The mantis swimming against the current lunged at the shark hundreds of times its size.
Watching Nnoitra charge straight through the Cero and reach her, Halibel's expression grew somewhat grave. But at that moment, a faint sound born from vibrations in the Reishi reached her ears. After hearing it, she gave a slight nod, then released the blade that had been maintaining the Cero and swiftly retreated, putting distance between herself and the frenzied mantis.
Yet when he saw the shark voluntarily retreat, the mantis seemed to go even madder. He swung the enormous scythe in his hand, slicing cracks even into the surrounding space. Watching the shark withdraw, a savage grin spread across his face. As his muscles tensed, his body crossed the limits of space in the next instant and appeared before Halibel.
Facing the descending scythe, Halibel showed no panic. She merely raised her massive blade. As tremendous force surged through it, Halibel was smashed directly into the ground.
Amid the billowing dust, Nnoitra licked his lips. Then, a dazzling yellow light bloomed at the tip of his tongue. As space trembled, a pair of hands suddenly reached out from the smoke and seized Nnoitra's head. A violent explosion erupted in midair, and the powerful shockwave scattered all the surrounding dust.
Blood filled Nnoitra's mouth as he looked at the cold-faced Asano Kiyoshi before him. A twisted smile appeared on his face.
"Yo! Shinigami! Is it your turn now?! Didn't Barragan manage to hold you back?"
Looking at Nnoitra, whose face was now covered in blood, Asano Kiyoshi shook out his arm and replied with a smile.
"That's right. To kill you, I even gave up the chance to play a game against the King of Hueco Mundo! Don't worry, Nnoitra. It won't take long."
Nnoitra's expression