"Tower of Death?"
Rukia had thought this Arrancar intended to fight her, but she was stunned by her words.
Once she regained her senses, she couldn't help saying, "I've never heard of this place."
"How could this happen?" Lilynette angrily kicked the object at her feet—something like the skull of a wild beast.
Lilynette was an Arrancar, Dark Rukia a Shinigami, but both were "three-digit numbers," and because they had interacted occasionally, Lilynette didn't harbor ill will toward Rukia.
Lilynette didn't know why she was here. Her memory of falling asleep in the palace just moments ago felt like a dream; in any case, when she opened her eyes, she was here.
Besides her, a group of monsters were also here—somewhat similar to Hollow-things, yet apparently different.
These monsters were truly tough. Fortunately, she was good at dealing with group attacks; she wasn't afraid at all and managed to defeat them.
After she defeated them, a phantom-like figure appeared before her.
Then it explained where this place was.
According to the ghost, he was a Shinigami, and this tower was a realm where he chose those who would undergo his trials.
After saying that, he vanished without even giving Lilynette a chance to ask questions.
She hesitated, unsure whether she should go to the second floor.
Then she noticed Rukia was there.
"..." Seeing Lilynette's reaction, Rukia looked around warily and realized this dark palace was completely unlike Soul Society's style.
It was more like a Western European castle or palace—spooky in a way.
"What's on the second floor?" she asked, looking at the big "1" and then toward the staircase entrance.
The entrance gave off an eerie feeling, as if it led into another world.
"I don't know," Lilynette said calmly. "But there's no doubt the second floor has stronger guards."
Rukia didn't know exactly what "stronger" meant, but since Lilynette was an Arrancar, she must know something…
About Yoshio!
Rukia suddenly asked, "Do you know Yoshio?"
"Don't even think about it. I'm not going to talk about Yoshio," Lilynette said, walking toward the stairs without looking back.
"...If I have to ask no matter what, then what?"
"You'd better not." Lilynette spoke lightly. "You can't beat me. Even your illusory self is stronger than you are, but still below me."
"I'm '100' among the three-digit numbers. That means I'm the strongest among the three-digit numbers."
Spreading her hands, Lilynette said, "Even your Gotei 13 captains can't beat me."
"Not necessarily," Rukia said in a low voice. "Anyway, I've decided to investigate Yoshio."
Already sketching white snow like sleeves, Lilynette sighed.
"What's wrong with you? Aren't you a Shinigami? Why are you more hot-blooded than us Hollows? 103 is you after becoming a Hollow, right? She's much calmer than you."
She turned back, saw Rukia drawing her sword, and said, "In an unfamiliar place, shouldn't we avoid fighting?"
"Maybe—but 'infighting' refers to internal conflict. I don't remember Shinigami and Hollows being 'internal' in that sense."
Rukia said coldly.
Because of Yoshio's betrayal, she was already in an extreme emotional state. The moment someone who knew Yoshio's situation appeared, her suppressed feelings began to explode.
"I know all your abilities."
Lilynette suddenly vanished, and in the next instant reappeared behind Rukia!
It was like teleportation—so fast that Rukia's pupils widened. She whipped around and swung her blade.
But Lilynette disappeared again.
Rukia turned, chills running down her spine, and realized Lilynette was still behind her.
This…
So fast!
She hadn't noticed the first time; this time she was fully focused, yet Lilynette still appeared behind her!
That woman is truly fast!
Speed isn't the only standard for judging combat power, but this speed alone was enough to grant a huge advantage in battle.
Rukia said in a low voice, "Is the Parasite Hollow number 103 among the three-digit numbers? By the way—does 103 mean fourth among the Arrancar?"
Since Lilynette said she was "100," Rukia understood the numbering started from 0.
"Hm? That captain who escaped from the three-digit corridor didn't say anything?" Lilynette said, a little surprised. "I thought the ice wielder would tell you—or… did he just not say?"
"The ice wielder?" Rukia was startled, then realized she meant a captain. "Captain Hitsugaya?"
Hitsugaya had been severely injured and was recuperating in the Fourth Division. Rukia had visited him, but at the time he hadn't mentioned Hueco Mundo.
Because he was recovering, Rukia hadn't disturbed him for long.
Seeing Rukia's expression, Lilynette could only explain: "Three-digit is three-digit. We're all fallen 'former strongest.'"
"The strongest now are the Espada. The one you fought in the Human World before was also an Espada—number six."
!
Rukia was shocked. That Arrancar back then was sixth—no, seventh—among the top ten!?
That man was so strong—so why was he only ranked seventh among the Espada?
At this moment, she finally understood more clearly the influence Aizen and Yoshio had in Hueco Mundo.
Disappointed, she asked again, "When did they go to Hueco Mundo?"
At least… tell me exactly when Yoshio began to "fall"!
Lilynette was silent for a while before finally saying, "Ah. I knew his actions would cause trouble. I told him long ago not to leave too many attachments in Soul Society."
She clicked her tongue. Like Starrk, she had a strong attachment to loneliness and instead criticized Yoshio's actions.
After all, she believed friendship should be real—based on mutual trust. But even though Yoshio had made many friends in Soul Society, he was destined to betray them.
That was really…
Not good.
"I don't want to talk about it either."
Lilynette said softly, "If you want to know, come to Hueco Mundo. If you come to Hueco Mundo and meet Yoshio, you might understand everything."
Rukia took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Okay. Fine."
"Then let's think about how to get out of here."
"It looks like we can't find clues on the first floor. Should we go check the second floor?"
"The second floor…" Rukia raised her head. "Shall we… go up together?"
What do you think?
"I'm a Shinigami, and you're a Hollow, but in this place, at least I know you're someone I recognize, so I want to cooperate with you."
Rukia said gently. "Shall we go up together?"
This place was strange. The main reason was that she didn't know how she got here.
She had been inside Soul Society. One moment she was talking with Rangiku; the next moment she was here.
Lilynette was the same. She had been in the tres cifras, and then somehow she appeared here too.
The center of Shinigami territory and the Hollow palace—both were extremely important, special places. The fact that someone could transfer both of them here without being noticed was no small feat.
And neither of them was weak. Even if Rukia wasn't on Lilynette's level, she was still captain-class. Forcibly abducting her wouldn't be easy!
Moreover, looking at the monster corpses lying beside Lilynette, Rukia sensed a power unlike Shinigami or Hollow—a new kind of spiritual pressure. No—could it even be called spiritual pressure?
It felt like some other kind of energy. Rukia grew even more wary.
Even though Shinigami and Hollows were enemies, they were still inhabitants of the Three Realms. Lilynette wasn't a beast-like Hollow, so cooperation was entirely possible.
"Alright, then let's go to the second floor."
At this point, Lilynette smiled and said, "I'll go first!"
With that, she strode toward the stairs.
...
But elsewhere, in Hueco Mundo—
Yoshio and Starrk appeared at the Negel Ruins.
"The Negel Ruins?" Starrk frowned and asked. "How did you get here?"
The Negel Ruins were ancient ruins in Hueco Mundo. The exact age was unknown, but the very existence of such ruins in Hueco Mundo was astonishing.
It was also where Starrk first met Angra.
So of course he knew the place.
"I discovered an entrance to even older ruins beneath these ancient ruins."
Yoshio said, "I think Lilynette may be inside. What do you say—shall we go down and check?"
As he spoke, he walked deeper into the ruins. Beneath the collapsed rubble, there seemed to be an entrance to a deep underground cavern.
From inside…
An aura of death seeped into the air.