Chapter 44: Longing


    <span style="font-weight:400">Harribel and her crew moved across the stark white desert, the group of five lost in the endless expanse. They kept their Reiatsu hidden, so their tracks remained concealed. This led them to get attacked by weaker Hollow, but M Rose''s Zanpakutō made quick work of them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The dead Hollows became easy food for Api in her conquest to be a Vasto Lorde.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Harribel observed Api devour the Hollow flesh with a stoic gaze. Sung-Sun had also grown an appetite, but it was nothingpared to Api. As much as she despised the sacrifices, she could empathize with Api’s hunger for power after that battle. She would be feeling the same if shecked the power to protect Kazuya.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Anyone else missing Skull, or is it just me?” asked M Rose, swinging her sword casually. “It’s been quiet without him…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api and Ciri always stayed in their minds, only speaking when someone asked them something. Harribel rarely spoke. Sung-Sun and M Rose were the only ones who found things to talk about. It was like the old times before Kazuya and Api joined them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“There is just so much I can talk about, Rose,” Sung-Sun responded solemnly. “If I''m being honest, this silence bites me… It’s like he took a part of our souls with him.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You are being overly dramatic.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You caught me red-handed,” Sung-Sun said with a giggle. “It wasn’tpletely a lie. He took a part of Api’s soul and a small part of mine.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">A destructive Cero whizzed past Sung-Sun. Api cleaned herself with a st of Reiatsu and red at Sung-Sun. “Stop talking behind my back. It makes you look miserable.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ara, I’ll say it to your face then. Kazuya is having fun out there, and you are stuck here, eating Souls for a chance at bing Vasto Lorde. How does it make you feel?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Did you forget what he said before leaving? His goal is to find a safe ce for us.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api didn’t fall for Sung-Sun’s tant attempt to get inside of her head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun narrowed her eyes. “I believe he had more than enough time to find shelter for us. He only had to travel to a deep forest where Shinigami wouldn''t bother going. What is taking him so long… I wonder~?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api’s eyes widened, a re of emotion breaking through her courageous demeanor. “You’re just pulling my leg. Kazuya won’t betray us. I know him better than you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Unfortunately, all the signs point to his betrayal.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Fuck off!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“ept the bitter truth and the sadness thates with betrayal, Api. It’s what we deserve for putting our trust in a shifting chameleon.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The glint of amusement in Sung-Sun’s eyes was visible to everyone except Api. The very notion of Kazuya’s betrayal made her hopeless. She had been in tatters since Kazuya left, so much so that a few words from Sung-Sun exposed her fragile state.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri couldn’t help but wonder if Cyan Sung-Sun was her sister before they became Hollows. They both shared a passion for tormenting others — she preferred physical pain while Sung-Sun excelled in inflicting emotional pain.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Is it fate?”


    Nobody paid her any attention.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s enough, Sung-Sun.” Harribel approached Api and patted her back with her sword arm. “You have a mind of your own. Don’t let others cast doubt on your heart.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Who the hell would believe in Sung-Sun of all people?” Api huffed and stomped ahead of them. “I’ll leave you all behind one day, stupid women!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose’s smile vanished. “That was a little too intense for a joke, Sung-Sun.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri cast a look of disapproval at M Rose. “It was a perfect trap to make her suffer. An amusing disy.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You give me too much credit, Ciri.” Sung-Sun shook her head. “I did it to switch her focus. She will busy her mind in finding insults for me… instead of missing Kazuya. She needed something like that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Harribel narrowed her eyes at Api’s back. “Longing can strengthen resolve.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">They will need every bit of resolve toe out unscathed against the Godking of Hueco Mundo.


    <b>***</b>


    <span style="font-weight:400">The Court of Las Nochesy in a deathly silence. Not a single Hollow, regardless of their stature or might, dared to utter a word. The formidable Reiatsu of their ancient sovereign hung heavy in the air like a suffocating shroud, despite it not being directed at them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Baraggan''s skeletal fingers drummed a rhythm on the armrest of his throne as he leaned his face into his palm.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Worthless," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ciri and Dordoni have done nothing but test my patience. Fetch me news of their whereabouts. As for the Vasto Lorde, I''ll handle them personally."


    <span style="font-weight:400">He expected Tier Harribel and the new Vasto Lorde to be a pain in the ass but not strong enough to take down two old Arrancar. Ciri and Dordoni were two of the best warriors in his army, easily on par with Vasto Lorde in their right. Their weeks-long silence could only mean one of two things — either they were outmatched and died, or they had turned traitor.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Regardless of the situation, he couldn’t rely on the remaining Espada''s ability to handle two Vasto Lorde.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Szayel was more engrossed in his bizarre experiments than in actualbat.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Aaraniero, despite his immense potential, was still in the early stages of evolution.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Loly and Menoly were only just on par with an Adjuchas, their worth lying primarily in their roles as his mistresses.


    <span style="font-weight:400">And finally, Gantenbainne, Baraggan’s fanatic worshiper, was the onlypetent warrior among the Espada, apart from Szayel.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As the unchallenged God King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan hadn''t invested much time in strengthening Espada.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Lord Baraggan going into the field..." the blonde Hollow standing behind him mumbled. "May I be so fortunate as to apany you, Lord Baraggan?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You may, Evanya. Call upon Gantenbainne as well.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Evanya pressed her hands against her masked face. “I’ll fetch him right away, Lord Baraggan.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Baraggan clenched his scythe. He would be destroying a Vasto Lorde after so long.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He shook his head. “You just had to be a rebel, Tier Harribel.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He would’ve just warned Tier Harribel if she came to his court. For all his grace and mercy, she challenged his authority together with another Vasto Lorde. Nobody who denied his authority would go unpunished.