As Tsugikuni Yoriichi observed.
Boom!
The ground trembled from the running Hollows, and a sky full of silver sand dust rose around them.
Tier Harribel, who was being chased at the forefront of the Hollows, heard the commotion and slightly turned her head.
Through the mask formed by white bone armour, her light blue eyes reflected the relentless pursuit of those Hollows, and she couldn't help but feel troubled.
As a Vasto Lorde, she shouldn't have been chased by a group of Adjuchas, but unfortunately, her opponents were numerous.
If she didn't go to an open area, it would be easy to accidentally kill them... which was not what she wanted.
And at this moment.
The shouts of the Hollows came in waves.
"Harribel!"
"Stop right now! How dare you challenge Lord Baraggan, who gave you the guts?!"
"Don't you know that the entire Hueco Mundo belongs to Lord Baraggan?"
It would have been better if they hadn't said anything.
The more they spoke.
The more helpless Tier Harribel felt.
Baraggan was the King of Hueco Mundo, and the only reason she was being chased was because she had injured one of his subordinates.
And this was unavoidable.
After all.
If that Hollow hadn't been so arrogant, trying to devour another female Hollow right in front of her.
She wouldn't have made a move.
Whoosh.
The surrounding space gradually became open, and Harribel instantly stopped.
Immediately, a cloud of dust rose and floated with her movement.
Silver light spilt onto her shoulders, shimmering faintly.
She turned to face the Adjuchas, her calm eyes showing no ripples.
Her clear, cold voice followed:
"I have never challenged him; why do you relentlessly pursue me?"
"Undeniably, Hueco Mundo is Baraggan's territory, but that doesn't mean he can act recklessly."
"I am merely protecting the weak."
"Protecting the weak?" The group of Adjuchas seemed to have heard a joke and immediately burst into undisguised mockery and disdain:
"Harribel, you are simply the disgrace of Hueco Mundo!"
"Every Hollow living in Hueco Mundo knows that Hollows need to devour their own kind to grow."
"But you, not only do you not devour your own kind, you even prevent other Hollows from devouring their own kind... Do you think you are the King of Hueco Mundo?"
"What makes you think you can decide everything?"
"His Majesty Baraggan said that heretics must be purged!"
"Of course, you also have another choice."
"Join him!"
"What is your choice?"
"Do not attempt to refuse, otherwise, next time you will face His Majesty's personal expedition."
"I don't think you will be his opponent."
Facing this almost tangible threat, Harribel remained unfazed.
She touched the cold bone armour on her face with one hand, recalling the philosophy she had consistently upheld, her tone firm and resolute:
"Yes, I am not his opponent, but I will never easily compromise."
"As a Vasto Lorde, the highest rank of Hollows..."
"Why do you think I would surrender?"
"Is it Baraggan who gives you this confidence? If so, then I apologise, but I will defeat you here."
"Your tone is as arrogant as ever! Are you not going to kill us?" an Adjuchas scoffed.
In response, Tier Harribel shook her head:
"This is not arrogance; it's simply not wanting to create meaningless sacrifices."
"Why should we kill each other among our own kind? Our enemies are the Shinigami, aren't they?"
"So what? I still detest your tone immensely." an Adjuchas retorted,
"Don't you see where this is? Where are the Shinigami?"
"Weakness is weakness; there are no other excuses. I truly don't understand why His Majesty Baraggan would value someone like you."
"Perhaps it's because I am strong." Harribel spread her hand, the bone blade growing from her right hand reflecting a sharp, cold light.
"I don't believe there's a problem with my philosophy. It's only right for the strong to protect the weak."
"If one person can't defeat an opponent, then everyone should work together to defeat them. You are the ones with the problem."
"Alright, communication over. You can leave now."
The moment her voice fell, Harribel suddenly vanished from her spot.
The Hollows only managed to see a ring of dust rise from her feet.
Then...
"Ahhh!"
Howls rose and fell, ceaselessly.
As if a rain of blood had fallen, some Hollows appeared with massive wounds on their bodies; though not fatal, the amount of bleeding was enough to obscure the sky.
Bathed in blood, some of the Adjuchas behind wanted to flee, but Harribel's speed was too fast; they couldn't escape at all.
They were caught up after only a few steps, then cut down with a single swing and stepped on.
Her healthy, wheat-colored skin was also stained with blood.
She pointed her sword at a Hollow's head, her voice cold and merciless:
"Remember this lesson. I'll let you go this time, but next time, I will never let you leave so easily."
"If you heard me, then get out!"
The Hollow beneath her struggled incessantly, cursing as it struggled:
"If you have the guts, kill me!"
"You coward! Dying for His Majesty Baraggan, we die with honour!"
This statement seemed to resonate, as similar voices came from all around.
Making Harribel frown:
"You know I won't kill you; why provoke me?"
She looked around; among the Adjuchas lying on the ground, some with tenacious life force were struggling to get up.
One of them spat out a mouthful of blood and laughed mockingly: "Why do you think?"
"Our mission is to bring you back. If we can't bring you back, even if we return alive, we will die at the hands of His Majesty Baraggan."
"Rather than being killed by him, it's better to be killed by you; at least you can give us a quick death."
"Come! Don't pity us, do it!"
He spread his arms, attempting to embrace the impending death, but Harribel hesitated.
She raised her arm, her lips moving slightly, just about to persuade them to abandon their loyalty to Baraggan.
The next second.
Whoosh!
A crimson sword light flashed in the air, followed by a black figure.
This figure was extremely fast.
Just as Tier Harribel saw it, the struggling Hollows in front of her instantly lost all signs of life.
She instinctively lifted her right foot.
Immediately.
Rustle~
The Hollow beneath her foot also turned to dust and dispersed.
This scene caused Harribel's expression to change, her eyes darkening.
Huu...
She slowed her breathing, her expression wary, her gaze coldly fixed on the figure that had stopped in front of her, seeing him dressed in a Shinigami's uniform.
Her mood was heavy and irritated.
--Shinigami!
At this moment, Tsugikuni Yoriichi watched as the last Hollow completely vanished, and he slowly turned his head.
Meeting Tier Harribel's stern gaze, he asked calmly:
"Why didn't you kill them?"
"Hollow."
"Do you truly believe... that it is only right for the strong to protect the weak?"