Standing before them was an Arrancar, one of Gonaldo's five accomplices, named Krickle, who had achieved Arrancarification by fusing with a
Standing before them was an Arrancar, one of Gonaldo's five accomplices, named Krickle, who had achieved Arrancarification by fusing with a Dōgyoku.
Krickle appeared human-like, with short, brownish-blonde hair and a long black robe that concealed the Dōgyoku fused into his chest.
A skull mask with black, fly-like markings covered the left side of his face. His entire being radiated a powerful spiritual pressure, easily rivaling that of a captain-level Shinigami.
His gaze swept across the assembled Shinigami, and a cruel smile spread across Krickle's face. "Quite a few Shinigami here. Let old Krickle send you all to the afterlife!"
Upon hearing Krickle's words, everyone realized this sudden, strange apparition was an enemy. All drew their Zanpakutō, assuming a battle-ready stance.
Shiba Kaien addressed Krickle loudly, "Your spiritual pressure feels like a Hollow's, but Hollows can't take on such a human-like form. What are you?"
Shiba Kaien's question mirrored the uncertainty of every Shinigami present, except for Nagato Yū.
Arrancar are exceedingly rare. Even most captain-level Shinigami, unless they've conducted special research or lived as long as Yamamoto-Genryūsai Shigekuni, wouldn't be familiar with this evolved form of Hollow.
To Shiba Kaien's question, Krickle responded haughtily, "Am I some lowly Hollow? Let me tell you, boy, I am an Arrancar, the king among Hollows. Those inferior Hollows are not worthy of comparison to us."
Although Krickle had explained his classification, the term "Arrancar" remained unfamiliar to the Shinigami.
"Consider Arrancar the evolved form of Hollows. Each Arrancar possesses spiritual pressure comparable to a Gotei 13 captain," Yū calmly explained.
Yū recognized this encounter as one of Yusuke's Dōgyoku experiment subjects.
The Shinigami's expressions changed drastically upon hearing Yū's words. If their enemy possessed captain-level combat strength, they would be completely outmatched.
"Don't panic, everyone. I'll handle this guy. He's no match for me. You can all retreat!"
Shiba Kaien suddenly laughed, his face displaying a reassuring smile.
While Shiba Kaien's words were intended to reassure his comrades and allow for their safe withdrawal, he had no confidence in his ability to defeat this opponent.
Yū saw through Shiba Kaien's deception instantly. She knew that if Shiba Kaien faced this enemy alone, he would almost certainly die.
However, aside from herself and Shiba Kaien, the other members of the team were essentially useless, only hindering their efforts.
Adjusting her glasses, Yū calmly said, "I'll stay and assist Captain Shiba. Everyone else, retreat."
Shiba Kaien attempted to persuade Yū and the others to leave, but before he could speak, Krickle, hovering in the air, sneered, "None of you Shinigami will escape!"
As soon as he finished speaking, five red energy spheres appeared before Krickle, each simultaneously forming a Cero.
"Everyone, scatter!" Shiba Kaien shouted.
The group immediately dispersed, while Yū rapidly began chanting a Kidō spell, completing a defensive barrier before Krickle's Cero were fully charged.
"Bakudō #81, Dankū!"
A large, semi-transparent wall of spiritual energy materialized before them, just as Krickle unleashed his five Cero.
A massive shockwave, caused by the collision of spiritual pressure, erupted, filling the area with dust and chaos for hundreds of meters.
Yū's Dankū spell didn't completely block the Cero, but it held for several seconds, providing enough time for the others to escape.
"Rage Through the Seas and Heavens, Nejibana!"
Shiba Kaien's roar echoed through the dust cloud, followed by a massive, swirling vortex of water surging towards Krickle.
Krickle scoffed, drawing a long sword from his waist and charging towards the center of the water vortex.
His sword, imbued with immense spiritual pressure, pierced Shiba Kaien's attack, continuing its trajectory towards Shiba Kaien, who wielded his trident.
"Bakudō #61, Rikujōkōrō."
While Shiba Kaien engaged Krickle directly, Yū provided support with a Bakudō spell.
Six golden beams of light, imbued with sealing power, appeared around Krickle's waist, attempting to restrain him.
However, Krickle's overwhelming spiritual pressure erupted, breaking free from the Rikujōkōrō's confinement.
Shiba Kaien, aided by Yū, gained a brief respite, gathering spiritual energy into his trident to unleash another powerful wave attack on Krickle.
Meanwhile, at the Technical Development Bureau's monitor in Las Noches, Yusuke and Kurotsuchi Mayuri watched the unfolding events.
Five monitors were set up to track the five experimental subjects, each dynamically displaying the status of Gonaldo's group.
"Yusuke-sama," Kurotsuchi Mayuri said with a strange smile, "if you don't intervene, are you not worried about your precious… ahem… your capable assistants?"
Ignoring the strange undertones in Kurotsuchi Mayuri's words, Yusuke calmly replied, "Shiba Kaien and Yū's current strength is insufficient to gauge the experimental subjects' true capabilities. However, if I intervene, it will be a one-hit kill. After all, they could recognize me."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri laughed, "Then eliminate this one. Four experimental subjects are enough for me to gather data. I wonder when the Gotei 13 will dispatch their captains. It'll be an exciting battle, wouldn't you say?"
Watching Shiba Kaien and Yū struggle against Krickle, Yusuke said calmly, "It should be soon. The experimental subjects are already causing chaos in Soul Society, and several Arrancar have made their move. Once their spiritual pressure is detected by the Gotei 13, captain-level Shinigami will be dispatched to deal with them."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri chuckled, "If Soul Society's waters run as deep as you say, these experimental subjects are truly courting death with such blatant actions! However, if you don't intervene soon, those two might not hold out much longer. Ah, well, they're moving rather quickly."
Turning to Yusuke, Kurotsuchi Mayuri suddenly realized that he was gone, having already departed for Soul Society.
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