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[Anime] Ch 267: Infighting
🕑 Added 2025-05-27 15:48:00 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
BOOM!!!
Nnoitra came flying at high speed, smashing straight into one of the white palace buildings, destroying it.
Grimmjow turned his head to look at the crumbling ruins behind them, falling silent for a moment.
Then his gaze locked onto the one responsible.
"Nnoitra Gilga!!"
Grimmjow's voice trembled slightly with anger. "What the hell did you just do?!"
"Pah! Pah!"
Nnoitra spat out a mouthful of sand and shoved the debris off his body. His glare landed squarely on Grimmjow, sharp and unrepentant.
"Since when do you get to tell me what to do, Sexta Espada?"
Grimmjow's jaw tightened as his teeth ground together. His eyes narrowed dangerously at Nnoitra.
What does being Sexta have to do with this?!
"One day, I'm gonna knock you down to Sexta!"
"Hah?"
Nnoitra scoffed, like he'd just heard the funniest joke all day. "If you think you can, then bring it on!"
"Bastard!!"
Grimmjow's Reiatsu exploded around him, his body already twitching, ready to launch into Sonido—
But—Smack!
A hand clamped down hard on Grimmjow's shoulder, stopping him cold.
His foot froze in place, and he shot an irritated glance back.
"Starrk, don't get in my way!"
Coyote Starrk let out a sigh. "Man… this is such a pain…"
"Normally, I wouldn't bother stopping you. But don't forget—our real enemy hasn't even shown up yet."
"And if we start tearing into each other now…"
He paused, then gave Grimmjow a serious look. "We might not make it out alive."
"Also…"
"If Aizen finds out about this little tantrum, you think he's gonna let it slide?"
"..."
"Tch."
At the mention of Aizen, Grimmjow looked away, annoyed. He clicked his tongue in frustration, but he backed off anyway.
Nnoitra, still sitting on the rubble, also went quiet. He looked down at the wreckage around him, unease creeping into his gut.
Their base in Las Noches had just been leveled by an enemy. Buildings destroyed. The whole place in shambles.
Oh man...
Nnoitra didn't even want to imagine what Aizen would do when he found out.
"Hmmph."
A cold snort suddenly cut through the tension.
Starrk raised an eyebrow and turned toward the voice.
A large, hulking figure stood there—dressed in a white coat trimmed with black fur, looking for all the world like a grumpy old man.
Baraggan Louisenbairn.
"This guy again? What now?"
Starrk felt another headache coming on.
Sure enough, Baraggan let out a low chuckle and sneered, "Aizen's really trained you mutts well. Didn't think he could break you this bad."
That wide-shot insult instantly drew the attention of all the other Espada.
Baraggan, completely unfazed by their glares, crossed his arms. The flame-like glow in his hollowed eyes swept across them all.
"What? Tell me I'm wrong."
Starrk: "…"
He felt drained just standing here.
He had just managed to stop Grimmjow and Nnoitra from killing each other, and now here comes Baraggan stirring the pot.
But then again… this wasn't new. Baraggan had always looked down on them—even though he was technically one of them.
Same Espada rank, same status, but always acting like he was above it all.
Always running his mouth with crap like "I'm ashamed to even be grouped with you."
Tier Harribel frowned, her voice icy. "Baraggan. Don't forget—you're working for Lord Aizen, too."
"Don't lump me in with you." Baraggan growled. His hand curled into a tight fist, bony knuckles creaking.
"One day, I'll take back everything I lost. I'll rip it right out of Aizen's hands!"
"Cool. Best of luck with that." Starrk replied dryly. Then added, "But for now, how about we all deal with the enemy first, dear former king of Hueco Mundo?"
Baraggan shot him a glance, his eyes flashing.
This bastard didn't even respect him!
He wanted so badly to make Starrk rot in place—to show him what true death tasted like.
But Baraggan's gaze flickered again.
Even if Aizen hadn't said it out loud, they all knew the truth.
The Espada rankings were based on strength.
So the fact that he, the former king of Hueco Mundo, was ranked only Second said everything.
Starrk was strong. Really strong.
Baraggan didn't like Aizen. Not one bit. But there was one thing that smug bastard had said that he completely agreed with:
In a fight between Soul Reapers, it all comes down to Reiatsu.
Baraggan's aging ability was terrifying. Nearly impossible to counter.
