Help! I am bound to Aizen!

Chapter 258

2-in-1 chapter

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Seeing Kaelith truly charge forward, Starrk couldn’t help but pause in surprise.

Lilynette let out a cry of alarm.

On the ground, Harribel looked up, her eyes full of shock.

Without much hesitation, she shot upward, chasing in Kaelith’s direction.

But Nel was even faster.

In her antelope-like knight form, she trailed a swath of green light, instantly crossing half the battlefield to catch up behind Kaelith.

“Lord Kaelith! You mustn’t go any farther!”

“If you step into the range of Respira, you’ll be annihilated!”

Hearing that, Kaelith burst into laughter:

“Don’t worry—Aizen said I can just rush in!”

“I guess it’s because my strength is at its peak now, so Respira can’t do anything to me!”

“Watch carefully, Nel. This is the day I, Kaelith, prove my might to the world!”

With that, he glanced at the sword in his hand.

“You’re of no more use—stand down.”

Before the Zanpakutō could protest, Kaelith canceled its Shikai and, with a flick of his wrist, returned it to its sheath.

Shielded by his blazing Reiryoku, he charged headlong into Baraggan’s Respira.

The moment he entered, though, he realized something was wrong.

While the Reiryoku shield could block Respira, the corrosive speed was too great.

At this rate, by the time he reached Baraggan, the shield would be gone in just a few moves!

Aizen misled me!

Kaelith sighed in frustration.

In that split second of distraction, the corner of his trailing Haori brushed the black mist of Respira.

Instantly, the spot that touched it decayed into dust. The rot spread rapidly, and nearly half the Haori disintegrated in the blink of an eye.

Seeing this, Kaelith didn’t hesitate. He tore off the Haori and tossed it aside.

Then he pulled off the upper part of his Shihakushō and tied it around his waist so it wouldn’t get in his way.

He wasn’t sure how exactly Aizen had planned all of this, but now that he was here, he wouldn’t leave without landing at least one punch on Baraggan.

Grinning, Kaelith continued rushing at Baraggan.

At that moment, Baraggan let out a cold chuckle.

“So bold, to keep coming closer!”

He lifted a hand and flung it outward.

With that motion, a mass of black mist surged away in the opposite direction from Kaelith.

“Oh ho…”

Kaelith raised his brows.

So that’s why Aizen said to go straight in.

He must have refined his use of Kyōka Suigetsu even further.

Baraggan’s Reiryoku is clearly above ours, so hypnotizing him with Kyōka Suigetsu alone would normally be extremely difficult.

Back when we fought Tsunayashiro Senzo, Aizen had to go all out—only managing to disrupt him at the decisive moment.

But now, he can create illusions on such a large scale.

I can’t afford to be left behind!

Because the density of black mist around him suddenly thinned, Kaelith could finally gather his Reiryoku in full.

He snapped his eyes open, and blue flames erupted from his body.

Trailing a brilliant azure flare, he shot forward like a missile, closing in on Baraggan in an instant.

Pseudo Fourfold Twin Bones!

Nine Hundred Ninety-Thousand Horses!

“Kaelith Explosive Fist!!!”

Baraggan focused on his right side, where Kaelith was rushing in fiercely.

Though Baraggan didn’t feel much danger, letting a mere insect breach Respira would be humiliating.

To crush Kaelith with absolute power, he concentrated nearly all of the black mist in that direction.

Under the onslaught of Respira, Kaelith indeed came to a halt, struggling in that sea of black mist.

Baraggan sneered.

Down below, many people looked on in alarm.

“This is bad—Lord Kaelith is trapped!”

“Lord Kaelith!”

Meanwhile, the Hollows were in high spirits.

“Lord Baraggan is invincible!”

“Lord Baraggan is going to win!”

Suddenly, before everyone’s eyes, Kaelith vanished from the black mist.

In his place, a figure unexpectedly appeared on Baraggan’s left.

“Huh?” Nel, about to rush over, froze in shock.

