Chapter 250
According to the theory of Menos Grande evolution, Adjuchas that is bitten by Menos Grande will forever lose the ability to evolve into Vasto Lorde.
But.
Hammerhead's High-Speed Regeneration is somewhat unique.
He can heal not only the body, but also the soul; in addition, Tier Harribel did not "devour" the part of the Visored she cut off, which gave Hammerhead the opportunity to continue evolving.
Certainly.
Even though he successfully evolved into Vasto Lorde, Hammerhead still possesses a permanent flaw that is distinct from other Highest-class Menos Grande:
He's not that human.
Whether out of jealousy or for any other reason, after discovering that a naturally born Vasto Lorde had existed, Hammerhead was determined to make it all a thing of the past.
"You all stay here."
Hammerhead issued a decree to his subordinates.
"Anyone who leaves Las Noches without permission will be the next piece of meat on the chopping block."
Thump.
After speaking, Hammerhead Sonído and left Las Noches, rushing towards Vasto Lorde, whose aura was gradually receding.
Thump.
Vasto Lorde's Sonído speed is very fast.
After all, it doesn't require any clever combat skills, and for traveling, the other two methods can't even catch up with a horse.
Hammerhead arrived at the target location.
There is no need for any doubt.
Deep within the vast and expansive sandpit, a humanoid skeleton with a black crown suspended above its head stands silently.
Vasto Lorde looks like a man.
The same applies to human-shaped skeletons.
When Hammerhead saw the newborn Vasto Lorde, his eyes twitched involuntarily twice.
He hadn't been with Baraggan for long, but besides his High-Speed Regeneration, his greatest skill was aura detection: although the quality was vastly different, Hammerhead still sensed a very small amount of aura similar to Baraggan's from this unfamiliar fellow.
"Similar abilities to Baraggan?"
Perhaps because his mind wasn't working very well, Hammerhead didn't make any deeper connections... Even a simpleton wouldn't think of such a possibility.
But this did not prevent him from breathing a slight sigh of relief.
While the ability to age is indeed terrifying, as long as it doesn't overwhelm him instantly, Hammerhead is confident that he can quickly regenerate his body after it's been severed.
Even if the opponent's abilities are similar, as long as they don't reach the level of an irresistible instant kill like Baraggan's, Hammerhead is fearless... He is, after all, Vasto Lorde was born so long before the opponent, he wouldn't be intimidated by a newborn.
"You!"
After figuring this out...
Hammerhead then walked towards Vasto Lorde, which was not far away.
The fact that the other party seemed completely dazed and unresponsive reassured Hammerhead considerably—if someone's brain isn't working properly, then it's even easier to deceive them... He hadn't even tasted Vasto Lorde's flavor yet.
Gnawing on bones isn't unacceptable.
"Slurp."
The long, thin tongue moved up and down, and the sharp, saw-like shark teeth made a somewhat grating sound.
Where are you from?
Hammerhead approached at a moderate pace.
As Vasto Lorde, he was certainly not entirely without vigilance: Vasto Lorde are mostly eccentric, and there are those who would launch an attack on the spot.
Shark-fin-shaped arms are draped behind the back.
Unlike Tier Harribel's "controllable weapon," Hammerhead's arm is fundamentally like a hand and fingers separated from a complete fish fin... and its shape is an irregular lightning bolt resembling gills.
Now.
Two hands were crossed together, and the dark, murky Reiatsu had silently gathered into a sphere.
Cero?
No, no, no.
If this guy is truly hostile, or simply has a berserker personality, this level of attack won't be very effective.
The color of Gillian's Cero varies depending on its Reiatsu; for example, Hammerhead's Cero is pure black.
Black Cero
The second-tier of all Cero, second only to "Gran Rey Cero" in power.
Before Aizen's modified Arrancar appeared, this was a technique that only Vasto Lorde and a very few top Adjuchas could use; as for "Gran Rey Cero"... it is indeed Vasto Lorde's ability, but because the noise when it is released is too great and the charging time is extremely long, it is not suitable for use in this situation.
And...
Just as only a small percentage of Adjuchas can use "Black Cero," not all Vasto Lorde can use "Gran Rey Cero."
"?"
Hammerhead looked utterly bewildered.
