The Hōgyoku Is placed Within Me

Boom!

The earth shook violently!

With Kurosaki Masaki's mastery of the power that once defeated "White"—completely abandoning the defense of her Blut Vene and activating Blut Arterie—her combat power had skyrocketed. One could only imagine how terrifying she was at this moment.

"As expected of a high-level experimental specimen," Kurotsuchi Mayuri muttered, standing a dozen meters away. "To be able to withstand my slash... I must show you a little more seriousness next time."

He curiously observed the girl in front of him. The crimson vein-like lines covering her body flickered like flames.

"That layer covering you... is it a form of protection?"

"I see. So you have two forms of transformation…"

"One grants extremely high defensive power, while the other enhances physical abilities and Reiatsu… but they cannot coexist at the same time."

Kurosaki Masaki's eyes widened in shock at Kurotsuchi Mayuri's words.

She abruptly lowered her head.

At some point, a small wound had appeared on her arm. Faint traces of blood were slowly oozing out.

"Oh? So you've finally noticed?"

"I'm a very busy man, so I've decided to use the most efficient method to deal with you."

"If you had kept that strange defensive state activated, it might have taken some effort to subdue you."

Kurotsuchi Mayuri waved his hand and leisurely walked toward Kurosaki Masaki, eventually stopping right in front of her.

"Damn it… I can't move…"

Kurosaki Masaki gritted her teeth, immediately deactivating Blut Arterie.

The radiant veins gradually faded as Blut Vene began to activate.

However, completely dispelling the abnormal condition of her body was unrealistic.

She had lost the ability to resist.

Thinking quickly, she bit her lip and ignited a sliver of spiritual power within herself.

"Why do you think I've been talking so much, explaining my research to you?"

Kurotsuchi Mayuri unsheathed his Zanpakutō, his eyes gleaming with a crazed excitement.

"I really want to start studying you immediately. Every minute and every second is precious to me. Shall we start with your skin tissue first?"

"I'm very curious—what kind of defense mechanism is hidden within you?"

The icy blade slowly inched toward Kurosaki Masaki's arm.

But at that moment—Kurotsuchi Mayuri suddenly stopped.

His gaze shifted to the treetops.

There, a young man in a black Shihakushō stood. On his back sat a small green-haired girl.

"Oh?" Kurotsuchi Mayuri's interest was piqued. "So it's you. I didn't expect to meet you here. How did you detect what was happening here?"

He was genuinely curious—how had Kuchiki Shinji discovered this barrier, one that even captain-class Shinigami would struggle to perceive?

"Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri, I ask that you cease all actions immediately."

Shinji spoke calmly.

Just seeing Kurotsuchi Mayuri here made it clear what had transpired.

"Hah?" Kurotsuchi Mayuri's smirk stiffened, his expression darkening. "Are you telling me what to do? Don't get ahead of yourself, brat."

"I suspect that Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri's presence here is unauthorized—neither by Captain-Commander Yamamoto nor Central 46. Otherwise, why would you set up a barrier to isolate all movement?"

As he spoke, Shinji jumped down from the tree.

Unlike Shiba Isshin's occasional unauthorized visits to the Human World just to drink—an offense that would earn nothing more than a minor reprimand—Kurotsuchi Mayuri's actions had already violated Soul Society's laws.

"You're threatening me, huh? Now, what should I do?"

Kurotsuchi Mayuri tilted his head, then grinned sinisterly.

"If I kill you, no one will know. Now that would be an interesting decision."

"Renji! Be careful! He's incredibly strong, and his glasses are strange! They seem to let him analyze people's Reiatsu!"

Finally, the blue vein-like markings resurfaced.

Kurosaki Masaki leaped to Shinji's side.

She curiously glanced at the small green-haired girl clinging to his back, but without overthinking it, she refocused on Kurotsuchi Mayuri with a wary expression.

"Shut up! A research specimen like you has no right to speak!" Kurotsuchi Mayuri snapped impatiently.

Kurosaki Masaki: "???"

