"I'm not doing it, I'm not doing it—if I fight you I'm definitely gonna die…" Yoruichi kicked her little feet in despair.
But Cole had already scooped her up around the waist; she couldn't run even if she tried.
Shinji, Kensei, Love, Kisuke, Hachigen… everyone was sweating bullets.
This is bad!
This is really bad!
Worse than Ichigo!
If they could, they'd drag Isshin over right now.
Why do you get to bail, huh?
Love coughed twice. "Cole, Shinji's a bit stronger than me. Let him draw out the Hollow in you."
Shinji's eyes bulged. He stared at his buddy in disbelief. "You want me to fight him alone!?"
With Cole's Zanpakutō, his Shikai feels like a Bankai. To force out a Hollow form, he'd lose at least half his life.
Rōjūrō coughed. "Kensei, your Zanpakutō is direct-attack type. You're the best to go against Cole."
Kensei nearly spat blood. He jabbed a finger at Ichigo off to the side. "I literally just fought him. That bastard chased me down hacking away—nearly chopped my leg off. And you still want me to fight this monster!?"
"Then let the shopkeeper go!" Shinji looked at Kisuke with a smile. "The manager's full of tricks—maybe he won't get hurt."
Kisuke wanted to deck him. Face dark, he said, "My Zanpakutō is support-type. Support, you get it?"
The captains on site pushed and shoved the task around.
In the end…
All eyes drifted to Ichigo.
Hey, that kid looks promising.
A physical-type Zanpakutō, plus he can control a powerful Hollow form—maybe he's stronger than any of the captains here.
Ichigo's mouth twitched. "Do I look like I can fight right now?"
Sure, when he'd first regained consciousness he'd been okay.
But then he got mobbed and pounded into the dirt.
Shinji and the others ground their teeth. If they'd known, they wouldn't have jumped him—or they'd at least have dragged Isshin here.
Out of options, they looked—nervously—at Retsu.
"Captain Retsu…"
Retsu smiled. "If I fight Cole, I might not be able to hold back. I'd go all-out."
"…Then never mind…"
Shinji and the others turned away helplessly.
To stabilize Hollowfication, they didn't need a death match.
They needed a sparring partner—also known as a punching bag.
Only then could a Shinigami buy enough time to defeat the Hollow within.
Seeing them all glancing at one another, Cole's face slowly became covered by a mask as black-red reiatsu spread. He grinned. "No need to be that tense. I don't need to be pushed to the brink to get into state."
Hearing that, then seeing him change, Shinji and the rest first let out a breath—then grew solemn.
Kensei rumbled, "If so, only one problem's left… who goes first against Cole!?"
Shinji said on the spot, "You all know my Bankai—no way am I going first."
Rōjūrō said blandly, "My Zanpakutō isn't suited to brawling either."
With that, they looked at Kensei and Love.
Kensei and Love nearly swore out loud.
Don't discriminate against Zanpakutō types, okay!?
Physical-type Zanpakutō have rights too!
Then Cole seemed to think of something. "My Hollow form isn't the same as Ichigo's. You'll see what I mean."
Shinji and the others blinked.
There are different kinds of Hollowfication?
Isn't it always about subduing the Hollow inside?
Suddenly, their pupils dilated. The black-haired boy before them completed the shift from Shinigami to Menos-class Hollow.
Black-red reiatsu raged around him.
At the corner of his eye, half a palm-sized white-and-red mask remnant lingered.
An aura of evil, brutality, and darkness spread.
Though the silhouette remained humanoid, the feeling he gave was entirely different—like he'd become the incarnation of sin and shadow.
Hiyori couldn't help looking at Shinji. "Hey, Shinji, what's going on? Didn't this brat already control his mask?"
She saw only mask remnants on Cole's face.
Compared to a Hollow, he looked more like a Shinigami.
"No idea…" Shinji's gaze sharpened as he drew his Zanpakutō. "But I can feel it—this state of Cole's is absolutely Hollow. His reiatsu isn't inferior to Ichigo's Bull-Head Hollow."
He stepped forward, voice low. "You all watch from the side. I'll go first and probe him—at least see what level he's at…"
Before Shinji could finish, Hollow-Cole arched a brow, eyeing him with interest. "You want to fight me?"
Shinji sucked in a breath, stunned. "You can talk?"
"Are you deaf?"
Instead of getting mad, Shinji looked even more shocked. "How… how are you talking?"
The Visoreds were also stunned.
Counting Ichigo, they'd subdued nine Hollows. Almost none could talk.
Lisa pushed up her glasses. "Looks like this Hollow has reason. Maybe we don't need to fight."
Shinji exhaled a little, then smiled at Cole. "Mr. Hollow—"
"Call me Lord Cole."
"…Lord Cole…"
"Mm. What do you want to say?"
Shinji's mouth twitched; his face went a bit dark. "I think we don't need to clash. We can sit down and talk this through. Battle should always be the last resort…"
"I know. I'm not interested in fighting you anyway." Cole sat lazily on a big rock and stretched.
Shinji was even more surprised—then relieved, smiling. "So you think I'm a decent guy, huh? Honestly, I think I'm pretty decent too…"
"It's because you're too weak. Not even worth a swing." Cole gave him a glance, casual. "Use Shikai to fight bosses, Bankai to clear mobs. The only thing you've got going for you is 'handsome.'"
Shinji's smile froze.
Hiyori burst out laughing, thumping Shinji's shoulder. "Hear that, Shinji? Cole says you're useless besides being handsome. Hahaha, you are pretty handsome though."
Shinji looked at his teammate, mouth twitching. "Why do I feel like this bastard is just Cole?"
