Rip!
The shadows beneath Meninas and Bambietta suddenly churned violently, like boiling asphalt.
Immediately after, the outline of an upper body rose up from the darkness.
As if unwilling to lose in terms of presence to Rosse, who sat high upon the throne, Yhwach's shadow stretched and extended with all its might.
But in the end, it was only a phantom parasitizing a fragment of power. The taller the shadow stretched, the thinner and more frail it became.
By the time he stood before the throne, he looked like a ridiculous, skinny bamboo pole. The imposing aura of a sovereign he once had was completely gone.
Instead, he looked more like a clown twisting himself into a grotesque shape just to grab attention.
"King of Hueco Mundo! Invader from beyond the world!"
Yhwach's voice was still low, but carried a faint hoarse weakness, "This world does not welcome your arrival."
"Not welcome?"
Rosse let out a light chuckle, his voice full of disdain for such a powerless threat.
He shifted into a more comfortable position on the throne, looking down at that pitiful clown from above, "If those words were spoken by that cripple sitting in the Royal Palace himself, I might feel a bit wary. But coming from your mouth…"
"Isn't that just a bit too laughable?", Rosse's gaze suddenly sharpened, "As you said, if you truly don't welcome me, and if you really have that resolve—"
"Then you should kill yourself right now."
"As long as you die, that portion of the Soul King's humanity will return to the main body. At that point, maybe that true god would break free from his own restraints just to survive, even dragging the entire world down with him to fight me."
"Then, perhaps I'd be a little wary."
"But right now—"
BOOM!
A terrifying pressure mixed with spiritual force and Conqueror's Haki erupted from Rosse without restraint, sweeping across the entire palace in an instant.
"Right now, you're not even qualified!"
Crack! Crack!
The air itself let out sounds of shattering under the strain.
Kneeling on the ground, Meninas and Bambietta felt as if two massive mountains were pressing down on their shoulders. Their knees slammed heavily against the floor, and they couldn't even lift their heads.
As for Yhwach, who bore the brunt of it, that already thin shadow trembled violently under the overwhelming pressure, like smoke about to be blown away at any moment.
"Hmph!"
Within the shadow, those red eyes locked tightly onto Rosse, letting out an unwilling cold snort.
"Arrogant outsider. I have already seen the destined future."
"At the end of fate, you will undoubtedly be defeated."
After leaving behind those final words, the shadow seemed unable to withstand the pressure any longer, or perhaps unwilling to continue this self-humiliating exchange. Like a receding tide, it quickly withdrew and vanished without a trace.
Silence returned to the great hall.
Rosse looked at the now-empty ground, a faint, amused curve forming at the corner of his lips.
'The future?'
'If you could really see the future, then why hide and scurry around like a rat?'
"Your Majesty! We are guilty!"
The moment Yhwach's projection disappeared, Meninas and Bambietta collapsed back to the ground as if their bones had been removed.
The two women pressed their foreheads tightly against the cold floor, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Although they had no knowledge that Yhwach had been hiding within their shadows, according to the ruthless rules of the Wandenreich, even as unwitting vessels, they could still be deemed traitors or negligent and be executed on the spot.
They were already used to that kind of fear.
"It's fine."
On the throne, Rosse simply waved his hand casually, "Get up. The ignorant are not guilty. Besides, that rat has long since parasitized all Quincy. There's nothing you could've done."
Those words were like a pardon, instantly loosening the tension in their nerves. Sweat soaked through their backs in an instant.
Rosse didn't bother further with these two frightened little quails. Slowly rising to his feet, his gaze swept like fire over the ten Espada below the steps, the highest combat power of Hueco Mundo.
"Since the guest has come uninvited, and even dared to threaten us to our faces, then as hosts, we can't lose our manners."
Rosse's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a chilling intent to fight, "Pass down the order."
"In one month, full mobilization. We will tear open the barrier of space and directly invade the Wandenreich, returning Yhwach's 'gift'!"
