The battle between Grimmjow and Nelliel could be considered a battle between top-tier powerhouses in Hueco Mundo.
But in front of Baraggan, the two of them fell far short.
Simply not worth watching!
Grimmjow's ability was very similar to the Bankai of Ichigo's Quincy Zangetsu… both intensely condensed their own powerful Reiatsu, granting themselves immense boosts in speed and power.
Even his Cero was condensed into claw-like blades. Although the area of effect was smaller than a Cero, its power in close combat far exceeded that of a normal Cero.
If Grimmjow's Reiatsu were sufficiently powerful, he might well become a second Ichigo.
But unfortunately, Grimmjow couldn't become a stats monster.
Facing opponents with higher Reiatsu than himself, Grimmjow simply had no chance of winning.
Nelliel's ability was [Cero Doble].
For Hollows, this ability was akin to what Muramasa's ability was to Shinigami.
Muramasa's existence was the natural enemy of all Shinigami's Zanpakuto.
Nelliel's Cero Doble was the bane of all Menos's Cero.
Muramasa could make Shinigami's Zanpakuto betray them, while Cero Doble could take a Menos' Cero, add her own Cero's power to it, and reflect it back with multiplied force.
But their abilities, compared to Baraggan's, fell far short.
Baraggan's ability was [Senescence].
As long as he didn't restrain his Reiatsu, letting it spread, everything his Reiatsu touched would rapidly age and decay.
This could be considered the strongest 'mechanic' ability.
His [Respira] could even block and weaken the explosion of Sui-Feng's Bankai, Jakuho Raikoben.
His eventual death was also a 'plot kill', where a spatial Kido transported his own arm, tainted with the [Respira], back into his body, thus killing him with his own ability.
If spatial Kido teleportation could so easily send objects into an enemy's body, it could instantly kill most strong opponents.
In the later stages of Bleach battles, one either possessed ultimate stats, brute-forcing their way through, or possessed powerful 'mechanics' to kill enemies within their own rules.
Apart from Ichigo, most battles in Bleach were won by 'mechanics' overcoming 'stats'.
The battle between Kyoraku and the Primera Espada, Starrk, was like that.
Among the Espada, Starrk was absolute 'stats'.
Even after splitting his soul to weaken himself for Arrancarization, he surpassed Baraggan's mechanics.
But sadly, his stats were ultimately defeated by Kyoraku's mechanics.
When the Reiatsu gap isn't large, 'mechanics' completely overpower 'stats'.
Stats only become 'stats' when the gap reaches a certain degree.
"That is only natural. Compared to Your Majesty, they are but the light of fireflies."
Behind Baraggan, Charlotte Chuhlhourne bowed and said.
The Arrancar behind Baraggan were his Fracción.
They had been Baraggan's subordinates when he was still the King of Hueco Mundo.
After Baraggan was defeated by Aizen, they did not leave. Even after Arrancarization, they remained as Fracción, following behind Baraggan.
They could be considered Baraggan's most loyal subordinates.
Of course, loyalty is one thing… ability is another.
Among Fracción, their strength might be decent.
But compared to the Captains of the Gotei 13 or the Espada, they were too weak.
Yet they truly acknowledged Baraggan.
Other Fracción addressed the Espada they served as 'Lord' or 'Lady'.
But Baraggan's Fracción always addressed him as 'Your Majesty'.
Indeed, the battle between Grimmjow and Nelliel below was over their heads.
But they still believed that Grimmjow and Nelliel simply couldn't compare to Baraggan. Even the Primera Espada, they didn't think his ability could compare to Baraggan's.
"Lanzador Verde!"
Seeing Grimmjow once again evade her charge, Nelliel raised the javelin in her hand high. Pink Reiatsu gathered on the javelin, which she then threw towards the direction Grimmjow dodged.
Boom-
"Desgarrón!"
