Chapter 340: The Assault

"Fall, Niraiba!" Shinji Hirako had nothing more to say to Kenpachi Kiganjo. Reflecting on his earlier praise of the man now seemed foolish to him. With a soft murmur, he released his Zanpakutō.

His sword's hilt was rectangular, with a square pattern and four rectangular cutouts surrounding the blade. Upon release, the hilt's tip became a hollow circle, and the blade bore five small round holes, exuding a faint fragrance.

"Resonate, Kinshara!" A golden whip with a blossom at its tip appeared in Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi's hand.

"Shatter, Tengumaru!" A massive, cactus-like spiked club was brandished by Love Aikawa, who assumed an imposing stance.

"Turn to ash, Tenteikaze!" Kensei Muguruma gripped his released Zanpakutō, a short dagger, in reverse. His stern gaze fixed on H'el as he asked, "H'el, do you remember when we first met? Before we fight, let me ask you—why are you doing this? Why did you hurt Shunsui Kyōraku? And why are you going to such lengths to bring forth the Gates of Hell?"

Kensei couldn't understand. After finally finding safety in the Seireitei after months of turmoil, H'el and his group had found a place where they could live without fear. Why now, of all times, would he unleash the Gates of Hell, turning the Seireitei into a place of danger?

Did he not realize that by doing so, he would have no place left in the Soul Society?

Kensei remembered cautioning H'el when he escorted them back to the Seireitei, warning him of the potential consequences.

H'el was destroying his future.

It wasn't just Kensei; the other captains were also curious, their aggressive stances momentarily easing. Ukitake Jūshirō, in particular, was eager to understand why Shunsui would have fought against H'el.

"I led Shunsui Kyōraku into the Great Spirit Library to view the records of the creation of the Three Worlds, where we encountered a man named Tsunayashiro Tokida. He stopped me from reading the records."

H'el spoke calmly, ready to explain to Kensei. H'el was known for his gentle demeanor, and at the Shin'ō Academy, he was praised by everyone. There was nothing he wouldn't discuss, so he continued, "So now, I plan to destroy the Tsunayashiro family to prevent them from stopping me. But Shunsui Kyōraku opposed me.

"Is that clear enough?"

H'el's eyes swept over the captains, who had released their Zanpakutō. As he slightly turned his right hand, the blade gleamed in the sunlight.

"Uh..."

H'el, as always, was straightforward, answering questions without holding back. He was simply someone who wanted to read. Kensei didn't know how to respond.

The Great Spirit Library was not a place for ordinary people. Did he not consider that?

H'el's calm tone made the captains realize that he had an utter disregard for rules and laws. His path would not be hindered by any rule, law, or even power.

"What an arrogant child."

In just a few words, the captains formed an impression of H'el. His arrogance was astonishing, as was his determination to enter the Great Spirit Library, confront the Tsunayashiro family, and even destroy them if opposed.

He was more arrogant than any noble in history.

"If you weren't caught, it wouldn't be a crime. But now that you've been discovered, face the consequences," Shinji Hirako said, baring his jagged teeth in a grin as he twisted his Zanpakutō's hilt with his finger.

As Shinji's smile grew more eerie, he said, "I know your will won't be swayed. So, there's no point in talking. To fulfill your will, you'll have to get through us first."

Kensei tightened his grip on his short dagger, his eyes sharp and his stance ready for battle.

Love Aikawa and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi leaped apart, forming a semicircle around H'el, with Shinji leading the assault. A soothing fragrance spread across the area.

H'el glanced at Shinji's rotating Sakanade, clearly feeling the fragrance invading his body's sensory system, trying to control it. The last time he was controlled like this was by Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu.

"Did you notice? This fragrance is my Zanpakutō's ability," Shinji said, seeing H'el focus on his Zanpakutō. Grinning, he added, "We're not fools like Kenpachi Kiganjo."

With a slight bend of his knee, Shinji used Shunpo, disappearing from his spot and reappearing in front of H'el, striking down from above.

Instinctively, H'el tried to sidestep, but his body moved toward Shinji's Sakanade instead. He quickly adjusted, tilting his head.

Shinji's blade sliced across H'el's shoulder, leaving a deep gash down to the ribs. Yet, no blood splattered; H'el had sealed it within his body, preventing any from spilling.

"Quick reflexes. Did you figure it out? No matter what, you'll get hit!" Shinji grinned, his teeth bared, as he swung Sakanade for another strike. H'el took a step back to evade, the blade narrowly missing his nose.

After missing his follow-up attack, Shinji didn't press further and retreated.

"Those who inhale Sakanade's fragrance will have their sense of direction—up, down, left, right, front, back—reversed. When you try to dodge, you're actually moving into their attacks. Feel the confusion, the distorted sense of direction, and die amidst their assaults."

Shinji's grin widened as he stepped back, making room for the others to attack. He spoke in a tone meant to unnerve his enemy.

The other captains took over the assault.

Kensei Muguruma swung his short dagger, the trajectory of his strikes turning into thin, blue-green blades of wind. These wind blades would dismember any enemy they touched and cause their bodies to explode.

Love Aikawa raised his massive, cactus-like spiked club, Tengumaru, spinning it twice to build up centrifugal force before smashing it down on H'el.

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi swung his golden whip, Kinshara, in a circular motion, creating a disc-like area before snapping it straight, sending the flower-tipped whip toward H'el with explosive force.

In that instant, the three remaining captains closed in, each unleashing their Shikai abilities in a coordinated assault.

"Bakudō #8: Seki no Shihō!"

H'el softly chanted, and the wound on his chest began to heal as a barrier-like screen materialized around him. It blocked Kensei's wind blades, absorbed the impact from Love's Tengumaru, and withstood the explosion from Kinshara, leaving H'el unharmed.

H'el calmly stepped out from the explosion caused by Kinshara.

"Do you know how long it takes for visual signals to reach the brain?"

°°°

A/N: My bad for the late update

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