, an inexplicable sense of dread welled up in Szayelaporro's heart. Before he could dodge, Akira lowered his head and suddenly threw his whole body forward.
⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Tengoku Zutsu ⥤ Origin Style: Heaven Headbutt! ⤬
BOOM!
Air waves erupted as shock waves spread in all directions, creating ripples throughout the atmosphere.
Szayelaporro flew backward screaming, as if struck by a rampaging dump truck, streaking across the sky like a meteor trailing energy, before crashing directly into a group of Gillians.
Aizen blinked, increasingly amazed at Akira's peculiar fighting style. He had never imagined chains could be used so innovatively.
As for Akira, after launching his opponent, he stood dazed, his head spinning.
It took a long while for his senses to return as the dark and white spots faded from his vision, and he coughed up blood.
Only after the collision did he realize the double-edged nature of his attack. Though his opponent appeared humanoid, they were actually a Vasto Lorde-level Menos. Even without bone armor protecting their forehead, their defense far exceeded a Shinigami's.
Szayelaporro struggled to his feet from the shattered Gillian corpse, his splitting headache making coherent thought impossible.
In his long life, he had encountered countless Shinigami and dissected even more. But he had never seen anyone fight like Akira.
This Shinigami brat was more savage than actual Hollows!
After a long recovery, Szayelaporro finally regained his ability to think. Staring at the cloud-like black chains, he came to a sudden realization.
If he continued fighting his opponent in close combat... his Reiatsu advantage would be completely nullified.
Though their encounter was brief, he had grasped the true nature of those black chains. They were perfectly suited to that Shinigami brat's fighting style.
Despite Akira's unremarkable Reiatsu, his Zanpakutō proved devastatingly effective — not only could it restrain and suppress enemy Reiatsu, but it also enabled him to capitalize on his Hakuda mastery for swift takedowns.
Such an ability was nothing short of ruthless.
And what happened to the notion that Shinigami were physically frail? How did such a monstrous brute exist among their ranks?!
Even now, Szayelaporro's skull pulsed with pain. Yet there was Akira, bouncing around in the distance, radiating energy as if completely unscathed.
It defied all logic!
"Seeping crest of turbidity. Arrogant vessel of lunacy. Boil forth and deny. Grow numb and flicker. Disrupt sleep. Crawling queen of iron. Eternally self-destructing doll of mud. Unite. Repulse. Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness!!"
There was no time to think — next up was the Kidō master, Sōsuke Aizen!
While Szayelaporro's head was still fuzzy, Aizen chanted the complete incantation for his strongest Kidō, channeling his Reiatsu to its limit.
He knew if they couldn't defeat Szayelaporro, escaping Hueco Mundo would be nearly impossible.
Yet despite his opponent's strength, Aizen felt strangely calm — as if this were just another ordinary mission. He even entertained the fleeting thought of capturing this pink creature for his own experiments.
By the time Szayelaporro sensed something was wrong, black Reiatsu was already surging through the silver-white sand seas.
⤫ Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi ⥤ Black Coffin! ⤬
BOOM!!
Deep darkness rose from the ground, annihilating several surrounding Gillians with overwhelming force. Szayelaporro's pupils contracted as he activated Sonído, desperately trying to escape the black Reiatsu's range.
But before he could move, Aizen — having calculated everything — lightly pressed his finger.
Endless Reiatsu cascaded down like a torrent as darkness condensed into solid iron walls, surrounding him from all directions. Black patterns materialized on the coffin's surface, distorting reality itself, while sharp blades erupted from the outer walls, impaling the nearby Gillians.
Though simple-minded, the Gillians possessed basic emotions. Gripped by primal fear at the sight of the Black Coffin, these loyal creatures retreated en masse.
Hum—
Inside the coffin, countless blades burst forth in a frenzy, accompanied by Szayelaporro's roars of rage and agony.
In the next moment, cracks spider-webbed across the Black Coffin's surface, and a column of pink-purple Reiatsu shot skyward.
Crack Crack Crack!
The coffin's iron walls shattered with an explosive sound, black fragments spraying outward to reveal a blood-covered Szayelaporro.
Rage consumed what little rationality remained in him. Violent energy poured outward as his grotesque wounds, flesh turned inside out, healed at visible speed.
He couldn't comprehend it. He had transcended the limits of Vasto Lorde, yet two mere Shinigami were overwhelming him.
What was wrong with this world?!
Szayelaporro cast aside his contempt, resolved to unleash his full power against these two until he could turn them into specimens for his containers.
But before the thought could fully form, a black chain streaked through the moonlight from afar, wrapping instantly around his neck.
Szayelaporro's pupils contracted. Fresh from recovering from the Black Coffin's aftereffects, he found himself caught by the chain's suppression before he could act.
The surging column of Reiatsu vanished instantly.
⤫ Kūkan Kōsoku ⥤ Void Chain Restraint! ⤬
Akira yanked the chain, his figure blazing across the sky like a meteor. Deep purple flames erupted violently around him, their scorching energy burning through the air and bringing warmth to the cold Hueco Mundo.
Space-breaking explosions thundered as hurricane winds howled and surged.
⤫ Kūkyō Genso Henkō ⥤ Empty State, Elemental Transformation! ⤬
⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Kūhaku Hakai ⥤ Origin Style: Single Empty Destruction! ⤬
The burning flames concentrated on his fist as he lunged forward with a fierce grin, smashing directly toward Szayelaporro's skull.
In the next instant, a column of deep purple flames shot skyward. Surging heat waves laced with violent electric arcs engulfed the battlefield, shattering the silver-white sand sea wherever they touched!
Their coordination had been perfect, each taking their turn to strike.
Yet the moment Akira's devastating punch landed, their opponent countered.
The Gillian group at the battlefield's edge opened their blood-red mouths in unison. Countless particles of Reishi gathered within, condensing into crimson orbs of light as they aimed their Ceros at the pair.
⤫ Raikō Shunpo ⥤ Lightning Flash Steps ⤬
Akira's expression shifted. Without hesitation, he released the chains binding the pink hollow and flash-stepped away.
He might be reckless, but he wasn't foolish. While he could perhaps withstand one Gillian's Cero, dozens or hundreds were far beyond his endurance.
Upon reaching Aizen's side, he smoothly opened the Garganta, its black passage emanating a slight chill.
Akira charged through without a backward glance, moving so swiftly that even Aizen paused in momentary surprise.
Before he could react, a black chain shot out and wrapped around his waist. With tremendous force, it yanked him through — his entire body vanishing into the deep darkness with a whoosh.
The moment the Garganta closed, the dim sky erupted in a dazzling blood red!
⤫⤬⤫
Note: Arrancar are Hollows (particularly Vasto Lordes) who gain Shinigami-like powers by removing their masks. While Arrancar can evolve naturally, the Espada are specifically those Hollows whom Aizen transformed, or "reborn", into more powerful Arrancar using the Hōgyoku.
And one more thing. If the MC could engrave the Hadō #88 sometime in the future, it would be fucking awesome.
T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!
For just $1 you can access all the extra content, and descriptive images, costs only $2!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
https://www.patreon.com/mrblackwing