"This guy's Reiatsu is insanely strong!"
Sui-Feng's expression turned serious as she looked at Geo Weiger, whose body was growing larger and larger. Red Reiatsu exploded from him like flames.
For the first time, she realized he hadn't been bluffing.
With this kind of spiritual pressure, Geo Weiger could truly compete for a spot among the Espada.
His Reiatsu wasn't any weaker than Sajin Komamura's after activating Bankai — and just a bit below Grimmjow's.
Sui-Feng's instincts were right.
Before Aizen Sōsuke took over Hueco Mundo, there was no such thing as the Espada.
Back then, Baraggan Louisenbairn ruled Las Noches like a tyrant. His rule was brutal, and all Arrancar and Menos Grande had no choice but to serve him.
Only after Aizen defeated Baraggan did the Espada ranking system come into existence.
As the former ruler, Baraggan still had many loyal followers. In fact, his five main subordinates were just as strong as the lower-ranked Espada.
Even after Baraggan's defeat, they remained faithful to their old king.
To Sui-Feng, Geo Weiger—who had once been handsome—was now turning monstrous.
His body had grown five or six meters tall, like a dark-skinned giant ape. But instead of regular arms, his wrists were covered in striped tiger fur.
His hands were gone—replaced with two sharp, fang-like blades.
"I hate this form," Geo Weiger muttered, swinging his clawed arms with a grimace. "Every time I transform like this, it takes me two months to recover."
Then he turned to Sui-Feng with cold, ruthless eyes.
"As punishment for making me use this form, I'll rip you apart… piece by piece."
Sui-Feng had her Zanpakutō, Suzumebachi, equipped on her finger like a stinger.
She smirked. "Sure, you're big. But so what?"
As she spoke, she glanced at the black marks on Geo Weiger's massive body—the ones left by her bee's sting.
If she hit the same spot twice with Suzumebachi, it would be instant death.
That ability was called "Nigeki Kessatsu"—Two Strikes to Kill.
But Geo Weiger had no idea about this.
In a flash, he stepped forward and appeared right in front of her, swinging one of his fang-shaped blades straight down.
Sui-Feng's pupils widened. She had no time to dodge, so she raised her arm and blocked the strike.
"Clang~!"
The sound of metal rang out as the blade was stopped.
But her sword, Suzumebachi, was small—barely larger than her hand. It couldn't block the second strike.
The sickening sound of flesh being pierced followed.
Sui-Feng's face turned pale. She looked down and saw the second blade had stabbed straight into her shoulder.
"Hahaha!" Geo Weiger laughed loudly. He grabbed Sui-Feng and flew into the air, holding her proudly like a trophy.
"C'mon, woman! Just use your Bankai already. Not that it'll help—you'll still die either way."
Sui-Feng pulled back quickly, face pale but eyes still cold and defiant as she stared at Baraggan's follower.
Her Bankai was meant for someone far more dangerous than this guy.
"Roar! Panther King!"
Grimmjow yelled wildly as a powerful blue Reiatsu exploded from his body.
In that moment, his Zanpakutō vanished, and his body transformed—engulfed in a fierce blue aura.
Now, he looked like a white leopard. His eye markings stretched back toward his temples. His ears became leopard ears. His hair grew long, reaching down to his waist. His Hollow mask shifted to his forehead.
His body was covered in sleek white armor. A segmented tail, black-tipped, extended from his back. The ends of his limbs turned pitch black.
He looked like a savage beast—ready to pounce.
With this transformation, Grimmjow's speed increased dramatically. He zipped through the air so fast that only his blue afterimages could be seen.
"He really turned into a leopard… But that speed…" Hitsugaya Tōshirō clenched his sword tightly, feeling the pressure.
Suddenly, a blue flash shot behind him.
Grimmjow appeared in an instant, holding out his hand at Hitsugaya's back.
A wicked smile stretched across his face.
"Claws of the Panther King!"
In a split second, razor-sharp blue energy extended from all ten of Grimmjow's fingers, forming long, glowing claws like a massive panther.
