Chapter 196 ⥤ The Frenzy of Szayelaporro
"Should I apologize? What a hassle..." Starrk scratched his head, appearing awkward with words.
Meanwhile, the green-haired girl beside him stood with hands on her hips, looking down at Akira with dissatisfaction.
"Hey, hey, he was the one who provoked us first! You're being so unreasonable!"
Akira stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Well, that's true. But the key issue is... You've trespassed into my territory. Grimmjow challenged you entirely in defense of the castle's law."
Starrk furrowed his brow, asking curiously, "Just how large is your territory? We've been walking for a long time without finding any castle or similar structure."
Akira grinned, declaring righteously, "Humble as I am, I'm the new God-King of Hueco Mundo. This vast Hueco Mundo is all my territory!"
Starrk and Lilynette: "..."
Having lived for so long, this was the first time they'd seen someone make shamelessness sound so refreshingly elegant.
"Well, sorry about that then." Starrk extended his right hand, placing it on Lilynette's head.
The situation was quite clear now. He didn't want to fight, but the other party was pressing them step by step, with clearly no intention of letting them go.
What a shame. He had finally met someone immune to his Reiatsu.
"Stop hesitating, Starrk. Kill this guy!" Lilynette's fighting spirit was much stronger than his.
Her whole being was filled with enthusiasm as faint Reiatsu erupted around her. Unfortunately, her Reiatsu was slightly inferior even to that of ordinary Adjuchas.
Clearly, when the two split, Starrk got the lion's share.
"Kick About…"
⤫ Resurrección: Los Lobos ⥤ Returning Blade: Pack of Wolves! ⤬
As the words fell, a pillar of azure light rose from his body, shooting straight into the sky like a sun rising in the night sky of Hueco Mundo, completely suppressing the cold moonlight.
Lilynette transformed into a streak of light, disappearing from Starrk's palm. A violent storm centered around the Reiatsu light pillar, sweeping up dust that blotted out the sky.
The barely-alive Grimmjow widened his eyes at the sight, his panther face filled with disbelief.
The opponent had been holding back during their earlier fight?!
As the materialized Reiatsu pillar subsided, Coyote Starrk reappeared in their vision.
His tattered cloak was gone, replaced by a gray coat with a fur collar. Wolf-like fur appeared at the collar, cuffs, and lower legs. In each hand, he held an antique black flintlock pistol that drew the eye.
In an era when other Hollows and Arrancar were still engaged in hand-to-hand combat, Starrk, as a self-made Arrancar, was already at the forefront of technology, wielding firearms.
Azure Reiatsu swirled around him, causing distortion lines in the air and emitting a powerful pressure. Such a dominating display even made the not-yet-Arrancar Grimmjow feel somewhat uncomfortable.
To avoid interfering with their battle, he struggled to his feet and staggered away to observe from a distance. Grimmjow knew very well that in his current state, if he were caught in the crossfire, he might become a burden to Akira.
"Let's begin." Starrk raised the gun in his right hand, aimed at the figure before him, and pulled the trigger.
During this process, Akira could clearly sense the opponent's Reiatsu concentrating through the gun, then erupting in the form of a Cero.
The azure light pillar fell instantly, only to be split in two by a long blade. The Cero grazed past his body, landing on either side of the desert and instantly exploding into towering waves of sand.
Seeing this, Starrk's gaze filled with surprise.
He had considered many ways to counter a Cero, but never expected the opponent to split it with a sword. Such a technique required not only extremely high Reiatsu, but also considerable Zanjutsu.
It seemed this Shinigami was a Zanjutsu Master.
Noticing this, Starrk immediately used Sonído to distance himself from Akira, while raising both guns in his hands.
⤫ Cero Metralleta ⥤ Infinite Ammunition Hollow Flash! ⤬
The next moment, like a torrential rain, Cero light pillars descended from the sky, instantly engulfing the entire battlefield.
Grimmjow stared in shock. This scene completely shattered his worldview.
Normally, except for a few ordinary Hollows with special talents, only Menos could release Ceros.
