Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

The reagent containing Hollow energy entered Rukia's body and spread rapidly, coursing through her veins like a swarm of invasive insects carried by her bloodstream. 

"Ah!!!" 

Rukia let out a pained scream, her eyes widening in disbelief. 

'So fast!' 

Even with her heightened senses, investigative powers, and mastery of Observation Haki, she had been completely unaware of Aizen's movements. 

It was as though... 

...time itself had been stolen from her. 

By the time she regained her senses, the reagent had already infiltrated her body. 

An alien force began to surge within her, initiating an immediate Hollowfication reaction. 

An overwhelming sense of emptiness took root in her soul, gnawing at her like a corrosive void. 

And then... 

A sinister, violent energy erupted within her, swiftly taking control. 

"Damn it... What is this!?" 

The unbalanced power threw her spiritual pressure into chaos, destabilizing her entire being. 

She staggered, desperately attempting to summon the power of her waveguide to counteract the invasion. 

But... 

What happened next shocked her. 

The moment her waveguide energy came into contact with the invading power, instead of resisting it, they merged seamlessly with it. 

In fact... 

Her own energies appeared to nurture and guide this hostile force, smoothing its flow through her body. 

Though the violent edge of the energy diminished, its malevolent aura remained unmistakably intact. 

"What... is happening?" 

Rukia's face twisted in agony as spiritual particles in the air condensed into white specks, gathering toward her face. 

What Rukia didn't realize was that the reagent Aizen had injected her with was designed to Hollowfy her soul. 

This power of Hollowfication shared the same origin as the powers of enlightenment and waveguide within her. 

As forces of the same source, they were naturally predisposed to merge, rather than conflict. 

Unintentionally, Rukia's efforts to resist only accelerated the Hollowfication process. 

The one silver lining... 

...was that after Hollowfication, she would no longer be consumed by violent emotions. Her demeanor would remain calm, though her aura would irrevocably change. 

However... 

In the Seireitei, even the slightest trace of Hollow energy was absolutely forbidden. 

It was inevitable that... 

Once Aizen's illusion over the Seireitei dissipated, the entire society would mobilize to apprehend Rukia. 

And with Aizen's control over Central 46, the consequences she would face were grim. 

Rukia was beginning to realize this. 

But there was nothing she could do to stop the transformation overtaking her. 

"Damn it... Have I really fallen into that bastard's trap?" 

Her vision began to blur, and a pale, bone-like mask etched with faint blue patterns slowly formed across her face. 

In an instant... 

Rukia's spiritual signature changed completely, becoming that of a fully Hollowfied being. 

From afar, Yamamoto sensed the disturbance emanating from the Kuchiki estate. 

A brilliant path of spiritual energy extended from the First Division to the estate as Yamamoto, wreathed in blazing flames, raced toward the source of the anomaly. 

At the same time... 

A suffocating spiritual pressure, as heavy as mountains, descended upon Rukia, immobilizing her completely. 

Now fully Hollowfied, she gripped her Zanpakutō tightly and gazed at the approaching flames, resignation in her heart. 

"So this is it..." 

"Even though I still have so many points left unused!" 

Regret washed over her. 

If only she had converted all her resources into points earlier, she could have been better prepared for this moment. 

If she had amassed 100,000 points... 

...perhaps she wouldn't be in such a desperate situation. 

But... 

Just as despair began to consume her, a familiar voice echoed in her mind. 

"Giving up already, Miss Rukia?" 

"...Hermes!?" 

Rukia's eyes widened in shock as she spun around, her heart skipping a beat. 

Somehow... 

Hermes, who should have been hiding, dormant in her closet, was now standing calmly beside her. 

In an instant, a strange energy coursed through Rukia's body. 

Immediately, the entire world seemed to freeze, entering a state of complete stillness. 

At that moment, Rukia could clearly see Captain Yamamoto standing mid-air in the distance, motionless. 

Even the flames that engulfed him had become statuesque, frozen in time. 

"You… What is this?" 

Rukia, now wearing a Hollow bone mask, blinked in disbelief as she observed the eerie stillness around her. 

She hadn't expected this. 

Hermes—a rabbit-like doll seemingly limited to facilitating transactions—was now displaying extraordinary, almost god-like abilities. 

Even though Rukia had long ceased to see Hermes as an ordinary being, casually freezing time and space was still beyond what she could comprehend. 

As if struck by realization, Rukia turned her gaze toward Hermes and asked with a mix of curiosity and relief: 

"This... Why is this happening, Hermes? Aren't dimensional merchants required to remain neutral? Isn't interfering with the world against your rules?" 

Truth be told, Rukia had considered seeking Hermes' help before. 

But when she first obtained the rules of dimensional trading, she learned that merchants were forbidden from directly interfering with the natural progression of any world. 

So, even in moments of despair and fear—when faced with the prospect of death—she never thought to ask Hermes for aid. 

