An entirely new gateway opened up as Mayuri and Nemu stepped out, separated from the rest of the Court Guards.

Mayuri: Closing the gate, then reopening it after tilting the axis makes it so easy to go off by yourself even within the Royal Palace. They must be panicking about now after realizing I'm not with them. At any rate, I'll be able to test the fruits of my research all I want without being bothered by those philistines.

"You're right."





Mayuri jumped in surprise as Kenpachi somehow made his way through Mayuri's gateway.

Mayuri: Z-Zaraki?! What are you doing here?

Kenpachi: Everyone left without me while I was using the restroom. It's a good thing you reopened the gate. Ain't that right, Yamada!!

Behind Kenpachi was Yumichika, Ikkaku and Hanataro.

Hanataro: Yes, sir... Why did I go to the restroom when I did?

Kenpachi: Good thing we did, though. It means I won't have to worry about accidentally cutting down one of our own. I can go all out. And I know you won't die that easily even if I did cut you by mistake.

Mayuri: You're right... And since the others are not here, it'd be a perfect time to exterminate some annoying pests.

Kenpachi: Who are you talking about?

Mayuri: Who do you think?



Tensions were rising and Hanataro was feeling it, no doubt.

Hanataro: Seriously... Why did I go to the restroom when I did?

Ikkaku: Stop whining, or we'll leave you behind.

Hanataro turned towards Nemu.

Hanataro: How do you feel about this?

Nemu: I don't feel anything.

Kenpachi: Okay then, let's get going!

Ikkaku and Yumichika: Yes, sir!

Hanataro: Y-Yes, sir...

Kenpachi and the others ran off ahead of Mayuri and Nemu.

Mayuri: Let's be on our way too, Nemu. Yes, Master Mayuri.

(Meanwhile) Ichigo's group.

Ichigo and the others were running towards Wahrwelt

Orihime: I wish we could have joined up with Rukia and Renji.

Ichigo: Yeah, but we can't create a foothold or use a Soul Phone to reach them. (Y/N)'s the only one with a way to travel to them.

Chad: We're all after the same enemy. I'm sure we'll meet up with them up ahead.

Yoruichi: You're right.

Grimmjow: There's no need to join them. The greater our numbers, the less mobile we become. That means more unnecessary bodies!

Nelliel: Grimmjow!

"No he's right!"

(Y/N) finally was able to reunite with the group.

(Y/N): I would've taken you guys with me to meet with the others if it was a better option but if we want the best chances of sneaking in unnoticed, we're better off in smaller numbers.

Wiz: You might not like to hear it coming from Grimmjow, but it's the unfortunate truth.

Grimmjow: If we're done talking, I'm moving up ahead.

Ichigo: Wait! There's somebody there!

Up ahead, Askin was minding his own business before he noticed everyone approaching him.

Askin: No way... I have to deal with Ichigo and (Y/N)'s group? Talk about bad luck...

However, what Askin wasn't expecting was Grimmjow leaping at him in an attempt to ambush him.

Askin: Wait, hold on a-!

The entire building that Askin was standing on collapsed as Grimmjow attacked Askin.

Ichigo: Dammit. He just had to make the first move!

Lilynette: That damn idiot! He's going to ruin this chance for us.

(Y/N): We'll deal with this guy. You and Wiz can ignore him and head towards the castle. One of the Quincies should be heading there with Siegfried to help you guys release Harribel and Starrk.

Wiz: You got help from the enemy?

(Y/N): It's not any of the Sternritters that serve directly under Yhwach. But she does have a grudge against him, so she's helping out this once. She went ahead to free the two so just make sure their rescue goes smoothly, alright?

Wiz: Understood.

Lilynette: We'll be back with guns blazing, literally!

(Y/N) then turned to Ichigo.

(Y/N): Let's hurry and catch up with Grimmjow.

Ichigo: Yeah.

Not far away, Grimmjow stood over a pile of debris that covered Askin's body.

Grimmjow: One down.

Ichigo: Grimmjow! What the hell are you doing charging in by yourself?!

Grimmjow: Aw, shut up... Back off, Kurosaki! I don't take orders from you-

All of a sudden, Askin pulled himself out of the pile of rubble and took off.



Ichigo: You let him get away?

(Y/N): All that talk and you let him slip out of your grasp that easily? Some apex predator you are...

Grimmjow: I said shut up!

Grimmjow ran after Asking for the second time.

Ichigo: Hey!

(Y/N) facepalmed as he watched the hijinks ensue.

(Y/N): What a Strike Team we've put together...

Ichigo and (Y/N) once again followed Grimmjow as the arrancar in question tried to take out Askin.

(Meanwhile) With Calavera And Roka.

