Chapter 666 An Actor's Self-Cultivation

"Huh?"

Even someone of Mayuri's disposition was stunned by Makoto's words.

'What was up with this Vasto Lorde?'

'The first thing he said was an invitation to join him?'

In all his years in the Soul Society, this was the first time he had encountered someone who played things even less by the rules than he did.

Makoto smiled unhurriedly. "Whatever the Seireitei can provide, I can provide too. Except there aren't as many entertainment options where I am. But someone like you probably doesn't care about that anyway."

As a transmigrator with omniscient perspective, Makoto knew Mayuri's background inside and out.

This future Captain of the 12th Division, the most insane genius scientist in the entire Soul Society, had practically no loyalty to the Seireitei, let alone the entire Soul Society.

Perhaps by the time of Ichigo's era, after serving as Captain of the 12th Division for a hundred years, he might have developed a faint sense of belonging to the Seireitei.

But at this point in time, he really didn't have any at all.

The only reason he stayed here was because it was convenient.

If he could persuade such a top-tier scientific talent to come to Hueco Mundo, Psykos's progress on the Hogyoku development would at least double.

Hearing Makoto's words, Mayuri actually pinched his painted chin and pondered for a few seconds, as if seriously evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the offer.

But in the end, he shook his head. "Does your research equipment in Hueco Mundo compare to the Technology Development Bureau? Besides, Urahara Kisuke is about to die. Everything here will soon be mine."

"I don't know how advanced your technology is in Hueco Mundo, but it probably can't match the conditions here, right?"

That's right, Mayuri really didn't care about entertainment perks.

But he cared immensely about his research environment. There was no way a rundown place like Hueco Mundo could compare to the Technology Development Bureau's facilities.

More importantly, when Kisuke had pulled him out of the Nest of Maggots, he had personally promised Mayuri that as long as he was gone, the Technology Development Bureau, and even the entire 12th Division, would be Mayuri's to command.

And now, Kisuke had been taken away by Central 46. At worst, he would be executed... at best, he'd be locked up for a few thousand years.

Either way, Mayuri came out ahead.

He really couldn't find a reason to leave this soon-to-be treasure trove for some godforsaken place like Hueco Mundo.

"That's a pity."

Makoto shrugged. He hadn't held out much hope anyway.

"So, would you mind stepping aside? I'd like to take something from your place. You know you're no match for me, right?"

Mayuri blinked and stepped aside with almost no hesitation.

Besides, Akon was already knocked out cold by a flying rock, so he couldn't snitch.

When writing his report later, he could just make something up like 'after a fierce three-hundred-round battle against several Vasto Lorde, I was overwhelmed and forced to retreat'.

"Get out here!"

Just then, Yu raised his gun-arm and fired at an angle to his left.

An armor-piercing bullet, carrying high-speed kinetic energy, blasted a hole in the wall, its edges still smoking.

Mayuri raised an eyebrow and looked in the direction Yu had fired, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

'That was Urahara Kisuke's room?'

Then, through the hole in the wall, he saw a petite figure in an awkward dodging posture, tightly clutching a black cloak.

Wheat-colored skin, purple hair, cat-like golden eyes... it was 2nd Division's Captain, Shihoin Yoruichi.

"2nd Division's Captain, what are you doing here?"

Mayuri was also startled.

He had been busy negotiating with these Vasto Lorde the entire time and hadn't noticed anyone hiding in Kisuke's room.

Earlier, Sasakibe, as the 1st Division's Lieutenant, had used Tenteikura to notify all available Captain-class combatants, explicitly ordering Yoruichi, Isshin, and Kiganjo to proceed to the 2nd Division's barracks for support.

Why wasn't Yoruichi helping deal with those two Vasto Lorde? What was she doing sneaking around the 12th Division?

The moment Makoto saw the black cloak in Yoruichi's hands, he understood immediately.

That was a special tool invented by Kisuke. Once worn, it could completely erase the wearer's Reiatsu, making them practically invisible to perception-type Shinigami.

Later, Aizen had also worn a similar cloak to ambush Isshin.

Yoruichi had probably planned to take advantage of everyone's attention being on the 2nd Division attack to sneak in and grab this cloak, then use it to infiltrate Central 46's prison and break Kisuke out.

"Gulp."

Yoruichi's gaze swept rapidly over Makoto's group, and she swallowed hard.

The appearance of two Vasto Lorde at the 2nd Division had already been shocking enough. She had thought that was the full extent of the invasion. She never expected there to be so many more sneaking around the 12th Division.

And judging by the way they were discussing things with Mayuri, this group clearly had some other secret agenda.

For a moment, two thoughts clashed fiercely in Yoruichi's mind... should she continue with the original plan to rescue Kisuke, or should she retreat immediately and report this situation to Yamamoto?

Yu glanced at Makoto. "Senpai, should we kill this woman?"

Not just Yu... even Mayuri was a bit tempted.

After all, his conversation with these Vasto Lorde had almost certainly been heard clearly by Yoruichi hiding behind the wall.

