"What?"
Kisuke Urahara, who had not yet departed, was so shocked by the sudden scene before him that he was speechless.
It was too fast.
It was as if he had only blinked, and Yammy was defeated.
This speed was simply unbelievable.
Kisuke Urahara's heart was filled with shock.
Also, was this an Adjuchas?
Putting everything else aside, what was with that fist the size of a building?
One punch like that could probably kill ten Adjuchas.
Even he, without releasing his Zanpakuto, would find it difficult to withstand such a ferocious attack.
Kisuke Urahara frowned slightly, a strong sense of unease surging into his heart like a tide.
He suddenly felt that the situation in Hueco Mundo had spiraled out of control, with various anomalies emerging one after another.
Hiss…
Taking a soft breath, he slowly scanned his surroundings.
Just then, Kisuke Urahara suddenly remembered that he was not a main member of the expeditionary force to Hueco Mundo…
He was merely a researcher who had followed Yoriichi Tsugikuni here.
Thinking of this, Kisuke Urahara decisively cast aside those chaotic thoughts, his figure flashing, and instantly appeared beside Harribel, speaking urgently:
"Ladies, please follow me first."
"It's very dangerous here. Although I don't know why Yoriichi values you so much, this is clearly not a place for conversation."
Harribel was stunned for a moment by Kisuke Urahara's sudden words.
Her tone was full of uncertainty:
"Are you serious, Shinigami?"
Harribel's gaze swept across the battlefield again.
Yammy's defeat was within her expectations; the only thing that surprised her was Yoriichi Tsugikuni's appearance and his act of saving her.
Harribel knew clearly that she could not have withstood Yammy's punch just now.
Yammy appeared to be an Adjuchas, but his attack power and defense were comparable to a Vasto Lorde.
Of course, part of the reason was her weakened strength due to not having eaten for a long time.
But it was undeniable that Yoriichi Tsugikuni had saved her.
Now, another Shinigami who didn't seem hostile towards her had appeared…
What was happening to this world?
When did Shinigami become so easy to talk to?
Although her heart was filled with disbelief, Harribel immediately followed up:
"I'll trust you for now."
"I'll stay, but please take Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sung with you."
"They are all my companions. Although they are Adjuchas, they have never eaten the souls of Shinigami or humans."
Harribel's tone was somewhat urgent.
The moment her words fell, the Menos Grande she mentioned all expressed resistance.
Because, in their view, if they were companions, they should leave together.
In response, Harribel sternly said: "Don't be willful!"
"I'm not abandoning you, I'm just afraid you'll get hurt!"
"Although I said that if you can't beat an enemy, you should all go together, that doesn't mean I should fight to the death when I know I can't win, thus sacrificing your lives!"
"Only by living can we avoid more sacrifices!"
With that, she did not give the three Menos Grande a chance to speak.
Her previously pale blue, star-like eyes were now even more serious, fixed tightly on Kisuke Urahara, her voice slightly deep:
"Shinigami, tell me your name. You are the second special person I've met. Since you are a captain, your strength must be considerable."
"I hope you can protect them. There will be a great reward in the future."
Kisuke Urahara didn't care what the so-called great reward was.
He was just a little surprised by the worldview of this Menos Grande before him.
To be honest, having lived so many years and researched so many Hollows.
This was the first time he had seen a Hollow with such a normal worldview.
No wonder Yoriichi valued her so much, no wonder… he would give them a chance.
Kisuke Urahara nodded, quickly stated his name, and then disappeared from his spot in a Shunpo.
At the same time, Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sung also disappeared.
Harribel watched the empty surroundings, clenching her fists tightly.
Lowering her gaze, her pupils reflected the pale white bone blade, shimmering with a cold glint in the swirling sand.
A resolute mindset fermented wildly in her chest.
Her companions were safe, so now, she could fight without fear.
She would absolutely not let go of that guy who bullied Sung-Sung!
Even if he was a special Adjuchas!
...
Harribel instantly appeared beside Yoriichi.
Her ice-blue eyes were fixed on Yammy, who was lying on the ground, unable to get up.
Her already serious tone was now even colder:
"Leave him to me. I want to personally avenge Sung-Sung."
"I'm grateful that you severely injured him, but you shouldn't face these two Menos Grande alone."
"I am also a Vasto Lorde."
Yoriichi held his Zanpakuto and quietly glanced at her: "Are you sure?"
He had felt that Harribel was somewhat weak earlier.
