Chapter 246

"I've heard that you never kill other Menos Grande, but that rule shouldn't apply to enemies, right?"

In this respect, the two generations of No.3 are very similar, which may also be a common trait among female Vasto Lorde.

"... What do you want to say?"

"Only by taking down that Vasto Lorde can you better protect your companions."

Haruto actually preferred to eliminate Szayelaporro first, since he was already on the enemy's radar; however, considering that Szayelaporro was extremely difficult to kill and was a very strong type among Vasto Lorde, Haruto felt it was better to settle for second best.

"If you're worried about their safety..."

"I'm willing to help you achieve this—against Vasto Lorde, ordinary Soul Reapers would just be throwing their lives away."

Haruto explained it very clearly.

Worried they'll become bait or prisoners?

It's alright, the Soul Reaper here is the same.

"... I'm injured."

Tier Harribel was clearly persuaded by Haruto, using her injury as a reason for refusal, which was her last struggle: if things continued like this, they would either perish at the hands of Soul Reaper or be captured by Baraggan's army and taken back to Las Noches.

There's no inherent good or bad in the ending.

"You just need to land one hit."

Haruto replied.

"And I have more than one Captain-level on my side."

"A stronger Adjuchas?... Even two more of those wouldn't be enough."

Captain-level.

Without Bankai, in Vasto Lorde's view, Adjuchas is just passable; with Bankai, he's only at the level of peak Adjuchas —the gap between Adjuchas's upper and lower limits is as exaggerated as that of Soul Reaper's Captain-level. Tier Harribel's words are already an exaggeration.

"No..."

I can manage to gather three more.

Volume 1: 148, Wang Xu

"Lord Tier Harribel!"

Seeing that Tier Harribel was about to grant Haruto's request, even Mila and Sun-Sun couldn't help but speak up this time.

Just now.

They had all witnessed the cruelty of this Soul Reaper firsthand:

His companion was killed without mercy simply for speaking a little too loudly. This kind of guy doesn't seem like the type to work with: judging by the volume of Apache and Mila's voices, they would probably have been killed many times over by him already.

Certainly.

Having followed Tier Harribel for so long, they had completely forgotten that they themselves were once just as wild and untamed.

You must ensure their safety.

Tier Harribel didn't turn around to look at them, but stared intently at Haruto and said.

"Rest assured."

"... or I'll kill you."

I always keep my word.

It has to be said.

Sensing Vasto Lorde's murderous intent at such close range, even Haruto didn't think she would do this...

Even when it's time to act, the hairs on my body still stand on end instinctively.

"Really."

Haruto thought to himself.

"The gap between second and third class is not so easily bridged."

Even with such severe injuries, Vasto Lorde could still make Haruto feel a real threat—if he didn't understand Tier Harribel's personality, Haruto would never have taken such a risk: slowly reaping the Gillian was less efficient, but at least it was safer; directly attacking Vasto Lorde... the danger was self-evident.

"The same thing happened in the previous battle with Szayelaporro. If I were at the Second-Class Spiritual Pressure, I would have killed him with a single strike, 'One Ittō Kasō.'"

"Harri-- "

Just as the trio was about to try to persuade them again...

"Apache, Sun-Sun, Mila."

"?"

Haruto called out their names before Tier Harribel could.

As Vasto Lorde Soul Reaper, Tier Harribel's name would be known to only a handful of people, though some might understand it.

It's a bit scary that even "unknown" people have their names known—whether they are Hollows or Soul Reaper, names have real meaning and power.

Instead of offering suggestions here...

"How about improving yourself?"

Reiatsu.

Even in front of Tier Harribel, Haruto's Reiatsu was still fully unleashed on the trio.

"You—"

Apache couldn't even finish his sentence.

Halibel didn't stop Haruto either—not because she wanted to see him die, but because she was shocked by the spiritual pressure emanating from the Grim Reaper before her...

Did you sense a part that belonged to Vasto Lorde?

It even felt strangely familiar!