That's way too much, you bastard!

Calling me an experimental subject every time you open your mouth?! I'm Kurosaki Masaki—a Quincy! Do you think I have no dignity?!

"Hmm?"

Shinji raised an eyebrow in realization.

"Have you already made one?"

Only now did he notice a small device in Kurotsuchi Mayuri's hands—likely something he had developed on a whim based on their last conversation.

"This Reiatsu… Have you really mastered Shikai?"

"And judging by its density… it's not far off from a lieutenant's level."

Kurotsuchi Mayuri adjusted his glasses and exclaimed in fascination:

"Is this the so-called genius?"

"Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri, I repeat—please leave Karakura Town immediately. I am the official Shinigami stationed here, and this woman is under my protection."

Shinji reiterated his stance.

For now, he was the one responsible for Karakura Town.

"Don't act so high and mighty, brat!"

Kurotsuchi Mayuri scoffed impatiently.

But then—His golden eyes locked onto the small girl on Shinji's back.

"Oh? That is… an Adjuchas?"

"No, not just an Adjuchas… but an Arrancar-class Adjuchas?"

"A top-tier research specimen!"

Suddenly, Kurotsuchi Mayuri's eyes gleamed with a disturbing excitement.

So this was the real prize of the day!

Coming to Karakura Town was proving to be the best decision he had made in years.

To capture an Adjuchas required an enormous amount of manpower, resources, and sometimes even the lives of Shinigami.

But an Adjuchas-class Arrancar was in a completely different league.

This wasn't just rare—it was an opportunity that might not come again in centuries!

And this one was alive.

That meant he could conduct far more comprehensive research—genetic analysis, body modifications, anything!

This small, green-haired female Adjuchas-class Arrancar…

She was the perfect specimen!

"This… is amazing!"

Kurotsuchi Mayuri licked his dry lips, his trembling hands reaching forward.

"Alright, listen up, kid…"

"Hand over the girl on your back, and I'll pretend this never happened."

"I'll act as if you, this Quincy girl, and all these other Quincies never existed."

"Don't, 'Renji'-kun."

Only then did Kurosaki Masaki realize that the green-haired girl lying on Shinji's back was actually an Adjuchas-class Arrancar!

But when she saw the green-haired loli trembling in fear, crying and curling up, an instinct to protect her surged within Masaki.

"Shut up, dead woman. How dare a Quincy act so arrogant? You're nothing but research material—you have no right to speak here," Kurotsuchi Mayuri mocked.

Kurosaki Masaki: "???"

Her eyelid twitched, veins popping up on her forehead.

"Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri, I refuse. I will not hand Nilu over to you," Shinji said firmly.

"Then there's no other way. I'll just have to eliminate you all right here," Kurotsuchi Mayuri sneered.

In truth, he never intended to let them go in the first place.

As for making deals?

Don't be ridiculous. Who actually believes in that kind of thing?

In an instant, Kurotsuchi Mayuri used Shunpo, appearing behind Shinji and Masaki, slashing down with his sword.

Though his Reiatsu was only at the vice-captain level, against Kuchiki Shinji, who hadn't yet unlocked his Zanpakutō, it should have been more than enough.

However, the moment the blade was about to land—Shinji vanished.

"Nani?!"

Kurotsuchi Mayuri's pupils dilated in shock.

Then, a flash of blue-violet light struck him, hitting him directly.

Boom!

The ground cracked apart.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri leaped into the air, glancing down at his severed arm. His expression darkened.

Just now… what happened?

Was that attack from Kuchiki Shinji?

His golden pupils locked onto Shinji, who was floating in the air. Pulling out a vial of pale green liquid, Kurotsuchi Mayuri injected it into his severed arm.

A crackling sound followed.

Within seconds, his bones, flesh, and nerves regenerated, restoring his arm completely.

"Just now… was that Shunpo?" Kurotsuchi Mayuri murmured.

Was Kuchiki Shinji's Shunpo really that fast?

It was almost comparable to that dead woman—Shihouin Yoruichi, the so-called "Flash Goddess."

