Sombravida's arrival marked the true beginning of Barragan's long-delayed central campaign.
For years, Barragan had consolidated his eastern dominion and surrounding territories. Yet the chaotic central region of Hueco Mundo remained unconquered.
There were two reasons.
First—
The central region housed several Vasto Lorde-class Hollows. While many were early-stage and individually weaker than Barragan, they were organized and territorial. Even a monarch like Barragan could not simply march in alone and erase them without cost.
Respira — Barragan's dominion over aging and decay — was devastating. But against multiple Vasto Lordes possessing unusual abilities or partial primordial fragments, brute decay alone was not always decisive.
Rod Fores had been proof of that.
Even a fragment of regenerative authority had forced Barragan into repeated stalemates.
Second—
The central region was the place where Barragan had once been grievously injured in ancient conflict.
Whether against primordial anomalies or rival sovereign-class Hollows, something there had cost him a portion of his authority and memory. Though he retained Respira, whatever deeper sovereignty he once possessed had been fractured.
If fragments of that lost authority had been absorbed by others—
Reclaiming it alone would be nearly impossible.
But with Sombravida's emergence, the equation changed.
Space and decay.
Compression and erosion.
Mobility and inevitability.
Sombravida's spatial authority did not rival complete law manifestation — but its precision allowed Respira to become inescapable.
Barragan could feel it.
The resonance between their abilities did not clash as it had with Fores.
Time and space had always been adjacent principles.
"You brat," Barragan rumbled. "Your spatial control has matured."
"I was fortunate," Sombravida replied lightly, avoiding mention of the Void World Ruler. "Though I would not dare call it true law yet."
"Show me."
Barragan lifted one skeletal finger.
A condensed sphere of Respira rolled forward like smoldering black mist.
Sombravida extended his palm.
A spatial aperture opened.
The decay vanished into it.
A second aperture opened beneath Barragan.
Respira erupted upward from his own shadow.
Sand beneath him turned to dust instantly.
Barragan did not move.
The decay dispersed harmlessly around him.
"Excellent," he said calmly. "If that were directed at an unprepared opponent, they would already be crippled."
There was no hostility in his tone.
Only acknowledgement.
"Without your assistance in Fores' campaign," Sombravida replied, "I would not have advanced this quickly."
"Enough politeness."
Barragan planted his double-bladed axe.
"The central region is unstable. There are Hollows there who do not recognize my sovereignty."
He paused.
"It is also where I was wounded."
Sombravida understood the unspoken implication.
Fragments.
Authority.
Power lost.
"If something of yours remains there," Sombravida said evenly, "we will retrieve it."
Barragan's skull tilted slightly.
"You understand mutual benefit well."
"I intend to grow," Sombravida answered simply.
"Then prepare. I will mobilize my forces."
Sombravida nodded.
"I will return tomorrow."
"You've marked all of Hueco Mundo already?" Barragan asked with a low chuckle.
"Only where necessary."
Sombravida raised a hand.
A pale-gold sigil appeared briefly on the ground before fading.
Barragan observed carefully.
"Combined with concealment, that makes you… troublesome."
Sombravida smiled faintly.
"I prefer efficient."
Before departing, Sombravida spoke again.
"There is one matter I wish to ask."
"Speak."
"Gran Rey Cero."
Barragan's hollow eyes narrowed slightly.
"You have not learned it?"
"I suspected my Cero lacked something fundamental."
"Gran Rey Cero is not mere amplification," Barragan said. "It is royal lineage and blood activation. It draws upon sovereignty."
He tapped his own chest cavity.
"You will understand the method. I can instruct you during the march."
Sombravida inclined his head.
"Then I look forward to it."
With that—
His presence compressed.
And vanished.
Barragan watched the empty space for several seconds.
"This one… may truly reach that height."
He did not speak of the Void World Ruler.
Some names carried consequence.
Instead—
He issued orders.
"All high-ranked Adjuchas and above prepare for deployment. One hundred offensive units. Fifty reconnaissance-support types. The rest remain to guard territory."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The mobilization of Las Noches began.
Meanwhile—
Sombravida returned to his own stronghold.
Nel nearly dropped her fruit when he reappeared.
"We leave tomorrow," Sombravida said calmly.
"With Barragan?"
"Yes."
Nel swallowed quickly.
"Should we bring others?"
"No."
"This is reconnaissance and consolidation. Too many and casualties increase."
He gestured to the throne.
"I left an anchor here. I can return daily."
Nel tilted her head.
"Doesn't spatial travel consume a lot of reiatsu?"
"Repeated realm traversal does," Sombravida admitted. "Within Hueco Mundo, it is manageable."
He glanced at her expression.
"And yes. We can return to the Human World when needed."
Her eyes lit up again.
Sombravida sighed softly.
He then went to Jekain.
"Jekain."
"My King."
Sombravida regarded him seriously.
"You've managed everything well."
Jekain blinked slightly, caught off guard.
"My duty."
Sombravida nodded.
"Maintain the Great Hollow Forest link."
"It remains stable. Timd reinforced the permanent Garganta channel."
Sombravida considered.
The Forest remained their fallback.
"Keep it that way. If circumstances change… we may need retreat routes."
Jekain hesitated.
"My King… do you foresee something?"
Sombravida was silent for a moment.
"Have you heard of sovereign-class Hollows? Or primordial anomalies?"
"Only rumors."
"They exist," Sombravida said evenly. "And beyond them — Shinigami. Quincy."
He did not say Aizen's name.
Not yet.
"There will be war one day," Sombravida continued.
"A war affecting Hollow existence itself."
Jekain lowered his head.
"If that day comes?"
"If I fall," Sombravida said calmly, "withdraw to the Great Hollow Forest. Preserve our people."
"…I obey my king's command."
The air grew still.
Sombravida looked toward the horizon.
Central Hueco Mundo awaited.
And beyond that—
The inevitable collision of realms.
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