But when faced with someone like Starrk, whose Reiatsu far outclassed his… it just didn't work the same.
Tch.
Where the hell did Aizen find monsters like that?
With that thought, Baraggan fell silent.
Power speaks louder than words.
Baraggan believed in the law of the jungle—the strong rule, the weak follow.
He wasn't like Nnoitra, who barked at those stronger than him just to feel tough.
No, Baraggan held real contempt for Espada like Nnoitra. Weaklings who didn't know their place.
Seeing that Baraggan had finally shut up, Starrk let out a sigh of relief.
Yeah, he was technically in charge as the First Espada.
But he had zero interest in actually managing them.
Too much hassle.
All of them—every single Espada—were a pain in the ass.
And Starrk… was lazy as hell.
Thankfully, as long as Aizen gave the orders, they'd all obey.
Even Baraggan—who was just itching for the day he could overthrow Aizen—would behave, at least for now.
The other Espada, seeing that Baraggan had gone quiet, also relaxed slightly, although their expressions were still tense.
For now, Starrk had managed to suppress the growing powder keg between them.
Their attention turned toward the direction Nnoitra had flown from earlier.
From there, a massive Reiatsu was charging toward them—fast.
Before anyone could speak, Nnoitra—still perched on the rubble—suddenly jerked his head up.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his face twisted with rage.
"Damn you, Nelliel!!"
Tier Harribel's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly turned to Nnoitra Gilga and asked with a frown, "You're sure?"
Nnoitra's face twisted with rage. "She's the one who kicked my ass and sent me flying back here!"
"...Huh?"
"Hehehe…"
Baraggan Louisenbairn suddenly chuckled. "Now this is getting interesting."
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and the others turned to look at Nnoitra and Szayelaporro Granz with amused expressions.
Clearly, the whole mess between them and Nelliel was old news at this point.
Grimmjow grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "Looks like that woman's finally back for payback!"
"Tsk tsk."
"Some people better watch their backs~"
Grimmjow's voice boomed like he wanted the whole Hueco Mundo to hear it. "I wonder if those cowards who only know how to gang up on others have the guts to face the wrath of the former Tres Espada head-on?"
"You bastard!" Nnoitra snapped, glaring at him.
But, the more agitated he got, the more obvious it became—he was scared.
Deep down, Nnoitra knew full well the gap between him and Nelliel.
Just like how he never considered Grimmjow, the Sexta Espada, a threat…
The difference between Nelliel—the original Tres Espada—and him was just as massive… if not more.
Damn it!!
She really got her powers back?!
No—wait… her Reiatsu? It's even stronger than it used to be!!
He shuddered as Nelliel's cold eyes flashed through his mind.
Even worse off was Szayelaporro Granz, who had also been part of that sneak attack on Nelliel.
Szayelaporro's hands clenched into fists, his face pale and stiff. A flicker of regret crossed his heart.
What now?
Even someone like Nnoitra—who's way stronger than him—had to team up just to ambush Nelliel successfully.
If it came to a straight-up fight… what could someone ranked Octava even do?
Ulquiorra Cifer, on the other hand, showed no amusement.
Or rather, he just didn't care.
He calmly asked, "So the intruder was a former Espada?"
Starrk and Harribel exchanged a glance, then after a brief pause, Harribel said seriously, "Probably…"
"Only one of them."
There were others behind her—beings they couldn't even sense.
And that attack earlier? That wasn't even one of the abilities Nelliel used to have.
As they spoke—WHOOOSH—
A powerful gust of wind blasted through the area.
Sensing something, both Starrk and Harribel suddenly looked up into the distance.
In the next instant, a blur of green appeared on the horizon, growing larger by the second. A terrifying surge of Reiatsu crashed down over them like a tidal wave.
Then—Nelliel appeared before them.
She was icy cold, and her amber eyes swept over Starrk and the rest before finally locking onto Nnoitra.
"!!!!"
The moment the gaze fell on him, Nnoitra's entire body tensed. His muscles coiled tight, his instincts screaming danger.
I'm going to die!
Hell, here I'm coming.
That was the horrifying conclusion his mind reached in just one second.
She really was stronger now!
Damn it!
Nnoitra gritted his teeth.
How?!
Nelliel should've lost all her power after their ambush. So how in the hell did she not only recover—but grow even stronger?!
He couldn't beat her before.
Now?
He probably couldn't even run.
.
.
.
