The showcase continued.
In the video, Love Aikawa and Rose Ōtoribashi stood side by side, their gazes fixed ahead on another middle-aged figure.
Under loose curls was a dark gray fur coat covering his body, a black eyepatch over his left eye, and two stylish dimensional pistols in his hands!
Yes.
Standing in mid-air, facing off against the two Visored captains, was the Primera Espada in his Resurrección form—Starrk, the Wolf King!
---
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches
"Is that… Starrk?!"
Seeing the imposing Starrk wielding dual pistols, the silent palace erupted in exclamations.
"Huh… even Starrk's gone Resurrección? That's rare!" Szayelaporro Granz let out a surprised sound.
He knew Starrk's personality well.
Though nominally the Primera Espada, his character was anything but!
Unlike Baraggan's dominance or Ulquiorra's ruthless efficiency, Starrk was lazy, hated trouble, and avoided fighting whenever possible, lying down rather than moving unnecessarily.
Even now, as he looked up at the transparent screen, Starrk was leaning casually against a pillar, showing no trace of a top-tier warrior's demeanor.
His lack of competitive drive was evident!
He wouldn't release his Resurrección lightly!
"Did those two force Starrk into Resurrección? Who are they? Shinigami allies?" Narrowing her eyes cautiously, Halibel scrutinized the two Visored captains, her heart filled with questions.
She could tell at a glance that the video's setting was the same as her battle with Hitsugaya!
"The same battlefield, different fights?"
Halibel felt a vague unease.
Nearby, Starrk, the man himself, saw the camera settle on him.
Standing slowly and stretching lazily, he flashed a satisfied smile, "Alright… I didn't wait all this time for nothing. It's finally my turn to shine, right?"
His eyes sharpened, and a powerful aura, unlike his usual demeanor, erupted from him, causing the icy floor beneath to rumble!
Though he knew this round's star was Shunsui Kyōraku, Starrk remained confident, certain he wouldn't betray Aizen's trust or disgrace the title of Primera Espada!
"So…"
"Let me take the stage and reclaim some glory for the Arrancar!"
As Starrk's words echoed, the video resumed!
---
Sure enough, the plot unfolded as Starrk predicted:
"Awoo—!!!"
"Awoo—!!!"
"Awoo—!!!"
The howls of wild wolves echoed through the heavens.
Then came bursts of deep blue flashes and… two figures falling from the explosive fog, barely clinging to life!
"Give up, Shinigami. Once the wolf pack locks onto you, there's nowhere to escape…"
His white wolf-fur coat billowed in the wind.
Starrk descended from the sky, calmly declaring victory.
Yes!
After a series of clashes, with his "Infinite Cero" and "Soul Split" abilities, Starrk easily overwhelmed the two Visored captains, showcasing the immense power of a Vasto Lorde!
---
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches
"So strong! Truly worthy of the Primera Espada!"
"Even two Visored captains together couldn't handle him—the Espada dominate!"
"Arrancar rule! Espada rule!"
Starrk's dominant performance sent the Arrancar into a frenzy, their previously low morale soaring once again.
"Hmm… seems I was overthinking. The Shinigami aren't as strong as I imagined—just a false alarm…"
Baraggan's eyes narrowed, his pride resurfacing in his cloudy gaze.
As the former King of Hueco Mundo, he didn't believe he was inferior to Starrk.
If Starrk could defeat a team of Shinigami captains, so could he!
Nearby, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra also regained their confidence, their thoughts aligning.
After all, they hadn't appeared in the videos yet. No one could say for sure they'd stagnate in the future!
---
Visored Hideout
"Damn it! This is embarrassing!"
"Love Aikawa, Rose Ōtoribashi—don't you dare say you're part of the Visoreds outside! I don't know these losers…"
Hands on her hips, Sarugaki Hiyori cursed loudly, so frustrated she even flung her flip-flops.
What the hell!
They finally got their Visored debut, and… this was it?
Sure, their opponent was the top-ranked Espada, but did they have to perform that poorly?
So infuriating!
Nearby, Hirako Shinji was equally speechless, scratching his cheek, "Ugh, I was hoping to use the video to make a comeback and show those Gotei 13 idiots how much we've changed. Looks like we've lost face big time!"
"Yeah…"
As Muguruma Kensei was about to say something—
"Wait! Look… the Espada's been stabbed!"
Kensei pointed at the screen in shock.
"What?!"
When everyone turned back to the screen, they saw that the moment Starrk landed, a pitch-black Zanpakutō suddenly shot out from his shadow on the ground!
Clang—!!!
The black blade thrust forward, piercing Starrk's chest in a flash, the entire process taking less than three seconds, catching everyone off guard!
---
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches
"?!"
"What happened? Starrk got ambushed?!"
"Damn it! A stab to the chest—that's a fatal wound!"
"Who the hell did this?!"
First confusion, then worry, then rage and roars.
Just a minute ago, the Arrancar had regained their confidence, only for it to plummet again with this scene.
Their emotions were on a rollercoaster ride!
The feeling of doing frantic sit-ups left the Arrancar fuming!
"Starrk… you don't look good!" Lilynette Gingerbuck, his soul-bound companion, cried out with obvious distress.
In the video, Starrk's eyes were blank.
Blood gushed from his chest, staining his wolf-fur coat red, his aura wilting, a stark contrast to his earlier commanding presence!
"I… got ambushed?!"
A bead of sweat slid down Starrk's cheek, "Who did this?!"
As if answering his thoughts, the video shifted.
The black shadow blade slowly withdrew, and from the inky swamp-like shadow, Shunsui Kyōraku's figure emerged!
"That's right, Espada…"
The shadow melted away like ink.
Shunsui, holding his dual blades, locked eyes with Starrk. The tips of Katen Kyōkotsu still dripped with the blood that had spurted from his foe's body!
"You were so focused on fighting the two Visored captains that you forgot about me, didn't you?" Shunsui slowly raised his hand, pointing the blood-stained blade at Starrk's head.
His voice rang out, "To make sure you remember me and don't get distracted again, allow me to reintroduce myself…"
"Listen well. I am the current captain of the Gotei 13's Eighth Division…"
"Shunsui Kyōraku!"
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