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Hair and nails are adorned like treasures…
But why do they become dirty and repulsive once they are cut off the body?
The answer is simple!
Because they are all the forms of their own death.
…
Floating in mid-air, Cirucci didn't look at Nnoitra, but rather gazed at the body she had abandoned, the parts of herself that had died.
Then…
She thought of something, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
She had once discussed this question with Ishikawa, and that idiot's reply was a horrified counter-question:
"Am I starting to lose my hair?"
This made Cirucci involuntarily imagine Ishikawa bald… Hmm, coupled with that black work uniform, he would instantly be upgraded from a security guard to a bodyguard.
Unlike Cirucci's ease, Nnoitra looked at Cirucci in mid-air, his expression becoming somewhat complex at this moment.
The current Cirucci was different from the incomprehensible power she had shown before…
Just by floating there, she made Nnoitra feel that he might not be able to defeat her.
As someone who had challenged strong opponents all the way from the lowest ranks to the 5th Espada, his challenges would never cease.
The reason he remained in this position was simple: he wasn't confident he could defeat the four people ahead of him.
The transformed Cirucci in front of him also gave him a similar feeling, just like those four!
Inexplicably powerful.
He could actually understand the strength of those four, because the top three were, without exception, fundamentally different from him; they were all Espada who had become Arrancar from Vasto Lorde.
Although Ulquiorra's specific situation before becoming an Arrancar was unknown, he was also extremely special.
In other words…
Regardless of whether they had the Hōgyoku, they were life forms far superior to him. Without the Hōgyoku, he might not even have the courage to stand before them.
But Cirucci, Nnoitra could confirm…
She, like him, was an Arrancar who had evolved from an Adjuchas.
This made Nnoitra completely unable to understand why Cirucci was so powerful, and why she had always concealed her strength, ignoring everyone's contempt and insults.
"Brother?"
Kuchiki Rukia looked at Kuchiki Byakuya, who had suddenly blocked their path, and was slightly startled.
However, when she saw the solemnity on her brother's face, she suddenly realized that it wasn't just her who found the Arrancar lady terrifying; even her brother, upon sensing her power, instinctively entered a state of alert.
And this…
Was merely due to the Reiatsu she released!
Roka also stood behind Kuchiki Byakuya. To be honest… she was still a bit confused about the current situation.
Lady Cirucci was fighting an Espada, while she was being protected by a Shinigami.
No matter how she thought about it, it was incredibly strange.
However, she didn't care what Lady Cirucci's plans were; she just needed to follow behind Lady Cirucci.
…
Tap ~
With the sound of his heels hitting the ground, Aizen Sōsuke slowly stood up from his chair.
"Gin, Tosen."
Aizen chuckled, "Inform Starrk and the others, it's time for us to depart."
"Yes."
Kaname Tōsen respectfully replied.
And in a corner of the room, Ichimaru Gin, habitually hidden in the shadows, glanced at the monitor screen:
"Tsk tsk, aren't you going to watch until the end?"
"Once the outcome is known," Aizen glanced at the monitor screen and shook his head slightly, "the process is no longer important."
"Doesn't Lord Aizen wonder why Cirucci betrayed you?"
Ichimaru Gin's narrowed eyes opened a slit, and he said playfully, "I'm quite curious as to whose charm could possibly be greater than yours, Lord Aizen, that someone you personally created as an Arrancar would turn against you."
"Charm?"
Aizen seemed to recall something and slowly began, "He does possess that kind of charm, but he is not worth mentioning now."
What Szayelaporro could see, he naturally could also see.
But…
It's not worth caring about!
Because he doesn't mind the presence of traitors around him.
More precisely…
Aizen glanced at Ichimaru Gin, stood up, and walked outside.
He actually hoped these traitors could surprise him!
Cirucci, this appetizer before the feast began, fulfilled her mission and gave him a slight surprise.
That's right, only a slight surprise!
Although her performance was better than he expected, it was still very limited.
This was her limit.
…
I am the strongest!!