"Swish!"
Hitsugaya's eyes widened in shock.
Pain shot through his back like a blade—deep and agonizing.
Matsumoto Rangiku's expression changed. She stared in shock at Captain Hitsugaya, who now had four deep claw marks across his back.
"This is bad… Captain Hitsugaya…" she muttered through gritted teeth. Pointing her Zanpakutō at Grimmjow, she shouted:
"Scatter, Haineko!"
Her silver blade dissolved into a cloud of fine yellow ash, ready to strike.
But before the ash could reach Grimmjow, one of the three female Menos Grande nearby sneered and interrupted coldly:
"You're fighting us, and you still dare to get distracted!?"
She raised her Zanpakutō and shouted:
"Rip her apart—General Golden Lion!"
As her spiritual pressure exploded, her appearance changed. Her released form resembled a Roman Valkyrie—brown-skinned, muscular, with six-pack abs and a Hollow hole above them. She carried a massive black iron sword and gave off an intimidating presence.
She took one powerful step forward and swung her sword at Rangiku.
Rangiku's face turned grim. She had no choice but to recall Haineko to block the incoming strike.
At the same time, she shouted, trying to reason with her:
"Wait! You're Tia's subordinates, right? We're not your enemies! Maybe you don't know this, but Tia and Nanaya are actually on good terms now!"
Rangiku already knew who these three female Shinigami were. After the last fight, their identities had become clear.
They were Tier Harribel's followers: Apache, Franceska Mila Rose, and Sun-Sun.
To gain their trust, Rangiku didn't even dare mention that Tia had now become Nanaya's maid.
But even after hearing Rangiku's explanation, Mila Rose only grew angrier. Swinging her heavy black sword, she shouted:
"Liar! Don't talk like you know her! How could Harribel ever be friendly with a human? You must be making that up!"
Rangiku thought to herself, "They really did start off on the wrong foot… Tia even tried to kill Nanaya, but she got beaten down so hard…"
She remembered something Kotetsu Isane had once said.
Every time Tier Harribel caused trouble, Nanaya would spank her with a round fan until her butt was swollen.
Eventually, Harribel stopped resisting and ended up serving as his maid.
But it was clear that words wouldn't work here.
Rangiku scowled and said coldly:
"Fine. You gorilla woman—get ready!"
"What did you just call me!?" Mila Rose roared with rage.
Behind her, Apache couldn't help but laugh and covered her mouth.
"She just called you a gorilla! That's actually hilarious," Apache giggled.
"Don't act so smug! I'm going to kill you, Apache!" Mila Rose turned to her, fuming.
Even though the three had been together since their time as Gillians, they still bickered all the time due to their clashing personalities.
"Both of you, quiet."
The third woman, Sun-Sun, dressed in white and covering her face with her sleeves, calmly looked at Rangiku and said softly:
"Let's just capture her. She's a vice-captain. We can use her to trade for Lady Harribel."
While they argued, far in the distance, Hitsugaya Tōshirō held his Zanpakutō tightly with both hands and said in a deep voice:
"Bankai—Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
Freezing cold energy erupted from him. Three giant red lotus petals and an enormous ice dragon formed behind him.
One swing of his blade created a massive iceberg.
But even after several powerful attacks, Hitsugaya's expression only grew darker.
Since Grimmjow's transformation, his speed had increased far beyond what even a cheetah could manage. It was nearly impossible to follow his movements now—even with spiritual perception.
"Why hasn't Qiye returned from Hueco Mundo yet…?" Hitsugaya muttered to himself.
He couldn't help but think of Qiye. If Qiye were here, this fight wouldn't be so difficult.
Frustrated but determined, Hitsugaya raised his sword again and shouted:
"Thousand-Year Ice Prison!"
Giant ice pillars shot up from the ground, towering into the sky, trying to trap Grimmjow.
But Grimmjow was far too fast—dodging every pillar with ease.
Spotting an opening, he extended his right hand. His claws glowing with power, he roared:
"Gran Rey Cero!"
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