Chapter 24: Transform


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api walked out of her chamber within the cave, a yful glint in her eyes as she prodded M Rose''s butt with her horn. “Stop being so narcissistic, Bitch.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ouch. Stop poking my ass, you little slut.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api walked towards Kazuya and affectionately rubbed her head against his leg. “You’re safe.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Of course.” He patted her head tenderly. “Someone is unafraid of showing love today.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Bastard came to take you and Harribel-sama away from us. He got what he deserved.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api had no remorse for anyone who came to harm her or anyone close to her. She could be more ruthless than him in some aspects.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Well done, Kazuya and M Rose," Sung-Sun chimed in as she slinked out of her hiding ce. "I propose we move before Baraggan dispatches someone to investigate the missing Espada."


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Before that.” Kazuya turned to M Rose. “Share your experience, Rose. It’ll be helpful since everyone here wants to be an Arrancar. Am I right?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hell yeah! I promised you I’ll be the strongest Arrancar.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It doesn’t hurt to gain more power in Hueco Mundo… especially after we made enemies with the Godking.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api and Sung-Sun exchanged determined nces, their ambitions to attain the Arrancar form fueled by their unique yet intertwined desires.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Harribel nodded thoughtfully at their hunger for power. “It’s an excellent method to improve our strength, but we shouldn’t be reckless.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She was relieved there was a way to be strong without devouring another soul, even if it meant performing a dance with death.


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose smiled, a hint of reminiscence in her eyes. “I thought you wouldn’t ask about that, Kazuya. Well… It was painful from what I remember. I was losing my mind until you pulled me out of it.” She pointed at him with a questioning look. “How did you do that?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m not sure,” he admitted, giving a helpless shrug. “Perhaps our heart-to-heart before the battle helped me reach your soul.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He made a vague excuse for his Crumbling Heart ability. Being Hollows and all, they wouldn’t understand the concept of a System even if he told them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, that.” M Rose chuckled sheepishly. “It was a weird exchange now that I look back on it. I feel bad for misunderstanding you all this time. I’m sorry for that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api stared at M Rose, eyes wide in disbelief. “Did… she just apologize? Is this a side effect of going through the process?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Rose grew out of her immature phase,” Sung-Sun whispered, her eyes shining with emotions. “You make me proud, girl.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose shot a nce at the pair, her eyebrows knitting together, and her fist trembling. She barely held back from smashing her fist on their heads. “Good lord… I was in the wrong. Is it that bad to apologize?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No…” Sung-Sun turned her attention to Kazuya. "It appears you yed a crucial role in unlocking M Rose''s Arrancar form. Is it possible that you possess an ability you''re unaware of? Perhaps another advantage of being a Natural Vasto Lorde. Harribel-sama, what do you think?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">Harribel''s brow creased with a thought. "We can''t be certain. Just stay by Kazuya if any of you choose to undergo the transformation.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She hadn''t been able to stop M Rose, even though she was present at the scene. There was no way she could intervene if the others chose to shatter their masks. Besides, M Rose’s sess would drive them to undergo the process sooner rather thanter.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She couldn’t stop them from walking the dangerous path since she herself wished to walk upon it and rise to the ranks of Arrancar.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll be next,” Api dered, her eyes filled with determination. “Should I do it now?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya cupped Api’s deer head, gently rubbing her ears with his thumb. “Wait for some time.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Okay…” Api agreed, her voice a mixture of anticipation and understanding. “Don’t dy it for too long. I need to be strong… It hurts to watch everyone fight without feeling like useless trash.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun rested her head on his shoulder. “I agree with her sentiment. I do not want to stand by when Baraggan sends more of them after us.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya smiled, sensing their determination ignited by M Rose''s transformation. "Don''t worry. I won''t keep you waiting for long."


    <span style="font-weight:400">He turned to Harribel and cleared his throat. "I have something important to say. I do have an ability that none of you know, apart from the ability Sung-Sun mentioned."


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was the perfect moment to reveal one of his crucial secrets. His Hollowpanions had earned his trust.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya summoned the System menu and opened the race editor. Before their eyes, he selected his desired race. A hole materialized in the center of his chest, an eerie abyss reminiscent of a Hollow''s Hole. From the depths of this void, azure liquid cascaded before the said liquid caught fire. Molten blue mes roared to life, a blue fiery tempest encasing him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">A round, ssy cocoon spun itself around him. Moments passed as the mes underwent a mesmerizing transformation, shifting into a lighter shade of violet.


    <span style="font-weight:400">All four women held their breaths, the anticipation tightening their chests, as they wondered what kind of metamorphosis Kazuya was undergoing and what the oue would be.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The cocoon cracked, sending shards of ssy fragments into the air. The mes retreated into his chest as if they were a living entity, a sentient force returning to its origin.