"Finally my turn on screen, huh? Guess I've been waiting for this moment…"
On the high platform,
unlike the others, Coyote Starrk showed a faint smile.
He wasn't surprised—
he was actually looking forward to it.
"Hey…"
"Starrk, don't get careless! That flowery kimono guy looks anything but harmless!"
Beside him,
his Fracción Lilynette stood with her arms crossed, staring anxiously at Kyōraku Shunsui's figure on the screen.
She couldn't explain it—
but something about that laid-back man radiated danger.
Even though the footage had just started,
and both fighters were only standing face to face,
Shunsui gave off the unmistakable feeling of a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Lilynette couldn't help but worry—
that her easygoing partner, always too honest for his own good,
might end up being tricked or outplayed.
That was her greatest fear.
But—
Starrk himself remained relaxed.
Stretching lazily, he waved his hand.
"Hey… relax, Lilynette. As the Primera Espada, I'm not that weak."
His tone was calm, self-assured.
He wasn't arrogant like most Arrancar—
but he didn't doubt his strength either.
He fully believed he could win this fight—
and restore Hueco Mundo's pride.
On the screen—
The battle continued.
"Shunpo!"
Beneath his gray straw hat and flowing cloak,
Kyōraku's body flickered—
vanishing and reappearing midair as his twin blades slashed forward.
The dynamic footage captured his every movement,
forcing Starrk backward,
clearly pushing him into a defensive position.
"Espada…"
"What do you think will happen if I draw my second blade?"
Having seized the advantage,
Kyōraku smiled faintly—
a teasing, dangerous smile.
"Spare me, Captain," Starrk muttered, rubbing his temple.
"You're already strong enough. If you go dual-blade, this'll just get worse."
But his plea meant nothing.
Kyōraku's hand slipped to his other side—
and Katen Kyōkotsu's second sword came free.
Now dual-wielding, he pressed the attack harder.
The camera zoomed out—
the two figures clashing in the sky,
the sound of steel against steel ringing endlessly.
And to everyone's astonishment,
Starrk—the Primera Espada—
was losing ground.
From start to finish,
he hadn't been able to break Shunsui's rhythm.
Even without Bankai,
the captain's twin blades had him pinned down.
At least in swordsmanship,
Katen Kyōkotsu had won the first exchange.
"Looks like…"
"Without releasing his Resurrección, Starrk can't do a thing against Shunsui."
In front of the transparent screen,
Ichimaru Gin's blue eyes widened slightly with surprise.
He hadn't expected Kyōraku to open the fight so dominantly—
pressing the Espada from the start,
his twin swords relentlessly cutting through the air.
But beside him, Aizen remained calm.
"So what?" he said coolly.
"Don't forget Starrk's nature—
among all the Espada, he's the one with the least desire to kill."
"In that fight, he clearly wasn't serious. Even when he releases his Resurrección later,
it's not a sign of desperation—
just that he's finally fighting earnestly."
To Aizen, Starrk's strength was unquestionable.
He believed completely
that Starrk could take on multiple captains at once if he wished.
One against many—
that was the Primera's true potential.
Moments later, the footage advanced.
"Shinigami Captain…"
"Are all your Bankai this powerful?"
"I'd like to see what your Zanpakutō's Bankai can really do."
Turning his head toward the distance,
Starrk's expression grew serious.
He was staring at the massive ice sculpture imprisoning Harribel.
The sight seemed to awaken something in him.
Then—
he called Lilynette to his side.
The two stood together.
That single gesture,
broadcast through the ranking video,
hit Hueco Mundo like a bomb.
"No way…"
"That Shinigami hasn't even used Bankai yet! He's still fighting normally!"
"And now Starrk's about to release his Resurrección?!"
The Arrancar army erupted in disbelief.
For the first time,
their leader was being pushed so hard
that he had to transform first.
In all previous videos,
Hitsugaya and Byakuya had both needed to use Bankai early against the Espada.
But this time—
Shunsui hadn't even bothered.
He was suppressing Starrk with pure skill and pressure alone.
Though Starrk bore no visible wounds,
the fact that he was releasing now
was proof enough—
he was being outmatched.
A difference in tier.
That was what left Hueco Mundo speechless.
Then, before anyone could recover—
the release words echoed.
"Hunt them down—Los Lobos!"
At that moment,
Lilynette's body dissolved into light,
merging completely with Starrk.
His reiatsu erupted—
doubled, then redoubled.
BOOM!
The entire screen trembled,
barely able to contain the surge of energy.
And that oppressive force—
bursting with pure power—
spread beyond the video,
felt throughout the Soul Society itself.
Spectators everywhere staggered.
Many, who had underestimated the Primera,
were caught unprepared—
blown backward by the shockwave of reiatsu.
Buildings cracked.
The air itself vibrated.
Chaos erupted.
All because of Starrk's release—
his full power awakened at last.
"Mm…"
"This reiatsu…"
"It seems there's no mistake—this one's the strongest of the Espada."
In the First Division,
the Captain-Commander sat cross-legged in silence,
eyes half-shut, expression grave.
Even he had to acknowledge it—
Starrk's strength was real.
Formidable.
And if Kyōraku Shunsui,
facing that overwhelming might,
could still hold his own—
or even win—
then Katen Kyōkotsu's eighth-place ranking
was more than justified.
It was proof of true power.
(End of Chapter)
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