GOJO CH 177 (Patreon)

(AN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d-ecU1EiBw&ab_channel=TheBeatmancer  )

The moment Ulquiorra finished his transformation, confidence swelled in him.

The second Etapa. A power none other than him possessed. An increase of the normal resurrection. In this form, Ulquiorra was confident in saying he was the strongest Espada [1].

This was a power he had hidden from everyone and while he had a suspicion about Aizen knowing but it didn’t matter–for his loyalty was without question.

In this form, dealing with the powerful and dangerous Shinigami Zaraki should have been a walk in the park.

It should have allowed him to show Zaraki true despair.

He knew that Shinigami also have a way of powering up called Shikai or Bankai. But it should have been still not enough to face him.

But…

“What…”

Before he could understand what was happening, a monstrous amount of Reiatsu gushed forth from the body of the wounded Shinigami.

Space and time seemed to twist around as a power higher than they could bear was forcing its way in. Changing the environment in its wake.

For the first time in his entire life, Ulquiorra felt this thing called fear.

That thing should not exist he thought.

That thing had to be erased, he decided.

This thought was further solidified when Zaraki muttered,

“Drink! Nozarashi! [1]”



BOOM!!

—

*Whistle*

Gojo's eyes showed surprise when he saw the new form of Zaraki’s weapon.

Before, his sword was a long and chipped sword that looked like it could break at any moment despite how sharp it was in reality.

But now?

What Zaraki held in his hand was no sword but the weapon of a pure butcher.

“Indeed. Only such a weapon would suit the brutal Zaraki.”

Of course, if it was just a change of look Gojo wouldn’t be so impressive. This new form of Zaraki was threatening.

If before, Gojo was sure that he could win against Zaraki without even being touched once, now he knew that it was impossible to do without some serious effort. Of course, that was if he didn’t decide to “cheat” and fought Zaraki head-on.

“I wonder though. Why are you still here?”

Yachiru or rather…Nozarashi looked down at her hand in wonder.

The moment Zaraki finally called her true name, she felt her existence in the material world become faint. But now, she was back to normal.

She was weakened but that was all.

“I…”

She clenched her fist a little and shook her head, “It seems like Zaraki only took back a part of my power, or should I say his power? Either way, I believe that I will not vanish before he reaches Bankai.”

Gojo looked up in silence.

‘This is just a part of her power?’

He could feel that the edge of the blade was sharp enough to even cut space. Just what would it look like when he uses Bankai?

‘Does having a Loli spirit Zanpakuto mean you are stronger?’

[Hey!]

{I mean. Look at me, Zaraki, Jushiro, and finally Shunsui…Isn’t it like a pattern now?}

Kogo was left speechless by Gojo's rhetoric.

—-

Of course, Kogo wasn’t the only one speechless.

Ulquiorra was positively out of his mind for an instant.

Gritting his teeth, he focused his Reiatsu in his hand, creating a green lance of pure Reiatsu.

<< Lanza del relampago>>

The power was something that surpassed greatly the Grand Ray Cero.

Then, with all his might, he threw it at Zaraki.

*Swoosh*

Tearing the wind apart and moving beyond lightning speed, the lance reached Zaraki in an instant.

But he was neither surprised nor flustered.

Right here, right now.

Zaraki knew…That there was nothing he could not cut and he proved this as with a simple move of his weapon, he cut apart an attack that could have wiped out the entire planet on earth.

Not giving the time for Ulquiorra to breathe, he moved with a burst of speed and soon was upon Ulquiorra, while ignoring the two large explosions behind him resulting from the bisected Lance.

True men did not look back at explosions after all.

“Hah!”

Ulquiorra managed to partially move out of the way but still lost his arm on the way. His Hiero had been bypassed as if it didn’t exist and the weapon cut his arm like it was butter.

Ulquiorra did not change his expression over his arms flying and with a simple thought, a new arm replaced the missing one.

“Ohoh?”

“Out of all the Espada, I have the greatest power of regeneration.”

Most Arrancars gave up this power in order to become stronger. But Ulquiorra managed to keep it and even enhance it.

“Therefore, all your struggles are futile. No matter how long we fight, the ultimate winner will be me.”

He said so in order to break Zaraki’s spirit. It was laughable that someone like him who did not believe in emotions was trying to affect the emotions of someone else but he had no other choice.

Furthermore, he was not bluffing. Regenerating did not cost much energy from him. He was sure that he could outlast anyone in a procrastinated battle.

Had anyone been in Zaraki’s place, they would have been frantic to find a way to win despite Ulquiorra's high-speed regeneration.

But for Zaraki?

Ulquiorra felt a chill as he looked at the expression full of joy and madness on Zaraki’s face.



This power had always been his pride and another source of confidence alongside his Segunda Etapa.

Today though, it would become his most cursed power.

After all,

“Hahaha! So does this mean I can cut you infinitely without worrying about you dying?”

In this world, there were many things worse than death.

Dying was a release and living was suffering.

Ulquiorra would come to understand this saying in a very intimate way.

[1]: I am exaggerating? Perhaps. But I honestly always considered Ulqui as the strongest Espada. Perhaps it’s because he had the most visual impactful fight of them all? Or perhaps because he was the most developed Espada in this arc aside Nel. I still don’t understand why he is ranked #4 and behind Tier and Nel. Because even without his Segunda Etapa he should be able to clap Tier.

AN: This is the end of the fight. Man I feel bad destroying my boy Ulquiorra like this. But honestly, there was no logical way for Ulquiorra to be equal to Zaraki in Shikai. So welp.