Even a self-made Vasto Lorde would experience considerable pressure when confronting someone of Shiroha Uehara's caliber.
Therefore, Starrk couldn't afford restraint and had no choice but to release his Resurrección.
A brilliant white light flashed, and Primera Espada Starrk completed his transformation.
Being a self-made Vasto Lorde, his appearance hadn't altered dramatically—except that he now wielded two gleaming pistols resembling ornate revolvers.
These weapons represented both symbols and manifestations of his ability, signifying his nature as a singular being composed of two individuals.
This was the embodiment of his most formidable power.
Starrk, whose transformation differed from other Arrancar, experienced a qualitative enhancement in strength.
Elsewhere, the previously dominant Tercera Espada Harribel initiated her Resurrección without utterance.
Following her transformation, her reiatsu and command over water currents were vastly amplified.
This meant her techniques had become both more lethal and flexible. The reason the typically composed Harribel immediately released her Resurrección and contemplated battlefield withdrawal was to support her Fracción.
The four of them had banded together in Hueco Mundo for mutual protection long ago.
Women faced discrimination regardless of realm.
This proved especially true in Hueco Mundo, where strength determined survival.
Female Hollows with comparatively weaker physical abilities typically became prey for their male counterparts.
It was Harribel who had rescued Apache and the others from male adversaries.
Subsequently, the four women relied upon each other, developing bonds akin to sisters.
Now that the three faced a formidable opponent like Shiroha, Harribel was determined to rescue them.
Observing his opponent's increased power, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who had maintained a defensive posture, remained composed.
He spoke with remarkable self-possession:
"You're growing anxious. Concerned for your companions? Your apprehension is justified. Compared to myself—a genius in name only—Commander Uehara represents authentic prodigy. Your subordinates cannot withstand him. However, you cannot save them. Our battle remains unresolved, and I shall defeat you."
His dignified bearing matched his direct declaration.
In response to his proclamation, he was met with a frigid "Cascada!"
The subsequent moment, Hitsugaya was propelled backward by an overwhelming torrent of water.
Unlike previous exchanges, Harribel's strength had intensified substantially, and she attacked with unprecedented ferocity.
To neutralize her enemy's Zanpakutō, she deliberately transformed the rushing waters into scalding torrents.
Consequently, Hyōrinmaru couldn't instantly freeze the deluge.
Hitsugaya hadn't anticipated his opponent's sudden decisiveness and ruthlessness. Caught unprepared, he lacked sufficient time to amplify his power to counteract the torrent.
The impact sent him plummeting from his aerial position to the ground below.
Harribel didn't spare the fallen Hitsugaya a glance, advancing directly toward her three subordinates.
Observing the reinvigorated Shinigami and the three retreating Espada behaving as if confronted by an insurmountable force, Shiroha remarked with resignation:
"Why such collective panic? I'm merely a clone. Is such terror truly necessary?"
He remained in the Ice Palace, indulging himself.
The entity before them was simply a replica he had created by combining his unique spiritual abilities with advanced techniques that approached perfection.
Shiroha's current capabilities represented formidable techniques bordering on transcendence.
A single ability exceeding perfect mastery was already remarkably potent.
When multiple transcendent abilities interconnected, their power increased exponentially.
For instance, the conventional Bankai Shunkō remained constrained by Shinigami limitations and couldn't transcend established boundaries.
But after integration with his evolved spiritual powers, the Infinite Shunkō could shatter not merely Shinigami constraints but even transcendent limitations—truly a power surpassing divine capability.
This represented the extraordinary effect of combining multiple formidable abilities.
Indeed, the synchronized application of multiple abilities approached omnipotence.
Similar to the ice clone provided to Rangiku Matsumoto, it no longer represented simple replication but had evolved into an external manifestation.
Through profound cultivation, relentless dedication, and spiritual refinement, Shiroha had forcibly elevated his original techniques to divine classification.
This constituted authentic strength.
Within the Ice Palace, Shiroha effortlessly controlled two bodies simultaneously.
The primary body experienced no strain; he reclined comfortably, savoring the moment.
Through the clone, he exerted minimal effort for control while experiencing battle's exhilaration.
This secondary body remained vastly inferior to the original in all aspects.
Yet it offered distinct advantages.
This arrangement allowed Shiroha to experience combat at reduced capacity.
Had his original form arrived, no strategy would be necessary.
Advanced kido techniques combined with physical sacrifices could eliminate all captains and Arrancar instantaneously.
The power wouldn't diminish significantly, proving more than sufficient to dispatch captain-level opponents within seconds.
This paralleled Aizen's restraint from employing his zanpakutō's ultimate potential—not from inability but from unnecessary excess.
Both maintained certain principles; excessive brutality proved unnecessary.
With their capabilities, numerous methods for defeating opponents remained available.
In this respect, substantial similarity between them persisted.
Neither regarded the powerful entities before them with genuine seriousness, much less considered them worthy adversaries.
They simply lacked qualification.
In Shiroha's estimation, these individuals represented mere pawns.
From Aizen's perspective, they constituted future subjects.
This represented compassion and magnanimity.
Accordingly, Yhwach truly deserved his eventual fate.
That entity treated others as mere sustenance, valuing them less than his slightest consideration.
Now, the moment arrived to bestow upon the Arrancar the "kindness" they had longed for.
After meticulous assessment of his current form, Shiroha acknowledged:
"The limitations remain evident. This vessel supports only fundamental abilities, with restricted duration. Moreover, its reiatsu constitutes less than one percent of my original form. I barely match the equivalent of a hundred Kenpachis!"
"Thank heavens you arrived, Master!" Observing Shiroha descend like a celestial savior, Rangiku's heart softened.
Though her complexion flushed deeper, her posture straightened reflexively, her breath momentarily suspended as her form tensed with anticipation.
Such profound reassurance, having someone of his caliber supporting her!
Conventional morality seemed inconsequential. Regardless, in his presence, propriety had long since yielded to indulgence.
Once she had surrendered her reservations and carefully embraced this overwhelming sense of impropriety, she discovered it surprisingly invigorating.