Chapter 316: The Imprisoned Harribel

Just as Tier Harribel was about to respond, urgent voices rang out from the distance behind her—Sung-Sun and Apacci.

"Harribel-sama, it's bad! Szayelaporro has captured Mila Rose!"

"Not just that—he's been monitoring us somehow all this time. Baraggan seems to have learned about your and Asura-sama's plan. There's a high chance he's already ambushed him!"

Hearing this urgent and alarming report, Harribel's expression darkened instantly, her teeth grinding as she spat out two names.

"Baraggan… Szayelaporro…!"

With anger and urgency burning in her heart, she lifted her gaze toward the towering stone figure before her and spoke.

"Tell Sparx—the Leshan Giant Buddha is looking for him."

Without another word, she vanished instantly, flashing toward Sung-Sun and Apacci, grabbing them without hesitation before dashing straight toward the exit of the Forest of Menos.

The massive stone figure, still seated in place, watched her departing silhouette in silence…

---

As Harribel carried Sung-Sun and Apacci, rapidly making her way toward the sands of Hueco Mundo's surface, she absorbed the information Apacci had relayed, fully grasping the severity of the situation.

Mila had been captured by Szayelaporro.

Asura Gensei had likely walked straight into Baraggan's ambush…

Of the two threats, Szayelaporro's schemes were concerning, but what weighed on Harribel's heart even more was Asura's predicament. A deep, unprecedented guilt welled up inside her.

If not for trying to save her, Asura wouldn't have clashed with Baraggan…

If… if she hadn't provided information on Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, Asura wouldn't have set out to search for her in the first place.

At this moment, her worry for Makoto reached an unprecedented level, a gnawing fear creeping into her mind—that Baraggan had already captured him and was slowly consuming him.

"Damn it! Wait for me, Asura Gensei!!!"

With that thought, she pushed her speed to the limit, tearing out of the Forest of Menos at an astonishing pace.

The next instant, she sensed Szayelaporro's spiritual pressure!

Unforgivable Rage

An overwhelming fury erupted within her—greater than even the anger she had felt when her own life had been threatened by Baraggan.

And for the Hollows of Hueco Mundo, the best way to resolve problems… was through battle!

Without hesitation, Harribel released Sung-Sun and Apacci, then shot toward Szayelaporro like a bullet.

Soon, he came into view—hanging upside down by pink, writhing tentacles, ensnaring the struggling Mila Rose.

"Szayelaporro! I will make you pay for this!"

With a furious roar, Harribel swung her massive blade, unleashing a torrential surge of scalding water toward Szayelaporro.

"Hirviendo!"

Where the attack passed, it seemed that everything in its path—including Szayelaporro—was on the verge of being completely dissolved by the searing tide.

However, Szayelaporro merely lifted a hand lazily. Without personally blocking the water, a few Adjuchas—their eyes blank and lifeless—stepped forward, acting as mere puppets to intercept the attack.

Sssssss…!

Mere Adjuchas could never withstand Harribel's furious strike.

Yet, as their bodies melted under the relentless surge of Hirviendo, their remnants abruptly exploded—sending shockwaves powerful enough to scatter the lingering current.

Szayelaporro remained utterly unfazed, his expression calm as he spread his hands out and spoke.

"Harribel, we are both Vasto Lorde. Wouldn't a diplomatic discussion be more appropriate? Attacking the moment you see me… how terrifying."

Harribel, however, had no intention of trusting a word from someone as vile as Szayelaporro. Her body moved like a shark streaking across the sand, her colossal sword cleaving through the air as she closed the distance with relentless aggression.

Szayelaporro, unbothered, casually dangled Mila behind him while motioning forward with a flick of his hand. The mindless Adjuchas moved once more, forming a barrier between him and Harribel.

A Battle of Slaughter

No, this was not a battle. This was a massacre.

Against a Vasto Lorde like Harribel, these mindless husks posed no threat at all.

Yet, even though they were no match for her, they still formed a wall, slowing her advance. And for someone like Harribel, who lived by the creed of sacrifice, seeing these lives thrown away so meaninglessly only fueled her wrath.

"Szayelaporro! You would toy with the lives of your own subordinates so callously? This is a meaningless sacrifice! Come out and face me yourself!"

But Szayelaporro remained completely at ease, responding in a leisurely tone.

"Meaningless? Oh no, no, no. Compared to us Vasto Lorde, mere Adjuchas truly have no meaning…"

Pausing briefly, he added, without a hint of deception:

"On the contrary, if they can wear down your spiritual pressure, then for someone like me—who excels in research rather than direct combat—this is a very practical combat strategy."

"You wretched bastard… I'll kill you!"

Though Harribel showed no mercy, the endless waves of Adjuchas still prevented her from reaching him.

As she cut them down one after another, their corpses gradually piled around her, the air thickening with the scent of blood.

Then, for just a brief moment—a gap.

Seizing the opportunity, Harribel broke through the dwindling ranks of the Adjuchas, her blood-soaked figure charging straight toward Szayelaporro.

"This is the end, Szayelaporro—!"

At this instant, her accumulated fury exploded. Her spiritual pressure surged to new heights, and her sword unleashed an immense tide of water, poised to completely drown and dissolve Szayelaporro.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

But before the attack could land, Szayelaporro casually clapped his hands a few times, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Marvelous. As expected of a fellow Vasto Lorde—your combat prowess is truly terrifying. To have slaughtered so many Adjuchas in mere moments…"

Then, his gaze lifted slightly, a mocking glint in his eyes.

"…but the battle ends here, Harribel."

As his words fell, Harribel's body froze.

Her movements, her spiritual pressure, her very spirit—completely locked in place. She couldn't move at all. It was as if an invisible force had imprisoned her entire being.

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