At that moment—
As Harribel's gaze hardened with unwavering resolve, Szayelaporro's once-arrogant expression, filled with the illusion of absolute control, twisted into one of growing fury. His eyes, which had been brimming with conceit, now gleamed with resentment as he glared at Harribel.
With a low, guttural growl of disbelief, Szayelaporro demanded, "Harribel, do you truly believe that Asura Gensei holds greater value than your own life and the lives of your three Fracción?"
"Sacrifice is not something that can be measured on a scale. There is no comparison of what is more important," Harribel replied calmly.
Her composed demeanor only served to further infuriate Szayelaporro. His expression contorted with rage as he sneered.
"Foolishness. Such ignorant thinking! Do you even understand what you are rejecting? You have no idea what it means to grasp the secret of the Arrancar transformation process…"
"That technique—one that can entirely reshape the future of Hueco Mundo—whoever masters it will not just be a king but a god in this realm!"
"More than that, with this power in hand, complete domination over the Soul Society and the World of the Living would not be impossible! Do you understand now, Harribel?"
With that final outburst, Szayelaporro seized Harribel by the throat, his grip tightening as he stared at her with manic intensity.
However, Harribel remained unfazed, her expression unshaken. "And so what?" she replied evenly.
"What…?"
Szayelaporro's chest rose and fell in sharp bursts before, strangely enough, he calmed himself. He adjusted his posture, straightening his clothes as his usual smirk returned.
"Asura Gensei possesses the knowledge of Arrancar transformation. I discovered this through my surveillance and eavesdropping. But to divert Baraggan's attention, I deliberately leaked this information to him…"
"That old fool took the bait immediately. He gathered every Adjuchas and Gillian under his command and sent them to ambush Asura Gensei, attempting to eliminate him before he could become a threat."
At those words, a flicker of emotion passed through Harribel's tranquil gaze—hatred, and an uncharacteristic trace of anxiety.
"No need to worry…"
Szayelaporro waved dismissively. "I understand Baraggan better than he realizes. Given that Asura Gensei can bypass his so-called ultimate power—Aging—Baraggan sees you as more of a threat than him."
"Which means that even if Baraggan marches in with an army of Hollows, Asura Gensei—unlike you—has no obvious weaknesses, such as a cherished Fracción. Baraggan will never be able to capture him."
Harribel let out a quiet breath, realizing her momentary lapse in judgment. With a subtle scoff, she remarked, "Aren't you afraid those words might reach the so-called 'King of Hueco Mundo' himself?"
"Hah!"
Szayelaporro scoffed with open disdain.
"Baraggan? He's nothing more than a coward who fears his own decay. The only reason I ever joined Las Noches was to gain access to an endless supply of Adjuchas specimens without having to waste my time hunting them down one by one. Besides…"
He paused, his smirk widening. "Once I master Arrancarification, do you really think he'll still be the ruler of Hueco Mundo?"
"You will never master it. The only one who can is Asura Gensei," Harribel declared, her voice laced with a rare trace of expectation.
But beneath that hope, there was also a trace of sorrow—because she knew she would not live to see the day Asura Gensei ascended to the throne of Hueco Mundo.
'Still… if Baraggan is powerless against Asura Gensei, then perhaps he will soon reunite with Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck…'
The next moment, Szayelaporro released Mila Rose, who had been bound by his pink tendrils. Her body, covered in crimson welts, collapsed onto the white sands of Hueco Mundo.
Then, Szayelaporro spread his arms as if embracing something unseen. His expression contorted into one of sheer madness.
"No… I will obtain that technique. If you refuse to cooperate, then I will simply move on to my backup plan."
Harribel's gaze remained steadfast, her voice unwavering. "No matter what, I will never betray Asura Gensei."
"I don't need your cooperation…"
As Szayelaporro spoke, he tore open his garments, revealing not only hardened bone-like plating but also a grotesque body composed of countless writhing pink tendrils.
"I understand, Harribel! Asura Gensei trusts you. He values you. That means that when he faces you, he will be completely off guard…"
At that moment, the mass of writhing tendrils on Szayelaporro's body began to writhe violently. His voice, now distorted and eerie, carried a twisted glee.
"Unlike you Vasto Lordes, my combat abilities may be lacking… but my power allows me to manipulate life itself."
"I can implant special eggs inside your body, seize control of your every action, and when the time is right—transfer them into Asura Gensei, gradually consuming and dominating his very being."
Harribel's eyes widened in horror as she instinctively thrashed against her restraints.
But—
Perhaps due to the immense spiritual pressure of a Vasto Lorde, or the sheer force of her will, the numbing toxin paralyzing her nerves began to wear off. A flicker of motion returned to her fingers as they tightened around her massive blade.
For a brief instant, a spark of hope ignited in her gaze. Seizing the opportunity, she spoke to buy time.
"That won't work. The fact that you are being so cautious only proves that the conditions for these special eggs to take root are highly restrictive. And do you really believe that Asura Gensei wouldn't notice something was wrong if his body were being controlled?"
Szayelaporro let out a cold chuckle.
"The conditions are demanding, but so what? You've only known him for a short time. If there's just a slight inconsistency in your behavior, Asura Gensei may not even notice…"
In that instant, Harribel's partially freed right hand gripped her massive blade and swung it with all her strength, aiming to cleave Szayelaporro in half.
However—
Just before the blade could make contact, Szayelaporro's pink tendrils surged forward, intertwining and forming an impenetrable barrier, halting the weapon's descent.
"Impatient, are we, Harribel?" Szayelaporro sneered, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure. "Very well… let's begin."
With those words, the writhing mass of pink tendrils surged toward Harribel, slithering up her sword and advancing toward her very being.
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