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"Buzz, buzz, buzz…"
A strange buzzing sound, like a swarm of bees, suddenly emanated from all directions.
The wind howled, and the small figures, like the eye of a storm, intertwined, eventually forming a visible wall of wind that completely enveloped the area where Orihime was located.
"Hmm?"
On the throne, Baraggan frowned, looking at the small figures forming the wind wall.
"Picaro?"
Baraggan was not unfamiliar with Picaro; after all, he was the one who initially brought Picaro to his side to relieve his boredom.
"Are you trying to resist me?"
A sinister glint flashed in Baraggan's eyes: "Don't forget who brought you to Las Noches."
"Great King Baraggan?"
"What great king? Now the great king is that Shinigami with glasses."
"I don't like him; he imprisoned us."
"Great King Baraggan, I don't like him either."
"…"
The black flames, full of decaying aura, collided with the wind wall formed by the Picaros.
The area of the wind wall in contact with the black flames gradually decayed at a visible speed, and within a few seconds, the wind wall resisting the black flames began to disintegrate. The invisible wind, under the decaying black flames, was even corroded into Reishi and dispersed.
"Oh dear…!"
Just then, a cry of surprise was heard.
Following the sound, it was seen that one of the Picaros forming the upper left corner of the wind wall had been burned by the black flames.
The next second, his body rapidly corroded, and in a blink of an eye, the flesh and blood of half his body disappeared, revealing stark white bones.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz…"
And just as that Picaro's 'existence' was about to be completely erased, both the Picaros forming the wind wall and those outside it, at this moment, emitted a strange buzzing sound that was inaudible but subtly perceptible from within their bodies.
Almost simultaneously with the buzzing sound, the black flames rapidly spreading over the Picaro, whose body had already half decayed, seemed to hit an invisible barrier and stopped spreading abruptly.
Immediately…
The black flames that had decayed half of his body actually began to recede, and new flesh instantly grew back in the areas where they receded!
However, the next second, the black flames spread again, only to be pushed back very quickly, as if it were a tug-of-war, causing the Picaro little boy, who was the 'battlefield,' to repeatedly swing between 'death' and 'Freshman.'
Seeing this, Baraggan's expression immediately darkened.
But he was not surprised, because he understood Picaro's abilities very well, otherwise he would not have kept these troublemakers by his side in the first place.
Although Picaro is a "Hollow group" composed of many individuals, it is actually a "single individual"!
This statement is not made lightly, because their lives are shared; as long as someone among them dies or is on the verge of death, the others will share their Reiatsu to heal and revive them.
And this method of Reiatsu transmission is sound—that inaudible yet subtly perceptible sound.
In short, they can use an internal communication mechanism that connects them to exchange each other's Reiatsu, thereby concentrating the Reiatsu of the 'Picaros' for attacking or healing their companions!
As long as their Reiatsu is not exhausted, and as long as the 'existence' of a single Picaro individual is not completely annihilated, they can continuously achieve Freshman.
This is…
The Arrancar who once stood at the apex of Hueco Mundo, holding the 2nd sequence among the Espada — the mischievous little imp, Picaro.
Above the high platform, the collision between the strong wind and the black flames, strictly speaking, should be a confrontation between 'decay' and 'Freshman.'
Aging and innocence!
Although both are Espada of NO. 2, the meanings they symbolize are diametrically opposite.
Although Baraggan did not pay much attention to Picaro, he would not underestimate him too much. After all, even the new King Aizen highly recognized Picaro's ability after his Arrancar transformation, even allowing these little imps to have the same sequence as himself for a time.
Most importantly…
The reason Picaro was eliminated to a three-digit number was not like Cirucci, who was eliminated because her strength couldn't keep up, but simply because the new King judged that they did not possess the functions required of an organized member.
To put it bluntly, it means…
They are disorganized, undisciplined, impossible to control, and particularly fond of causing trouble.
The new King had neither the energy nor the interest to patiently guide and meticulously care for them like Cirucci.
So, after eliminating them to three-digit numbers, Aizen directly imprisoned these unruly children permanently, out of sight, out of mind.
Outside the battlefield, Rukia and Roka stood on a platform far from the high ground, not acting rashly.