"Yes!"
The Espada all rose to their feet, their fervent responses merging into a roaring wave that made the hall tremble slightly.
Since Yhwach wasn't planning to trouble the Soul King and instead aimed his blade at him, Rosse didn't mind giving him a push.
Smash the Wandenreich to pieces, forcing that rat to seek omniscience and omnipotence by drawing his blade against the Soul King.
Rosse wasn't worried that Yhwach wouldn't comply.
Because to defeat him, devouring the Soul King was the only way to turn the tables.
And besides, he also wanted to see what that monk sitting in the Royal Palace, who claimed to be the beginning of everything, had prepared for him, the greatest variable.
The bell of the final act was about to ring.
As the order was given, the Espada withdrew from the central palace one after another.
Meninas and Bambietta exchanged a glance and prepared to leave with the others.
What they wanted most right now was to find a quiet corner and calm down after everything they had gone through today.
"Wait..."
A gentle yet unquestionable voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Meninas, Bambietta. You two stay."
Their bodies stiffened instantly.
Bambietta's already pale face lost what little color it had left, while Meninas's eyes flickered with a mix of fear and a faint, hidden anticipation.
Once only the three of them remained in the hall, the air seemed to grow thicker.
"Come here."
Seated on the throne, Rosse curled his finger at them lightly.
Bambietta and Meninas exchanged another glance, both seeing the panic in each other's eyes.
Though Bambietta had a decisive personality, under such absolute authority, the innate shyness and shame buried deep within her made every step feel heavy.
On the other hand, Meninas, who usually seemed carefree but was actually bold and unrestrained, though blushed as well, moved faster than her.
The two of them slowly made their way up the steps.
After the brutal battle earlier, their Quincy uniforms were already in tatters.
Bambietta's skirt was torn, exposing the smooth skin of her thigh.
Meninas's top had been damaged even more severely, barely covering her body. The curves she could proudly boast were faintly visible, and a large portion of her back was exposed, glowing like ivory under the dim light.
Rosse's gaze moved over them without the slightest restraint.
As they drew closer step by step, the small movements born of their embarrassment and tension only added to their charm.
Their slightly pressed-together legs, arms that instinctively tried to cover themselves yet didn't dare fully do so, and the rise and fall of their chests with each breath formed a breathtaking, living picture in Rosse's eyes.
These were spoils of war. And also works of art.
When the two finally reached the throne, Rosse leaned back slightly and smiled as he spoke a single word, "Sit."
Bambietta froze completely.
She looked around.
The towering throne was spacious, but there were no extra chairs.
'Sit? Sit where? On the floor?'
Before she could figure it out, her companion had already acted.
Meninas had been waiting for this moment.
Ascend!
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to rise.
As long as she latched onto this thickest thigh, forget Candice, even that snake woman wouldn't be out of reach.
Gritting her teeth, she steeled herself and boldly stepped forward, turning slightly as she gently sat on Rosse's right leg.
"Your… Your Majesty…"
Her small hands trembled slightly as they braced against Rosse's firm chest. She tried to appear composed and alluring, but her ears, flushed red as if about to drip blood, gave her away completely.
This was her first time being so close to a man. The strong masculine scent made her head spin.
"Good."
With a faint smile, Rosse lifted a hand and gently placed it on her head, slowly sliding it down along her pink hair.
His fingers passed through her hair and touched her smooth, exposed back where her clothes had been torn.
That faint cool sensation of fingertips brushing against her skin made Meninas let out a soft, involuntary whimper like a kitten. Her whole body trembled sharply, yet she instinctively leaned closer into the warmth of his embrace.
Bambietta, standing beside them, was completely stunned.
'This… this is what he means by sitting?'
'Isn't this way too shameless?'
'I am a Sternritter. Even if I lost and surrendered, it doesn't mean I should become some slave to be toyed with at will.'
However, as Rosse's gaze shifted slightly, those smiling yet unquestionable eyes fell upon her.
