The battle's conclusion was inevitable.
With their high-tier Adjuchas slain and their formation broken, the remaining dozen Adjuchas were hunted down methodically. None escaped Sombravida's encirclement.
The tiger-type Adjuchas was kept alive.
The mane-type high-tier was executed alongside Nel.
As for the tiger—
Sombravida had plans.
Interrogation
Upon returning to the cliff stronghold, the tiger-type Adjuchas was restrained inside layered Anti-Membrana barriers reinforced with spatial compression.
Sombravida ordered:
Limbs severed
Regeneration interrupted
Continuous suppression of reiatsu output
Each time it regenerated, it was beaten back to collapse.
Sombravida intended to extract one thing:
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's location.
Self-destruction remained a concern.
While Adjuchas do not explode like Arrancar, they can violently destabilize their own spiritual cores if pushed far enough.
Sombravida made a note:
He needed a sealing method that prevented reiatsu implosion.
A flaw in his control system.
Personal Grudge
Grimmjow.
The name had lingered in Sombravida's memory since his early evolution.
One clash.
One retreat.
No resolution.
Yammy Llargo had nearly killed him.
Grimmjow had not.
But that did not erase the rivalry.
If fate brought them together again—
Sombravida would not show restraint.
Strategic Expansion
The captured stronghold was preserved.
It would act as bait.
If leopard-type Adjuchas appeared—
Report immediately.
Grimmjow hunted constantly.
He would return eventually.
Spiritual Consolidation
After consuming:
Two high-tier Adjuchas
Multiple mid-tier Adjuchas
Sombravida entered seclusion.
His reiatsu was approaching the peak of Adjuchas.
Condensation required refinement.
Not brute absorption.
If he forced advancement too quickly, instability could occur.
Hueco Mundo devoured the reckless.
Stealth Evolution
Sombravida reviewed prior failures.
Failure 1:
A perception-type Adjuchas detected biological fluctuations.
Failure 2:
Foreign blood exposed his position.
Conclusion:
His stealth concealed reiatsu and form—
But not environmental interaction.
He began experimenting.
Goal 1:
Expand stealth from self-centered to area-centered.
Conceal an entire squad.
Goal 2:
Merge stealth with spatial distortion.
Eliminate detectable transition ripples.
Goal 3:
Spatial displacement traps.
Create overlapping coordinates—
Enemies rushing forward would be displaced mid-charge.
Perfect blindside execution.
Spatial Theory Advancement
Sombravida began testing advanced spatial layering.
If two nodes overlapped—
The distortion force might shear targets apart.
Provided their reiatsu did not crush the distortion first.
He also experimented with:
Associative spatial anchors
Blade-linked teleportation
Instantaneous displacement feints
Throw Sky-Splitting Greatsword → engage melee → blink to blade → second strike.
High lethality.
High unpredictability.
He even considered temporary spatial phasing—
But that required precision beyond current control.
Still—
The framework was forming.
Nel's Leadership
During Sombravida's seclusion, Nel commanded external campaigns.
Her reiatsu growth was exceptional.
Hueco Mundo's dense reishi fed her naturally.
Over the year:
Dozens of strongholds absorbed.
Territory expanded beyond one hundred ri.
Sixty mid-tier Adjuchas under command.
Nearly forty lower-tier.
Three new high-tier advancements.
Jekain fully stabilized as high-tier.
Sombravida's faction now possessed:
Five high-tier Adjuchas.
A regional power.
A Year Later
Nel lay bored near the throne.
Sombravida still had not emerged.
"Why is Lord Sombravida still in seclusion…"
Even Jekain grew restless.
Morale remained stable—
But the symbol of authority was absent.
Then—
An emergency report arrived.
Incoming Force
"Thirteen Adjuchas approaching from the east."
"Seven high-tier."
Hostile reiatsu.
Deliberate advance.
Jekain's tone hardened.
"Battle formation."
Nel rose immediately.
Signal team dispatched near Sombravida's sealed chamber.
If necessary—
Red flare.
Enemy Arrival
Hours later—
Hostile reiatsu entered range.
Violent.
Unrestrained.
Nel released her pink spiritual pressure.
Jekain followed.
Two other high-tier Adjuchas joined.
Mid-tier units aligned.
Numerical advantage favored Sombravida's side—
But quality was uncertain.
First Exchange
The enemy leader:
A manta-ray-like humanoid Adjuchas.
Name later revealed as:
Stabrek
Cero launched without warning.
Nel swallowed it.
Counter-fired.
Blocked.
The manta-ray Adjuchas vanished with Sonído-level speed.
Clash.
Emerald Spear vs dark greatsword.
Black reiatsu coating spread across the blade.
Corrosion-like.
Nel disengaged instantly.
Correct instinct.
Dark Devouring Ability
Stabrek's power manifested:
A spreading dark aura.
Contact-based devouring field.
It latched onto Nel's limbs.
Not poison.
Not decay.
Absorption.
Active spiritual erosion.
Nel's reiatsu began draining.
She struggled to break it—
But the field adhered.
"This ability consumes weaker opponents," Stabrek mocked.
Even stronger foes—
If worn down.
Jekain attempted sealing chains.
They were shattered.
Mid-tier clashes erupted around them.
Void Beast Thunder deployed.
Enemy high-tier fought fiercely.
The battle tipped toward stalemate—
Except for Nel.
The dark aura reached her torso.
Revelation
"You captured Utlandish," Stabrek sneered.
"Envoy of His Majesty Barragan Louisenbairn."
The name struck like thunder.
Barragan—
Ruler of Las Noches.
Second Espada in the future.
Former King of Hueco Mundo.
Respira wielder.
Even before Arrancar evolution—
A terror.
Stabrek declared:
"This is punishment."
Nel's condition worsened.
Jekain shouted:
"Red flare!"
The signal ignited.
Sombravida Emerges
Before Stabrek could finish boasting—
A pale-gold slash tore across his mask.
Bone shattered.
Reiatsu exploded outward.
The dark devouring aura disintegrated instantly.
The battlefield froze.
Sombravida stepped forward.
Pale-gold reiatsu surged violently.
Denser.
Sharper.
Oppressive.
Nel collapsed safely behind him.
He placed a hand on her head.
"Well done."
Then—
Turned to Stabrek.
"Who said… she was dying?"
Power Shift
Stabrek staggered, mask cracked.
His eyes widened.
"This reiatsu… impossible…"
The surrounding battlefield felt it too.
Every Adjuchas present recognized it.
Not merely high-tier.
Not merely elite.
But—
Peak Adjuchas.
Sombravida's seclusion had ended.
And something fundamental had changed.
The balance of the battlefield tilted instantly.