The Rules of Engagement
Chapter 7 – Returning Home
AN: This is the end of the Hueco Mundo arc. The arc itself has a lot of problems and inconstancies that I now see. I will probably go back and change a few things to make things make more sense. I will probably do two chapters next week because one will be short. As always any feedback is welcomed as long as it is given with goo intentions.
Apollodorus13:This shit doesnt make any sense. A medium Captain level struggling against four Aduchas? Not only that, hes the only one with a sword. Why wouldnt he also cancel out, scratching, biting, punching, kicking and sonido? So much for a smart MC.
A professional assassing wouldnt have made such a simple mistake.
Response: Great comment! I totally messed up that entire chapter by focusing on where I wanted it to go and not how to get there. A couple quick clarifications, he was not a professional assassin, he was special forces and happened to do a lot of black opps, that means he had most of his missions planned for him, he is smart but far from a genius.
Apollodorus13:Did you just not do your research before writting this story? Every species, although having similar abilities, are still fundamentally different enough that he could cancel them. The Hiero, the Sonido, the Shunpo, all that shit could be cancelled individually. And your MC, some supposedly ex professional assassin is too much of a dumbass to do that? Really doesnt make sense other than the fact that you, the writer, didnt do proper research instead
Response: This one is not such a great comment. If you paid attention when I explained his powers you would know that he can only write rules that also apply to him. The reason for this is because for this is because if he didn't have that limitation he could just walk up to Aizen write 'no soul reaper powers' and cut him in half while he is helpless. Does that sound like something you would be interested in? Me niether. So no he cant shut those things down because he can't do them and yes I did do my research.
Maurocf: Thanks for the chapter!
Response: You are welcome glad you are enjoying the story!
Lox of Sins: Please cut up your paragraphs! It's so hard to read sometimes, and if you're using text-to-speech, you can't skip ahead because if you do, you miss like 40% of the chapter! No hate, just please fix this one thing lol.
Response: Message received, I will keep this in mind going forward.
After the gran ray cero detonated, I was thrown back violently, slamming into the ground more than a football field away from the explosion site. It took me almost a minute to regain my bearings and I quickly took stock of the situation. The biggest piece of good news was that I am still alive and have avoided serious maiming, closely followed by the fact that the boost I just got eclipsed all of the boosts I have gotten since coming to Hueco Mundo put together. Now for the bad news, first off I am fucked up all of my armor of the front of my body was obliterated and it would be easier to tell you where I don't have second and third-degree burns, secondly and by far the worst piece of news, there are three large adjuchas class hollows closing in on my location. Now if I was one hundred percent that would be a laughable threat, especially after the boost that I just got catapulted me to the pinnacle of captain class. However I am not one hundred percent, hell I am not even fifty percent, I can barely fucking move at all. Despite the dire situation I still have resolve, I did not just defeat a motherfucking vasto lorde that was far stronger than me to die to a bunch of fucking adjuchas.
Summoning all my willpower, I struggle to stand as my fractured and broken bones scream at me, I hear my burnt skin cracking, and I can barely see but I manage to get fully upright. Right as the three adjuchas are closing in on my position I bringer light, I only make it a few hundred yards away so I do it again and again until I can barely feel the adjuchas in the distance. Finally, I stop and put all of my energy into stimulating my mediocre healing factor. Slowly but surely progress is being made, I feel my broken bones start to mend slowly and the process is painful but pain is a better companion than death. Right when the last of my broken bones heal is when I feel the adjuchas almost on me again, I am too injured to enter stealth unfortunately so all I can do is keep creating distance and healing until they get close. So that is what I do, I am not sure how long I repeated that process, but it must have been several hours before I was finally healed enough to fight. I am not fully healed but all that really remains are the burns and even those are now only first degree.
I roll my shoulders and wait for the adjuchas to get to me. The first one arrives, it is a hyena hollow, it goes to say something, but I will be damned if I listen to what the cunts who just made me spend the last several hours of my life running have to say. I immediately bringer light next to it and decapitate it before it has time to react at all. I charge a cero with my left hand and point it at the centipede hollow to the left and fire it letting it consume it. The last hollow which was some type of winged hollow moved to fly away but after a quick bringer light I cut it in half vertically.
I exhaled and let myself fully relax, knowing that I was finally done with this shithole of a place. I waited a bit to finish healing my injuries so I don't give the impression I got my ass kicked to Yoruichi. I would love to kill a few more vasto lorde but they are extremely hard to find in the first place and I'm only even with the one I just barely killed. It is certainly possible the next vasto lorde could be even stronger than the last so there is no way I am chasing after another one. Plus I think with some intense training I will be able to grow more anyway, growing in power so rapidly I have not been able to begin to master my power. That will be solved at the shop with my mocha sex goddess and the resident mad scientist. I reach into my pouch and begin to retrieve the garganta device.
"Are you the one that has been kicking up trouble around here?" I hear a voice behind me with adistinctly human tone. It is not a voice I recognize but I can tell it is an arrancar. Just what I need right now I think to myself with exasperation. I exhale loudly and turn around to face the annoyance that is behind me. I see a man with darker skin and an orange afro, he is wearing a white outfit that wouldn't look out of place in the disco area back home. He has two spiked wrist guards that I am pretty sure are his zanpakuto, they flip forward to act as fist weapons and can generate lightning if I remember correctly. His name is … something with a G ummm was it Gaintbae or Gaintannbe, … neither of those sounds right but it is not like it really matters so I stop trying to remember. The most striking thing about him was how weak he felt, sure he was stronger than any of the adjuchas that I had faced here but only by a slim margin with some. He certainly wasn't anywhere close to as strong as Johan was and since I was as strong as Johan or maybe even stronger now he is certainly not a real threat to me.
"Yo, did you hear me, man? Were you the one responsible for that reiatsu spike from earlier?" He says clearly agitated by the fact that I have been ignoring him. I decide I will be generous and give him a chance to get out of this alive.
"Yeah, I heard you. Tell you what, how about you leave and pretend you never saw me? That way I don't have to put forth the little amount of effort I'll need to kill you." I speak in a bored tone. I don't actually expect him to take my offer but I lose nothing from offering, call it my good deed for the day.
"Who do you think you are talking to man?! I am Gantenbainne Mosqueda, privaron espada number 107 and I'm not gonna be talked down to by a lowly … whatever you are. Prepare yourself I am gonna show you the power of one of Las Noches best." He exclaims loudly and arrogantly. He extends his little zanpakuto punch daggers and electricity sparks between them. I contemplate playing with him for a little while but ultimately decide that my time is better spent elsewhere. I unleash my spiritual pressure and direct it at him, the effect is immediate he doesn't drop to his knees, but it is clear he is barely able to remain standing. He stares at me eyes wide, realizing for the first time how outmatched he is. I bringer light directly in front of him and move to cut him in half from shoulder to hip. To my surprise, he is able to move backward fast enough to only get a deep diagonal slash from hisleft shoulder to his right hip.
"Gahh! Ok, so you are stronger than I thought but don't think this is even close to over. Strike, Dragra!" He screams the release command of his zanpakuto and begins to transform into his resurrection. He is mostly the same except he has dome-shaped armor on his back that runs down to become a tail and he has dragon-shaped fists. His wound is also nowhere to be found having been healed during the transformation. "Get ready to feel what a privaron espada can really do!" He shouts as he clamps his hands together. Energy starts collecting in front of his hands, swirling as it comes in faster and faster. I could bringer light and go stop him but I don't think that will actually be necessary. The energy starts growing more powerful and a change happens where before it was just streaks of energy streaming in now the energy is sending out arcs of lightning. He brings his fists back and shouts "Rugir del Dragon!" the energy shoots forward at high speed, andI notice that it is not just a normal beam as it is shaped like a dragon's head. It was strong but well below my level, if this is the best he can do it is better to end this now. I go over my options, I could dodge it but that seems too boring, I could bat it aside with my sword which seems pretty cool but doesn't really help bring the fight to an end, or I could just let it hit me to show how much stronger I am. I ruminate on my options for a quick second before the optimal path becomes clear. I swing my sword out in front of me pointing directly at him and the oncoming attack, a cero starts to form on its tip rapidly gaining power. Right before the dragon head would make impact I unleash my own attack, my cero is briefly met with resistance from his attack but it quickly overtakes it. My cero blazes forward at a frightening speed leaving him no time to dodge or counterattack. After the impact I search for his spiritual pressure and to my shock, I still feel it faintly. He must have barely survived, well better go fix that then I think as I bringer light to his location. When I get there I look down upon his blackened body noting that his dome-shaped armor had either been completely destroyed or the attack had knocked him out of his resurrection.
"Nothing personal but I can't have you reporting back to Aizen." I speak with a tinge of regret, I remember that Gantenbainne wasn't that bad in the anime, but I am unwilling to risk opsec to save his life. I quickly swing my sword through his neck, ending his life. I sigh and decide that Kisuke may be able to use his corpse, so I toss it over my shoulder and activate the garganta device. I stare into the black void that I summoned recalling for much I disliked traveling through it. Well, standing here and pouting isn't going to get me home, I think. I hop into the garganta and start running towards the exit.
As I exit the garganta I am greeted with a familiar sight, the beautiful landscape of the underground training area. I scanned around and took in the dirt, rocks, and fake sky. I exhaled letting all the stress of Hueco Mundo leave me, I was finally home. I called out for Kisuke or Yoruichi but received no answer, they must be upstairs. I drop Gantenbainne's corpse at the bottom of the ladder and started climbing up to the shop. I got up there and began my search for Kisuke. After a minute or two I find him.
"Hey Kisuke, got a present for you downstairs." I say to grab his attention. I am sure he sensed me far before I talked but he turns around and acts surprised.
"Jack, when did you get back? Didn't anyone ever teach you not to sneak up on people?" He teases me, he knows how much I hate the fact that I can't get the drop on him. I don't have it in me to be annoyed tho, it is good to hear the voice of someone who is not trying to kill me after so long. I roll my eyes fondly and move to retort but he cuts me off. "Now, what's this about a present? What could this humble shopkeeper want from a place like Hueco Mundo?" He asks with his normal lazy drawl.
"How about a corpse?" I ask with a smirk. I see his eyes gain a look of confusion as his head tilts to the side.
"A corpse? Well, I can't say anyone has ever given me one of those before at least not willingly. What do you expect me to use the corpse of a hollow for? I have already done tests on plenty of adjuchas." He speaks in a far less lazy tone than usual. I throw him another smirk and go to respond.
"No, I don't think you can use an adjuchas corpse but maybe you would like the corpse of an arrancar? Specifically, the corpse of Gantenbainne Mosqueda who was a Privaron Espada." I answer his question with a question of my own. I see his eyes widen and his face gets a slightly hungry look. He leaps at me and wraps me in a big hug which I have no idea how to respond to.
"Oh Jack, you are the best charity case I have ever taken on! Where is it I want to get started right away." He exclaims while hugging me. Instead of responding I desperately try to pry him off of me and unlike the other times he has done something like this I am able to get him off without too much difficulty. We are both surprised by my ability to shrug him off so easily.
"I see your trip was very fruitful. They grow up so fast I swear!" He states melodramatically with fake tears running down his eyes. I roll my eyes and swat the back of his head so he will knock it off.
"Yes it was, speaking of my trip there is one piece of bad news" I nervously said. I know he is going to be pissed I used the prototype but hopefully, the corpse will counterbalance that. I see his eyes narrow and his demeanor changes from playful to angry in an instant.
"What do you mean Jack? You didn't do what I think you did, did you? Because I remember giving you VERY specific instructions not to do that unless there where no other options." He asks me angrily. I can feel myself start to sweat a bit, while as strong as I am now I might be able to hold my own in an actual fight, I am reminded in this moment that he is both my landlord and a mad genius. Hopefully, he will accept my explanation.
"I did have no other choice! I was facing a vasto lorde on par with the god-king of Hueco Mundo. I tried everything else and I had to use your prototype in my hail mary at the end." I defend myself heatedly. When I mentioned the vasto lorde I saw his eyes widen so hopefully that is a good sign.
"Well, I suppose that is fair." He lets out with a sigh. "So, you fought a vasto lorde and lived huh? That is pretty impressive no wonder you got so much stronger." He says as we mercifully move on from the topic of the prototype.
"Yeah it was a hell of a fight, I ended up having to try a move I have never done before and I almost died from it. It all worked out in the end. Enough about my trip tho, I am sure you are eager to go get started on your gift. Do you know where Yoruichi is?" I like Kisuke and all and it is good to see him but I would much rather be staring at Yoruichi's assets right now. It has been way too long since I have seen an attractive woman and that needs to be corrected ASAP.
"Yeah you are right, I have so many ideas for experiments. Yoruichi is in her room or at least she was the last time I checked." He answers and then gives me a wave as he goes off to do some freaky science shit. I start heading towards Yoruichi's room and mask my presence the best I can to try and surprise her. I open the door quickly to try and give her a scare but after looking around I see that there is no one in there. I go to turn around and continue searching when I feel small slender arms wrap around my neck from behind. I fight against my instincts, telling me to grab her arm and flip her over my shoulder, and let her continue whatever it is she is doing.
"Hey big guy, did you miss me?" She whispers into my ear sending blood to a place that it doesn't need to go right now. I turn around in her arms to face her and look down into her golden eyes giving her my most charismatic smile.
"Of course beautiful, I dreamt of you every night and now that I'm back we can make up for lost time." I turn on every ounce of charm I have as I speak. I start to trail my hands down her waist reminiscent of right before I left. Before I can get to her ass she vanishes from my arms and reapers behind me with a smack on the back of my head.
"Smooth Jack but just because you came back from Hueco Mundo doesn't mean I'll give you any special privileges." She said with an infuriating smirk. Oh, I really missed these little games.
"Just wait Yoruichi, I have grown a lot since the last time we played tag, I'll definitely catch you soon. Then I will blow you away with my charm on our date." I speak with confidence and maybe even a touch of arrogance.
"We will see." She gives me her most taunting smirk, and then she gets a bit more serious, "So what took you so long? You were gone for more than a month. I was worried your arrogance had finally led you into a battle you couldn't win." She gives me a concerned look as she speaks.
"Don't worry about me beautiful, I told you it will take a lot more than what Hueco Mundo has to bring me down. Hell, I even killed a vasto lorde, it was a tough battle but my victory was never in doubt, I'm Jack Fucking Burton." I put every ounce of confidence I have into my voice, I don't want her to know that I almost died to that cunt. Almost losing is definitely not attractive and when I am so close to catching her and getting a date, I can't afford to appear weak. She is stunned for a second but then just rolls her eyes.
"Whatever you say, Jack, what do you say about playing a game of tag? I hope Hueco Mundo hasn't made you even slower." She sticks out her tongue at me and flash steps away. I immediately follow with a bringer light, it really is good to be home. I will let her win today tho, I am not ready to make my move yet.