As the Menos Grande were slain, their bodies dissipated into pure spiritual particles within the depths of the Great Hollow Forest.
Yet no one noticed the small, dark-golden vortex quietly rising in the shadows, silently absorbing every wisp of spirit energy released by the fallen Gillians and Adjuchas.
Although, after Yekawa's promotion to Adjuchas, the dozens of mindless Gillians and six Adjuchas contributed very little to his overall growth, he still absorbed them all through Soul Eater, faithfully following his principle of wasting nothing.
"Roar!"
Just as the Hueco Mundo expeditionary force prepared to rest, a familiar spiritual pressure suddenly appeared in Yekawa's perception.
A leopard-shaped Adjuchas emerged before the Gotei Thirteen.
Behind him followed five special Gillians of various forms, Hollows that had once been Adjuchas but had since degenerated.
They clustered behind the leopard like loyal retainers.
That Hollow was Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.
The five devolved Gillians were likely his future Fracción.
"Another Adjuchas group?"
Osaki Masahiro narrowed his eyes, watching the approaching Hollows warily.
For the first time, he felt a faint sense of danger from Grimmjow.
Only a faint sense.
Seeing Grimmjow charge forward without hesitation, Yekawa felt speechless.
Grimmjow's strength had indeed grown since their separation, and he had even formed his own subordinates.
But without Arrancarization, they were no match for this expeditionary force.
After all, a true Squad Captain was present.
Originally, Yekawa planned to observe from the shadows.
But watching his leopard subordinate rush in to die made him abandon that idea.
He immediately withdrew the fifty percent of Reiatsu he had been sharing with his clone.
His aura surged violently.
An overwhelming spiritual pressure burst forth without restraint, sweeping across several kilometers.
Nearby Hollows scattered in panic, fleeing like startled birds.
"This Reiatsu…"
Shock filled Osaki Masahiro's aged face.
Around him, the other Shinigami felt their breathing become labored.
"Is this… a Vasto Lorde?"
Amagai Shūsuke muttered with difficulty.
"Whoosh!"
A humanoid Hollow suddenly appeared before Grimmjow.
Black eyes.
Black hair.
A body clad in black bone armor and centipede plates.
"You are…!"
Grimmjow recognized him instantly.
This was the mysterious Vasto Lorde who had once implanted lightning inside his body.
Yet now, he seemed even more terrifying.
"You what?"
"Learn to address me properly."
"Call me King."
Yekawa waved his hand casually.
Grimmjow's body lifted helplessly into the air.
The next moment, Yekawa seized his throat and hurled him backward.
Grimmjow crashed into the distance.
"You five idiots, take him and get lost."
"I'll handle this."
His tone was completely dismissive.
Shawlong Koufang stared at Yekawa in shock.
"This is… the King's King…"
"Move. Now."
Under Yekawa's impatient command, Grimmjow's subordinates snapped out of their daze, dragged their leader away, and fled.
At the same time, Osaki Masahiro spoke gravely.
"Everyone, split up!"
The expeditionary Shinigami scattered instantly.
"Captain, what about you?"
Amagai Shūsuke asked anxiously.
"I'll stay."
"I'll handle him."
"You go."
Seeing the resolve in his Captain's eyes, Amagai Shūsuke retreated without hesitation.
Yekawa did not stop them.
No one noticed the tiny centipede clinging to Amagai's shoulder.
Once the others were gone, only Osaki Masahiro and Yekawa remained.
Yekawa noticed the old man's trembling.
"Scared?"
He scoffed.
"Scared?"
"If I feared Hollows, I would never have come here."
"I'm excited."
"Excited to kill a Vasto Lorde with my own hands."
"My entire family died to Hollows."
"That's why I joined the expeditionary force."
"What could be more satisfying than killing one of you myself?"
A flush spread across his gaunt face.
Yekawa lost interest.
"Idiot."
He fired a Cero.
"So fast!"
Osaki barely dodged.
Staring at Yekawa atop the tree trunk, he noticed the Zanpakuto at his waist.
His gaze hardened.
Without hesitation, he drew his blade.
"Bankai… Senkan Hisou!"
The Asauchi shattered.
Fragments of mirrored crystal burst outward.
A thousand shards hovered in the air, each infused with his Reiatsu.
Osaki clenched his fist.
The mirror storm surged forward.
"So this is Bankai…"
It was Yekawa's first time facing one.
He raised a finger.
A black-red Cero formed instantly.
"Boom!"
The Cero smashed into the fragments.
The forest exploded.
Trees were pulverized.
Shockwaves rippled outward.
Blood poured from Osaki's mouth and nose.
"Cough… how can a Hollow possess such Reiatsu…"
He forced himself to move.
With another gesture, the fragments reassembled.
They formed a glowing hexagonal prism.
Streams of multicolored light shot toward Yekawa.
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