GOJO CH 178 (Patreon)

*Drip* *Drip*

Blood slowly fell and splashed on the ground, one after another, covering the entire scene in blood.

Lying down in a ten meters deep crater, Ulquiorra's body slowly began to rebuild itself while he looked blankly at the sky.

The last few minutes had been pure torture for him.

He had tried to fight back but everything was useless. Zaraki was simply too strong for him.

This was why he was now in this situation, looking at the sky of Hueco Mundo with confusion evident in his eyes

“Why did you spar me?”

His voice was cold as he looked at the departing back of Zaraki. His body was a complete mess but this did not stop him from glaring at Zaraki.

It wasn’t as if he wished to die in particular. But as a warrior, Ulquiorra had his own pride.

“Hum?”

Zaraki, with his weapon that was taller than he, stopped and threw a look at Ulquiorra,

“It’s boring now. Why would I stay?”

His voice made it seems so obvious that Ulquiorra was momentarily speechless.

“Why indeed…”

He muttered a little before asking, “Do you only live for your instinct? Like a beast without an ounce of sanity?”

Zaraki chuckled a little before exploding out in laughter as he once again gave his back to Ulquiorra,

“Hahahaha!!! Sanity... what would I do with a useless thing like that? Death and pain are just a small price to pay for the enjoyment of battle!”

Zaraki continued to laugh as he left the crater. His last words to Ulquiorra were rather simple and direct,

“I liked our fight and I wouldn’t mind a rematch. Heh, wouldn’t it be a shame if you croacked now? Haha so, don't just accept loss or defeat! Accept it after you're dead. If you lose without dying... it means that luck is on your side. If that happens - focus on surviving! Survive and Kill the one who couldn't kill you! I will be ready whenever you are.”

On those words, Zaraki vanished from his line of sight, leaving him alone in his thoughts.

He couldn’t help but wonder.

What should I do now?

This was a such a simple question. But he was lost about the answer that could be given.

His life until now had been pretty simple.

As far as he could remember, he had always been alone.

Born in the bottom of a pit where no light shone. As if pressed together by the darkness, uncertain of what was to come.

He was born different. Entirely covered in white, while those around him were clad in black. Because of this difference, he was ostracized, isolated, then chased away.



But yet, he felt nothing.

He could hear nothing, see nothing, taste nothing. He could not rest and had no companion.

All he could do was…Walking all alone.

Until he found it. Something extraordinary.

A translucent colorless tree, unlike anything he had ever seen. It was the first time his eyes had been captured. With no sound, no scent and no color, it did not interact with anything and only existed there.

It was at that time that he did something that could have been considered as suicide.

He broke his mask— Though it was more an accident than anything.

Still, he did not die. He transformed into an Arrancar but he did not care.

Like this, he slept. For years and years, he slept.

Until he finally meets him.

Sosuke Aizen.

In front of that man, all senses were useless. [2]

All his worries were naught but a waste of time.

For the second time in his life, Ulquiorra was amazed by something and at that time, he gave his absolute and complete loyalty.

Thinking about Aizen, Ulquiorra couldn’t help but let out a hollow chuckle,

“I wonder if Aizen-sama will be disappointed.”

It was truly a question worth pondering.

—--

When Zaraki came out of the crater with blood all over him and a fierce grin on his face, no one had to ask who came out on the top in the fight.

The answer was self-evident.

When Zaraki finally reached Gojo, the silver-haired man whistled as he took a look at the huge weapon.

It was even more impressive when seen up close.

Gojo of course chooses to ignore Ulquiorra's presence. Since Zaraki had decided to spare him, then he had no reason to oppose it.

Either way, this fight in Hueco Mundo was about to end.

“What makes you accept to finally learn the name of your sword?”

Zaraki stopped before shaking his head, “I just remembered.”

“Remembered?”

“The pain of not having a name.”

Zaraki chuckled as he begin to move his sword around, “Back then, everyone had a name that friends use to call them, but I didn't. That pain the kind of pain I forgot and what I have been making my sword go through.”

Zaraki sighed a little.

He didn’t really remember whether he was born in Soul Society or if he was a dead soul. But it did not really matter. All his life he had to fight for his survival and while people gathered and fought in groups, he always walked alone.

This was why in the end, he named himself Zaraki. There was nothing fancy about this name. After all, this was simply the name of the District he lived—survived in.

“I see…. Heh, well I am sure your sword must be happy now.”

Zaraki shrugged, “We will see. Anyway, why did you appear? Is it already time to go home?”

Gojo shook his head, “Currently Shinji is waiting for my standby. Once I give him the signal. It will be time.”

“I see. Very well, let’s go. Perhaps there will be strong bastard there.”

Gojo chuckled as he took out his phone, one specially created by Kisuke and called Shinji.

“What is your situation?”

“Heh….I am currently surrounded by a group of Menos Grande. This is pretty unnerving.”

Even though his situation should be dire, Shinji’s voice showed that he felt no fear.

“Haha, very well. The stage is for you. Time to make you shine.”

—

On the other side of the line, once Shinji heard Gojo give him the green light. He grinned and looked at all those menacing Hollows coming at him like dogs chasing a bone.

“I guess it’s time to use it.”

He chuckled as he adjusted his hat above his head, with a sword on his sword, he gently pulled and muttered.

[1] Ulquiorra is an interesting character. Basically suffered from racism all his life. But what really makes him interesting? Think about his Segunda Etapa form. Basically, his most powerful form is going from white to nearly black. Basically, this form is a wish for him of conforming to “what is normal”. But Ulquiorra also sees this as a form of weakness. This might explain why he didn’t like using that form.

Of course, perhaps I am overthinking. But heh, this is what is cool with art.

[2]: Another thing that makes Kubo a top author in my eyes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxhlab2rCvg&t=76s&ab_channel=zefiron5 This is Aizen’s theme song. When you see the lyrics you see it describe his sword power. What really incredible is. Aizen had two truly loyal warriors. Tosen and Ulquiorra.

What is funny is.

Tosen could not see but in exchange, all his senses were heightened.

Ulquiorra could only see but all his other senses were dead.

Then we have Aizen whose power is to control all the five senses.

This is honestly ironic in a twisted way.

Of course, I know that there were Momo and those two Arrancars that were super loyal but they were more like crazy fangirls honestly.

[3]: Reversed Evil Eight Treasure Blockade