In a cave within the inner circle of Hueco Mundo.
Harribel's three companions, Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose, had just returned after a battle.
"Those male Hollows were no match for me at all," Apacci declared.
"You've become quite brave lately, Apacci," Mila Rose teased.
"Yeah, before, in front of Baraggan, both of you were trembling non-stop!" Sung-Sun joked.
"What!" Apacci and Mila Rose glared at Sung-Sun.
"Oh, right. Have you two heard the strange rumors circulating about that Baraggan lately?" Sung-Sun suddenly said seriously.
"Strange rumors?" Apacci and Mila Rose asked, puzzled.
Sung-Sun said gravely, "Yes. Rumors say many Hollows under Baraggan have had their masks shatter and suddenly become very powerful."
"Masks shattering? What's that about?" Mila Rose asked, confused.
Apacci, however, said dismissively, "What does it matter? Harribel-sama and we don't care about them at all."
Boom!
At that moment, a loud noise suddenly echoed, and a Hollow barged in.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose demanded.
They all recognized the intruder… Pedro, Baraggan's subordinate, the peak Captain-level Adjuchas that Harribel had severely wounded before.
However, Pedro's body seemed to have shrunk a bit, and his mask was shattered.
"Hmph, finally found you!" Pedro snorted coldly.
Boom!
A powerful surge of Reiatsu suddenly erupted from Pedro's body.
Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose immediately felt a tremendous pressure.
"His mask is shattered. Is he the one?" Apacci said with difficulty under Pedro's Reiatsu pressure.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Pedro's figure flickered, then instantly appeared before the three.
"Hah!"
Pedro shouted, then instantly attacked the three with his claws.
Clang!
Harribel suddenly appeared in front of Apacci and the others, blocking Pedro's attack with her bone blade.
Crack!
Under Pedro's attack, cracks appeared on Harribel's bone blade!
"Harribel-sama!" Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose exclaimed in shock.
"Harribel, long time no see!" Pedro said, staring at Harribel with hatred.
"It's you!" Harribel said, surprised.
The Hollow named Pedro was the same peak Captain-level Adjuchas who, during Baraggan's invitation to Harribel last time, arrogantly patted Harribel's shoulder and threatened her.
Last time, Harribel severely wounded him with one strike. But Baraggan showed no intention of helping him. In the end, Pedro dragged his wounded body back to Las Noches himself.
Later, after Baraggan was subdued by Aizen and used for experiments, Pedro, to gain the power for revenge against Harribel, resolutely underwent Aizen's modification experiments, becoming an Arrancar.
Although Pedro didn't evolve into a Vasto Lorde, his strength broke through from Captain-level peak to the initial level of beyond-Captain-level. His Reiatsu was even slightly stronger than Harribel's, a Vasto Lorde.
This was also why Pedro's body shrank. For Hollows, the stronger they are, the smaller their size, and the more they resemble humans.
"Hmph, Harribel, finally remember me? Had fun playing with me back then, didn't you?" Pedro said with intense hatred.
"Hah!"
Pedro shouted, and powerful Reiatsu erupted again, forcing Harribel to slowly retreat.
"What on earth is going on? This strange feeling..." Apacci said, bewildered.
"It's abnormal Reiatsu, surpassing any Adjuchas, even stronger than Harribel-sama, a Vasto Lorde!" Mila Rose said, somewhat shocked.
Harribel said incredulously, "You... what on earth..."
Pedro said smugly, "Can't figure it out, can you? My transformation."
Boom!
Pedro unleashed all his power, blasting Harribel away.
"Harribel-sama!" Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose shouted worriedly.
"Don't worry, I won't devour you. I'll crush you to dust, obliterate you completely!" Pedro said, looking at Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose.
Then, Pedro pointed his hand at the three. Red Cero light began to gather on his hand.
Boom!
The red Cero beam roared towards Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose.
At the critical moment, Harribel, who had been blasted away earlier, reappeared. She slashed at Pedro's arm with her bone blade. Although she didn't sever his arm, she caused his Cero to veer off course.
Bang!
The deflected Cero blasted a large hole in the cave ceiling.
"Still resisting? You foolish woman!" Pedro sneered.
"Harribel-sama!" Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose cried out in concern.
"You three, run!" Harribel said to the three behind her.
The three hesitated: "But-"
"Hurry, run!" Harribel shouted loudly.
"Yes!" The three replied reluctantly and finally ran outside.
Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose knew they would only be burdens to Harribel here, unable to help and only holding her back.
Watching Harribel's three companions escape, Pedro didn't try to stop them: "Well, whatever. Harribel, don't worry. Those small fry can run. I don't care. I just want to fight you."
…
Outside the cave.
Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose ran desperately.
"Are we just going to run away, leaving Harribel-sama behind?" Mila Rose said unwillingly.
"I don't want to either! But there's no choice! Harribel-sama told us to run!" Apacci said.
"Even if we stayed, we're no match for the enemy. And we'd only hinder Harribel-sama," Sung-Sun also said.
Boom!
The cave wall shattered, and Harribel was blasted outside.
Pedro walked up to Harribel, grabbing her neck and lifting her up: "When you refused Baraggan-sama's invitation back then, Baraggan-sama said you'd regret it."
With that, Pedro created a blade of Reiatsu in his hand, about to kill Harribel directly and wash away the previous humiliation.