Because the confrontation between Baraggan and Picaro, although it lacked awe-inspiring Reiatsu collisions and intense impacts, from their perspective, they could clearly see the incredibly distorted space between the strong wind and the black flames, and dense, snake-like black lightning permeated the area around the battlefield.
Even without the rampant impacts, the clash between the two sides still distorted space.
Any creature stepping into that area would be instantly torn apart or decay to death.
Although this scene was terrifying, Rukia's expression was inevitably a bit strange…
Because, if one were to disregard the terrifying sights, the scene before them was entirely a group of unruly children bullying a lonely old man.
Whoosh~
A sound of breaking air rang out, and a figure appeared beside Rukia and the other person.
"Miss Cirucci."
Rukia's eyes lit up as she saw Orihime being carried back by Cirucci in a 'princess carry.'
Orihime, held in Cirucci's arms, had a slightly flushed face, but she also understood that her figure was a bit too large compared to Miss Cirucci's. To carry her around, whether by embracing or piggybacking, would affect Cirucci's movement.
"Are you alright?"
Cirucci set Orihime down and smiled slightly: "To welcome a princess, it really should be with a princess carry. It's a pity your Prince Charming didn't come over, otherwise this would have been a very memorable scene."
Orihime was momentarily stunned by the words. Subconsciously, she replaced Cirucci with Ichigo in her mind, and her pretty face immediately turned even redder, emitting a muffled sound from her gagged mouth.
Seeing this, Rukia, who was nearby, hurriedly stepped forward to untie Orihime, while also asking Cirucci with some concern:
"Is it really okay to let those… well, immature Arrancars, deal with Baraggan?"
Rukia and Renji had done some research before coming, and they knew very well who the old man fighting those little imps was.
"If even they can't do it, then we'll just have to retreat for now."
Cirucci shook her head; although she had previously mocked him, she was well aware of how terrifying Baraggan's abilities were as the oldest king in Hueco Mundo.
Even she, in her second Cero, might not be able to fully resist his decay.
It's not a gap in Reiatsu, but the rule that 'all living beings will eventually face death.' As long as one does not possess the characteristic of 'immortality,' one does not possess the ability to resist 'aging,' and even Baraggan himself is no exception.
But Picaro is different; although he does not possess the characteristic of 'immortality,' he possesses the characteristic of 'Freshman.'
The reason I can suppress Picaro is actually more because my ability happens to counter Picaro, allowing me to easily interrupt their 'sound' connection.
And Baraggan cannot do this.
However, the relationship between the two is not a one-sided restraint, but a mutual one, so Cirucci is not entirely sure who will win this duel in the end.
If it weren't for Ishikawa, Picaro's Freshman would be unable to resist aging, and it would definitely be Picaro who would be delayed until the final death.
Because Baraggan's abilities have been further enhanced with the help of Hōgyoku.
However…
Picaro also received help from Ishikawa, which put both sides back on the same starting line.
Hmm?
Just then, a sudden change occurred in the field.
Boom—
Without warning, the wind wall formed by dozens of Picaros exploded with a bang.
"Ah~"
"Ahhhhhh~"
"Wow~"
"…"
As the wind wall collapsed, dozens of Picaros were directly sent flying. Before they even landed, their small bodies rapidly corroded, as if they would turn into ashes and their existence would be completely erased in the next second.
Was it really too much to ask?
Seeing this, Cirucci frowned and instinctively moved to help.
And just then, a strange light surged in the eyes of all the Picaros, and then…
"Let's play…"
Someone suddenly called out in the crowd.
This call, like a fuse, instantly ignited the entire scene, and all the Picaros began to shout:
"Let's play."
"Let's play!"
"Let's… play…"
"Lai wan ba…"
"Let's! Play!"
"Let's… let's play… okay?"
"Let's—play, play, play…"
Hundreds of Picaros, speaking in unison, some whispering, some shouting loudly, some intermittently, and some indistinctly… Although their tones and ways of speaking varied, everyone kept repeating the phrase 'Let's play.'
Immediately…
The tone and rhythm of speech in this sentence gradually became unified, and even the surrounding space emitted the same sound. Finally, all the sounds were replaced by a single voice:
—"The Playful Army Wings!"
The wind, which had paused, began to howl again.
A fierce wind suddenly rose.
Not only the area where the high platform was located, but the howling wind swept through every corner of Las Noches.
