You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

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……

Oh? This has CG too?

Iori raised an eyebrow, a small surprise indeed.

But upon closer reflection, it's not surprising. After all, while his subordinates may not be as formidable as the "Espada" from the original story, they are still a formidable force. Leaving aside his influence in the other world, the four elite warriors could be chosen from among his present subordinates alone.

First Lieutenant: Kuchiki Sojun;

Second Lieutenant: Bingli (Esdeath)

Third Lieutenant: Tosen Kaname

Fourth Lieutenant: Tenbei Shusuke

These four are warriors who will fight alongside Iori in Hueco Mundo, while his remaining capable lieutenants, such as Rojuro Ootori, Komamura, and Iba, will remain in the Third Division to carry out daily tasks.

Akame, who joined the team at the same time as Esdeath, was neither in the Expeditionary Force nor in the Third Division, but instead joined the Seventh Division under Saito's command.

Thinking of this, Iori turned to look at the Seireitei members who had come to see her off not far away, among them was Akame, who was with Saito, who was immortal.

The girl with long, straight black hair exchanged a glance with him and nodded earnestly, indicating that she would follow his instructions and take good care of her mother-in-law and Yinmeng. Meanwhile, the immortal being beside him saw Iori looking over and unconsciously curled up the corners of his mouth, waving happily. After greeting him, he sighed slightly, clearly feeling somewhat sentimental.

When she first met Iori, he was still a student. Although he was talented, he was just an insignificant figure in the entire Seireitei. However, just a few years later... that naive boy has become one of the strongest in the Seireitei and has taken over her position. He is about to lead the Shinigami to conquer Hueco Mundo!

Fate is truly a wondrous thing.

I hope the two of them can get along well—Iori smiled slightly.

The reason for this arrangement is to provide an extra layer of security for the mother-in-law and Yinmeng, and Akame is the most suitable candidate.

Given the relationship between Iori and Saito, Akame wouldn't face any difficulties within the 7th Division. Even self-taught Shinigami wouldn't dare mess with her, and she could easily find a reason to stay permanently in Rukongai. Furthermore, if Granny Aizen encountered a problem that even Akame couldn't solve, she could rely on Saito's help to overcome it.

Of course, if anything were to actually happen, Saito probably wouldn't be needed; Yuuki could suppress all the turbulent undercurrents silently...

However, besides protecting her grandmother, Akame's status as a member of the 7th Division also allows her to enter and leave the Seireitei and legitimately seek guidance from Saito. It is believed that under the guidance of this first captain, the girl's basic skills in "slashing fists and walking demons" will be greatly improved.

Iori glanced one last time at the many soldiers and officers from the Third Division who had come to see him off, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. For a moment, he was in a daze.

When he last entered Hueco Mundo, he was just a lowly soldier in the team, but this time he has become a big shot who is the focus of attention of the entire Thirteenth Division. The changes in the world are truly hard to describe.

Of course, he wouldn't forget the essence of this difference:

strength!

Only the power that one can control is fundamental!

The world is reality, and everything has its own internal logic, the most basic of which is "the difference between strong and weak".

His current popularity is not due to his outstanding appearance or proper speech, nor to his "loyalty" to the Seireitei, or his good reputation among his colleagues—these factors certainly exist, but they are merely icing on the cake.

If he didn't have extraordinary talent, he wouldn't have been valued by Saito or taken on as a disciple by Yamamoto.

If he didn't have the strength to fight against the Holy Son, he wouldn't have been elected as the captain of the Third Division and risen to the upper echelons of Seireitei in one fell swoop.

The life-saving grace to Amagai and Saito, the camaraderie with Yoruichi and Ginrei, the loyalty between ruler and subject to Tosen... all of these are based on "strength"!

He believed that these people's interactions with him were sincere, and that there was no falsehood in their feelings. However, if he didn't have enough strength, he wouldn't even have the chance to form these bonds!

When fortune smiles, heaven and earth lend their strength; when fate turns, even heroes are powerless… But why must we wait for the opportune moment? One's own destiny is in one's own hands.

The power in my hands is the strongest fortune!

You can't stop yet. If you're satisfied with this level, even the strongest fortune will vanish. Only by constantly breaking through your own limitations can you firmly grasp that unseen, invisible master!

As Iori led his team through the interdimensional gate, traversing the long and dark rift passage, and arriving at the desolate desert that felt so familiar to him, he looked up at the seemingly unchanging crescent moon in the sky and inexplicably smiled.

