In Hueco Mundo With shendu Template

The Grip of Palms and Claws

It looked very strange, and the thin palm seemed as though it could be crushed into pulp at any moment.

But that was merely an illusion.

Although Szayelaporro's combat power was much weaker than that of a Vasto Lorde at the same level, it wasn't so weak as to allow him to be killed in mere seconds.

Shendu seemed to have the upper hand in their several encounters.

However, if he truly intended to kill Szayelaporro here, he would likely have to pay a steep price—one that could completely destroy his chances of further evolution.

Beneath the veneer of peaceful and friendly communication lay endless malice.

No matter if it was Shendu or Szayelaporro, neither of the Menos Grande who had established a foothold in Hueco Mundo was free from ulterior motives.

To achieve their goals, they would stop at nothing.

The Forest of Menos Grande

Staring at the desolation before him—the unchanging scenery of layer upon layer of white sand—Shendu shifted his gaze toward Szayelaporro, his eyes brimming with hostility.

"Don't worry," Szayelaporro said, his voice calm.

He had long since anticipated this, as the Reiatsu of a Vasto Lorde-level being emanated from him, enveloping the sands beneath their feet.

Boom!

The deafening sound reverberated through the barren land.

The white sands began to sink, spiraling like whirlpools in water.

Dark green hooves were swallowed by the shifting sands.

Yet Shendu didn't panic; he allowed the layers of sand to engulf him entirely.

Standing off to the side, Szayelaporro's golden eyes gleamed with a fleeting glimmer of anticipation.

The surrounding sands compressed, applying immense force to limbs and bones.

However, this exertion had no effect on Shendu whatsoever.

The dragon body he inhabited was empowered by the formidable demonic body of the Holy Lord.

Even without the Talisman's power or the magic of fire, the Holy Lord remained the mightiest demon.

The strength of this body was no weaker than that of his relatives.

It was this foundational ability that enabled Shendu to kill his way through Hueco Mundo until he evolved into his current Adjucha form.

In the beginning, his fire magic had been weak, making it laborious even to kill minor foes.

But that most difficult phase was now behind him.

The darkness before his eyes faded, replaced by the dense quartz forests reflected in his pupils.

Towering structures of rock-like material stood solemnly in the gloom.

Boom!

Two figures landed heavily on the hardened ground.

In contrast to Shendu's ungraceful descent, Szayelaporro was elegant, performing a precise spin mid-air before landing lightly, like a butterfly.

Shendu glanced at him disdainfully and snorted. "Hypocritical show-off."

In Hueco Mundo, every trace of Reiatsu was precious.

After all, you never knew when an enemy might emerge from the shadows.

This was a lesson taught by blood and tears.

But what Shendu didn't know was that in his current form, no Menos Grande would dare to attack him.

Unless, of course, they'd had their heads kicked by a donkey.

The Hunt Begins

Shendu sniffed the air, a flicker of excitement flashing through his eyes.

"A familiar scent."

The sheer number of Menos Grande in the Forest of Menos Grande far exceeded his expectations.

Devouring all the Adjucha here might make his evolution to Vasto Lorde possible.

Szayelaporro discerned the direction below, activating his detection circuits to locate their targets.

"Here—two Adjucha approximately 3,675 meters ahead," he noted with a refined grin. "It appears they're fighting over territory."

Shendu, having sensed the corresponding Reiatsu fluctuations, didn't wait for Szayelaporro to push him onward.

In the next moment, the dark green, burly dragon body vanished.

Watching his retreating form, the sinister glint buried in Szayelaporro's eyes grew sharper.

"Go ahead," he murmured. "Without bait, how can fish bite the hook?"

Crimson Carnage

Rumble!

Crimson light crisscrossed through the quartz trees, slicing apart thick, rock-like trunks.

The ground split open as two bizarre figures collided, their knotted muscles bulging like stone.

In terms of aesthetics, the Menos Grande were not particularly appealing.

Especially in the dark Forest of Menos Grande, where visibility was low and appearance seemed unimportant.

So much so that when Shendu saw the two Adjucha, he hesitated.

"Looking like this... won't I get indigestion if I eat them?"

He shook his head and no longer hesitated, then rudely interrupted their fight.

The two Adjucha immediately sprang apart, taking positions on either side and eyeing the dark green, burly figure in the center with caution.

An unfamiliar face they had never encountered before!

"An Adjucha from above."

"An intruder breaking the rules."

The next moment, before Shendu could say a word, the two Adjucha opened their jaws wide and locked onto him.

High-density spiritual particles began condensing, radiating crimson light that dispelled the darkness around them.

Cero!

There was no hesitation.

In the Forest of Menos Grande, survival rules were clear.

Shendu narrowed his eyes, his gaze ferocious and cruel.

Boom!

By the time Szayelaporro arrived, he saw the crimson glow completely envelop Shendu.

Adjusting his mask-like glasses with a focused expression, Szayelaporro murmured, "Let me witness the battle of the apex predators."

Boom!

A scorching flame erupted from the Cero, consuming the spiritual energy within it in an instant.

Shendu's unscathed form emerged slowly, surrounded by intense heat that distorted the air.

The oppressive aura emanating from him left the two Adjucha trembling uncontrollably.

What kind of monster was this?!

Even after taking a full-power Cero, there wasn't so much as a scratch on him?

And that aura…

As the two Adjucha began retreating, it became clear they had no desire to continue the fight.

They weren't combat fanatics; their battles were fought purely for survival.

Shendu grinned wickedly, his sharp teeth gleaming as a cruel smile spread across his face.

"Now it's my turn."

Boom!

Tensing his leg muscles, Shendu unleashed the full force of his dragon body, causing the ground beneath him to collapse into a massive crater.

He disappeared in an instant, reappearing directly in front of one of the Adjucha.

With flames igniting on his razor-sharp claws, he struck the Adjucha's twisted, grotesque head with unmatched speed.

The sound of searing flesh filled the air.

The other Adjucha watched its companion's head was pushed into the abdominal cavity with a horrified expression...

One strike—an instant kill!

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