"Slaughter tests more than just strength."
"More importantly, it tests the attitude and resolve of both parties engaged in the battle."
"Without a resilient attitude and an indomitable resolve, even with immense power, one will cower at the critical moment and ultimately face defeat."
"Conversely, if one can remain calm during the battle and steadfastly choose the right path, they can often find a sliver of survival amidst the crisis, and even overcome a stronger opponent to turn defeat into victory."
Unohana Retsu stood on the silver sand, her eyelids slightly lowered. She stood holding her blade, brilliant sparks occasionally erupting in front of her.
"Mr. Grimmjow, your heart..."
"Is too impatient."
As the First Kenpachi, she had experienced more battles than the average Soul Reaper had eaten meals.
When it came to combat experience, even Head Captain Yamamoto Shigekuni was inferior to her.
"Shut up, Soul Reaper."
Unable to land a hit for a long time, Grimmjow's face revealed a hint of frustration. With a raise of his hand and a swing of his blade, a dazzling sword pressure erupted, directly plowing a hideous fissure into the ground ahead.
"You haven't won yet!"
The moment his words fell, he raised his left hand. A trace of crimson light gleamed as countless Reishi gathered upon it.
Cero!
The massive pillar of light tore through the air, emitting a shrill, ripping sound.
Facing the menacing strike, Unohana Retsu did not panic in the slightest. She merely held her Zanpakutō horizontally in front of her, effortlessly blocking the Cero.
"Sora, who do you think will win?"
Lilynette stood beside Naraku Sora, watching this "evenly matched" battle with great interest.
"Big Sis Retsu, of course."
Naraku Sora vigorously rubbed the young girl's green hair. It was soft, dense, and felt excellent to the touch.
Lilynette narrowed her eyes, not repulsed by his intimate gesture.
As time passed, she found that staying in Las Noches was much better than wandering outside with Starrk.
Everyone here was talented and spoke nicely; it felt just like home.
"Hmph, you haven't returned to Hueco Mundo recently, so you don't know how much Grimmjow has improved. He can now take a wave of that idiot Starrk's Cero Metralleta head-on."
Lilynette snorted proudly, acting like a bratty little girl who only knew how to call people small fry.
Naraku Sora was a bit surprised.
He didn't expect his own cat boy to improve so quickly.
It seemed that letting him evolve into a Vasto Lorde before undergoing Arrancarification was indeed a brilliant move.
Otherwise, if he evolved after becoming an Arrancar, his improvement speed wouldn't be this fast.
The two figures crossed paths back and forth, their blades constantly clashing. The sparks that erupted in an instant were like a torrential downpour, and the resounding clangs of metal intertwining merged into a continuous roar.
It made one's heart tremble.
A heavy slash fell.
If they hadn't chosen to fight in the desert, they probably would have reduced the palace to ruins by now.
Yet even so, the silver sand beneath their feet was still devastated by the dissipating shockwaves, covered in crisscrossing ravines.
Grimmjow grinned, taking the incoming slash head-on. A brilliant azure hue gleamed on his silver-white blade, carrying an indomitable momentum as he charged forward.
Facing the fierce assault rushing at her face, Unohana Retsu remained as elegant as a flower, her expression completely unchanged.
Although the opponent was at the level of a strong Captain, this level of slaughter was not enough to make her take it seriously.
It was completely on a different level compared to her battle with Naraku Sora a few days ago.
After tasting the beauty of Naraku Sora, trying this level of slaughter again couldn't arouse any spirit in her.
"Grind, Panther King!"
Surging Reiatsu erupted like a tidal wave, howling in all directions. Unohana Retsu subconsciously released her Reiatsu to block it, preventing the wind and sand from blinding her eyes.
When the materialized light faded, a brand-new Grimmjow appeared before her.
A sleek, streamlined body, azure hair reaching his waist, and a hint of extreme brutality exuding from his wildness.
Grimmjow extended his right hand, sky-blue streaks of light blooming on his five fingers, and said with absolute confidence:
"There is absolutely no way I will lose!"
The moment his words fell, a streak of light swept across the sky, heading straight forward.
Feeling the heavy pressure rushing at her face, Unohana Retsu's face revealed a bit of anticipation. Compared to his previous state, this form was worth her taking slightly more seriously.
Under Grimmjow's puzzled gaze, the woman actually just gripped her Zanpakutō with both hands.
*Bastard, are you kidding me?!*
Even His Majesty Naraku wouldn't dare underestimate him so much when he completed his Resurrección.
*Has this woman really gone mad?*
He might as well teach her a profound lesson, making her realize the true cruelty of slaughter, instead of spouting useless nonsense on the sidelines.
Panther King's Claw!
Massive azure streaks of light extended from his fingertips, bursting with a fierce sharpness that seemed to tear the surrounding space apart.
Grimmjow activated Sonído, the explosive sound echoing through the desert, and instantly appeared in front of Unohana Retsu.
With his ferocious smile close at hand, he seemed to already see the miserable state of the Soul Reaper before him being ruthlessly defeated by his own hands.
