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Las Noches, Palace No. 9.
Walking along the long suspension bridge, Kuchiki Rukia was extremely vigilant, her gaze constantly surveying her surroundings.
It was too smooth!
She could clearly sense that battles were erupting in the passages the others were taking, but she hadn't even seen a shadow of an enemy, let alone fought one, all the way here.
It was as if the entire area was empty, completely unobstructed…
Although she didn't know the specific layout of Las Noches, the palace at the end of the suspension bridge was clearly different from the other buildings and should be a more important location.
And most importantly…
She faintly sensed Orihime's Reiatsu within that building.
This made Kuchiki Rukia, who had an unobstructed journey, even more cautious. The suspension bridge, which she could have crossed in a minute, took her several minutes to reach the front of the palace.
The palace gates were not tightly shut, but left a gap wide enough for a person to pass through.
Having arrived, Kuchiki Rukia didn't hesitate further and directly entered the towering building through the gap.
The interior of the building was extremely spacious, with the entire first floor completely open, but it felt very desolate. What struck Kuchiki Rukia as odd was… there were many signs of alteration on this floor, especially the surrounding windows. From their uneven openings, it was clear they had been violently chiseled open.
Perhaps wanting them to be as square as possible, these windows varied greatly in size.
"Loly, maybe not?"
Just then, a conversation suddenly came from the stairs on the second floor, causing Kuchiki Rukia's expression to tighten as she instinctively suppressed her Reiatsu.
"What are you afraid of? Anyway, that woman isn't here."
Another voice came, full of disdain: "Aizen has left his room, so that woman wouldn't dare do anything to us. Besides, I just want to teach that human a lesson. Aizen only told her to watch over that human, not to protect her."
"But…"
"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and follow me. Just now, at Aizen's place, I heard the person reporting say that woman went to the three-digit area. Heh heh… to save those trash who were eliminated from the Espada. Sure enough, trash likes to associate with trash."
Human?
Kuchiki Rukia's eyes lit up. Although she had faintly sensed Orihime's Reiatsu earlier, it was now confirmed.
It seemed Orihime was indeed imprisoned here.
With this thought, Kuchiki Rukia lowered her footsteps and quietly ascended the stairs to the second floor.
Upon reaching the second floor, Kuchiki Rukia found the two people who had been conversing now standing in front of a room, confronting a black-haired woman with half her face covered by a mask.
The black-haired woman was protecting someone behind her. Upon seeing the protected person, Kuchiki Rukia immediately breathed a sigh of relief, for that figure was none other than Orihime, the target of their rescue mission in Hueco Mundo!
She hadn't expected to find Orihime so easily.
It was so simple that Rukia even suspected if she had unwittingly fallen under Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu.
Just then, the situation on the scene suddenly changed, and the two confronting the black-haired Arrancar girl suddenly became enraged.
"Get out of my way, you useless doll!!"
Loly looked at Roka, whose expression remained completely unfazed. As her Reiatsu surged, she directly drew her dagger-like Zanpakuto from her waist and thrust it towards Roka's neck, clearly intending to kill her.
This scene caused both Orihime and Loly's companion, Menoly, to change their expressions.
Unlike Orihime's concern for Roka, Menoly was more worried about Cirucci's reaction if she returned to find her subordinate killed.
If it had been earlier, she wouldn't have had this concern, because almost everyone in Las Noches knew that Cirucci had only become an Espada by luck, and most people believed she didn't possess strength commensurate with an Espada.
But…
Cirucci's actions not long ago made her realize that no matter how weak, an Espada was still an Espada, and she and Loly were completely defenseless before her.
However, seeing the enraged Loly, she simply didn't have the courage to stop her.
Buzz—
With a whoosh, Loly's Zanpakuto reached Roka's neck in an instant.
But what happened next caused everyone to gasp.
Clang~
The tip of the blade met the neck, but instead of the imagined blood spatter, a crisp clang rang out.
Loly's pupils contracted. She instinctively looked at Roka's neck. She had struck in anger, holding nothing back, and she simply didn't believe that the combat-incapable Roka could block her strike.
However, Roka had blocked it.
And from beginning to end, her expression remained emotionless.
How did she do it?
Hmm…
Loly suddenly noticed that at the point where her Zanpakuto had landed, an incredibly fine reflection was faintly visible.
That was…
Silk threads?
Countless imperceptible silk threads, like spiderwebs, were woven into a defensive net around her neck. It was this defensive net that had blocked her Zanpakuto.
It was then that Loly suddenly remembered…
This individual in front of her was an Arrancar who had evolved from a spider-type Adjuchas.