Facing Nelliel's attack, Reiatsu once again condensed on Grimmjow's fingertips into ten several-meter-long curved blades, which he launched at the javelin.
Boom boom boom boom boom boom—
One by one, Desgarrón blades were shattered by Nelliel's javelin. However, Desgarrón was, after all, the [Gran Rey Cero] of Grimmjow as an Espada.
Nelliel's javelin was strong, but not strong enough to shatter all of Grimmjow's Desgarrón blades in one go.
Boom!
After breaking seven blue Desgarrón blades, Nelliel's javelin lost its power and was knocked away by Grimmjow's eighth blade.
But by then, Nelliel had already arrived behind Grimmjow. Her upper body leaned back, and Reiatsu gathered in her hand, forming a new javelin, which she thrust down at Grimmjow.
Squelch—
Blood sprayed. Grimmjow's abdomen was directly pierced by Nelliel's javelin.
Pfft—
Grimmjow's pupils contracted sharply. He spat out a mouthful of blood, then lunged forward violently, tearing himself off the javelin. Ignoring the grievous wound in his abdomen, he spun around and kicked at Nelliel.
Whoosh!
With a flash, Nelliel evaded Grimmjow's attack and said to him, "Surrender, Grimmjow."
"If you continue fighting, you will die."
If it were the Nelliel of the past, she might have been unwilling to harm Grimmjow due to the 'mercy' in her heart.
Just like her fights with Nnoitra decades ago.
Even though she won every battle, Nnoitra not only didn't die, but his injuries weren't even that severe.
But after her subordinates suffered and after becoming the administrator of Las Noches, Nelliel realized that her 'mercy' towards evil individuals was cruelty towards those with good intentions.
If she hadn't spared Nnoitra, her two Fracción, Pesche and Dondochakka, wouldn't have suffered such harm.
A Hollow's mask is its most vital point.
Pesche and Dondochakka's masks were broken, and their Reiatsu had been leaking ever since.
It was foreseeable that in the future, the two would degenerate into mindless Gillian-class Menos.
This was the price Nelliel paid for her 'mercy'.
The current Nelliel naturally still had a merciful heart.
But in battle, Nelliel would not repeat past mistakes.
When it was time to strike hard, she would not hold back!
"...!"
Grimmjow coughed up blood. "Don't look down on me, Nelliel!"
"I am going to become the 'King'!"
After roaring, Grimmjow erupted with his Reiatsu, condensing it on his ten fingers.
"Desgarrón!"
Several-dozen-meter-long blue blades rushed towards Nelliel.
This time, Nelliel did not dodge. Instead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath towards Grimmjow's Desgarrón blades.
…
As Nelliel breathed, the blades formed by Grimmjow's Desgarrón transformed into a blue torrent of Reishi, which Nelliel sucked into her mouth. Then, an even more powerful Cero erupted from her mouth—
Boom!
A pink Cero tore through the void, directly hitting Grimmjow. The powerful torrent of Reiatsu completely engulfed Grimmjow's figure.
Boom-
Rumble rumble—
Amidst the roar, a hundred-meter-high mushroom cloud rose into the air. The ground of Hueco Mundo directly gained a hundred-meter-long chasm.
When the dust settled, only a charred, smoking body lay in the deep crater.
Glancing at Grimmjow in the crater, Nelliel canceled her Resurrección form, sheathed her Zanpakuto at her waist, and turned to walk back towards Las Noches.
As for Grimmjow—
When Nelliel used her [Cero Doble] ability, she didn't add her own Cero to it… she merely reflected Grimmjow's own Cero back at him.
Moreover, what Nelliel reflected back was only the Reiatsu Grimmjow used for Desgarrón, so its power was weaker than Grimmjow's own [Desgarrón].
Although Grimmjow was now severely injured, he was not in mortal danger.
With a Hollow's regenerative ability, his injuries would heal in at most three to five days.
"Tch, that guy is really annoying."
