Chapter 172 – 172 ⥤ Which is More Important – Length or Hardness?

As the God King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan had lived for countless ages, beyond the reach of memory.

In his earliest recollections, Hueco Mundo was sparsely populated by Hollows. Among the first Vasto Lordes to emerge in this realm, he had a fated rival named Ikomikidomoe.

{T/N: It’s not certain if Ikomikidomoe is the original name, but I will use this one since it was renamed by Ichibē Hyōsube.}

Pure white with black cracks sprawling across his body, Ikomikidomoe possessed a pair of yellow eyes that blazed with violence. His might was extraordinary, rivaling Baraggan’s own power as King of Hueco Mundo.

For ages, Baraggan and Ikomikidomoe ruled Hueco Mundo together as its sole inhabitants.

One day, Ikomikidomoe — weary of an existence where he could see its limits at a glance — chose to seek opponents in other realms. He ventured into Soul Society, a world hostile to Hueco Mundo.

Baraggan never saw that mighty Adjuchas again. He presumed the Shinigami had slain him.

Such was his belief. As ruler of a realm, he couldn’t fathom that Soul Society harbored any beings stronger than himself and Ikomikidomoe.

Years after Ikomikidomoe’s disappearance, Baraggan encountered a young black-clad Shinigami — who, despite his youthful appearance, bore a balding head.

Upon meeting, the Shinigami struck with a flame-wrapped Zanpakutō so formidable it could pierce through his death aura.

Man and Hollow clashed in a prolonged battle, ending only when his exhausted opponent withdrew from Hueco Mundo.

During that confrontation, he learned the man’s name — Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Later, reports from Soul Society would reach Hueco Mundo, and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto’s name echoed repeatedly.

Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Soul Society’s mightiest Shinigami in a millennium, vanquisher of the Quincy…

Baraggan soon dismissed this name from his mind. For a being of nearly infinite life like himself, this was merely an insignificant ripple in his existence as a Hollow.

Perhaps after several thousand years, when Genryūsai’s ashes had merged with Soul Society, he would still reign over Hueco Mundo, ruling day after day, year after year.

But Baraggan hadn’t expected that a young man remarkably similar to Shigekuni would intrude into Hueco Mundo. This one was even more outrageous than that flame-wielding madman, cutting his way from the outskirts to Las Noches without hesitation.

What proved even more outrageous was that this brat showed absolutely no respect for his enemy.

“What’s all this about Shigekuni and Yamamoto?” Akira snorted disdainfully, “I am the Captain of Eleventh Division, future Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Head Priest of the Sakahone Shrine, the man who will stand atop the heavens! Mere Yamamoto will eventually fall to these iron fists of mine that sweep across the six realms and eight directions! Baraggan, prepare to die!”

Greetings were done, pleasantries exchanged — it was time to end this battle.

In Akira’s memory, though this huge skeleton was one of the most ancient Hollows, he remained limited to the Vasto Lorde level.

As a Hollow who hadn’t even become an Arrancar, his power had limits. Akira was confident that three punches would break through his defense and force him to surrender Las Noches.

⤫ Mugen Murasaki Kaen Bakuha ⥤ Unbounded Purple Flame Burst! ⤬

Deep purple flames roared to life like a diesel-fed bonfire, scorching flames shooting skyward and burning away the clouds until they dispersed.

Even from a distance, Baraggan could feel that terrifying heat. Combined with that shirtless battle stance, everything mirrored Genryūsai from long ago — as if they were cut from the same mold.

Seeing that madman charging like an arrow loosed from a bow, he took a deep breath, gripped the huge axe handle behind him, and forcefully pulled the disk-shaped death axe from his purple robe.

His dried skeletal arm instantly burst with mighty power, chopping straight downward.

Seeing this, Akira showed no intention of dodging, instead charging straight forward. Right arm pulled back, gathering power. The energy brewing from the Kidō patterns concentrated entirely in his fist.

⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Yōso Gōsei ⥤ Origin Style: Element Synthesis! ⤬

Meeting the sharp axe blade, a straight punch suddenly struck!

Their Reiatsu clashed first.

As God King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan’s Reiatsu was overwhelming — like a churning ocean crushing Akira’s spiritual pressure as if it were mere twigs. The force slammed into Akira’s flame-wrapped body.

