Chapter 31: Experiment


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya crossed his arms as his gaze drifted across M Rose’s naked body. “You’re one terrifying exhibitionist kitten.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She scoffed and picked up her shirt from the ground before putting it on. “Not more than you. When are you breaking your mask?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She couldn''t fathom facing him if he received the same power boost as her upon bing an Arrancar. However, it didn''t matter, as she was determined to hone her skills and grow even stronger.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I wonder the same,” said Ciri as she jumped down from the hill. “It’s the single biggest power boost you can get as a Vasto Lorde. I did it. She did it. When we’re in need of desperate power, why are you backing out of it?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Having replenished a substantial portion of her Reiryoku, Ciri had utilized some of her regained energy to clean herself and eradicate all traces of blood. Her silver mane now glistened with a captivating allure, revealing the meticulous effort she had invested in her appearance. Kazuya couldn''t help but observe her once more: a regal mane joint with two droopy wings, and a sleek, dolphin-like tail trailing behind her — all the result of her damaged Zanpakutō leaving her in a peculiar half-released, half-Arrancar form.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Wow, you went through all this effort just for me. I''m so touched," he teased with a yful wink. "Here''s apliment for you, Ciri, our murderous goth chick — you look less fucked-up than before. Well done."


    <span style="font-weight:400">His backhandedpliment earned him a re that could have in a dragon. “Don’t change the topic. Are you perhaps afraid of failure? The big jerk who beat down two of the strongest Espada is afraid of death?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya shrugged. “I am more afraid of letting everyone down. As much as I trust in their abilities, they can’t survive Baraggan without me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was just a sophisticated way of admitting he was afraid of dying mid-process. He was living quite the life in Hueco Mundo. It would be almost tragic if he died like that. Knowing his luck, it might just happen.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He wasn''t a coward. He was cautious.


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose frowned. “Then don’t fail, Skull. Here, I will break it with my sword.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya caught her sword mid strike and raised a brow. “Ciri, let’s leave.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Kazuya, don’t back out. Have trust in yourself,” Ciri urged as she folded her arms. “The process is easy. Subdue your wildness and seal your powers in the form of an object. It’s how Szayel described it to Espada.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She absolutely had no ulterior motive like witnessing his agonizing screams.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Szayel? That mad scientist? He is an Espada?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri’s heart skipped a beat as she realized her mistake in bringing up Szayel. She confessed to being a twisted soul, sometimes delighting in the suffering of others. But Szayel was an entirely different species of sadist—a deranged lunatic with no qualms about pushing the boundaries of his experiments. The sheer terror he invoked was the sole driving force behind her allegiance to Baraggan.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Life held no particr value for her, but she would do anything to avoid bing a specimen in hisboratory of horrors.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Anything.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, what’s the matter?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri felt a little calm after hearing his soothing voice. “Szayel is Baraggan’s Court Alchemist. Número Uno Espada. How do you know him?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Damn. Give me the name of the rest of Espada, their abilities, their strengths, and their weaknesses.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri divulged the information without a moment''s hesitation. While the Espada wererades in the loosest sense, their alliance was born solely out of mutual subjugation to Baraggan. No true bond of camaraderie united them like genuine soldiers.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya became more and more surprised at the information being fed to him. How could he not? He never expected Espada under Baraggan to be as powerful as they would be under Aizen and his Hōgyoku. But the reality waspletely different.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Baraggan had seven Espada serving under him, which got reduced to five with Dordoni and Ciri’s departure.


