BLEACH: UNOHANA RETSU IS MY WIFE

As the battle between the two top-tier Hollows, Baraggan and Jijiba, reached a fever pitch, the two clashed throughout the entire Forest of Hollows. Now, these two beings—emanating an ominous spiritual pressure—had reached the heart of Hueco Mundo!

This inner realm, nestled behind the Forest of Hollows, accessible only to chosen "Gillian" after devouring their comrades, was far more dangerous and brutal than the environment inhabited by lower-ranked Hollows.

This was the hunting ground where intermediate-ranked Hollows hunted others of their own caliber—a paradise for their evolution! To avoid degenerating into lower-ranked Hollows, they were forced to hunt endlessly, until the most exceptional of them, trampling over the corpses of countless others, successfully evolved into a higher-ranked Hollow. Only then would the battle cease.

In other words, the rules of Hueco Mundo were set by the powerful the moment the three realms separated. This was a world of slaughter—a place where only the strong could survive.

Meanwhile, the two titans clashed very close to Baraggan's palace...

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Amidst billowing dust, Jijiba's rough hands snatched up Baraggan's subordinates—those hiding in the desert—and stuffed them straight into his mouth.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty Baraggan!"

The Adjuchas-level Hollows shouted their king's name until they were chewed and devoured by Jijiba. Unfortunately, their Majesty could no longer save them.

"Baraggan, look! This is how your subordinates should be used!"

After devouring all of Baraggan's men, Jijiba grinned at the Hollow King, whose crown had been knocked askew—his body now smeared with dust and grime.

Clearly, the aging power within Baraggan could no longer fully shield him from Jijiba's relentless onslaught. His strength was steadily waning.

"Damn it..."

Baraggan glared at the behemoth before him, wishing he could crush it. Unfortunately, he no longer had the strength. Having faced no rivals in Hueco Mundo for years, he had grown complacent—his condition now not much better than that of a weakened Jijiba.

"Eat it, and you'll gain strength."

Jijiba smacked his lips, savoring the lingering flavor of Baraggan's men. He had to admit—they were excellent quality. Top-tier mid-level Hollows. The taste was divine.

"Take it, Baraggan!" Jijiba didn't waste any more words. After consuming the Achukas, his strength was restored. A strange, scarlet Cero began gathering in his mouth once again.

"Buzz!"

"Damn it!"

Baraggan cursed, raising his shield in desperation.

"Boom!"

Another brilliant mushroom cloud erupted.

Hueco Mundo was unusually nuclear-free today.

"Gonjiba, let the battle between you and me end here!" Baraggan called out as he emerged battered from the explosion. "Let's coexist peacefully, as we once did—using the Great Hollow Forest as our boundary!"

Having realized he couldn't defeat Jijiba, Baraggan sought a return to the uneasy truce of the past. Two heroes of Hueco Mundo, sharing power over this forsaken realm.

"I think you're dreaming."

Jijiba sneered at the offer.

How arrogant Baraggan had been at the start—threatening to scatter his ashes! Now, after realizing he couldn't win, he suddenly wanted to talk peace? Too late.

He no longer intended to share Hueco Mundo with anyone.

"Gonjiba, don't push me!"

Baraggan clenched his fists in warning.

"Today, I really want to push you. Let's see what you can do about it..."

Jijiba stepped forward, defiant.

"You..."

Baraggan pointed at Jijiba, teeth gnashing. But deep down, he knew—there was nothing he could do.

"Fine! Then let's fight! Neither of us will take the title of 'Hollow King'!"

"From now on, I'll stand guard here. If any creature comes near—be it Hollow, Death God, or Quincy—I'll rot them to white sand before you can devour them!"

"I want to see what you'll eat while I'm here, Gonjiba! You better be ready to chew dirt!"

Baraggan roared, truly enraged.

"That's your move? You're gonna guard? Fine! Then I'll go to your palace right now and devour your loyal men. If you're brave, kill them yourself before I do!"

Jijiba wasn't backing down. He knew Baraggan was trying to flip the board—so he flipped it first.

"You dare?!"

Baraggan snarled, black miasma pouring from his form.

"Just watch me!"

Jijiba answered, stepping forward again.

The two figures—one black, one white—faced off in grim silence.

But then—

"Hey, you two still arguing?"

A calm, teasing voice echoed through the battlefield, shattering the tension.

"Who are you?!"

Baraggan looked up, startled.

A handsome young man in a white haori had appeared in the sky above—gazing down at them with serene amusement.

"A... Death God?!"

Baraggan's exposed white brow twitched. How had this man approached so silently, unaffected by their spiritual pressure?

If he hadn't spoken... I wouldn't have even noticed his presence.

This Death God was no ordinary being.

With Jijiba eyeing him from the side, it would be unwise to confront such a mysterious figure alone. Baraggan, though proud, was no fool.

"I need that idiot to help me for once..."

He thought grimly.

"Gonjiba, let's pause our quarrel! Don't make a fool of us in front of this Shinigami!"

Baraggan reined in his pride and addressed Jijiba below. For now, they'd unite to deal with this strange intruder.

Unfortunately for Baraggan, his optimism died quickly.

