NOVEL WEB Chapter 11: CHAPTER 11
"What an unreasonable brat."
In the shop, Urahara Kisuke sat cross-legged on the tatami, folding fan tapping lightly as he grumbled.
Clearly, the shady store owner was a bit disappointed that he hadn't managed to rope Kanbaru into some sort of scheme.
"Shopkeeper."
"Is it really alright to let him leave just like that?"
The towering Tessai Tsukabishi adjusted his glasses, a sharp gleam in his eyes that didn't match his usual gentle demeanor.
"No problem."
"Presumably, he already understands the consequences of using the Hōgyoku... and the potential price he'll have to pay."
"Besides, compared to that dangerous fellow Aizen..."
"Kanbaru-kun is obviously a lot more... reasonable, don't you think?"
Urahara Kisuke knew Tessai was referring to the Hōgyoku. He opened his fan again, eyes narrowing as he calmly dissected Kanbaru's hidden nature:
"Although he wears that goofy façade for others to see..."
"His mind, his planning, and his adaptability are all first-class."
"But right now, he's got a lot on his plate."
"So we don't need to worry just yet."
Tessai nodded slightly.
Based on the intelligence Kanbaru had revealed, they'd reached a disturbing conclusion—Yhwach was still alive.
And the reason Kanbaru had been on the brink of death, even nearly dying in front of them, was due to the effect of Yhwach's Auswählen (Sacred Selection).
Which meant…
The chaos surrounding Kurosaki Kanbaru was no small matter.
"He uses that clownish mask to fool others on the surface..."
"But deep down, he's watching coldly—picking out weaknesses in others."
"What a terrifying brat."
Urahara pushed open the window and let in the late-night breeze with a faint chuckle:
"Even though he didn't give me a chance to ask for help dealing with Aizen..."
"Let's be real here."
"Do you honestly think Aizen would just sit still now that the Hōgyoku has acknowledged Kanbaru and begun merging with him?"
Tessai frowned slightly. "Are you planning to deliberately expose him to Aizen?"
Hearing that, Urahara blinked and exaggeratedly feigned a hurt expression.
"Wow. In your heart, am I that kind of person?"
"Yes. That's exactly the kind of person you are, Manager." Tessai replied flatly, without pause.
Urahara Kisuke: "..."
Today's conversation died on the spot.
Cough.
Urahara cleared his throat to brush away the awkwardness, then casually added with a mischievous smile:
"Tessai."
"There's no need for me to do something like that."
"A man like Kurosaki Kanbaru can't stay hidden for long anyway."
Revealing himself to Shihouin Yoruichi before confirming the Hōgyoku's location, all while managing to keep multiple factions at bay—
That kind of meticulous planning wasn't simple.
Urahara's gaze deepened. Suddenly, he shifted the topic with a sly grin:
"By the way, Yoruichi-san... you're really not going to tell us what happened between you and Mr. Kurosaki?"
Shihouin Yoruichi: "???"
"Eh?"
"Wait! Why are your claws out?!"
"Don't come any closer!"
"Ah—! My face!"
---
"This feeling... it's been a long time."
Back home, Kanbaru lay stretched out on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
His heartbeat was steady, his body completely recovered.
Kanbaru could clearly feel it—his entire physical condition had been enhanced by the Hōgyoku to an inhuman degree.
Whether it was Reiatsu, strength, defense, endurance, speed, or even vitality—everything had been amplified beyond logic.
"Still not fully in the Hōgyoku fusion stage..."
"But soon."
"Just a bit more."
He clasped his hands behind his head, eyes calm.
What he referred to as the "Hōgyoku fusion stage" was more accurately the first transformation phase—the early state of Hōgyoku Symbiosis, where the user's power merges with the Hōgyoku to augment both sides in real-time.
Aizen himself had once stated that, even at this stage, he was stronger than the combined might of all Espada.
His offensive capability had been enhanced to the point where a single strike could overwhelm Captain Komamura Sajin's Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō.
His defensive ability had reached such levels that even Getsuga Tenshō fired at point-blank range and Jōkaku Enjō—Yamamoto's blade-incinerating technique—could only cause superficial damage.
And his regeneration? Near-instantaneous, even from massive internal trauma.
Because the Hōgyoku didn't merely augment—it instinctively protected its host's survival.
That was why Urahara Kisuke had once declared: "At this point, killing Aizen is virtually impossible."
"Right now, I should at least have a decent amount of self-preservation."
Kanbaru remained cautious.
Overwhelming power could be intoxicating—but arrogance was still a poison.
And then—
A new prompt appeared before his eyes:
> [Do you want the red iron rod or—wait, wrong script.]
[I have good news and bad news.]
[Good news: With your current physique, you could make a hell of a jockey. More importantly, initial Hōgyoku fusion is complete, and you've temporarily shaken off Yhwach.]
[Bad news: Don't get cocky. You're only temporarily safe. Because you resisted the Auswählen multiple times, Grandpa Yhwach has noticed you. He won't send flowers—but he will send problems.]
As expected.
This fragmented Hōgyoku still wasn't perfect. Kanbaru knew that well.
But for now, it was enough to resist forced sanctification.
As for Yhwach himself—he wouldn't awaken from his slumber for another 20 years.
During that time—
Unless absolutely necessary, the King of the Quincy would never risk prematurely ending his recovery.
Only through complete dormancy could Yhwach reclaim the totality of his power.
So…
Have an opinion?
Come and say it to my face.
If you've got the guts, get up and kill me.
But guess what? You can't.
So what was there to be afraid of?
Kanbaru scoffed:
As for the Sternritter in the Wandenreich? Unhappy?
Then come chop me up.
Come one, I'll kill one. Come many, I'll call my people.
You wanna jump me? Good luck. I'm unjumpable.
Address? Sure!
Room 1001, Building 2, Duandou Garden, Duandou Street.
Father: Hu Yingjun. Mother: Zhang Xiaoli. Me? I'm Hu Tutu.
Come try me. I dare you.
You act wild, I call the old man—Captain-Commander Yamamoto!
If you don't get incinerated, consider it a win!
With all that straightened out, Kanbaru felt a lot better.
He opened the fridge and popped a can of cold soda.
Tons tons tons—
Ahhh... bliss.
Kanbaru smiled in satisfaction.
But in the next second—his eyes narrowed sharply.
Just now, Kurosaki Masaki's Reiatsu had flared briefly, then vanished.
"A barrier?"
The fluctuation had been minimal, practically undetectable to even captain-class Shinigami.
But Kanbaru—newly enhanced and bound to the Hōgyoku—picked up on the anomaly instantly.