I Can Break Through the Face, But I Refuse

As a Vasto Lorde, Starrk's power is immensely formidable.

His greatest strength lies in the speed at which he absorbs surrounding reishi... which is no longer any slower than the rate at which a hollow devours it.

This results in even Adjuchas near Starrk quickly perishing due to reishi collapse.

"Loneliness" is Starrk's power, and also his curse.

Therefore, when he performed self-Arrancarization to reduce his own consumption, he also manifested a companion for himself: Lilynette.

To win Starrk over, the King of Hueco Mundo gave the Picaro he had been keeping to Starrk to raise.

The numerous Picaro effectively cured Starrk's loneliness.

With the self-Arrancarized Starrk's ability to absorb reishi now under control, and the fact that the Picaro can transfer reishi to one another, they can stay by Starrk's side indefinitely—unless he were to absorb the reishi of over three hundred Adjuchas in one breath.

By curing "loneliness" with "innocence," the King of Hueco Mundo successfully bound this self-Arrancarized Vasto Lorde to his war chariot.

After giving gifts to all the Picaro and watching them frolic, the King of Hueco Mundo finally spoke to Starrk.

"Is everything quiet on the front lines?"

"It's fine!" Starrk pulled his gaze away from the Picaro. "This raid successfully occupied another part of Hell. With Grimmjow watching, even if there are more vengeful spirits counterattacking, we can beat them back."

"A few more battles, and Grimmjow should be able to evolve into a Vasto Lorde!"

"By the way, that guy Inotra died once because he charged too deep into Hell. Although he was resurrected due to your ability, his chances of evolving into a Vasto Lorde have dropped significantly!"

"Understood." The King of Hueco Mundo's skull face showed no change in expression. "It seems not all battle maniacs are the same."

A true battle maniac should enjoy the fight, not fight until death.

Only calculated combat allows one to survive longer.

"Let's see how the Soul Society reacts this time!" Starrk looked in a certain direction. "Since you launched the offensive on Hell, the area of Hueco Mundo has increased by half over the last few thousand years. If they want to maintain the stability of the three worlds, the Soul Society should make corresponding adjustments..."

"Those guys won't do it!" The King of Hueco Mundo waved his hand. "Maintaining their inherent rule is all they want. That guy high above has a calcified brain; he can't absorb anything new."

"Back when I was at the Soul King Palace, I pressured those guys to change, but they didn't respond. No matter how many times I cut them down, they just resurrected. Unless I slaughter every single Shinigami in the Soul Society and make everyone forget the Soul King and Squad Zero, those guys will never stop coming back."

"But if I really cut down all the Shinigami, the three worlds would collapse! I have no intention of becoming a wedge to support a new set of three worlds."

"Only internal adjustments within the Soul Society can change this situation. Aizen is our greatest opportunity!"

"If possible, having Aizen promoted to Squad Zero would be the best choice. It is easiest to dismantle an organization from within. But his pride made him reject this proposal."

"An unjust world should be overturned completely... It really feels like one must overcorrect to rectify a wrong!"

Starrk is the only Menos who can share these secrets with the King of Hueco Mundo.

The King of Hueco Mundo opening up to him like this made the lonely Starrk feel as though he had found a true friend.

Yet, Starrk felt that the King of Hueco Mundo was even lonelier than he was. Otherwise, he wouldn't have split off a half-self just like him!

His own half, Lilynette, is still a hollow and can stay by his side.

The King of Hueco Mundo's half, however, became a Shinigami.

But speaking of Shinigami, Starrk looked at the King of Hueco Mundo, "Why don't you Arrancarize? You should have been able to do it long ago, right?"

"Of course I can! But I refuse!" The King of Hueco Mundo looked at Starrk. "As the King of Hueco Mundo, why would I want to look like a Shinigami?"

"Besides, for me, Arrancarization wouldn't increase my strength; instead, it would lower my power while giving me a massive weakness."

Hollows who have not Arrancarized are, compared to Shinigami, essentially in a state of constant Bankai.

Because of the hollow hole, hollows are dissipating at every moment, which is why they always feel hungry and need other souls to replenish themselves.

After Arrancarization, a hollow reduces this consumption to a minimum.

But in reality, their power also decreases.

Take Starrk, for example: compared to before his Arrancarization, his current state compresses his strength to about 70% of his original level.

Of course, after re-releasing his sword, his strength would double to 140%, and as time passed, it would gradually return to 100%.

Arrancarization is a form of self-sealing for a hollow.

But the King of Hueco Mundo can maintain a 200% peak burst state at any time without Arrancarization... after all, he can "reproduce the past," allowing himself to remain at his absolute peak forever.

"Don't think of Arrancarization as something sacred; it is merely a path to becoming stronger." The King of Hueco Mundo rubbed his chin. "However, for the Adjuchas, Arrancarization minimizes their hunger, which could bring another possibility to Hueco Mundo."

If they can survive without devouring other Menos, Hueco Mundo has a foundation for order.

Although for the current Adjuchas, who have an endless supply of third-grade reiryoku food provided by the King of Hueco Mundo, there is no longer a need to devour one another, the King of Hueco Mundo must still consider the possibility of the current order collapsing should that food source disappear.

Starrk highly respects the order of an Arrancarized Hueco Mundo, so he will likely have much in common with Aizen in the future.

After all, the fact that the Picaro were able to Arrancarize was the result of Starrk's efforts.

The King of Hueco Mundo is almost certain that Starrk also possesses a certain number of Soul King fragments within his body.

Although the exact amount is unknown, it is certainly more than the Soul King fingernail possessed by Rangiku Matsumoto.

Thinking of his pack of wolves... perhaps he possesses the teeth of the Soul King?

Although Starrk advocates for the total Arrancarization of Menos, since the King of Hueco Mundo is unwilling, he cannot force the issue.

But Starrk always felt that the King of Hueco Mundo had left some things unsaid.

If strength is only reduced to 70%, can that really be called a weakness?

If the King of Hueco Mundo knew Starrk's thoughts, he would surely explain... if he truly Arrancarized, the truth about him having no eyeballs would be exposed.

And most crucially, if he chose to Arrancarize, his reiryoku might completely exceed the first grade...

And then, the three worlds might no longer be able to contain him!