"How long have you been under the protection of 'Lord' Tier Harribel...?"

"No further progress?"

"!!"

Through their time together, they gradually came to understand and accept Tier Harribel's philosophy.

But the premise is...

Tier Harribel is Vasto Lorde does not need to continue evolving.

If they continue like this, sooner or later they will degenerate into people without mind and...

The self- Gillian.

By then.

They didn't even have the chance to hide behind Tier Harribel, let alone fight alongside him.

Hollows are very stubborn creatures, which is closely related to their obsession with becoming Hollows after death; and Haruto's words really hit a nerve with them, which is why Apache was so sensitive to the word "burden" before.

They...

I absolutely do not want to become a burden to Tier Harribel.

"..."

Faced with the silent trio.

"It seems..."

Haruto turned to look at Tier Harribel.

"They've figured it out."

"... Thanks."

It's just a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force Headquarters.

Haru Kusaka returned here with his noble detachment.

But...

They didn't receive the welcome they expected, or rather, such a welcome was simply absent: of the fifteen teams sent out to clear out the Hueco Mundo, they were the only two to return.

Even the combat squad led by Kanmuri Yasu has disappeared without a trace.

Even without considering Bankai, Kanmuri Yasu was one of the top five strongest members of the Expeditionary Force; however, with the Third Division Captain and the Kuchiki Clan elites led by Kōga Kuchiki being recalled to Soul Society during the morning session, there were not many Soul Reaper left in the entire Expeditionary Force who could be considered top-tier.

Same.

As the battle situation worsened, the Soul Reaper of the Gotei 13 were all exhausted. As for the noble Soul Reaper who used to live a life of luxury... if Haruto hadn't given them a little boost earlier, they would probably be cursing by now.

Everyone knows this expedition is about to end, but until the final target—the data provided by the Seireitei Research Institute —is achieved, no one is certain who will return to Soul Society alive.

"Your Excellency Kusaka."

That being said...

At least Haru Kusaka and the others returned having accomplished their goal.

Before encountering Tier Harribel, they had successfully dealt with seventeen Gillian at the cost of five members, as well as over a hundred ordinary Huge Hollow... This was a remarkable achievement. Although the number of kills may not seem like much, in the Forest of Menos, this usually means they had encountered at least three-digit numbers of Gillian.

The expected welcome was still given:

Those were two Soul Reaper looked remarkably alike and wore Captain's Haori.

The difference in gender did not result in a significant difference in height; the only difference lay in the decorations on their heads: the male Soul Reaper had a single brown haircut with a deep red ribbon hanging down at the end; the female Soul Reaper had her hair tied in a bun with a fine red shimenawa cord.

Captain of the Tenth Division: Miyano Fujimaru; Vice-Captain Miyano Matsuri.

It is very rare for twins to serve as both captain and vice-captain in the Gotei 13.

By the way...

Both of them were previously serving as Seated Officer of the Fifth Division...

That's why the Fifth Division is said to be full of talented people.

"Captain Miyano."

Haru Kusaka nodded to the two of them.

How is the situation at headquarters?

"Good."

Miyano Fujimaru responded.

"There seemed to be some chaos when the Soul Society opened, but it didn't take too long... Those two have already led their teams back to Soul Society."

"Is that so..."

The departure of the two Captain-level was a devastating blow to the Expeditionary Force's high-level combat capabilities, especially after seeing that none of the various mission teams had returned.

Certainly.

Haruto, who came from Soul Society, was a kind of morale booster in another sense... but not the kind that was particularly friendly to him and the noble squad.

"Oh, right."

"Did you see the replacement captain Kusaka?"

"According to the intelligence from Soul Society, he should have arrived in Hueco Mundo, but his location seems to be quite off-center—"

The final coordinates given by the Seireitei Research Institute are way too far from the Expeditionary Force headquarters... so far that even Shunpo to pick them up would be risky.

"I did see him."

Upon hearing this, Haru Kusaka gave a wry smile and said:

"That is--"

"What is it?"