Chapter 294: Gathering allies


    (Ryoto''s pov)


    I survived... kind of. Using my eyes on every Quincy in my close proximity was something that I shouldn''t be able to do with the restrictions I have on them, but I trained them just as much as other parts of my body so they got stronger, but even then I almost destroyed my eyes using them for a few seconds like that. Thankfully, I didn''t cross the line of no return, and they will heal slowly even if my eyes hurt like hell at the moment, butpared to my body, the pain is... at a simr level, which is bad.


    I couldn''t escape to Soul Society right away. Garganta doesn''t work like that. It must always be connected to Hueco Mundo from one side or another. I couldn''t end up in a random ce in my condition because I would for sure end up being eaten by some Hollow, and that would be just embarrassing.


    I tried to follow a familiar Reiatsu, but it was challenging to pinpoint the exact position so fast while trying to stay conscious. Fortunately, I made some friends in Hueco Mundo, and even if I''m a little off, they''ll feel my Reiatsu the moment I re it up a bit as soon as I get there. I can only hope that they''ll get to me fast.


    (Api''s pov)


    It was a boring day, as usual. I would even call it peaceful if not for that annoying M Rose and that bitch Sung-Sun! Just thinking about them makes me annoyed!


    But whatever. Them being annoying isn''t anything unusual. As long as they are useful to Harribel-sama, I''ll tolerate them.


    As I was walking outside Las Noches, Harribel-sama ordered for everyone to have their own ''me time''. I don''t understand what she meant by it, and her Frion, all three of us, were against leaving her side, but in the end, we couldn''t go against her order. She is Harribel-sama, so she must have a good reason for doing that.


    My reason for choosing the outside of Las Noches was that I wanted to be sure that I wouldn''t run into these two idiots when I had a chance to be away from them.As I was walking, I saw a Garganta opening that was not so far away from me. It wasn''t a strange urrence, but since it was so close to Las Noches, I suppose I should deal with this Hollow, so I slowly made my way there, but only momentster, I felt a wave of Reiatsuing from where I saw the Garganta. What shocked me was that this Reiatsu didn''t belong fully to a Hollow. It was more simr to Shinigami''s.


    Knowing this, I rushed. Shinigami are our enemies, and if even one somehow got here, it would mean trouble. The idea of calling either Rose or Sung-Sun didn''t even cross my mind. I alone should be enough. The Reiatsu wasn''t strong enough to be a danger to me, and if I used Resurrión, I would destroy the threat.


    When I arrived at the ce, I was once again surprised. What I was expecting was a battle-ready Shinigami, who was ready to invade Hueco Mundo singlehandedly, probably in his arrogance, but what weed me was a bloodied body lying on the ground, supported only by one arm with multiple wounds all over his body, missing an arm and a see-through hole of the size of arge fist in his shoulder but the most eye drawing part of his bloodied body were his eyes if I could even call them that. They were inhumane, even if I would ignore all the cracks and steaming from them.


    The strangest thing of all is that I felt threatened. The moment Iid my eyes on this almost-dead man, my fight or flight kicked in and told me to run as fast as possible.


    If I could, I would strangle this instinct for even suggesting doing something as disgraceful. I, as a member of Harribel-sama''s Frion, couldn''t live with giving Harribel-sama such a dishonor so I pulled my Zanpakuto to be ready to attack at any moment.


    What infuriated me, even more, was hisid-back attitude the moment he noticed me, like he didn''t even consider me a threat, and the small smile that formed on his face when he saw me only confirmed this idea.


    "Hello... Arrancar. Fancy seeing you... here."


    He seemed to have trouble talking. No wonder with all these injuries. It''s a miracle he is even conscious.


    "Why don''t you... put your Zanpakuto down... It''s dangerous to point it... at someone..."


    "That''s the whole fucking point!" I barked back. "What is Shinigami doing here!?"


    The Shinigami looked like he was thinking about the answer but thankfully I didn''t need to wait for long.


    "I went... for a walk..."


    Is he joking?


    "What kind of walk gets you at the doors to Las Noches looking like you''ll die by breathing too hard?"


    His smile widened slightly.


    "A very... enthusiastic walk..."


    Now, I was sure that he was mocking me, so I started carefully approaching him with my Zanpakuto and threatening him constantly, but for some reason, it felt like I was the one who was in danger.


    "You know... It''s not a good idea... to continue with your idea..."


