King of the Virtual Circle

Inside a cave in Hueco Mundo.

"Why Harribel-sama has not returned yet?"

A lion-like Hollow said while licking her paws.

"As if the likes of you could understand what Harribel-sama is thinking."

A deer-like Hollow didn't waste any time to make fun of what the lion-like Hollow said.

"Huh!?"

The lion-like Hollow immediately glared at the deer-like Hollow in response.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Apacci. You're nothing but a newbie until recently. Don't get on my nerves if you don't want me to kill you!"

"What are you blabbering about? You're the one who gets ahead of yourself, Mila Rose, you stupid lion!"

"What!!?"

"Huh!?"

They both were on each other's throat as they rammed their heads against each others'.

"What are you both fighting for? You both are equally stupid anyway."

A snake-like Hollow condescendingly said as she looked down the lion-like and the deer-like Hollow due to her tall body.

"You wanna go, Sung-Sun??"

Mila Rose and Apacci, who were fighting until a moment ago immediately said at the same time as they glared at Sung-sun.

"Hmph! "

Realizing both of them were so in sync just now, both Mila Rose and Apacci grunted and turned their heads away from each other.

"Look at how well you two get along. You two are so in sync just now." Sung-Sun didn't waste this opportunity to make fun of Mila Rose and Apacci again.

"Sung-Sun, you bastard!"

However, while these three were busy bickering...

Bang!!

A sudden Reiatsu outburst startled them.

"What!?"

They instantly stopped bickering and looked toward the entrance. They could feel a terrifying Reiatsu that was even stronger than Harribel. They were familiar with it, so they knew it belonged to none other than Baraggan!

"What's the matter? Are you guys too scared to come out after sensing Baraggan-sama's Reiatsu?"

"Bastard!" Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Apacci looked at each other before walking out of the cave. Harribel was not with them now, and they definitely didn't stand a chance against Baraggan on their own, but at the very least, they didn't want to tarnish Harribel's name.

"Baraggan, are you such a coward that you have to swarm our hideout while Harribel-sama is away?"

Mila Rose asked curtly as soon as she arrived at the entrance and saw Baraggan sitting on his throne made of bones surrounded by a horde of Menos Grande. Despite her tone, her legs were slightly trembling. It couldn't be helped as she was in the presence of the 'King of Hueco Mundo,' especially now that Harriel was not with them.

"You're being disrespectful to Baraggan-sama!"

a Hollow that was kneeling behind Baraggan just now stood up and yelled at Mila Rose for her rude remarks.

Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Apacci were all surprised. Although it was just another small fry that served Baraggan, they couldn't underestimate him as there were so many of them here.

"Stand down, acrylic."

Baraggan suddenly said when he saw one of his men was about to attack Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, and Apacci while tapping his finger on his throne.

"Baraggan-sama?"

The Hollow looked back towards Baraggan as he was confused why Baraggan stopped him.

"Huh?"

The tapping sound that Baraggan made when he tapped his fingers on his throne suddenly stopped, and he shifted his gaze to the Hollow that looked at him with a questioning look on his face.

The Hollow immediately knelt down on the ground and said flusteredly, "please forgive me, your majesty."

"Oh? You're asking for my forgiveness? Then you should know what your mistake is right? Enlighten me!"

"I doubt your majesty's order for even a second, and for that, I deserve to die a thousand times."

The Hollow bowed down with his forehead on the ground, and his whole body was trembling.

"You already know your mistake deserves death, so why beg me for mercy?"

Knowing that he could die at any second now, the Hollow was even more panic.

"Since you're a newbie and there are a lot of things you didn't know yet, I'll let it slide after you cut one of your arms."

Hearing Baraggan's words, the Hollow lopped off one of his arms without the slightest hesitation before walking back where he previously knelt respectfully, without even looking back at his torn off arm.

Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Apacci that witnessed everything with their own eyes, gasped. This was their first time seeing Baraggan this close, and even though the one that was punished was Baraggan's henchmen and not them, they could clearly feel the pressure from Baraggan, and one thing for sure, it was way stronger than Harribel.

Baraggan leaned back on his throne as he shifted his gaze towards Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, Apacci standing below, and the tapping sound on his throne echoed throughout the surroundings again.

tap, tap, tap...

Each time Baraggan tapped on his throne lightly, Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Apacci could feel that their heart was about to come out.

"You three... Since Harribel is not here, I am not interested in ants like you, but you must know that my authority as the King of Hueco Mundo is absolute. On that note, I'll let you guys walk away with just cut off your arm like Accrylic did."

Baraggan said nonchalantly while still tapping his throne, which made the three of them shocked.

"What's the matter? do you have any objections?" Baraggan looked down at the three weak Hollows on the ground as if they were ants. In fact, he ordered them all to do that simply out of whim. In his eyes, these three were not worth his time.

"Who do you think you are, Baraggan?" Mila Rose mustered her courage and objected, "No one can order us around except Harribel-sama!"

"Oho!?" Baraggan was intrigued that the ant in front of him dared to defy the 'King of Hueco Mundo' even without Harribel there with them. He could've squashed these ants with his hand if he wanted to.

As Baraggan leaned closer toward them, they instinctively felt fear. Even if they mustered their courage, they just couldn't deny the fact that Baraggan was a far stronger Menos Grande.

"Oh, are you trembling?" Baraggan suddenly said, "Well , it can't be helped. You guys are in the presence of the King of Hueco Mundo, after all."

"Baraggan-sama! Allow me to execute these three in your stead!"

A tiger-like Hollow suddenly appeared beside Baraggan.

"Ah... it's you Ggio. I'm delighted that you're so considerate. If you insist, I'll leave them to you then. I already lost interest in these ants, but I do look forward to seeing the look on Harribel's face when she saw they died."

After receiving Baraggan's permission, Ggio felt a sudden excitement as he could be useful for Baraggan!

"You three will have to die for your insolence toward Baraggan-sama!"

Ggio rushed toward Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Apacci, suddenly disappearing from plain sight. Realizing Ggio was on the hunt for their heads, they three couldn't shake off the uneasiness in their heart, especially when they realized Ggio was much faster than them.

Baraggan was watching them closely. Seeing the futile struggle of the weal always sparked his interest. After all, life in Hueco Mundo was too dull and boring for someone of his caliber.

~~~

However, to Baraggan's surprise, Ggio was sent flying to his feet as fast as he rushed toward Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Apacci.

"Baraggan-sama..."

Ggio turned toward Baraggan before vomiting a mouthful of blood and fainted.

"Harribel-sama!!"

Meanwhile, Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Apacci cried in joy as a golden-yellow haired figure appeared before them.