The dangerous premonition he felt during the fierce battle just now was nothing but an illusion.
However, the moment the Panther King's Claw descended, the space in front of him suddenly emptied. The streaks of light landed on the silver sand, plowing out deep, abyss-like ravines.
Unohana Retsu vanished out of thin air, accompanied by the piercing sound of a blade slashing through the air.
"This is the end, Mr. Grimmjow."
Unohana Retsu's voice sounded behind Grimmjow. The Zanpakutō, shrouded in moonlight, swung forward fiercely.
A crescent-shaped sword pressure, as bright red as blood, erupted from the blade, instantly tearing the air apart.
Sensing the incoming danger, Grimmjow instinctively swung his Panther King's Claw, attempting to block the slash.
However, the azure streaks of light that claimed to cut through anything snapped the moment they touched the blood-red sword pressure, turning into countless Reishi and dissipating into the air.
Although the sword pressure was also correspondingly neutralized, that sense of crisis was not lifted; instead, it grew even stronger.
He saw the corners of Unohana Retsu's mouth curl up slightly. An almost tangible killing intent spewed from her body. Instead of retracting her Zanpakutō, she advanced, cleaving a straight rift ahead and dropping it directly toward Grimmjow.
*Slash—*
His proud Hierro was as fragile as a blank sheet of paper under this slash.
*Boom!*
Grimmjow flew backward, plowing a bloody trail across the desert.
From his shoulder to his waist, a hideous rift almost pierced through his entire upper body. From the turned-up flesh, one could even see the pale bones inside.
Facing a killing machine on the level of the First Kenpachi, he, who had only been an Arrancar for a few years, was simply no match.
Their Reiatsu wasn't even on the same level.
If it were Starrk or Baraggan, perhaps this battle could have remained in a stalemate for a while.
Grimmjow gritted his teeth, wanting to get up and fight another round.
But after struggling a few times, he finally fell back down again.
"That's already very impressive."
A familiar voice reached his ears. Grimmjow looked up and saw a smiling face appear in his line of sight.
"Being able to fight Captain Unohana to this extent shows that you haven't neglected your training recently."
Naraku Sora did not sting on his praise.
He didn't know much about the art of ruling subordinates.
But good performance still needed to be affirmed.
"Next time... Next time, I will definitely defeat her."
Grimmjow stubbornly turned his head away, seemingly not taking Naraku Sora's words to heart.
But those who knew him well knew that this kid was already very happy inside.
After all, not just anyone could receive His Majesty's praise.
In the crowd, there were even Arrancars showing envious expressions.
Towards this Soul Reaper Majesty who had given them a beautiful life, they held deep respect and loyalty from the bottom of their hearts.
Looking at everyone's expressions, the corners of Unohana Retsu's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile.
Hueco Mundo also had its own kind of beauty.
Matsumoto Rangiku gritted her silver teeth, staring intently at the quiet room, her face full of unwillingness.
Ever since Naraku Sora led Unohana Retsu inside a few days ago, there had been no further movement.
Out of concern, she had taken it upon herself to climb through the window and inspect the place, but she found absolutely nothing.
She was very unwilling to accept this.
Over the next few days, she would come to the door to take a look every once in a while.
She was determined to catch that thieving cat and then use it as leverage to exchange for a few not-too-excessive demands.
After waiting for a while with no results, Rangiku prepared to leave.
However, right at this moment, she suddenly felt an abnormal Reishi fluctuation coming from the room.
Her eyes immediately lit up, and she suppressed her restless heart once again.
She just waited quietly like this for a few minutes.
Until her patience was completely worn out, just as Rangiku was grinding her silver teeth, making a creaking sound, and wondering if she should chop the door open and rush in, the door suddenly opened.
A figure walked out first.
A demure and gentle temperament, black hair cascading down to her waist, and a pure white haori.
Wait!
Something didn't seem right!
Rangiku stared intently at that face flushed with an unnatural redness, as well as the Shihakushō that didn't match her figure at all.
Even the haori had changed to the Prison Warden model.
*Damn it, what exactly did you two do?!*
Rangiku's expression gradually became ferocious, wishing she could rush up right now and demand a clear answer.
However, right at this moment, Unohana Retsu noticed the inexplicable peeping. Following the gaze, she saw a young woman with a figure no less impressive than her own crouching in a tree, watching.
*That child... seems to be one of the people who admires Sora, right?*
*I think her name is Matsumoto Rangiku. Her talent is quite good, having already mastered her Shikai at such a young age.*
*But her courage seems to be lacking.*
*Otherwise, why hasn't there been any substantial progress after all this time?*
Thinking of this, Unohana Retsu looked at Matsumoto Rangiku and revealed a victor's smile.
Matsumoto Rangiku's expression instantly stiffened, her eyes widened, and her breathing almost stopped. She subconsciously prepared to rush out and settle the score with Unohana Retsu.
However, before she could make a move, the figure in the courtyard had already vanished.
Seeing this, Rangiku clenched her fists, her Reiatsu involuntarily leaking out.
*What the hell are you smiling at?!*
*Damn old woman!*