Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 332 - The Last Wish

"Boring." Wayne sneered at BG9's words. "Who gave you the nerve to analyze my combat data?"

"My body was built to collect intelligence." BG9 raised both arms, every tube on his body swiveling to target Wayne. "Your movements, Reiatsu, techniques — every action you take is monitored and fed directly into the Wandenreich's database. Within three minutes, everyone in the Wandenreich will have your full intelligence profile. This is the mission His Majesty entrusted to me."

"Did Yhwach ever tell you that in the face of absolute power, no method works?" Wayne drew his Zanpakutō. Spatial distortions rippled faintly along the blade. Then he swung it at BG9.

"A spatial dimensional slash." BG9 hurled himself backward. The tubes on his body writhed, forming a bizarre arc that absorbed Wayne's dimensional slash head-on. "Using Reiatsu vibrations to trigger a spatial effect — that is how I seal your spatial power. As I said: techniques you've already used are useless against me."

"Oh?" Wayne raised an eyebrow. "Interesting." He lifted his right hand, aiming it at BG9 as spiritual energy gathered.

"A Cero this time." BG9's tubes tensed and converged again, twisting into something like a cannon barrel. Blue Reiatsu amassed, he was clearly preparing a technique to neutralize Wayne's attack.

HUM!

A colorless Cero shot from Wayne's hand. Beyond the Reiatsu distortion, it had no color and no visible form.

"A petty trick. The colorless Cero is one you use with relatively high frequency, combined with your concealment trait. It seems you don't take me seriously." The cannon formed by BG9's tubes spat out a column of blue Reishi light, blasting toward Wayne. Judging by the volume of spiritual energy, it was more than enough to disperse Wayne's Cero.

"Is that so." Wayne flicked his fingers. A spatial rift tore open. Both the Cero and the Reishi column poured into it, then erupted behind BG9.

BOOM!

The explosion was massive. The two Reiatsu blasts collided and detonated, and the resulting shockwave was far greater than the sum of its parts.

Wayne had been waiting for exactly that, the instant the two blasts collided, he redirected the full force of the explosion onto BG9.

"Did you calculate for that?" Wayne didn't press the attack. He waited quietly for BG9 to emerge from the smoke.

"Ugh..." Despite being a robot, BG9 let out a groan that sounded painfully human. "Combat experience is extraordinarily rich. I need to recalculate the data." His back had been blown apart. Arcs of electricity crackled across his body, though his Reishi absorption was already repairing the damage.

"Combat capability assessment: extremely dangerous. Data uploaded. Initiating overclock mode."

Hmmm...

A resonant hum emanated from BG9's body. His blue Reishi began shifting toward cherry-white. Jets of steam vented from his frame. Then mechanical wings of pure Reishi materialized behind him, and a pentagram halo appeared above his head.

"A robot can use Vollständig?"

"I am a Quincy. Naturally I can use Vollständig." As he spoke, BG9 crushed the cross medallion that had sealed Soifon's Bankai. "Though to do so, I must relinquish this captain's Bankai. Heh. She's quite lucky."

"This is..." Soifon, lying in Ōmaeda's arms, opened her eyes wider. She could feel her spiritual energy recovering at a rapid pace. It hadn't healed her wounds, but with her power returning, she could at least use her Bankai to support Wayne.

"To use Vollständig, you have to give up the Bankai?" Wayne observed the state of Soifon's Reiatsu. "Honestly, I don't quite understand this form of Bankai theft — how it stays connected to the Shinigami's power, as if some invisible bond links the two. But that bond only exists between Shinigami and Quincy. The moment Hollow Reiatsu intrudes..."

"The Bankai we've stolen collapses on its own." BG9 didn't bother hiding it. Wayne had already figured it out. "I'll need to add another line to the data: exceptional analytical ability."

"The powers of Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy — I've researched them no less than your Emperor has." The corner of Wayne's mouth curved upward. His research had begun back when he was an Adjuchas, working alongside Szayelaporro. After becoming a Shinigami, he'd grown close to Old Nemu of Squad 12. Now his own faction possessed every piece of technology the Shinigami side had to offer. With Szayelaporro and Old Nemu both simultaneously researching the Quincy, the scientific team under his command stood at the pinnacle of all three worlds.