The last bit of resistance in Bambietta's heart collapsed instantly.
She was afraid. She didn't dare.
To survive, she had already chosen to surrender.
She didn't dare gamble on what would happen if she refused.
'If I don't comply, I'll die, right? I will be thrown out like garbage, right?'
Biting her lip, her eyes reddened, she finally gave in.
Like a frightened rabbit, she sat uneasily on Rosse's left leg, her body stiff as a stone.
When that warm hand rested on her long black hair as well, even sliding along her sensitive back, Bambietta trembled even more violently than Meninas.
Shame, fear, and a strange, unfamiliar sensation tangled together, making her feel like she might burst into tears.
Especially when she watched with her own eyes as the hand that had been moving along Meninas's back slid down effortlessly along her spine.
"Mmm!"
Meninas let out a suppressed sigh she couldn't hold back. Her face flushed completely red, her body going limp as she collapsed into Rosse's arms, her eyes hazy as if they could drip with moisture.
"Don't be afraid."
Rosse's voice whispered by their ears, like a devil's temptation, "Relax. I'll help you remove all of Yhwach's spiritual particles, and at the same time imprint you with the attributes of Hueco Mundo."
———
An hour later.
The hall returned to calm once more.
Bambietta and Meninas lay like boneless heaps, weakly leaning against Rosse's broad chest. The spiritual particles within their bodies had been nearly drained.
There was even a large pool of blood left on the ground.
Within the power Yhwach had granted them, there remained his personal imprint.
To extract it required certain special methods.
The bleeding was only a superficial injury. Right now, both Bambietta and Meninas could still feel their insides twisting in pain.
Rosse's spiritual particles were far more domineering than Yhwach's. With their bodies as the battlefield, the two forces had clashed for a full hour before Yhwach's imprint was completely erased.
At this moment, a new tattoo had appeared on their lower backs, the mark of the Jaygarcia family.
That was Rosse's mark.
And also the mark of Hueco Mundo.
As for the traces of Yhwach and the Quincy, with their Sternritter uniforms completely destroyed, they had vanished entirely from the two women.
"Alright."
Rosse lightly patted their shoulders, his voice calm, "The imprint of Yhwach's spiritual particles within you, as well as the hidden danger that could trigger Auswahlen, has been completely removed."
"Really?"
Meninas snapped awake instantly, overwhelming joy surging through her.
Compared to the constant fear of sudden death before, she finally felt true freedom.
Not only were her previous worries resolved, even future dangers were gone.
This was like double happiness.
She immediately slid off Rosse's leg and dropped to her knees. Her ample chest bounced vigorously with the motion, dazzling to the eye.
"Your Majesty! Thank you for your great kindness! Thank you for your blessing!"
Feeling the pure spiritual pressure within her, she was so excited she could barely form coherent words, "Meninas is willing to offer everything to Your Majesty!"
Not only that, she quickly tugged at the still-dazed Bambietta.
'Idiot! Hurry up and show your loyalty!'
'Since things have already come to this, what's the point of acting reserved? Better to fully commit!'
'Two against one!'
'We might not lose to Candice!'
'We can even challenge that arrogant Sung-Sun!'
Banding together like this was the way for newcomers like them to survive.
If given the chance, Meninas wouldn't mind pulling in the remaining female knights of the Wandenreich as well.
Bambietta's eyes struggled for a moment.
She didn't feel freedom, only that she had entered another cage.
But compared to Yhwach, who wanted their lives, Rosse wanted their bodies, their minds, and their loyalty.
Feeling the unprecedented lightness in her body, along with the lingering warmth from that man, she finally let out a soft sigh and followed Meninas's pull, kneeling down and bowing her head deeply, "Bambietta… thanks Your Majesty."
Looking at the two girls who had completely submitted, Rosse smiled faintly.
He reached out and placed his hands on their heads, gently stroking them like obedient pets.
"Very good. From today onward, you two will temporarily be in charge of attending to my daily needs."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."
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