As the Menos Grande fell, their bodies dissolved into spiritual particles and vanished within the depths of the Great Hollow Forest. However, hidden in the shadows, an unseen dark-golden vortex began to swirl, slowly absorbing the dissipating spiritual particles left behind by the fallen Gillian and Adjuchas.
Although Raizen Kō's recent promotion to Adjuchas had given him a vast boost in power, the Gillian and Adjuchas who had just been defeated barely contributed to his spiritual pressure. Regardless, Raizen adhered to his principle: waste nothing. The Soul Eater he possessed was as much about consuming spiritual energy as it was about growth, so even these Menos Grande would not go unused.
"Roar!"
As the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force Squad members prepared to rest, a familiar spiritual pressure surged nearby, catching Raizen's attention.
A leopard-shaped Adjuchas, accompanied by five unique Gillian that had devolved from Adjuchas, appeared before the Shinigami. These five Gillian appeared loyal to their leader, just as they had in their previous forms.
The leopard-shaped Hollow was none other than Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, and the five Gillian were undoubtedly his Fracción, based on their appearance and behavior.
"Another Adjuchas group?" Osaki Masahiro, a member of the Gotei 13, narrowed his eyes at the incoming enemies. He could sense that Grimmjow had significantly grown since their last encounter. The familiar spiritual pressure made him cautious, but he sensed no immediate threat.
Grimmjow, intent on continuing his mission, led his group forward without hesitation, preparing for a clash.
Raizen, witnessing Grimmjow's reckless approach, felt a mixture of exasperation and amusement. Although Grimmjow's spiritual pressure had increased, he was still far from being able to compete with the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force.
Still not yet Arrancar, Grimmjow and his subordinates were no match for the Squad Captain-level Shinigami present.
Raizen was about to observe the situation further when he saw his Fracción, Shawlong Koufang, preparing to engage recklessly. Realizing Grimmjow's impending disaster, Raizen made a swift decision.
Without hesitation, Raizen withdrew the fifty percent of his spiritual pressure that had been shared with his clone, allowing his true power to surge. The terrifying spiritual pressure emanated from him like an unstoppable wave, instantly sweeping out for several kilometers around him.
The Menos Grande hiding nearby, sensing the immense spiritual pressure, scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives as if threatened by an impending storm.
"This... spiritual pressure is!" Osaki Masahiro's weathered face twisted in shock. The Gotei 13 Shinigami surrounding him were forced to catch their breath under the sheer weight of Raizen's power.
"Could it be... a Vasto Lorde?" Amagai Shūsuke whispered, his voice filled with awe and fear.
Raizen Kō, appearing before Grimmjow, stood towering like a menacing giant, his black eyes locked onto the leopard-shaped Hollow. He was clad in black bone armor, with intricate centipede-like patterns running across his body.
"You are...!" Grimmjow blinked, recognizing Raizen from their previous encounter. The memory of the mysterious Vasto Lorde who had implanted a lightning orb inside him flashed in his mind. Grimmjow couldn't understand why Raizen appeared different now stronger, more commanding but there was no mistaking it: this was the same being.
Raizen, his voice calm yet undeniably authoritative, waved his hand dismissively. "You, what do you mean by 'you'? Remember to call me King!"
Before Grimmjow could respond, Raizen's immense power surged once more, and Grimmjow was immediately grabbed by the neck and lifted effortlessly off the ground.
Raizen tossed him backward with ease, sending him flying through the air.
"Hey, you five idiots, get lost with him! I'll handle this here!" Raizen called out impatiently to Grimmjow's subordinates.
Shawlong Koufang, one of Grimmjow's subordinates, stared at Raizen in disbelief. "This is... the King's King!"
Raizen's annoyance was clear as he waved his hand, urging Grimmjow's Fracción to leave. The Fracción, now fully aware of their leader's defeat, quickly retreated, dragging Grimmjow along with them.
"Get lost, now!" Raizen barked, his voice filled with impatience.
Seeing the Fracción flee, Osaki Masahiro gave his orders to the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force members:
"Everyone, split up!"
The Gotei 13 forces scattered, immediately retreating in various directions, clearly recognizing the deadly presence before them.
Amagai Shūsuke, one of the more perceptive members, asked with urgency, "What about you, Captain Osaki?"
Osaki, his expression resolute, replied, "I'll stay behind and deal with this Vasto Lorde. You all go!"
Without another word, Amagai Shūsuke swiftly Shunpo'd away, disappearing into the distance.
Raizen didn't make a move to stop him. However, unnoticed by everyone, a tiny centipede no larger than an ant clung to Amagai's uniform on his shoulder. It was the beginning of something far more dangerous.
With the others gone, only Osaki Masahiro and Raizen Kō remained in the area.
Raizen, sensing the tremor in Osaki's hands, looked on with mild amusement. "Are you scared?"
Osaki, trembling but not retreating, scoffed. "Scared? If this old man were afraid of a Hollow like you, why would I have joined the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force in the first place?!"
A strange excitement danced in his eyes. "I'm not scared! I'm thrilled! Thrilled to finally kill a Vasto Lorde with my own hands!"
Osaki's excitement grew palpable, a flush creeping up his otherwise sallow cheeks. The fervor in his voice was unmistakable.
Raizen, utterly uninterested in the old man's ramblings, muttered, "Idiot."
Clearly irritated by Osaki's monologue, Raizen released a Cero without hesitation.
"So fast!" Osaki barely managed to avoid the deadly blast, the shockwave sending him stumbling backward.
Raizen's chilling presence, perched upon a nearby tree trunk, loomed over him. Osaki, now more aware than ever of his opponent's power, drew his Asauchi in desperation. He muttered under his breath, "Bankai Senkan Hisou!"
The Asauchi shattered into a thousand fragments, each fragment shimmering with Osaki's spiritual pressure, and they surged toward Raizen with intense speed. Each mirror-like shard reflected the Gotei 13 Captain's resolve.
Raizen, unamused, raised a single finger toward the incoming storm of mirror fragments. "Oh, so this is Bankai?"
For the first time, Raizen was faced with a Shinigami capable of Bankai, but his indifference remained.
As the mirror shards approached him like a torrential storm, Raizen extended his finger and shot forth a black-red Cero, which collided head-on with the barrage of mirror fragments.
"Boom!"
The force of the explosion sent shockwaves through the forest, reducing towering trees to splinters and scattering the mirror shards. Raizen's Cero tore through Osaki's attack with ease, and the blast's aftershock sent blood pouring from Osaki's mouth and nose.
"Cough, cough... Why does this Hollow have such powerful spiritual pressure?" Osaki struggled to keep himself standing, shocked at the sheer intensity of Raizen's force.
But there was no time for lamentation. Osaki's hand gestures caused the mirror fragments to reassemble, this time forming a massive hexagonal prism that emitted brilliant, multi-colored light. From the prism, beams of energy shot out toward Raizen.
The true battle had only just begun.
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