On another pillar, the former Tres Espada, Tier Harribel, and her three Fracción, Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sun-Sun, watched the battle end. Mila Rose couldn't help but speak up.
"Needing to use Resurrección to fight a Sexta Espada... Aizen-sama actually made her the Tres Espada..."
"Mila!"
Harribel folded her arms and said sternly, "I know the three of you can fuse your left arms to form the more powerful 'Ayon'."
"In terms of strength, Ayon indeed possesses power comparable to an Espada."
"But that is not a reason for you to look down on Grimmjow."
"It's true Grimmjow is the Sexta Espada, but Grimmjow is the one with the fastest progress among the Espada."
"Moreover, the current Grimmjow is only an Adjuchas Menos. Judging by his current state, he has reached the peak of Adjuchas and could break through to Vasto Lorde at any time."
"By then, his strength may not be below mine!"
"What?"
Harribel's words shocked Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sun-Sun.
Although Hollows could evolve infinitely by consuming souls-
However, just as Shinigami souls have limits, Hollow souls also have their own limitations.
Not every random Hollow possesses the potential to evolve to the Vasto Lorde level.
For example, Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sun-Sun… their limit was Adjuchas.
Ever since evolving to Adjuchas, the three of them had no more potential for evolution.
It was like Conqueror's Haki in the One Piece World… only an extremely small portion of people possessed it.
In the entire history of Hueco Mundo over millions of years, there had only been a handful of Vasto Lorde-class Menos.
The one that became a Zanpakuto, Ikomikidomoe, counted as one.
The King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, counted as one.
Starrk, Nelliel, Harribel, Ulquiorra… three more.
Counting them, the Vasto Lorde-class Menos were only these few.
The future Grimmjow could also be counted as one.
Grimmjow, after evolving to Vasto Lorde, was stronger than Harribel.
After the Thousand-Year Blood War, Grimmjow replaced Harribel, becoming the new King of Hueco Mundo.
Although Grimmjow didn't win this battle, Harribel undoubtedly saw that Grimmjow's future would inevitably become a powerhouse not inferior to herself.
"Then, Harribel-sama, if you were to fight Grimmjow, would you also need to use Resurrección?"
"Yes."
Harribel nodded. "Grimmjow's strength after Resurrección has already surpassed my base form."
"Without using Resurrección, even I would likely lose."
Hearing Harribel say this, Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sun-Sun immediately fell silent.
They did look down on everyone among the Espada except Harribel.
But since Harribel herself said so, they naturally wouldn't doubt her words.
"Since the battle is over, let's leave."
"During this time, you all must also work hard."
"Without any accidents, under Aizen-sama's lead, we will soon be having a decisive battle with the Shinigami of the Seireitei."
"Yes, Harribel-sama!"
"Ah, everyone is so busy..."
On a sand dune, Starrk rubbed his hair.
Beside him was his Fracción, Lilinette.
Starrk was very satisfied with his current life.
Before Arrancarization, because his Reiatsu was too powerful, any Hollow that approached him would disintegrate from being unable to withstand it.
To avoid harming his 'friends', Starrk split his own soul, thereby lowering his Reiatsu, ultimately completing voluntary Arrancarization.
Other Hollows, after Arrancarization, gained significant improvements in strength.
Even Baraggan was like that.
Only Starrk… his Resurrección not only didn't make him stronger but actually made him weaker.
Over these decades in Las Noches, everyone had not collapsed due to his Reiatsu.
"Isn't being busy good?"
Lilinette lay on the sand dune, saying, "Compared to now, our lives before were too boring."
"I like the liveliness."
"Yeah."
Starrk nodded.
He also liked liveliness.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have split his own soul to weaken his Reiatsu.
"How long can such days last?"
"I don't know, but probably not for long."
As the one with the strongest Reiatsu among the Espada, Starrk was most acutely aware of the changes in Aizen's Reiatsu.