The Vasto Lorde stared in disbelief at his unscathed opponent, unable to comprehend how a mere Shinigami could withstand such power.

That layer of skin must be harder than his iron skin, right?

BOOM!

Akira’s straight punch connected, shattering Baraggan’s Reiatsu shield and striking that pale bone directly.

“Hmph, didn’t expect that, did you! What use is length alone? For a man, hardness is what truly matters!”

Baraggan soared backward in a perfect arc, kicking up silver sand waves several meters high.

In the massive crater, black Reiatsu transformed into an immense pillar of light piercing the sky. From the depths of darkness, the Skeleton King emerged slowly. Though his skull face remained unchanged, even someone as dense as Akira could sense the fury burning within.

His magnificent Reiatsu descended like an infinite curtain over Akira. The sheer difference in power made even breathing difficult.

As Hueco Mundo’s most ancient being, Baraggan had accumulated vast, ocean-like Reiatsu over countless ages, despite never actively pursuing power. The silver-white sand darkened to ink-black wherever his spiritual pressure touched.

The massive axe blade pointed at Akira before swinging forward, its Reiatsu-wrapped edge unleashing sword pressure-like attacks.

Watching that dark trajectory tear through the heavenly dome, Akira’s Danger Instinct screamed like a boiling kettle — a warning he hadn’t felt in ages. Rather than charging in recklessly again, he opted for a different approach.

During Aizen’s research into Mayuri and Sōken, Akira hadn’t been idle. His frequent visits to the Kidō Corps weren’t just to raid their cafeteria — he’d also provided those workaholics with various sustainable Kidō development ideas.

Including the Hadō most suited for Hueco Mundo.

⤫ Hadō: Sabaku Taisō ⥤ Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral! ⤬

White sand rose like ocean waves, surging higher and higher until it formed massive dunes capable of engulfing everything. Next to this spectacle, Baraggan’s dark trajectory seemed as harmless as a child’s toy.

But the moment they collided, the towering sand waves decayed at visible speed, weathered, until they turned to nothing, completely erased.

Akira’s eyes widened.

The Sabaku Taisō’s ineffectiveness was understandable — after all, this Kidō wasn’t fully developed yet, having at most the power of a #40 to #50 Hadō.

What shocked him was that the skeleton’s casual swing held such devastating power. If that attack had connected, wouldn’t it have been his end?

“Have you comprehended my power, Shinigami?” Baraggan stepped through the darkness like death incarnate, his hollow eyes sweeping across everything before him, “This is the power of Senescencia, the power of death that precedes all life. Nothing can resist this erosion — not even a Shinigami’s Hadō. You’re not bad, Shinigami. Submit to me, submit to Las Noches. Perhaps I’ll spare your life.”

Akira raised his hand to ask.

“Before that, may I ask a question?” Without waiting for the Vasto Lorde’s response, he pressed on, “Does Las Noches offer overtime pay? You must at least have the five insurances and housing fund, right? Paid vacation? Year-end bonus? Team building activities? Mission expense reimbursement?”

“I’m a Captain of the Eleventh Division in Soul Society — the salary should be higher, right? Even for such a powerful fighter, Yama-jii gives extra rewards beyond the basic salary!”

Baraggan: “…”

“Nothing at all?” Akira’s expression darkened, “And you dare try to recruit me?!”

⤫ Mugen Shirorai Kasoku ⥤ Unbounded White Lightning Acceleration ⤬

As his words rang out, violent thunder echoed beneath the heavenly dome, crackling electrical arcs wrapping around his body.

Under Baraggan’s silent gaze, Akira raised his right hand and spread his fingers. A beam of light streaked across the horizon, landing precisely in his palm.

Baraggan fixed his gaze on it, doubt flickering through his mind.

Was that… a Shinigami’s Zanpakutō?

The moment this thought formed, black chains extended from the sword handle, their intricate links connecting with metallic friction sounds.

The black chains coiled around Akira’s body like living things. Unlimited enhancement, all-around boost! A small release doesn’t count as a Shikai release!

