Chapter 38: Hollowfication Serum
"You're going to turn her into a hollow? Are you sure about that?" Jasmine was quite shocked by this development. She heard when a human turned into a hollow, they lost their humanity and destroyed everything. They will risk losing Retsu if that happens.
Yun Che started to contact the system and purchased the hollowfication serum for 50000SP. Entering his inventory, He pulls out a small bottle containing a white substance and shows it to Jasmine. He holds a virus that can infect a powerful Reiryoku soul and transform them into a hollow. A serum that allows him to break the boundary between a Shinigami and a Hollow.
"This is a hollowfication serum. The serum contains a Hollow's soul, and when it enters the body. The hollow will fuse with its host soul before forming its physical appearance inside the host. The host must have absolute willpower to resist the hollowfication. If the host fails, the hollow will take over the soul and body to become a full-fledged hollow to roam the real world. If the host succeeds in subduing the hollow, the hollow's powers will belong to the host, and the soul will become even more powerful." The serum was the same method Aizen had used on his previous captain and comrades. Since the system had everything from Bleach, he purchased it as an item.
Jasmine took the serum from his hand and examined it closely. From his explanation, this serum allows a Shinigami's soul to grow even more potent by fusing their soul with a hollow soul, but if they fail, they become open. Forever lost and unable to return.
"Isn't this the same as your Hollow's mask?" she asked.
"Yeah, it is—the hollow feeds on the host's killing intent and blood-lust. The stronger the intent, the stronger the hollow will become. In Retsu's case, her hollow will probably be stronger than hers." Yun Che was much more concerned about Retsu's past. If this happens, she will have a hard time in there. Her training was half complete as she had no real-world fighting against powerful beings.
"Then, are you sure she can take it on?" Jasmine asked him, making sure.
He wondered for a while and said, "I am not going to force her to become hollow. I can find another way…."
"I'll do it." She suddenly said after listening to Yun Che's explanation.
"Retsu, this is a suicide," Jasmine said with a worried tone. Retsu was like a sister to her, and she won't throw her into an open mouth of a hollow.
Retsu blinked her beautiful eyes as she made her resolve. "No, I want to do it. I wish to discover my true self and become the woman I was meant to be, not as a demon or a monster. I wish to be the strongest Shinigami again to stand by Yuuki-san's side, not because of that accursed Kenpachi title. I wish to use my powers to protect the young master and Jasmine-san. The spirits are my family. The young master accepted me for who I was and what I was. Despite knowing my past, he still guided me to become what I am. So, I needed stronger powers to protect my family."
Then, she looked at Yun Che with pleading eyes. "Please, young master, allow me to do it." Retsu had another mission she wanted to do. She wishes to discover the person that she always was and subdue it. This way, she can keep her current personality and use her previous life's powers to protect and not kill anyone she pleases. This time, she'll become the strongest with a different mindset. Not to destroy but to save. She'd kill to protect her loved ones if she had to kill.
No more Kenpachi.
She wanted to be just Retsu.
Unohana Retsu.
Seeing her resolve, he didn't want her to do this. "This method is a one-way ticket, Retsu. I am not forcing you…." Yun Che tries to talk her off.
Retsu suddenly grabbed his right hand and pulled it closer to her heart. "Young master just promised me one thing. If I fail, you will personally end my life. If I died, I wanted to die at the hands of the one I love." She said, unknowingly confessing her love to Yun Che.
Looking at him lovingly, she spoke, " I am deeply in love with you, Yuuki-san, and I wish to treasure you as someone I love."
"Retsu," Yun Che was shocked as she confessed to him. The Unohana Retsu confessed her feeling to him. He was planning to be the one who wanted to make her his woman but never expected she is the one who told him her feelings. The original Retsu would never consider love. To her, it's a significant burden.
Thank you, system, for giving him a clean slate Retsu.
"You are the reason behind my resolve to discover my true self. I wish to be someone you need and someone worthy to stand by your side. If I failed, please end my life…" Retsu spoke with a sad expression.
Tightening his grasp on her hand, he slowly said, "No, you won't even if you failed. We will bring you back no matter what. I will bring you back to the current you. Subdue that hollow and come back to me. If you come back, I promise we will always be together."
"Really? You'll be together with me? Even if I am a vile demon?" She was shocked and really happy that he asked her.
"Of course, I will. You're my Retsu as well as Jasmine's friend. She'll kill me if you fail. So come back to us." He said with a fearful expression. Pushing him aside, Jasmine went beside her and whispered, "His life is as good as gone if you failed. If you really love him, come back."
Yun Che just smiled after hearing it. Knowing that Jasmine would try to boost her spirit.
"Hai, I promise." Yun Che gave her the serum before she kneeled on the ground. She placed her Zanpakuto on the ground before looking at Yun Che and Jasmine again. He smiled at her before both of him and Jasmine nodded in acknowledgment. She nods before placing the tip of the serum into her mouth and drinking it in one go.
Suddenly, her reaitsu started to spike up, and white substances started to come out from her mouth before covering her entire face like an infectious plague. Yun Che then started to cover the area around her with his barrier to prevent the hollowfication process from being interrupted.
"So what do we do now?" Jasmine asked, slightly worried about Retsu.
"We wait." Yun Che seriously said before they sat down, waiting for the outcome.