Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō-Chapter 250: Pursuit

Moonlight poured over the land like flowing water, as several figures moved swiftly like ghosts.

Ahead, an Arrancar and a Hollow ran tirelessly.

It was Harribel, accompanied by a humanoid, half-goat Vasto Lorde—the antelope knight-like Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck.

Behind them, more than ten Adjuchas-class Arrancar pursued relentlessly.

The human-goat Vasto Lorde did her best to keep up with Harribel, occasionally glancing back at their relentless pursuers. No matter how good-natured she was, frustration and anger inevitably welled up inside her.

"Harribel, thank you for saving me, but those two are too strong. You need to go! I'll stay and fight them," Nelliel gritted her teeth.

"Calm down, Nelliel," Harribel shook her head slightly, guilt flickering in her eyes.

"This isn't the time for reckless bravado. You can't stop them, and they won't spare me either."

"What we need now is to work together to get through this."

"Those two seem to have disappeared for now. All that's left are some small fry—we still have a chance..."

Nelliel was being hunted because of them.

When Harribel learned that Nelliel was being pursued by a group of Adjuchas-class Arrancar, she immediately came to her aid.

But the true threat—the two terrifying beings of Las Noches—had ambushed them from the shadows. After grievously wounding them, they vanished without a trace.

As the two fled, Harribel explained everything that had happened.

Nelliel, after learning the truth, didn't blame her.

That only made Harribel feel more guilt-ridden.

Hearing this, Nelliel merely nodded slightly, not saying a word.

How could she be anything but frustrated after being dragged into this disaster?

But Harribel and the others were victims too.

She couldn't blame them.

If there was anyone to blame, it was Baraggan—the insatiable tyrant with an endless thirst for conquest.

Always looking for trouble, always expanding his ranks.

But as she calmed down, something felt off.

Harribel... why is she still releasing her Reiatsu?

In a situation like this, when they were being pursued, she should be suppressing her Reiatsu as much as possible to avoid detection.

Then, a memory surfaced—she had seen some strange creatures under the control of the Shinigami earlier, as if they were delivering a message.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Harribel suddenly spoke:

"I'm truly sorry, Masatsuki-sama. I've caused trouble for you again."

Her voice carried deep remorse, as if she had committed an unforgivable sin.

The air grew heavy in an instant, an invisible pressure settling over them.

Nelliel froze mid-motion, looking up in confusion.

Following Harribel's gaze, she saw... nothing.

An empty space, void of any presence.

Who was Harribel speaking to?

Just as the thought took shape, a voice suddenly rang out from the sky:

"You did the right thing, Harribel."

Like a clap of thunder, the words exploded through the air.

Nelliel's body tensed. Eyes wide, she frantically scanned the surroundings for the source of the voice.

"I'm glad you chose to believe in my power," the voice continued, carrying a note of satisfaction.

A warm sensation spread through Harribel's heart.

This voice... it belonged to someone who held a special place in her heart.

"I honestly thought you'd be stubborn enough to face danger alone again, just so I 'wouldn't get hurt' or something equally foolish."

Harribel's face flushed at those words.

She couldn't help but recall how she used to be—always willing to sacrifice herself.

Just like when she stayed behind to protect Sung-Sun and the others.

But she wasn't that person anymore.

"Who's there!?"

Nelliel tensed, immediately shifting into a defensive stance.

She scanned her surroundings warily, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice.

Behind her, the dozen or so Arrancars also halted, glancing around in confusion.

They couldn't sense any Reiatsu from the voice's source, nor could they determine its exact location.

It came from above—was it a Menos with the ability to fly?

Harribel, however, let out a quiet sigh of relief.

She gently placed a hand over her chest, steadied herself, then spoke:

"You promised me you would survive. If this is truly an enemy you can't face, I trust that you'll keep your word and protect yourself."

It was as if she were conveying her feelings to the unseen presence.

But the voice didn't seem particularly moved.

"You still doubt my strength? Not believing in me... that deserves punishment."

There was an irritated edge to the voice.

Harribel hesitated for a brief moment, slightly embarrassed.

She hadn't meant any offense—only to express her concern and trust.

But judging from the response, maybe she was overthinking things.

A small smile crossed her lips at the thought.

Nelliel: "?"

Hearing their exchange, Nelliel's confusion deepened.

Harribel was a Vasto Lorde-class Arrancar—who in the world could "punish" her?

She turned to Harribel, about to ask something, when—

To her shock—Harribel nodded without hesitation.

"Alright, I accept whatever punishment you see fit."

She accepted it!?

Nelliel's eyes widened in disbelief.

And then—

Something happened that left her utterly stunned.

A figure, radiant as the sun, descended from the night sky, landing steadily behind them.

With his back to them, he stood tall, exuding an overwhelming presence.

The man, striking and commanding, glanced in their direction.

Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he raised his hand.

A deep, magnetic voice followed:

"Hadō No. 91—Senju Kōten Taihō!"

The moment the words left his lips, massive pink energy cannons erupted into the sky like a volcanic explosion!

"Ahh!!"

"Gahh!!"

The ten Arrancars caught in the blast had no time to react before they were engulfed in a dazzling pink light.

In the blink of an eye—

Their bodies, along with the Zanpakutō they wielded, were reduced to nothing but ashes.

As the smoke cleared, Masatsuki Aozaki gazed at the lingering Reishi drifting through the air.

A smirk crept onto his lips—sharp and predatory.

"Arrancar? Someone with that level of skill... You really are here, Aizen."

Nelliel's breath caught in her throat.

A Shinigami?

The "lord" Harribel had referred to... was a Shinigami!?

And not just any Shinigami—his power was immense!

Even she would struggle to handle a dozen Adjuchas-class Arrancars at once.

Yet, before this man, they had been utterly insignificant—swept away as if they were nothing.

What terrifying power...

Harribel, too, was visibly shaken. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

She had known Masatsuki Aozaki was incredibly strong when they last parted.

But back then, his strength had still been within reason—something she could grasp.

Now?

She couldn't even sense his Reiatsu.

This change—this sheer leap in power—left her both stunned and relieved.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

The danger wasn't over yet.

Because their true enemy...

Wasn't just a group of Adjuchas-class Arrancars.

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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