"Roar!"
Looking at the Leopard King, now reduced to the size of an ordinary cat, still baring his fangs and hissing fiercely while dangling in his hand, Yekawa felt a trace of helpless amusement.
"If this were my previous life, I'd definitely send you for neutering."
Staring at Yekawa's half-smile, Grimmjow suddenly felt a chill between his legs and instinctively clamped his hind legs together.
"Grimmjow, pledge allegiance to me, and I'll spare your life. How about it?"
"You wish! If I become a Vasto Lorde too, I'll definitely defeat you! You're only suppressing me now because of your higher rank!"
Hearing this, Yekawa burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, what a stubborn little cat!"
Grimmjow had clearly mistaken Yekawa for a Vasto Lorde. If he knew that Yekawa was still only a Gillian, his expression would surely be priceless.
However, Yekawa had no interest in explaining anything.
Zzzzt!
A dark golden lightning orb condensed in Yekawa's left palm.
The strange fish and the red goat nearby instantly stiffened. Their expressions changed drastically. They had both been subdued by this very lightning orb, which was why they now followed Yekawa so obediently.
Even after three years, the sight of it still filled them with instinctive terror.
"Whimper!"
With his right hand, Yekawa held Grimmjow firmly by the neck. With his left hand, he forcibly shoved the lightning orb into Grimmjow's mouth, making him whimper helplessly.
Looking down at the defiant leopard, Yekawa spoke slowly.
"Little cat, I know you feel that I'm suppressing you as a Vasto Lorde, and that makes you unwilling."
"As long as you swear allegiance to me, I'll give you the chance to keep growing stronger."
"If one day you can defeat me, I'll remove the lightning orb from your body. I'll even serve you in return. There's no harm in that."
"But if you refuse, I'll simply make you part of me."
"I'll give you five seconds to decide."
As he spoke, Yekawa began charging a Cero in his left hand, aiming it directly at Grimmjow's head.
"Five."
"Four."
"Three."
"Two."
"I… I'm willing to surrender!"
Just as the terrifying Cero was about to erupt, Grimmjow finally shouted.
"Hm. Good boy."
"My name is Yekawa. Remember it."
"When you think you're strong enough, come and challenge me."
"Before that, I am your only King."
Yekawa relaxed his left hand.
The fully charged Cero instantly dissipated into nothingness.
Seeing this, Grimmjow's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This level of control… how is that possible?"
He was completely stunned.
A Cero on the verge of firing was like a grenade with its pin pulled. Forcibly stopping it would normally cause severe backlash.
Yet Yekawa dispersed it effortlessly.
That meant his control over Reiatsu had reached an almost terrifying level.
Immediately afterward, Yekawa casually tossed Grimmjow aside.
The cat-sized Grimmjow rolled seven or eight times across the desert before finally standing up shakily.
Click.
Yekawa snapped his fingers.
The oppressive spiritual pressure vanished.
Grimmjow's body rapidly expanded, returning to its original size.
"Go."
"Grow stronger."
"You're still too immature. You're not qualified to stand beside your King yet."
Grimmjow paused, then stared at Yekawa in disbelief.
"You're… really letting me go?"
"What? Do you want me to escort you?"
Grimmjow immediately used Sonido to retreat dozens of meters.
He turned back.
Yekawa had no intention of chasing him.
Only then did he turn and leave at full speed, relieved.
"My King, are you really letting him go?" Yuan Puck asked in a muffled voice, his scorched body still smoking slightly.
"Should we chase him?"
Slap!
Jiwa Barnes rushed over and slapped Perke's head with his tail.
"You idiot! The King has his reasons!"
"Chase him? Can you even beat him if you try?"
Yekawa watched the two clowns and twitched his lips, suppressing the urge to devour them on the spot.
The truth was simple.
Grimmjow had only just advanced to Adjuchas. He was still far weaker than his future self.
Keeping him nearby now would only hinder his growth.
Besides, Yekawa himself lacked enough prey. Why would he share?
For subordinates with Vasto Lorde potential, freedom was necessary.
Moreover, Grimmjow carried the lightning orb.
As long as he remained in Hueco Mundo, Yekawa could locate him at any time.
Killing him would only take a thought.
As for Grimmjow surpassing him and regaining freedom, that was nothing more than a beautiful lie.
Even now, Grimmjow could not defeat him.
Let alone in the future.
…
Las Noches.
Located deep within the Hueco Mundo Desert, it was the region with the highest concentration of Reishi.
The massive circular fortress resembled an inverted stone bowl.
Four towering pillars surrounded it.
Unlike ordinary palaces, Las Noches had no roof.
Inside the main hall, upon the highest throne, sat a humanoid skeleton clad in a dark robe and wearing a golden crown.
Baraggan Louisenbairn.
The King of Hueco Mundo.
"Great King Baraggan, we have once again found traces of that female Vasto Lorde in the southern desert."
"She still refuses to submit."
"She even dares to call you a madman obsessed with conquest and slaughter."
Below the throne, a half-human, half-tiger Adjuchas knelt respectfully.
"Ignorant fool," Baraggan snorted coldly. "How dare she defy the sole ruler of Hueco Mundo."
"Conquer her!"
"Conquer her!"
The Adjuchas below shouted in unison.
Satisfied, Baraggan slowly rose.
"I am Baraggan Louisenbairn, King of Hueco Mundo."
"I shall crush such rebellion."
He led most of the Adjuchas out of Las Noches.
None noticed a tiny centipede emerging from the sand near the entrance.
"They're leaving already?"
Far away, Yekawa stopped devouring a Gillian horde.
Through his scout clone, he observed Baraggan's departure.
Sixty-three Adjuchas remained inside.
"That's enough."
Excitement surged through him.
Originally, he planned to wait for Aizen.
He never expected Baraggan to move first.
Those remaining Adjuchas were now his nourishment.
"Hehehe…"
A strange laugh escaped him.
Barnes and Perke shuddered.
"King… what's wrong?"
Yekawa's voice drifted faintly.
"Wait here."
"I'll be right back."
Before the words faded, he transformed into a bolt of lightning.
He shot straight toward Las Noches.
His banquet awaited.
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