Chapter #19 - Tree

I'm back. After a long period of deathly reluctance and depressive thoughts... I hope you missed it!

***

"Well now... What will happen?" Cirucci asked curiously. Kizuna answered with a slight smile.

"Nothing. Roam around as you please. As long as you're here, you're safe. If you're far away and in danger, I'll come to help. That's it."

Cirucci looked at Kizuna in astonishment, and her eyes widened even more when she noticed Antonella suddenly emerging from the ground. Yes, Antonella had appeared quietly from the ground without breaking anything. Cirucci recoiled and took a few steps back.

Kizuna gave Antonella a curious look. "What happened, Antonella?"

Antonella stood up with her usual expressionless face and began to explain, "Master, there's an Arrancar outside who says he's waiting for you."

Kizuna raised an eyebrow, showing his interest. "Who is it?"

Antonella answered coolly, "Szayelaporro Granz."

Kizuna nodded slightly upon hearing the name. He wondered why Szayelaporro Granz was here.

From what he remembered, Szayelaporro was the alchemist of Barragan's palace. Known for his unique arrogance and twisted perfectionism, what could this Arrancar's reason for coming be? He was lost in thoughts for a moment, then he made his decision

"Alright, Antonella. I'm coming. Let's see what he wants."

Cirucci turned her curious and astonished gaze to Kizuna. "Szayelaporro Granz? What is he doing here?"

Kizuna, giving her a look of interest, stood up from his chair. "Do you know him?"

Cirucci gave Kizuna a strange look and then immediately followed him. "Who doesn't know the mad scientist?"

Kizuna nodded with a slight smile. "Yes, you're right. Szayelaporro's reputation is widespread. But we need to understand what he's doing here."

Guided by Antonella, they both moved towards the door, with Cirucci's face showing curiosity and slight apprehension. As Kizuna walked, he considered many possibilities in his mind. Szayelaporro Granz's arrival was definitely not an ordinary visit.

When they reached the door, Szayelaporro's characteristic arrogant and cool demeanor immediately stood out. His eyes had their usual knowing expression.

"You," Szayelaporro began in a mocking tone. "You're Kizuna, aren't you?"

Kizuna crossed his arms over his chest and slightly nodded. "Yes. What are you doing here, numero?"

Szayelaporro's eyes narrowed slightly. "I have an offer for you," he began, his tone still mocking.

Kizuna looked at him. A scientist could undoubtedly be useful, but he didn't think he wanted someone with such a problematic personality as an ally.

Still, indicating he was listening, Kizuna gave a slight nod and let Szayelaporro speak. Szayelaporro glanced at Cirucci beside him and those watching around. He considered himself far superior to them, so he had a confident smile on his face.

"Take me into your faction. With my knowledge and skills-"

Kizuna cut him off instantly. "No. I don't like your smell."

Szayelaporro's face immediately twisted. "What?" he growled.

Kizuna nodded affirmatively. "You heard me right. I don't like your smell. You're not a woman, and your attitude is not suitable for long-term teamwork. I can't take you into my pack, my faction. Simply put, wrong gender bro."

There was a brief silence after he said this. Emilou Apacci burst out laughing like a man, "Did you really just say that?" Cyan Sung-Sun chuckled politely, and Mila Rose just grinned. As the humor of the situation spread like a virus, only Cirucci watched in astonishment.

Szayelaporro heard the laughter directed at him, gritted his teeth in anger, but a confusion formed in his mind. Szayelaporro had of course heard the rumors about Kizuna being a 'womanizer'.

However, finding a place as secure as Kizuna's residence, where he could conduct his experiments more comfortably and prepare better for becoming an Espada, was difficult. Besides, Szayelaporro had full confidence in his own power.

The tragicomic situation here confused him. His eyes filled with deep contempt for Kizuna and the others laughing at him. However, seeing Kizuna's determined stance and his allies' laughter, he realized there wasn't much he could do.

Kizuna took another step towards Szayelaporro and looked him in the eyes. "If you still want, we can be allies, but my faction... No. I appreciate your science. Your talent, but you're not someone who can fit in with us. If there's nothing else, please leave."

Kizuna wasn't someone who would deal with Szayelaporro's unstable personality. It was out of the question for him to take someone who would only cause headaches into his faction.

Instead of getting angrier, Szayelaporro let out a haughty "Hmph!" and pushed aside his dangling hair. "You'll regret this," he said, then turned and began to walk away.

As he turned, his face darkened. This had gone worse than he expected. As alternative options swirled in his mind, he realized Kizuna and his allies were more foolish than he had anticipated.

Cirucci looked at Kizuna with admiration. "Did you really reject him? Having someone like him in your faction could have been a huge advantage."

Antonella looked at Kizuna approvingly. Surprisingly, she was smiling, which was different from her usual flat demeanor. "It's good he's not with us."

Kizuna laughed, holding his head and making a joke in response to the contrasting comments: "Maybe if he were a beautiful woman, but I can't deal with an unstable man."

However, this statement was met with a short silence. Then all eyes turned to him, and as if they were stating a common truth, the same word came out of everyone's mouth.

"Pervert."

Kizuna was momentarily stunned by this unexpected reaction. Seeing the serious expressions on everyone's faces, he quickly gathered himself, raised his hands in surrender, and laughed. "Yes, I admit, I am! Please don't look at me so accusingly."

***

Days passed since this event. Kizuna reported to Aizen that he had reached his limit and, explaining the situation, requested to withdraw all the wolves to rest. Considering that Kizuna was doing the work of multiple Vasto Lorde, Aizen granted him permission to rest.

When the wolves returned, Kizuna took a deep breath and began to rest with pleasure. He had waited a long time for this moment and could finally relax his mind a bit. Yet, instead of resting quietly in his bed, he was now running on the sand with the wolf pack under the moonlight reflecting over the vast terrain of Hueco Mundo.

These days, he had also taken care of Barragan's business. He had fulfilled the compensation he promised, providing him with a gorilla-type being. It was brainless, but undoubtedly useful in terms of muscle power.

And besides, while finding it, he found something interesting and was now heading towards it.

What he found... was a tree. You know, in Hueco Mundo, solid minerals in the shape of trees could be found. However, this thing was a real living tree. Though its longevity was debatable. Like the surrounding trees, it lacked leaves. It only had branches and fruits. Yes, fruits.

These fruits, indistinguishable from the white skulls of its trunk, emanated an allure hard to define. The reiatsu emanating from it could undoubtedly make any ordinary Hollow rush to eat it instantly.

The tree, noticing them, dropped its fruits. The falling skull fruits stood up in a humanoid form.

These creatures moved in a gloomy silence. Every fruit that fell from the tree turned into a grotesque Hollow upon hitting the ground, slowly rising and starting to move towards Kizuna. Each of them displayed a terrifying and savage appearance as they approached Kizuna, awakening the hunter within him.

Kizuna licked his lips and glanced briefly at his wolves. The wolves, like him, were on alert, ready to attack. Kizuna, stepping forward with interest and excitement, moved towards the creatures. He wanted to see the limits of this intriguing Hollow.