Kiyota spread his wings. The feeling was nostalgic. His wingspan was larger, and he felt a sense of freedom.
"This is much better. Finally, I don't have to walk around slowly with my giant body. I'll be back, I've gotta stretch my wings." Kiyota said.
"Of course, my lord." Luna said, with a smile.
"Don't take long." Kain added.
Kiyota started beating his wings and he slowly took flight. As the wind rushed through his long black hair, he smiled under the mask. He flew high above the white sand dunes, his shadow fell on the ground as a went past.
The feeling was exhilarating. After months of living as a Gillian, Kiyota felt truly free to an extent, enjoying the sensation of the air against his skin.
After a few hours, Kiyota finally returned, landing gracefully beside Luna and Kain.
"Lord Jin," Luna greeted. "How was it?"
"Refreshing," Kiyota replied, grinning. "It's been a while since I've been able to fly."
"Good. Now that you've transformed, make me an arrancar." Kain said, looking at kiyota.
"No." Kiyota said.
"Why not?! You made me a promise." Kain said, looking angry.
"Because, You're not strong enough yet. That's why we have to kill adjuchas" Kiyota said.
'Well, I'm not completely lying. I need those SP points to be able to buy the Hōgyoku fragment from the shop.'
"I can't believe you're saying I'm not strong enough. What about that idiot?" Kain said pointing at Luna.
"I've beaten you before. And that idiot is stronger than you." Luna said, looking pissed.
"I'll show you." Kain said, his eyes filled with anger.
"Now, now. Let's calm down, you guys. Kain, once we've killed enough adjuchas, you'll get your reward. Right now, we have more important things to do." Kiyota said, trying to deescalate the situation.
"Fine. It's not like I don't like fighting. Let's go then." Kain said, looking disappointed.
"Yes, let's go. We can start killing adjuchas." Luna said.
'Status panel.' Kiyota thought to himself.
---
Host: Kiyota Jin
Level: 43
EXP: 6,000/18,000
Health: 234,000/234,000
Dexterity: 100,000
Strength: 186,000
Reiatsu: 80,000/80,000
Remaining status points: 515
Modifications: Obito's Sharingan
Skills: Danger Stop, Intermediate Genjutsu, Chidori, Perfect Instant Regeneration, Acid Touch, Acid Spit, Flame Breathing, Cero, Garganta
Shop: Available
Skill Crafting: Unavailable (unlocks at 50)
---
'I guess I can head back to the world of the living. I know I shouldn't but I want to. I need to check on Ichigo and Rukia. I don't want them to see me like this, though. These days I've spent if Hueco Mundo have been rough, and I've grown to understand the meaning of friendship. That sounds so corny, but when you've been stranded in a place where everything tries to kill you...' Kiyota thought.
'Garganta.'
A garganta opened in front of Kiyota and his two subordinates.
'I just wanted to see how it looks.'
"Let's go." Kiyota said as he walked away from the portal and headed the other direction from which they came.
"What is that black thing you made?" Kain asked.
"That is a Garganta. It's a portal back to the world of the living." Kiyota said sourly.
"You're going to leave us?!" Luna asked, shocked.
"No. I just wanted to see it." Kiyota replied.
"Hey, are you ok?" Siri asked, sensing Kiyota's feelings.
'Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.' Kiyota thought, trying to shake off his thoughts.
"I know everything you're thinking you know. I know you miss..." Siri said.
'There's no point being sad or anything. I'm close, I can feel it. I'm here already, might as well make the most of it and become strong enough to protect them. That's the whole point of all this. It's a means to an end.' Kiyota thought as he sighed inwardly.
'Anyway, I need to focus. Those adjuchas aren't gonna kill themselves.' Kiyota thought to himself.
Kiyota, Luna and Kain had been hunting adjuchas for a few weeks when the holographic popup appeared.
---
Quest complete: Kill 100 adhjchas
Reward: 900 status point, Gluttony.
---
'Alright finally. Open skills panel.' Kiyota thought.
'I was wondering what the gluttony skill was about.
"Here are the skills." Siri said, as the skills were shown.
___
New Skills:
1. Gluttony: User can directly absorb all the reiatsu from a corpse of someone slain. The corpse must be of someone slain by the user. The user can only absorb the reiatsu of someone weaker than them. There is a 5% chance to acquire a skill from the slain. This is a passive skill.
___
'Well, that's quite good. I'm guessing this will be a skill that is highly useful for me. Normally, hollows can do this as well when they kill and eat, but there's always a sort of spillage of reiatsu that is inefficient for fast growth. This should definitely speed up growth. But first I need to see if I can buy the Hōgyoku fragments. After all, I've gathered a lot of SP points.'
"Open the shop, Siri." Kiyota thought.A holographic screen appeared.
----
Weekly Shop
Items available:
1. Hōgyoku Fragment
- Price: 600 SP
- Description: A small piece of Aizen's reality-warping orb. Grants the ability to break the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow, allowing for transformation into an Arrancar. Use with caution.
2. Quincy Cross
- Price: 100 SP
- Description: A powerful artifact used by Quincies. Grants enhanced spiritual awareness and the ability to absorb and manipulate spiritual energy from defeated foes. The Quincy cross is the source of a Quincy's power.
3. Zoro's Enma (Zanpakutō/Resurrección version)
- Price: 150 SP
- Description: One of Zoro's swords, and it is described to be able to cut through to the bottom of hell. Draw's in users haki and uses it to enforce strikes. This is the Zanpakutō/Resurrección version and will only manifest once the user is able.
4. Hado 90: Kurohitsugi
- Price: 350 SP
- Description: Kurohitsugi is a high-level Kidō which seals its target in a black spiritual coffin. The practitioner generates purple/black spiritual energy, which envelops the target with a powerful torrent of gravity before taking the form of a box of black energy.
5. Shinigami's Robe
- Price: 100 SP
- Description: A robe worn by Soul Reapers, enhancing agility and providing minor protection against spiritual attacks. Wearing it creates a small camouflage.
---
Kiyota immediately purchased the Hōgyoku fragment but left it in his inventory. He was once again looking at the shop.
'Zoro's Enma... It's a good weapon, especially as Zanpakuto/Resurrección. The problem is, it would require me to train my haki. After seeing what happened to Zoro's hand... It's fine, I think I can control it. Let's purchase it.' Kiyota thought to himself.
Kiyota took out the Hōgyoku fragment out of his inventory, it appeared in his palm. It looked like a cracked glass shard that was emanating faint blue light. Kiyota was still wondering if the Hōgyoku fragment was something he could use, after all, it was a fragment, but he decided to use it anyway.
"Luna, Kain. It's time." Kiyota said, looking at his two subordinates.
"It's finally time." Kain said, sounding excited.
"Yes, Lord." Luna said.
"Wait... For what?" Kain asked.
"I'm gonna turn you both into an arrancar." Kiyota replied.
"Hell yeah! Let's do this. I've waited so long. Me first." Kain said, sounding happy.
"You idiot, I'm number one. Our lord will turn me first. And then you." Luna said, looking pissed.
"That doesn't mean anything." Kain replied.
'I've had enough of this. They'll keep on bickering until the day they die.'
"Kain! You first. Come up. Luna, watch." Kiyota said, his voice booming.
Kain immediately came forward, and stood in front of him. Kiyota held the fragment near his chest.