A dazzling blue light swallowed Aaroniero in an instant.
Thunder roared and crackled along the beam, radiating scorching heat that instantly burned the surrounding air.
A horrifying scream echoed from within the lightning cannon.
Aaroniero attempted to use the abilities he had devoured to consume the attack before him.
But with Shimo's spiritual pressure pushed to near full release, that pitiful strength was like trying to shake a tree with a blade of grass—utterly useless.
Even though he managed to swallow a tiny portion of the lightning cannon's power—
The next moment, he was blown apart by the force.
Under the bombardment of the lightning cannon, Aaroniero's proud Hierro defense proved completely meaningless.
Like a mummy dried for thousands of years, his massive twisted body visibly began to crumble into sand.
Countless spirit particles scattered from the disintegrating corpse, causing the already dense reishi within Las Noches to rise several levels higher.
The inner corridors of Las Noches began collapsing under the pressure.
Countless fragments of stone rained from above, smashing into the ground and forming deep craters.
"AAAAAAAH!!"
Even after his head had been consumed by the lightning cannon, Aaroniero continued screaming from the rest of his body, accompanied by curses and unwilling rage.
"I possess infinite evolution! How could I die in a place like this?!
You're just a mere Shinigami—disgusting!"
The remaining portion of his body began writhing madly, his spiritual pressure surging.
"I will devour you!!"
As the words fell, part of his mud-like body split off and escaped the lightning cannon's range, while the rest dissolved into spirit particles and returned to Hueco Mundo.
After more grotesque writhing and reshaping, the remaining portion of Aaroniero's body returned to the form Shimo remembered.
A slender figure wrapped in white uniform, even his hands covered by gloves.
On his head sat the long, perforated mask.
"I regret to inform you, Shinigami—"
Though he knew Shimo's name, he still chose to call him Shinigami.
To Aaroniero, all Shinigami were simply food.
Some were just harder to process than others.
"We survived!
Lord Aaroniero has lived again with vengeance burning within him!
Your death is approaching—"
He never finished the sentence.
A killing intent suddenly enveloped him.
Shimo raised his right hand, his expression utterly emotionless.
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō."
Golden lightning burst from his palm, illuminating the corridor and banishing the darkness.
Aaroniero, once again engulfed by despair, frantically gathered his spiritual pressure to defend himself.
But it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—utterly futile.
"AAAAAAH!!"
The familiar scream echoed through the corridor before being completely swallowed once more.
Moments later, only a pile of charred remains lay scattered on the ground.
Unlike other Espada, who dissolved directly into spirit particles upon death, Aaroniero—perhaps from devouring too many Hollows and Shinigami—left behind burnt black residue.
The Ninth Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie, was completely dead.
After finishing him, Shimo surveyed the surroundings.
The battlefield had been reduced to ruins. Their clash had severely damaged Las Noches.
Although his original route had been destroyed, the damage also weakened the palace's spiritual detection barrier.
Using this advantage, Shimo quickly locked onto the strange source of spiritual pressure.
"I'm quite curious what kind of trap Aizen has prepared."
He muttered and continued deeper into the corridor.
---
Deep within Las Noches, inside a side hall…
Mantikor silently watched a monitor.
Golden lightning flickered across the screen before dissolving into static snow.
He turned to look at the container holding Kaname Tōsen, his gaze calm and heavy.
Because his mouth was sealed by the zipper-like mask, he said nothing.
Moments later, he turned and walked out of the chamber.
It was time to complete the mission Aizen had entrusted to him—
Even if it cost him his life.
...
Shimo continued forward through Las Noches.
Along the way he encountered a few Arrancar Fracción, but they were no different from the earlier ones—mindless, like walking corpses.
Out of humanitarian mercy, he used Kidō to send them back to Hueco Mundo.
After several minutes, he arrived at a vast open area.
Stone pillars could be seen in the distance.
The ceiling had been completely removed.
Above, stars shimmered beneath a crescent moon.
The moment Shimo stepped into the area, a new spiritual pressure descended.
Humm—
The moment he sensed its nature, his brows furrowed.
He looked toward its source and saw a medium-built Arrancar in white walking toward him.
"Mantikor."
Shimo recognized him immediately—the zipper mask was unmistakable.
The moment Mantikor saw Shimo, he pulled open the zipper on his face, revealing rows of sharp, dense teeth.
"I've finally been waiting for you."
His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't drunk water for years.
"My destined enemy… Kyoraku Shimo."
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