Don't…
Don't look at me like that.
Nel was like this, and this bitch in front of me is also like this!
Rumble—
Amidst a loud explosion, a figure slammed violently onto the ground.
Drip~ Drip…
From within the dust stirred up by the impact, the sound of blood continuously dripping could be heard.
Nnoitra staggered to his feet, his eyes filled with killing intent as he looked at the figure in mid-air. From beginning to end, the opponent stood high above him, never actively attacking or pressing the advantage, but rather standing there like a king, awaiting the challenger's assault.
Why!
Why, even after using his Cero, was he still the weaker party, even more vulnerable than in his normal state?
Why…
Do these guys always look at him like that, trampling on his dignity?
Unforgivable!
Whether strong or weak, whether infant or beast, he must put his opponent to death!
"You are a beast."
Cirucci looked at Nnoitra, who had stood up again, and killing intent flowed from her purple pupils: "Even with a master, this will not change."
"Are you not one too?"
Nnoitra looked up at Cirucci in mid-air. In his eyes, the figure in mid-air seemed to cover the sky.
Her dark wings absorbed all light, and her pale purple Reiatsu was so vast that it seemed as if tangible raindrops were falling from the sky. Just standing beneath her already made Nnoitra involuntarily bend at the waist.
"I am too."
Cirucci did not refute, but nodded.
"Then who is your master?"
Nnoitra gave a strange laugh, licking the blood from the corner of his mouth with his tongue, which was engraved with the number '5', his eyes full of disdain.
Just as Cirucci said, he was a beast.
Even with Aizen as his nominal master, the fact that he was a beast would not change.
As for Aizen…
If there was anything he was grateful for, it was that Aizen had given him power, allowing him to enjoy battles of a higher realm!
Allowing him…
To die in a battle of a higher realm!
"Master?"
Cirucci shook her head slightly: "I once did, and that kind of shackle even once fascinated me, making me pour out everything for it."
"But now, that shackle has long since corroded and fallen off, just like those bodies I abandoned."
Cirucci paused, then slowly descended from mid-air:
"And what replaced the shackle, I can't say what it is, but at least it has no chain, and no restraint whatsoever."
"But…"
"It is stronger than any shackle, and by the time I noticed it, I could no longer break free."
Buzz—
That inexplicable pressure returned, and Nnoitra froze in place. His Hierro, which had further evolved after his Cero, trembled wildly. He felt as if he was being squeezed by an invisible hand, gradually tightening, and blood began to seep out of his pores.
"Heh… a simple ability."
Nnoitra ignored the changes in his body, still speaking in a highly sarcastic tone.
"It is indeed simple."
Cirucci landed in front of Nnoitra, completely unconcerned by Nnoitra's sarcasm, and instead nodded in agreement: "But when something becomes simple to a certain extent, doesn't it become even more terrifying?"
"…Yes."
Nnoitra looked at Cirucci in front of him; he already understood why Cirucci had abandoned her body.
Because for Cirucci…
Those bodies were indeed just burdens that consumed her Reiatsu and dragged her down!
Vibration!
This was the characteristic of Cirucci's body after her Cero, but the current Cirucci no longer needed to rely on her body's specific characteristics to generate vibration.
Instead, she extended this vibration…
Beyond her body!
In short…
Void Vibration!
No longer confined to her body, every simple movement could spread vibrations, and the closer one was to her… the more terrifying these vibrations became.
Simple yet terrifying!!
Even a simple punch could warp the canopy and tear apart all enemies in front of her.
In such circumstances, those bodies that not only failed to enhance her Reiatsu but actually suppressed its output were naturally just pure burdens.
And most importantly…
Originally, the vibration on Cirucci's wings was only at a frequency of 1.2 million to 1.3 million times per second, but the vibration he was currently facing had reached at least 3 million times per second, and this was even when he was further away from Cirucci.
The vibrations emitted at close range were at least 5 million times per second!
If this frequency were concentrated on certain objects, such as…
Nnoitra looked at Cirucci's dark wings, a sinister grin appearing on his face.
