On the ground, the five corpses of the Ginyu Force still lay twisted and scattered about.
The two pistols in Stark's hands continuously tracked Arturo's moving figure as Lilynette's voice complained incessantly in his mind: "That green-haired bastard is too good at dodging! Stark, aim properly!"
"Tch, I know. Stop complaining!"
Stark clicked his tongue. The terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from his body once again converged at the muzzles of his guns.
Arturo stood not far away, wounds grazed by Ceros healing at a visibly rapid pace.
He licked the corner of his mouth, his gaze toward Stark undiminished in excitement. "Such tremendous power. I wonder what kind of growth your strength will bring me."
"Too slow."
Ulquiorra's calm voice rang out. She drew the blade at her waist and murmured softly:
"Enclose, Murciélago."
Raindrops of green spiritual energy fell from the sky, blanketing the entire area of Las Noches. Ulquiorra wore a horned helmet atop her head, and a pair of enormous black bat wings sprouted from her back, radiating her oppressive presence beneath the light of Hueco Mundo's moon.
The eruption of two powerful Arrancar spiritual pressures caused several pillars standing around Las Noches to collapse under the force.
"Now," Stark raised both guns, their muzzles glowing with blue spiritual pressure light, "we can end this quickly."
The next instant, countless Ceros poured from the muzzles like rain of light, covering every possible angle Arturo might use to evade.
Arturo pushed Sonído to its absolute limit, weaving through the gaps in the barrage as if playing a bullet hell game.
Just as he attempted to close in on Stark and launch an attack, a lance pierced through the缝隙 between Ceros, grazing Arturo's abdomen and instantly vaporizing the surrounding flesh.
"Ha ha ha! It's useless!" Arturo's wounds healed rapidly. "I possess an immortal body that never ages and cannot die!"
Stark said nothing, only increasing his firing rate further.
At the edge of the battlefield, Yoruichi leaned against a half-collapsed pillar, arms crossed, watching the suppression with keen interest.
"Completely can't get involved," Rose complained. "Those two have ridiculous firepower."
"That's only because you're too weak, Rose."
Sung-Sun covered her mouth with her wide sleeve, speaking softly.
"Never mind. We'll stay here and watch, make sure nothing unexpected happens." Yoruichi shrugged. "Those two have probably already made their way to Baraggan by now."
Yoruichi's guess was correct.
Baraggan sat upon his throne, back facing the entrance, as two nearly synchronized footsteps sounded from outside.
"Hey, Baraggan. Your days of constantly stirring up conflict in Hueco Mundo are over."
Kensei reached out toward Baraggan's back: "Hand over your life."
"Ha ha ha!"
As if amused to anger by Kensei's words, Baraggan laughed loudly, his jaw bones clacking together with a crisp sound.
He slowly rose from his throne: "If you want it, come and take it yourself."
He did not employ his aging breath again, knowing it would cause Kensei no harm.
"I, Baraggan Louisenbairn, King of Hueco Mundo, shall show you the wrath of a king this day!"
Faced with Kensei's insult, Baraggan roared in fury. He hesitated no longer, producing the pill bottle Szayelaporro had given him and stuffing all remaining pills into his mouth. To prevent them from being putrid by his own aura, he had taken special precautions.
The floor of the hall cracked open, the sounds of numerous Hollows rising from below—prepared food he had prepared in advance, just in case.
Black mist swept through his former subordinates. The waste in Baraggan's eyes transformed into pure spiritual pressure that entered his body, causing his reiatsu to climb at an astonishing rate.
"So this is the result of Szayelaporro's research on that sword."
Aizen narrowed his eyes, observing Baraggan's transformation. Though this method of increasing spiritual pressure was somewhat crude, it did have certain redeeming qualities.
He wondered if it might work on Quincies. He would find an opportunity to experiment with it later.
Meanwhile, on the external battlefield.
Under the combined assault of Stark and Ulquiorra, Arturo's condition had deteriorated drastically. Though his regenerative abilities were extremely powerful, the pain was very real.
One of these two was like a relentless artillery battery, the other like a calm machine that always managed to wound him at precisely the right moment.
"Tch."
Arturo's peripheral vision caught sight of the five corpses lying nearby. A crazy thought flashed through his mind.
He endured Stark's Cero head-on, using the force to launch himself backward, his target directly at the corpses on the ground.
"You've fallen for it! This was my plan all along!"
Arturo landed precisely atop the bodies. Before the next Cero could reach him, he produced the pill Baraggan had given him, stuffed it into his mouth, and began voraciously tearing into the still-warm corpses beneath him.
After devouring all five bodies, Arturo's depleted spiritual pressure was not only replenished but showed signs of increasing further.
He now felt some regret—he should never have waded into this troubled water. But he was now riding a tiger and couldn't dismount. Once he absorbed these few people before him, it would be enough for him to evolve further.
In Szayelaporro's laboratory, he stood before a monitor displaying dozens of small screens showing every location around Las Noches.
He watched as both Arturo and Baraggan swallowed the pills he had prepared. The corners of his mouth stretched to an exaggerated arc, followed by uncontrollable laughter.
"Ah perfect I truly possess the talent of a god!"
An unhealthy flush colored Szayelaporro's face. All the plans he had prepared were now at the harvest stage. His fingers flew across the control panel. The center of the laboratory rose, revealing Ikomikidomoe standing upright upon it.
Szayelaporro approached, grasping the hilt as if caring for a rare treasure, crazy light flashing in his eyes.
He closed his eyes, feeling the greed emanating from the blade, and the steadily increasing spiritual pressure of Baraggan and Arturo outside.
"Come, your esteemed Majesty, and that Vasto Lorde!"
Szayelaporro spread his arms as if to embrace this feast of his own creation.
"You will all become part of me, helping me become the true perfect being!"
After injecting a special reagent into his own neck, Szayelaporro drew Ikomikidomoe from its sheath, aimed the tip at his Hollow hole, and plunged it in without hesitation.
The masterless Zanpakutō released. Ikomikidomoe's body reappeared, its form having grown even larger. The already ruined Las Noches was completely reduced to rubble beneath its further enlarged frame.
Four branch-like wings pierced through Ikomikidomoe's back. Above its head, Szayelaporro's upper body remained, laughing wildly.
"Finally, my plan is finally complete!"
The huge wings behind shot out like tentacles, pointing straight at Arturo and Baraggan, binding them like puppets and drawing them close.
Having fused with Ikomikidomoe, Szayelaporro no longer feared Baraggan's aging breath.
"Szayelaporro, you—!"
Before Baraggan could finish, he and Arturo were both thrown into Ikomikidomoe's mouth. A swallowing sound echoed, and the same black mist that surrounded Baraggan now enveloped Ikomikidomoe.
"Damn! My bone powder plan!"
Kensei watched as Baraggan was devoured by Ikomikidomoe, wondering if any residue remained. He had wanted to give some to Urahara and the others for research.
"Now, you too shall become part of this new body of mine."
Szayelaporro swept his gaze over Kensei and the others below as if picking dolls. With this body, what need was there for research? Simply constant devouring would allow him to become the perfect being of his dreams.
"Ah well. At least these troublesome ones have all gathered in one place."
Kensei stretched his body. He had been wondering how to deal with Szayelaporro—that pervert with far too many means of survival. Now he didn't need to.
What a good man!
"Here we go, Sōsuke! Let's show it the power of our bond!"
Aizen glanced at Kensei, whose spirits had inexplicably soared, and for a moment wasn't sure what expression to make.