Starrk was having a bad day.
A really bad day.
Or week. Or however long it's been since Emilou Apacci showed up out of nowhere.
It was hard to tell in Hueco Mundo since it was always night.
After his little fit of rage, the Espada tried to cool off.
Read: tried.
Granted it was easier said than done. 'This was all Lilynette's fault.'He thought in frustration.
'If she hadn't merged with me, maybe I'd still be floating through life without a care. Maybe I wouldn't feel this strange weight pressing on my chest every time I think about the others.' His mind continued.
Lilynette had always felt things more deeply... and now, those feelings were infecting him.
Before merging with Lilynette, Starrk had no problems controlling himself or any of his urges.
He was calm and composed back then. Detached. He'd shrug off all of those feelings.
Now? The exact opposite.
He was becoming more outspoken, impulsive, and emotional.
He hated it.
He felt that he wasn't in control of his own body.
So for once in his life, Starrk hated not being in control. He would much rather return back to how things were before than deal with all of this.
Reiatsu AND emotional problems.
It left him exhausted.
His hands clenched into fists. "Why now?" He hated these emotions—foreign, cloying things. Apathy had been better. Emotions only brought problems.
Starrk sat in his cave alone, his mind replaying fragments of the events prior to Apacci's exit.
His reiatsu fluctuates wildly, causing tremors in the ruined cave walls.
He tried not to think about the events, it brought bad feelings.
"Don't waste your energy with negative emotions. They will only drain you." or so he heard from somewhere.
Grumbling to himself as he rose from his position against a boulder, the agitated Arrancar exited the cave he'd inhabited for the past month—the week spent trying to calm down hadn't been good.
Especially for the cave.
He began making his way through the massive grey desert.
Why was he walking through Hueco Mundo instead of meditating in his cave? Simple.
In his little tantrums, he destroyed the cave. So now he had to look for a new one which further added to his irritation.
Yawning to himself as he walked, the Arrancar nearly stumbled off a cliff, only saved by a rock that he stubbed his toe against.
He hadn't gotten much sleep since returning to Hueco Mundo and it was showing.
Whenever Starrk tried to get some shut-eye, he always felt something nagging at him—urging him to push himself further, to honor their deaths, to keep training, to get better—so he wouldn't cause more needless loss to those around him. And so, he trained instead.
Besides, "The dead don't sleep—so why should I?" He mumbled. Every time his eyelids fluttered shut, faces appeared: Lilynette. The Espada. He was haunted not by regret, but by the gnawing fear of repeating old mistakes.
Failure. That word stung more than he cared to admit.
Shaking his head, the Arrancar tried to focus on the positive side of things as he wandered through the brutal desert.
After he'd first calmed down, Starrk was hesitant to leave his cave, thoughts such as "If I go back, what happens if I lose control again? How many more will die?" or "Do I really trust myself enough not to kill with this treacherous powers?"
But he'd managed to work up the courage to finally leave and it was a shit idea but he'd gone this far, might as well see where it goesHis reiatsu control training was going well—or at least he hoped it was. It had been more than a month(three?) since he started this training, and he was hopeful that it was enough to not kill any Arrancar.
At the current moment, Starrk knew he couldn't handle all of his reiryoku. He'd explode if he tried to contain all of his spiritual power within him.
But that was his goal. Right now? He could hardly contain more than 40% of it—which was honestly more than he could ask for since when he first started, he estimated it would take over 3 years.
'Arrancar without a Zanpakutō... Is that why I feel so scattered?' Starrk thought as his boots sank into the soft sand. His brain began racing, looking for ways to hasten this antagonizing training, Starrk hated the isolation it brought—the only respite from being Apacci's visit and that had gone downhill.
'Wait...'
A realization came upon him. Hierro.
'Shinigami channel their power through their swords—like a valve. I don't have that, so what if... I treat my Hierro like one?'
His brain found logic in desperation. If he could pour his overwhelming reiatsu into his body, it would serve two purposes: defense and regulation. A win-win.
