"Good job, kid! You've mastered Fullbring already!"
From the little centipede's perspective, Yekawa observed every moment of Ginjō Kūgo's awakening, from the surge of Fullbring to the decisive strike that felled the Arrancar.
...
Meanwhile, dozens of kilometers away, a hot spring hotel glowed under the night sky.
Reclining in the open-air bath was a tall, well-built man with white hair, eyebrow and ear piercings, and a conspicuous '69' tattoo across his abdomen. He hummed lazily, perfectly at ease.
"Splash!"
A green-haired girl in goggles, an orange neckerchief, a tight suit, and long boots dove into the hot spring, then leapt out with a spray.
"Kensei Muguruma is a big pervert! He's not wearing any clothes!" she shouted.
Kensei's forehead twitched violently, a vein bulging.
"Kuna Mashiro, you idiot! I was just taking a bath…"
Indeed, it was Kensei Muguruma and Kuna Mashiro, members of the Visoreds.
Kuna's tone shifted instantly to seriousness.
"Kensei, did you feel that?"
"It's just a Gillian-class Arrancar; handle it yourself," Kensei replied casually.
Whoosh!
Kuna vanished midair, leaving only her parting barb:
"Kensei Muguruma is a big idiot!"
...
Soon, Kuna arrived at the scene, eyes widening at Ginjō Kūgo holding the Cross of Scaffold, the little centipede perched upon his shoulder.
The spiritual pressure of the Arrancar Ginjō had just absorbed now surged through him, suffusing his body with overwhelming force.
"Have Arrancar already reached this level?"
Mistaking Ginjō for an Arrancar, Kuna's lips curved, and without a word, she pulled a mask over her face two heart-shaped eye sockets and four small slits before flickering forward and delivering a flying kick to his lower back.
Bang!
Ginjō crashed into a nearby wall.
"Cough… cough!"
He struggled through the rubble, glancing at Kuna. Her Hollow mask made him pause.
"A humanoid Menos Grande… could this be the Vasto Lorde Makoto-Nii mentioned?"
Without hesitation, Kuna launched again.
"Arrancar, prepare to die!"
Spinning 360 degrees midair, her leg descended like a battle-axe.
"Super Flying Kick!"
Ginjō barely raised the Cross of Scaffold in time to block.
Boom!
The force still drove blood from his nose and mouth.
"Damn it… who did I offend?!"
Before he could recover, he collapsed unconscious.
The little centipede, observing from the side, was equally stunned.
"Visoreds? What's wrong with this woman?"
Seeing Kuna charging a Cero at the fallen Ginjō, Yekawa realized intervention was necessary. He needed Ginjō alive to locate the final Spirit King fragment.
Dark golden patterns flared across the centipede's body. A thick lightning whip shot forward, slicing through Kuna's emerald Cero mid-air.
Rumble! Zzzzt!
The whip struck, knocking her off balance.
"Ah!"
Kuna screamed, falling from midair. Her scorched body twitched as she looked up at the tiny centipede. She could not fathom how such a small Hollow had unleashed such force.
"That didn't knock her out?" Yekawa muttered, slightly surprised. Even after ten years of decay, the whip's stored power was formidable.
Kuna rose slowly, scorched and furious, approaching the unconscious Ginjō and the centipede. Just as she prepared to strike the clone, a jagged streak of lightning erupted from Hueco Mundo, intercepting her Super Flying Kick.
"A humanoid Menos Grande… are you a Vasto Lorde?"
A chill ran through Kuna's heart as Yekawa manifested. He moved faster than her eyes could track, transforming into a bolt of lightning, extending his middle finger to flick her mask.
Bang!
The mask shattered.
"Is this for real?!"
Yekawa's hand formed a blade, striking her neck.
In an instant, Kuna collapsed, unconscious like Ginjō.
Yekawa turned to carry the exhausted Ginjō, only to see a fierce wind rushing toward him. He deflected it with a wave of his hand and faced the newcomer.
"Kuna Mashiro, are you alright?"
Kensei Muguruma appeared with Shunpo, helping her up. Seeing her scorched state, his fist clenched, glare sharp.
"Hey! You hurt Kuna Mashiro like this? Are you ready to die, Menos Grande?!"
Yekawa only smiled faintly.
"I advise caution. Bluster will only expose your weakness."
Kensei's expression darkened further.
"Arrogant Menos Grande… you must be the legendary Vasto Lorde. Are you ready to be the first to die by my hand?"
"Don't worry," Yekawa said calmly, a faint grin on his face, "I won't waste too much of your time."