The atmosphere was suffocating.
Inside the vast Las Noches, silence reigned, and the scene was unusually eerie!
At this moment—
on the screen, the video deliberately gave a close-up of Luppi's effeminate face.
Every single Hollow and Arrancar present looked dumbfounded, instinctively wondering—
Was this some kind of mistake?!
Arrogant, domineering Grimmjow…
replaced by someone like Luppi, a side character?
This was absurd!
"Heh…"
"Now this is going to be fun…"
Nnoitra grinned, tilting his head sideways toward Grimmjow, his eyes filled with mockery.
All this time—
because their ranks were close, their powers nearly equal, and their personalities just as explosive,
he often clashed with Grimmjow, competing against him at every meeting.
And now—
with such a rare chance to kick someone while they were down, Nnoitra couldn't possibly pass it up.
With his lead in provoking, the other Arrancar also turned their gazes, all focusing on Grimmjow…
and on Luppi, who normally would be so careful even with his breathing in front of the higher-ups,
but now found himself suddenly on screen.
Yes.
At this moment—
Luppi was panicking inside like crazy!
He swallowed over and over, drenched in cold sweat, trembling with fear.
"Future me… how the hell did I dare?!"
"Rank Six… that's Grimmjow's number!"
His legs were about to give out.
He didn't even have the courage to sneak a glance with the corner of his eye.
This was Grimmjow—the guy who didn't even fear Aizen!
And future him dared to take Grimmjow's spot?
That was nothing short of suicide!
And then—
"Oi…"
"Luppi, isn't it? I think I just heard you call yourself the Sexta Espada?"
Before Luppi could even react—
Grimmjow's arm was already slung over his shoulder.
His grin sharpened, murderous intent spilling out, as he questioned him.
"I… it's a misunderstanding… Lord Grimmjow… I would never—"
Turning his head—
meeting Grimmjow's murderous expression.
Luppi's face drained of color, his lips trembling as he tried to explain.
But the fear engulfing him completely…
every single word got stuck in his throat, not one syllable coming out!
"Can't explain? Then…"
"Go die!!!"
Rage erupted.
Grimmjow bared his fangs and roared.
At the same time—
his hand moved, no longer stuffed casually in his pocket, but…
"Shhhkkk—!!"
His bladed arm pierced straight through.
Without hesitation, brutally, he impaled Luppi's body!
And that wasn't enough to vent his anger.
Grimmjow raised his other hand, palm forward—red light condensed violently!
Its glow reflected off Luppi's face, whose eyes bulged in terror, veins bursting red, pale and pitiful as death loomed.
But for the Arrancar watching—
they stayed unmoved.
Even as they witnessed it with their own eyes, seeing Luppi about to be slaughtered,
none of them felt pity.
Instead, they sneered, cold and indifferent, letting Grimmjow butcher his comrade.
Yes.
To the Arrancar army, the word "comrade" itself was a joke. They had never cherished it.
And now, with the video exposing it—
it was Luppi himself who had sought death, daring to steal a rank he didn't deserve.
His death was nothing but deserved.
"No… Grimmjow… I beg you… spare me…"
The glow surrounded him.
Luppi wailed in terror, sobbing for mercy, but it was all in vain.
"Die, trash!!!"
With Grimmjow's contemptuous roar—
the Cero beam fired, engulfing Luppi's body in an instant.
The pathetic Espada wannabe was vaporized into ashes… not even a corpse left behind.
"Hmph…"
"Show's over. Everyone, keep watching the video."
Grimmjow gave a cold snort, finally letting his anger cool.
As for his act of slaughter—
the other Espada's eyes flickered, but none spoke up.
Even Ulquiorra, acting as Las Noches' "butler" whenever Aizen and his two followers weren't present—
his emerald eyes stayed blank, indifferent, without a ripple.
As if Luppi being executed publicly…
was nothing more than an insignificant sideshow.
At this moment—
the only thing that truly mattered to the Arrancar was still the Ranking Video!
———
Meanwhile.
On the screen, the battle raged on:
"BOOM!!!"
The sound of collision shook everything.
Hyōrinmaru's blade smashed against Luppi's released form—those massive, grotesque octopus tentacles—
and the two forces clashed head-on, sending shockwaves that rattled the screen!
"Espada…"
"It's useless! Just now, you only landed a hit because of information I didn't know…"
"Next time, the same move won't work again!"
Lowering his gaze—
Hitsugaya Tōshirō's eyes glinted coldly as he steadied Hyōrinmaru, blocking with ease.
Now, in Bankai—
his whole body was encased in blue ice crystals, a pair of giant ice wings spreading from his back.
This form…
stood in stark contrast to Luppi's hideous release.
And in terms of presence—he clearly dominated!
"Are all Shinigami captains' Bankai this strong?"
"Why does it feel like every time, we Arrancar just end up getting crushed?"
Inside Las Noches—
Starrk furrowed his brow, his gaze complicated.
On one hand, he was excited to see another Zanpakutō's Bankai.
And indeed—
Hyōrinmaru's power, freezing everything, dominating the weather, didn't disappoint.
But thinking back to the last round—
Byakuya vs. Zommari—
Starrk couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"Don't tell me… we Arrancar were born just to be punching bags?"
"Sure, we've had plenty of screen time, two of us in a row already, but…"
"Every time, we just get beaten to hell!!!"
And right then—
the video itself gave the next cue.
Hitsugaya's voice rang out as he unleashed his ultimate move:
"Sennen Hyōrō (Thousand-Year Ice Prison)!!!"
———
(End of Chapter)
If I see that this fanfic has support, I will upload it to Patreon!!
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
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