"Is that not true?"
"Of course it is."
"However, I didn't expect those words to come from your mouth."
Both sides spoke calmly. Yet, Yoriichi could sense a hint of annoyance in her voice.
That was only natural.
From his observations just now, Yoriichi knew he had touched her bottom line.
But.
Hollows and Shinigami were natural enemies.
Their mutual slaughter had nothing to do with justice.
What concerned Yoriichi was Harribel's attitude.
When he was in Soul Society, he had thought all Hollows were utterly cruel beings.
He never expected to encounter such a human-like existence.
A Vasto Lorde…
Truly extraordinary.
"That is your Shinigami's prejudice," Harribel said indifferently.
"Why did you kill them? Did they have a grudge against you?"
"No, but they were Hollows," Yoriichi calmly replied, "To eliminate and purify Hollows is our duty as Shinigami."
"I, on the other hand, want to ask why you were unwilling to kill them?"
"I already said it earlier, I don't wish to create meaningless sacrifices," Tier Harribel calmed herself as much as possible.
In her perception, her opponent was strong and she could not act rashly.
Although she was a Vasto Lorde, the reishi in Hueco Mundo could greatly enhance the power of Hollows, Shinigami, and Quincy.
Captain-level Shinigami could exert combat power beyond a Captain here, and the fellow in front of her was just like that.
She took a deep breath, paused, and continued:
"I know a world without sacrifice is impossible, but if one blindly pursues sacrifice, they will surely suffer a backlash in the future."
"Just like now."
She slowly raised the bone blade in her hand, adjusted her breathing, and her light blue eyes gradually became resolute:
"Shinigami, you killed them. Are you ready to face my wrath?"
"Interesting." Hearing this reply, Yoriichi rarely smiled. To think there would be such a Hollow with a sense of justice.
Her philosophy was essentially to end the chain of hatred.
If I kill you, your loved ones will inevitably resent me.
Resentment is the backlash your sacrifice brings upon me.
This backlash is endless, because your loved ones also have loved ones; unless a lineage dies out completely, enemies will always exist…
It seems Hollows are not all cruel and bloodthirsty.
Unfortunately, the one before him now was an enemy.
He raised his Zanpakuto, and surging spiritual pressure erupted as he slowly said, "In that case, then come."
"Let me see whose belief is superior, yours or mine."
Tier Harribel's philosophy did not align with his.
If one chose to give up on rooting out evil for fear of bearing the consequences, then they would surely regret it in the future.
Because the slaughter caused by the opponent afterwards would be borne by you alone.
This was another kind of evil.
… …
At the same time.
On the other side.
Gojoshibe Kenpachi stood on a dune, looking at the pink-haired figure before him, his Zanpakuto trembling violently.
The air was thick with the smell of blood, and the corpses of his comrades lay at his feet; his eyes became somewhat bloodshot.
He heard the figure continuously saying:
"This one won't do… This one won't do either. How come none of the Shinigami who entered this batch are good research material?"
"Eleventh Division? It's declined. Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, whom I met last time, isn't here, and this time a big fat guy came instead. So useless."
"Sigh… I'll just have to make do."
Szayelaporro Granz pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses, formed from bone armour, his eyes overflowing with disappointment.
He looked at the Shinigami who were not yet dead at his feet.
He saw them unwillingly reaching out their hands, grasping his ankles, trying to pull him down.
He couldn't help but snort.
"Materials must act like materials."
He forcefully pulled his foot free and stomped down.
Crack!
Amidst a Shinigami's painful grunt, he slowly raised his head, turned, and looked at Gojoshibe Kenpachi, his tone unhurried:
"So… Kenpachi, what is your name?"
"I killed your teammates, aren't you angry?"
"According to Shinigami tradition… shouldn't you be coming over to cut me down right now?"
"Why aren't you moving? Are you afraid?"
"You…" Gojoshibe Kenpachi's eyes were bloodshot. He looked at his teammates, who were enduring pain and breathing weakly while bowed beside Szayelaporro.
Gritting his teeth, his voice heavy, he said, "You… how do you know us so well?"
"Of course, you told me," Szayelaporro smiled, his elegant tone like that of a noble.
He raised one hand to push up his glasses, while the other adjusted his sleeve.
As if any blemish on his appearance was a sign of disrespect to himself:
"You must be wondering why a Vasto Lorde like me would appear here, but there's no need to wonder."
"Because the coincidences in the world cannot be explained by logic."
"Do you have any other last words?"
"If not, could you tell me your name? I'd like to prepare a special container for you."
"A Captain-level Shinigami, it's been a long time since I've met one…"
His voice was somewhat nostalgic, and the spiritual pressure he exuded was like a vast ocean, causing Gojoshibe Kenpachi's body to tremble uncontrollably.
It was like facing the Captain-Commander, filled with dread.
Absolute first-class spiritual power!
A feeling of despair immediately enveloped his heart.
"No last words?"
"Never mind."
Szayelaporro shook his head, losing interest in toying with Gojoshibe Kenpachi.
He had thought he was a true man, but it turned out he was a coward.
He had planned to have a good time with eight different drugs, but now it seemed he would have to lock himselfself in the research lab and play with him slowly…
He sighed, and the moment his words fell, Szayelaporro suddenly vanished from his spot.
He appeared beside Gojoshibe Kenpachi.
Gojoshibe Kenpachi instinctively swung his sword.
"Bankai! Devour the Abyss!"
Instantly!
Surging spiritual pressure erupted.
The soaring pillar of spiritual pressure stirred up wave after wave of violent winds.
He held a massive three-meter-long iron hammer and slammed it towards Szayelaporro's position with a roar.
Boom!
As the iron hammer struck, the surrounding area, including the ground, all sunken by a third.
Fine silver sand even formed hollow areas, creating a suction force that swallowed everything around it, including the corpses of his comrades.
—Since I can't take them back for burial, I might as well destroy them!
—Even destroying the bodies is better than becoming research material!
"Hoo… Ah!!"
Gojoshibe Kenpachi took a deep breath, veins bulging on his forehead, and pressed down hard, attempting to force Szayelaporro into the quicksand.
This scene was fully observed by Szayelaporro, who sneered and flicked his finger.
Crack!
Fine, spiderweb-like cracks immediately spread across the iron hammer. He lightly lifted his ankle, yet the quicksand continued to spread widely.
However, none of this mattered to Szayelaporro, because the counterforce from his flick directly sent Gojoshibe Kenpachi flying.
The moment he landed, due to the backlash formed by the collision of spiritual pressures, Gojoshibe Kenpachi's vision went black, and he knew nothing more.