Although she didn't have a Zanpakuto, she should still possess the abilities of a spider Hollow from before her Arrancar transformation. Thinking this, Loly suddenly sneered. A drop of venom suddenly appeared on the tip of her dagger-like Zanpakuto and dripped down through the gaps in the spiderweb.
However, in the next second, her sneer froze on her face.
"How is that possible?"
Looking closely, the gaps in the spiderweb were clearly visible, but her venom seemed to have landed on an invisible barrier. Not only did it not penetrate through the gaps, but it slid slowly down, as if dripping on glass.
Kuchiki Rukia, watching from around the corner, looked at the spiderweb with a strange expression.
Because that spiderweb gave her a familiar feeling, yet she found it somewhat unbelievable, because… the feeling that spiderweb gave her was exactly the same as the Negación that Menos Grande used when Aizen went to Hueco Mundo.
That wasn't a shield made of spiderweb, but a localized spatial isolation!
"Please leave here."
Roka didn't retaliate, nor did she know how to retaliate. After all, except for when she was still a spider Hollow and once fought a Shinigami named 'Kusajishi Zaraki', being thrown back outside a Black Portal after having a leg grabbed, she had never fought anyone…
So she had no idea how to attack. Even using Negación threads for defense was something Cirucci had taught her.
And her response was a series of crisp metallic clangs.
Clang clang clang…
Loly's dagger struck like raindrops, but Roka's shield, woven from Negación threads, seemed to anticipate her attack trajectory, precisely blocking every single strike.
Although Roka didn't know how to fully exploit her abilities, Negación threads had the ability to connect with various substances and share spiritual power and information. If used in the Human World, she could even connect with substances in the Human World, allowing her to be seen and photographed by ordinary people.
Her ability originated from the Negación thread spinning wheel within her body. This was an organ created by her creator, Szayelaporro, through studying the Zanpakuto of a Shinigami named 'Azashiro Soya'.
However, in Szayelaporro's eyes, she was merely a failed experiment, far from reaching his ideal of a 'perfect being'. Initially, her master also used this ability to store his backup data in Roka's soul and memories.
This was one of Szayelaporro's research topics on immortality: using Roka's 'Negación threads' to preserve his memories within Roka.
More precisely, through Roka, memories were dispersed and stored in various substances in Hueco Mundo, such as rocks and quartz trees, allowing him to be resurrected after an unfortunate event.
When she learned how important the ability her master had given her was, she felt a slight joy, because her existence had helped her master.
But after completing this technology, Szayelaporro's gaze towards Roka was exactly like looking at a rock in the Hueco Mundo desert. When Szayelaporro created 'Gabriel', even without Roka's backup, Szayelaporro could be reborn at any time, making Roka lose her value again.
Therefore, Roka never believed this ability could be very useful.
It wasn't until she was inspired by Nel and guided by Cirucci that she realized her ability could be used in combat.
Although she didn't know how to use it for offense, it could certainly be used for defense.
"Hoo hoo hoo—"
The metallic clangs ceased. Loly let out a series of rapid gasps, her eyes red as she stared at Roka.
The fact that she couldn't break through Roka's defense infuriated Loly like never before. Especially Roka's expressionless face, completely unresisting and allowing herself to be attacked, made her feel that the other party was deliberately humiliating her.
"You're asking for death!!"
Loly's expression became increasingly distorted, and her Reiatsu grew more violent. She had forgotten her initial purpose for coming here; now she only wanted to kill this useless doll in front of her.
"Poison him, Hundred-Sting Poison Whore!"
With a roar, Loly was enveloped in a surge of venom, and her Reiatsu soared.
When everything subsided, the Loly who appeared in her original spot had undergone a drastic transformation. Her form was like a centipede, her arms transformed into white, segmented weapons, each segment bearing venomous barbs. The venom sprayed from the barbs dripped onto the rocky ground, making a sizzling sound and dissolving numerous pits in the ground.
This scene caused Roka's face to show emotion for the first time.
Her defense was only small-scale, making it difficult to block large-scale venomous erosion. Roka wasn't afraid of dying, but rather of failing to complete the task Cirucci had assigned her.
Seeing Roka's reaction, Loly let out a grotesque laugh: "To die under my Cero…"
Before she could finish her sentence, a scythe slashed down without warning, abruptly cutting off Loly's words.
Pfft~!
Blood splattered. Loly was sent flying backward, finally crashing heavily against the wall at the end of the hallway.
Loly, who had just entered her Cero and was full of smugness, now looked incredibly miserable.
A massive sword scar stretched from her shoulder all the way to her waist, almost splitting her in two. Blood gushed uncontrollably from her mouth. She stared with wide eyes at the figure standing where she had been moments before, and with a venomous tone, she shouted:
"Nnoitra!!"