Calavera and Roka finally made it across the bridge that Azoth created. Once across, Roka placed her hand on one of the buildings.

Calavera: What's the matter? Are you tired?

Roka: No, I'm spinning a Negacion thread. We have no way of contacting the others so I thought transferring information by placing threads throughout the Royal Palace was our best bet.

Calavera: Oh, right. I vaguely recall (Y/N) and Wiz talking about an ability like that. How do the others get the information though?

Roka: Well, I used an idea that (Y/N) came up with when we fought Cien. By tying a Negacion thread to someone else, I can use that to send information to someone else. It was how I was able to warn (Y/N) about Cien's arrival in Hueco Mundo.

Calavera: Your threads are so much more unique than mine... So who did you tie your Negacion thread to?

Roka: Before we arrived at the Royal Palace, I tied a thread to both Nel and Wiz. And right before we broke off from the group, I tied a thread to (Y/N). Thankfully the Negacion threads phase through objects or else this plan wouldn't work. As long as I can cover this place with Negacion threads, we can have our very own network of information that the Quincies don't have access to.

Roka then shot threads from her hand that shot around the surrounding area, covering multiple buildings. Calavera then took out CJ.

Calavera: Alright CJ, let's help out.

CJ increased in size and picked up Calavera and hop onto the rooftop of one of the buildings. After giving the area a quick scan, she noticed a small group.

Calavera: Wait a minute...

Calavera took a closer look and saw Mayuri and Kenpachi's group.

Calavera: What are they doing here? Weren't they supposed to be on the other side of the Royal Palace?

Calavera looked down at the ground level where Roka was.

Calavera: We have allies on this side! Shinigamis to be exact!

Roka: That's good for us. Let's meet up with them.

CJ picked up Roka and took a massive leap to clear the distance between them and the shinigamis.

Mayuri on the other hand, wasn't expecting to see more people, let alone Calavera and Roka appear out of nowhere.

Mayuri: Once again, I'm getting unwanted guests... However, I wasn't expecting to find the arrancar Roka Paramia to be here in the Royal Palace.

Roka, who was obviously creeped out, hid behind Calavera.

Calavera: Um... Hello, Captain Kurotsuchi.

Mayuri: Ah, (Y/N)'s Mod Soul. I'll go on a whim and say that he told you to come here.

Calavera: That's right.

Mayuri just huffed and walked past the two girls.

Mayuri: As long as you aren't interfering with my work, then you can just sit back and watch.

Calavera : Y-yes sir...

Mayuri ran ahead while Calavera and Roka followed behind. Soon enough the group came to a halt when they found themselves standing in front of Pernida. The Quincy in question, despite not revealing its identity, didn't look human.

Kenpachi: What is that?

Mayuri: Is that a question? Or are you talking to yourself? If so, then I'll ignore you. Since we have never seen anything like that before, no one in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads will be stupid enough to ask questions like that. Since that's the case, I guess I should ignore...

Kenpachi: Well, I'll cut it down then.

Kenpachi couldn't care less about Mayuri's ramblings and ran off to fight Pernida. However the moment Zaraki took a swing at Pernida, Mayuri felt something was amiss.

Mayuri: Wait, Zaraki!

Kenpachi noticed the eyes under the Quincies hood flicker. That in combination with Mayuri's warning, Kenpachi backed away.

Mayuri: Zaraki...

Kenpachi: No worries. It's just an arm...

Kenpachi's arm then started pouring blood as it was twisted, similar to Yoruichi's interaction with Pernida.

Calavera: *thinking* What do you mean "just an arm"?

Kenpachi: ...But at least I got his head.

Pernida's head then began to erupt blood as Kenpachi did indeed cut into him. However Pernida's "head" began to morph into a weird shape. Tendrils then ripped through the hood and connected to the nearby buildings.



Kenpachi: The head became huge.

Mayuri: Those changes seem unsuitable for combat. There must be a reason. It's kind of creepy.

Kenpachi, Calavera and Roka: You're one to talk.

All of a sudden, Kenpachi's broken arm started to rotate involuntarily, causing his bones to crush and break.



Kenpachi ripped off the rotating arm and took the zanpakuto in his only arm. Seeing the grotesque scene made Calavera nearly throw up.

Mayuri: Oh. That's quite nice. It was a good idea to rip off your arm right away. Good job, Captain Zaraki. If you hadn't taken that decision on the spot, now you'd be turned into a sinewy and tasteless mountain of meatballs.

Kenpachi: I'm not sure whether you're praising or provoking me.

Mayuri: What do you think?

Kenpachi: Whatever. What is his power?

