Las Noches.
Baraggan Louisenbairn, the ruler of Hueco Mundo, sat quietly on his throne, silently regarding the Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande at his feet, of whom only a mask remained.
The countless Adjuchas around him watched the silent Baraggan, not daring to breathe too loudly. As Menos Grande who had already regained some memories of their previous lives, along with some of the emotions they had possessed as humans, they now understood the taste of fear. Instinctively, they dared not provoke Baraggan while he was burning with rage.
"So, a group of Soul Reapers suddenly stormed into my Hueco Mundo, killed one of my generals, and then easily... walked away unscathed?"
Baraggan's voice was calm, so calm that not a trace of emotion could be heard in his words. Even so, it sent countless Adjuchas to their knees, afraid to stand up and raise their heads to look at him.
"..."
"Tell me... what use do I have for you?"
After a moment of silence, Baraggan posed the question to the gathered Menos Grande.
"Your Majesty, it really wasn't our incompetence. That Soul Reaper was simply too powerful!"
"Stronger than anything we've ever seen! Our Ceros couldn't even penetrate the defense shielding his spiritual body!"
"He was as terrifying as a demon god!"
The Adjuchas who had fled the battlefield dropped to their knees and begged for mercy. Facing Baraggan, they had not the slightest desire to resist.
"Anything else to say?"
Baraggan slowly rose from his throne and raised a massive axe high, as though he would mercilessly execute every Menos Grande present if they failed to give him a satisfactory reason.
"Our king..."
Seeing Baraggan draw the axe that proclaimed judgment, the Adjuchas rose from the ground and backed away continuously.
"Please quell your anger, Your Majesty!"
Just as Baraggan was about to strike, Szayelaporro emerged from the shadows and respectfully approached him.
"Hmm?!"
Baraggan looked at the Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande before him, nominally his subordinate, and halted. He could disregard anyone else, but he had to show Szayelaporro some consideration.
"They really aren't to blame. That Soul Reaper's combat strength was indeed far too great. Even watching from a distance, I felt my eyes sting from that sudden eruption of Spiritual Pressure."
Szayelaporro spoke as he knelt on one knee before Baraggan.
"Not enough!"
"If that is your only reason, it is not enough!"
"The allied army of Menos Grande I assembled from all across this vast Hueco Mundo was routed by a mere squad of Soul Reapers! How am I supposed to save face?"
Baraggan shook his head slightly at Szayelaporro. His words remained calm, betraying none of the emotions within him.
"Your Majesty, leave this matter to me!"
"Since Soul Society sent a squad of Soul Reapers to rout Your Majesty's allied army of Menos Grande, I need only go to Soul Society and wipe out an entire division of Soul Reapers to return the favor!"
Szayelaporro addressed Baraggan.
"..."
After hearing Szayelaporro's words, Baraggan fell silent, then slowly sat back down on his throne of bones.
"I grant permission!"
"You have one year to go to Soul Society and settle today's affair!"
Baraggan put away the massive battle-axe in his hand and approved Szayelaporro's operation.
"Your Majesty, invading Soul Society will require some fighting strength. These Menos Grande who survived the great expedition clearly have ample experience. Why not assign all of them to me?"
Szayelaporro smiled faintly as he pointed at the Adjuchas who had fled after Kuruyashiki Kenpachi defeated Baraggan's general.
"If you want this trash, take them!"
Baraggan did not even glance at the Adjuchas at his feet. In his eyes, these Adjuchas who had failed to die alongside his general could no longer be called Hollows. They were merely a pack of trash clinging to life.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Szayelaporro gave Baraggan a slight nod, then turned to the Adjuchas beside him. "Well? Hurry up and thank His Majesty!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The Adjuchas all kowtowed to Baraggan, voicing their gratitude.
"Hmph!"
Baraggan snorted coldly, ignoring the gathered Adjuchas-class Menos Grande.
Elsewhere, Lilynette and Sōgo Shihoin were still happily playing.
Far from the heart of Hueco Mundo, they knew nothing of any of this. Apart from occasionally finding some interesting Adjuchas to use as toys, they simply kept eating and eating...
"That lord truly shines too brightly."
Nearly a kilometer from Sōgo Shihoin and Lilynette, a somewhat sharklike Vasto Lorde stood quietly watching Sōgo Shihoin from that middling distance.
This somewhat sharklike Vasto Lorde was named Tier Harribel. Her eyes sparkled as she watched Sōgo Shihoin playing ball, her heart surging with excitement. Ever since he had descended from the sky and saved her three months earlier, she had found herself admiring Sōgo Shihoin uncontrollably.
Three months earlier.
For some unknown reason, the Adjuchas-class Menos Grande had suddenly erupted into a massive upheaval.
The hunting grounds where Harribel lived, previously considered forbidden territory by the Adjuchas, had also been invaded by countless Menos Grande. Facing wave after wave of Adjuchas attacking him, even Harribel, a Vasto Lorde, had finally felt utterly exhausted.
Just then, a streak of white light descended from the sky, and terrifying Spiritual Pressure instantly overwhelmed countless Adjuchas.
"It's the White Devil!"
"Damn it! We've already fled all the way here! He actually followed us!"
"Let's fight him to the death!"
The dozen or so battered Adjuchas roared at the blindfolded man descending from the sky. Abandoning Harribel, who was on her last legs, they charged at him.
"Let me see... I'll take you two! The others aren't round enough to use as balls."
The man easily dodged the Adjuchas' attacks, selected the two roundest among them, then instantly killed all the others.
Harribel gazed at the man who had slaughtered the Adjuchas before her, her eyes filled with wonder. She had never seen anyone so powerful.
"You..."
Just as Harribel looked at the man, he noticed her too.
"Work hard at evolving!"
Looking at Harribel's humanoid form, the man immediately realized that she was a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande. Leaving her with that simple remark, he departed with the balls in his arms.
"Evolve!"
"Was he talking about me?"
Watching the man fly into the sky, Harribel pressed a hand to her chest. She felt some of her missing emotions slowly returning.
From then on, Harribel had followed behind Sōgo Shihoin, silently watching him.
(End of chapter)