Hierro works by condensing reiryoku into and on top of the skin. What if he channeled the majority of his spiritual energy into his Hierro.
Not only would it be an increase in defense, but it would also(hopefully) solve his spirit control problem.
Starrk felt hope swell within him at the idea.
But he knew not to get his hope up so he decided to put his hypothesis to the test.
The scientific method is a process used by human scientists to establish facts through testing and experimentation using seven steps.
He'd already completed steps 1, 2, and 3: Observe, ask a question and hypothesis.
So he moved on to step 4: Experimentation.
The air shimmered around him as his reiryoku gathered along his skin. His body began to glow faintly, the pressure radiating outward in waves.
"This might actually work..."
But just as he started to condense the energy further, a flash of searing red light split the night.
The Primera was abruptly struck by a searing red Cero, its energy crackling with violent intensity.
The impact was so powerful that it blasted him off his feet, hurling him backward like a ragdoll. His body tore through the air at a blinding speed, trailing smoke and embers from the sheer heat of the blast.
The Cero's relentless force drove him straight into the side of a mountain, shattering the rocky surface with an ear-splitting explosion. Entire sections of the cliff face crumbled under the pressure, sending avalanches of boulders cascading down the slopes. The sheer momentum carried him deeper through layers of stone, pulverizing everything in his path until the entire mountain quaked under the impact.
Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring his silhouette as it came to rest amidst the ruins, buried beneath a sea of rubble.
[Meanwhile, Las Noches]
Emilou Apacci stumbled, catching herself on a marble pillar. Her breath came in ragged gasps, but she didn't care how undignified she looked—this was too important
Apacci rushed into one of the various throne Rooms of Las Noches, so frantic that she did not seem frightened of the consequences, her breaths rugged and her eyes wild with fright as she frantically searched for her Queen.
Apacci needed to inform Harribel as soon as possible.
Sitting on a throne in the center of the room before two kneeling Arrancar sat a tall, voluptuous olive-skinned woman with short blond hair kept with three braided locks.
Said Arrancar tilted her head in question, observing her shaken Fracción. "You're early," she said in her usual measured tone. But there was a flicker of concern in her eyes.
The former Espada's aqua green eyes scan her frightened Fracción, taking in her disgruntled and disheveled appearance making it clear how shaken the Arrancar appeared to be.
Their eyes locked and Apacci's hunted eyes silently communicated trouble to Tia Harribel's own calm ones.
"Harribel-sama! You're not gonna believe this—h-he's alive!" Apacci's wild gaze locked with her Queen's.
The queen of Hueco Mundo's eyes narrowed, silently bidding her subordinate to continue.
"Starrk... Coyote Starrk's alive!" she cried, barely able to contain herself.
All eyes in the room snapped towards the Fracción, their wide eyes conveying various emotions, ranging from fright to intrigue to shock.
The sound of Lilynette's voice echoes—annoyed—screamed at him through his mind's eye, "Quite being so lazy, you moron! Get up!"
The Espada's eyes flashed with power within the cloud of dust, glowing an intimidating bright azure blue.
Quickly brushing himself off, Coyote Starrk vanished from within the debris using an overcharged Sonído and appeared before his attacker.
His eyes scanned over them, giving his attacker a once over, his eyes narrowing at the individual.
"Why are you attacking me?" His voice cut through the night like a blade, anger glistening in his grey-blue eyes, making it stand out amongst his stoic features as his long hair shifted in the wind, reiatsu flickering dangerously.
The hollow jerked in surprise, its wings twitching as it began realizing Starrk was behind him.
Standing before the Arrancar was a human-shaped hollow with a grey bone beak-shaped mask with green tribal patterns along its edges and chin, with glowing blue eyes that stood out amongst its already noticeable mask.
The Hollow, a Vasto Lorde, stood at least 150 centimeters tall with a lean, muscular frame that had bird-like wings attached to its arms that led to its nailless hands and had tribal patterns running along its torso similar to its mask that led down to its legs that ended in three front toes webbed with the hind toe being small, elevated and sharp.
