Kapitel 143: Mayuri Seizes the MVP

Last night when Ailin sensed the spatial disturbance emanating from the Rukongai, he knew Shinji Hirako and the others had been relocated to Squad 12's barracks by Tessai Tsukabishi's forbidden spatial Kidō.

Today, after receiving the mandatory arrest warrant from Central 46, Ailin could not detect Kisuke Urahara's reiatsu within the 12th Division grounds. Clearly, he was still inside the barrier, helping Kensei and the others master Hollowfication.

Though ordered to apprehend Urahara, Ailin did not wish to directly interfere and disrupt his efforts to save the eight Hollowfied victims. So by brazenly invading the 12th Division compound with Squad 11 members, he intended to stall for time by engaging the divisional forces.

He recalled Urahara originally emerged from the barrier this morning, thinking his endeavor failed, only to be captured then.

Mayuri's obstruction perfectly aligned with Ailin's scheme.

"Gosuke."

"Captain Ailin."

"Squad 12's members are obstructing our mission's execution. What are you all standing around for?"

"Yes sir, Captain!"

"Everyone, follow me - we'll detain anyone impeding our orders under the same charges!"

"Hmph hmph hmph, they've underestimated my 12th Division forces." Mayuri scoffed as he drew his Zanpakutō and intoned the release command.

"Rip, Ashisogi Jizo!"

Instantly, his sword transformed into a golden trident weapon, seemingly with a golden infant's face between the hilt and blades.

"Attack!"

"Kill them!"

With Gosuke and Mayuri releasing their Zanpakutō, the Shinigami of Squads 11 and 12 immediately clashed within the 12th Division grounds.

Squad 11's members generally outmatched the 12th Division's forces in ability, each easily handling three or four opponents simultaneously.

However, only thirty-four of Squad 11 accompanied Ailin to apprehend Urahara, while this was the 12th Division's home territory.

Though Squad 11 initially breached several corridors, destroying equipment as they advanced nearly a hundred meters into the compound, reinforcements soon stabilized the defensive line for Squad 12.

Particularly without Ailin directly engaging, 6th Seat Gosuke and 7th Seat Maki Ichinose barely held off Mayuri at full power.

Of course, Mayuri deliberately restrained himself as well. He was no fool. While uncertain of Urahara's transgressions warranting Central 46's arrest order, Mayuri could surmise that even if escaping this time, Urahara would be stripped of his captain's position.

Per their agreement, once Urahara departed, the 12th Division's resources would become Mayuri's personal research domain.

By obstructing Ailin now, not only was he repaying Urahara for liberating him from the Nest of Maggots, but protecting his soon-to-be division's equipment from damage. Additionally, from Ailin, Mayuri sensed an immensely profound threat. Any covetous desires aimed at the captain would invite unimaginable terror.

So Mayuri maintained just enough pressure on Gosuke and Maki to avoid provoking Ailin's ire.

This skirmish swiftly drew the other Gotei 13 captains' attention, yet with no word from the Captain-Commander, they awaited updates at their respective divisions.

Given yesterday's disappearance of the four captains and lieutenants investigating the soul incidents, followed by Squad 11's assault on the 12th Division today, no one doubted some connection existed.

As more reinforcements arrived, Squad 12 gradually forced the Squad 11 members back.

While Squad 11 relied primarily on Zanjutsu, the 12th Division employed various unconventional tactics and strange inventions that caught their foes off-guard repeatedly.

Some members were even captured after being defeated. Seeing his forces faltering, Ailin finally entered the fray himself.

"Hmmm!"

A brilliant golden radiance erupted, drawing every Shinigami's gaze skyward toward Squad 12's airspace. There, over five hundred shimmering golden rifts had manifested, blanketing the entire division compound.

Then, from these rifts, countless Zanpakutō blades began emerging, their tips pointing downward.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, one blade transformed into a golden lightning bolt, blasting the tallest building and utterly demolishing it in a massive fiery explosion. The shockwave and flames scoured the surrounding area, carving a crater dozens of meters wide in the earth.

"This...?"

"Gulp..."

Witnessing this display, every member of Squad 12 paled with dread, involuntarily swallowing hard.

Just one falling blade obliterated that edifice, its overwhelming force blasting a vast pit into the ground.

If all those rifts unleashed their volleys, the entire 12th Division compound would be instantly reduced to rubble.

"All Squad 12 members, immediately disarm and submit to Squad 11's supervision. If you continue resisting, then I shall become your opponent!"

Amplified by the lingering explosive force, Ailin's declaration left the 12th Division forces no choice but to surrender their weapons at the Squad 11 members' direction, separating into guarded holding areas. Yet one man refused to capitulate so readily.

"Damn you!"

