[Script End]
[Playlife x Pleasure World – Escape Battle: Taimanin Institute Great Escape]
[Winner: Host]
The moment the voice rang out, the world in Makoto and Szayelaporro's eyes froze.
The next instant, the shattered world dissolved into fragments, engulfing their figures.
In that moment, the Reiatsu consumed in the Playlife x Pleasure World transferred into Makoto's body.
Unlike his weaker self during his first absorption of massive Reiatsu, Makoto now far surpassed that level.
Even absorbing the full Reiatsu of a top-tier Vasto Lorde like Szayelaporro, he could withstand it for seconds with sheer will.
[Wall of Sigh]
Yet, an almost endless stream of Reiatsu continued surging from his body.
It formed a rising pillar of crimson flame.
Unceasing.
In contrast, Szayelaporro, stripped of all Reiatsu, knelt on the ground, face tilted skyward.
The pale desert reflected cold moonlight.
It illuminated Szayelaporro's body, his skin a dull gray like clay, faintly revealing delicate cracks, like those on ice-cracked porcelain.
"Crack…"
A faint sound abruptly emanated from within Szayelaporro's body.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Heavy heartbeats echoed relentlessly from his near-shattering form, resonant and powerful.
A spark of intangible vitality emerged.
What the hell?
Makoto glanced at Szayelaporro, eyes wide with shock.
Was this the rumored breakthrough in the heat of battle?
Was he the protagonist?
Was I the villain?
Rustle!
Szayelaporro's face slowly cracked into a smile, skin fragments falling like peeling plaster, making a faint, trickling sound.
"Thank you… truly."
"Shinigami."
"Without your Zanpakuto, who knows how long it would've taken me to realize I was on the wrong path."
"Until that moment of suffering again…"
"I finally understood."
He slowly recounted his revelation, more skin flaking off.
Though no Reiatsu remained in his body, his faint smile stirred an intense sense of danger in Makoto's heart.
Without a word or hesitation, Makoto channeled all the Reiatsu absorbed from Szayelaporro into his blade in an instant.
It formed a near-tangible surge of Reiatsu.
Szayelaporro, as if oblivious to his actions, continued calmly, "I always thought a perfect Hollow required filling the Hollow hole to truly count as complete."
"But I was wrong."
"A truly perfect lifeform must be the fusion of two distinct existences!"
"Like… how I suffered!"
"That's the perfection I seek!"
You even wrote a research report and post-suffering analysis?!
Is this normal?
Complex thoughts flashed through Makoto's mind.
But he didn't respond!
As they say, villains die from talking too much!
Swoosh!
Sand flew beneath Makoto's feet as he shot toward Szayelaporro like a meteor.
His blade gleamed with radiant light.
[First Form: Modified Severing Strike]
The blazing blade traced a brilliant arc, erupting with compressed Reiatsu, becoming a light arrow piercing the pale desert.
Yet, Szayelaporro merely raised a hand toward him.
Makoto's pupils contracted.
For a fleeting moment, so brief it felt like an illusion…
He sensed no Reiatsu from Szayelaporro!
Boom!
The blade struck, splitting along Szayelaporro's blocking arm.
Crimson Reiatsu poured out relentlessly.
The pale desert, centered on Szayelaporro, split into a massive angular abyss.
Only Szayelaporro remained standing.
Unmoving.
His blocking arm had evaporated under that strike, his body scattering like drifting ash.
Even with his arm gone, the fact remained, in this form, he had blocked the attack.
Makoto looked at him, halting further strikes.
"I see."
"The moment you awoke, your true body escaped, didn't it?"
"But…"
He frowned at Szayelaporro. "For an instant, your Reiatsu vanished, didn't it?"
"As expected of you."
Szayelaporro's body had mostly crumbled into ash-like fragments, half his face gone, yet he laughed maniacally, "You figured it out in an instant?"
"Correct. I've crossed the boundary of 'Hollow.'"
"But because of you, you bastard… it'll take a long time to recover."
"Don't die, alright?"
"Oh, by the way… your name?"
Makoto gazed at him, calmly sheathing his blade, "Chōjirō Sasakibe."
"If you survive, come find me, Szayelaporro-san."
"Heh… Sasakibe, huh?" Szayelaporro's body dissolved completely, only half his head lingering, staring as if burning Makoto's face into his soul.
"Next time we meet, it's your death."
"Sasakibe."
With those words, the last traces of ash vanished.
In the end, the pale desert bore only two earth-shattering blade scars.
Makoto scoffed, dismissive, "You're after Sasakibe, what's that got to do with me, Makoto?"
"See ya!"
His words were bold, but Makoto resolved firmly in his heart.
After this Hueco Mundo expedition, he'd never return to this damned place.
Hiss!
A slight movement sent throbbing pain through his body.
The moment their battle ended, a notification appeared.