It had a circular hole running through its right shoulder and it held itself cautiously, frozen as it realized I was behind it.
The beak of the mask ripped open, and a sound came out of the crack, "An Arrancar, eh?!"
"Hah! You're in my domain now, little pest." Baddodda puffed out its chest with pride. "You think you can wander into Mandril Valley and not face me? You're either brave or incredibly stupid."
Starrk stared, unimpressed. "...I was just passing through."
Baddodda sneered. "Passing through?! This is my territory! Anyone who enters pays with their life."
Jumping to its own conclusions, it launched itself at Starrk without warning, the Primera reacting swiftly by dodging its sharp-winged attacks that would've hindered most Arrancar incapacitated. Or worse. Dead.
Starrk sighed softly as if this entire situation was a waste of time. His reiatsu pulsed subtly, making the air dense with tension.
Then surged involuntarily as frustration nearly overwhelmed him, causing cracks to form in the sand beneath his feet."Why is this idiot making me angry?"Starrk wondered to himself. "This shouldn't even bother me."
"Is that blasted hollow so cowardly that he'd send an Arrancar to do his bidding?!" Ignoring Starrk, it spat in a rasp, its words venomous. It puffed out its chest as if to assert dominance. "It seems I'll have to take care of a pest!"
The hollow clearly thought of himself above others, a very Hollow-like behavior, despite the difference in speed
Starrk rolled his shoulders, his posture shifting slightly. "Look... I don't care about your valley. I'm not part of your faction, and I don't know who this Ruyaruya is."
The short-tempered Hollow was clearly on the dumber side of the intelligence spectrum. Starrk deadpanned.
The Duck Vasto Lorde paused mid-air, luckily catching itself using its wings before it landed on its feet, standing before Starrk, reiatsu flaring dangerously despite its confusion.
Baddodda's glowing eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You expect me to believe that?"
Starrk sighed heavily, rubbing his temples as if dealing with a stubborn child. "Believe whatever you want. Just stop bothering me."
"Huh? You're saying... you truly don't know who Ruyaruya or I am?" It asked dumbly, clearly caught off guard.
Starrk gave a slow, deliberate nod, trying to stay calm in spite of his rising frustrations.
"Heh... I see." It rasped, voice sounding somewhat mischievous and sly as if it were trying to hide the fact it was up to something. "Then perhaps you've truly wandered into the wrong place, Arrancar."
Going by the way it held itself, the Hollow clearly believed it was working. "I am Baddodda van Mandrill. The most powerful Hollow to ever live!" Sounded so sure of itself, Starrk decided it was best to not question it. Besides, this scenario was already giving him a headache and he did not want to listen to this prideful hollow yap so he just nodded, going along with it.
"Coyote Starrk." The Primera replied dryly, clearly not in the mood.
"This is my territory, Mandril Valley!" Its voice took on a proud tone, oblivious to Starrk's distaste and seemingly forgetting the fact that it had just shot him into a mountain.
Starrk wondered when he'd entered here, he was too entranced with his new theory to tell.
"That's Ruyaruya's territory." It growled out, clearly despising the other hollow mentioned earlier. Baddodda pointed at a massive cliff area overlooking the valley from its left, directly opposite the mountain the Espada was thrown into earlier.
Hollows were known to be territorial creatures, so it's no surprise the two Hollows conflicted since their territories were so close together.
"Listen," Baddodda said slyly, lowering his voice. "Normally, I'd kill anything that'd wind up in my valley." Its voice sounded out.
Baddodda then looked at Starrk with that same glint in its eyes, "But since you're strong, how about we make a deal? With power like yours, we could take over Hueco Mundo. Ruyaruya wouldn't stand a chance. Join me Snark, and we could have anything we want." The offer was spoken with fake magnanimity, clearly a well-worn tactic Baddodda has used on weaker Hollows before.
Starrk's gaze darkened, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the offer stirred something inside him—an echo of past battles and alliances, a temptation to seize power just to avoid more loss.