Low-level Menos Gillians needed to charge before releasing a Cero. Mid-level Menos Adjuchas could fire instantly, but the frequency depended on their Reiatsu. High-level Menos Vasto Lorde had greatly enhanced both frequency and power.
Grimmjow had thought Nelliel's Cero Doble (Heavy Duet Hollow Flash) was outrageous, but he never expected such a master existed in Hueco Mundo.
In the blink of an eye, the overwhelming Ceros had engulfed everything in sight.
Too fast! And their power remained astonishing. Explosions bloomed across the boundless desert like flowers blossoming in spring, adorning Hueco Mundo.
⤫ Tenrin Senjin ⥤ Celestial Thousand Blade Dance! ⤬
Akira swung his blade, demonstrating the difference between King and steed in vivid detail. His perfectly good Zanpakutō twirled like a giant windmill.
Impenetrable. The signature move was pure flashiness. But the opponent's firepower was too fierce. He was completely suppressed, unable to get close and use his peerless fist techniques.
Not to mention, in terms of killing ability, Starrk was far more ferocious than Baraggan. His specialty was overwhelming firepower.
The Arrancar in the sky frowned, feeling something wasn't quite right. From the opponent's words, it was clear that this self-proclaimed God-King of Hueco Mundo was not the type to willingly take a beating.
Just as he was thinking this, from amid the Cero light below, an extremely powerful Reiatsu suddenly erupted.
A blade wrapped in deep purple flames cleaved straight through his endless Ceros, advancing unstoppably toward him, as if to split him in two.
Well-prepared, Starrk didn't panic. He countered by concentrating an even stronger Cero, the azure light engulfing the long sword and shattering its momentum.
Though he rarely fought others due to his overwhelming Reiatsu, with his impressive intellect, he could still utilize his advantages effectively.
From Akira's performance, the opponent was definitely a Master-level swordsman. As long as he kept his distance, he wouldn't...
Wait, what's that?!
Because he had blocked the flying Zanpakutō, the endless Cero attack paused momentarily.
Akira was seen with arms outstretched, the power contained in his muscular arms erupting layer by layer, deep purple flames burning at his shoulder blades. Wisps of white vapor escaped through his clenched teeth.
He looked like a demon returned from hell, his aura ferocious to the extreme.
⤫ Shunkō: Kaen Hōsha ⥤ Flash War Cry: Flame Discharge! ⤬
Boom! Boom! Boom!
His fists rained down like a downpour, their speed so violent they formed multiple afterimages. Faintly, the sound of "ORA" seemed to rise from the air friction.
An attack method more savage than endless Ceros erupted across the boundless desert, like a missile barrage taking flight. Under the night sky, countless trails of deep purple flames painted the heavens, as splendid as a peacock displaying its feathers.
In the distance, Grimmjow was dumbfounded.
He sat crouched on a sand dune, staring at the fireworks blooming in the sky, his sky-blue pupils filled with shock.
A trace of shock appeared on Starrk's face, and even Lilynette was silent now. The scene before them had truly caught them by surprise.
Seeing the attack approaching, Starrk had no time to think further. He immediately pulled the trigger, the infinite Cero light instantly erupting to cover the incoming flaming fists.
The violent impact burst open, sending countless smoke and dust spreading out in ripples in all directions. Gray-white dust connected the desert and sky into one, with brutal gales howling incessantly.
The aftershock sent Starrk flying away into the sky.
From the burning embers, a figure wrapped in deep purple flames emerged, a sinister smile on his face, cackling "kekeke" as he rushed toward the sky.
Seeing this, Starrk was shocked. But Lilynette reacted faster than him, her gun blooming with azure light, transforming into a pack of ferocious wolves exuding powerful Reiatsu.
Each gray wolf's Reiatsu was comparable to an Adjuchas. They rushed out fiercely, appearing to the left and right of Akira, opened their blood-filled mouths, and instantly bit down on his limbs, restraining him firmly in place.
But when Lilynette tried to exert force to bite off the Shinigami's limbs and neck, she was astonished to find that her teeth felt like they were biting into an indestructible metal plate. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't overcome his defense.
Because Starrk and Lilynette were one entity, and the wolf pack attack method belonged to both of their souls when split, her sensations could be clearly perceived by him as well.
