Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 172 - Debriefing

Seven days later, a funeral of no small scale was held in the Soul Society.

The casualties from this expedition to Hueco Mundo exceeded thirty. Adding the deaths of the teachers from Squad 5 and the students from the sixth-year assessment, the total dead had already surpassed one hundred. It was a considerable loss for the Soul Society. From seated officers down to reserve Shinigami, there were losses at every level.

Each division separately mourned the warriors who had fallen on the front lines. Squad 5 suffered the heaviest casualties by far.

But if those squad members knew they had died at the hands of their own captain, one wonders whether they could rest in peace beneath the nine springs.

Not only the Shinigami divisions, funerals were also being held among the noble houses. Every noble family had juniors who had perished in this assessment. And among them, Wayne attended the funeral of Yagami China.

Unlike the World of the Living, Yagami China's funeral was rather austere. The family simply wore white robes and knelt before her memorial tablet, waiting to receive the respects of those who came to mourn.

Wayne, this time, wore a set of black clothes. He waited quietly to the side as all the mourners passed before Yagami China's coffin in turn.

His identity here was no longer that of a student at Shin'ō Academy, but rather that of a retainer of the Yagami family and a vigil keeper for Yagami China.

And this matter had to be traced back to the debriefing a few days earlier.

After Wayne and Rangiku returned to the Soul Society, they received treatment from Squad 4. Yagami China was even personally attended to by Squad 4 Captain Retsu Unohana. Unfortunately, by the time Wayne brought her back, she had long since stopped breathing. No matter how superb Captain Unohana's medical skills were, she could not bring the dead back to life. In the end, Yagami China's body was taken home by the current head of the Yagami family, Ryo Yagami, who thanked Wayne in person for bringing her back. At the same time, he expressed his hope that Wayne would formally join the Yagami family.

Wayne, however, ultimately chose to decline. He integrated into the Yagami family only in a modified form, as a retainer and vigil keeper, so that he would not be controlled by the family. Because Wayne had once promised Yagami China that no matter what the future held for the Yagami family, when they were in need, he would lend a hand once. As for this time, when he had been unable to save Yagami China, the family head also expressed his understanding. After all, his daughter had been eroded by a Hollow's Reiatsu. As things currently stood, there had never been a Shinigami who survived being eroded by a Hollow's Reiatsu.

Except for the blind young man before them.

On the third day after Wayne received treatment and recovered, Wayne, as the first discoverer of this incident and a post-event witness, was summoned to the Squad 1 barracks for questioning, together with Rangiku and Mizusue.

Early in the morning, Wayne followed Mizusue to the Head Captain's assembly hall. Rangiku, after completing her report at Squad 10, arrived carrying a letter from her captain.

When Wayne arrived, present in the assembly hall besides the Head Captain were Squad 4 Captain Retsu Unohana, Squad 6 Captain Ginrei Kuchiki, Squad 7 Captain Sajin Komamura, Squad 8 Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, Squad 9 Captain Kaname Tōsen, and Squad 13 Captain Jushiro Ukitake.

The other captains had not yet arrived, presumably all busy with related matters stemming from this incident.

After roughly half an hour, the various captains arrived one after another. Only then did Wayne, who had been waiting below to be questioned, step from the waiting room into the main hall. Facing the captains lined up in two rows to either side, Wayne felt the pressure was a bit much for a moment. Fortunately, none of the captains' Reiatsu caused him any actual impact. Still, being stared at by all thirteen captains at once was truly uncomfortable, especially with Squad 5 Captain Sōsuke Aizen present.

"Are those below the discoverer of this attack incident, Tsukishiro Hinamori and Yui Mizusue, as well as the incident witness Rangiku Matsumoto?" The old man's solemn voice rang out, instantly making one feel that invisible pressure.

"Yes." Wayne, Mizusue, and Rangiku replied in unison.

"Regarding this attack incident, report everything you know and everything you have considered."

"Yes."

And so, Mizusue recounted in full the reason the two of them had appeared at the Senkaimon, as well as the subsequent process by which Wayne, due to his relationship with Yagami China, had followed the subjugation force into Hueco Mundo. After that, Rangiku Matsumoto reported on her and Wayne's experiences in Hueco Mundo. Naturally, the final battle details still had to be narrated by Wayne himself.

"At that time, Miss Matsumoto helped me pin down the Adjuchas's movements, and only then was I able to take the already-Hollowfied Yagami China away from the main battlefield. When I felt the moment was right, I launched an attack on Yagami China." Wayne chose his words carefully as he explained and reported to the assembled captains.

"After I suppressed Yagami China, in order to stop her Hollowfication, I began smashing her mask with all my strength. But every time the mask shattered, it began to close again — extremely fast. I had no choice but to keep smashing it while grabbing the fragments of the mask and stuffing them into my mouth, using my own Reiatsu to wear down the Hollow's Reiatsu."