He shook his head, 'Better not dwell on that.' He tried to focus on the bigger picture. The feeling slipped away, replaced by quiet exhaustion.
Baddodda was warring over this area with this Ruyaruya, who had 'fraction' and since following their conflict, Baddodda'd clearly managed to recruit enough Hollows on his own side to be considered an opposing side who'd clearly been deceived by Baddodda's position as a Vasto Lorde, an immensely powerful hollow.
But the act wouldn't work on the Primera who saw right through the act. Baddodda was desperate. The way it attacked him earlier and its motives, everything was suddenly clear to Starrk.
Ruyaruya, who was obviously a Vasto Lorde if it was conflicting with Baddodda, was fighting Baddodda over the claiming of the area as their territory, and the duck-like hollow was clearly losing this battle. If what Baddodda said was true, Ruyaruya had some Arrancar on his side.
Most Arrancar were strong enough to compete with Shinigami Lieutenants, some even with captains. They were viewed as truly strong amongst the Hollows, their existence has become common knowledge since Aizen's takeover of Hueco Mundo.
And honestly? Starrk wasn't surprised he didn't know about this conflict. Even if it could potentially lead to a devastating war.
With how big Hueco Mundo was, in this planetary-sized desert, many conflicts were bound to happen.
"Sounds tempting." He rolls his shoulders, his voice carrying the faintest hint of sarcasm.
"But I'll pass. I don't want to join your conflict with this hollow." A war between two Vasto Lorde would be devastating for the surrounding Hollows. Coming from a guy who'd witnessed several himself(despite not being involved), Starrk knew his fair share of wars. "Oh, and your posturing was terrible."
Plus, he got his name wrong. "And it's Starrk, not Snark."
Starrk didn't want that to happen. Violence was never a good thing in his books but he was willing to use it if it meant stopping this conflict.
Baddodda's posture stiffens, its beak clenching into a scowl. His wings snap outward with a sharp crack, flaring with grey reiatsu lashing out at its surroundings.
"Fucking Arrancar! If you won't join me, you're better off dead!"
Despite Starrk being several times faster than it, the Hollow launches forward with a burst of Sonído, this time far more ferocious than before, energy gathering at the tips of his wings like serrated blades as it launched itself towards the Espada like a speeding bullet.
Eyes wide in alert, Starrk gracefully dodged a barrage of... feathers? Ceros? He shrugged.
The cero feathers turned the very same cliff face he'd crashed into before into a sea of crushed rocks and debris, its energy exploding violently.
"Great..." He muttered to himself, smacking a feather away.
Baddodda spins mid-air, coming at Starrk again with another wild slash, this time going for a melee attack. Starrk dodges effortlessly, irritation flickering in his normally placid eyes.
'At this level, I could end this fight in seconds... But I need to hold back. Testing the Hierro idea is the whole point of this mess.'
Baddodda lets out an enraged screech, energy crackling across its wings as he charges again.
"Stop dodging, coward! Fight me!"
Ignoring the Vasto Lorde, a smirk plastered on his face, Starrk observed the situation at hand.
Based on his attack patterns, Baddodda was a head-on fighter who could be taken advantage of. 'However, I'm not trying to defeat this guy'
Releasing a huff, Starrk prepared himself, eyes meeting the Hollows' own glowing orbs, "I'm not here to fight. But if you insist..."
His timing was impeccable, gathering enough reiryoku wouldn't be a problem like if he tried before the merging—it was like gathering a few buckets of water from an overflowing well.
Putting his theory to the test—'Would Hierro help with his spirit control problem?'— Baddodda was perfect for helping him with it, even if it didn't know it.
Starrk ducked under a flurry of energy-laden feathers, the air sizzling with the heat of each blast. His movements were fluid, almost lazy, as if he had already fought this battle a hundred times in his mind.
Steadying himself, he took in a deep breath, shifting his stance as he channeled his reiryoku toward his skin, testing his theory about using Hierro to stabilize his power.
