Chapter 60: Awaken


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api threw her head back and let out a blood-curdling roar. It wasn’t a roar of triumph but one of frustration and rage.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun watched herpanion with a soft sigh. Even though Baraggan''s problem had been solved, the me of Api’s struggle for inner peace still burned brightly. She ate both corpses and even gained a definite boost in strength, yet there was no Vasto Lorde evolution.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Just why isn’t it happening?” Api whispered, staring nkly into the void. “I’m getting stronger but why won’t I be a Vasto Lorde?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun folded back her exaggeratedly long sleeve and extended her hand to pat Api’s head. “We, Hollows, live for a long time. There is no rush. Our biggest enemy has been sent to the afterlife by our dear Kazuya.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api blinked in surprise at Sung-Sun’s unexpected disy of kindness. “I’m not doing it for strength.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">A yful arch of Sung-Sun''s eyebrow hinted at her curious amusement. “What else could be your reason?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api groaned Sung-Sun’s intentionally feigned ignorance. “You wouldn’t understand.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Then make me understand.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s for…” Api’s eyes shifted,nding on Kazuya. Hisforting smile greeted her. “Him.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ara, Api can be honest too. Who could have imagined that?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun could never put a break to her teasing. Api had no choice but to admit that Sung-Sun was a perfect pair with someone like Kazuya.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You are such a bitch,” Api grumbled, her earlier despair reced by a renewed resolve after talking to Sung-Sun. “I need your help… Sung-Sun.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Kukuku. Speak up.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I think Kazuya will leave for the Living World with everyone. Can you stay in Hueco Mundo with me?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She needed somepany to keep hunting down more Hollow — the Forest of Menos being the perfect ce to fulfill her objective.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun''s curiosity piqued, yet her yful smile didn''t falter. “Ara, have you be addicted to my teasing? Is this a sign of your budding masochism?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No! I want to start with the Menos here…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun narrowed her eyes, suddenly looking serious. “I’m not sure if Harribel-sama will agree with this.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s why I’m asking you…” Api''s voice dropped to a near whisper, her gaze lowered in a rare show of vulnerability. “I’ll be leaving convincing Harribel to you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun couldn’t turn away from Api’s sincere request. “You’re such a handful, jeez. I’ll find some excuse. Until then, just go along with everyone.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Okay.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">…


    <span style="font-weight:400">From a distance, Kazuya observed as Sung-Sun signaled him with a wave of her long, billowing sleeve. A radiant smile danced on her lips, reflecting the ease with which she fulfilled her given task — taking care of Api and addressing any issues that arose after consuming the two Hollows. He had long anticipated Api''s failure. Her insatiable desire and unbridled hunger for power was in stark contrast to the harmony needed between instinct and awareness to be a Vasto Lorde.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘She won’t calm down without a proper lesson.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">He shelved thoughts of Api for the time being, focusing instead on Harribel''s wounds. Despite their superficial nature, the sight of her drenched in blood sent chills dancing down his spine. The egg she held was tainted, its surface smeared with her life essence.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Harribel, we’ll leave with Yoruichi after you heal your wounds.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">From Harribel''s perspective, there was no need to risk their lives in the Living World now that Baraggan had been vanquished. They couldfortably reside in Hueco Mundo for as long as they wished.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Harribel, do you trust me?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I do, but—”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No buts. Juste with me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Harribel couldn’t reject him when he used such a cheap but effective tactic against her. Nodding her head, she used her Reiatsu to dispel the blood covering her. She then turned her attention to the blood-soaked egg, her expression twisting into a frown.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Her Resurrión ability was all about creation and maniption of water. She had yet to discover anything about her innate ability in her Vasto Lorde form, only because ofck of water in Hueco Mundo.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was one of the reasons he wanted to take her to the Living World.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘She might learn her ability—’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">His thought abruptly halted, eyes widening as the blood began to detach from the egg''s surface as if manipted by an invisible force. Harribel looked away from the egg, and the blood intriguingly followed her gaze.


    <span style="font-weight:400">—Harribel awakened her innate ability when she couldn’t bear to see the egg in a filthy state. She had the power to create and manipte water out of nothing. For now she seemed to only have the power of water maniption.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Should I say, ‘As expected of Mommy Harribel?’”


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose snickered at hisment. “The feelings—” The dark-skinned Arrancar paused as Harribel ced her sword arm around her neck. “H-Harribel-sama?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Do not bring up our private conversations.” Harribel gently pushed M Rose and gave a soft-eyed nce to Kazuya. “Shall we go now?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What was—”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Shall we go now?” Harribel repeated her question, her eyes closing as she tilted her head slightly. “Kazuya, shall we go now?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">An icy aura emanated from Harribel, filling the air with an unmistakable chill. It was as if she projected an unspoken warning: ‘Argue with me now and you’ll regret it.’


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose shivered tugged at Kazuya’s shirt. “Just say yes, dammit! Do you want all of us to die?!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ignoring the urgency, he stood his ground. “Harribel, I’m not letting this slide. We <i><span style="font-weight:400">will </i><span style="font-weight:400">talk about thister, alone.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">His stern tone left Harribel with wide eyes. She couldn’t threaten her way out of the situation when Kazuya was involved. Now she had no choice but to engage in an embarrassment-filled conversation about her ‘instincts’ and the way she treated him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Okay…” Her voice was subdued, a clear indication of her difort.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya smiledfortingly. “I’ll be gentle, Harribel.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Finished with Harribel, he looked at the figures disappearing into the distance. Yoruichi was clearly having a st being chased by Ciri, who disyed an admirable level of tenacity, much like their battle a few days ago.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Is she into cats?’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">A sudden, spine-chilling re jerked him out of his thoughts. Swiveling around, he found himself staring at a figure sporting a Hollow Mask. Despite the intimidating disguise, the figure''s Reiatsu was unmistakably that of a Shinigami.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘A Shinigami impersonating as a Hollow? Wait, I think I remember him from the filler arc.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t remember the Shinigami’s name but he vaguely recalled the backstory behind this Shinigami roleying as a Hollow. The Shinigami had followed some Hollows inside a Garganta and ended up in the Forest of Menos. Rather than returning home, the Shinigami decided to stay and kill as many Hollows as possible.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Are you stupid enough to attack two Vasto Lorde?’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sure enough, the Shinigami tactically retreated after a few cautious nces. Kazuya sighed in relief. Thest thing he wanted was to kill a Shinigami in Yoruichi’s presence.