boom.
Nnoitra fell from Shendu's palm, half-kneeling on the scorched sand.
He looked up at the sky, his black pupils devoid of color, his mouth slightly open, as deep as an abyss.
The burning golden Reiatsu diminished little by little until it was completely extinguished, like a dying candle in the wind.
Shendu looked at the soul pulled into his palm, carefully observing and analyzing it.
The power of the Sheep Talisman had far more potential than he had imagined.
This soul-specific ability alone was enough to rank among the many cheating-level abilities in this treacherous world.
"Soul…"
Shendu hesitated for a moment, then directly opened his bloody mouth. Under Harribel's shocked gaze, he devoured Nnoitra's soul completely.
The golden light flickered in Shendu's blood-red eyes, then dimmed as calm returned.
Nothing changed—not even a ripple in his Reiatsu.
However, Shendu's expression rarely showed a hint of joy and clarity.
"Killing and soul."
He summarized it simply, "To achieve Arrancar, aside from time and near-limitless potential…"
"Killing is also an essential condition."
"The second is the strength of the soul."
"Considering Starrk's soul strength, even in all of Hueco Mundo, it is outstanding."
With the complete disappearance of the soul, Nnoitra, who had been half-kneeling on the ground, lost his support and turned into countless spirit particles, merging into the atmosphere of Hueco Mundo.
[The sixth step towards the ultimate has been completed.]
[Template progress: 35% → 40%.]
[Unlocked: Snake Talisman.]
[Current abilities: dragon body, fire magic, demon magic, Dragon Talisman, Pig Talisman, Ox Talisman, Sheep Talisman, Snake Talisman.]
[Reiatsu: First-class Spiritual Power (extreme).]
With Nnoitra's demise, Shendu was one step closer to the ultimate goal.
However, the unlocking of the Snake Talisman left Shendu a bit dissatisfied.
Simply hiding one's presence didn't seem very effective in battle.
He preferred straightforward combat.
Violent crushing was the romance of the Menos Grande.
As for Nnoitra's spirit merging into the air of Hueco Mundo, Shendu pondered thoughtfully:
"If even the soul is devoured, will Nnoitra still appear in Hell?"
"If he does, then the essence of life isn't the soul but the spirit?"
Shendu didn't dwell on the speculation further.
The harvest of this trip already made him very satisfied.
One day, the secrets of Hell would be revealed to him.
Shendu believed that day wasn't far off.
"Come on, Harribel."
Hearing her name called so suddenly, Harribel hesitated for a moment but followed immediately.
Although she strongly rejected the evolutionary behavior of devouring among the Menos Grande, as a Vasto Lorde, she couldn't avoid this process.
As long as Shendu didn't force her into such actions, she would accept it.
The Forest of Menos Grande
When Shendu returned, Santos was already waiting outside the White Tower, on time.
He respectfully reported the current situation and presented a small amount of information requiring attention.
Santos had no doubt that Shendu could resolve the disappearance of the Adjucha expedition team.
He was even more confident than Shendu himself.
"Your Majesty, the other expedition teams have returned smoothly, and a new team has been dispatched to the southwest."
Santos pulled a notebook from beneath his messy feathers and reported respectfully:
"In addition, there's another piece of information that requires your orders."
"In the direction of Las Noches, there's a large-scale migration of Hollow groups…"
Shendu's teeth parted slightly, white air escaping between them. Even his kindest smile could make a child cry at night.
"So they've finally started to move?"
A Hollow group migration signaled the impending war between Las Noches and the Forest of Menos Grande.
Baraggan would never allow an equal to his throne in Hueco Mundo, let alone be replaced by another Vasto Lorde.
In his eyes, he was the sole supreme being—the only god of Hueco Mundo.
From the day Harribel issued the challenge, Baraggan's orders had been conveyed down through his ranks.
The Hollows under Las Noches moved steadily toward its direction.
An unprecedented war was brewing in Hueco Mundo.
But everyone understood—even the Gillian with individual consciousness knew—what determined the outcome of this war wouldn't be the sheer number of Hollow groups or the quality of their Adjucha.
It would be a battle between the leaders of these two factions.
Only the truly strong deserved to sit on the throne as the king of Hueco Mundo.
Even knowing this, unease spread within Las Noches.
For the coming war, these tyrannical beings were both eager and fearful.
Las Noches
Under the bright moonlight, the open-air castle of Las Noches was silent.
The dense Menos Grande filled the vast square, kneeling quietly and awaiting new orders.
Baraggan sat on his throne, his bony arm propping up his "thin" cheek, looking down at the Adjucha below.
At that moment, irritation gnawed at him.
Ever since Harribel had come to issue the challenge, subtle changes had occurred in Baraggan's mentality.
Previously, he had scoffed at Shendu, the new Vasto Lorde, thinking this upstart might bring a fleeting change to his dull existence.
But who would have thought…
In just days, Shendu had first slain a fellow Vasto Lorde in the Forest of Menos Grande, then annihilated all the troops Baraggan had dispatched.
Even worse, the only Vasto Lorde loyal to Baraggan had defected to the enemy camp.
And the ultimate insult—Harribel, whom Baraggan had courted numerous times, had also joined Shendu's side.
By comparison, Baraggan suddenly felt like a mockery.
Anger flared in his heart, threatening to consume the rationality he had built up over the years.
If not for his remaining subordinates, Baraggan might have personally descended upon the Forest of Menos Grande by now.
"Ggio, how goes the Hollow gathering?"
Baraggan asked in a low voice.
Ggio Vega knelt and reported respectfully:
"Except for a few small groups, the others have all gathered near Las Noches."
Ggio Vega, one of Baraggan's most trusted Menos Grande, had a saber-toothed tiger-like skull mask, a body covered in white bone armor, and sharp blades at his joints—an efficient killing machine.
Following Abirama Redder's death, Ggio Vega had taken his place, managing the tedious affairs of Las Noches.
Baraggan's subordinates were more than happy to leave such tasks to Ggio Vega.
"There's no need to wait any longer."
"I've waited long enough."
Baraggan lowered his arm from his cheek and pressed his hands against the throne's armrests. Black energy swirled around him as his terrifying Reiatsu spread throughout Las Noches.
"All forces, set out…"
"Target: the Forest of Menos Grande!"
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