Because in Hueco Mundo, she could actually be broken through by him, a Shinigami with third-grade reishi…
Now it seemed, that was indeed the case.
Due to her non-killing philosophy, her strength was at least 80% of a Vasto Lorde of the same level.
It seemed like only a 20% reduction, but in actual combat, it would cause a profound impact.
A Vasto Lorde nearly being severely injured by an Adjuchas was almost impossible in the survival chain of Hueco Mundo.
However, it had come true for Harribel.
Seemingly sensing the lack of confidence in Yoriichi's words, Harribel calmly replied: "I was just careless earlier."
"Since you left last time, I have successfully developed the ability hidden within my soul."
"The current me is completely different from before."
As she spoke, she raised her bone blade.
Surging reishi covered it like holy light, instantly transforming into a rolling blue current, emitting a scorching aura. The surrounding air was slightly distorted.
"Bang!"
Harribel instantly disappeared from her spot. A calm voice followed closely:
"I don't know what this is, but it should be an ability similar to your Shinigami's Zanpakuto, a power inherent to Hollows."
"Whoosh!"
The surging current, as her words fell, charged fiercely towards Yammy.
Golden reishi enveloped the surroundings, turning into a cannonball, with a loud rumble.
Yammy's flesh was instantly pierced, and scorching steam, like cooking smoke, rose from around the wound.
Ulquiorra was about to stop her.
He condensed a reishi spear in both hands and hurled it with all his might towards Harribel.
The whistling spear transformed into green lightning, and in the blink of an eye, it carried immense force, about to hit Harribel!
Unexpectedly, with a "crack," Yoriichi Tsugikuni lightly leaped and easily shattered it in mid-air.
Silent reishi light particles surrounded them, scattering like starlight.
Upon landing, Yoriichi looked at Ulquiorra, his voice calm: "The inherent power of Hollows, huh."
"I see."
"Then, this Menos Grande named Ulquiorra should also have this ability."
...
Yoriichi had never heard of this ability before.
Because whether it was a regular squad member or a captain, the chances of seeing a Vasto Lorde in their lifetime were few and far between.
Let alone witnessing a Vasto Lorde use their "trump card."
And based on the previous encounter, it could be judged.
Not all Vasto Lorde could master this ability; it felt more like a change in the attribute of reishi to Yoriichi.
Water-based Kido that emitted high temperatures.
A very peculiar ability.
Harribel did not explain much; she herself only had a partial understanding of the techniques she used.
However, Ulquiorra…
During the battle, Harribel took a moment to glance at him.
Although nothing could be seen from his cold eyes, judging by the aura he emitted, it was probably not far off.
So she quickly said:
"He probably has it. Be careful."
The scene of a Hollow caring about a Shinigami was extremely rare, and the various events unfolding before Ulquiorra caused slight ripples in his mood.
Before arriving here, he had never anticipated that such things would happen.
In an instant, Yammy was defeated, severely injured.
Immediately after, Shinigami appeared and formed an alliance with Harribel.
In the blink of an eye, only he was left.
Seeing the mission about to fail again, even though Ulquiorra had always been indifferent to everything, he found it difficult to calm his emotions at this moment.
He looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni, re-condensing the reishi spear in his hand, and slowly spoke:
"Shinigami, I am very surprised that you, who consider the subjugation of Hollows as the meaning of your existence, would make such a choice."
"Can you tell me, what exactly are you thinking right now?"
He had spent his entire life seeking the meaning of existence, yet someone was telling him that meaning could be changed…
The thing he considered his ultimate goal now seemed as lowly as a wild weed, something that could be defined by anyone at will…
Then, did the meaning of existence itself have no meaning?
He couldn't help but feel doubt, and his mindset underwent some changes.
Upon hearing this, Yoriichi answered him with action.
Bang! His figure instantly vanished, and a slash carrying immense force swung towards Ulquiorra's neck!
At the same time, Yoriichi's indifferent voice rang out: "I am merely following my heart."
Whoosh!
The moment the voice fell, Ulquiorra suddenly held his breath.
The spear of highly concentrated reishi was swung forward violently, attempting to block the attack.
His lips parted slightly: "Heart?"
"What is a heart?"
Clang!
The blade and spear collided, emitting a crisp sound of clashing weapons.
The green reishi, due to direct contact with the immense force, clearly dispersed, scattering like snowflakes.
Although it hadn't completely shattered yet, the force was still fully transmitted down the spear shaft to his wrist.
