Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

"AAAAHHHH… AAAAAAHHHHH!!"

It was unclear whether the screams were due to pain or some more intense sensation.

At this moment, Shinji Hirako lay sprawled on the ground, screaming so loudly that it made one's eardrums ache.

Just hearing it was enough to send chills down one's spine.

Tessai watched Shinji's condition, and cold sweat immediately formed on his forehead.

This was bad…

Or rather, it was terrible.

After all, he had no solution for this situation. Watching the milky-white, fluid-like substance creeping over Shinji's face, spreading and flowing—

Until it had already covered more than half of his upper body.

Although he didn't fully understand the situation, the injured should be calmed down.

"Captain Hirako, pull yourself together!"

It sounded like an empty plea, but at this moment, Tessai had no other choice but verbal reassurance.

However, the moment he touched Shinji, he immediately realized something was wrong.

The strength was overwhelming.

With just a casual swing of his hand, Shinji nearly sent Tessai flying sideways…

Even in terms of raw power alone, his current strength had already reached monstrous levels.

This situation made even the experienced Kidō master adopt a more serious expression—was this still the injured man they knew?

Or rather—

Was Shinji Hirako still the same person they once knew?

Thoughts raced through his mind, but there was no time for hesitation.

They couldn't wait any longer… He didn't know the details, but if that white mask spread to cover Shinji's entire body, something terrifying might happen!

With that thought, Tessai couldn't help but call out.

"Captain Urahara, do something!"

It was said that within five steps, an antidote must exist.

When people encounter crises, they often struggle to think calmly. But if they could force themselves to settle down… perhaps they could find a way to survive.

"Captain Urahara! Since you know about this so-called Hollowfication, you must know a way to counter it!"

It was a logical assumption.

At this moment, Urahara Kisuke was examining Seiya's injuries, his face just as tense.

"If you're asking for a method… I might have one."

"Then please act quickly!"

No more words were needed.

The unconscious individuals nearby had already begun to develop more detailed, thicker mask-like formations.

"Even if it can't be fully resolved, at the very least, their lives must be preserved!"

Cold sweat dripped down his face.

Urahara's lips parted slightly as his gaze flickered between Seiya's face and the surrounding chaos.

Indecision clung to him like a suffocating veil.

He had vowed never to touch that thing again, had forbidden any further research into it.

But now, to solve this crisis, he had to break his self-imposed restriction.

What should he do?

It was like reopening Pandora's Box, a decision that weighed so heavily on him that he could hardly breathe.

It felt as though something was gripping his heart.

In his arms, Seiya's brows furrowed slightly, and he let out a faint groan.

In just a blink of an eye, the bandages wrapped around him were once again soaked with fresh, vibrant red.

Just as Tessai had said—

Time was running out. Not just for Shinji and the others but for Seiya as well.

In that instant, Urahara made his decision.

His lips pressed together.

No more hesitation.

"I understand. Then let's move these injured individuals to my lab immediately!"

In terms of logistics, this was anything but simple.

There were at least eight injured people here. Even with immense strength, moving them all to the Twelfth Division would take considerable time.

Not to mention—

From a realistic standpoint, it was nearly impossible, a goal so daunting it was almost despair-inducing.

But where there's a will, there's a way.

Tessai took a deep breath and stood up.

"I understand. If that's our objective, then leave it to me."

He spread his hands slightly, and within his palms, a bright light emerged and rapidly expanded.

To ensure everyone present received timely treatment, they had to race against time.

So, the first technique—

"Forbidden Kidō: Time Freeze."

Within an instant, everything—space, time, sound, even color—ceased to move, becoming monochrome.

By stopping time's flow, the injuries of those present were also frozen at this precise moment.

Not just the captains and lieutenants undergoing Hollowfication—

Even Seiya's open wounds were halted.

Now, for the second technique—

"Forbidden Kidō: Spatial Transfer."

Dark green energy expanded in a geometric pattern, spreading out and enclosing all the victims within its boundary.

A barrier of space itself was violently torn apart, split open.

Traversing an immeasurable distance, amid the dizzying brightness—Urahara saw a familiar ceiling.

Instinctively, he glanced around.

And to his astonishment, he realized he was already inside his own laboratory.

The surrounding equipment, devices, and layout were all things he had personally designed and was intimately familiar with.

Except for one detail—

The ground beneath them still looked exactly like the outskirts of Rukongai.

In brief astonishment, Urahara understood what had happened—not only had all the wounded been transported, but even the ground itself had been brought along.