The next second!
"Ahhhhhh—"
A roar burst from his mouth, and though his body was already distorted from the vibrations, he charged towards Cirucci at that moment.
The pungent smell of blood permeated the entire area, and a sky full of blood mist enveloped the two.
Swish swish swish swish…
The sound of air being torn followed, and dark feathers rained down on Nnoitra like a dark downpour.
This was…
The Nocturne of Funeral!
Everything fell silent at this moment.
Nnoitra maintained his charging posture, stopping about a meter in front of Cirucci.
"I'm not Nel."
Upon hearing this, Nnoitra's eyes gradually dimmed, but a satisfied smile appeared on his face at that moment.
Thanks to you not being her.
He could no longer utter these words.
He craved defeat and to die before he fell!
This was…
The death Nnoitra had always pursued and longed for.
And that guy Nel would never understand this, no matter how many times he emphasized it to her, guided her, or forced her!
Thud!
His lifeless body crashed to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
Cirucci looked at Nnoitra, who was gradually dissipating on the ground, and shook her head slightly; even at the very end, this guy was still annoying.
"Speaking of which…"
Cirucci looked up at the artificial sky above.
Everything she had done must have fallen into Aizen's eyes.
How would that person deal with her?
Is it over?
On the second floor of the palace, Kuchiki Byakuya's face grew solemn as he watched Cirucci stand rooted to the spot.
Although his sister had said that the opponent might have a connection with Ishikawa, her demonstrated power made him dare not let down his guard in the slightest.
And just then…
The figure in the courtyard suddenly turned his head and cast his gaze towards the opening on the second floor of the palace.
Then, with a dull 'buzz' of air being torn, Cirucci in the courtyard suddenly vanished, a sight that made Kuchiki Byakuya's pupils contract, and his Zanpakuto instantly unsheathed.
Pink petals instantly enveloped the surrounding area, protecting himself and the person he shielded behind him.
However…
Crack!
The pink petals shattered, and a faint sound of a shoe sole landing on the ground came from behind him.
Kuchiki Byakuya caught a glimpse of a figure flashing past out of the corner of his eye, and turning his head, he saw a disheveled man with dark brown, slightly curly short hair suddenly appear in front of Orihime.
"Sorry, I don't really like doing such troublesome things."
A lazy voice entered everyone's ears:
"However, Aizen doesn't want the game of rescuing the princess to end just like that!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the disheveled man and Orihime disappeared from their original spots simultaneously.
Boom—
Pink cherry blossoms pierced through the floor, leaving a huge hole in the original spot.
Looking at the hole, Kuchiki Byakuya's face instantly darkened.
"You Shinigami!"
A dark shadow flashed, and Cirucci appeared beside the hole, looking at Kuchiki Byakuya with dissatisfaction: "You can't even keep an eye on one person?"
"..."
Kuchiki Byakuya's face was faintly dark, but he couldn't retort.
"Cirucci…"
Roka said remorsefully: "Sorry, I didn't…"
"It's not your fault."
Cirucci shook her head: "After all, Starrk made a move himself; even I didn't notice when he appeared."
Although she mocked Kuchiki Byakuya, Cirucci also understood…
Even if she had been standing there in her current form, she would still have been unable to stop Starrk from taking Orihime.
Nnoitra could be said to be a watershed.
The Espada above him and the other Espada were simply not on the same level!
"Speaking of which…"
Cirucciturned to look at Kuchiki Rukia: "I didn't have time to ask earlier, how is Ishikawa doing now?"
Indeed…
Although she had guessed it, Kuchiki Rukia still couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief after Cirucci personally confirmed it.
Such a powerful existence would be too terrifying if she were an enemy.
However, Ciruccis question made Kuchiki Rukia's face show a hint of hesitation; she was unsure of the relationship between this Arrancar and Ishikawa, and if it was like Aizen and the other Espada, letting her know that Ishikawa still hadn't recovered his Reiatsu was clearly not a good thing.