The way he moved and talked was almost exactly the same as Cole.
Only difference: a bit more arrogance.
Kensei laughed and strode over. "Cole, I'm not like Shinji. I'm way stronger than him, right?"
Cole said mildly, "Battle power unit—just stand there and be the yardstick. Don't go comparing yourself around."
"Ba—battle power unit!!!"
Kensei was dumbfounded.
He never imagined getting labeled like that.
Cole went on, "For example, Shinji equals three cars, Shopkeeper equals two cars, Miss Yoruichi equals two and a half…"
"Don't stop me, Shinji—I'm killing this brat…" Kensei almost exploded.
Zanpakutō in hand, he was ready to go for broke.
A dignified captain of Seireitei—reduced to a so-called unit of measurement?
Shinji forced a straight face and held Kensei back. "Calm down. Calm down. Cole's in a Hollow state. Cut him some slack."
Seeing two people get 'reviews,' Love got curious. "Then what about me!?"
Cole stared at him for two seconds. "Background mob A."
Then added, "An ugly background mob A."
"Kensei, let's jump this brat together." Love rolled up his sleeves, ready to throw down.
At least Shinji got 'handsome.'
Kensei could be a 'battle power unit.'
Why did he become 'mob A'—and ugly on top?[014910411飞卢002032180]
Hiyori perked up and pointed at Kisuke. "Cole, what about that baldy?"
Cole glanced at Kisuke. "Sinister. Cunning. Ulterior motives. Malicious at heart. Two-faced. Yin-yang sneak…"
Kisuke hacked a cough. "Mr. Cole, I don't recall offending you?"
"I dislike sly types like you and Aizen the most," Cole said coolly. "But whatever. Petty tricks. Not worthy of the grand stage."
"Your arrogance is a bit much, Mr. Cole…" Several vein-marks popped on Kisuke's forehead.
For the first time, he felt like punching someone.
"What about Yoruichi!?" Hiyori, still curious, pointed at Yoruichi.
Yoruichi felt a bad premonition.
Before she could stop it, Cole shot her a strange look. "Yoruichi? You're pretty, but I've always had a question."
Yoruichi hesitated, then couldn't help herself. "What question?"
Cole flickered to stand before her, leaned down, and looked closely. "When you turn into a cat, if it's mating season, are you attracted to people or to tomcats?"
Everyone went blank.
What a… unique brain circuit.
But, to be honest, they'd wondered too.
So all eyes turned to Yoruichi.
Yoruichi clenched her fist and hurled a punch at Cole, teeth grinding. "I'm a Shinigami! Even if I turn into a cat, I'm still a Shinigami. Why would I have a mating season!!!"
Smack!
Cole caught her fist cleanly.
As Yoruichi stared, bewildered, he smiled, lowered his head, and—
"That puts my mind at ease."
"Mmph!!"
Yoruichi's eyes went wide. She stared at the brazen boy who'd just stolen a kiss.
Cole licked his lips and said loftily, "Sweet. Yoruichi, you qualify to be one of my harem. Feel honored—kneel and thank me for the favor."
It took several seconds for Yoruichi to process that. Face black, she ground out, "Everyone—together!"
Shinji and the others certainly had no objections. Faces dark, they cracked their knuckles and drew their Zanpakutō, advancing on Cole.
Cole didn't flinch. He cocked his head, curious. "Where'd you get the courage to raise a hand to me?"
Kensei's mouth twitched. He drew and charged. "I can't hold it anymore—this brat is too arrogant. Give me a dozen seconds, I'll teach him a lesson first."
He roared:
"Bankai!!!"
"Tekken Tachikaze (Iron Fist Severing Wind)!!!"
In an instant, his Zanpakutō released completely.
The dagger-like Shikai became a pair of toothed blades.
Tracks wrapped his arms; the bands linked across his back, armor covering his shoulders. Pale blue gales howled around him.
He stamped forward, blitzing toward Cole, and hammered a punch.
Cole took a single step back, slipping the blow—and swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang down with a smile. "Kensei, you trying to compare strength with me?"
The staff smashed onto Tekken Tachikaze.
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, Kensei flew back even faster than he'd come, slamming into the gate of Hachi's barrier city.
Cole hefted the Ruyi Jingu Bang onto his shoulder, admiring, "Only two hundred meters. Not bad. You can be proud."
Love flashed behind him, bringing a spiked club down toward Cole's backside. "Brat, don't underestimate us!"
Cole didn't even look back. He tapped a foot; his body flickered eerily to Love's rear.
"I'm not underestimating you. In Seireitei, you're strong. You just happened to meet the strongest—me."
He kicked—squarely into Love's rear.
A despairing scream tore out of Love. "Aaaagh!"
Without turning, Cole pressed his index and middle fingers together and leveled them.
"Gran Rey Cero (King's Hollow Flash)."
Black-red light flared.
At his fingertips a tiny black hole formed—
With a ripping shriek, a black-red lance of light fired and blasted Shinji away with a boom—before Shinji's own Cero (Hollow Flash) could even form.
Boom! Boom! Boom…
Thunder shook the barrier.
Inside, it was less a duel and more like a big messy brawl.
Outside the barrier, Hachigen glanced at Kisuke. "Shopkeeper, did you figure it out? What's going on with Cole?"
From his view…
That wasn't Hollow control.
It was a whole group throwing hands.
Kisuke fanned himself, eyes tracing Cole's figure with a complicated look. "I did. This isn't him controlling a Hollow. There's no 'Hollow inside' at all. Rather…"
"He himself has become a Menos-class Hollow."
(End of Chapter)
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