⤫ Kūkyō Genso Henkō ⥤ Empty State, Elemental Transformation! ⤬

Power surging through him, his fighting spirit reignited. He burst into Shunpo, an arc of light streaking across the sky as he charged straight at Baraggan.

Since Kidō proved useless, he’d return to his brute force tactics!

Watching the demon-like figure rapidly approaching, Baraggan raised his death axe without hesitation. Black stripes appeared around the blade, seeming to distort space itself.

The power of aging — how terrifying!

He opened his skull mouth in a grotesque, horrifying smile, as if already seeing Akira’s body decay and age. Throughout countless eons, no living being had resisted time’s erosion. Even Genryūsai from back then was no exception.

This was the rule of the world, an indisputable truth!

However, something unexpected happened that Baraggan hadn’t anticipated. The moment Akira got close, he threw his Zanpakutō directly forward to meet the death force. In just an instant, the blade began to decay. Unable to resist the power within, the perfectly intact Zanpakutō lasted less than a second from tip to handle.

“Hmph, don’t believe my words?” Baraggan let out a contemptuous laugh, “Using your own Zanpakutō as the price of verification, do you now regre—”

BANG!

Before he could finish speaking, a fist wreathed in flames smashed into his skull.

“Done with the nonsense yet? If not, take my punch.”

A shockwave of force exploded from Akira’s shoulder blade like a rocket engine igniting, releasing scorching heat waves!

⤫ Shunkō: Kūhaku Hakai ⥤ Flash War Cry: Single Empty Destruction! ⤬

A crisp shattering sound rang out as Baraggan flew backward again, crashing hard into the desert and kicking up a sky full of silvery-white sand in a spectacular scene!

Unlike last time, this injury was serious even for the Vasto Lorde. Though he lacked flesh and blood, a shattered skull was fatal for both skeletons and living beings alike.

When he emerged from the sand crater, his kingly bearing had vanished. His golden crown was nowhere to be seen, and his once-smooth skull was cracked halfway open, soul fire burning vigorously within, creating distorted lines around it.

Yet more than his injuries, what Baraggan found harder to accept was the failure of his own ability.

How could there be a being capable of resisting the power of time’s decay?!

“Oh, you mean this?” Akira raised his left hand, black chains endlessly extending from his palm as if without limit.

At the other end of the chains, the power of death continued to decay and corrode upward.

The blade was unimportant — it could be reformed even if shattered. The chains were the true form of the Zanpakutō, and most powerful of all was that the Kūkan Mukai could consume his Reiatsu to extend endlessly.

His thinking was simple: since Baraggan’s ability could decay everything in the world, he’d let him decay to his heart’s content. Use the Kūkan Mukai chains to resist the impact of his ability, then look for a chance to throw a punch.

“I understand now.” Baraggan said, grasping his strategy, “Truly an unexpected ability and fighting style. Shinigami are indeed a creative race.”

He seemed to calm down again, his kingly bearing returning as his massive disc-shaped axe blade dropped down into the white sand.

“Then let’s try my newly acquired power. Come to think of it, this is thanks to Szayelaporro.”

“Rot…”

⤫ Resurrección: Arrogante ⥤ Returning Blade: Grand Emperor of Skulls! ⤬

BOOM!!

The purple eye in the center of the death axe rolled around as massive amounts of black-purple Reiatsu erupted from within, instantly enveloping Baraggan.

A pressure like a falling sky descended upon the battlefield. An unmatched pillar of Reiatsu shot toward the heavens, as if it would devour even Hueco Mundo’s crescent moon.

Deep darkness covered everything, with vast shadows looming in all directions. The black-purple Reiatsu dispersed like thin mist, revealing Baraggan’s figure before Akira, his hollow eye sockets embodying death itself.

“How… wonderful this power is!” Baraggan spread his arms as if embracing Hueco Mundo, “I seem to have found the truth of life.”

Under the cover of this terrifying Reiatsu, a figure arrived fashionably late.

Seeing the newcomer, Akira’s eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted, “Baraggan, you’re finished! My adopted son Sōsuke has the strength of ten thousand men — even if you’re the God King of Hueco Mundo, you won’t withstand one strike from him!”

Aizen: “?”

Baraggan: “?”

⤫⤬⤫

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep