Chapter #20 - Duel Request?

Well, since I haven't written for a while, I have forgotten many things. I hope it doesn't feel weird. Well, if you like it, I would be happy if you press a power stone.

***

Immobility, being restricted... It was such a bad feeling that it was indescribable. It was to stand there without any arms or legs and to experience the depths of helplessness. Combined with an insatiable hunger... It was like death.

And yet he lived. Somehow he managed to attract other Hollows. And the Hollows he attracted became fertilizer for him. He thought it would be the same today. He was pleased when a group of Hollows was drawn.

At least it would fulfill his reiryoku needs for a few days. Wouldn't it?

But as the battle progressed, the Tree realized this was not the case. These wolves were destroying his soldiers like they were nothing!

The wolf pack attacked in a wild symphony. Every move was calculated, every attack was deadly. Teeths tore flesh and claws broke bones. The hollow soldiers tried desperately to fight back, but the wolves were much faster and stronger. They dodged attacks with nimble strides, then delivered killing blows.

The leader of the wolves' eyes sparkled with interest as he moved towards the body. Each step made the earth tremble. As the tree's eyes watched the wolves' superiority and ferocity, the fear in them grew. Each Hollow's fall deepened its despair.

The tree activated its branches. It swung them like a whip, trying to drive the wolves away, but the branches were ineffective against the agility and speed of the wolves. The wolves moved forward, skillfully dodging the branches, parrying and countering each attack. Each swing of the branches was intercepted and neutralized by the wolves.

As the wolf pack quickly overpowered the Hollow monsters, their leader Kizuna's eyes were intently watching the tree. He wanted to know its power, its limits. As the tree continued to resist, Kizuna felt the reiatsuyu inside the tree. This was no ordinary Hollow, it was of a stranger nature.

As the wolves' attacks continued, they learned more about the tree's resilience and strength. As Kizuna understood the tree's strength and how it moved, he thought it might be a more useful Hollow than he had expected.

As the tree's desperation grew, the pack of wolves attacked without a moment's hesitation. The wolves worked in unison to close the distance between them and the tree and completely neutralize it. At the end of the battle, when the tree could no longer defend itself, Kizuna's triumphant gaze sealed its fate.

The tree was completely immobilized. Bloody severed bodies were strewn everywhere and its branches were damaged. Its condition was not unlike that of a dying Hollow. As the wolves slowly retreated, Kizuna, savoring his victory, advanced slowly and powerfully and straightened his neck. The moonlight cast a noble glow on him, his mane and fur shivering slightly in the wind.

"Do you want freedom?" Kizuna asked, his voice cold.

The tree could not understand what he meant. Kizuna continued to stare at it, cold and proud. The tree was stunned by a being that stood so strong and mighty in front of it. Kizuna's determination and power only deepened the tree's despair.

"Didn't you hear? I'm saying, do you want to walk like me? Do you want to go beyond your current state? To the next step of evolution... Do you want to move on?" Kizuna's voice echoed with a dark and alluring timbre. This offer sparked a spark of hope in the tree.

The tree tried to understand Kizuna's words. The opportunity Kizuna was offering gave it not only the freedom to move, but also the chance to become stronger. With these thoughts, the hunger and desire for power flared within the tree.

Kizuna watched the tree's reaction carefully. He could feel the struggle and desire in it. This Hollow wanted more and Kizuna was giving it the opportunity. The tree tried to move slowly and with difficulty, its branches trembled slightly. It was accepting this opportunity that Kizuna was offering.

Kizuna smiled with satisfaction when he saw the tree's reaction. "Then listen and watch. I will set you free and we will be stronger together. Join me and I will set you free," Kizuna said, his voice full of determination.

With those words, Kizuna bit the tree. He wanted it. Because he knew the value of a power that could build an army. This strange Hollow, among the many different types of power he had seen, had the kind of power he would undoubtedly want. It had the power to create its own soldiers.

Imagine, a regularly produced army, powered by his own Wolfiction... Of course, the Hollow might have its limits, but only a fool would refuse an army of soldiers that could protect his harem even when he was not present.

His teeth sank into the tree and tore a deep chunk out of its trunk. The tree doubted his words, but swore to serve him faithfully if what he said was true. In desperate pain it could only howl. As it screamed like a beast, Kizuna took a few steps back and watched the scene.

Separating the trunk and its branches was a skull, separate from other human skulls. This skull looked like a bull and presented an eerie image. It was the first to change. The horns stayed the same, but the skull shape became more organic. The facial structure became a little more wolf-like.

Its body became thinner and smaller. On its back, two main branches remained, like a pair of wings, and many smaller branches. But the roots attached to its trunk shrunk and became a pair of legs. Its tree-like skin became a little more animated, taking on a humanoid form.

And when it was finally complete, the Tree knelt. The bond between them was palpable, but there was something more important than that. The Tree could feel in his bones that he had been endowed with great power.

"I am grateful that you have given me this power." his voice was full of loyalty. He added with determination as he bowed his head slightly:

"I am Rudbornn Chelute, your wish is my command."

Kizuna nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. From today you are under my command. Come on, let's go. Hop on my back."

Rudbornn paused for a moment at the strangeness of the order, but quickly obeyed. He climbed on top of Kizuna and Kizuna started running at full speed.

***

To summarize what happened after all this, first he reported the situation to Aizen and as a result Rubornn was transformed and got his own number. Then, on Aizen's orders - something he had expected - he was assigned to form his own team.

The beings he created were called Exequias. Their appearance was... Uh, something weird like a muscular werewolf, closer to human. Kizuna wasn't sure how good or bad that was. Still, their hands could hold a weapon. That should have been enough. At least he hoped so.

Well, apart from that, Rubornn was primarily tasked with protecting Kizuna's mansion. Even if no one was weak, more protection couldn't hurt and Kizuna was happy with that.

Now he was planning ahead. He was thinking of ways to synthesize what he had learned from the Ability Tree into different techniques, which he could do. It would just take time, and he had that time. At least that's what he thought at the moment.

Apart from that, there was something else he had to think about. Should he talk to Coyote Starrk, the most powerful Espada known to man?

Come on, he would want someone as powerful as him by his side. He seemed much more trustworthy than weird, arrogant, unstable personalities like Sayezelaporro or Barragan. And his other half... Uhm, there was no need to mention that.

As he was sitting outside thinking, Tier Harribel approached him with slow steps and asked him an unexpected question:

"What do you say to a duel?"