Szayelaporro's tone was exceedingly elegant, like a god bestowing a gift from on high.
However, his words were extremely cruel.
"Research material?"
He couldn't tell that the Vasto Lorde in front of him was actually a scientist.
Had the Hollows of Hueco Mundo evolved to such a degree of intelligence?
No wonder they needed regular purges.
It's just that...
Captain-Commander...
Was he perhaps overestimating himself?
First-Grade Spiritual Power was merely the upper limit of spiritual pressure levels, not the Captain-Commander's upper limit.
A mere Vasto Lorde actually considered himself at the pinnacle of the Shinigami, truly arrogant to the extreme.
And with his attitude of despising life, even Kibutsuji Muzan couldn't compare to him.
Thinking of this, Yoriichi tightened his grip on the sword hilt, the force in his palm as if to crush it, and an endless oppressive aura permeated the air:
"Very well, Szayelaporro."
"You are the first being I have encountered in Hueco Mundo that I find utterly detestable."
"First-Grade Spiritual Power… Is this the capital of your arrogance?"
"Just how many Shinigami have you killed, you fellow?"
"Well, who knows." Szayelaporro waved his hand indifferently.
He raised his head, his tone casual:
"Perhaps two hundred, perhaps five hundred…"
"Never mind, seeing as you are about to become my research material, I will mercifully tell you."
"Hundreds of years ago, the invasion of Soul Society by Hueco Mundo was orchestrated by me."
"During that invasion, over three hundred Shinigami from the Eleventh Division were captured by me."
"And it was precisely after that incident that your Shinigami side gained a tradition: sending troops to purge Hueco Mundo at regular intervals."
"This behavior may seem to alleviate pressure on the Three Realms, but in reality, it was merely me guiding you to do it."
"If you Shinigami didn't come…"
"Where would I get the research materials to continue my research?"
At this point, the smile on his face grew even brighter, as if his scheme had succeeded, and he laughed with a playful tone:
"Haha, how about it, Shinigami, hearing this, aren't you very surprised?"
"Your Captains, the Captain-Commander, including those nobles, were all kept in the dark by me."
"They even thought the casualties were normal."
"But now, even if you learn the truth, you will certainly not be able to transmit it back."
"Just surrender obediently. I don't want to harm you, because complete materials are more valuable than incomplete ones."
First-Grade Spiritual Power, theoretically, already stood at the pinnacle of the Three Realms.
Even the King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, Szayelaporro did not fear him.
In other words, unless the Captain-Commander of the Shinigami personally arrived, he would surely win.
Harboring such thoughts, Szayelaporro's gaze gradually became playful.
Facing Tsugikuni Yoriichi's silence, he didn't even show the slightest impatience; instead, he even wanted to play a few rounds with the other party.
Like pretending to be outmatched, to make the other party happy.
Finally, when the other party thought he had a sure win, he would turn the tables, making him fall from the clouds into the abyss.
This… was the fighting style of a Hollow.
This… was elegance.
As the two confronted each other.
Hoo…
Yoriichi's breathing gradually grew heavy, and angry emotions fermented and swelled in his chest.
— Hollows, indeed Hollows, their methods are all despicable things.
Kibutsuji Muzan was still too conservative compared to him…
Past memories surfaced little by little.
The faces of those who died because of him seemed to flicker before his eyes, their voices shrill, leaving Yoriichi with an unforgettable impression.
Buzz.
He suddenly raised his sword, and an abyssal spiritual pressure erupted from his body, the surrounding silver sand stirred by the strong winds, like an apocalyptic storm.
"Szayelaporro."
A suppressed, heavy voice followed:
"You…"
"What do you take life for?"
"…"
After a moment of apparent stunned, Szayelaporro smiled, saying indifferently: "Life?"
"What is that?"
"Don't you think it's ridiculous to discuss these things with a Hollow?"
"The Hollows in Hueco Mundo are endless; for each Hollow to evolve into a Vasto Lorde, they need to devour at least a million Hollows."
"Do you think… we who have devoured so many of our kind would still care what life is? It's just food."
"Shinigami, stop resisting stubbornly, just surrender obediently."
"Surrender sooner, enjoy sooner; later, those conditions I promised you before will be gone."
His voice remained playful, as if he didn't take anything seriously.
In response, Yoriichi sighed.
His voice was complex and regretful:
"Yes…"
"You are Hollows."
"Indeed, there's nothing good to talk about with creatures like you…"
The moment his words fell, Yoriichi's aura suddenly transformed.
The spiritual pressure on his body turned into illusory chains, moving before him, and as the chains moved, they emitted sharp, piercing sounds, like the wailing of ghosts.
A dense oppressive force caused noticeable wrinkles in the surrounding space.
Under Szayelaporro's puzzled gaze, Yoriichi slowly lowered his sword, the blade pointing to the ground.
Bang!
Black, almost abyssal karmic flames suddenly ignited on the dark sword body.
These flames were dense and cold, seemingly wanting to burn and devour the surrounding space.
At this moment.
"Bankai."
Like a whisper, time and space solidified for an instant.
Yoriichi slowly loosened his grip on the sword hilt, and the sword body fell downwards, then shattered into countless dreamy dust particles in mid-air.
Each particle of dust was a ball of black flame, captivating like black holes, turning into mist, and scattering in all directions.
Then, in an extremely short period, they completely eroded the surrounding time and space.
Boom!
The surging black flames, like brilliant fireworks, completely burned the surrounding air!
The silver desert that met the eye was no more; instead, it was a dim space filled with rocks and rising karmic flames.
The clanking sound of moving chains echoed all around.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Time and space were sealed.
Szayelaporro was astonished to find that he could no longer absorb reishi from the surrounding air!
He ran his hands through the air, finding it full of black, viscous substances, which, like maggots clinging to bone, drilled into his body.
With every bit that drilled in, his spiritual pressure would weaken by a fraction, and what was in front of him was far more than just a bit…
This scene made Szayelaporro's expression change.
— Bankai!?
What kind of Bankai is this?
"Judgment."
Seemingly sensing Szayelaporro's emotions, Yoriichi answered him faintly.
At the same time, he reached his hands forward, and two black, flame-burning swords were held in his palms.
Upon hearing this, Szayelaporro glanced over, his gaze instantly fixed, and his breathing involuntarily slowed.
Simply because Tsugikuni Yoriichi's appearance had undergone an extremely dramatic change.
A mask appeared on his face, like a Hollow's, hanging on his forehead, white and simple, like Mukuro, but…
The aura it emitted was completely different from a Hollow's.
The transformation of the surrounding environment caused his attire to transform into distinct black and white colors, clearly separated.
The black was the rising karmic flames, splattering everywhere; the white was the glowing white bones, reflecting a scene of hell, as if half light, half abyss.
Szayelaporro opened his mouth.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi, as if prescient, answered him again:
"Welcome to hell."
"This is Judgment."
"Here, I will judge your entire life."