Chapter 243
Now that the Hyakurensan has hit its mark, Haruto certainly won't waste such a good opportunity.
Jet black and deep purple.
Two palms, each Flow a different kind of light, pressed down hard on the dilapidated ground!
"The Two Dragon Destruction!"
"Boom!"
The gravity dragon originating from the Kurohitsugi and the space Senju Kōten Taihō simultaneously burst forth from the earth like earth dragons turning over.
A vast, dragon-shaped Reiatsu surged and churned towards Szayelaporro!
--
"Boom!!"
Volume 1: Chapter 146, The Wandering Guardian
"Waaah~"
The sandstorm dispersed the thick fog.
"You bastard!!"
Szayelaporro's mutilated body gradually became visible: although he hadn't gathered all five elemental dragons, the destructive Hadō of the fusion of the Kurohitsugi and the Senju Kōten Taihō still rivaled that of the One- Ittō Kasō.
Szayelaporro had not yet recovered from the injuries sustained during the "Twin Fire Resonance".
He was hit by Haruto's Ninety-Nine Kidō attacks again, and at this moment he almost couldn't even maintain his human form.
After evolving into Vasto Lorde.
Not only do Menos Grande no longer need to devour and evolve, but they can also become indistinguishable from humans or Soul Reaper in appearance; this is not based on strength, but rather on the essence of the Menos Grande.
The so-called Resurrección of the Arrancar is, to some extent, using the power of the Hōgyoku to reverse the process of some Vasto Lordes voluntarily Arrancar their Visored —among naturally born Vasto Lordes, only No. 1 Starrk and No. 4 Ulquiorra are known to be able to do this.
After evolving into Vasto Lorde, Szayelaporro always appeared in human form before the Menos Grande and Soul Reaper.
Now he's being forced to reveal some inhuman traits... Back when he accepted Baraggan's orders to attack Soul Society, he wasn't beaten to this state by Kuruyashiki Kenpachi because he ran fast enough.
"Kid."
Tentacle-like structures resembling plant roots wriggle between the ground and the surface.
The sand formed from the Menos Grande remains of Hollows combined with the ubiquitous Reishi of Hueco Mundo and was completely swallowed by Szayelaporro.
Therefore...
Szayelaporro has a wide range of healing methods. With the help of alchemical potions, he can quickly heal his injuries even without "food reserves".
However, the so-called speed must be used outside of combat. Using this move during actual combat is no different from making yourself a target.
I've memorized your Reiatsu.
You can probably tell.
When Szayelaporro was Adjuchas, he likely existed in a plant-like form, distinct from other beast-like Adjuchas.
"Next time..."
"You're absolutely not getting away!"
Beneath the Hueco Mundo desert lies the dark and chilling Forest of Menos.
"..."
"Crack."
Using Gillian's remains as firewood is a rather rare practice: as long as you can burn them—requiring Captain-level Reiatsu —they are definitely among the best dyes in the Soul Society.
"Who are you?"
The Haruto was a figure with their back to him.
With short, reddish-brown hair, his appearance was hidden behind an antelope skull-shaped Visored, and a skull-patterned fur cloak completely covered his Shihakushō.
Judging solely by appearance and attire.
It's hard to tell whether the guy in front of you is a Hollow or Soul Reaper.
After severely injuring Szayelaporro with the Five Dragon Destruction, Haruto was just about to use Seisen's ability to fight him in close combat when he sensed the Reiatsu that Kiyouzumi was deliberately emitting against him.
A fixed frequency of Reiatsu, combined with techniques related to the Kakushitsuijaku technique—a communication technique extremely common among Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force over the past few centuries—is rarely seen in Hueco Mundo Soul Reaper Kakushitsuijaku perform it in recent years (most Soul Reaper prefer to focus their energy on offensive Kidō, with many even abandoning Kidō Zanpakuto) Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force.
This alone suggests that this person is most likely a friend, not an enemy.
"Click."
The red-haired Soul Reaper removed the mask from his face.
The most striking feature of the first thing you notice when he turns around is probably his pair of straight, sword-like eyebrows.
Just call me Ashido.
"Who are you..."
Asido glanced at the armband on the man's arm.
"The current vice-captain of the Second Division?"
"Haruto Shihoin."
Haruto gave his name and extended his right hand to Ashido.
"I've heard Ashido."
"... You know me?"
Haruto's attitude made Ashido somewhat uncomfortable; this unfamiliar young face shouldn't have even heard of him.
"The former captain of the Tenth Division, who was 'disqualified' from the squad after disappearing in Hueco Mundo... Kuruyashiki Kenpachi friend."
"... Is this information from the Shihoin Clan?"