The reiatsu flows smoothly for a moment—his skin hardening, the spiritual pressure condensing around him like armor. The process feels natural, giving Starrk a fleeting sense of control. For the first time in weeks, the wild sea of power within him settles, if only slightly.
All of his reiatsu flowed towards his skin, forming a visible layer around him, condensing it several times over. It then began morphing, shaping itself into a thick azure armor of energy, reminiscent of samurai lamellar armor.
"This is..." Starrk trailed off, his eyes wide. Did I seriously just invent some new ability?
"Holy crap... A caparazón."
His new armor featured overlapping reiatsu plates similar in appearance to translucent bronze or toned brass armor, that provide both flexibility and durability. Large pauldrons protected the shoulders, while segmented arm guards wrapped around his forearms. The armor trailed off into intriguing patterns until his neck, containing pictographs that seemed to tell stories... His story. He realized, tracing his fingers along the patterns, intrigued by his new creation
Baddodda itself was looking on in shock, its figure shaking at the sheer amount of raw power condensed inside the armor, reiatsu evaporating off the armor giving the Primera Espada an intimidating appearance.
The once confident and cocky Hollow now stood, jaw dropped at the sight, stuttering, its previous arrogance evaporated in an instant. "W-wha- W-who... What the fuck are you?!""
It recoils, stumbling backwards, tripping over its own feet as it tries to retreat, wings trembling. "Fuck!" Its eyes widen in disbelief as it realizes this might be its end.
Not paying the reaction any mind, Starrk mind raced with barely concealed joy, 'More importantly than this new Hierro... I've finally done it, though it does mean I'll have to constantly wear this armor and I can't be touched either...' He sighed, ignoring the small pang of loneliness at the back of his mind. 'A price to pay I guess, it is pretty comfortable, like another layer of skin.'
His gaze lazily trailed to the Vasto Lorde.
He wanted to hurt Baddodda for what he'd done to him. His pride wanted it.
He pauses his thoughts, flexing his arms slightly, the plates shifting effortlessly with his movements like an extension of his skin, 'Impressive... It feels... stable. No fluctuations. Like everything's finally in place...'
For the first time in months, Starrk felt relief wash over him at knowing that a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. The corner of his mouth twitches upward—just the faintest trace of a smile—as he admires his handiwork. He barely notices Baddodda's frantic attempts to back away.
"Huh? Armor... Not bad."
"Guess I won't blow up after all." He muttered quietly to himself, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders at no longer having to constantly suppress himself. 'Or...'
The armor made him feel stable. Protected. But underneath, the same storm raged, clawing at the edges of his mind. The question gnawed at him: Would the armor be enough to hold everything in? Or was it just a temporary fix—one more barrier to hide behind?
"Look, man. I don't want to hurt you. Why don't you just leave me alone and you'll leave this unharmed." Starrk almost sighed before stopping himself. 'Come to think of it, he was doing that a lot. This guy was giving him a headache.'
His new armor shimmered as he moved, glowing faintly with each shift, as though resonating with his emotional state. The power felt good—too good. His skin prickled with the sensation, a dangerous allure pulling at his restraint.
Though his demeanor contradicted his statement and he raised a hand, his reiatsu gathered in his palm, forming into a bright blue orb that radiated energy—Bala.
Despite the joy of discovering this new technique, the irritation was still there—gnawing at the edge of his focus, building up as time passed, whispering that he should just end this joke. This wasn't his fight. He had no reason to waste time here. Yet... something inside him wanted to hit back. To crush the bird-like Hollow just to prove a point.
"H-hey! Listen... Maybe we got off on the wrong foot! I-I mean, we're both reasonable guys, right?" It sputters pathetically. Fury burst through his veins, igniting something within thought long gone, 'fuck sparing it.'
It had to die like the insignificant worm it was.
"How about... we pretend this never happened? No hard feelings, yeah? I mean—what's a little mountain between friends?"
"You shot a Cero at my face." Starrk deadpanned causing the Vasto Lorde to wince. "I don't think we're friends."
"Into a mountain." He emphasized.
He tilts his head slightly, regarding Baddodda with those cool, half-lidded eyes.