WHOOSH!

Wayne's words drew a collective sharp intake of breath from the captains. Every captain present knew what kind of effect forcibly ingesting a Hollow's Reiatsu could cause. Of course, measured against the Reiatsu of captains like themselves, it was nothing at all, but this Tsukishiro Hinamori before them was merely a student.

"During the entrance exam, I once tested the properties of his Reiatsu." Squad 12 Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi interjected at just the right moment. "His Reiatsu is somewhat special. He is the only person I have ever seen who can convert a Hollow's Reiatsu into his own. What a pity I never had the chance to dissect him."

BOOM!

In an instant, all the captains were struck by shock once more. This was even more astonishing than Wayne directly swallowing a Hollow's mask raw. Those capable of absorbing a Hollow's spiritual power had numbered no more than a handful to date, and almost all of them had achieved it through their Zanpakuto's ability. Someone like Wayne, who accomplished it through his own constitution, was the first case ever.

"That perhaps explains why he is unable to use Kidō." Squad 6 Captain Ginrei Kuchiki replied.

"Continue." Old Man Yamamoto ignored everyone's astonishment and ordered Wayne to keep reporting.

"After that, Vice Captain Matsumoto was defeated by the Adjuchas. Seeing that this Adjuchas was also injured, I resolved to move in and kill it. But just as I was about to succeed, I was ambushed by a second Adjuchas. Severely wounded, I took Yagami China and used Shunpo to flee the second Adjuchas's pursuit. The ambushing Adjuchas pursued relentlessly. Because of the gap in Reiatsu, we were quickly caught. Once I realized I could not escape, I chose to fight to the death. Unexpectedly, I succeeded in awakening my Zanpakuto. Only then was I able to drive the Adjuchas back."

"According to the report you submitted, you single-handedly killed two Adjuchas-class Menos?" The old man's gaze fell upon him, scrutinizing Wayne continuously.

"Yes. However, one of them was already injured, and the second Adjuchas seemed to have somewhat weaker Reiatsu. It was only by the skin of my teeth that I drove them back."

"Remarkable. A student who has only just awakened his Zanpakuto, yet able to face two Adjuchas-class Menos without being defeated." Jushiro Ukitake sighed in admiration. "That would mean this student's Reiatsu, even if not at captain-class, must at least be at the level of a vice-captain, wouldn't it?"

"Two Adjuchas — even if both were only initial-stage — their combat power would still exceed that of a vice-captain. And though he fought to the point of severe injury, he still accomplished it. Remarkable indeed, young Hinamori." Shunsui Kyōraku pressed down slightly on the brim of the straw hat he wore, hiding his expression beneath it.

"As expected of someone who, in a single academic year, fought his way to second place in the sixth-year Ranking Tournament. Truly, his talent is exceptional."

"What a shame. I want to dissect you more and more."

"Hinamori-kun." Just as the captains were buzzing with discussion, a gentle voice rang out. Following the sound, they saw Aizen raise a hand toward Wayne in an inviting gesture. "I have some doubts about a student who has only just obtained his Zanpakuto being able to slay Adjuchas-class Hollows. Might I ask Hinamori-kun to release his Zanpakuto here on the spot, so that we may see for ourselves?"

"As expected, he's starting to probe." Wayne thought to himself. After he had wiped out two Adjuchas in one go, it would be strange if Aizen did not take notice of him. Even more so, considering that as the mastermind behind the entire scheme, the fact that Aizen had not come to kill him outright was already a great stroke of fortune. Fortunately, his Zanpakuto was stronger than he had imagined, and far more surprising to himself as well.

"Very well, Captain Aizen." As his words fell, Wayne drew the Zanpakuto from his waist and held it upright before him. His left hand gripped the blade while his right hand gently traced along its surface. The spirit incantation was spoken from his lips.

"Return, Levi."

With a resonant hum, the Zanpakuto's blade transformed, becoming a wide-bladed greatsword that settled into Wayne's hand. Aside from that, there was no other difference whatsoever.

"...It's... finished?" The captains were astonished. "A Zanpakuto that can cut down two Adjuchas-class Hollows — its release ends just like that, utterly unremarkable?"

"Hinamori-kun, please don't keep us in suspense." Aizen smiled lightly. "Tell us about your sword."

"Yes, Captain Aizen."

In truth, the release before them was something Wayne had performed deliberately. The principle behind it was much like Yumichika Ayasegawa's Fuji Kujaku and Ruri'iro Kujaku. And the fact that he could do all this at will depended entirely on Wayne's communication with his own Zanpakuto.

While Wayne had been pulled aside by Mizusue to be treated by the medical unit, he had already returned to the sword-spirit world and held a dialogue with the version of himself residing there. Only then did he learn why his own Hollow form had become his sword spirit.