"Annoying!"
Nnoitra casually rested his crescent scythe on his shoulder, not even glancing at Loly. Instead, he looked at Orihime behind Roka, licking his chin and sneering, "That trash really is trash through and through, to just leave the person she was supposed to watch over here…"
As his words fell, he tilted his head, suddenly turning towards the staircase: "And, a Shinigami has even invaded here."
Shinigami?
At his words, both Roka and Orihime were startled, and they both followed Nnoitra's gaze.
Having been discovered, Kuchiki Rukia no longer hid and simply walked out from the staircase.
"Kuchiki!"
Orihime was first delighted, but then her expression changed.
"Tch, is it just a woman?"
Nnoitra's face immediately showed disdain: "I was so looking forward to rushing over after detecting a Shinigami invading Las Noches with my search technique, but it turns out to be such a spiritually weak piece of trash. I really don't know how you even got here."
She walked…
Kuchiki Rukia silently replied in her heart.
…
Meanwhile, in the three-digit area.
"This Reiatsu is?"
Cirucci frowned, turning her head towards the direction of her palace, a hint of killing intent flashing in her eyes.
"Dordoni."
"Huh?"
On the periphery of the spacious area, Dordoni, looking dazed, subconsciously responded.
"The battle with Gantenbainne is over. Like you, he was spared by his opponent. Go bring him back."
Although she hadn't gone there, the one fighting Gantenbainne should be the only human among the few, besides that Quincy. Being able to defeat Gantenbainne, his strength must not be weak, so there's no need to worry about him for now.
With this thought, Cirucci subtly glanced upwards.
Ever since she arrived here, she had continuously felt a faint sense of being watched. Clearly, someone was observing this battle from the shadows.
However, Cirucci no longer cared what they thought.
Because just now…
One of the distress markers Ishikawa had left on those two Shinigami was activated, and the location where that marker was activated was precisely her own palace.
"Uh—"
Just then, a painful groan entered Cirucci's ears.
"Ah, right."
Cirucci lowered her head. Her right hand was currently gripping the neck of a person with a goat-skull mask. This person was Rudbornn, the captain of the Exequias.
At this moment, his mask was shattered, and the branches extending from his back hung broken and limp on the ground. His skull eyes were filled with shock.
He had lost!
Completely and utterly defeated.
The branches extending from his back could endlessly create 'subordinates' without restriction, and he was extremely proud of this creator-like ability.
But he had been defeated by the weakest Espada, and the opponent hadn't even used her Cero!
Rudbornn actually greatly admired the Espada. He was respectful towards almost all of them, because in his eyes, every single Espada was a special existence. After all, even though Aizen had bestowed upon him a creator-like ability, he wasn't even qualified to be one of the Espada.
But Cirucci was an exception.
Having always observed the Espada meetings, he was well aware of how cowardly and pathetic Cirucci was, completely lacking the dignity an Espada should possess. Instead, she allowed herself to be ridiculed and even insulted by other Espada's subordinates without any response. She was simply a disgrace to the Espada!
But the recent battle had made him deeply realize Cirucci's terror.
Although he hadn't fought other Espada, he had witnessed many of their battles. While powerful, none had made him feel as much fear as Cirucci.
Rudbornn didn't know why Cirucci hid her strength, nor why she seemed to have no temper, never punishing those who offended her.
But the power she displayed…
It was simply not the strength she should possess for her rank. Aaroniero, who was once of the same rank, was simply not worth mentioning compared to her!
Being defeated by her did not make Rudbornn feel disheartened or angry. Instead, he developed an endless, heartfelt respect for her. This was the true strength an Espada should possess.
"…Are you sick?"
Rudbornn's extremely reverent gaze made Cirucci's mouth twitch slightly. Was the term 'masochist' derived from him?
Bang~!
Rudbornn crashed to the ground, scrambling to his feet. Seeing Cirucci turn to leave, he hurriedly said, "Cirucci, Szayelaporro sent me to retrieve Dordoni."
"I know."
Cirucci nodded:
"Besides him, no one else would do something so boring."
Without further addressing Rudbornn, Cirucci tapped her foot on the ground, and her entire being suddenly vanished from her spot.
Rudbornn could no longer cause trouble for Dordoni and the others, and coupled with that respectful gaze, Cirucci couldn't even be bothered to kill him anymore.
The immediate priority now was to rescue that Shinigami who sent the distress signal from Nnoitra's hands.
With this thought, a smile, filled with killing intent, appeared on Cirucci's face.
She had waited too long for this day!!
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