"I-it was a misunderstanding!" It desperately spoke.
"Yeah yeah. A misunderstanding that you tried to kill me. Uh-huh. Happens all the time." The Primera rolled his eyes.
Sweat formed on its duck-like mask, avoiding Starrk's eyes, shifting under his gaze as it tried to think of ways to escape. Nothing. "Look, how about we strike a deal? I'll give you half my territory—no, wait—all of it! You like valleys? You can have Mandril Valley, it's yours!"
Starrk doesn't respond immediately, tapping a finger against the armored plate on his wrist as if deep in thought. His reiatsu hums faintly, making the air feel thick and heavy. Baddodda visibly wilts under the pressure, realizing there's no escape.
The Arrancar gave him a long, considering look, his face unreadable. 'Do I end this?' The question lingered, a simple yes or no.
"I don't need a valley." He said flatly.
Dread filled the once powerful and prideful Hollow, "Crap... I'm screwed, aren't I?"
Shrugging, the Arrancar replied, "Probably."
The glow of his new armor shimmering faintly in the moonlight.
[Back in Las Noches]
Apacci stands before Harribel, recounting her encounter with Starrk interesting even the two Arrancar that once kneeled before the Queen, now standing straight as they took in the situation.
Rudbornn Chelute—the single Exequias whose face was hidden by a bull mask that failed to hide his surprise—and Asguiaro Ebern—an arrogant red-haired Adjuchas-class Arrancar with a powerful cannon for a Zanpakutō—stood at the sides of Tia Harribel who actually stood up in surprise.
"I swear it's him! He's not dead—he's out there, stronger than ever!" After recounting her story, Apacci felt the need to reinforce her claim. "He's changed... He's different."
"How different?" was the stoic Terca's reply. After all, 'If Starrk is alive... then the balance of power is shifting.'
Apacci pauses, catching her breath and calming down. The memory of Starrk's overwhelming reiatsu makes her shiver involuntarily.
"His reiatsu—it's out of control. I've never felt anything like it. It's... huge. More powerful than anyone left in Las Noches. Maybe even more than what Aizen was."
"Are you certain? That it was Starrk?" Harribel eyes were narrowed, if it wasn't and an Arrancar with that level of power was roaming Hueco Mundo...
It could be devastating for the world she was trying to build.
"I saw him with my own eyes. He even knew my name without me telling him." Her Fracción confirmed.
That was like Starrk, he was strangely observant for someone so lazy.
"Ha! I'm sure I can deal him myself with my Resurrección if the Primera's truly returned!" Ebern arrogantly sounded, turning to Apacci "Unlike this pathetic Fracción, I can actually do my job, Harribel-sama."
Her frustration boiled over the point and she snapped at him, "He's not some random idiot I can drag back by his collar, alright?! This guy... There's something off about him. He's not just lazy anymore—he's colder, more intense. And—dammit, I think he's angry about something."
Ebern sneered, ignoring her words and continuing, "After all, he's just another relic of Aizen's failed experiments. He isn't worth the effort, Harribel-sama."
Harribel's eyes narrowed, her reiatsu pressing down on the room like a weight. "Be careful with your words, Ebern. You were not there when Starrk fought. You do not understand the difference between strength and power."
Ebern hesitated, but his arrogance refused to let him back down completely. "Respectfully Harribel-sama, isn't it better to eliminate a threat before it becomes one? I'm sure Grimmjow-sama would agree."
Harribel's voice was icy cold. "If Grimmjow agreed with you, he would already be dead."
"Angry?" Turning to Appaci, Harribel's eyes narrow, Starrk wasn't one to get emotional. Something was off.
Apacci shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her arms as if to shake off a chill. "He's not just stronger… he's different. Colder. Like he doesn't care about anything anymore."
Harribel's eyes darkened. "Starrk was never emotional to begin with."
Apacci shook her head, panic flickering in her gaze. "No, this is different. Before he was lazy, sure, but this—this felt like… like he's just done. Like nothing matters to him anymore."