"It seems you've been hiding your true strength," Kurotsuchi Mayuri observed, flexing his regenerated fingers before picking up his fallen Zanpakutō.

"Ah, it's just that my captain thinks I'm too weak, so he trains me often," Shinji shrugged.

"Shikai."

"Rip, Ashisogi Jizō."

A dull purple Reiatsu erupted, swirling around Kurotsuchi Mayuri's Zanpakutō.

When the energy dissipated, his blade had transformed—a golden, triple-bladed weapon with a baby's face at the hilt.

"It hurts, it really hurts, it feels like my head is melting."

"Kid, it's been a long time since I felt pain."

"As a thank-you, let me return the favor."

With a swing of his sword, a thick purple mist spread across the battlefield. A cruel smile stretched across Kurotsuchi Mayuri's face. "I'll try my best to control the power so I don't damage your bodies too much. After all, you're valuable research specimens."

"'Renji'—be careful! That mist is poisonous!"

As dendritic lines ignited on Masaki's skin, her pupils shrank. She quickly shouted a warning.

Shinji: "???"

Shinji shot her a look.

Do you think I don't have eyes? Do you really need to remind me?

Anyone with a nose could tell that mist wasn't anything good.

And the strong, pungent scent that filled the air made it obvious—it was highly toxic.

"Ashisogi Jizō... huh."

Shinji's gaze fell on Kurotsuchi Mayuri's Zanpakutō.

This mad scientist had not only modified his own body to the extreme but had even performed modifications on his Zanpakutō.

Zanpakutō were a Shinigami's very soul.

Tampering with them was the act of a lunatic.

Shinji swung his sword, prepared to slice through the toxic mist with a powerful slash.

But just then—a searing pain erupted in his chest, making him freeze in place.

The evolution was starting.

He was about to enter the "Benger Fusion State"—the so-called "Chrysalis Stage."

"At a time like this…?"

Clutching his chest, Shinji suddenly stopped resisting, allowing the toxic mist to engulf him.

"'Renji'!!!"

Kurosaki Masaki's eyes turned bloodshot as scarlet branches of energy ignited all over her body.

Even Nilu, standing there in shock, had a terrifying Reiatsu surging inside her, as if on the verge of transformation.

"Oh? So you've realized you're about to die and simply given up? A wise choice," Kurotsuchi Mayuri mused.

Then, turning his gaze to Masaki, he added, "And as for you—farewell, Quincy."

At last, it was over.

He had acquired an Adjuchas-class Arrancar—one of the rarest specimens in a hundred years.

On top of that, the corpse of a vice-captain-class Shinigami.

And even a Quincy with a strange bloodline, as well as an entire group of living Quincy.

A truly bountiful harvest.

Excitement flickered in Kurotsuchi Mayuri's golden eyes. The corners of his lips curled into a manic grin.

As he pondered how to divide up his research subjects, he suddenly turned his head, staring in disbelief at the thick purple mist.

From within—A monstrous Reiatsu erupted, making his scalp tingle!

"Impossible! This Reiatsu level… How can there be such a monster?!"

His golden pupils trembled.

The data on his lenses refreshed at an insane speed—until, with a loud bang, the lenses shattered!

Shinji's current Reiatsu output had exceeded the device's maximum detection limit!

"Damn it… He actually surpassed me…?"

Kurotsuchi Mayuri's face darkened.

His lenses were calibrated to his own maximum Reiatsu limit—the highest threshold they could measure.

And yet, Kuchiki Shinji's Reiatsu was so overwhelming that they outright exploded!

A sixth-generation Shinigami student with no real reputation—And he possessed this much power?

What kind of nonsense was that?!

A suffocating weight pressed down on him.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri gritted his teeth, understanding full well what was happening.

Shinji's Reiatsu alone was crushing him.

Even as a Gotei 13 Captain, he was being utterly overpowered!

What the hell was this?!

His golden eyes remained locked onto the thick mist.

Within it—A new monster was being born.