"Mhm!"
The other two nodded.
Among them, Paul could be considered the strategist, a well-rounded talent. His judgment was rarely wrong.
This mission was extremely difficult; there was even a high chance they might die here.
As they traveled, they quietly built up their strength, gathering their energy, waiting to unleash it all at once when they finally met that "King."
However, just as their words fell…
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Three figures suddenly flashed into existence, forming a triangle that surrounded them.
"We've been discovered!!"
Arodalia stopped immediately. The other two quickly tightened their formation. The three stood back-to-back in a triangular stance, going on full alert.
"So these are the ones who trespassed into Hueco Mundo without permission? They don't look like much!" Grimmjow tilted his neck and grinned savagely.
"Capture them alive. Cripple them if needed, injure them if needed, but don't kill them." Ulquiorra spoke coldly.
"Oh my, Grimmjow, I don't quite agree with you. The power in these three is quite frightening!" Coyote chuckled, his eyes curiously fixed on the trio.
Gorosen and the other two looked grim. The figures before them had human forms, yet each had strange holes somewhere on their bodies. They looked eerie, their aura powerful, ominous, and clearly not human.
"One each. End this quickly." Senbak said in a low voice.
The other two nodded, their gazes sharpening.
Entering another world and being discovered was something they had long expected. They were prepared, and firmly believed their strength could overcome anything.
In the next instant, the three raised their weapons and moved.
"Oh ho! Looking down on us, are you?"
"You dare attack first? Then I'll show you what I can do!"
Grimmjow's face twisted exaggeratedly as he laughed wildly. His figure flickered and vanished from where he stood.
At the same moment, Coyote and Ulquiorra also moved. Like the wind, they appeared almost instantly before Gorosen's group, their distorted forms already closing in.
"So fast!"
Gorosen's eyes narrowed, his heart jolting.
He grabbed the hilt of the greatsword on his back, drew it, and slashed forward fiercely!
At the same time, Sembaro behind him drew his blade and charged forward. Arodalia began chanting; above her wand, a purple-black sphere formed, crackling with lightning-like energy.
"Boom!"
The three attacked almost simultaneously.
"Yoho!! You blocked it!"
"Hahaha! Not bad at all!"
Grimmjow's claw met Gorosen's blade. His expression was utterly crazed, the sharpness of his fingers screeching against the sword with a piercing sound.
"So strong!"
Gorosen was shaken. His greatsword trembled violently.
After three breaths, he felt his strength starting to falter. With a roar, a purple aura burst from his entire body.
"Battle Aura - Slaughter!!"
The four words rang out like thunder. His greatsword suddenly began to spin, like Garen's spinning attack from League of Legends, covering a full 360 degrees around him.
Grimmjow let out a savage laugh and pressed his claws hard against the rapidly spinning blade.
"Scrreeech!"
A shower of sparks erupted, blinding flashes of light sending chills through the air.
After two breaths, Grimmjow was struck, his arm sliced by the spinning blade. He kicked off the air repeatedly, retreating with agile movements to escape the attack range.
"Heh, not bad skills!"
"You've got me excited, outsider!"
Grimmjow licked the wound on his arm, his eyes filled with undisguised cruelty and bloodlust.
Gorosen narrowed his eyes, gripping his sword with both hands, guarding his front in a stance that balanced offense and defense.
"Come on!"
Behind him, Coyote was already clashing with Sembaro, his Zanpakutō meeting the long blade in fierce combat.
However, his fighting style was clearly different from Grimmjow's. In just a short span of time, his Zanpakutō had already struck Sembaro three times.
"You're strong—but outsider, there's still quite a gap between you and me, who has broken past the limits!"
Coyote said with a smiling expression.
"You've got some nerve coming to Hueco Mundo!"
"You should know, under the King's command, this world no longer allows entry to anyone but Hollows!"
As he spoke, his Zanpakutō slashed out again. With a loud clang, Sembaro was forced to retreat several steps, completely unable to match the opponent's strength.
"Stronger than I imagined… and this is just the level of a soldier!!"
Sembaro gripped his blade with one hand, feeling blood flowing from wounds across his body. His heart grew heavy.
That brief clash had already made him understand exactly what Paul meant by "high difficulty."
And at this moment, he also clearly realized that Kenpachi Chengdui's orders had likely been given casually. If they succeeded, all the better. If not, they were merely a few expendable pieces.
That was the nature of a King… cold and ruthless.
All living beings were chess pieces, all expendable. The only difference lay in their roles, which determined when they would be discarded and how much hesitation the King might show.
But none of that mattered.
They were willing to sacrifice themselves, willing to be his pieces.
"To witness the vastness of the world… to see the strength of the ideal nation!"
"We will die without regret, our deaths will have meaning!!"
Sembaro's eyes shone brilliantly as he let out a low roar.
At that moment, a three-meter-long surge of purple energy burst from his blade; this was the sword aura.
On the other side, Arodalia raised her wand, pointing it at Ulquiorra, who was calmly walking toward her with an expressionless face.
"Sendaravakasi!"
This was a forbidden destruction-type spell, designed specifically to attack a human's lifespan. In an instant, it could age the enemy, reducing their life force. On the Battle Magic Continent, it was considered a taboo technique, an evil that must never be touched.
Yet it had to be admitted, this spell was vicious and terrifying.
The purple-black sphere spun, releasing a beam of light at extreme speed, striking Ulquiorra directly.
"Oh?"
Ulquiorra glanced at his chest where he had been hit. He paused slightly—then looked back at Arodalia.
"This… how is this possible?!"
"No effect at all!!"
Arodalia stared at Ulquiorra in shock. There wasn't the slightest change in him.
This life-draining curse, one of his most sinister and powerful forbidden spells—had no effect whatsoever?
"Pop!"
As he stood there stunned, a black light suddenly appeared in front of him, forcing him to look up.
Black Cero.
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, a black beam filled his vision. The next moment, it pierced through his right chest, cleanly penetrating his body.
After passing through him, the beam continued onward, crashing into the desert behind and erupting into flames that soared hundreds of meters high.
"This…!!"
Arodalia looked down at the hole in his chest in disbelief, then collapsed weakly to the ground.
"The Lord said to keep them alive, Ulquiorra."
"You always strike so ruthlessly, so decisively."
"Can't you enjoy the fight as I do?"
Grimmjow's voice rang out as he continued clashing with Gorosen. Each collision sparked flashes of lightning, his strength growing ever greater.
Sweat poured from Gorosen's forehead, his face turning ashen.
Strong… too strong. These three were undoubtedly among the strongest in this world!
"He won't die. As for you, hurry up, Grimmjow."
"Otherwise, I won't mind stepping in."
Ulquiorra said indifferently.
Grimmjow's expression tightened slightly, then he let out a cold grin.
"My prey… I don't like it being stolen by others!"
With that, he drew the Zanpakutō from his waist and shouted:
"Grind to dust, Pantera!!"
(End of Chapter)
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