The new expeditionary force, newly arrived in Hueco Mundo, is still getting used to the unfamiliar environment. The higher spiritual particle density compared to Soul Society makes them feel somewhat uncomfortable, but once they adapt, they will find that although this place looks barren, it is a place that is very beneficial for cultivating spiritual pressure.

Kuchiki Sōjun, the first adjutant, stepped forward and asked, "Captain Aizen, what should we do next? Should we find a safe place to start over, or should we look for the camps left behind by the previous expeditionary force?"

Iori's eyes flashed:

Yes, what should we do next, or where should we go?

That's a real problem, after all—

This world is so vast!

……

Dang~

Dang~

Dang~

A dilapidated brass bell hung from a long flagpole, its melodious yet deep tone resonating far and wide, reaching the ears of every subject, as it was pulled and struck by the servants.

And so, the fortresses and caves scattered across the white desert came to life, from which emerged creatures of enormous size and bizarre shapes. Like anthropomorphic forms of various birds and beasts, they were both absurd and terrifying.

They traversed sand dunes, soared into the sky, and crawled across the ground. Thousands upon thousands of them arrived outside the central palace. They listened in awe to the tolling of the bells and then knelt down to offer their loyalty to the supreme king, but dared not step into the palace grounds themselves.

This is because they are at the bottom of the food chain in Hueco Mundo, and their class has not even evolved to the threshold of the Hollows—the Gillian.

Although they submit to that king, in reality the king doesn't care about their lives or deaths. In fact, most of them never enter the palace in their entire lives, nor do they ever see what the monarch they serve looks like.

The law of the jungle and the clear distinction between classes are particularly serious in Hueco Mundo, because it is a race that evolves by devouring each other. In theory, all beings of the same class are enemies, and they also follow their biological instincts and will submit to higher-ranking Hollows.

All Hollows yearn to devour hundreds or thousands of their kind, evolving into "Kirian," even if it means losing their own identity. Then, by devouring a large number of Kyrians, they awaken from chaos and transform into mid-level Hollows—Adjuchas.

Under normal circumstances, Kylian has no self-awareness, only chaotic instincts. Its insatiable nature to feed is like that of a caterpillar, accumulating nutrients in order to nurture new life.

The Adjuchas born from it retains some vague memories, but most of them are like remnants of a dream; in fact, it can be considered a rebirth.

This peculiar life process has given rise to a unique view of life and death and a class division!

Hollows below the level of Gillian were no different from beasts in that king's eyes; only Adjuchas was qualified to reside in the palace and become his direct subordinates. And this king himself was a being who transcended ordinary Hollows, standing at the pinnacle of Hueco Mundo—

Wastodd!

A thousand Adjuchas could not give birth to a single Vasto Lorde. Hueco Mundo is vast and boundless, with countless Hollows, but Vasto Lordes could probably be counted on two hands.

The one residing in the central palace is an outstanding member of the Vastodes, capable of even making Hollows of the same rank bow down in submission!

Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that the master of Las Noches is the "King of Hueco Mundo"!

At this moment, the Great Hollow, resembling the Grim Reaper, sat slumped on a stone chair, propping his head up with one hand. He wore a tattered golden crown and a black cloak, watching with utter boredom the dueling performance his subjects were putting on to please him.

Even the fighting between the Adjuchas could not arouse his interest; his empty eye sockets did not gaze at his subjects, but stared at a point in the distant void.

Hueco Mundo is a place where you can't feel the passage of time. Everywhere is the same scenery, and today is no different from yesterday, the day before yesterday, or even the more distant past.

Ordinary Hollows can prove the meaning of life by devouring each other, but as the top-level Hollows, kings who have stopped growing, there is no other possibility for them in such a world but to continue to decay and sink.

Everything was so boring...

At times like these, Barragan, the King of Hueco Mundo, always thinks of what happened several years ago.

A certain Grim Reaper came to Hueco Mundo and wreaked havoc, while Barragan was chasing after him when he encountered his own "fate," almost losing everything to someone else... The pain and humiliation of "defeat" kept silently gnawing at his heart.

Therefore, he recruited more ministers after that and rekindled his fighting spirit to cultivate his special abilities.

However, the Grim Reaper never appeared again, and as time went by, Barragán lost hope of a reunion and felt that nothing was more enjoyable than doing something else.

It seems that there's nothing left to please him except turning the head of that Grim Reaper into a wine glass.

Just then, a commotion arose outside Hueco Mundo. Barragan stirred slightly: "It's so noisy... What's wrong with those beasts?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. We will go and check the situation immediately!"

The two Adjuchas retreated in shock and anger, fearing that the outside chaos would anger the king, and hurriedly set off to suppress it.