"My emergence must be traced back to that great battle." The Hollow Wayne began to recount slowly. "After that great battle, we died under Aizen's blade. To replenish the spiritual power that the Hōgyoku lacked, Aizen absorbed the Reishi we had dispersed. However, by then our spiritual power had long since scattered completely. What he was able to absorb was only seventy percent. The remaining thirty percent was gathered by the Hollow World Sovereign and reconstituted into me. That said, I was merely thirty percent of your spiritual power. I had no consciousness. Not until the Hollow World Sovereign injected me into a Zanpakuto."

"A Zanpakuto?"

"Yes. The very one we kept after cutting off Kaname Tōsen's arm back then — Suzumushi." The Hollow Wayne continued his explanation. "After the Hollow Sovereign performed the Soul Burial on you, Suzumushi soon lost its spiritual nature and became an Asauchi. That may have been related to Tōsen re-obtaining his Zanpakuto. After it became an Asauchi, the Hollow Sovereign, before falling into slumber, gathered our Reiatsu that had dispersed into the atmosphere and injected it into the blade. After that, I was born."

"Then why did I encounter you during my awakening?"

"Every sword possesses a unique nature. Their creation is handled by the members of Squad Zero, all of this you already know. But what is different is that if a Hollow's Reiatsu is sealed within a Zanpakuto, the sword's original spirit will be erased, transforming it into a vessel that seals the Hollow's name. That is my origin. Next, the Hollow Sovereign simply had to break the blade, and I naturally became the carrier engraved with the Zanpakuto's soul, traveling directly toward your soul after the Soul Burial. Only after you obtained an Asauchi was I able to see the light of day again. That is the entire process by which you obtained me."

"I see." Wayne nodded. "It's just that even I never imagined my own Zanpakuto would be myself."

"So, in order to avoid exposure, you know what to do, right?" The Hollow Wayne smiled faintly.

"Of course." Wayne nodded. "It's just a matter of not calling out the release incantation..."

"I am not a Zanpakuto, but rather you as a Hollow. I possess consciousness because I am now a sword spirit. And when you wish to use me, I am simply a part of your Reiatsu. Your will is my will. As for the release and all that, as long as it can fool Aizen, anything will do."

"Understood. Then until we have the ability to deal with Aizen, you shall be called Levi for now." Wayne nodded to indicate he understood. After all, talking to himself carried no second emotion whatsoever. Whatever he said, went.

And so, as the release incantation for this partial Shikai, the name of a departed hero, Levi, from some game, surfaced in Wayne's mind.

This was Wayne's partially released Zanpakuto, Levi.

Naturally, Wayne would never disclose any of the above words to a second person. And the only one besides Wayne who knew the true power of his Zanpakuto was Yagami China. Regrettably, Yagami China had already passed away. Everything from now on, he only needed to know himself.

At the same time, Wayne also hoped that, having awakened his Zanpakuto, he would not end up on Mayuri Kurotsuchi's dissection table.

And so, before the assembled captains, Wayne began to spin his lies and explain the ability of his Zanpakuto.

"My Zanpakuto, Levi, is of the rare summoning type."

"Oh?" The captains were puzzled. As everyone knew, the common types of Zanpakuto were the physical type and the Kidō type. Among these, the Kidō type was further divided into the elemental type and the special type. The elemental type naturally referred to the natural elements, fire, water, wind, and so on. The special type generally referred to special effects, such as gravity, binding, explosions, and the like. Naturally, illusion types like Kyokasuigetsu were also classified under the Kidō type, though due to their uniqueness, a separate sub-branch had been established beneath the Kidō type.

Among the rarer Zanpakuto types were the healing type and the summoning type. The former was very easy to explain, Mizusue's Kinkan-hime was a healing type, granting healing to others by releasing her Zanpakuto's ability. The summoning type, on the other hand, could transform the Zanpakuto into a different kind of creature. For example, Squad 4 Captain Retsu Unohana's Zanpakuto, Minazuki, was of the summoning type. It could summon a gigantic one-eyed ray.

Yachiru Kusajishi's Zanpakuto, Sanpo Kenjū, was the same.

As Wayne manipulated it, behind him, a pale-golden silhouette roughly the same size as Wayne's own body was summoned forth. It maintained the same posture as Wayne. Aside from being a silhouette whose finer contours were indistinguishable, there was no other difference from Wayne himself.

"My Zanpakuto Levi — its ability is synchronization."

PS: The September updates are finished. Thank you all for reading. To be honest, I caught a fever in the final days and felt like I was barely holding on. Fortunately, I managed to finish writing.

I'll rest during the National Day holiday, I really need to take care of my health. After the holiday, October will still be on pause. I'll resume continuous updates in November. That's all.

Happy National Day to all you Vasto Lorde out there!

➤ Next: Synchronization