After forcefully rejecting the offer from Baraggan, the self-proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo, Harribel had originally intended to turn and leave.
But the sudden voice that rang out seemed to possess a strange power, able to pierce through her soul and stir a powerful resonance deep within—so much so that her footsteps came to a halt.
Even Baraggan's oppressive dominance and supreme aura as the King of Hueco Mundo hadn't stopped her—but this voice did, with only a few simple words. She even lowered her head in contemplation, falling into serious thought.
"Shinigami!"
Harribel thought for a moment, then turned her head toward the direction of the voice. She saw a man and a woman—clearly dressed in Shinigami uniforms—walking over from a distance.
Ordinary Menos Grande, whether conscious or unconscious, would only ever have two reactions upon encountering Shinigami,
Attack—or flee.
But she did neither.
She didn't raise her blade.
Nor did she look at them with scorn.
Instead, she simply stared—eyes burning—with fixed intensity at Aiyan, who walked steadily toward her.
"Do you want to see what kind of power it takes to achieve your ideals without sacrifice?"
Aiyan walked straight up to Harribel and didn't purify her into spirit particles just because she was a Hollow.
Harribel didn't speak after hearing this.
But she nodded.
"Then come with us."
"I'll take you to see that ideal place."
"To witness it—and embrace it—without the price of sacrifice."
Seeing the response in her expression, Aiyan slightly curled the corners of his lips. Then he turned around, walking directly toward Las Noches.
Harribel hesitated briefly, then stepped forward to follow.
…
"Shinigami—"
"Welcome to my Hueco Mundo."
"For bringing Harribel back to me, I can make an exception and grant you a special honor."
"Kneel before me, kowtow to me, and I, the Emperor of Hueco Mundo, may forgive your trespass into Las Noches."
Baraggan sat high upon his throne, unmoved. Watching as Aiyan approached with Harribel, his gaze remained calm. He did not make a move—yet every word he spoke dripped with overwhelming dominance, looking down on all creation.
"Tell me…"
"You've finally evolved into Adjuchas. And yet, here you are—groveling in Las Noches like lowly ants, doing everything in your power to entertain him."
"For what?"
Aiyan ignored Baraggan. Instead, his eyes swept over the Adjuchas that filled the palace halls.
Hearing this—
Though Baraggan was displeased at being ignored, he didn't erupt in fury. He merely narrowed his eyes and looked around at the Adjuchas kneeling before him.
"His Majesty is the King of Hueco Mundo."
"To please His Majesty is the very reason we Hollows exist."
"Only by serving His Majesty can we continue to evolve."
"This is the supreme glory of being a Hollow."
The gathered Adjuchas glanced at each other, each aware of Baraggan's eyes resting on them. One after another, they spoke up quickly.
The Adjuchas who could survive here in Las Noches were not necessarily the strongest—but they were certainly well-versed in what it meant to live under Baraggan's rule.
No one dared say otherwise.
Every word was laced with reverence and praise for Baraggan.
Baraggan, hearing their responses, looked quite pleased.
"In other words—because of your inner emptiness."
"You all believe that Baraggan can grant you the power to evolve. The power to fill the void within."
"And that power… comes from devouring your own kind, right?"
Aiyan's voice was calm, almost casual, as he said this.
"This is something that only His Majesty can grant!"
The shark-like Adjuchas who had previously been cut down by Harribel immediately barked back.
"Oh?"
"His Majesty? You mean the skeleton currently sitting on that chair—who doesn't even know there's a sword to his neck?"
As soon as these words fell—
The entire palace was stunned.
Not just the shark Adjuchas.
Every Menos Grande present—including Harribel—froze.
All eyes turned toward the throne of Las Noches.
What they saw left them utterly speechless.
Just as Aiyan said—
Behind Baraggan's throne, a golden lightsaber had silently materialized.
Its gleaming edge rested precisely against Baraggan's neck.
"...When?!"
The scene was too shocking.
