The Truth Behind Tier Harribel's Evolution

"Ladies, stop arguing," Cangya interjected, hoping to ease the escalating tension between Apache and Sun-Sun. "Apache, please."

Apache sighed helplessly and rested her head on his thigh again. "I'm sorry, Sun-Sun. I shouldn't have been so rude."

"Ara, friends don't need to apologize. If you really want to show your gratitude, promise you won't die before me... Nothing hurts more than losing a friend."

A heavy silence fell over the group, Sun-Sun's sorrowful words lingering in the air.

No one had expected the usually sharp-tongued, sarcastic Sun-Sun to show such vulnerability.

Then again, she had always emphasized the importance of survival to Cangya.

Cangya gently stroked her scales.

"I promise I'll keep everyone alive, including that observant little kitty over there."

"I'm saying this for the last time, stop calling me a little kitty!"

Mila Rose's shout made everyone laugh.

Tier Harribel sat quietly in the corner and gave the three of them a warm look.

She closed her eyes again, sinking into her warm yet cold nightmare.

"Cangya, I've always wondered. How do you think an Adjuchas (intermediate Menos Grande) can become a Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde)?"

"I'm not sure, but it has something to do with raising our Reiatsu levels and restraining our wild instincts."

"Restraining our wild instincts?" Apache murmured. "I don't quite understand what you mean. And you've lost your memory, so how do you still remember so much?"

"It's like instinct. Harribel, do you remember how you became a Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde)?"

Apache glanced toward Harribel. The bronze-skinned Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde) leaned against the cave wall, recalling a distant memory.

"I... don't remember."

Sun-Sun leaned close to his ear. "Lady Harribel paused. That means she's lying."

Cangya raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Harribel, Sun-Sun says you're lying."

"Traitor!" Sun-Sun retorted. "You sold me out! I... I trusted you."

"Never trust a guy wearing a skull mask," he whispered with a grin.

"Besides, that's a small price to pay to learn more about our considerate leader."

"You're more like a leader than Harribel," Apache muttered. "You conceited skull demon."

Harribel watched them silently, studying and weighing something with little emotion in her eyes.

Cangya returned to his human form and smiled, putting on a cheerful look of childlike innocence.

"Harribel, it's fine if you don't want to share your story... I'll bring it up again after I've done something to truly earn your trust."

Sometimes, to get someone you liked to tell the truth, you had to resort to a few tricks.

Seeing his hurt expression, Harribel softened. She simply couldn't resist indulging him.

"There's nothing special about it. Are you sure you want to waste time on this?"

Cangya's face lit up. "I have nothing else to do until Tirutī recovers. I might as well listen to your bedtime story."

"Most of the Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde) I know became Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde) after devouring countless souls... but not me. I evolved after witnessing senseless violence and slaughter."

She gestured at the wall with her sword arm, revealing the secret no one knew.

"A village of ordinary Hollows was destroyed by a cruel Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde). A demon with four sword arms slaughtered those Hollows before my eyes... and I was too weak to stop the demon."

"I wanted to defeat him, even if it cost me my life... My uncontrollable rage became the driving force behind my evolution."

Hearing Harribel's story, Cangya's thoughts raced, and a sense of déjà vu welled up in him.

"Could it have been Nnoitra? What are the odds?"

Although other Hollows might have similar physical features, the chances of encountering a Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde) with four arms were almost zero.

"She became a Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde) because of 'sacrifice,'" Cangya murmured.

It seemed Harribel's evolution depended largely on her desire for "sacrifice"—her "Aspect of Death" ability.

Indulging in one's "Aspect of Death"—doing everything possible to fill one's Hollow Hole—might be the key to evolving from an Adjuchas (intermediate Menos Grande) into a Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde).

"Did you kill him?"

Harribel shook her head. "When I was about to land the final blow, he used the last of his strength to escape. I haven't encountered him since."

"Is that demon still out there terrorizing other Hollows?" Apache asked in shock. "Cangya, you'd better kill that bastard. Don't let him get away."

"I won't fail, lady. I may not be the strongest, but I can modify my body and fly faster than a jet."

Harribel nodded. "That coward only preys on weak Hollows. He's no match for you..."

A comfortable silence settled over the group as Cangya summoned his status screen.

[Basic information]

Name — Cangya

Sex — male

Race — human

Reiatsu level — Senior Captain-level (above Captain-level)

Alignment — Neutral Evil

Affiliation — none

...

Racial abilities

None

Innate abilities

[Ginrei Kuchiki's Voice]

[Shattered Heart (human form): You can walk unhindered on any surface.]

[Regeneration]

[Pain Resistance]

Acquired abilities

[Seduction: The ability to seduce members of the opposite sex.

Proficiency level — basic]

[Riding: The ability to ride mounts.

Proficiency level — intermediate]

[Arithmetic: The ability to handle arithmetic problems.

Proficiency level — intermediate]

[Taunting: The ability to provoke others with words.

Proficiency level — basic]

His "Shattered Heart" ability had changed along with his race.

It no longer supported his teammates and had become a skill that served only himself, with a rather disappointing effect.

After all, he could easily create Reiatsu platforms to fly anywhere, so what was the point of this innate ability?

"I can't have everything. Hmm, Tirutī won't recover anytime soon. Should I train in human form?"

Cangya shook his head, dismissing the thought.

The only possible evolutionary path for his human race was to become a Quincy, and ordinary Quincy weapons and skills were nothing special.

The "Schrift"—the Quincy race's most powerful ability—was restricted by Yhwach, the Father of the Quincy.

"'Blut' is the most useful ability, but I need to focus on my Hollow powers first. Who knows if I can unlock a form beyond a Hueco Mundo Menos Grande (Vasto Lorde)?"

He had already come a long way along the Hollow evolution path.

Compared with strengthening his human and Soul Reaper forms, he might still need to train for several years to gain comparable power.

Compared with strengthening his Hollow form, strengthening his human and Soul Reaper forms was only a secondary task.

After all, he wasn't confident he could learn Bankai in ten days like Ichigo.

Fighting a Senior Captain-level opponent without Bankai would be difficult.

"The top priority is strengthening my Hollow powers, followed by my Soul Reaper form, and finally my Quincy form."