If Yoruichi got away alive and reported it to the Captain-Commander, his position as deputy director of the Technology Development Bureau would be finished.

Hearing Yu's words, Yoruichi hesitated for only three seconds.

She put down the black cloak she had finally found, and without hesitation, used Shunpo to race toward the 1st Division's barracks.

She and Kisuke were indeed childhood friends, but with so many Vasto Lorde infiltrating the Seireitei simultaneously, this was no simple attack. There was definitely a conspiracy brewing behind it, one that threatened the safety of the entire Soul Society.

Between personal feelings and the survival of the entire Soul Society, she made her choice immediately.

Yoruichi's Shunpo speed was among the best of the current Seireitei's Captains. In the blink of an eye, she had already rushed out of the Technology Development Bureau's main gate.

Pochi, who had been crouching at Makoto's feet, locked his six eyes onto her rapidly moving figure. He opened his mouth and fired a heat blast, wreathed in scorching air.

Yoruichi urgently used Shunpo again mid-air to dodge sideways, twisting her body at an almost impossible angle.

The heat blast grazed her clothing and struck another wall of the Technology Development Bureau. The entire wall was reduced to rubble. The shockwave, carrying debris and searing air, spread outward.

The power far exceeded Yoruichi's expectations, 'This dog was also a Vasto Lorde?!'

'Since when had Vasto Lorde become so cheap?'

'Even a dog was at that level?'

Although the heat blast hadn't hit her directly, the violent shockwave from the close-range explosion still threw Yoruichi's small body off balance in midair.

Her Shunpo rhythm was disrupted. She spun twice in the air before regaining her center of gravity.

And in that brief moment of delay, Makoto had already summoned his Susanoo. A giant hand of deep blue Chakra reached out from the void and clenched her entire body in its palm.

Looking at the carnage... the sparks, the collapsed walls... Makoto glanced down at Pochi, who was wagging his tail like a propeller and sticking out his tongue, desperately trying to take credit. He couldn't help but slap his own forehead.

'What a trouble.'

'That heat blast had caused too much commotion. It would definitely draw all the nearby Shinigami over.'

But he wasn't too angry at Pochi.

After all, a dog's intelligence only went so far. He couldn't expect too much from it.

What bad intentions could a little doggy have? He just wanted to help his master fight the bad guys.

"Hey! Let me go!"

Yoruichi was firmly held in the Susanoo's skeletal hand in midair, her two wheat-colored legs kicking frantically between the fingers.

"Lock her up." Makoto ordered.

Beam immediately formed hand seals and used the Water Prison Technique on Yoruichi.

Yoruichi blew bubbles in the water, her eyes wide.

As Makoto had expected, a brief scan of the surrounding Reiatsu revealed that a large number of Shinigami were rapidly converging from all directions.

Not just the 11th Division, but even Reiatsu from the 1st Division was moving this way, and one of them was overwhelmingly strong.

No need to guess who it was.

Makoto turned to Mayuri. "Third Seat Mayuri, it looks like we'll have to put on a show together."

The first to arrive were the 11th Division's members, who were closest to the 12th Division's barracks.

Hearing the earth-shattering explosion from the Technology Development Bureau, they immediately rushed over with their Zanpakuto drawn.

Leading the charge was the strongest man in the 11th Division besides the Captain Kiganjo... Zaraki.

He hadn't yet earned the name 'Kenpachi', but his jagged Zanpakuto and the beastly aura that made others keep their distance were already well-known in the Seireitei.

By the time Zaraki arrived, the 11th Division's members had just witnessed this scene:

Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Third Seat of the 12th Division and deputy director of the Technology Development Bureau, was fighting desperately against several Menos Grandes of massive size and fierce appearance.

Mayuri had already released his Bankai... Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo.

That massive caterpillar-like creature extended from his body, its huge mouthparts spewing deadly poison, its blade-like legs flailing wildly in the air.

But even with his Bankai, he couldn't fight off so many enemies.

Under the siege of those Menos Grandes... the dolphin, the rabbit, and the gorilla... Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo's legs were snapped one by one, its poison mist scattered by fist pressure, its massive body forced back again and again.

Finally, with a pained shriek, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo's body shattered into countless Reishi that flowed back into Mayuri's Zanpakuto.

Mayuri himself was sent flying by the recoil, his back slamming into the rubble, a trail of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

"Wow! Ken-chan! There are lots of strong Hollows here too!"

Yachiru, perched on Zaraki's shoulder, clapped her little hands excitedly, her wide eyes sparkling.

"Now this is interesting."

Zaraki licked his lips, a bloodthirsty grin spreading across his face.

"That old man Yamamoto sent that bastard Kiganjo to deal with the Vasto Lorde, but not me. Damn it. Looks like I need to become a Captain soon, or I'll be stuck dealing with small fry."

Then Zaraki's grin turned even more wicked. "But this time, I hit the jackpot. Top-tier Adjuchas like these aren't easy to come by."

With that, Zaraki shouted, "Get out of the way, Kurotsuchi! I'll take care of these guys!"