"He is recovering."
Kuchiki Byakuya spoke directly from the side.
Although he didn't know what Ishikawa was doing, the commotion Ishikawa caused was simply too great; even if he wasn't interested, he could easily sense it.
Cirucci nodded upon hearing this: "Then it should be nearing its end."
Being connected to Ishikawa, she could faintly sense Ishikawa's state, and she had only wanted to confirm it just now.
"I hope he can recover before Aizen eliminates the traitors."
Despite saying this, Cirucci wasn't particularly worried in her heart, because if Aizen truly intended to deal with her, then Starrk's purpose in coming just now wouldn't have been merely to take Orihime away.
Although she didn't know Aizen's plan, he clearly wasn't prepared to deal with her.
"Oh, right."
Cirucci released her Cero, returned her Zanpakuto to its sheath, and said to Rukia: "Another distress signal was also activated during my fight with Nnoitra."
Another distress signal?
Rukia was startled at first, then her expression changed.
"Don't worry."
Cirucci shook her head: "I originally sent Picaro to support, but before Picaro could arrive, your people got there."
Upon hearing this, Rukia couldn't help but look at her brother.
She didn't know how many people had come to Hueco Mundo yet, but from the Arrancar's words, it was clear there was more than just her elder brother.
Kuchiki Byakuya didn't speak, but instead turned to look at the area where Palace No. 8 was located; unlike himself, after Kurotsuchi Mayuri arrived in Hueco Mundo, his purpose was extremely pure, heading straight in that direction.
Before he came, he had also conducted an investigation.
He knew that Ichigo's two companions and Abarai were fighting someone there.
Although the three's spiritual pressures were weak, they hadn't disappeared.
So Kuchiki Byakuya also had no intention of going to support them, because since Kurotsuchi Mayuri dared to go, he naturally had enough confidence!
"As for other places…"
Cirucci rubbed her temples, as if receiving information, and slowly said: "That orange-haired Shinigami boy is fighting Grimmjow and doesn't need to be too worried…"
After speaking, her expression became a bit strange: "Hmm, another team, Picaro, who is dispersed throughout Las Noches, just sent me a message. They are currently conducting rescues everywhere, and your three companions have already been taken in by them. Moreover, they even treated Arrancar who were enemies."
Not only were the three companions who came with the onion-headed person in front of her taken in, but also Dordoni and Gantenbainne, whom she had placed in the three-digit area, and Rudbornn, whom she had severely injured, were all taken in and treated by those Shinigami.
Kuchiki Rukia was startled upon hearing this, and Kuchiki Byakuya immediately explained from the side:
"It's the medical team led by Captain Unohana."
"And the last person."
Cirucci frowned, looked up at Kuchiki Byakuya, and said: "I suggest you go support him; he is currently fighting the 10th Espada, Yammy Llargo."
Zaraki?
Kuchiki Byakuya was still somewhat solemn when he heard he should go support him.
But when he heard it was the 10th Espada, this solemnity dissipated.
"The Espada with the rank '10' is a bit special; don't think it's the weakest Arrancar among the Espada."
Cirucci looked at Kuchiki Byakuya, who was much taller than her: "Strictly speaking, the 9th Espada, which means me, is actually the weakest among the Espada."
"..."
The expressions of the Kuchiki siblings were astonishingly consistent at this moment: Disbelief!
This person who claimed to be the weakest had just effortlessly defeated the 5th Espada right before their eyes.
Is the Espada ranking in reverse order?
"Hmm?"
Just then, both Cirucci and Kuchiki Byakuya's expressions darkened, and they simultaneously looked towards the center of Las Noches.
There…
The sky was torn open like a huge mouth.
Several powerful spiritual pressures spread out from there, and then a voice entered everyone's ears.
"Can you hear me?"
This voice…
"All you intruders!"
Everyone who heard this voice had their expressions darken.
Because the owner of the voice was also the master of Las Noches.
—Aizen Sōsuke!
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones=1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr | 16 novels being updated, I can't read all comments