Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō-Chapter 192: Resurrección

"The speed is decent, but the power is a bit lacking."

Masatsuki Aozaki stood in place, completely at ease, the corner of his mouth curving slightly as he murmured his observation.

"Ola Azul!"

Harribel tightened her grip on her Zanpakutō, clenching her teeth as she let out a low, determined cry.

In an instant, the blade of Tiburón was flooded with immense Reiryoku, radiating a dazzling light.

Without hesitation, she thrust it forward with all her strength, sending a massive, energy-forged blade hurtling toward Masatsuki at blinding speed, carrying overwhelming force.

At the same time, Ulquiorra reacted swiftly.

Raising one hand, he gathered his emerald-green Reiatsu, concentrating it into a single point. In a flash, the energy transformed into a razor-sharp beam of light.

Cero!

The three of them were only meters apart.

The very moment Ola Azul made contact, Ulquiorra's Cero surged forth like a raging flood, engulfing Masatsuki entirely in a brilliant emerald blaze. freewebnøvel.com

In the blink of an eye, his upper body was completely swallowed by the devastating torrent of energy.

BOOM!!

A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield, shaking the Forest of Menos as if the entire realm trembled under the force of the impact.

The pillar of light tore through the darkness like a storm, triggering a violent detonation that sent shockwaves rippling across the area.

Everyone watching felt their hearts tighten, instinctively holding their breath as worry gripped them.

Then, from within the all-consuming blast, a steady voice rang out—calm and unshaken.

"Let me see how strong your Hierro really is."

Harribel and Ulquiorra froze.

A shadow flickered within the blinding energy, and before they could react, two fists shot forward like bolts of lightning.

A powerful gust followed, the sheer force of the punches rushing toward their abdomens.

Still reeling from the shock of the previous exchange, neither had time to react before an overwhelming impact struck them.

Their bodies were launched backward like projectiles, sent hurtling through the air before slamming into the ground with explosive force, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

The battlefield had shifted in an instant.

Everyone watching was left in stunned silence, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Ah... did I go overboard?"

As the emerald glow dissipated, Masatsuki's figure emerged from the fading light.

His upper garments had been completely disintegrated by the force of the attacks, leaving his flawless physique exposed to all.

He scratched the back of his head, offering a somewhat apologetic smile.

The entire arena fell into dead silence.

Not a single sound came from either the fighters or the spectators.

Even Loly and Menoly, who were tasked with recording the test results, stood frozen, too stunned to process what had just happened.

In the blink of an eye, two of the most powerful Vasto Lorde-class Arrancar had been effortlessly knocked away by a single counterattack from this young Shinigami.

The scene before them felt unreal—impossible to comprehend.

This defeat had come too suddenly, too easily.

Are all Shinigami... monsters like this?

Vasto Lorde—before evolving into Arrancar, they were the undisputed apex predators of Hueco Mundo.

Yet even they couldn't withstand a single blow from him.

For the Adjuchas-class Arrancar watching from the sidelines, the realization hit hard—if they had stepped in his way, they wouldn't have just been knocked back.

They would have been obliterated in an instant.

No wonder Hueco Mundo has always been suppressed by Soul Society...

The gap in strength is simply too vast.

"Masatsuki-sama truly is impressive!"

As the dust settled, Harribel gently pressed her abdomen and struggled to stand, offering a wry smile.

The sheer gap in power was utterly disheartening.

If she had still been in her Menos stage, just taking that punch would have instantly triggered Ultra-Speed Regeneration to heal her wounds.

Fortunately, as an Arrancar, her control over Reiatsu had reached a level comparable to that of a Shinigami.

On top of that, she had gained the formidable defense of Hierro, significantly bolstering her resilience.

Only by layering Reiatsu defense with Hierro had she barely managed to withstand what appeared to be a simple punch.

However, even if she wanted to regenerate now, she couldn't.

In pursuit of even greater power, she had long since sacrificed Ultra-Speed Regeneration.

Masatsuki Aozaki let out a quiet chuckle, clearly pleased with everyone's performance.

The purpose of testing their strength was not just to assess the capabilities of Vasto Lorde-class Arrancar—but to establish dominance.

More importantly, it was to ensure that everyone present understood the sheer scale of his power.

After all, Hueco Mundo was a world where only the strong commanded respect, and the weak were nothing more than prey.

When dealing with Arrancar—who had evolved from Hollows—it was necessary to demonstrate strength from time to time.

Even if Harribel and Ulquiorra were not the type to seek out battle, only overwhelming strength could ensure their unwavering allegiance.

"Enclose, Murciélago."

With those calm yet commanding words, a suffocating wave of dark green Reiatsu erupted like a violent tide, instantly engulfing the entire battlefield.

The immense pressure condensed into countless crystalline raindrops that cascaded from above.

Harribel turned in shock, her gaze locking onto Ulquiorra.

He had undergone a complete transformation—

A two-horned helmet adorned his head, and his once-short hair had grown slightly longer. The deep tear-like markings on his face were now even more pronounced. Dressed in a flowing white robe, his black fingernails had elongated into formidable claws.

But the most striking change was the massive pair of black wings unfurling from his back, giving him an almost demonic presence.

In his grasp was a green Reishi blade, radiating an ominous, deadly energy.

"Resurrección... Ulquiorra... you..."

Harribel stood frozen, staring at the man before her—both familiar and unrecognizable. For a brief moment, words failed her.

Ulquiorra paid no mind to her reaction. He cast her a fleeting glance before shifting his gaze to the figure standing in the distance—

Masatsuki Aozaki, his posture unwavering, exuding an effortless air of confidence.

"Harribel, do you still not understand?"

Ulquiorra's voice was calm, devoid of emotion.

"We are the challengers in this battle. The true strength stands before us."

"In front of Masatsuki-sama, we have no right to hold anything back."

Harribel hesitated for a split second before clenching her teeth and nodding firmly, as if coming to a decision.

"Destroy, Tiburón!"

With her fierce declaration, she thrust her Zanpakutō toward the ground.

A towering surge of water, like a massive clamshell, erupted beneath her feet, instantly enclosing her within its depths.

As the water gradually receded, all eyes widened in astonishment.

The short blade Harribel had once wielded had transformed into a massive greatsword shaped like a shark's gill, its cold gleam exuding a chilling menace.

The remnants of her Hollow mask now only adorned her neck and chest, revealing her strikingly beautiful face.

Deep blue lightning-like markings had appeared along her cheeks.

She now wore a short-skirted, armored bodysuit, its sleek design highlighting her flawless, sculpted form.

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake