"Tsk…"
Around the half-collapsed sandy ground.
Szayelaporro stored his various "research materials" in a special type of Hollow.
He turned his head to look at the reishi traces in the sky, which sometimes expanded and sometimes contracted.
A sudden interest arose in him.
"Another Shinigami?"
"Indeed."
He pushed his glasses up, a slight smile playing on his lips.
For things like research materials, the more, the better.
As a scientist among Hollows, he loved all things unknown.
And coincidentally, the Zanpakuto wielded by Shinigami was precisely the subject he was currently researching.
After all… it contained the secret to why Shinigami were so powerful.
And this was also closely related to Hollows.
"Let's continue."
Szayelaporro looked towards the battleground of Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Harribel, and due to his inner craving for scientific research, he couldn't help but murmur to himself:
"Never mind whether my conclusion is right or wrong…"
"As one of the materials, Shinigami definitely cannot be missing."
"They were rare to see in the past, but now that a few have appeared, we can't waste them."
"They absolutely cannot be allowed to die at the hands of other Vasto Lorde."
"Over there… I remember that's Tier Harribel's territory, isn't it?"
"Good luck, too bad you ran into me."
Szayelaporro smiled faintly, a very mysterious and eerie smile.
He did not think Tier Harribel would be his opponent.
If she were sensible.
Letting her go would be fine.
But if she was stubborn…
Perfect… his material library was just missing a Vasto Lorde-level Menos Grande.
"Hmm…"
However, he then recalled the Shinigami he had just defeated.
Remembering the bloodstains that had accidentally gotten on his clothes.
He pondered for a moment.
Finally, he decided to return to base for now, change his clothes, and then come back.
His head could be severed.
But his clothes and hairstyle could not be messed up.
...
...
Soon after.
Facing Tsugikuni Yoriichi's swift and powerful attacks.
Tier Harribel could no longer hold on.
Although the reishi of Hueco Mundo could give her a great boost, her injuries would not heal.
As a Vasto Lorde, her original ability of ultra-fast regeneration had gradually been lost during her evolution.
In its place were extremely strong physical attributes and indestructible bone blades.
It was a pity that these abilities were only suitable for dealing with enemies of the same level.
Once an opponent's certain ability exceeded her limit, such as strength and speed…
Even if their reishi were comparable, she would gradually fall into a disadvantage.
Hoo…
Breathing heavily, her bone armour was mostly covered in dark red bloodstains.
Harribel slowly raised her eyes, her once star-like eyes now much dimmer, as if covered by a thin veil.
It was visibly apparent that her condition had deteriorated like never before.
—What a difficult opponent.
Are all Shinigami like this?
Powerful physical attributes, keen intuition, unrivalled swordsmanship…
And a resilient spirit.
In their previous conversation, he had dismissed all her ideals in just a few words.
It was as if her adherence to non-killing was a ridiculous joke in front of him.
What's wrong with not killing? As long as she was strong enough, no matter how much her enemies resented her, they would not come looking for trouble again.
It's just…
Was she really strong enough?
Harribel felt a bit lost.
She looked at Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who was in perfect condition not far away, with only a slight tear in his Shihakusho, his breathing long and his aura deep.
Then she looked at herself, covered in blood.
Suddenly, she felt.
Being a Vasto Lorde was nothing special.
"Not making a move?" Seeing Harribel distracted for some unknown reason, Yoriichi's brow inadvertently raised.
She… was very strong.
That was for sure.
It had been half a year since he became a Shinigami, and she was the first Hollow to fight him for so long.
The strongest he had encountered before.
It could only last five seconds.
But now.
They had been fighting for nearly twenty minutes.
Although he could release his Zanpakuto, Yoriichi would not do so, because it would be an insult to both their ideals.
Protecting the weak was not wrong, only not killing was wrong, just like his younger self…
It was precisely for this reason that Yoriichi would make a move when she hesitated.
His lingering aura echoed in his ears, and Yoriichi raised his Zanpakuto.
He was about to condense and unleash his sword pressure.
The next moment.
A powerful reishi appeared undisguised in the pile of rubble on the right.
The surrounding air immediately became as thick as mud.
Yoriichi frowned slightly and looked over there.
He saw.
An elegant young man with pink, shoulder-length hair and a slender build slowly walked out of the rubble.
There was no mask on his face, and his aura was very dangerous.
Judging by the overall reishi he emitted, he was probably a Hollow, and one that was even stronger than Harribel.
At this moment, Tier Harribel's voice sounded in his ear, with a hint of surprise:
"Szayelaporro! How did you get here!?"
So he was Szayelaporro…
Since he appeared, Gosuke Kenpachi must have been defeated.
Yoriichi remained silent.
Szayelaporro smiled, his slender fingers resting on his glasses, his tone playful:
"What, Tier, can't I come?"
"Long time no see, you've gotten weaker, you can't even handle a mere Shinigami."
"You've even been beaten like this… No wonder those Adjuchas can provoke you."
"As a Vasto Lorde, you're truly disgraceful. How about… Do you accept my modifications? I will definitely make you stronger than before."
"What do you say?"
"The modification won't hurt at all, you know."
Tier Harribel snorted, her repulsion undisguised:
"I was just careless, Szayelaporro, what are you doing here?"
"What else? Of course, I'm looking for materials…" Szayelaporro said casually, his gaze sweeping over Tsugikuni Yoriichi nearby.
A meaningful glint immediately flashed in his eyes.
He raised his chin and called out to Yoriichi:
"Hey! Kid, I just defeated a Captain. Who is he to you?"
"Since you can suppress Tier, you must also be a Captain, right?"
"How about you tell me your name?"
"Tsugikuni Yoriichi," Yoriichi said indifferently, "I am not a Captain, but since you defeated Gosuke Kenpachi, you are my enemy."
"Vasto Lorde."
"…"
"Interesting…" Szayelaporro chuckled softly, reaching up to smooth his hair back, a hint of coldness on his face:
"Enemy? I don't think so. I observe your reishi is only around the third-grade level, right?"
"Let me tell you a cruel reality, my reishi already reached first grade not long ago."
"In your Shinigami terms, that's probably equivalent to the Captain-Commander."
"Although I don't know where you get your courage, it is indeed commendable. I admire you very much."
"Be my research material, and I will give you the best care. You only need to take eight doses of medicine a day, and even during experiments, I will try my best to leave you with one breath."
"How about it? As an experimental subject, this is already an exceptional treatment."
"Even that Captain doesn't get to enjoy it."