Chapter 662 Hougyoku’s Last Service
Through some unknown means, the Hougyoku started mixing Reiatsu-Ki and Demonic Power, resulting in a completely different type of energy that didn't just have the properties of the other three, but also some unknown ones that Kisuke couldn't tell as of now.
However, he wasn't able to observe much longer when this new energy returned to his body and started tearing it apart, "Guhh!!! Arrggghhhh!!!"
Even for the extremely pain-resistant Kisuke, with all his nerves and every cell in his body was being torn apart, he couldn't help but groan and howl in pain. "Kisuke!?", Kuroka, and especially Yoruichi, were very shocked by this.
He didn't reply, but Kisuke gritted his teeth and raised his arm to say that he was doing fine.
Although this new type of energy surpassed his existing ones, Kisuke didn't have a way to produce it naturally, so even if he had it, it would just deplete over time as he wouldn't be able to hold onto it forever either.
So in return, the Hougyoku tried to let Kisuke's body adapt to it, forcefully. If it was any other person, they would have instantly died and become a blob of messed-up meat. For Kisuke, fortunately, his Hollow factor immediately kicked in and hastily connected to his physical body, repairing it as it got destroyed over and over again.
From an outside perspective, white matter started coming out of Kisuke's orifices, covering his whole body like a cocoon. From that point on, Yoruichi and Kuroka couldn't hear any of Kisuke's cries anymore. "Yoruichi! What should we do, nya!?", asked Kuroka towards Yoruichi while starting to panic.
Yoruichi contemplated for a few seconds before sitting down, "We wait."
Kuroka gritted her teeth in frustration. But a few seconds later, she sighed and jumped away, leaving the words, "Some people have entered my mist. I'm going to watch them carefully in case they get closer."
Yoruichi watched her leave and then closed her eyes, focusing her senses on the changes in Kisuke, 'You better not go off dying on your own.'
Within Kisuke's inner world, Benihime watched her crimson castle collapse and the blood-filled world got drained. Since Kisuke's soul was directly connected to his physical body and started contesting it with regeneration, the new energy went towards it too, destroying it in a similar manner as Kisuke's body, exponentially increasing his torment. 'So this is my cue.', thought Benihime as she disappeared from her spot.
By becoming a bridge between his soul and physical body, Benihime was able to stabilize the circulation of Kisuke's regeneration, enabling it to catch up to the rate of destruction. However, this irreversibly changed things.
By becoming a bridge, Benihime had to absorb the same energy and change through it, effectively becoming a permanent link for Kisuke's soul and body. This meant that Kisuke wouldn't be able to separate his soul and body anymore without discarding Benihime, which he would never do. If his physical body were to die, his soul would come with it too.
Kisuke noticed Benihime's actions, but he trusted and didn't stop her.
The partners agonized for more than an hour until the forceful evolution ended.
Yoruichi hurriedly opened her eyes and stood up when she felt that Kisuke's cocoon started breaking. Meanwhile, Kuroka also returned when the disturbance within the barrier abated. The two of them watched as Kisuke's cocoon cracked and disappeared into nothing, revealing Kisuke with his pale blonde hair draping until his waist and 12 black energy streams ejecting from his back, resembling 6 pairs of black wings. There were also 2 more pairs of these energy streams, but they were very small and kept disappearing.
Yoruichi dispelled the barrier and used Flash Step to instantly appear in front of Kisuke, catching him as he fell, "Goodness... You really made us extremely worried there."
Without much strength, Kisuke looked up, "I also got extremely worried for myself... By the way, where's Benihime?"
"You're disoriented enough that you can't find her?", asked Yoruichi in shock before looking around.
But before she could find it, Kuroka found it first, "Is this her, nyaa?" She lifted what seemed to be a standard-issue katana.
Kisuke looked towards it and smiled, "Yep. Looks like she's returned to her original form."
After grabbing the katana, the energy streams from Kisuke's back receded, disappearing entirely.
Taking a deep breath, Kisuke tried standing up on his own. With great difficulty, he was able to do it, however, the feeling of weakness couldn't be compared to what he was feeling overall now. From his perspective, everything became so clear that even Ki, Magic Power and Spiritual Power streams were visible to his naked eye.
Each breath he takes slowly replenishes his missing energy. It was as if he was born with this body. Looking up to the parted sky, Kisuke muttered, "Yoruichi... I might just be a step behind transcendence."
Yoruichi's eyes widened before pouting, "That thing is really a cheating item. So the next time it starts acting up again, you'll be at Ophis' level?"
Kisuke chuckled and shook his head, "There won't be a next time. It's already gone."
Furrowing her brows, Yoruichi asked, "But in Aizen's case, it didn't disappear even after completely changing him. It might be strengthening him more to this day. Is yours different?"
"I'm pretty sure it isn't. But my path and my 'wish' went way beyond the Hougyoku's capabilities and therefore, it could only give me a huge boost and opportunity."
Yoruichi became silent for a moment before muttering, "It's really a different path, alright? Even this close to you, I can't feel any Reiatsu nor Ki coming from you. Not even Magic Power or Demonic Power... It really looks like you're just an ordinary everyday young man."
Hearing that, Kisuke chuckled even more, "That's great news, then! I'm becoming closer to my ideal merchant image!"
"That's what's important to you, nyaa!?", Kuroka retorted from the side.
"What up with that question? Of course, it's important! It's my main profession, after all!", Kisuke retorted back.
Yoruichi immediately got in between the two of them and said while shrugging her shoulders, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You two argue about that later, but for now, get dressed Kisuke. We're not alone in this forest."
"Right. I don't really have a hobby of exposing myself.", with a snap of his finger, the black energy with a touch of crimson surrounded Kisuke before forming into his usual attire, "This is neat~!"
He then faced Yoruichi and said, "Please cut my hair."
Taking out her knife, Yoruichi went behind him and said, "Sit down."
As Kisuke sat down, he looked down on his Zanpakuto, Benihime, and thought, 'Looks like the ordeal stressed you out too, huh... Rest well.'
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