And enveloped by the strong wind, the group of human-child Arrancars and small animals underwent slight changes in their appearance, all growing transparent wings like those of locusts, crickets, or dragonflies.
The differences in their appearance before and after were not so great as to transform them into entirely different beings, but everyone's Reiatsu increased significantly compared to before.
"Let's play with all our might!"
All the Picaros, at this moment, seemed to unify, speaking in unison.
"What is this?"
Rukia looked at the spiritual power barrier around her, then looked at Cirucci, who had released the barrier, with some confusion.
Cirucci didn't turn her head, but instead looked at the Picaros ascending like locusts and said in a deep voice: "Don't touch those strong winds filled with Reiatsu. The wind is made of countless tiny, invisible wind blades… Hmm, it's very similar to your brother's technique."
"When angered, Picaro doesn't care if others get involved. We are currently within the range of his technique."
…
Baraggan, who had been sitting on the throne from beginning to end, now left his throne.
Whoosh—
Almost as soon as he stood up, the stone throne disintegrated in the strong wind.
"Hmph, a bunch of brats."
Baraggan snorted in dissatisfaction, but did not continue to mock, because he knew very well that these little imps were impossible to communicate with, and their words were nonsensical. Some even asked him for food during a fight, and others were talking to themselves…
So, even if he mocked or cursed them, these unruly children would only think he was playing with them.
If he could, he really didn't want to fight these children, because even if he won, he wouldn't feel any joy of victory.
But…
Baraggan sensed the wind blades from all directions, and the uneven Reiatsu on those children, a hint of surprise flashing in his ancient eyes.
The Picaros' performance had already surprised him immensely, but the Cero of Picaro still made him somewhat incredulous, as it was completely different from what he remembered.
Although their Reiatsu was uneven, the strongest ones even possessed Reiatsu infinitely close to that of an Espada, while the weaker ones could barely reach the level of a Low Level Menos Grande, which is to say, a Gillian. This was an ability that the previous Picaro absolutely did not possess.
What happened to them?
Although he was incredibly annoyed, Baraggan had to admit…
Without his Cero, he would find it very difficult to eliminate the Picaros in their Cero.
Thinking of this, Baraggan slowly raised his head, placed the great axe behind him upright in front of him, and said coldly:
"Your chaotic lives should come to an end."
Black mist exploded within the strong wind. No matter how the strong wind raged, the mist seemed like an illusion, remaining motionless and continuously expanding within the strong wind.
"Decay, Arrogante!"
His aged appearance was replaced by a skull, and his original bone crown turned into a golden multi-layered crown. Baraggan in his Cero merely stood there, and the ground beneath his feet already began to rapidly decay. The wind blades forming the strong wind also quickly disintegrated under the mist, which resembled the shadow of death.
"Eeek—"
"Ahhhhhh, so scary…"
"I hate skulls, boo hoo hoo."
"…"
However, the Picaros' reaction, rather than being fear of Baraggan's power after his Cero, was more fear of Baraggan's appearance after his Cero.
Some of the little girls cried with teary eyes, while the little boys looked cocky, pretending to be brave.
This scene made Baraggan, who had become serious, unable to help but feel a bit deflated.
That's why…
He didn't want to fight these little brats.
Click~
Suddenly, all the Picaros simultaneously fell silent. The previously extremely noisy battlefield was instantly left with only the sound of the strong wind howling.
Baraggan was startled by this, finding that all the Picaros looked bewildered, constantly staring at each other, yet giving off an indescribable impression.
But he didn't notice…
At this moment, it wasn't just Picaro who showed an anomaly; even Cirucci on the outskirts of the battlefield had a mixed expression of confusion and joy.
Because, just now…
Both she and the Picaros felt that the Hollow Mark that reformed their core suddenly became incredibly active, as if cheering.
Immediately, the Hollow Mark began to change.
This change was significant, yet there was no discomfort whatsoever.
Her Reiatsu had increased, but not by much, but… the power of the Shinigami and Hollow within her body became more harmonious.
Cirucci didn't know what benefits this change would bring her, but she clearly understood the meaning of this change!
Ishikawa, has recovered!!
The Hollow Mark that reformed their core, at the moment Ishikawa recovered, due to its connection with Ishikawa, spontaneously transformed into the same as what was inside Ishikawa's body…
—Reiatsu Crest!
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones=1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr | 16 novels being updated, I can't read all comments