Chapter 301: A Mantis Blocking a Cart—A Suicidal Act

The crimson light in the Mantis hollow's eyes rapidly dimmed, its vitality slipping away before it could even comprehend what had happened.

Yet, despite its imminent demise, an eerie sense of satisfaction seemed to wash over it. Its mandibles moved slightly, forcing out its final words.

"A blade strike of unparalleled brilliance… A slash that suffocates with despair… What is the name of this technique?"

"Name?"

Makoto lifted his gaze slightly. The deathly stillness in his eyes, reminiscent of a boundless sea of blood, rippled faintly for the first time. Almost instinctively, he responded.

"It was nothing more than a casual swing. Does something like that really need a name?"

…?!

The Mantis froze.

As Makoto's words fell, the hollow's compound eyes widened, its gaze filled with unwillingness and rage. It seemed to want to speak further, but before it could utter another word, its mask shattered, its body split in two, and then—like countless fragments of spirit particles—it dissipated into nothingness.

From a distance, the White Panther hollow stood in stunned silence.

Not only was it shaken by the absolute despair and helplessness in which the Mantis hollow had perished, but more importantly—by how its body had vanished entirely.

It was common knowledge among Hollows that when one of their kind perished, their corpse did not simply dissolve into spirit particle like a purified soul.

There was only one explanation for this.

"A… Shinigami?!"

As the White Panther hollow muttered those words in disbelief, a voice filled with mild exasperation suddenly came from behind it.

"Ah, well… That was a bit of an overreaction, huh? Guess I got a little too carried away and accidentally cut him down… Looks like I've been exposed."

The hollow stiffened, its head turning ever so slowly toward the voice.

And there, standing behind it, was Makoto—unperturbed, casual, as if he had been there all along.

His Zanpakutō rested lightly in his hand, its tip subtly pointed toward the hollow's tail.

Then, with a gentle, sincere smile, Makoto spoke.

"You'll keep this a secret for me, won't you? If you agree, and if you answer a few simple questions honestly, I'll let you walk away unscathed. I'd be truly grateful for your cooperation."

The White Panther hollow instinctively turned its body, shifting into a defensive stance, ensuring that its most vulnerable tail was no longer exposed to the lethal blade. Its posture subtly shifted into one prepared for combat.

"Do you really expect me to believe such nonsense, Shinigami? Whether I answer or not, you'd never let me leave."

"Why would you think that?"

Makoto feigned a hurt expression, his tone filled with innocent disappointment.

"You can always trust my word. Besides, I wasn't the one who started this fight, was I? I made it clear from the beginning—I was just passing through and wanted to ask a few questions. Doesn't that prove that I'm a kind and reasonable Shinigami?"

…A kind Shinigami?

The White Panther hollow nearly choked on its own disbelief. It had no idea how to refute such absurd logic, but its instincts screamed that Makoto was full of nonsense.

After all…

The mutilated remains of the Mantis said otherwise.

Despite this, Makoto maintained his gentle, understanding tone.

"How about this? I'll tell you my name and division. If I'm lying, you can report me afterward. That should be proof enough of my sincerity, don't you think?"

Hearing this, the hollow's expression relaxed ever so slightly.

After all, Makoto's words did sound sincere. Exposing his identity seemed like an unnecessary risk—so why would he do it unless he was being truthful?

Makoto, however, internally sighed at the naivety of Adjuchas-class Hollows.

Report him?

Even if the hollow somehow made it out alive, where would it even go to file a complaint?

March into the Seireitei and demand justice?

Of course, this was all an elaborate act on Makoto's part. In truth, he had already decided on a name to give—"Captain Aizen Sōsuke of the Fifth Division."

After all, the chances of this Hollow actually reporting anything were practically zero. But if, by some miracle, it survived long enough to spread rumors, it would be an excellent opportunity to add some more subtle complications to Aizen's operations.

However, just as Makoto was about to speak, the hollow suddenly interrupted him, its expression tightening with suspicion.

"Wait… something isn't right."

Makoto hesitated for a brief moment, his thoughts momentarily thrown off. Had it seen through his deception?

But then, the hollow spoke again.

"The more I learn about you… the less likely you are to let me leave, aren't you?"

"What? No! You can trust me completely!" Makoto replied, his voice still warm and inviting. "I've always believed in treating Hollows with fairness. Besides, do you really have any better options?"

The hollow gritted its teeth.

In the face of an overwhelming difference in power, it realized that answering Makoto's questions might actually be its best chance at survival.

After all, the Mantis had already demonstrated what happened when someone resisted.

A long pause followed—then finally, the White Panther hollow spoke through clenched teeth.

"Fine. Ask your questions."

Makoto's smile deepened, his expression brimming with satisfaction.

"I'd like to know the whereabouts of a Vasto Lorde named Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck."

At that moment, the hollow's expression subtly shifted—as if it had just heard something strange.

And seeing that reaction, Makoto's smile only grew wider.

There's something here.

The hollow hesitated before finally responding.

"I… actually came here to challenge Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck myself. But I was stopped before I could."

Makoto's brow furrowed slightly. "Stopped? What do you mean?"

The hollow's expression darkened.

"The one who actually knows her exact location is Nnoitra Gilga. But… you just killed him."

"...What?"

Makoto blinked.

"Wait a second—you're telling me that the guy who accidentally walked into my blade just now… was Nnoitra Gilga?"

A heavy silence followed.

The hollow's face twitched at the way Makoto had phrased it.

"Accidentally… walked into your blade? Suicide?"

It felt deeply insulted by the sheer absurdity of the claim, but nonetheless, it nodded grimly.

And for the first time in this battle, Makoto found himself at a complete loss for words.

Nnoitra Gilga…

A former Espada, once ranked the 5th Arrancar in the original, infamous for his reckless bloodlust and relentless combat prowess.

And yet, here…

He had apparently "accidentally" impaled himself on Makoto's blade and died before even introducing himself.

…Just like that?

Makoto remained silent for several moments, then sighed.

"...I guess that was partially my fault too. I should've asked for his name before he… uh, decided to play mantis against a moving cart."

With that thought, he turned his gaze back toward the White Panther hollow, a curious glint in his eyes.

"Well then… What's your name?"

The hollow, still visibly wary, finally spoke.

"Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."

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