Chapter 300: I'm Going to Beat You Up!
Here and now, Retsu Unohana felt supreme happiness.
Satoru—this man—had actually battled her for "years" within the sea of blood and could still erupt with such intensity.
What kind of warrior was he?
Excited, invigorated, she swung her blood-forged blade fiercely toward Satoru.
Facing Unohana's descending sword, Satoru made no move to react this time.
Unohana paused slightly.
Giving up?
No... that mad declaration earlier couldn't have been false. This man must be preparing something.
Hurry, Unohana, unleash your full power! Forge the most magnificent stage with your sword, ready for the climax to erupt!
With even greater determination than the previous moment, Retsu Unohana brought her blade down with devastating force!
But just as the edge was about to strike Satoru's shoulder, a bizarre sensation suddenly surged from the depths of her heart.
Thump-thump!
Thump-thump!
Unohana was shocked to discover her heart racing wildly.
Not from excitement.
But... fear?
The moment she confirmed this, she nearly laughed aloud.
Impossible... she had sheathed all her sharpness for centuries, waiting solely for this final day.
Even death had been overcome by her resolve.
What could possibly bring fear to someone like her?
Slap!!
Under Unohana's gaze, Satoru suddenly raised a hand and caught her descending blade.
The edge forged from sinful blood, capable of easily cleaving mountains, was now simply held in Satoru's grasp!
Unohana suddenly noticed that the hand gripping her blade was covered in a white, bony membrane.
Rather than a hand, it more closely resembled... a Hollow's claw?
As the word instinctively surfaced in Retsu Unohana's mind, Satoru raised his head.
A pale white bone mask had appeared on his face at some unknown moment.
A Hollow's mask?!
For the first time since the battle began, Unohana showed a surprised expression.
Why would a Shinigami possess a Hollow's mask?
Had something gone wrong with Satoru?
Unohana frowned, about to voice her question.
Then she saw Satoru grin widely:
"Getting distracted during battle is unacceptable. You must be punished."
The moment his words fell, Satoru's entire right arm suddenly turned into an afterimage, disappearing from Unohana's sight.
Simultaneously, unbearable agony erupted from her chest and abdomen—
"Guh!!"
Unohana vomited a massive amount of blood mixed with organ fragments, her body flying uncontrollably backward. She skipped across the blood sea like a stone, finally crashing into it with a tremendous impact that sent a hundreds-meter-high pillar of blood soaring into the air.
Satoru stood on the blood sea, drenched by the crimson rain.
The red gem on his mask seemed to grow even more vivid because of it.
Suddenly, a figure shot out from the blood sea before him.
Retsu Unohana, gripping her blood blade, used the momentum from her emergence to deliver a perfect reverse-kesa strike that cleanly cut through Satoru's body.
The blade entered from his lower right abdomen and exited through his left shoulder, leaving a massive wound that nearly split him in two.
Having delivered the fatal blow, Unohana adjusted her posture mid-air and landed steadily on the blood sea.
She raised her hand to wipe the blood from her lips.
I've won...
Watching Satoru's motionless figure, she pressed her lips together.
Despite her victory, she felt no joy in her heart for some reason.
This being who could surpass her in the future, this existence to whom she should have dedicated everything—had actually died by her hand...
No, this cannot be!
Unohana's gaze suddenly sharpened.
She must save him, she absolutely must save him!
She would stake all the Kaidō she had cultivated over centuries to save him!
Next time, next time, he would definitely...
"You're making quite the face. Thinking something strange?"
Just as Unohana prepared to rush forward recklessly to save him, Satoru suddenly spoke.
Under Unohana's stunned gaze, white Reiatsu bubbles surged from his body, instantly filling and smoothing over his wounds.
In less than a second, that horrific injury that could have killed a normal Shinigami a hundred times over had completely vanished!
Unohana's eyes widened, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Not only did he resemble a Hollow in appearance and Reiatsu, but he could even use "High-Speed Regeneration"—a special ability only a handful of Menos Grande could master?!
What had this man become?
"Satoru-kun?"
She couldn't help but call his name, wanting to confirm whether he was still himself.