However, the riots did not stop, and the two did not return. After a while, several figures entered the Void Palace, but they were not the king's subjects.

"who?!"

An Adjuchas-class Hollow stepped forward and demanded an answer. Like a ferocious beast gesturing, it raised its right claw and swung it down. It may have just wanted to intimidate the other party, but the next moment its massive body suddenly froze. Then, a chilling aura burst forth from within, and a layer of white frost condensed, turning it into an ice sculpture.

"Francis!"

"Enemy?"

"hateful!"

The surrounding Hollows naturally wouldn't stand idly by; powerful spiritual pressure erupted, ready to tear any enemy who dared to invade Las Noches to shreds!

However, in just an instant, long, thin sword marks appeared on their bodies, either severing them at the waist or decapitating them. The four Adjuchas who had emerged from countless Kyrians lost their lives in this way.

"Ok?"

Sensing the familiar spiritual pressure fluctuations, Barragan straightened up on his stone throne. He felt as if his heart was beating again in his empty chest, and his skeletal body felt his blood boiling once more!

"Is that you... Death?"

At this point, the intruders stepped into the inner hall—or so it was said, but in reality it was just an open-air plaza with a few more pillars.

The moonlight illuminated their figures: two men and one woman, namely Iori and Esdeath and Kaname Tosen standing on his left and right respectively!

The Ice Queen was almost side by side with Iori, only half a step behind, while the blind Grim Reaper was a full step behind, creating distance between them, making their difference in status obvious.

Please forgive my intrusion.

Iori stood surrounded by dozens of Adjuchas, but he didn't care about these hostile mid-level Hollows. In his eyes, they were just some intelligent beasts. There was only one Hollow present who could make him take it a little seriously.

Raising his eyebrows, he met the gaze of Barragán, who was of different heights and was positioned at Vastod.

"It's been a long time since I last greeted you, Your Majesty Barragan, King of Hueco Mundo."

"It really was you!"

Barragán's hoarse voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "I never thought we'd meet again."

No, I should say, you actually dared to show your face in front of me again!

"..."

Iori remained silent, her face bearing a calm and serene smile.

Barragán, however, became unusually enthusiastic: "And the other one? Where is that despicable illusionist?!"

"My elder sister did not come this time; it was just me, Your Majesty."

"Oh?"

Barragan stood up, his powerful spiritual pressure causing dozens of Adjuchas to tremble. He reached out and grasped the great axe leaning against the throne. Unlike the one that had been destroyed last time, this double-bladed axe, which was more than a man tall, shone with a golden luster, and the skull carvings exuded majesty and terror.

"Just because the two of you worked together to defeat me once, do you think you can challenge me by yourself?"

Arrogance… far too much arrogance for me to even feel anger. Yet, as a king, I must let the world know how presumptuous it is to fool this old man, and what divine punishment it will bring!

"God's punishment?"

Iori savored the word: "An ignorant and arrogant beast, unaware of the vastness of the sky and the immensity of the earth, even if it considers itself a god, it is nothing more than a laughingstock."

"What did you say?!" The King of Hueco Mundo roared in fury.

"I'm going to tear you to pieces!"

"It's best not to get angry easily, because getting angry over things that are beyond your capabilities will only expose your mental weakness, Hueco Mundo King."

However, this might be considered harsh on you…

Iori's tone was gentle and casual: "You can release your anger and pride to your heart's content, because this farcical puppet show is about to end, and the new era needs the magnificent decay of the old relics to mark the beginning of everything."

"...Then at least perform like a good clown until the very last moment, and please do your best to please me."

Chapter 280: Your deaths belong to me! (4.5K)

"All of you, step back! I will personally sever this Grim Reaper's head!"

If this rage could be materialized, it would surely be a rain of fire falling from the sky!

The Skull Emperor flew up from his throne and arrived in front of Iori in the next instant. His cloak spread out like the wings of a raven, as if the shadow of Hades had descended upon the place!

This technique is called "Sound Transformation," a unique skill of the Hollows. Like Shunpo, it is a fast movement skill, but it is more like a spatial transformation. Its movement process is difficult to interrupt, and its landing point is difficult to predict. In some ways, it is superior to the Shinigami's Shunpo.

When mastered to its profound depths, it becomes indistinguishable from true spatial teleportation; even Iori cannot intercept it and can only passively endure the attacks. However—

boom!

The young man, wearing a haori, stretched out his left hand and grasped the joint between the long pole and the axe perfectly. The sharp axe blade stopped a few centimeters above his head, as if it were half-fixed and unable to move.