    <span style="font-weight:400">#1 Szayporro


    <span style="font-weight:400">#2 Luppi Antenor


    <span style="font-weight:400">#3 Dordoni


    <span style="font-weight:400">#4 Loly


    <span style="font-weight:400">#5 Ciri


    <span style="font-weight:400">#6 Aaroniero


    <span style="font-weight:400">#7 Gantenbainne


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya marveled at the apparent weakness of the current Espada lineup. Aside from Szayporro and Baraggan, he anticipated little difficulty in defeating the remaining Espada. Their rankings weren''t based on raw strength or their Aspect of Death like Aizen’s Espada; instead, they were determined by their usefulness and loyalty to Baraggan. After battling Dordoni and Ciri, two of the strongest Espada, Kazuya had overestimated the might of Baraggan''s forces.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Baraggan is the only problematic opponent. Well, let’s just have some rxing time in Japan.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">The Hollowdies would appreciate a refreshing change of scenery, particrly Harribel, who harbored no love for bloodshed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri regarded his contemtive expression. “What are you thinking now?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ciri, can you use your tail ability?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah. What do you want to do?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Do it for a second. I want to cut something. Make the spear as small as possible.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri lifted her tail and conjured a pinknce at its tip before it shrank into a dagger-like weapon. Kazuya seized her tail and brought the dagger close to his face, sensing the vibrating Reiatsu emanating from every edge of the de.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Rose, take this and cut a small part of my mask. Keep it as small as possible.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri’s spear was the sharpest and most precise weapon at his disposal.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ugh.” Ciri grimaced as she saw her tail being passed around. M Rose gripped her tail hard, enough to make her wince. “Be gentle.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Roseughed. “Bear with it, woman.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya closed his eyes, demonstrating unwavering trust in M Rose. She grasped his chin and carefully guided the dagger along the side of his mask. A tiny fragment of white mask tumbled to the ground.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya flinched as a searing pain pierced his soul. In mere moments, the mask regenerated to its original size, confirming his hypothesis regarding his Hollow Mask. His regeneration powers had improved after his battle with Ciri.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Amazing," Ciri murmured, awecing her voice. "I have never seen a Hollow regenerate their mask, much less with a speed visible to eyes. Your regenerative power is both astonishing and terrifying.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri’s praises reminded Kazuya of the other Arrancar who had simr regeneration powers — Ulquiorra Cifer. Their wings and horns looked different, but they both looked close to a typical demon.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Are we rted or what?’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">He narrowed his eyes and beckoned M Rose. "Get back to your Resurrión form and shatter my mask. If I fail to control myself, knock me out cold. I''ll recover… eventually."


    <span style="font-weight:400">The toughness of a Hollow Mask depended on their Reiryoku level. With his great Reiryoku, it would be hard to shatter his mask without a strong strike.


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose''s grin widened, revealing her ferocious lion fangs. “I will chop your penis if you go berserk. You won’t ever be able to mate.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Knowing Kazuya’s obsession with the act of mating, she threatened to cut off his most precious organ that allowed him to fulfill his sexual fantasies. The threat worked wonders as Kazuya shuddered visibly. Having experienced an injury close to his little brother, he was having traumatizing shbacks.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t even joke about that!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Haha.” M Rose stepped closer and held her Zanpakutō. “How do you want me to strike? Horizontal, vertical or diagonal?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Strike the middle of my face. Just don’t leave cut marks.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya closed his eyes, only to sense three presences closing in on him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wait!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose paused and looked at Harribel and the rest. “Skull, they’re gonna chew you alive.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Harribel crossed her arms on her chest, giving him a sharp look. “How many times do I have to say this? Don’t be reckless.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api, on the other, seemed pissed. “He tells me to hold off, then he pulls off something like this.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ara, I’m sure he is taking the risk to protect us. However.” Sung-Sun sharpened her reptilian eyes. “At least inform us if you’re making a decision of this stature.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">They seemed pissed at his choice to recklessly start the process behind their backs; their anger showed their care for him. It also reminded him of his previous lover. Yumi was easy to anger but always cared about his well-being.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s not reckless, geez. Listen…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya exined the reasoning behind his impulsive decision. Despite his sweet voice and persuasive skills, it took him a full minute to alleviate Harribel''s fears, yet a hint of concern still shone in her eyes.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Undeterred by their worries, Kazuya urged M Rose to proceed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Devour, Liona!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Unleashing her released state, she swung her Zanpakutō with one hand, slicing his mask in two.