She stared wide-eyed at the scene. Just a moment ago, Kaelith had been stuck in the black mist on Baraggan’s right, yet in the blink of an eye, he was on Baraggan’s left.

He threw a punch!

Crack!!

Baraggan’s skull was struck hard by Kaelith’s fist, instantly shattering.

“Uwooooh!!!”

Reeling from the tremendous pain, Baraggan roared in agony.

He was sent flying, bone fragments scattering through the air, before crashing into one of Las Noche’s buildings.

Kaelith hovered in midair, rolling his neck.

Among the onlookers, Aizen Sōsuke curved his lips in a faint smile.

“Beautiful.”

Lilynette (in gun form) cheered.

Starrk tilted his head, somewhat baffled by what had just happened.

“How powerful…” Nelliel murmured in astonishment.

Although she had lost to Kaelith before, she chalked part of it up to being caught off-guard. If they fought head-on, she thought she wouldn’t lose too badly.

But after witnessing that single punch, her mind changed completely.

Taking that attack herself would mean death or severe injury.

Baraggan really lives up to his title as Hueco Mundo’s king—his defense is so tough…

Harribel nodded repeatedly.

As expected of Lord Kaelith, he never disappoints!

Though she had no idea how he managed that sudden teleportation, a win was a win—no need to overthink it.

Szayelaporro blinked, looking puzzled.

He replayed the moments before in his mind. A few seconds later, he glanced over at Aizen.

Sensing his gaze, Aizen also turned, meeting Szayelaporro’s eyes.

Szayelaporro trembled, quickly looking away, pretending nothing had happened.

…

Dust billowed as a storm of Reiryoku swept through, scattering the haze.

Baraggan emerged again.

A quarter of his skull had been smashed apart.

His golden crown still rested on top, but it no longer held any majesty—only a pitiful sight.

“Damn you… using illusions to fool me…”

Gripping his huge axe, Baraggan ground bone against metal in his fury.

“You caught on quickly,” Kaelith said with a light chuckle, moving closer. “So, Baraggan, are you going to keep this up?”

“Look around you… except for you, all the top forces in Hueco Mundo have already pledged allegiance to me.”

“All you have left is yourself and a bunch of low-level Hollows.”

“Instead of resisting to the end, why not surrender honorably?”

“Hueco Mundo has been fragmented long enough. It’s time for it to unite under one rule!”

Baraggan nearly burst into laughter.

He was the king of Hueco Mundo—the ruler since ancient times. A mere Shinigami dared make claims of overthrowing him?

And he spoke of Hueco Mundo being ‘divided’? Where did that come from?

Snorting coldly, Baraggan ignored Kaelith’s words and summoned another roiling mass of black mist.

“Kaelith… I’ll admit your illusions are troublesome.”

“But it’s too naive to think such tricks can defeat me.”

“I won’t concentrate Respira in one spot anymore. I’ll release it fully in all directions. Let’s see you cope with that!”

Kaelith flickered away, distancing himself.

Baraggan had a point.

If he simply disregarded Kyōka Suigetsu’s illusions and unleashed Respira at full power, Kaelith really wouldn’t be able to break through.

Now what…

He instinctively glanced at the Zanpakutō on his waist.

Should he borrow the power of Rixiang Jimie again, ask her to lend the might of her Bankai?

As a warrior of light, borrowing power seems perfectly reasonable…

But before he could speak, it was as though the Zanpakutō sensed his plan: with a metallic clang, it locked itself inside the scabbard.

Kaelith tried pulling it a few times, but it wouldn’t budge.

“How insolent! A mere Zanpakutō dares betray its master?!”

“I’ve never treated you poorly—how can you do this to me at such a critical juncture?!”

With no success in drawing the blade, he gave up.

Seeing Respira spread around Baraggan, Kaelith’s expression turned thoughtful.

During the recent training period—besides guiding newcomers like Kenpachi and Tōsen—he had never neglected his own development.

After countless merges with Yingda to perform the “double impact,” he had begun to sense something strange.

