Nelliel, Tier, Yammy, and the Rabble

Before Starrk could press for an answer, others arrived.

No, it would be more accurate to say other Hollows arrived.

But those who approached were all in humanoid form, all Vasto Lorde.

The first was a golden-haired female holding a massive blade. Though she had not yet undergone Arrancarization, her hair and eyes had already reverted to a human appearance, shedding the mask that once covered them.

Only by looking at the shark tail behind her could one discern her original form.

The second was a centaur—no, a "cetaur" would be more precise!

She possessed the upper body of a human female, with curved ram horns atop her head. A ram skull rested over her crown, leaving most of her human face exposed.

Her lower body was entirely that of an antelope, giving her the overall appearance of a centaur.

However, before these two female Vasto Lorde could even walk over, the first sound to reach them was a string of curses.

"You two wretched women, how dare you feed me to him! Once I break this seal, I will surely..."

The voice did not continue; the beast-like tone was suddenly muffled, sounding like a sardine trapped in a tin can.

"You certainly have a lot to say." The Antelope Knight fiddled with the longsword in her hand, muttering, "Isn't it just providing some food for Yammy? Haven't you gotten used to it after all this time?"

From afar, the voice of the King of Hueco Mundo drifted into their ears, "Because Yammy is also a Devouring Hollow, that piece of trash is terrified that you might feed him to Yammy entirely!"

Hearing this voice, the two female Great Hollows hurried before the throne, dodging the Picaro who were trying to play with them, and bowed to the King of Hueco Mundo with hands over their chests. "Your Majesty, we have returned!"

"Hm! Welcome back, Tier, Nelliel! Are you two enjoying your roles as Ministers of Logistics?"

Compared to the freedom Starrk enjoyed, these two female Vasto Lorde were entirely subordinates of the King of Hueco Mundo.

The King's words sounded like a greeting to their ears, yet they carried a hint of reproach.

Both of them realized that their recent actions had been a bit too reckless.

They felt quite ashamed.

But the King of Hueco Mundo did not intend to punish them; after all, they had completed their missions on time. It was only because they had not participated directly in the Hell battlefield that the losses among the Gillian and Adjuchas had exceeded the minimum threshold.

Yet, the King of Hueco Mundo did not care about losses of that magnitude. He simply did not want their strength to go to waste.

After all, there were not many Vasto Lorde in Hueco Mundo.

Every one lost was a tremendous blow.

Suddenly, the longsword in the hands of the Antelope Knight, Nelliel, erupted with a ferocious Reiatsu. "Dam... damn... King of Hueco Mundo!!"

A vicious voice surged from the blade, the resentment within it almost manifesting into physical form as it lashed out toward the King.

It was an attempt at regicide!

But before the sword could take further action, Nelliel flicked her arm, and the Reiatsu radiating from the blade was suppressed once more.

Seeing this, the King of Hueco Mundo could not help but laugh. "So many years have passed, and you still have that same temper. Can you not restrain yourself? At the very least, remember that it was I who rescued you from the Soul King Palace! You piece of trash!"

"I am not a piece of trash!" The vicious voice rang out from the sword, sounding utterly exasperated no matter how one listened. "My name is... my name is..."

Yet, no matter how many times the voice inside the sword repeated itself, it could not call out its own name.

"You cannot even speak your own name, yet you claim you aren't trash? You haven't improved at all." The King of Hueco Mundo shook his head. "Nelliel, seal him away. I do not wish to hear his voice for the time being."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Pink Reiatsu manifested in Nelliel's hands, and a long strip of cloth appeared, completely wrapping around the sword until not a shred of its Reiatsu could escape.

Let alone its voice.

Excellent! Even if the King of Hueco Mundo had done it himself, he could not have done it better.

It seemed that whether they were Shinigami or Hollows, females were simply more gifted at the delicate manipulation of Reiatsu.

A moment later, Ulquiorra walked in, accompanied by Yammy, who had shrunk to his smallest form, standing only ten meters tall.

In theory, Yammy was still an Adjuchas and had no qualification to enter the current Las Noches.

But Yammy was a very special Devouring Hollow; through the amount of Reishi stored within his body, there was almost no upper limit to the power he could exert.

Vasto Lorde-level attack power? He could reach it just by eating a bit more.

Therefore, like the Picaro, even as an Adjuchas, he was permitted to participate in this Las Noches meeting.

It was a recognition of his strength.

Just like that longsword—though it could not speak, it could still hear, so it too was considered a participant in the meeting.

As another ancient Great Hollow from the same era as the King of Hueco Mundo, even though he had been suppressed by Squad Zero and sealed into a Zanpakuto, he was still incredibly useful.

For instance... well, manifesting flesh for the Adjuchas to devour.

The clones he manifested were at least of the third-tier spiritual rank.

As long as the "flesh-Hollows" he manifested were controlled to be mindless, even a Gillian could come over and take a bite.

Otherwise, why would Nelliel and Tier be the Ministers of Logistics?

Without sufficient provisions, a war could never be waged!

"Master, I've achieved Shikai!"

Within the 11th Division barracks, little Shiro, who had just joined, was wearing a child-sized Shihakusho identical to Yachiru Kusajishi's as he ran toward Aoto.

His smile was incredibly radiant right now, and he called out "Master" with the utmost sincerity.

It was just that Aoto, the one being addressed, seemed a bit listless.

"Is that so? That was fast!" Aoto yawned, looking as though he hadn't slept well.

In truth, he really hadn't slept well.

Ever since he handed the Asauchi to Shiro last night, he had kept watch outside the house, terrified that the power of Hyōrinmaru might suddenly erupt and engulf the entire 11th Division!

But in reality, Hyōrinmaru didn't seem to have such a volatile temper; Aoto had kept watch all night without a single incident.

Now that Shiro had awakened from his sword meditation, he had confirmed his ability to perform Shikai!

It was hard to say whether it was because of Shiro's natural talent or because Hyōrinmaru was simply too impatient!

However, Shiro's current spiritual pressure had already reached the sixth grade, and it didn't look like it would take long for him to advance to the fifth.

If this speed were told to other Soul Reapers, nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand would be gnashing their teeth in envy.

But there was no helping it; the gap between people, and between souls, was sometimes just that vast.

"Master, let's train!"

Shiro was gripping Hyōrinmaru now, and the urge to challenge his master had stirred once again!

After all, in Shiro's mind, his master was only a 4th Seat and not a lieutenant, so his spiritual pressure level should be about the same as his own!

With the help of Hyōrinmaru, he should be able to win!

Upon hearing this challenge from Shiro, Aoto's eyes lit up with a ding.

Shiro, you have such a request?

Great, great, great—let's fight then!

Let this master see exactly what your strength is now!