Facing Dark Rukia's attack, Haruki didn't try to block it head-on. Instead, he dodged backward.
The crimson scythe slashed through empty air.
Haruki shrugged and said, "Alright, let's stop playing around. I've got a strong ally here."
He stood next to Stark, clearly showing off his powerful backup.
"Ha!" Dark Rukia laughed. "Senior Haruki, I never expected you to be colluding with Hollows. That's a grave sin!"
Haruki also chuckled. "Of course, I'm colluding with Hollows. After all, I'm often with you."
He realized that this Dark Rukia wasn't White. She was likely a result of White's influence on Rukia, or perhaps some kind of fusion between the two, awakening a "second personality."
Therefore, she didn't have White's memories. Her memories likely came from Kuchiki Rukia, meaning she didn't know Haruki's true identity.
Haruki's comment was based on the fact that Dark Rukia wasn't a Shinigami but rather...
A Hollow!
Dark Rukia had a Hollow hole on her abdomen, not covered by her white robes.
In other words, in this state, Rukia was a Hollow!
Haruki being with Rukia naturally meant he was with a Hollow.
"Interesting. Did you already know about my existence?" Dark Rukia said. "Wait, that means you're with that bull-headed Hollow. What did you do to me?"
"No, it's not what I did to you. It's what you did to yourself."
Haruki spoke solemnly.
"Huh?" Dark Rukia frowned, confused.
By now, Haruki had mostly figured things out. He continued, "Inside your body, there's a special object implanted. We call it the 'Hōgyoku.'"
"Hōgyoku?" Dark Rukia's frown deepened. She had never heard of such a thing.
"Simply put, it's a very special object. Its ability is to 'read the hearts of those around it and then manifest their desires.' I think you can understand what that means, right?"
Haruki said seriously, "Because... you should know your own heart best."
Read the heart and manifest desires?
Dark Rukia immediately understood.
Back in the 13th Division, Rukia had indeed hated her own weakness.
Once, it was when she admired the powerful figure of Shiba Miyako. Another time, it was during the battle between Shiba Kaien, Ukitake Jūshirō, and the bull-headed Hollow.
The first time, she yearned to be a strong woman like Shiba Miyako.
The second time, she hated her own weakness for being unable to help.
If the Hōgyoku inside her had read her heart in those moments, then...
The Hōgyoku would have made her stronger!
And the way it achieved this was by transferring the bull-headed Hollow into her body, creating a stronger personality—herself!
"Interesting."
Dark Rukia's lips curled into a smile. "Did you create the Hōgyoku too?"
"Of course not," Haruki shrugged. "It seems the Hōgyoku did make you stronger, but the price of that strength is losing your place in the Seireitei. So, what do you think? Interested in joining us?"
The way she gained strength was by acquiring Hollow powers, something the Seireitei would never tolerate, at least not now.
If she were exposed, she would undoubtedly be seen as an enemy by the Seireitei.
Moreover, Dark Rukia was ultimately just a part of Rukia, at best a "second personality."
She was usually suppressed deep within the main personality's soul and couldn't emerge except under special circumstances.
Hearing Haruki's words, she seriously considered the offer.
"Join you? How would that work?"
Dark Rukia said, "I'm part of that idiot. If she doesn't join you, me joining won't mean much."
"Unless... you can help me become the main personality or let me exist independently from the main body!"
"That... might be possible," Haruki said after some thought. "But not right now."
After hearing this, Dark Rukia also thought for a moment, then made her scythe disappear. She let her arms hang naturally, relaxing as she said, "Well, I don't have anywhere else to go. Staying with you seems more interesting."
"Whether you can make me independent or not doesn't matter. After all, I'm still part of this body. That idiot, no matter how foolish she is, is still me. Abandoning her would be too pitiful." Dark Rukia pouted.
"..."
Why does this sound so tsundere? Haruki was momentarily stunned.
Well, it seems that aside from thinking in a more Hollow-like way, Dark Rukia's personality isn't too different from the real Rukia's.
"We're planning to form a Hollow army. Are you interested in joining?"
Haruki asked again.
"A Hollow army? These guys would actually gather together?" Dark Rukia looked at Stark in surprise. "Speaking of which, this guy is really strong."
She had also seen Stark's battle with the two captains from deep within Rukia's soul.
At this moment, she couldn't help but feel a sense of gravity.
Even someone as powerful as Stark was working under Haruki? Just who is this guy?
And who's behind him...?
Haruki is the vice-captain of the 5th Division, so the person behind him must be...
Captain Aizen Sōsuke of the 5th Division?
That guy who wears glasses and always looks so kind?
No matter how you look at it, Aizen doesn't seem like a schemer.
Compared to Aizen, Haruki, who's always smiling, seems more like the villain.
Well, I'll meet the person behind Haruki sooner or later.
"Joining you isn't a problem, but I feel like I won't be able to suppress my main personality much longer. My main personality wouldn't 'collaborate' with you."
"Don't worry. Your main personality is better off being a flower in a greenhouse. At least for now, she can't adapt to such a cruel world."
As Haruki spoke, he observed Dark Rukia's soul ability.
Kuchiki Rukia's soul ability was "Stars," but after transforming into Dark Rukia, her soul ability had changed.
Her current soul ability was called "Soul-Cleaving Blade."
Soul-Cleaving Blade: Generates a spiritual blade. Those cut by this blade will give birth to a being completely opposite to themselves.
This ability didn't split a person into two parts. For example, it couldn't separate Rukia and Dark Rukia.
If he used this ability on Rukia, it would only create a being completely opposite to her.
...
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