    I narrowed my eyes. I shouldn''t listen to him. I should just kill him and be done with that, but I hesitated when the next sentence escaped his mouth.


    "Tier would be sad... if you were... to kill me."


    My emotions overflew.


    "How do you know Harribel-sama!!?"


    No, it isn''t important. I should eliminate him before he bes a threat to Harriebel-sama.


    I steeled my nerves, raised my Zanpakuto, and was ready to deliver a decisive blow, but as I was barely able to move my de downwards, it was stopped. I immediately recognized Reiatsu next to me, and I slowly turned my head.


    I was scared that Harribel-sama noticed my hesitation in front of the seemingly harmless Shinigami. I was ready to defend myself and apologize for my failure, but Harribel-sama wasn''t focused on me. She barely gave me a nce as her full attention was on the almost-dead Shinigami. Before I could ask, my fellow Frion members rushed to the soon-to-be corpse.


    ""Ryoto-sama!!!""


    Both of them yelled as they nked both of his sides and delicately and carefully tried to get him up. Why do they call him -sama as if he was equal to Harribel-sama?


    "Sung-Sun... Franceska... Did you always... look like that? Because I doubt... beauty service is... so advanced in... Hueco Mundo... *<em>Cough</em><em>Cough*</em>" He coughed blood as he barely finished his sentence


    "Don''t talk, Ryoto-sama! Save your energy. We''ll get you to our medic, and you''ll soon be at full power." Sung-Sun tried stopping the Ryoto guy from doing anything until she and Franceska got him help.


    But the Shinigami ignored them and only was able to put his remaining hand on Sung-Sun''s head. Seeing the movement where his other arm would be, he probably wanted to do the same to Franceska but couldn''t.


    Without saying the word, the Shinigami named Ryoto looked Harribel-sama in the eyes. She didn''t seem to feel the danger that I felt. It''s as expected, after all. She is on a whole another level than I am, but for some reason, she seemed drawn towards these strange eyes. Must be my imagination.


    "Tier... situation has changed... get Starrk and Lilite and... help get to... Soul Society... before I lose... consciousness... Medic is there..."


    Harribel-sama didn''t need to hear anything more as she just nodded and left quickly to get Primera. I was aware that Harribel-sama was closer to him than any other Arrancar, and from what I heard, they knew each other before they became the Espada, but that''s all.


    I was left confused. Harribel-sama, Sung-Sun, and M Rose know this Shinigami from somewhere, but what''s even more strange, I never saw both the snake and the brute act so... docile around anyone besides Harribel-sama.


    What the hell did I miss!!?


    "Can someone exin to me what the hell is happening!!?"


    And just like that, I was at the center of attention.


    (Ryoto''s pov)


    My mind was not working at full capacity at the moment. It may be a blood loss or just stress catching up,bined with my adrenaline level going down after I survived. Despite that I recognised that Appaci doesn''t know about me so I gave a questioning look to the rest of Tier''s Frion.


    "We found this lost puppy shortly before we made contact with Aizen." Sung-Sun began.


    "Oy!" But was interrupted by the tomboy.


    "We didn''t mention you to her because we were afraid that because she didn''t meet you, and doesn''t have the same loyalty that we have for you, she wouldn''t keep the secret."


    I doubt that was all. Appaci should be fiercely loyal to Tier, and if she said to her not to tell anyone, she wouldn''t.


    "Or she would just bber it out by ident since she doesn''t think before she speaks."


    There it is.


    "What did you say, you slithery bitch!? I could keep a secret if needed. I never told anyone that Franceska kept sleeping with a bunch of pillows in the shape of a man while whispering something to them with a small smile before going to sleep!"


    In her anger, she didn''t realize what she did until it was toote. Sung-Sun hid her smug smile behind her long sleeve. On the other end of the spectrum Franceska was ready to kill the deer-like Arrancar but the most entertaining part of her rage was a small blush on her cheeks. But it wasn''t time for conflict, and Cyan Sung-Sun knew that as well.


    "Quiet, you two. It is not time to quarrel. There are more important matters at hand." She reprimanded both of the hot-headed Arrancars.


    We didn''t need to wait long for Tier to return together with Starrk and Lilite. The moment they saw me, their eyes widened. Starrk was more calm, but Lilite practically was ready to jump at me, and she would if not for her partner catching her by the cor.


    "Careful. If you move him too roughly, he''ll die." He then turned to me. "What do you need me for... old friend."


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    END


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