But now, against all odds, Hermes had actively disregarded those rules. 

Could it be that the very rules she had once believed immutable had been deliberately broken by Hermes, a dimensional merchant? 

However... 

Hermes merely smiled, raising the corners of his mouth as he chuckled softly: 

"Interfering with the world? Where do you see that I've done such a thing, Miss Rukia?" 

"What?" 

Rukia froze, confusion evident in her widened eyes. 

Hermes waved his cane in a slow, deliberate arc and continued, his voice calm and measured: 

"I've done no such thing. All I've done is freeze time to create a quiet environment for our transaction." 

"I sensed a strong desire to trade emanating from you, Miss Rukia. To prevent external interruptions, I took this measure. That's all." 

"I've acted entirely within the limits of the rules. Once time resumes, there will be no changes to the outside world, except for you, the trader, who will be affected by this exchange." 

After finishing his explanation, Hermes rested his cane gently in the air and looked at Rukia with a serene smile. 

But at that moment, Rukia's eyes brimmed with tears. 

In the face of overwhelming despair, she had been saved at the most unexpected moment. 

Only those who have experienced such a sensation could truly understand its impact. 

"Hermes..." she murmured softly. 

Though Hermes had clearly explained his reasons, Rukia couldn't shake the feeling that his actions were motivated by something beyond business. 

As a dimensional merchant, Hermes could have easily sought out wealthier and more powerful clients. 

And yet... 

He had chosen her, granting her a second chance at life. 

Now, at her most vulnerable, he had stepped in to save her once again. 

At this moment, Rukia's trust in Hermes, dimensional merchants, and even the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce surged to new heights. 

Hermes, sensing the emotions swelling in Rukia's heart, smiled faintly. 

What Rukia didn't know was that Hermes' abilities didn't come from himself. The impressive time-freezing was a trick granted by an even greater entity—Linlin, who had spent her own points to assist Rukia, the first trader from this new world. 

After all, the "first" client always holds a special place, and Linlin was no exception. 

In reality... 

Hermes hadn't truly frozen the entire world's time and space. 

Instead, he had created a small, isolated dimension where time flowed so quickly that it seemed as though everything outside was frozen. 

Even so, creating such a space had cost Linlin a staggering 3,000 points. 

And the effect would only last for 30 minutes. 

Realizing this limitation, Hermes quickly cut to the point: 

"So... Miss Rukia, shall we begin the transaction now?" 

"Yes!" 

Rukia's response was immediate and resolute. 

In this moment of crisis, only the magical power of dimensional trading could save her. 

And this time... 

She wouldn't hold anything back! 

With the trading interface appearing in her mind, Rukia abandoned her usual cautious nature. 

Without hesitation, she selected 'everything' she could and confirmed her choices instantly. 

In an instant, the large warehouse of the Kuchiki family was left almost completely barren. 

Other areas of the estate also experienced an inexplicable disappearance of resources. 

However, these resources hadn't vanished entirely—they had merely transformed into another form, now quietly reflected in Rukia's point balance. 

"A total of 85,000 points!?" 

Rukia stared at the updated balance. Combined with the 5,000 points she had reserved, she now had 90,000 points in total. 

Beneath the Hollow bone mask, a gleam of determination and madness flickered in her eyes. 

The dimensional transaction was complete. 

And just as quickly as time had frozen, it resumed again. 

From afar, a blazing fireball as intense as the sun surged toward Rukia. 

Captain Yamamoto, wielding his Zanpakutō, arrived at the Kuchiki estate. His sharp gaze swept across the icy surface that had engulfed the property before turning upward toward the sky. 

There... 

A young woman stood suspended in the void. Her pure white robe, adorned with ice crystal ribbons, flowed in the air. Her cold-colored Hollow bone mask exuded an aura of eerie stillness. 

She stood quietly, as though awaiting his arrival. 

"The aura of a Hollow!?" 

Yamamoto's expression shifted dramatically. 

With a powerful swing of his blade, the overwhelming sea of flames erupted from his Zanpakutō, instantly melting the ice that had blanketed the Kuchiki family grounds. 

Under the intense heat, the ice sublimated into mist, rising into the sky above the estate. 

It wasn't until this moment that the slumbering members of the Kuchiki family awoke, a suffocating heat pulling them out of their sleep. 

Byakuya's eyes snapped open, widening in alarm. 

As a seasoned warrior, he immediately sensed two immense spiritual pressures above the estate. 

Wasting no time, he grabbed his Zanpakutō, flung open the door of his quarters, and ascended into the sky. 

And there, amidst the mist and chaos... 

Rukia calmly placed a hand on the Hollow bone mask that covered her face. With a deliberate motion, she removed it, revealing her pure and serene visage beneath. 

Hollow Mask Control! 

Purchased for 5,000 points. 