This exaggerated defense made him question: Could his attacks really pose a threat to this guy?
There was no time to think further. Akira gave a sinister smile, his clothes bursting open to reveal perfectly sculpted muscles, his overwhelming power erupting.
His right hand's five fingers spread out, directly crushing the head of the nearest gray wolf. The rest naturally fell into disarray, and in no time they transformed back into soul energy, returning to the gun.
Unlike before, Lilynette trembled in Starrk's hand, having completely lost her will to fight. Different from enemies they had encountered before, this Shinigami was clearly far more terrifying.
Realizing she was no longer suitable for battle, Starrk put away the trembling gun, Reiatsu gathering in his right hand to form a gray wolf blade.
⤫ Colmillo ⥤ Fang! ⤬
"Those who stubbornly resist won't meet a good end!" Akira grinned sinisterly, dusted himself off, and flames and electric arcs burst from his shoulders, like unfurled wings.
⤫ Shunkō: Yōso Gōsei ⥤ Flash War Cry: Element Synthesis! ⤬
Having lost his distance advantage, Starrk was like a weak little healer caught at close range by a sword demon. Lacking relevant combat experience, he was beaten with no chance to retaliate.
In less than three minutes, he had fallen to an ultra-feeding score.
Soon, two figures — one large, one small — lay sprawled on the ground, like dried fish, with no fighting spirit left.
"Let me die then." Starrk said weakly, "I've lived for who knows how many years anyway, long enough. I'd rather die than continue fighting."
Lilynette nodded in agreement, "Same here."
After society's harsh lesson, the two reached a consensus on giving up.
"Very good." Akira nodded with satisfaction, "Since that's the case, from now on, you will eternally work for this King!"
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Las Noches.
When Akira returned victorious, the Adjuchas erupted in cheers, the deafening sound reaching the clouds. The vast Las Noches had subtly taken on some of the unique atmosphere of the 11th Division.
"As expected of our great God-King!"
"Strong and powerful, powerful jaws!"
"Damn it, why does Grimmjow deserve to be the King's mount when I'm clearly more suitable!"
"Exactly!"
The cheers from the Hollow crowd seemed somewhat abnormal.
Szayelaporro immediately appeared before Akira, ready to receive this battle's spoils. With Aizen absent from Las Noches, he was the only scientist.
As for the other Hollows, with brains even more lacking than the brutes of the 11th Division, they weren't even qualified to be assistants.
"Vasto Lorde?" Szayelaporro was surprised when he saw Starrk, "Wait, something seems a bit off here. Why is their Arrancar state so perfect?! Hiss, split souls?!"
After Aizen's training during this period, Szayelaporro's professional competence had risen sharply. Because of his inherently high intelligence, he quickly caught up with Aizen's progress in specific fields, and occasionally could even provide him with some inspiration.
It was precisely for this reason that the spy had entrusted all of Las Noches' laboratories to him.
"A more perfect Resurrección..."
Szayelaporro seemed to be admiring a piece of fine jade, his gaze constantly roaming over Starrk's body until the guy felt uncomfortable all over.
"I'm very curious, how exactly did you do it?"
Since he didn't sense any hostility from this pink-haired figure, Starrk thought for a moment and decided to answer his question.
From the day he was born in Hueco Mundo, he was already a Vasto Lorde.
Because his Reiatsu was too powerful, no Hollow could come near him. Even his leaked Reiatsu could easily annihilate any Adjuchas that approached.
Through the long years, he experienced unprecedented loneliness. To find a companion who could be with him, he split his soul into two entities.
Coyote Starrk and Lilynette Gingerbuck.
Although dividing his soul caused his power to decrease, he didn't regret it. In the boundless Hueco Mundo, he was no longer alone.
"Is this what Lord Aizen referred to as the biodiversity of Hueco Mundo?" Szayelaporro asked with admiration, "Split your own soul, yet still remain at Vasto Lorde level, even completing self-Arrancarization to become a higher-dimensional existence. Coyote Starrk, you are truly a miracle of Hueco Mundo! Please, you must join my team!"
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