From Masatsuki Aozaki's words alone, one could tell—he was not necessarily a ruthless, bloodthirsty person. At least, not toward Lilynette.
Yet, for some reason, Starrk felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
Everything about this man—his words, demeanor, even his very presence—resonated with Starrk in a way that felt strangely familiar, almost as if they shared a natural affinity.
And yet, at the same time, his very existence radiated an overwhelming sense of danger.
Starrk turned his head toward Lilynette.
Their gazes met, and in that brief exchange, she seemed to understand his thoughts. She gave a small nod.
Now was not the time for joking around.
This enemy was unlike any they had faced before.
Starrk's hand rested atop Lilynette's head—no further movement was necessary.
"Give Chase, Los Lobos."
With that quiet command, a monstrous surge of Reiatsu erupted.
In an instant, it whipped into a violent storm, engulfing the entire sea of sand in a raging cyclone.
Watching the storm take shape before him, Masatsuki Aozaki pursed his lips slightly, appearing utterly unfazed.
A Reiatsu of this level was enough to knock out Lieutenant-class Adjuchas Arrancars with ease—but to him, it wasn't even a threat.
Compared to his own power, Starrk's Reiatsu simply wasn't strong enough.
Unless Starrk possessed an ability akin to Zanka no Tachi, one that could amplify limited Reiatsu into an overwhelmingly destructive force capable of bridging the gap between dimensions…
This level of Reiatsu was meaningless.
In fact, even among Arrancars, Starrk's power was not the absolute peak.
There was a reason Szayelaporro was acknowledged as the 0 Espada in the original timeline.
Even his Resurrección surpassed this current display—let alone when compared to Masatsuki Aozaki.
Perhaps it was due to the nature of his soul's division, or the fundamental difference between Hōgyoku-created Arrancars and naturally evolved Arrancars.
...
As the storm gradually dissipated, Starrk's figure came into view once more.
A heavy wolfskin coat, in the style of a hunter, now draped over his shoulders.
It fit him perfectly—like it had been made just for him—its rugged, weathered look complementing his perpetual air of exhaustion.
But that wasn't all.
In each of his hands, he now gripped a firearm—a pair of long, musket-shaped weapons, gleaming with a cold, deadly light. Their very presence exuded power.
Yet, as Masatsuki Aozaki took in the scene, a flicker of regret crossed his expression.
Because the Lilynette who had previously been clutched by Starrk—
Was now gone without a trace.
Compared to the disheveled, gun-wielding Starrk, who exuded nothing but weary resignation…
Deep down, Masatsuki had always preferred the lively, adorable Lilynette.
Seeing the look of disappointment on Masatsuki Aozaki's face, an annoyed voice suddenly rang out from the guns in Starrk's hands.
"Hey! What's with that expression?! Are you looking down on us?!"
"Hmph! Just you wait—I'll show you just how strong I am!"
Hearing this, Masatsuki shook his head slightly and explained,
"No, that's not it. I just think it would be better if Miss Lilynette took the lead in the transformation."
"Wha—?! So you noticed! Hah, at least you've got some sense!"
"You're absolutely right! I should be the one in charge—I'm way stronger than Starrk!"
Her triumphant laughter echoed in their ears, as if she were standing right beside them.
Starrk let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead, exasperated.
"Alright, Lilynette, he's just messing with you—trying to distract you."
"Stay focused. This isn't the time for jokes."
"I know, I know! You don't have to tell me—I wasn't falling for it anyway!"
Lilynette, in her transformed state as a firearm, shouted impatiently,
"Why are you talking so much today?! Hurry up and start fighting already!"
Starrk was speechless.
You're the one who keeps chatting with the enemy in the middle of a battle… and now you're blaming me?!
...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He raised both pistols, and in an instant, hundreds of Ceros erupted from the barrels like a dazzling storm of fireworks.
Without dodging or flinching, Masatsuki Aozaki simply raised a single hand. His slender palm met the oncoming Ceros, neutralizing them one after another.
There were no unnecessary flourishes—just a pure, unfiltered Reiatsu attack.
This kind of raw, instinct-driven combat, requiring no strategy or complex techniques, made Masatsuki feel a bit nostalgic.
There weren't many straightforward fighters like this left in the world.
Between the bizarre and unpredictable abilities of the Shinigami's Zanpakutō, and the peculiar techniques of the Quincy, whom he would soon have to deal with, it was exhausting to think about.
Their Reiatsu wasn't necessarily overwhelming, but some of their strange powers could be quite a nuisance.
In stark contrast to Masatsuki's calm and casual demeanor, Starrk's ever-apathetic expression was finally shifting—his face now showed genuine shock.
As the only Hollow in Hueco Mundo to have naturally evolved into an Arrancar, his original form had been overwhelmingly powerful.
Simply by existing, his Reiatsu could erode the souls of weaker Hollows, reducing them to nothing.
Even Adjuchas-class Hollows couldn't survive long in his presence.
For ages, he had envied the weak—because the weaker they were, the more they could stay together.
He once had companions.
But those companions had been consumed by his Reiatsu, leaving him alone in his endless journey through Hueco Mundo.
If you've never had something, you won't miss it.
But if you once had it… you'll never stop longing for it.
Because he had once known companionship, he despised loneliness all the more.
Starrk and Lilynette—they were the result of a soul splitting itself in two, all in an attempt to escape solitude.
But today, standing before the new king of Hueco Mundo, he realized something—
There were beings in this world far more terrifying than he had ever imagined.
Forget the Reiatsu radiating from this man—
Even after merging with Lilynette and unleashing their full power, their Cero couldn't even leave a mark on his palm.
This wasn't the equal companion he had been searching for.
This was a monster far beyond his comprehension.
No wonder he had sensed such an overwhelming threat from him… this guy was just too strong!
Starrk frowned slightly, confusion creeping into his mind.
But why couldn't he feel any Reiatsu from him?
Did he possess some kind of ability to suppress his Reiatsu?
If Starrk had that kind of control, he wouldn't have had to distance himself from others…
But even knowing how futile it was, he had no intention of changing his tactics.
He did have a stronger ability.
He could divide his soul and create Los Lobos—packs of spiritual wolves that could track enemies and explode on impact, their destructive power surpassing ordinary Ceros.
But if he used it…
The energy consumed wouldn't come from his Reiatsu—it would come from his and Lilynette's very souls.
He could accept losing his life.
But he couldn't accept losing Lilynette, the one companion he had left.
And judging by the difference in their strength, even if he unleashed Los Lobos, it likely wouldn't make any difference.
Was surrendering to him really the only option?
It wasn't often he found someone unaffected by his Reiatsu. Staying by his side… didn't seem like such a bad thing.
Besides, for someone who was clearly trying to recruit him, his attitude wasn't all that bad.
Especially toward Lilynette—his treatment of her could even be considered affectionate.
Starrk stood in place, continuing to fire Ceros, but his mind was already wavering.
After a brief moment of thought, he finally spoke.
"Let's pause for a moment. I…"
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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