That special technique normally required the Zanpakutō’s strength, but Kaelith felt as though he was on the verge of doing it on his own.

Even Yamamoto, who pioneered Genryūtai, and the super-genius Aizen Sōsuke had said it was impossible, yet Kaelith believed he was right at the threshold.

If… he could unleash double impact with just his body, then combine it with Yingda, couldn’t they form a triple impact?

And if Yingda also used double impact, and they found a way to merge both sets of double impacts perfectly, wouldn’t that result in a quadruple impact?

Just imagining it thrilled Kaelith.

He licked his lips, fixing his gaze on Baraggan.

In both manga and novels, the main characters often find breakthroughs when pushed to the brink of death.

Maybe he should do the same—risk everything and have a proper showdown with Baraggan!

Having made up his mind, he shifted his foot to charge forward.

But before he could move, a hand clapped down on his shoulder.

Kaelith swayed on the spot, nearly stumbling.

“Sōsuke?”

He turned to see Aizen beside him, one hand resting on his shoulder.

“I suggest you abandon those risky, unrealistic ideas.”

“Eh? I don’t follow…”

“Heh.”

Snorting at Kaelith’s attempt to play dumb, Aizen adjusted his glasses and looked at Baraggan, who was standing amidst the black haze.

“Baraggan, your defeat is inevitable.”

“But forcing a king to submit is crueler than killing him outright.”

“So, let’s make a deal.”

Baraggan didn’t bother responding.

At least Kaelith was near his level, but who was this other man?

Yet Aizen’s next words made Baraggan waver.

“Baraggan, you’re afraid, aren’t you…of aging.”

“Even after existing so long and wielding the power to make others age, that fear still lingers.”

“But what if I said I can relieve you of that fear?”

The flames in Baraggan’s eye sockets flickered.

Aizen spoke calmly. “I’m Aizen Sōsuke, a researcher.”

“The power you crave—the one that transcends the boundaries between Hollow and Shinigami—is precisely what I study.”

“And I’ve already achieved some early results.”

“If all goes well, in fifty years, I’ll make a breakthrough.”

“At that time, every Hollow can have the chance to surpass their mask.”

“You must have noticed that partial removal of your mask greatly extended your lifespan.”

“If you submit to Kaelith and help him govern Hueco Mundo, I will guide you toward fully removing your mask, granting you a life far longer than what you have now.”

“Perhaps…you might even take a step beyond that, reaching an even higher state of being!”

Baraggan’s eyes showed a flicker of thought.

Was he tempted? Absolutely—nothing was more tempting than true longevity.

But why should he trust mere words?

Sensing his doubt, Aizen turned to a pink-haired figure on the field.

“Szayelaporro.”

Though he didn’t raise his voice, Szayelaporro heard him clearly and flashed over to stand beside them.

Facing Baraggan, Szayelaporro smiled faintly.

“I can verify that Lord Aizen has made considerable progress in this research.”

“But I’m not particularly interested in it myself.”

“Until I finish my own project, I’m just helping out now and then—I don’t plan on fully joining for the time being…”

Hearing Szayelaporro’s statement, Baraggan’s suspicion eased slightly.

After a few moments of silence, he nodded.

“What you say isn’t without merit.”

“But there’s one mistake.”

Under Aizen’s gaze, Baraggan lifted his head.

“My power is absolute—you cannot hope to challenge it.”

“No matter how many ants gather, they’re worthless before true strength!”

“You are the ones who should kneel!”

With that, he raised his enormous axe again, preparing to release Respira.

At that moment, Aizen spoke in a low voice:

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“What?”

Recalling a tidbit Kaelith had shared with him earlier, Aizen continued coolly:

“Your power is indeed formidable.”

“But if I’m not wrong, your Respira doesn’t just kill others—it could kill you as well.”

“To avoid being consumed by it, you use a special defense on yourself whenever you unleash it.”

“So consider this—if you can’t be sure your own body is fully protected…if you can’t even tell whether you’ve activated that defense…what will become of you?”

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