Kazuma's eyes widened as he nervously watched the battle unfold.
He prayed silently that neither of them would get seriously hurt.
However, the sheer volume of spiritual energy being thrown around meant he didn't dare to rashly interfere.
He could only wait anxiously on the sidelines, sweating bullets.
As time went on, the fight between Batsu'unsai and Neliel grew more and more intense. They traded lightning-fast blows, completely evenly matched.
Kazuma was dazzled by the display of skill, unable to stop himself from marveling, 'As expected of my wife and my best friend, They're both were absolutely terrifying!'
"You know Shunpo?" Batsu'unsai asked, narrowing her eyes.
After their blades clashed and separated, Batsu'unsai had watched Neliel use a footwork technique that looked suspiciously identical to Shinigami Shunpo.
She turned and shot a murderous glare at Kazuma, though her anger subsided just a fraction when she realized Neliel was only using his Flash Blink Version 1.0.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai!" Batsu'unsai created some distance and fired a bolt of pale lightning from her fingertips.
Neliel was not to be outdone as she pointed a finger right back.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai!"
Batsu'unsai's face, which had just started to calm down, twisted in absolute fury.
"You know Kidō too?!"
"Yep! Kazuma taught me!" Neliel added brightly, doing absolutely nothing to help the situation.
"SATOU KAZUMA!!!"
"Wife, I'm right here!" Kazuma hurriedly raised his hands in surrender.
The response he got was another Byakurai!
"You're gonna murder your husband????!" Kazuma yelled.
The Byakurai hit him squarely in the chest.
Because he didn't dare to dodge or block it with Blut, the spell successfully electrocuted him, leaving his hair standing on end and smoke curling from his robes.
Usually, Kazuma was the one zapping others with lightning.
Today, he was the one getting fried.
The worst part was that he couldn't even defend himself without making things worse.
What an injustice!
He almost burst into tears!
Gradually, after a bitter, high-speed fight, both women seemed to finally burn off their excess adrenaline.
Just as Kazuma thought the situation was about to spiral entirely out of control, Batsu'unsai and Neliel stopped at the exact same time.
They lowered their swords, staring at each other while panting heavily, their eyes filled with genuine, warrior's admiration.
"Haha... not bad. You're very strong," Batsu'unsai was the first to speak, offering a breathless laugh as she addressed Neliel.
"You're not so bad yourself. Looks like I'll have to train harder," Neliel replied, a genuine smile breaking across her face.
Seeing that the two had finally stopped trying to kill each other, Kazuma rushed over, asking with deep concern.
"Are you two okay?"
"Hmph, We're fine, just a little tired," Batsu'unsai and Neliel answered in perfect unison.
Kazuma breathed a massive sigh of relief and smiled. "That's good, please don't fight like that anymore. If there's a problem, you can solve it over a hot pot! If one meal doesn't work, then we'll have two."
Neliel sheathed her sword, looking at Kazuma complainingly. "Who told you to hide such a beautiful, strong wife from me for all these centuries?"
"Hehe... well, I brought Batsu'unsai here to formally meet you today, didn't I?" Kazuma scratched his head and laughed sheepishly.
Watching Kazuma and Neliel banter so easily, a tiny surge of jealousy rose in Batsu'unsai's chest.
She walked to Kazuma's side, linking her arm firmly with his, and said with terrifying gentleness, "Kazuma, do not let this happen again! If I find out you have any other secret female... friends... that I don't know about, I will chop your dick into tiny pieces!"
Seeing the deadly serious look in Batsu'unsai's eyes, Kazuma shivered.
For the sake of his future happiness and continued existence, he would agree to absolutely anything she said!
"Mhm, mhm, I understand completely," Kazuma nodded hastily.
"Kazuma, it hasn't been that long since your last visit, and you're back in Hueco Mundo again. Did you miss me?" Neliel had easily picked up on the territorial hostility in Batsu'unsai's words.
After speaking, she deliberately walked over and linked her arm with Kazuma's other arm, pressing herself against him with a teasing smirk.
"Neliel, please stop joking around! Batsu'unsai will actually skin me alive."
Neliel's actions sent a wave of pure terror through Kazuma.
He quickly looked at Batsu'unsai, his eyes screaming, 'Wife, look! I didn't do anything! It's really not my fault!'
Neliel laughed, finally letting go. "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you both. What are you two really doing here in Hueco Mundo?"
Kazuma cleared his throat, grateful for the subject change. "I want to know the current political situation in Hueco Mundo, A while ago, a Vasto Lorde named Szayelaporro invaded the Soul Society. I'm here to investigate it."
