Above Las Noches, emerald spiritual pressure and sapphire seawater clashed violently in the sky. Nelliel retracted her spear, her amber eyes sweeping across the remaining Espada, finally settling on Coyote Starrk.
"Although I appreciate that you didn't interfere..."
"I'm sorry. Our objective this time is all of Las Noches."
Her voice was calm, yet the words landed like a sledgehammer in everyone's chest.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez instinctively took half a step back, the pride of the Sixth Espada completely gone.
He glanced at Barragan Luisenbarn, who was about to be engulfed by the rising tide, then looked at the blood dripping from the tip of Nelliel's spear. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed nervously.
"Hey, this has nothing to do with us!"
Grimmjow raised his hands. "I had nothing to do with what those two idiots, Nnoitra and Szayelaporro, did!"
Tier Harribel cast him a cold glance, her wheat-toned skin gleaming with a metallic sheen beneath the pressure of spiritual energy.
She said nothing, but her eyes said everything—pleading for mercy at this point was a disgrace to an Espada.
Starrk scratched his head, his lazy expression finally disappearing.
He looked at Katerea Leviathan hovering in the sky, then at Nelliel, and finally at the struggling Barragan Luisenbarn. A helpless sigh escaped his lips.
"What a pain…"
Lilynette leaned against his shoulder and asked softly, "Are we fighting?"
"Yeah, looks like we don't have a choice."
Starrk patted her head, and then…
His gaze sharpened instantly.
He didn't care about the others.
But Barragan Luisenbarn could not die.
At least…
Not in front of him!
With that thought, Starrk acted immediately.
Buzz—
A small, pale blue orb of energy formed at his fingertip.
Cero.
A basic yet powerful technique used by Arrancar and Hollows.
But…
The one in Starrk's hand was clearly different.
Unlike others who released a large beam of energy, Starrk's Cero remained compressed in the shape of a small bullet.
Yet anyone who paid attention would sense the terrifying power packed into it.
As if an overwhelming amount of destructive energy had been compressed into a tiny point.
Starrk aimed at Ingvild Leviathan and fired.
Whoosh—
A sharp whistling cut through the air like a blade.
But—
"Do I look invisible to you?"
Suddenly.
Katerea Leviathan's voice rang out as she instantly appeared in the Cero's path.
Buzz—
A thick stream of seawater gushed out from her body.
Sizzle—
The bullet collided with the water, releasing a harsh frictional sound, then—
Boom!
It exploded in an instant!
A brilliant flash of blue engulfed the entire sky.
But…
The seawater surrounding Katerea continued to surge and churn, fully absorbing the impact.
In the end, Starrk's Cero had done nothing but make noise.
Seeing this, Starrk narrowed his eyes slightly.
That one exchange told him everything he needed to know—Katerea Leviathan wasn't simple.
A few seconds later.
As the shockwave dissipated, Katerea dispersed the water shield and looked at Starrk with cold eyes.
"Who gave you permission to attack Ingvild?"
Starrk: "…"
"You really sound like someone in charge…"
Even though his Cero had been neutralized, Starrk didn't show any change in expression.
He just glanced at Barragan and sighed.
"Looks like…"
"You'll have to hold out a little longer."
"Tch."
Barragan Luisenbarn clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I don't need your help yet."
Of course…
Though his words sounded tough, his situation was grim.
Within his skull, the flickering pupils danced like flames, locked onto the illusion surrounding Ingvild Leviathan.
Before it—
His prized Aging Flame had proven completely ineffective!
Wear her down with spiritual pressure?
A war of attrition?
After analyzing the situation, Barragan realized that the illusion stemmed directly from Ingvild Leviathan.
As long as the non-spiritual energy within her ran out, that cursed illusion would collapse.
No more protective shell!
But…
He had already spent considerable effort doing just that.
So why…
Why hadn't she run out of energy yet?
A trace of anxiety flickered in Barragan's mind.
Just then—
Boom!!!
Ingvild clapped her hands together, and a massive wave came crashing toward him!
Barragan's pupils shrank. The next moment, his body was submerged beneath the sea.
As Tier Harribel was about to move, Midoriko, clad in a shrine maiden outfit, stepped in to block her path.
Tier paused, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Midoriko.
Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of dread filled her chest.
It felt like...
Facing a natural enemy?
Why was she feeling this way?
Tier temporarily suppressed the strange sensation and turned to glance toward Barragan's position.
She couldn't see him anymore.
But…
He shouldn't die that easily, right?
After all, he was once the King of Hueco Mundo.
With a faint sigh, Tier redirected her attention to Midoriko.
She unsheathed her blade, pointed it at Midoriko, and said calmly, "Are you my opponent?"
"Midoriko, pleased to receive your guidance."
Midoriko smiled gently, her demeanor like that of an elegant housewife—polite and soft-spoken.
But…
Tier instinctively took a step back.
In the next instant.
A talisman marked with obscure runes appeared right in front of her.
"Ah~"
Midoriko blinked in surprise. "You noticed?"
"No. I just instinctively sensed danger."
Tier answered honestly, watching her opponent warily.
So soft-spoken, but…
Her actions were swift and decisive...
Midoriko: "…"
Hmm…
It was the first time someone answered her question so seriously during a battle.
She seemed…
Not bad?
Midoriko glanced at the Evil Piece embedded in her body. When she saw it flickering faintly, her gaze flickered as well.
She began to consider another possibility.
Maybe…
She could recruit her?
After all…
If even Katerea Leviathan could join the Peerage, then Tier Harribel shouldn't be a problem either, right?
But…
Judging by the atmosphere, this would have to wait.
(To be continued.)
***
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