Chapter 251: Frenemies.

Chapter 251: Frenemies.

If you wanna read ahead go to /cornbringer

Right now I'm on chapter 231 in Patreôn

Discord Server: Invite needs to be updated. Will get on that today.

Note: I know updates have been slow, nothing to worry about just taking it easy, yesterday was my birthday, and I decided to party. Also, I've been meaning to take it easy, at least for a month or two, to avoid burning out.

In short, don't worry. I will keep updating, perhaps not as often as before, some weeks you will get the usual 7 chapters, some other weeks less, the point is that no matter what you will get an update from me.

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[Adam C. POV.]

The sensation of Selene's spiritual pressure felt like a whisper against my skin, an unuttered beckoning that was both haunting and familiar, in more than one way. And while I knew she was my enemy, or had been my enemy at one point, a part of me wanted to go and see her.

Perhaps I wanted to see her because she was the reason I was here, or perhaps I just wanted to see firsthand what her motives were now or if they had changed since the last time, we had seen each other.

Either way, I was curious enough to walk into this.

Decision taken, I moved to follow the pull, my feet carrying me with an instinctual purpose. However, before I could take another step, a hand on my arm stopped me.

It was Urahara, his hat casting an ominous shadow over his eyes.

"Adam," He warned, his tone a bit different than usual, "Don't be reckless. You're walking into a trap."

That was a possibility, and I knew it. That being said, I didn't really care.

I turned to face him; my grin sharp, predatory even. The truth of the matter was, I wasn't one for plans, for ambushes, for calculated battles, heck, my entire idea before letting Kisuke take the leadership role; was to bring hell down on Aizen, but despite that being what I wanted, I decided it would be best to follow Kisuke.

I was done with that thought.

Kisuke was smart enough to plan around me.

"Kisuke," I chuckled, the grin never leaving my face. "Have you not realized it yet? I'm not one for plans or intricate strategies. I never was."

The grip on my arm tightened, a futile attempt to anchor me. I looked at him, my gaze piercing through him.

"I'll go and do what I've always done. Fight with all my might, face whatever comes my way head-on. I don't skirt around the edges, I cut through the center," I said, my voice laced with undeterred conviction.

In our staredown, a myriad of expressions flitted across Urahara's face, concern, calculation, and something akin to begrudging respect.

With a swift motion, I freed my arm from his grasp, and without anything to stop me, I ventured into the echoes of Selene's call.

With nothing more to say, I increased the pressure of my technique, adding layers and layers; until her spiritual pressure shattered undermine, crushing her against the ground without escape.

Bleeding, Selene lay defeated on the ground, her blade inches from her hand. Unable to move under the pressure, she looked up, surprise evident in her eyes. "You truly are a monster," she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.

I chuckled, releasing her from the grasp of my technique before offering her a hand to help her up. "Now, how about you tell me, what's your real goal here, Selene."

During our brief fight, I had felt no ill intent behind her attacks, no anger, no killing desire, nothing, nothing but sheer desperation.

A feeling I could understand very well.

She hesitated for a moment before taking my hand, rising to her feet. There was a momentary flash of anger in her eyes, but it faded quickly, replaced by resignation.

"You've grown stronger," she admitted. "Good, otherwise you won't be able to defeat that man."

So that was her goal, confirming whether or not I would have a chance against Aizen.

"You didn't go all out though," I replied, smiling at her.

Selene snorted. "Even if I had, the result would've been the same."

I tilted my head, that was true enough, but still.

Selene sighed deeply, her eyes clouded with a mix of anger and sadness. "As you probably already guessed, I'm different from before, and the man who did this... is Aizen. He turned me into this... hollow-like monster."

I could feel the anger in her voice, the hate... it was so palpable that it was hard not to pity her. Not after everything she had gone through.

She looked at her blade, the distaste evident in her gaze. "This... thing, is also part of this unwanted transformation, a bastard blade, a result of Aizen's tampering with my soul. It can achieve something called Resurrección, giving me an immense boost of power."

So, my suspicions were right, she had been turned into an Arrancar Hybrid.

I sighed, "Why are you here then, Selene? Why are you working for him? I understand you can't defeat him, but with your magic escaping should've been possible."

She looked away; her gaze distant. "It's not as if I had much choice. After what he did to me, he kept me on a very tight leash, watching my every move. Knowing I had no way to escape on my own, I decided to play the long game, and since then, I've been waiting for someone strong enough to challenge him, to bring him down. When I felt your presence, I had to know if you were the one."

It made sense. The desperation in her actions, the lack of killing intent; she was testing me, sizing me up for the inevitable battle against Aizen.

I offered her a comforting smile. "I will take Aizen down. That's a promise."

God knows I didn't like her, but I understood her plight.

She nodded slowly, her expression softening for the first time. "I don't know why, but I believe you."

Our conversation was interrupted by the distant sound of footsteps.The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.