Chapter 380 - 379: Bankai That Cannot Be Stolen
The Bount race originated from a failed and accidental experiment by the Soul Society. That experiment had caused a surge of spirit energy to leak into the world of the living, and fragments of those scattered souls were absorbed by humans. From that unnatural fusion, the Bount were born.
But the Soul Society, unwilling to admit its mistake, turned its blade on its own creation. To cover up the truth of their involvement, they hunted and massacred the Bount, branding them as abominations. What could have become a new branch of existence was instead nearly extinguished.
Only a handful survived, scattered like shadows across the centuries.
Their condition was a curse. Time stagnated upon them—they could not age, but neither could they reproduce. Forever stuck in the bodies they once had, forced to wander endlessly without a future. Worse still, their existence as artificial beings placed limits on their strength. They could grow stronger, yes, but only to a certain threshold. Beyond that, their very nature prevented further ascension.
Among them, Kariya Jin was the strongest. Yet even his strength, when measured against the standards of the Gotei 13, was modest. He could perhaps stand against a younger or less experienced captain, but compared to the veterans, he was ordinary. Each captain of Soul Society carried hidden trump cards, centuries of mastery and cunning strategies. In contrast, Kariya’s might was sharp, but finite.
But now, here on the battlefield of Hueco Mundo, Kariya was clashing with one of the quincy of the Star Cross Knights—and inexplicably, he had the upper hand.
This was something even Mazuru could not ignore.
The Sternritter were not ordinary warriors. They were handpicked elites among the quincy, each granted Schrift abilities directly from Yhwach. Their powers rivaled or exceeded captains of the Gotei 13, honed through ruthless selection. Already, Espada of Harribel and Grimmjow’s caliber—comparable to captains themselves—had been driven to desperate straits.
Yet Kariya, a man who by all logic should fall short, was pushing his opponent back.
Why?
Yes, Ran’Tao’s research had strengthened the Bounts who now served Las Noches. Over the past year, relentless experimentation had pushed their abilities further than ever before. But even so, there was a clear ceiling to their growth. Mazuru knew this well, and so the sight before him was something he found difficult to rationalize.
If Ran’Tao had been present in the main hall, Mazuru would no doubt have questioned her—how far had her experiments truly gone? Could she have pushed Kariya beyond his inherent limits?