Satoru grinned widely.
"The user you are trying to reach is unavailable. This is Satoru A, who has taken over Satoru's body. Don't hold back—fight to your heart's content!"
Hearing Satoru's words, Unohana remained silent.
She stared into Satoru's eyes.
They were dark golden, like those of a beast, like those of a monster.
Any normal person would instinctively feel terror and shrink back upon seeing those eyes.
But after watching them for several seconds, Unohana suddenly curved the corners of her lips upward.
"Though I know not what this form or this power may be, Satoru-kun is still Satoru-kun. That is enough."
She raised her blade, viscous blood dripping from its surface.
"This battle should soon reach its conclusion."
"I'm glad you chose to show me this form."
"So when I truly kill you next, I shall do so with gratitude in my heart!"
"Keh heh heh, if you have that capability, then come and try!"
Satoru spread his arms wide, fingers extended, making a gesture as if to embrace Unohana.
Compared to Unohana, he was actually happier now.
Indeed, this madwoman hadn't disappointed him.
Even after witnessing something as unbelievable and even heretical as Hollowfication, Unohana hadn't reacted strongly.
Rather than questioning whether Hollowfication itself was right or wrong, she cared more about whether he had lost his true self to this form.
Retsu Unohana's attitude was important to him.
This was the first time he had used this power before a Shinigami completely unrelated to his plans and the Satoru Group.
Had Retsu Unohana reacted with fear, rejection, or angry condemnation, he would have appeared indifferent on the surface but would have been deeply hurt inside.
Now, Retsu Unohana's response gave Satoru a rare sense of relief.
Relief was the most beautiful gift.
To reciprocate this gift, Satoru took a deep breath and clenched his fist.
Blue flames erupted from his shoulders.
Tremendous power converged into his arms.
First layer... second layer...
Triple·Ikotsu!!!
Hollowfied version!
Retsu Unohana swung her blade toward him.
Satoru met it with a twisted fist.
Hummm—
Centered on their battle position, the sea of blood silently exploded outward, creating a large void completely devoid of blood.
Then, the explosive shockwave and towering blood surge suddenly contracted back inward.
Boom!!!!
A sea of blood mixed with flames shot straight up to the ceiling of the Shadow Space, exploding into a brilliant crimson mushroom cloud.
Gradually, the tide of blood receded.
Satoru stood in place.
The mask on his face transformed into a stream of light and vanished with a whoosh.
Meanwhile, Retsu Unohana lay quietly at his feet.
The frenzied swordswoman no longer held the fighting spirit she had moments before.
The corners of her lips curled upward, revealing a satisfied smile.
Clutching her blood-soaked blade, she looked up at Satoru.
"Yū, kill me."
"Na, dōshite?"
"…"
Hearing Satoru's strange tone, Unohana fell silent for a moment.
Then she continued:
"Minazuki's ability is plunder."
"The sea of blood you just saw is composed entirely of what remains of those I have slain."
"With each person I kill, I take a portion of their power, transforming it into blood that remains within my Bankai."
"This blood becomes my strength, my flesh and blood, my everything."
"But, as the price for using this power, Minazuki has a reciprocal effect."
"If I die by another's hand within this sea of blood, I will become their flesh and blood, nourishment for their growth, merging into their soul."
Gazing at Satoru, Retsu Unohana showed a somewhat yearning expression.
"Devour me, and carry me forward with you, Yū."
"My entire life has been waiting for this moment!"
Seeing Unohana, who was already severely wounded yet suddenly bursting with burning passion, Satoru finally understood.
So this was the true reason for Retsu Unohana's death in the original story?
Under Unohana's watchful eyes, Satoru stepped forward, crouched beside her, and looked down at the woman lying on the ground—her hair splayed out, body covered in wounds, a gaping hole torn through her abdomen. He grinned.
"Captain Unohana…"
"No, you foolish swordswoman, as foolish as a sow—submit to me! Become my vassal!"
"…?"
Retsu Unohana blinked slightly, a look of confusion crossing her face.
Under her gaze, Satoru reached out and pressed his hand against her stomach.
