A moment later.
Bang!
As countless ice crystals reflected dazzling light under the moonlight, there was nothing left where Runuganga had been.
It was as if he had been washed away by the river of time.
Only the rapidly dropping temperature revealed the ferocity and unparalleled power of that previous strike.
Yoriichi lowered his palm, his gaze calm.
He swept his eyes over the now level ground before looking back at Harribel and asking,
"You didn't run away?"
"Why would I run away?"
Harribel slowed her breathing, a wisp of white mist accompanying her exhale, dissipating into the air.
She had seen all of Tsugikuni Yoriichi's movements.
Whether it was his sword strikes or high-level Hado, she knew she would be hard-pressed to resist them, as they were attacks under first-tier spiritual pressure.
Although his Bankai had ended and Tsugikuni Yoriichi's spiritual pressure was slowly dropping with the passage of time, given his current pristine state…
Even with third-tier spiritual pressure, she would definitely not be his opponent.
There was no escaping anyway.
Better to fight to the death.
Staring intently at Tsugikuni Yoriichi, in a vigilant stance, Harribel's muscles rapidly tensed.
She tried to find a weakness in Yoriichi, but after observing for a long time, she found nothing; conversely, she herself was full of openings due to the prolonged standoff.
Her tense mood was like a taut string, her breathing heavy, and the surrounding air quieted down with it.
Yoriichi nodded lightly: "Very good."
Sweeping his gaze over Harribel's posture, and understanding her attitude, Yoriichi was quite satisfied—as a Hollow, her performance had already exceeded most Vasto Lorde.
Unlike that disgusting Szayelaporro Granz.
If they weren't on opposing sides,
Perhaps there was even a possibility of becoming comrades.
What a pity…
"Let me ask you a question."
Yoriichi suddenly spoke.
"Have you killed a Shinigami?"
…"
After a moment of silence, although she didn't understand the meaning of the question, Harribel answered with the attitude of stalling for as long as possible:
"No."
"This is Hueco Mundo; very few Shinigami come here."
"My understanding of you all comes from what I've heard from other Adjuchas."
"Then…" Yoriichi nodded slightly, his hand gripping the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
After speaking two words,
He pondered for a moment, seemingly weighing his words, before his gaze returned to being peaceful:
"If one day you encounter a Shinigami, what would you do, regardless of your stance, provided there is no conflict of interest?"
…" Upon hearing this, Harribel immediately understood the meaning of the question, so she took a deep breath.
"I will not make a move, because I hate meaningless sacrifices."
"If defeating a Shinigami could make one's future life smooth sailing, then Hollows and Shinigami would not be mortal enemies."
"However, although I believe this, what you said cannot happen."
Everything is based on the premise of being unrelated to one's stance.
However, being unrelated to one's stance is an impossible reality.
As early as millions of years ago,
Hollows were labelled as evil.
Any Shinigami viewed them as heretics, taking it upon themselves to hunt them down.
The man before her… in Harribel's opinion, was no exception.
"Not bad." Tsugikuni Yoriichi did not deny these words.
He merely loosened his grip on his Zanpakuto, his posture becoming relaxed and casual.
Individuals and groups cannot be equated.
Is Kamado Nezuko evil?
Not necessarily.
Theoretically, the more numerous a certain species is, the more likely it is to produce individuals with diametrically opposite personalities.
Previously, Yoriichi still adhered to the attitude of rather killing the wrong person than letting one escape.
He let Tamayo go only because she had broken free from Kibutsuji Muzan's control at that time and could help him kill Muzan.
Although it ultimately failed, Tamayo indeed did not eat humans in the decades that followed…
—This seemingly unconventional successful action was merely an extreme rarity.
That's why, after his reincarnation, he didn't let go of any demon he saw.
And now.
Yoriichi only cared who their king was.
"Do you know Baraggan?"
Upon hearing this,
It was as if a cold wind swept across a frozen lake.
The air was as still as if time had stopped.
Harribel's eyes widened, her pupils slightly contracting, and she said with some disbelief:
"You…!"
"Are you perhaps thinking of fighting Baraggan?"
"No?"
"Yes, but…"
Harribel hesitated, "With your current strength, it's not quite enough. Baraggan is a Menos Grande who was born in ancient times."
"When I was born, he was already the king of Las Noches, and even the entire Hueco Mundo; he is the strongest Vasto Lorde-level Menos Grande."
"The Szayelaporro Granz you defeated earlier was merely a subordinate under his name."
"In terms of strength, in Hueco Mundo, he can probably only rank in the top five…"
"Top five?" Yoriichi frowned slightly. This number, how should he put it?
It always gave a feeling of both despair and hope.
At this moment, Tier Harribel continued:
"Undeniably, you possess abilities similar to a Quincy, thriving in Hueco Mundo."
"But correspondingly, those Menos Grande are not without their trump cards."
"As far as I know, Baraggan possesses an ability capable of turning Hollows into dust; no substance can resist it."
"Even our proud bone armour and Hierro are rendered useless in the face of that ability…"
—Ignoring defence?
If that were the case, then it would indeed be troublesome.
Both sides would be completely undefended, and even a tiny mistake could lead to one side's complete defeat.
The margin for error was too low.
Moreover, whether that ability truly "ignores defence" still needs to be verified…
Tier Harribel's status was too low; information heard through hearsay had no credibility whatsoever.
Let's wait and see for now.
Collecting his thoughts, Yoriichi's tone was as usual: "Your answer is very detailed, and I am very satisfied, but correspondingly, I have a question."
"I only asked if you knew Baraggan; why tell me all this?"
"As a Hollow, do you also feel very dissatisfied with his existence?"
…"
Harribel fell silent.
Suddenly realised.
What Yoriichi wanted to ask was also what she wanted to ask.
Why did she say these words?
Could it be?
In her subconscious… she stood on the Shinigami's side? That shouldn't be right.
Hmm! It must be because Baraggan is too cruel!
Harribel silently found an excuse for herself, her expressionless face showing no ripple of emotion, only saying faintly:
"Who knows?"
"Perhaps…"
"It's my instinct speaking for the weak."
"Heh." Hearing this answer, Yoriichi's lips curved slightly upward, revealing a faint, almost imperceptible smile:
"Interesting, Tier Harribel, I remember you. I take back what I said earlier; you are indeed very special."
"Remember what you said today."
"If one day you betray your current beliefs, no matter where you flee, I will kill you."
"You may leave now, before I change my mind."
Unsurprisingly, this was another "Tamayo"; adhering to a no-kill policy against enemies was quite foolish, but for one's own side…
After all, he had to leave something for the future Shinigami.
…"
Seemingly in disbelief, Harribel's body trembled twice:
"Really?"
Yoriichi did not answer, nor did he look at her.
The next second.
Harribel tentatively moved her feet.
Suddenly.
"Oh, by the way, could you leave a detailed map of Hueco Mundo?"
The question Yoriichi posed caused her body to stiffen again.
When she heard clearly.
Whew…
Harribel let out a sigh of relief.
She wiped non-existent sweat from her forehead, her tone gradually relaxing:
"No problem."