Chapter 159: The Skeleton Emperor Falls
Time rewound to several minutes earlier. Baraggan Louisenbairn, fighting simultaneously against Soi-Fon and Hachigen Ushōda, was defeated by their combination, causing him to take Soi-Fon's Bankai Jakuhō Raikōben head-on.
Under the violent explosion, not only was the crown atop Baraggan's head partially chipped, but even his skull sustained partial damage. Annoyed, Baraggan used his power of decay to destroy the four-beast barrier created by Hachigen. He raised his axe, preparing his next attack.
But he saw a blue lance in the distance shooting straight toward him. With no time to dodge, he turned his head just as Starrk's attack struck him directly.
"What the hell just happened..."
Soi-Fon and Hachigen looked at each other, both seeing confusion in their eyes. At that moment Baraggan reemerged from the smoke and dust. The familiar Reiatsu made him understand it was Starrk's attack, so Baraggan cursed, "Damn you, Starrk, you fool!"
When Soi-Fon and Hachigen saw Baraggan's condition clearly, they couldn't help feeling shocked. At this point, nearly half of Baraggan's body was damaged, his bones covered with burnt marks.
"Although I don't know what happened, but... Miss Soi-Fon, this is our chance!"
"I know!"
The two nodded at each other. Hachigen took the lead, forming seals and chanting, "Bakudō Number Ninety-Nine: Kin!"
"First Song: Halting Fabric!"
Under Starrk's attack, most of Baraggan's Reiatsu had collapsed. Before he could recover, several black cloth strips appeared from thin air to wrap around his body.
"Foolish ants, do you truly think you can defeat me, the Skeleton Emperor?"
Baraggan raised his iron axe again. The surrounding atmosphere of decay gathered once more, beginning to rot the black cloth strips wrapped around his body.
"Of course I won't underestimate you. Second Song: Hundred Linked Bolts!"
As Hachigen changed the seals in his hands, dozens of special iron rods appeared from the air and pierced into Baraggan's body, causing the black cloth strips to contract in an attempt to completely restrain him.
"Foolish! Naive! Such attacks are useless against me!"
The malevolent Reiatsu within Baraggan's body exploded, ejecting all the iron rods. Even the cloth strips wrapped tightly around him rotted away under his ability.
Seeing Baraggan still struggling desperately, Hachigen's heart hardened. His muscles tensed, and the Reiatsu within his body began to explode. "Bakudō Number Ninety-Nine, Final Song: Bankin Taifeng!"
"Ugh!"
Blood began flowing from Hachigen's nose as a tremendous burden appeared on his body. At the same time, a massive stone monument inscribed with the swastika seal fell from the sky, dropping directly onto Baraggan's head.
The enormous impact smashed Baraggan from the air straight into the ground. To ensure the Bakudō properly restrained his opponent, Hachigen desperately released his Reiatsu to prevent him from breaking free.
"Now! Miss Soi-Fon!!"
Hachigen shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Thank you, Hachi!"
"Shunko!!"
White spiritual energy erupted from Soi-Fon's body and wrapped around her shoulders. She continuously launched Shunpo, descending toward Baraggan's position. During her descent, Soi-Fon canceled her Bankai and transformed back into Shikai.
"Sting all enemies to death: Suzumebachi!"
At that moment, a small blade with a yellow pattern attached to Soi-Fon's fingertips. Baraggan, whose Reiatsu had been severely disrupted, had no time to use his decaying breath to stop her. Under Soi-Fon's Shunko burst, all the surrounding miasma was blown away.
"Two-Hit Kill!"
As the blade tapped lightly on Baraggan's skull, a black butterfly pattern called the Homonka appeared on his head.
"Damn you! Damn ants! You dare show disrespect to the Skeleton Emperor, you wretched fools!!"
At this critical moment, Baraggan's heart filled with resentment. He hated Aizen—hated him for stealing his position as king of Hueco Mundo. Although he had been seriously injured and his strength was far from recovered, he had ruled Hueco Mundo for ten thousand years. Yet it was so easily taken by Aizen.
"Damn you all! Every Shinigami deserves death! Aizen!!"
Accompanied by Baraggan's desperate roar, Soi-Fon's second strike pierced mercilessly toward his head. "Take all enemies to death with two strikes: Nigeki Kessatsu!"
At that moment, Suzumebachi struck the center of the previous bee pattern. The next instant, the patterns overlapped and became an octagonal butterfly crest. The decaying power around Baraggan began to dissipate, and his life force grew weaker and weaker.
His body began dissipating like dust.
"I'm not satisfied... I cannot accept this!"
"Fiander! Fiander!!"
Under Soi-Fon's indifferent gaze, the King of Hueco Mundo, the Skeleton Emperor Baraggan Louisenbairn, fell completely.
Hachigen in the air also began to sway from excessive loss of Reiatsu. He was supported by Omaeda Marechiyo at his side.
"That was incredible!You actually restrained that monster so completely, creating an excellent attacking opportunity for our captain."
"Haha, it was just fortunate timing. If it hadn't been for that sudden terrifying attack that caused his Reiatsu to collapse and prevented him from gathering his abilities, I couldn't have done anything against him."
Hachigen smiled modestly.
"Senior, you're far too humble!"
Omaeda Marechiyo immediately offered his flattery without reservation.
"Hey, you two!"
Soi-Fon, having dealt with the formidable enemy, showed a rare smile. She clutched her broken arm and looked at them both.
"Oh my, it seems Baraggan has lost his battle as well. What should we do, Captain Aizen?"
Inside the firewall, Ichimaru Gin sensed that Baraggan's life force had dissipated and spoke to Aizen with an exaggerated expression.
"This is life..."
Aizen stood with his hands in his pockets. Even through the burning wall of fire, those calm eyes seemed to see through everything outside.
"It's unfortunate. As the King of Hueco Mundo, to be executed by Shinigami... Perhaps this is simply the fate of Hollows," Tōsen Kaname said with emotion.
"Wait a little longer. There's no need to rush."
After saying this, Aizen closed his eyes again and said nothing more.
"Yes, Captain Aizen!"
In Soul Society, deep within the Great Spirit Book Corridor, Fiander was browsing through bookshelves. Suddenly, he seemed to sense something. The hand turning pages stopped, and his body stiffened momentarily.
"Old man, he..."
"Sure enough, even though I gave him vague warnings long ago, he couldn't escape this disaster."
"Reinhard and Harribel are severely injured and unable to fight. Only Starrk remains."
Slowly closing the book in his hands, Fiander calmly returned it to its original position. "It's almost time to go take a look. I'll let him carry out Aizen's plan at his own pace for now."
Immediately, Fiander left the Great Spirit Book Corridor in a flash.
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