The void doesn't wear clothes.
However, due to their human-like nature, Vasto Lorde would often use their Reiatsu to conjure up one or two pieces of clothing for themselves.
So.
Even if the person opposite you is just a skeleton, it's not a problem as long as they have pants to wear.
The problem is...
"Knife?"
Hammerhead saw the Zanpakuto at the other person's waist—something only Shinigami (Soul Reaper) would use.
Even if west has evolved a hand that can wield a sword, Xu is still better at fighting using his own strength than this thing.
"What's going on?"
Hammerhead stopped in his tracks.
"This guy..."
"No signs of a struggle were found before."
The symmetrically distributed, jet-black eyes on both sides of the head take in a 360-degree field of vision without any blind spots.
"He killed a Soul Reaper first, and then evolved into Vasto Lorde?"
Hammerhead became even more wary.
At this moment.
"You should..."
"!"
The skeletal frame that had been completely unresponsive just moments before—compared to Hammerhead —slowly turned its long neck toward him.
"Keep moving forward."
The sound was somewhat deep, but it was definitely not the noise one would expect from bones colliding.
"!!"
"Bakudō #99"
Vasto Lorde moved forward a tiny step.
A not-so-huge but exquisitely crafted swastika pattern appeared at Hammerhead's feet, centered on him.
"The Bankin Taihō!"
"Buzz!!"
The so-called Vasto Lorde is, of course, Haruto.
To fully unleash the power of emptiness within his body, he naturally had to appear in the form of the "Ultimate Hollow God Form."
This was originally Haruto's plan as well.
Without this form, it would be truly difficult to fight against Vasto Lorde, who possesses Second-Class Spiritual Pressure; Haruto had already experienced this during his battle with Szayelaporro.
Although the energy consumption is a bit excessive, this move, Number 99's Ultimate Bakudō, is indeed the most effective way to seal an opponent.
Ten times the power, a hundred times the consumption.
That's all there is to it.
After the battle with Szayelaporro, he only had a little over half of his Reiatsu reserves left, and after using the Bankin Taihō, they were almost completely depleted.
"--!?"
Hammerhead's body was completely immobilized.
The Black Cero that had been prepared beforehand was directly imprisoned at the location of his fin.
--The strength of the Bankin Taihō is beyond doubt. After using the Ultimate Hollow God Form, it can be equivalent to the Bakudō #99 Sniper under the Second-Class Spiritual Pressure.
Certainly.
Even with prior preparations for the Bakudō and the Eishōhaki, the Bankin Taihō, the sealing speed couldn't possibly be this fast.
Before the Bankin Taihō takes effect...
Stillness.
That was the Stillness emanating from the Seisen.
After five years of Jinzen training, Haruto, having fully unleashed his Zanpakuto, finally mastered Seisen's final technique through his experience with Shunkō: overcoming the original limitation that only "Flow" could be released from the blade, and achieving the goal of using "Stillness" from a distance.
Although it still cannot be released out of thin air.
However, attaching "Stillness" to Reiatsu or the Kidō has become possible... This is an experience gained from the extension of the Blut Vene.
So--
"Cease, Seisen."
Haruto need not draw his sword.
Seisen's ability had already solidified Hammerhead before the Bankin Taihō could: the time didn't need to be long, just a few seconds would be enough; as long as he could be kept there before the power of Bankin Taihō could seal him away, that would suffice.
Thump.
As the swastikas beneath his feet extended and climbed all over Hammerhead's body, the translucent ink completely soaked into his skin...
All of Vasto Lorde's power was completely sealed away.
"Bankai!"
"Bankai!"
This is the pinnacle of the power of the Bankin Taihō.
The moment the opponent lost all ability to resist, both Zanpakuto simultaneously completed their Bankai:
"Kokyū Ryūjōmaru!"
"Ryūkyū Kotōmaru!"
Dance costume, bronze shoulders, wings, and flaming sword.
The Miyano Bankai the Miyako siblings are able to resonate with each other.
The destructive power that would normally require continuous slashes to reach its peak can be directly maximized by using both swords simultaneously.
The two simultaneously Shunpo towards Hammerhead in a half-armored stance—
"Dragon-Tiger Severing Thrust!!"