This ability was one of the rewards Rukia had just redeemed—a result of Pinocchio's dimensional trade with Shinji, which unraveled the mysteries of Hollow power. 

Thanks to the Hollow Mask Control ability, Rukia had now fully mastered the Hollow energy within her. 

She could wield its power with precision, making herself stronger at will. 

"Who are you?" 

Yamamoto demanded, his sword poised defensively. 

The fiery energy surrounding him radiated over the entire Kuchiki estate, like the embodiment of a Fire Demon. The sea of flames surged toward Rukia, threatening to consume her. 

"What is happening, Rukia!?" 

Byakuya, visibly shaken, called out. 

Through the dancing firelight, he caught sight of the Hollow bone mask in Rukia's hand. 

Summoning his courage, Byakuya stepped into the fiery chaos to confront her directly. 

For some time now... 

Ever since adopting Rukia, it felt as though the very fabric of his world had been shifting beneath his feet. 

Every morning, as he opened his eyes, he braced himself for the possibility of yet another unexpected turn of events. 

But today... 

Before dawn had even broken, the world had already become incomprehensible. 

Rukia, however, remained calm as she met Byakuya's bewildered gaze. 

Her voice steady and matter-of-fact, she explained: 

"I just had a battle here... with the Captain of the Fifth Division." 

"The Captain of the Fifth Division? Aizen Sosuke!?" 

Byakuya was visibly taken aback as Rukia continued: 

"He deceived all of you. His Zanpakutō can cast incredibly powerful illusions, hypnotizing the entire Seireitei into submission." 

"My Bankai, however, disrupts his illusions—something he couldn't allow. So, he tried to murder me." 

"At night, he used his illusion to control the Kuchiki family, launching a sneak attack on me." 

"Fortunately, I detected the anomalies during the day and was able to resist. That's the only reason his assassination attempt failed." 

Rukia gestured to the scorched and chaotic scene around them. 

"Everything you see now... is the aftermath of my fight with him." 

She lowered her Zanpakutō, signaling her lack of intent to continue the confrontation. 

However... 

Even after hearing Rukia's explanation, the flames surrounding her showed no sign of abating. 

Yamamoto frowned deeply, his voice rumbling like an impending earthquake: 

"An illusion capable of controlling the entire Seireitei? Rukia, your reasoning is far too outlandish!" 

"And furthermore..." 

He gestured at the Hollow mask in her hand. 

"Can you explain that bone mask? And the Hollow energy radiating from you? Where does it come from!?" 

"This is the power Aizen forced upon me!" 

Rukia's response was immediate, firm, and unwavering as she faced Yamamoto's stern inquiry: 

"When you began to sense something was amiss, Aizen unleashed a force and speed I couldn't possibly match. He injected some kind of reagent into my body—forcing the Hollow energy to manifest within me!" 

"Impossible!!!" 

Byakuya's voice rang out sharply, his tone a mix of disbelief and alarm. 

"But you were clearly in your 'Bankai' state! How can the power of Shinigami and Hollow coexist?!" 

"I don't know." 

Rukia shook her head, her voice steady yet tinged with frustration. 

"Maybe... this is one of Aizen's secrets—something he's been hiding within the Seireitei all along." 

"This..." 

Byakuya extended a hand, but his words faltered. For the first time, the usually composed noble seemed at a loss. 

Meanwhile, Yamamoto's flames flickered ever so slightly, as if reflecting his inner conflict. 

While Rukia's words planted seeds of doubt, his pride as a captain and his unwavering faith in the systems of the Seireitei held firm. He couldn't allow himself to believe that such a grand betrayal could have unfolded right under his watch. 

Even so, the Hollow energy emanating from Rukia was undeniable. 

After a long pause, Yamamoto lowered his sword slightly, creating a fiery domain in the air around him. His voice was resolute as he declared: 

"Regardless of your claims, I cannot take your words at face value!" 

"You possess the power of a Hollow, Rukia, and for that alone, I am bound to arrest you!" 

"Your fate will be decided only after a trial in Central Room 46!" 

"Then you're sentencing me to death, Captain!!!" 

Rukia's voice, calm yet steely, cut through the tension. She raised her Zanpakutō, leveling it directly at Yamamoto. 

"Right now, the entire Seireitei is under Aizen's control. Central Room 46 is nothing more than his puppet!" 

"And you want me, a prisoner, to stand trial before them?" 

"Are you joking!?" 

Boom! 

A bone-chilling frost erupted from Rukia's body, extinguishing the surrounding flames in an instant. 

The blazing sky over the Kuchiki estate was replaced once again by a frozen, icy stillness. 

The air turned frigid, the biting cold seeping into every corner. 

But this chill didn't originate from Rukia. 

No... 

It came from the wrath of a deity who had just been defied. 

The indomitable captain of the Gotei 13—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.