[Bond Event: Birth of the Perfect Lifeform]
[Your bond level with Szayelaporro / Ilforte Granz has increased ↑]
[Rewards: Reiatsu +1, Talent Point +1]
[Gained Bond Trait: Perfect Lifeform]
[Reiatsu: Upper Tier-4 → Lower Tier-3]
[Bond Trait: Perfect Lifeform: Your soul perfectly fuses traits and powers from Hollows and Quincy. All aspects of your development progress toward the 'most perfect' outcome, including but not limited to abilities, appearance, body proportions, and organ functions.]
[Note: Through the crudest method (a forced ordeal), you successfully spurred a researcher onto the correct scientific path, as expected of you, Makoto!]
The moment the panel lit up, the searing pain in Makoto's body was overtaken by a surge of boundless vitality.
The immense power rapidly repaired his near-collapsing form, continuing to elevate him.
The Reishi in Makoto's body, which he thought had reached its 'limit,' began to 'collapse' toward an unpredictable direction, forming 'points' unable to merge with external Reishi.
Simultaneously, his Zanpakuto at his waist formed an indescribable 'cycle' with him.
It was as if, only now, his Zanpakuto truly became one with him.
Makoto finally understood why the woman at his Zanpakuto's final trial said he couldn't yet wield her full power.
From the start, his Zanpakuto maintained a 'Tier-3 or higher' Reishi state, unlike any other Zanpakuto.
The instant his Reiatsu aligned, his Zanpakuto's true 'name' emerged naturally in his mind.
Standing still, Makoto felt a vast difference between himself now and a second ago.
But this exhilaration lasted only a few seconds before fading.
Thud!
Exhaustion and weakness flooded his body.
At least he'd fulfilled Unohana's request.
"Master… Makoto."
Just as he was about to collapse, Harribel emerged from some corner, having been absent throughout the fight.
Makoto tensed.
Though his past-life memories of Harribel were clear, after battling countless Hollows, he knew their unpredictable nature too well.
Even facing Harribel, he couldn't lower his guard.
Fortunately, perhaps due to his recent clash with Szayelaporro and the Reiatsu he'd unleashed, Harribel showed no intent to challenge him. Keeping her distance, she rasped, "Master, I'll stand guard."
Despite her hoarse, low voice, her words eased Makoto's heart.
"Then it's up to you."
"Yes."
Harribel glided away.
Makoto, mustering his strength, sat at the edge of a gray-white branch.
He hoped Saito would arrive soon.
In the distance, Harribel moved like a shark through the desert, reaching the battle site, gazing at the abyss-like, still-collapsing pale desert.
At the center of Makoto and Szayelaporro's clash, the sand had fused into scattered, fragmented crystals.
Even from afar, the faint Reiatsu lingering at the site was palpable.
It was heart-stoppingly intense.
What strength could produce such a result?
Harribel stared at the disaster-like battlefield. The usually carefree, occasionally perverse man grew unfathomably deep in her mind.
If one day she could reach such heights…
Could she protect what she cherished?
…
Deeper in the desert.
Rustle! Rustle!
A small Hollow, spider-like, scuttled swiftly toward the deeper desert.
But up close, its uniqueness was clear.
Its front half was rod-like, the back a loose sack, with slender tentacles as limbs, digging toward the Forest of Menos.
Its 'head' wasn't a typical mask but a man's face with pink hair.
"Chōjirō Sasakibe!"
"Your name's Chōjirō Sasakibe, huh!"
"I'll kill you! I will kill you!"
Szayelaporro's heart burned with resolve.
As he'd told Makoto in his final moment, in the gap between two deaths, he glimpsed a realm beyond Vasto Lorde.
He had shed his mask, reaching 'self-Arrancarization.'
Unfortunately, the timing was terrible.
Injury alone would've been fine, but with all his Reiatsu temporarily stolen by Makoto, Szayelaporro couldn't complete the process.
Instead, he had to cut his losses and flee.
Luckily, having once placed his mask on his second form, that part held his essence.
In a few centuries, Szayelaporro could regain his strength, break the Vasto Lorde barrier, and become a true, transcender!
"So, only time stands between me and the 'Perfect Lifeform'?"
"Kekeke… kekekekeke…"
Imagining his invincible future, Szayelaporro laughed uncontrollably.
"Woof woof!"
Amid his dreams of grandeur, a cheerful bark sounded nearby.
A dog-like small Hollow bounded toward him.
"Get lost, you mangy mutt!"
Szayelaporro hissed, digging faster underground.
Clearly, that was the future.
For now, Szayelaporro's priority is to get his strength back.
…
Elsewhere.
Splat!
A bone lance pierced an Adjuchas' mask, emerging from the other side.
Fine Reishi dissipated into Hueco Mundo's air.
Around this Antelope Knight, a dozen Adjuchas corpses lay scattered.
Clearly, another reckless pack had tried to test a Vasto Lorde's might with numbers.
Sturdy hooves tapped the pale desert, leaving faint prints.
As she stood upright, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck's brow furrowed, her gaze instinctively turning toward the distance. Her nose twitched, catching a familiar Reiatsu.
"This scent is…"
"Makoto?"
Nelliel's expression turned puzzled, muttering, "But… why's he in Hueco Mundo?"
Unbeknownst to her…
Deep in her pupils, faint pink heart patterns flickered.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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