As the Hollows were slain, they all dissolved into spiritual particles, dissipating into the Great Void Forest.
Yet, no one noticed a small dark-golden vortex rising in the shadows, silently absorbing the spiritual particles transformed from the fallen Gillians and Adjuchas slain by the God of Death.
Since Ren had ascended to Adjuchas, the boost from absorbing mere mindless Gillians and six Adjuchas was negligible. Still, following the principle of not wasting resources, he allowed the ghoul soul to absorb them.
"Roar!"
Just as the expeditionary forces were preparing to rest, a spiritual pressure—one Ren was extremely familiar with—suddenly emerged.
A leopard-shaped Adjuchas appeared before the Death Gods, followed closely by five distinct Gillians who had regressed from Adjuchas. They trailed behind him like the most loyal subordinates.
This Hollow was none other than Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, and the five degenerated Gillians were his subordinates from the original events.
"Another Adjuchas group?"
Masahiro Osaki eyed the approaching enemies warily, finally sensing a trace of danger from Grimmjow—though just a trace.
As Grimmjow prepared to charge in with his subordinates, Ren couldn't help but feel exasperated.
Although Grimmjow's spiritual pressure had grown considerably since they last met, and he had even conquered followers, they were still unrefined. Against the expeditionary force—where true Captain-level combatants were present—they stood no chance.
Initially, Ren planned to remain in the shadows and observe, but he had to intervene.
Withdrawing the 50% spiritual pressure he had shared with his clone, his aura suddenly surged.
A terrifying spiritual pressure erupted without restraint, sweeping across several kilometers. Hidden Hollows lurking in the distance scattered in fear, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and this overwhelming force.
"This... this spiritual pressure...!"
Masahiro Osaki's weathered face twisted in shock. Around him, the Death Gods struggled under the sheer weight of the oppressive aura, their breathing growing uneven.
"Could it be... a legendary Vasto Lorde?" Masahiro Osaki muttered in disbelief.
"Whoosh!"
Before their eyes, a humanoid figure emerged—black eyes, black hair, clad in dark bone plating and centipede-like armor. He stood before the leopard-shaped Hollow.
"Who the hell are you...?"
Grimmjow's pupils shrank as he recognized Ren instantly. This was the same mysterious Vasto Lorde who had planted that thunder sphere in his body. But something was different. His form had changed again, stronger than before.
"You? What are you? Remember to call me king!"
Ren waved his hand. Grimmjow's body lifted uncontrollably into the air.
The next moment, Ren grabbed him and hurled him violently, sending him flying.
"Hey, you five idiots, take him and get lost. I'll handle things here!" Ren commanded bluntly.
Grimmjow's subordinates—stunned—looked at Ren in shock.
"This... this is the King of Kings!"
"Move it!"
With Ren's impatient urging, the five quickly gathered Grimmjow and withdrew.
At the same time, Masahiro Osaki turned to the expeditionary force with a grave expression.
"Scatter!"
The Death Gods instantly dispersed in all directions.
"What about you, Captain Osaki?" Shun asked anxiously.
"I'll stay behind and eliminate this Vasto Lorde. You all go!"
Seeing his captain's firm resolve, Shun hesitated no longer and immediately departed.
Ren remained unfazed, making no effort to stop them.
However, unnoticed by all, a tiny centipede—no larger than an ant—clung to the fabric of Shun's uniform as he fled.
When the dust settled, only Masahiro Osaki and Ren remained.
Ren suddenly noticed Osaki trembling.
"Are you scared?" he sneered.
"Scared?" Osaki's eyes burned with emotion. "If I were a coward, why would I have joined the Void Circle Expeditionary Force?"
"I'm excited! I finally have the chance to kill a Vasto Lorde with my own hands!"
"My entire family was devoured by Hollows. I abandoned a prestigious position in the Soul Society to be here—to fight!"
"What could be more satisfying than slaying a Vasto Lorde myself?"
Ren, seeing his escalating excitement, had no patience for his speech. He simply scoffed and said coldly:
"Idiot."
Ren grew impatient upon hearing Osaki's words and casually flicked his hand, releasing a Bala.
"So fast!"
Masahiro Osaki barely dodged the high-speed attack, his breath hitching as the projectile blasted past him.
Standing on a tree trunk ahead, Ren observed him with an air of indifference. Osaki, however, had already come to a grim realization—this Hollow wasn't just any Vasto Lorde. He was formidable.
Then, Osaki's gaze fell on the simple wooden sheath at Ren's waist. A Zanpakutō? His heart skipped a beat.
Wasting no more time, Osaki gripped his weapon tightly, drew his Zanpakutō, and slashed forward while muttering under his breath:
"Bankai—Thousand Illusion Flying Shuttle!"
The blade in his hands fractured inch by inch, shattering into a thousand glimmering shards. A radiant spectrum of light flickered as the fragments hovered in the air, each carrying a trace of Osaki's spiritual pressure.
With a clenched fist, he commanded the fragments forward. Like a storm of razor-sharp mirrors, they rushed toward Ren in a dazzling, multicolored assault.
"Oh? So this is Bankai?" Ren mused, his expression unmoved.
This was the first time he had fought a Death God wielding Bankai. Yet, even as the countless shards streaked toward him, his face betrayed no concern.
Without hesitation, Ren extended a single finger.
A black-and-red Cero flared to life at its tip.
In an instant, the deadly beam surged forward, colliding head-on with the incoming shards.
"Boom!"
The resulting explosion was cataclysmic. The sky filled with shattered light, and the fragments of Osaki's Bankai were hurled outward, their impact obliterating the towering trees of the Great Void Forest, reducing them to dust.
Even the residual force of the blast sent Osaki reeling, blood spilling from his lips.
"Cough... H-how does a Hollow possess such overwhelming spiritual pressure?" he gasped.
But there was no time for hesitation. With a swift motion, he manipulated the scattered shards, drawing them back together. The luminous fragments coalesced, reforming into a radiant six-pointed star.
From its center, a torrent of multicolored energy erupted, streaking toward Ren with relentless force.
.... patreon Seasay