A tense silence fell over the room, the weight of her words settling heavily between them. Apacci pushed on.
"He said his reiatsu is unstable enough that it could kill just about anyone by standing near him... He's been holed up in a cave trying to get it under control." Harribels eyes widened considerably, that was no easy feat. She'd been told Aizen did the same thing in Karakura Town, turning humans into dust with his mere presence.
"Has he?" She questioned, her mind racing, a cold sweat forming on her forehead.
"Yeah. I don't know what's eating at him, but it's like he's trying to keep himself from exploding every second. His reiatsu is all over the place—one wrong move, and boom." She paused, gathering her thoughts in order, "...He almost killed me without even trying." Her hands trembled until she felt someone grip her arm, looking up to see Harribel giving her a comforting look, understanding her Fracción's fears.
Rudbornn felt at that moment it was the right time to speak, "I see... So Starrk-sama is truly alive. If he is as unstable as Apacci says he is, it is only a matter of time before his power consumes him. We cannot afford to leave him unchecked. He will not stay in this 'cave' of his forever." His voice was firm.
Harribel nodded silently in agreement, several plans and countermeasures already forming in her mind. If Starrk lost control of his immense well of reiatsu, he'd be as much of a threat to Las Noches as the Shinigami were. "No... he won't." She agrees quietly
A brief silence falls over the room. Harribel stands, her expression thoughtful and resolute.
"H-Harribel-sama, I-I d-don't think you should approach him... H-he's too dangerous!" Apacci shouts out hastily, obviously too frightened of the idea of approaching him after their close encounter.
Apacci didn't want that walking time bomb anywhere near her Queen.
Harribel placed a hand on Apacci's shoulder, her touch surprisingly gentle. "I know."
But in her heart, Harribel knew the truth: If Starrk lost control, no force in Hueco Mundo—not even her own—would be able to stop him. He could wipe out all of Hueco Mundo on his own with that power.
"Do you doubt my strength Emilou?" Tia Harribel's voice was grave yet calm despite facing uncertainty at this new threat that even she, the queen of all of Hueco Mundo, was reluctant to engage with.
Who knew what happened to Starrk. If he of all people could get angry, he sure as hell wouldn't have any trouble killing.
The guy just wasn't the type to rage. If he went against his personality, that meant he'd be capable of other things the Espada used to hate doing.
"No." Her fracción replied, her voice finally steady and calm, firm. "Harribel-sama is one of the strongest in this world. I don't doubt you." She bowed.
Silence echoed throughout the throne room.
Harribel tapped her fingers against the armrest of her throne. A rare gesture—one that only those closest to her would recognize as a sign of frustration. "Starrk… alive," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
The implications weighed heavily on her. Starrk was not just another Arrancar—he was the strongest of them. If he couldn't control himself, it would be disastrous. And worse, if he chose not to.
"Huh?! So that bastard's still lazing around?"
Starrk's eyes reflected his bloodlust, frightening the Vasto Lorde who was hurriedly trying to find some way out.
"Sorry, I'm going to kill you now."
Baddodda whimpered, stumbling backward. "Wait, wait! It was a mistake! I swear!"
Starrk raised his hand, a flicker of blue light gathering in his palm.
"Wai-"
"Bala." A blinding flash of azure resonated throughout the area, illuminating the dark desert skies of the Realm of Hollows as the energy ball was released from Coyote Starrk's palm, his new armor pulsing with energy.
(Chapter End)
Authors Note: Hello, it's been a month, sorry for not posting sooner. I had writer's block and had to scrap this chapter a few times because I didn't know how to continue. I figured it out in the end.
Please note that I don't have any of this fanfic planned. I'm writing this for fun and to improve my writing skills. So please bear with me.
Translation: Hierro caparazón(Iron Shell).
On another note, I would like to thank you viewers for reading this dumb story. This chapter is a bit longer than usual, I really worked my butt off to get it done. So please give it a chance. I hope to see more reviews telling me if you liked anything or not.
Thanks for reading. Peace.