"Szayelaporro Granz? He's a core member of Las Noches," Neliel explained, her expression turning serious.
"The leader of Las Noches is Baraggan Louisenbairn, he has proclaimed himself the King of Hueco Mundo. According to the intelligence I've gathered, he currently commands four subordinates: the Picaro, Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio, Gantenbainne Mosqueda, and Szayelaporro."
"The King of Hueco Mundo?" Kazuma scoffed. "The last guy who called himself a King is currently a pile of ash! I wonder if this Baraggan is actually worthy of the title."
Kazuma knew full well that with his current power he could easily wipe the floor with Baraggan, but he needed a proper pretext.
Without a just cause, what was the difference between a Captain of the Gotei 13 and a common thug?
"Neliel, you didn't join Las Noches?"
"Me? Baraggan sent an envoy to recruit me a while back, i don't like joining fascist organizations, so I refused."
"Did he let you go that easily?"
"Not really," Neliel sighed. "After I refused, Baraggan sent executioners to kill me. Unfortunately for them, they weren't strong enough, and I killed them instead! Later, he came after me himself, but he couldn't pin me down, i have you to thank for that. He couldn't deal with the Shunpo and Kidō you taught me."
Hearing this, a wave of relief washed over Kazuma.
It seemed his influence had truly changed the plot!
Because Neliel hadn't joined Las Noches, she will never became an Espada.
That meant she avoided the bitter rivalry with Nnoitra Gilga, and she would never have her mask shattered by his cowardly sneak attack.
However, thinking of Neliel's two goofy Fracción, Pesche Guatiche and Dondochakka Birstanne, Kazuma felt a twinge of regret.
He wondered if Neliel would still have a chance to meet them in this timeline.
They were ridiculous, but they had been fiercely loyal to her in the original story.
Kazuma rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Neliel, do you know exactly where Las Noches is?"
"I do. What are you planning?"
"I want to test the mettle of this so-called King. If he's a fraud, I'll cut him down, and I'll exterminate that Szayelaporro guy while I'm at it." Kazuma spoke of killing them both as casually as discussing the weather.
To prevent Neliel's original tragedy from ever happening, Kazuma decided he would just kill Szayelaporro and Nnoitra immediately.
"You're not trying to get revenge for me, are you?" Neliel asked, her brow furrowing with genuine worry.
"Baraggan didn't really get an advantage over me, but he is extremely powerful! His power over time is absolute, if he went all out, I'm not sure I could defeat him. You're strong, Kazuma, but who knows what kind of ultimate moves he has hidden?"
Kazuma stumbled over his own feet after hearing her words.
"Neliel, please don't say anything else, Batsu'unsai is literally right here! If you keep talking to me so affectionately, it won't be me cutting down Baraggan, it'll be you burning incense at my funeral!"
Batsu'unsai ignored him, looking at the Arrancar with newfound anger.
"Kazuma, since Baraggan bullied our Neliel, let's go settle the score with him right now and cut him down!"
Kazuma stared at his wife in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me! You two were trying to rip each other's throats out just a moment ago, and now you're suddenly concern about her? Women are completely impossible to understand!"
The moment he finished speaking, his ears were simultaneously grabbed and twisted violently by Batsu'unsai and Neliel.
"You stay out of it!" they yelled in unison.
"Neliel, tell us, where exactly is Las Noches? We'll head over right now," Batsu'unsai said, her expression serious.
She had already made up her mind to help Neliel get revenge.
Kazuma rubbed his red ears, frowning. "Batsu'unsai, if we're going to pick a fight with the King of Hueco Mundo, just the two of us is enough, Let's leave Neliel out of it."
"Why?" Batsu'unsai asked, confused.
"Neliel is a Hollow," Kazuma explained patiently. "If the other Hollows find out that she actively teamed up with Shinigami Captains to assassinate the King of Hueco Mundo, she'll be hunted as a traitor. It will make her life here incredibly dangerous."
However, Neliel shook her head firmly.
"It's fine. I'm used to being a loner anyway, and I can take care of myself, let the other Hollows say whatever they want."
Kazuma looked at Neliel, asking one last time.
"Are you absolutely sure about this? Neliel, doing this will bring a massive target onto your back."
Neliel nodded, her eyes filled with absolute determination. "I've decided, let's go together."
With their alliance forged, the three of them set off across the endless white dunes toward the towering dome of Las Noches.
'Baraggan, your time is up,' Kazuma thought coldly.