Such an advanced technique was nothing short of miraculous.

Even as the head of the Research and Development Bureau, he had to admit—

"This is… incredible."

Faced with the praise, Tessai showed no emotion.

He merely wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke in a strained voice.

"It's nothing special…"

"Both time stoppage and spatial transfer require the cooperation of the target."

"If someone resists, then even if I force it, I wouldn't be able to achieve this result."

And there was a reason forbidden Kidō was banned.

"After all, this is the realm of souls, one of the key nodes of the Three Worlds."

"Stopping time disrupts its natural laws."

"Shattering space disturbs its stability."

If misused, it would lead to even greater disasters.

"I see…"

Urahara nodded slightly, acknowledging the explanation.

Even as a scientist, he had to admit—his understanding of Kidō wasn't as deep as those who specialized in it.

He shifted his attention back to the wounded.

His expression grew heavier.

"I need to retrieve something… In the meantime, please treat Seiya's injuries."

Tessai, without question, agreed.

During the short moment Urahara was gone, Tessai quickly assessed Seiya's condition.

Soon, his tense expression relaxed slightly.

The blade had pierced through Seiya's body but had avoided most vital organs.

Though the bleeding was severe, treating it wasn't overly complicated.

—There was no need for the Fourth Division's medical expertise; Tessai's own healing Kidō was sufficient.

A stroke of luck in misfortune.

During treatment, Seiya's consciousness gradually returned.

"…"

No words were needed. Just glancing around, he understood the situation.

Most of it had proceeded as he expected.

He had successfully earned Urahara's trust and infiltrated the opposing faction.

Now, would the long-awaited fragment of the Hōgyoku finally appear?

"Seiya, are you awake?"

Tessai's voice prompted Seiya to open his eyes and force a weak smile.

"Yeah… It still hurts like hell, but thanks. At least I'm alive."

Seeing the sweat on Tessai's forehead, Seiya's mind raced.

In the original story, Kidō practitioners were rarely emphasized, but they clearly weren't to be underestimated.

Now, having witnessed their abilities firsthand, he realized—he had been underestimating them.

He needed to correct that mistake.

At that moment, Urahara returned, carrying something wrapped in white cloth.

"Although it might seem like hindsight at this point, I think it's worth reviewing."

"Hollowfication—it was the result of my research into strengthening a Soul Reaper's essence."

"In essence, this thing shatters the boundary between Soul Reapers and Hollows, enabling a process of recreation."

Urahara took a deep breath and pulled away the cloth.

"Its name is… Hōgyoku."

A translucent crystalline orb lay in his hands.

It wasn't a single, smooth sphere but rather a structure formed by countless smaller square crystals fused together.

Roughly the size of a baby's fist, within its clear casing was a deep, dark-blue gem.

If it were merely a decorative object, it would be considered exquisite craftsmanship.

But this moment was not about aesthetics.

Because this small, delicate artifact radiated an overwhelming presence.

Its aura? Its pressure? Or something more sinister—perhaps a sense of absolute disdain?

Words were meaningless.

Even Tessai, upon seeing it, instinctively took half a step back.

Just witnessing it filled him with indescribable dread.

"This thing is… terrifying."

Unquestionably beyond his comprehension.

Urahara simply sighed.

"Impressive? Maybe. But even with the Hōgyoku, I'm not sure I can save them."

Because everything remained uncertain.

But for now—this was the only option.

Seiya also felt the oppressive aura of the Hōgyoku.

The overwhelming pressure made him instinctively furrow his brows—it was an unbearable sensation, like having a blade pressed against his throat.

There was no doubt about it.

This half of the Hōgyoku possessed an incredibly strong will of its own.

After confirming this, Seiya reaffirmed his thoughts internally.

He was in the right place.

'Urahara Kisuke's half of the Hōgyoku is completely different from the one in Aizen's possession…'

Perhaps, having been split in two at its inception, neither fragment was truly complete.

'Urahara's Hōgyoku is clearly more active.'

By contrast, the one in Aizen's possession seemed… lazier.

"Seiya."

A sudden call snapped Seiya out of his thoughts.

He slowly lifted his gaze, meeting Urahara's eyes.

"The next part might not be easy to watch."

"Just being caught up in this is already regrettable enough. If possible—"

"You can leave now and avoid witnessing what happens next."

His tone could have been taken as cold.

But Tessai understood—this wasn't rejection.

It was a form of protection.

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Powerstones?

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