Because in the very next moment—

The white giant beast knelt and said respectfully to the mysterious figure:

"'Holy King'—you are here!"

"What?!"

Baraggan froze.

They know each other?!

Worse—this Death God wasn't just a friend. He was Jijiba's master.

And any being that could make that beast kneel willingly...

...was not someone Baraggan could afford to face.

But think about it—if no one had helped Jijiba, with an intellect barely above that of a beast, it would've been impossible for him to escape from the Soul Society—base of the Shinigami—and make it back to Hueco Mundo alone.

"Gonjiba… you've actually sided with a Shinigami?! You disgrace us!"

Within Baraggan's dark, hollow eye sockets, a millennium's worth of cunning flickered. He sought to provoke Jijiba, hoping to free him from the Shinigami's control.

"You understand nothing, Jijiba."

Jijiba dropped to one knee, completely ignoring Baraggan's voice echoing from above.

"Gonjiba, join forces with me! Together, we'll be invincible! Let's bury that Shinigami and rule Hueco Mundo as kings!"

When Jijiba showed no response, Baraggan changed tactics—first offering praise, then promises of glory.

"Hmph."

Jijiba didn't even bother to raise his head. He knew the moment he looked at Baraggan, he would lose.

"Damn it…"

A ripple of unease coursed through Baraggan. Jijiba remained completely unshaken. It was clear now—the Shinigami had seized far more control over the beast than he'd anticipated.

"Interesting~"

The Shinigami hovering above Baraggan was none other than Araki. Ignoring Jijiba completely, he instead studied the Vasto Lorde-level Hollow with amusement.

There was no need to ask his name. Araki knew just from his skeletal form—this was Baraggan Louisenbairn. The Bone King of Hueco Mundo. His image was iconic, even more so than the King himself. A senior among the Espada, remembered vividly in Soul Society records.

"You're Baraggan, aren't you?"

Araki asked, feigning curiosity as he stared down at him.

"Shinigami… are you here to demand my surrender?"

"You want me to kneel… like that beast?!"

Baraggan stared coldly at Araki, trying to preserve the dignity of a king. But deep inside, panic brewed like a storm.

"Yes… I am Baraggan, the King of Hueco Mundo! As the Hollow King, I will never bow before a mere Shinigami! If you've come here expecting me to pledge loyalty—abandon that foolish hope."

His voice rang with defiance, heavy with ancient pride.

"Swear allegiance? Of course not…"

"Relax. You don't have to be so hostile. I'm not here to harm you—I'm here to help."

Araki smiled warmly, his tone almost sincere. How could such a gentle soul possibly intend harm?

"What do you mean, Shinigami? Don't play games with me!"

"Whatever your tricks may be, they're meaningless! We Hollows will never follow your kind!"

Baraggan's voice was sharp and cold, his eyes fixed on Araki with disdain.

Araki chuckled darkly.

If Aizen had heard Baraggan speak like that, he would surely have smiled and nodded:

"Yes, Baraggan, you're absolutely right. The 'Great Hollows' will never serve me… They will simply worship me—as their god."

"I'm not here to demand submission… I'm here to offer you conversion~"

Araki slowly extended a hand toward Baraggan.

"Shinigami! What are you doing?!"

Baraggan's pupils trembled as Araki's hand approached. An inexplicable sense of dread crawled up his spine.

But he dared not strike. He knew—if he attacked the Shinigami, that beast below would strike him without hesitation. Flanked on both sides, he would be doomed.

"Hush… Listen closely. Do you hear the sound of bells?"

Araki's voice was calm, soothing… and yet impossibly heavy. As his hand neared Baraggan, his presence seemed to dissolve into the air, replaced by the deep, resonant chimes of temple bells.

Dong… Dong… Dong…

"Huh?!"

By the time Baraggan realized what was happening, it was too late.

The white desert of Hueco Mundo had vanished.

In its place stood a radiant glazed Pure Land.

Ancient temples and towering bell structures stretched to the horizon, cloaked in gentle sunlight. The deep peal of bells echoed across the serene domain—so old, so distant, yet impossibly near.

"What… is this…?!"

Baraggan's eyes widened in disbelief. One moment, he had stood in Hueco Mundo—opposing a beast and a strange Shinigami—and the next, he was trapped in this surreal, sacred realm.

"Could this be… the Shinigami's Zanpakutō release?"

A creature as old as Baraggan didn't take long to recover. He quickly deduced the situation.

"But when… when did he release it?!"

"No… wait. When did I stop believing that he hadn't released it?!"

A cold chill surged down his spine. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Since the end of his fight with Jijiba, something inside him had changed.

Had it been the old Baraggan—the one who ruled by death—he would've crushed the Shinigami the moment he appeared, ignoring all risks.

But now? He'd chosen to negotiate. To ally with Jijiba. Such weakness was not his way.

"Was I already under the influence of that Shinigami's power from the very beginning…?"

The realization struck like a hammer.

"How utterly humiliating…"

Baraggan clenched his fists beneath his black cloak, the pale bones grinding together in rage. The sound echoed softly in the stillness of the Pure Land, like death rattling its cage.

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