"Empty words. Let's see how much more data I can record on you in overclock mode."

"Hmm... roughly... one move." Wayne shook his head. A faint blue radiance bloomed along his Zanpakutō. He poured spiritual energy into the blade, and in mere moments it had charged to a staggering Reiatsu intensity.

"So fast!" BG9 wrenched himself backward at full speed. He could sense that the incoming strike was beyond his ability to block. But even as he retreated, he uploaded the relevant Reiatsu data to Wandenreich headquarters.

"Combat record four: enemy Ace Wayne possesses an extraordinarily terrifying charged attack with extremely high speed. The process takes approximately three seconds or l—"

CLANG!

The sound of a blade cleaving through metal. BG9's vision spun wildly.

His helmeted mechanical head flew high into the air. As it rotated, he saw two Waynes, standing one in front of the other beside his own headless body.

"How... is this... possible..." The head tumbled through the air, BG9's voice still issuing its question. "Spatial... power... how can there be... a clone..."

"While I was wasting words with you, I used illusion power to create a false body. My real body calculated your retreat distance and waited for you to arrive." Wayne used Sonído to close the gap and grabbed BG9's head with one hand. Dark Reiatsu surged in his grip, a black Cero instantly reduced the head to nothingness.

"If I hadn't needed to get Soifon's Bankai back, I wouldn't have bothered talking to you at all." Wayne dusted off his hand, then stowed BG9's headless mechanical body into a spatial rift.

Without the head, it had no processor, but the mechanical body held immense research value. He'd take it back and let Szayelaporro play with it. There might even be unexpected gains.

"Saved." Soifon let out a soft sigh. The enemy who had wounded him so badly hadn't even lasted a single exchange against Wayne. The gap was so wide he'd completely given up trying to close it. Once upon a time, that little nobody who wasn't even a Seated Officer had become an existence that surpassed everyone. Soifon felt a twinge of regret at never having invested in him, though at least he'd never stood against him either. "Captain Hinamori, I owe you my life."

"Go get treated. The battles ahead are yours to handle." Wayne vanished again. This time, he made his way toward a much larger figure.

On the path from the Wandenreich toward the Ice Palace, a massive silhouette was swinging a blade, cutting down its enemies.

"ROAR!"

Sajin Komamura's battle cry thundered across the battlefield. He had already released his Bankai. Unlike the Tenken Myōō of old, this one had shattered all its armor, exposing the solid body beneath. Two flames symbolizing life danced in its eyes. The long blade in its hand was sharper than it had ever been.

"Captain Komamura." Wayne flash-stepped to Komamura's side. "What happened to you?"

"Captain Hinamori... no. Lord Ace Wayne." Komamura had already invoked the Humanization Technique. Aside from his ears, which still bore canine features, every other part of him had become truly human. He turned his head toward Wayne. "I felt it. The enemies who fought Captain Hitsugaya and Captain Soifon have both fallen to you. Have you come to support this old man?"

"I sensed an abnormality in your Reiatsu, so I came to check."

"I thank you for your concern. But I am fine. With the Humanization Technique invoked, I will not lose to this Quincy."

"Is that so?" Wayne looked up toward the sky, at Bambietta Basterbine, Sternritter 'E,' the Explosive, already in her Vollständig.

Bambietta Basterbine was a female Quincy with long blue-black hair and a striking figure. Her one flaw was her explosive temper. Even within the Wandenreich, she had used her looks to slaughter one male rank-and-file member after another. And now, the instant she saw Wayne, her first instinct was to flee. His Majesty had given standing orders: upon encountering Ace Wayne, retreat immediately and report. But by sheer bad luck, she was in the middle of a fight with Sajin Komamura and already in a state of blind rage. Faced with Wayne's provocative gaze, Bambietta squared up and took a fighting stance, as if intent on settling things right here.

"In that case, I won't disturb Captain Komamura's pleasure." Wayne paused. "But I can feel your life force is nearly exhausted. If you insist on fighting, I won't stop you, though I may not be able to bring you back."

