Bleach: Starting as a Vasto Lorde

Chapter 10: A Proposal

Kazuya's experiment unfolded as anticipated. The three Adjuchas' transformation into Arrancar culminated in disaster and their demise—a disheartening yet logical outcome. Expecting unnamed NPCs to subdue their primal instincts and then seal them into a weapon was just begging for disappointment. What he hadn't foreseen was Harribel's arrival, her attention piqued by the explosive surge in Reiatsu.

Nonetheless, he remained unfazed by her current formidable appearance.

'A Vasto Lorde. Her Reiatsu is weaker than me?'

It seemed she had achieved her Vasto Lorde rank not long ago. Otherwise, her Reiatsu would surpass his by a big margin.

Putting on his most charming grin, he threw out a friendly wave. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle. Pardon me for disturbing your rest."

In the presence of a withering Hollow, his formal greeting looked sinister. His melodious voice, like a choir of angelic bells, didn't help his case either. His presence screamed red flags, but Harribel, caught in Adjuchas' deaths, failed to recognize any.

"What happened to these Hollows?"

"They attacked us out of nowhere. When they couldn't beat me, they started tearing their masks." He rubbed the back of his head with a feigned, helpless smile. "The rest is history."

"Why would a Hollow tear their mask?" Harribel wasn't swayed by his sweet voice and posed a valid question. She turned to Apacci, who seemed on edge. "Is that what happened?"

Her distrust in Kazuya and trust in Apacci couldn't be more obvious. She'd rather believe Apacci whom she had observed for some time than believing a complete stranger.

Faced with Harribel's question, Apacci found herself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Kazuya lied to Harribel without so much of a flinch as he was responsible for cracking the three Adjuchas' masks with his fists. He did it without a change in his expression as if all the pleading those Adjuchas meant nothing to him.

He was ruthless and vicious like a devil, resembling the Hollows who wanted to devour her.

Her first impression of him couldn't have been farther from his true face. She also understood the essence of his 'experiments': using others like a fodder to test the success of Arrancarization.

'Are you willing to do anything for power?'

Stealing a glance at him, she noticed his neutral lips but gleaming eyes, urging her to act. He wanted her to take a stance—either lie for him or betray him and side with Harribel. The decision might dictate her life from here on out.

'This jerk!'

She gritted her teeth, frustrated at his obvious attempt to back her into a corner. "Yes. They lost their minds to find a Vasto Lorde nearly as powerful as their master, King Barragan."

Reading Harribel's intention was much easier than predicting the intricate schemes brewing inside behind his sinister mind. In spite of it all, she refused to betray him! He had saved her life and helped her in recovering her Reiryoku. While she wouldn't say it out loud, the past day had been the most fun she had in her lonely life.

Getting Apacci's confirmation, Harribel didn't push the matter any further and regarded Kazuya with a composed gaze. "King Baraggan sees all Vasto Lorde as a threat to his authority. He will come after us, eventually to recruit us into his Espada ranks. You two should keep moving... stay away from Baraggan's lackeys."

Barragan saw all of Hueco Mundo as his playground, everyone a piece for him to use and discard. The Espada under him was just more tools to do his bidding. Harribel, on the other hand, loathed the very thought of sacrificing anyone. Two powerful people with contrasting beliefs were bound to clash, even if she harbored no intentions of challenging his authority.