Mayuri: As always, I don't understand if you're asking me or just talking to yourself. But either way, I don't know either. What I can say now, is that it's better not to get close to it. Nemu, tie up his arm and stop the blood loss.

Nemu: Yes.

Nemu walked past Calavera and Roka and began to treat Kenpachi's arm.

Kenpachi: Don't kid me. How can I slash it up if I don't get close?

Good grief. Another question? Slashing is not the only way to fight. I'll think of a way to deal with him without getting close—

Kenpachi: Sorry, that was me talking to myself.

Kenpachi ran back in to fight Pernida, despite Mayuri's warnings.

Mayuri: Hey, Zaraki!

Kenpachi: If I don't understand his power, I'll just cut him in half before he gets me!

Kenpachi tried to cut Pernida in half but his zanpakuto got stuck in between Pernida's mutated head. Kenpachi then felt his knees become victim to Pernida's power. The Captain fell to his knees and before he knew it, Kenpachi was also pierced through the chest by Mayuri with his zanpakuto.

Kenpachi slowly turned his head around.

Kenpachi: Kurotsuchi, you...

Mayuri: In just controlling the limbs, the other bones will break.

Ashisogijizo. Fear Factor 4.

Mayuri slipped his finger into the eyelid of the face implanted into his zanpakuto, causing the zanpakuto to release a high pitch screech across the battlefield. Nemu then warned the group.

Nemu: Please cover your ears or else you'll go paralyzed in four seconds.

The group quickly followed Nemu's instructions. Once the scream stopped, Mayuri removed his zanpakuto from Kenpachi's body.

Mayuri: Okay. Anesthesia is the best thing I can do.

Mayuri then turned to Pernida.

Mayuri: I can still use his physical strength. Being turned into meatballs here would be a bit inconvenient anyway. And also, that the anesthetic is working means you've revealed the true nature of your power. In other words, your nerves. You're using your own nerves to infiltrate the enemy's bodies and forcibly control their movements. I saw it coming, you know. I hear that Quincies can pump Reishi into the blood vessels and make use of that power for themselves. So it's not a surprise that other beings use Reishi to control other parts of the body. But, whatever the process is, we do not need to be scared once we know what it is.

Pernida then sent his nerves directly at Mayuri, but the scientist took a bottle of acid out of his jacket and threw it on Pernida's nerves, causing the Quincy to scream in pain.

Mayuri: Does it hurt? The acrid hardship of having your nerves exposed. I'm very interested in your power. Let's take our time. I have tons of drugs that will work on the nerves.

Mayuri then walked towards Kenpachi and started a conversation.

Mayuri: Oh. I stabbed you for your own sake. That couldn't be helped.

Kenpachi could only do as little as move his eyes, which he did to stare directly at Mayuri.

Mayuri: Oh. It's pretty amazing that you can still move your eyes. You're quite a monster. Well. I'll improve Ashisogijizo's paralytic power before stabbing you again, I guess. Oh. Beside the enemy's power, you also made me discover a way to improve Ashisogijizo. I can't help but feel gratitude towards you.

Mayuri then turned to Calavera and Roka.

Mayuri: You, Mod Soul Girl. You're an enhanced strength Mod Soul, correct? Then stay back unless you want to end up like Zaraki here. Ms. Paramia, I would say fight if you had a way to attack from long distances but I think it's far better to fight on my own.

Roka: Is that right... Then we won't get in your way. But if you require assistance then please let us know.

Mayuri: Hmph. Assistance? I can't let this opportunity pass because I need help.

Mayuri then walked towards Pernida.

Thanks to the noble sacrifice of a captain of our beloved Thirteen Court Guard Squads, we learned how your power works, which is valuable. Do you know what this means? Eerie Quincy.

...

Mayuri: Since you're not replying, I'll go on. What I'm trying to say is that I'm almost on the verge of crying because of this touching sacrifice. Noble victories are always preceded by noble sacrifices. In other words, you should show your respect for this touching sacrifice by donating your body to me for my experiments.



This didn't sit well with Pernida. In fact, it upset him as Pernida made incomprehensible noises.

Mayuri: Oh. It seems that you don't agree. You're too stubborn to understand romance, I see.

In his last fit of rage, Pernida's body burst out of the hood he was wearing.

Mayuri: This is...

Pernida's body turned out to be a hand.



Mayuri: I reckon that is the Soul King's left arm.

Calavera: Why are we always stuck with the weirdos and the strong enemies?!

Roka: This may prove to be a massive issue that none of us are prepared for. Calavera. The captain said he didn't require our help but if what he said is true, we should be ready to fight.

Calavera: I'd be a fool not to be.

To be continued.

So... Calavera fighting another Schutzstaffel member. Poor girl must be fend up with this.