"I am grateful for your kindness, Lord Wayne. However, our mission is to eliminate every enemy who has invaded Soul Society, even at the cost of our lives." Sajin Komamura took a heavy step forward, advancing toward Bambietta.

"Lastly, I offer my heartfelt gratitude that you brought Lord Genryusai Yamamoto back. Such a debt I cannot put into words. It is only a pity my life is nearly at its end, and I cannot repay your kindness."

"No need to rush. Focus on your battle. Your time is short." Wayne didn't take up any more of Komamura's time. He could feel the captain's death approaching. While he still lived, let him pour every last drop of blood into Soul Society.

"Damn it, that little dog looks down on me." Up in the sky, Bambietta felt the pressure mounting as she faced the Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, which had abandoned all defense. A creature that wouldn't take damage no matter how many times she hit it was simply impossible to fight. She could rely on nimble flight to dodge his attacks, but his strikes were not slow, and every swing dragged fierce blade-wind behind it. Even when she dodged, she needed time to correct her positioning against the gale's force. She was falling steadily into a losing position.

"What is this guy even fighting for?!" Bambietta cried out as she weaved between Tenken Myōō's attacks. "He's thrown his life away, what's the point of winning like this?"

"I have not thrown my life away. I have placed a wager." The now-human Sajin Komamura spoke. "Lord Yamamoto wagered his life in battle. I have no reason not to follow his will. That he was revived by Lord Ace Wayne is truly a blessing. But this old man does not dare hope for the same, because before I set foot on this battlefield, I had already placed my life beyond my own consideration!"

With those words, Sajin Komamura swung his right arm, bringing his Zanpakutō slashing down toward Bambietta. Behind him, Tenken Myōō leapt high into the air and closed in on the retreating Quincy in an instant.

The ghost-fire in its eyes blazed. The heavy blade of the Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō fell, cleaving straight down onto Bambietta's back. The sheer force of the blow shattered her Vollständig outright. Her body hurtled toward the ground like a cannonball.

Sajin Komamura had won in a single strike.

BOOM!

Bambietta crashed into the ground, her fate unknown. And after that one decisive blow, Sajin Komamura stilled his attack.

He gazed into the distance, eyes fixed on a tall tower far away, where Yhwach was. Sajin Komamura's final objective.

Thud... thud...

Tenken Myōō took its heavy steps toward that distant tower. But after only a few strides, it halted. The massive body sank. It dropped to one knee.

"Already at the limit." Wayne, who had been watching from the side, flash-stepped back to Komamura's side.

Komamura had fallen to his knees. Every trace of color had drained from his face. The hollow on the left side of his chest told him his remaining time was nearly gone.

"Damn it... I cannot... fall here." Sajin Komamura struggled to rise. "Humanization Technique... my heart, I beg you, hold on just a little longer. I must... defeat Yhwach!"

"Captain Komamura. Your time... is almost up."

"Hah... hah..." Sajin Komamura drew ragged breaths. "I cannot fall yet. I must... defeat Yhwach... Ugh!"

Before he could finish, a convulsion wracked his body and brought him down completely. Behind him, the Dangai Jōe-clad Tenken Myōō disintegrated in the same moment. His Bankai was forcibly released.

"Lord Ace Wayne..." The weakened Komamura collapsed. Amid continuing convulsions, his body began transforming back toward its wolf form. His handsome face became a wolf's head. His limbs became paws.

"I am not resigned to this. Not resigned to falling here, before the enemy..."

"Still not giving up?" Wayne murmured, watching Komamura revert. "So this is the side effect of the Humanization Technique. Regression to a beast."

"Once more... I thank Lord Wayne... for rescuing Lord Yamamoto..." Komamura used his final strength to speak. "One last request. Please, bring me to the enemy leader's stronghold. If I am still alive, I wish to witness the enemy's defeat with my own eyes. If it is Lord Ace Wayne... if... it is..."

His words went unfinished. Sajin Komamura collapsed to the ground, consciousness gone. His body had fully reverted, back into the form of a wolf. He had utterly lost the awareness of a Shinigami.

➤ Next: Turned Traitor — Or Maybe Not