Causing Ulquiorra to involuntarily take half a step back, his mood sinking slightly.
—What heavy power!
On the surface, this clash was a draw, but he knew deep down that he had lost.
Because he had spent more than ten seconds controlling and compressing the reishi weapon, doubling its power, yet it could only cancel out Yoriichi Tsugikuni's ordinary attack…
To what extent had Yoriichi Tsugikuni's power reached?
Before, in Soul Society, he could still say his defeat was due to environmental factors, but now…
"Heart? Why ask me? Your current resistance is the choice of following your inner self."
"You want to live."
Yoriichi slightly increased his power, and in an instant, the reishi spear completely shattered.
A horizontal slash, like thunder, suddenly struck Ulquiorra's body.
Swish!
The latter's expression subtly shifted, pain surfacing in his heart.
A large amount of blood transformed into light butterflies, flying into his eyes as the wound appeared.
Ulquiorra tried to shift his position and heal the wound, but Yoriichi's speed was far faster than he had imagined.
Just as he was about to use Sonído, a second scorching slash followed closely.
Whoosh! His Hierro was easily cut open, like a hot knife through butter.
Even though Ulquiorra struggled to condense reishi to create a protective barrier, he was still a step too slow.
"Cough, cough…" He coughed repeatedly, the activation of Sonído barely allowing him to shift his position.
Dark red blood flowed freely from the corner of his mouth, and a deep, bone-revealing slash wound was visibly present on his chest, with the beating of his organs clearly visible.
If he hadn't been proficient in reishi manipulation, even though his defense failed, he had still managed to block a little and avoid a fatal blow, otherwise he would be dead by now.
This guy…
Ulquiorra tried to regulate his breathing, his half-closed eyes reflecting Yoriichi Tsugikuni's cold expression.
Yoriichi's words echoed in his mind.
He opened his mouth, half-kneeling on the ground, his voice becoming weak, but at the same time, somewhat open-minded:
"So that's it."
"Is that the heart?"
"It turns out, the thing I've been desperately searching for was so close to me…"
"Thank you, Shinigami…"
As he spoke, he slowly raised his eyes, and the dark clouds covering his heart instantly dispersed.
Click.
As if a lock had been unlocked, a leisurely sound echoed around him:
"As repayment for you solving the problem in my heart, I will let you see my true power…"
Ulquiorra slowly straightened his chest.
In an instant, the power that had been sealed for so long erupted from him without reservation, like a surging torrent.
The majestic reishi was like a violent storm, wantonly crushing everything around it!
Boom!
Countless black raindrops fell from the sky, and deafening sounds echoed throughout the endless desert!
Amidst the surging reishi tide, he slowly rose with an unstoppable momentum.
As his power was released, his attire also underwent astonishing changes due to the drastic transformation of his form, a black robe covering his entire body.
Demonic horns extended from both sides of his head, and his eyes grew colder.
His aura, like surging waves, rose higher and higher, slowly returning to its peak state, even completely surpassing his past self.
Whoosh! Wings grew from his shoulders, slowly flapping, black like ghosts.
Against their backdrop, his originally slender body appeared exceptionally small.
Once the transformation was complete, Ulquiorra clenched his fists and spoke expressionlessly:
"Murciélago form, my initial form, and also my final form."
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni, you are the first Shinigami to see me display this form."
As he spoke, he glanced at Yammy, whose aura was extremely weak at this moment, clearly having reached the limit of his abilities and no longer possessing any power to resist.
He gently exhaled, gripping the reinforced light sword in his hand.
He said:
"I still have one question I want to ask you."
"Since you said that 'wanting to live' is my heart."
"Then…"
He suddenly slapped his chest, "What is this heaviness in my chest right now? I want to kill you because Yammy is injured, but my intuition tells me I shouldn't do that."
"Because you helped me find my heart."
"I…"
Before he could finish, Yoriichi Tsugikuni interrupted him: "Why dwell on these things? Our positions are simply different."
"I don't know what you are pursuing, but Aizen is undoubtedly the common enemy of all Shinigami."
"No matter what decision or action you make, you cannot avoid a fight with me. Continue, Ulquiorra."
Boom!
reishi erupted.
Across from him.
Ulquiorra murmured:
"Different positions, huh…"
Feeling the oncoming strong winds, he gripped the reishi light sword tightly, his aura spreading out for a moment.
His tone slightly deepened:
"I understand, Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Since that is what you believe, then let us see it through to the end."