"Hueco Mundo... has more than one Vasto Lorde."
Before Sōgo Shihoin could say anything more, Lilynette and Tier Harribel had already moved to either side of Baraggan Louisenbairn, their weapons held against him (an iconic scene).
"..."
Baraggan looked at the two newly ascended Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande before him in silence. At some point, Hueco Mundo had ceased to be a place where his word alone was law. The years passed, and the times kept changing, but...
"You two youngsters think you can defeat me with your strength?"
"Defeat me, who has sat upon the throne for a thousand years?"
"Over the years, Hueco Mundo has seen no shortage of Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande emerge. But do you know why I alone sit upon the throne?"
"Let me tell you!"
Baraggan slowly raised both hands. Even with two weapons pressed against his neck, his expression remained composed. Perhaps this was the bearing of the King of Hueco Mundo.
"Hmm?!"
Lilynette and Tier Harribel exchanged a glance. They felt a trace of unease in their hearts. They had to put some distance between themselves and Baraggan.
"Decay!"
As Baraggan murmured softly, a mass of pitch-black mist coiled around him.
At the same time, Lilynette and Tier Harribel instantly retreated to avoid coming into contact with that intensely ominous aura.
"Hahaha..."
"Do you feel that instinctive fear?"
"This is the power of Baraggan Louisenbairn, King of Hueco Mundo. This is the power of a god."
Watching Lilynette and Tier Harribel flee, Baraggan extended his skeletal hands. Apart from his initial laughter, his tone had remained calm throughout, as though he were simply stating a fact to them.
"A god... isn't this weak."
Sōgo Shihoin stepped past Lilynette and Tier Harribel, who stood in his way, and walked straight toward Baraggan, gently shaking his head.
"Sōgo!"
"That black mist is dangerous. Don't go near it."
Watching Sōgo Shihoin stride forward, Lilynette and Tier Harribel each reached out a hand and placed it on one of his shoulders.
"Don't worry~ I'm invincible."
Sōgo Shihoin turned and gave the two a reassuring smile, then walked straight up to Baraggan and stood face-to-face with him.
"You..." Baraggan's heart trembled as he looked at Sōgo Shihoin, and he asked in bewilderment, "I've never seen a Soul Reaper like you... Are you really still a Soul Reaper? Or are you some other race?"
"I already told you, Soul Reaper is a profession, not a race. I haven't joined the Gotei 13 yet, so of course I'm not a Soul Reaper."
Sōgo Shihoin explained it to Baraggan. Did wearing a shihakushō make someone a Soul Reaper? No... Strictly speaking, being a Hollow was also a profession. At their root, they were the same as Soul Reapers: both were future career paths chosen by Pluses.
"An interesting explanation. In all my years, this is the first time I've heard such a strange explanation. You've almost made me reluctant to kill you. My palace lacks someone who can tell jokes like you. Submit to me, and I'll spare your life."
Baraggan was momentarily taken aback by Sōgo Shihoin's words. It was his first time hearing such an interesting explanation as Soul Reaper being a profession.
"We can talk about submitting later. Before that, let's play a game~ Baraggan~"
Sōgo Shihoin smiled faintly at Baraggan and held out his palm.
"You had best not make a fool of me. Do not wear away the mercy I have so rarely felt!"
Baraggan frowned at Sōgo Shihoin's outstretched palm.
"Let's make a bet, Baraggan! If you can hurt me with your ability, I'll submit to you and follow your every command. If your ability doesn't work on me, you'll work for me for a hundred years. How about it?"
Sōgo Shihoin made his proposal to Baraggan.
"Are you trying to make me submit to you?"
Fury burned in Baraggan's heart as he questioned Sōgo Shihoin. He had never seen such an arrogant, conceited human. He actually wanted the great ruler of Hueco Mundo to submit. What a joke!
"No, no, no..."
"Of course I'm not asking you to submit to me. I'm not interested in power or anything like that. I just want you to do me a small favor, the kind that doesn't take much effort. It absolutely won't infringe on your rights in life."
Sōgo Shihoin explained it to Baraggan.
"Hmph! No matter. I'm not so petty. As long as you survive, I'll willingly submit to you if that's what it takes. But... only if you don't die before me."
Baraggan snorted coldly. His pride as a king would not allow anyone to look down on him.
"Then come on~ Use your ability on my palm~"
Sōgo Shihoin held out his hand, constantly showing off before Baraggan with an expression that begged for a beating.
"Disappear!"
Baraggan reached out to grasp Sōgo Shihoin's palm.
"Sōgo!"
"Lord Sōgo!"
Lilynette and Tier Harribel watched the scene before them with anxious hearts. Although they truly wanted to step forward and help, Sōgo Shihoin's earlier words still echoed in their ears. They intended to trust him.
Time flew by. As the King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan had never known how old he actually was. He had never kept count. He knew only that, from the moment he was born, he had been invincible, until he became the king of Hueco Mundo, always standing at the very pinnacle of Hollows. Even among other Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande, no one had ever survived his ability. But exceptions always existed.
There had been a strange Menos Grande that devoured things endlessly. His ability had barely any effect on that strange Menos Grande, and the other could do nothing to him either. For a time, the two had been the twin powers of all Hueco Mundo, until one day that strange Menos Grande disappeared. Even after the other had vanished without a trace, he still did not know that Menos Grande's name. Baraggan had not felt lonely over his rival's disappearance. On the contrary, even after that Menos Grande disappeared, he had continued to mock him without restraint. In the end, he alone was the sole overlord of Hueco Mundo.
"Dissipate!"
Baraggan had already pictured what Sōgo Shihoin would look like after he grasped his hand: instantly decayed until not even a single hair remained.
However...
"See? I'm fine, aren't I?"
After his skeletal hand closed around Sōgo Shihoin's hand, something unbelievable happened. His ability actually failed to work. This was the first time in his life he had ever seen such a thing.
"Why?"
Baraggan knew he was already using his ability at full power, yet he still could do nothing to the other man. Bewildered, he questioned Sōgo Shihoin.
"Because my Spiritual Pressure is greater than yours!"
Sōgo Shihoin removed his blindfold. As his jewel-like blue eyes were revealed before Baraggan, so too was an ocean-like, suffocating Spiritual Pressure.
"What... what powerful Spiritual Pressure..."
As Baraggan looked at Sōgo Shihoin before him, he felt as though he were facing a giant who held up the heavens with one hand, while he was as insignificant as the bones beneath that giant's feet.
(End of chapter)