Black shadows poured from his palm, flowing into Unohana's body.
These shadows, like invasive, slippery liquid, effortlessly transformed into threads, flesh petals, and membranes, reconnecting severed blood vessels and stitching shattered organs back together.
The treatment prioritized efficiency above all.
However, due to the rough nature of the healing process, intense pain radiated from her wounds, causing Unohana to frown slightly.
Satoru paid no mind to her reaction, continuing his treatment as he spoke:
"You probably thought your death could serve as nourishment, helping me grow stronger and reach greater heights."
"Unfortunately, that's nothing but an impractical fantasy."
"My Stand is the strongest, capable of infinite growth."
"Long before your power could help me advance, my Stand would have already carried me past that point, moving toward even greater horizons."
"The sacrifice you consider so significant is, to me, nothing more than a trivial rice cracker between a luxurious lunch and an extravagant dinner."
"Aside from granting you a moment of satisfaction, it holds no meaning whatsoever!"
Hearing Satoru's words, Retsu Unohana stared in stunned silence.
She could sense that the man before her wasn't speaking recklessly.
He truly possessed such confidence, capable of discarding the power accumulated over a millennium as if it were worthless trash!
What kind of extraordinary boldness was this?!
Unohana's breathing grew slightly ragged.
But then, a pang of anguish suddenly struck her.
If this were true, then wouldn't she be utterly useless to this man?
She had experienced unparalleled, supreme joy from him, yet she had nothing to offer in return.
How could such a pitiful thing exist in this world?
Overwhelming despair and shame flushed Unohana's cheeks crimson.
At that moment, the only comfort she found was Satoru's hand pressed against her wound.
The warmth and stinging pain radiating from it made her feel she still existed.
Just then, Satoru withdrew his hand from her.
Seeing Unohana's flustered state, Satoru crossed his arms and flashed a bright, cheerful smile:
"Rather than dying meaninglessly, become my subordinate!"
"I will change this world—whether it's the Soul Society, the Soul King Palace, the living world, or Hueco Mundo…"
"Before my astonishing wisdom and invincible Stand abilities, nothing in this world can hinder my progress!"
"Stay by my side and witness the new world I will create!"
"Death grants only one thing—a meaningless release."
"Follow me, and you'll gain two things—peace of mind! And these fists that can pummel you mercilessly anytime!"
"Come on, tell me your answer!"
Watching Satoru, who sat casually beside her without a care, speaking so confidently, Retsu Unohana felt an intense sense of unreality.
A man who had graduated less than a century ago—a mere sprout compared to her—was uttering such words.
And she, who should have scoffed at such arrogance, instead felt a powerful conviction that his words were true!
If he wasn't already insane, deluded by his own fantasies, then he truly could accomplish it!
As for the new world and changing everything, Unohana had little interest.
But… the thought that she could battle this man anytime in the future, without worrying about being too strong to enjoy the fight or too weak to disappoint him, stirred a restless excitement in Retsu Unohana's heart.
Ah… if it's him, if it's him!
Retsu Unohana opened her mouth, about to speak.
But at that moment, the blood-soaked blade in her hand suddenly grew restless and agitated.
Splash!
A massive surge of blood abruptly gushed from the blade, coiling toward her body.
Seeing the blood, Retsu Unohana's pupils contracted.
"Kannonbiraki… are you unable to accept that I, who lost the battle, would abandon death and choose to keep living?"
No one understood her Zanpakutō's rules better than Retsu Unohana.
Sensing her resolve to live, Kannonbiraki did not hesitate to end its master's life with its own hands.
Watching the blood descending to engulf her, Unohana wanted to act, but her body was too battered and broken to do anything.
Suddenly, a fist shot from outside her field of vision—
"ORA!!!"
The bloody tide about to envelop her was forcefully repelled by that single punch!
Today I saw a picture that feels more suitable as a reference for Satoru's Hollowfication.
Although it's female, it shouldn't matter.
A pure manly man like Big Brother Satoru definitely won't have his image affected even if using a cute girl as reference.
Right?
Right...?