Ashido no longer hesitated and extended his right hand to Haruto as well—no captain hadn't heard of the Shihoin Clan, and in terms of prestige, the Shihoin Clan was always much stronger than the Kuchiki Clan and Tsunayashiro Clan in the eyes of non-noble Soul Reaper.
"No, it's just a personal interest of mine."
Their hands touched briefly before separating.
Ashido's wildly styled cloak, which he modified from Captain's Haori, should serve to attract attention and confuse his Soul Reaper aura with his Hollow presence, thus enabling him to survive in the Forest of Menos.
During the contact, he did not conceal his aura: his Reiatsu level was similar to Haruto's, both on the verge of reaching the second level.
"Not one of those listed in the Stealth Force, right?"
"Of course not. Although you were removed from the Gotei 13 due to regulations, I know very well that you are not that kind of person."
"Thank you for the trust of the Shihoin Clan."
When Haruto said those words, Ashido knew that he was definitely considering his family's interests.
"So, are you going back to Soul Society?"
No, thank you.
When faced with Haruto's probing questions, Ashido resolutely refused.
"Thanks for your hard work."
"Of course."
Ashido chose to stay in the Forest of Menos simply to kill more Hollows, thus reducing the number of "monsters" roaming the World of the Living.
That's all.
In this respect, he is worthy of being Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's close friend, and he must have had a lot to talk about with Azashiro Kenpachi - the latter's methods are just a bit crazy, and his starting point is similar to that of Ashido.
"Alright."
"Now that we've gotten to know each other..."
Haruto glanced at the shield-like Visored directly behind Ashido.
This thing likely came from a Vasto Lorde — Ashido doesn't have the ability to kill Vasto Lorde single-handedly, so it's most likely a gift Kuruyashiki Kenpachi gave to his best friend back then... and also the head of a colleague of Szayelaporro.
What was the 'danger' signal just now?
While his advantage might not be significant, Haruto did indeed gain the upper hand at one point in his battle against Szayelaporro.
Keep fighting...
The outcome may still be uncertain, but Haruto's main purpose is to hone his Zanpakuto. The reason he used Kidō and Spiritual Arts first was only to weaken Szayelaporro's strength, not to determine the winner through them.
Otherwise, the Five Dragon Destruction and the Bankin Taihō wouldn't have been kept secret, and even the Ultimate Hollow God Form would have made an appearance.
If it weren't for Ashido's signal, Haruto would definitely have fought a few more rounds.
"The second Vasto Lorde is approaching you."
Two Vasto Lorde?
It seems that Haruto is indeed no match for him, and with Ashido also involved, all he can do is run away.
"... From Las Noches?"
"Yes."
Ashido gave Haruto an affirmative answer.
"Does Baraggan have that Vasto Lorde?"
If Haruto remembers correctly.
By the time of the Karakura Town battle, the strongest of the six Arrancar under Baraggan's command was only at the level of Adjuchas.
"There were three at their peak, but now... you almost saw both of them."
It seems that two is the limit for Baraggan's recruitment efforts.
I just don't know how the second Vasto Lorde died—as a rare, Highest-class Menos Grande, even Aizen wouldn't have wasted it so easily.
"Is Captain Ashido tracking another Vasto Lorde?"
According to Ashido, this judgment is easy to make.
"Before the arrival of the new Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, I mostly hunted down Hueco Mundo who gathered in the Forest of Menos; when Soul Society sent people, I would usually go to the desert to wait... usually keeping an eye on the movements of these two Vasto Lorde."
"Just to remind the Expeditionary Force."
"..."
Haruto's earlier statement that he had worked hard was no exaggeration.
As a deposed Soul Reaper, Ashido certainly couldn't appear before the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force casually, and even then, he had to prevent his former comrades from being slaughtered by Vasto Lorde.
He really... I'm devastated.
"Given Captain Ashido's understanding of Vasto Lorde... could the two of us take down one of them together?"
Having kept watch on Las Noches for so long, Haruto certainly wouldn't believe he didn't have some inside information.
"Not enough."
Ashido shook his head.
"What about two more Captain-level?"
"Those two in Hueco Mundo right now are no good."
"... Understood."
Haruto is very interested in Vasto Lorde.
Whether it's eliminating Szayelaporro ahead of time or another Vasto Lorde that we've never met before, it will greatly increase the activation level of the Soul King Hakusui.
Haruto hadn't forgotten his goal in coming to Hueco Mundo.
The Adjuchas that the Kurohitsugi ambushed and killed provided Haruto with the enhancement power of nearly a hundred ordinary Gillian.
If one can successfully kill a Vasto Lorde, there is a very high chance that the Soul King Hakusui will directly advance to the level of Second-Class Spiritual Pressure.