"You dare..." Mayuri lashed out with Ashisogi Jizo, swiftly impaling Gosuke and Maki.

Afflicted by his Zanpakutō's abilities, the two immediately collapsed, their brains severed from controlling their bodies.

"Impossible..."

Neither could comprehend this abrupt defeat when moments ago they had fought evenly against Mayuri.

After neutralizing them, Mayuri charged recklessly toward Ailin. The building Ailin obliterated housed Mayuri's most precious creations intended to surpass Urahara - but now destroyed before their completion.

How could he possibly accept that?

Of course, none of Squad 12's members knew those details. They only witnessed their stubborn lieutenant recklessly attacking the man threatening to demolish their entire division despite everyone else surrendering.

"Captain Mayuri!"

At that moment, Mayuri's standing among Squad 12 surpassed even their actual captain, Urahara himself.

After all, Squad 11 came to apprehend their division leader, yet throughout this ordeal, Urahara never appeared - only Mayuri defiantly leading the resistance against the invaders.

What use was a captain who couldn't protect his forces when crisis struck?

"Unforgivable!" With an enraged roar, Mayuri hurled Ashisogi Jizo at Ailin while shouting his Bankai release command.

"Bankai - Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo!"

Boom!

An immense surge of reiatsu erupted from the thrown Zanpakutō. To everyone's shock, it rapidly began expanding into a massive, caterpillar-like creature with a golden baby's head, grey eyes, and a white halo. Its worm-like torso bristled with innumerable blades protruding forward, while two stubby golden hands gave it an almost cute appearance. A red cape billowed from its neck as well.

As Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo breathed, noxious purple miasma spread outward, slowly corroding the nearby structures.

"Geeee geeee geeee..."

Screeching under Mayuri's control, the creature writhed toward Ailin's position.

Whoosh!

Before the awestruck gazes of Squad 12's members, three golden lightning bolts descended from the rifts above.

In an instant, they pierced straight through Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō's body. Their overwhelming power then detonated from within the creature.

To everyone's horror, the bankai form began rapidly expanding before erupting in a titanic blast, the shockwave and flames scouring the area in devastation.

Boom!

Only then did the thunderous explosion reach their ears. Mayuri's Bankai had been utterly erased, without a trace remaining.

"Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō..."

Mayuri cried out in disbelief as the shockwave slammed him to the ground before his own subordinates.

"Lieutenant Mayuri..."

Though Squad 12's members admired their lieutenant's bravery in challenging Captain Ailin, as members of Squad 11 themselves, they took pride in their captain's supreme prowess.

For a Bankai to be so casually obliterated...

While a Shinigami's Zanpakutō spirit would eventually recover alongside its wielder's reiatsu, those traumatic memories would persist.

Especially for Mayuri's unique biological-type Zanpakutō, they wondered if it could ever fully manifest in Ailin's presence again without succumbing to dread.

Regardless of its futility against their captain, the Squad 11 members still mourned Mayuri's loss in silence.

A shattered Zanpakutō hilt clattered to the ground before Mayuri, its scorched fragmentary blade a mocking testament to his reckless overreach.

Just then, the training grounds entrance creaked open as an exhausted Urahara finally emerged.

"What... what is this situation?"

Already disheartened by his failure to reverse Shinji Hirako's Hollowfication, Urahara was stunned to find his division's forces detained, with a very familiar figure observing from above.

"Captain Urahara, I've received orders from Central 46 to arrest you and the Grand Kidō Chief, Tessai Tsukabishi. If you resist, I am authorized to execute you both on the spot. Now give me your answer, Captain. Will you surrender peacefully, or resist fruitlessly?"

Urahara opened his mouth but said nothing as Tessai appeared behind him, neither showing any intent to fight back.

With Urahara's arrival, Squad 11's apprehension mission was now complete.

After personally delivering Urahara and Tessai to the custody unit for transport to Central 46's compound, Ailin dismissed his Squad 11 members back to their barracks while he intended to return to the Kuchiki Manor and resume his card-drawing efforts as usual.

The subsequent proceedings no longer concerned him directly. He had no desire to linger outside the trial chambers, only to potentially interfere with Yoruichi's eventual exfiltration of Urahara.

However, on his way back, Ailin encountered an unexpected figure.

"Well, well, if it isn't Captain Ailin. How fortuitous to cross paths with you here."

"Captain Kyōraku, for you to utter such a blatant untruth, I'd never believe it." Ailin bluntly saw through Kyōraku's banter.

"Hahaha, yet here we are, facts on the ground."

"If you have business, Captain, simply state it directly. Given our near brotherhood through Little Nanao Ise, we've no need for pretenses."

Indeed, had Nanao became Ailin and Haruko's adopted daughter all those years ago, by familial extension Ailin could almost consider the older Kyōraku his "brother" of sorts.