A sharp hiss cut through the air.
The horde recoiled at once, scattering in panic faster than when they had first charged.
"What was that? A Hollow firing Cero?" Even the giant Guy froze at the sight, his bulk instinctively flinching. But as his eyes narrowed, he sensed Lin Sheng's reiatsu plummeting. Realization struck—this technique could not be used many times.
He turned his fury on his fleeing followers. "Cowards! Why are you running? He can't fire it again!"
Yet none dared return. They lingered only at the fringes, trembling. The memory of that beam still burned in their minds—a weapon of Menos Grande, not something a lesser Hollow should ever wield. Against Menos, even fighting Shinigami was preferable. At least Shinigami did not crush you with sheer existence.
Guy's rage boiled over. "Useless trash! I'll handle him myself!"
With heavy steps, the giant strode toward Lin Sheng, hunger gleaming in his eyes. His motive was more than pride—he had seen the Cero.
"Hahaha! If I devour you, I'll gain that power. With Cero, I'll be invincible beneath the Menos Grande!" he roared, charging.
But Lin Sheng's reiatsu suddenly surged again. His body swelled, scales tightening, mouth glowing crimson. He had not released everything before—he had waited, conserving strength, luring Guy closer.
If the commander fell, the rest would be nothing more than fodder.
The Cero fired once more, ripping across the dunes in a searing beam.
For the first time, Guy felt death breathing against him. His mind blanked, body moving only on instinct. He lurched sideways.
The red light screamed past, scorching the sky.
"Damn it!" Lin Sheng cursed inwardly. The killing strike missed. No fresh soul fragment entered his body.
Guy roared, staggering. The Cero had grazed his shoulder, and the pain was immense. His steel-like skin had been torn as if it were paper.
"I'll kill you! I'll rip you apart!" Guy bellowed, madness overtaking him. He crashed down, his colossal foot smashing Lin Sheng into the sand, blood spraying from the serpent's jaws.
The ground quaked under each blow. Guy's rage turned every strike into an earthquake, intent on grinding Lin Sheng to nothing.
Clutched in his grip, Lin Sheng gasped. Hatred surged. So this is how I die? Crushed beneath a brute like him?
Guy lifted him high, snarling. "Blame yourself for crossing a Hollow you never should have!"
But before the final blow fell, a crisp voice cut through the chaos.
"Oh? A little white snake. Sunsun, is this your relative?"
Another voice chimed, mocking. "It must be Sunsun's son. He looks just like her!"
"You two are always ganging up! Ugly monsters, both of you!" a third voice snapped back.
"Enough." A cold, commanding tone silenced them all.
Both Lin Sheng and Guy turned. Four figures approached across the sands.
A golden lion. An elk. A white serpent. And, walking at their head, a tall, regal woman whose presence made the air itself heavy.
Their reiatsu dwarfed Guy's. Three were Adjuchas-class Hollows at least. But the woman—her power pressed like a tide, suffocating, untouchable.
Lin Sheng's vision blurred, but he recognized her at once. "Harribel…" he whispered.
She stood nearly one meter seventy-five, long blonde hair flowing, green eyes cool, skin bronze in the pale light. She was not yet an Arrancar, but her form was already human, refined, commanding—proof she had surpassed the threshold of Menos Grande.
The beasts around her bickered as always—Apacci snarling, Mila Rose scoffing, Sung-Sun murmuring excuses—but all fell quiet when Harribel spoke.
"Put him down."
Guy froze. His massive head bowed. "But… my lord, this prey—"
"Do as she says!" roared the golden lion, Mira Rose.
Guy's resolve broke instantly. He dropped Lin Sheng and backed away, dragging his cowering followers with him. In truth, he was lucky. Had it been another Adjuchas, he would already be dead. Only Harribel's creed—sacrifice, restraint in pursuit of survival—had spared him.
Apacci immediately pressed forward, pointing a claw at Lin Sheng. "Boy! What's your connection to Sunsun?"
"You're scaring him, ugly brute," Sung-Sun muttered slyly.
"Say that again, snake!" Apacci snapped.
Mila Rose leapt in, shouting over them both, and soon the air was filled with their bickering.
Harribel did not interfere. She never did. The three had been like this since the beginning, fighting constantly yet bound by unshakable loyalty.
Lin Sheng, battered and bleeding, could barely lift his head. "Thank… you."
The single word drew a flicker from Harribel. She paused mid-step, but her face remained unreadable. Without reply, she turned and walked on, her companions trailing behind.
To her, it was nothing. A trivial act. Perhaps forgotten tomorrow.
But in Hueco Mundo, where gratitude was rarer than mercy, Lin Sheng's words hung in the air, fragile and unforgettable.