First, they looked at Shihouin Yoruichi. Then they realized—the Aiyan who had been standing by her side had vanished.
None of them had even noticed when he disappeared.
What shook the Adjuchas most was that the all-powerful King of Hueco Mundo seemed completely unaware.
"Shinigami…!"
Baraggan's voice quivered with both fury and fear. He reflexively reached for the double-edged axe beside the throne—the very symbol of his dominion over Hueco Mundo.
But the golden blade at his neck stopped him cold.
"Surprised?"
"Hard to believe there's a power above your own, isn't it?"
"No matter."
"I came here to help you. Just submit to me."
"If you do… I will grant you power beyond your realm."
Aiyan stood behind the throne, holding the Ama no Murakumo, pressing it lightly against Baraggan's bony jaw, lifting his gaze slowly as he spoke.
"Hahaha…"
"Power beyond?"
"Ridiculous. Utter nonsense."
"There is no such thing. I… am the supreme existence in Hueco Mundo!"
Baraggan paused in silence for a few seconds, then suddenly broke into low, furious laughter.
"Oh?"
"You think this was just a coincidence?"
"Fine."
"As you wish."
As Aiyan's voice echoed in the air—
He was already standing beside Shihouin Yoruichi once more.
The golden blade had vanished.
To the eyes of the Hollows present—it was as if everything that just happened had been a dream. A hallucination.
Baraggan sat tall upon his throne.
No sword.
No threat.
No evidence.
"…Nothing had happened."
No one had moved.
Nothing had changed.
It was as if the scene just now had been a mirage—some illusion spun out of thin air.
"Coincidence? Miracle?"
"Things like that only happen once."
"I am the King of Hueco Mundo. The King of the World. No one stands above me!"
"Ant!"
"No matter who you are—just take it as your reward for amusing me."
"I, the King of Las Noches, will personally help you understand your place. Be honored!"
As the words fell—
Baraggan slammed his hands against the armrests of his throne.
He rose.
In his right hand, he seized the double-edged axe, his Reiatsu surging madly as the aura of death that corrupted all things began to billow outward.
Clang—
In the very next instant, a streak of golden light slashed across his vision.
D—
The soaring Reiatsu froze.
The aura of death, which had only just begun to spread, recoiled.
Right in front of him—
That golden lightsaber had returned.
Once again, it was aimed directly at Baraggan's throat.
A single thrust—and the Lord of Hueco Mundo would be decapitated.
As for the corrosive aura of death—though it surrounded him, it dared not move forward even a step.
Too fast.
Even the death aura couldn't react in time.
This was Shihouin Yoruichi's only thought after witnessing it all.
She had been known as the Flash Goddess even before graduating from the Shin'ō Academy.
But now—after seeing Aiyan's speed—she felt the title was wasted on her.
No…
It was unfair to the title itself.
"To have reached such a level…"
"Aiyan…"
"Even the ruler of Las Noches is no match for you."
Shihouin Yoruichi raised her head to look toward the great palace.
Aiyan stood tall, the Ama no Murakumo in his hand, pinning the King of Hueco Mundo once again.
Suppressing him utterly.
So completely, the old tyrant didn't even dare to breathe.
A strange sensation spread from her chest.
A tremor—deep, unfamiliar, and born from the very core of her being.
"To protect your companions without killing…"
"To realize your ideals without sacrifice…"
"This… is power."
"If I had power like this…"
Among all those present, the most shaken were Baraggan's subordinates.
But none more than Harribel.
At first, she had chosen to stay out of idle curiosity—just to see what this newcomer would do.
She hadn't expected anything.
Certainly not this.
That Shinigami, unknown and alone, would walk into Las Noches—
And leave such an indelible impact.
That was Baraggan!
Even though they were both Vasto Lorde, she knew the difference.
Just like the gap between a first-generation Gotei captain and a mere Visored.
She had only recently ascended.
Baraggan… had ruled Hueco Mundo for thousands of years.
This was the King of Hueco Mundo—
...
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