In Hueco Mundo With shendu Template

Vasto Lorde.

The highest apex of Menos Grande's evolution.

Looking across all of Hueco Mundo, there have been only a few in the history of ten thousand years.

For an Adjucha to evolve into a Vasto Lorde, it must not only prey on a significant number of its kind but also avoid sustaining severe injuries during this stage, especially to the mask.

If the mask is broken, the evolution halts at its current state, forever unable to progress further.

This is the point that Shendu has been most cautious about during the history of his predatory evolution.

Another critical consideration is when one's potential reaches its upper limit; evolution will stagnate.

Not all Menos Grande have the potential to evolve into Vasto Lorde.

Szayelaporro studied the demon-like dragon form of the Menos Grande in front of him. While amazed by Shendu's overwhelming combat power, he also harbored a wary respect for his boundless evolutionary potential.

In some ways, combat power is a measure of potential.

Only the strong are qualified to ascend to a higher level of evolution. There is no doubt about this.

"Vasto Lorde..." Szayelaporro murmured, lost in recollections of the past.

When he became a Hollow after his death, he immediately devoured the souls of his elder brother and other experimental subjects in his laboratory.

After a long period of predation and evolution, he finally reached the level of a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande.

Strictly speaking, Szayelaporro's potential alone was not enough to achieve Vasto Lorde evolution. The combined potential of the two brothers was the key.

"It's not an easy feat," he thought.

Even Szayelaporro, who prided himself on perfection, could not claim certainty in this matter.

"If you choose to be loyal to that great being, perhaps..."

Boom!

Before he could finish, a scorching fireball flew past his ear, scorching his regrown short pink hair to charred black again.

"As the strongest researcher of Hueco Mundo," Shendu said, blowing out the flames on his fingertips, "don't tell me you lack this capability."

"How disappointing."

"If that's the case, there's no point in discussing cooperation."

As he spoke, his Reiatsu flared like an erupting volcano.

"In the simplest terms, let's start evolving."

Szayelaporro saw Shendu about to attack over the smallest disagreement. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, mixing with the scorched fabric of his collar, making him look thoroughly disheveled.

"Of course, there is a way!"

Although Szayelaporro had already analyzed Shendu's combat composition and conceived some countermeasures, he doubted they could match the opponent's full power.

Not to mention...

Who could guarantee this was all of Shendu's strength?

"If you want to evolve into a Vasto Lorde," Szayelaporro said, wiping the sweat from his brow, "preying on other Menos Grande is essential. But we can accelerate this process directly!"

"The Forest of Menos Grande!"

He hurriedly explained, fearing Shendu might lash out again.

"It's one of the primary dwellings of Gillian."

"Because the number of Hollows there is immense, the Adjucha population is also considerable."

"By devouring the Adjucha in the Forest of Menos Grande, you can significantly shorten the time needed to evolve."

Shendu's fiery Reiatsu simmered down to normal levels.

He studied Szayelaporro calmly, waiting for him to elaborate.

Killing Adjucha was an easy task for him now.

For Shendu, the most challenging part of predation was locating prey.

With the help of someone as cunning and inhumane as Szayelaporro, finding other Adjucha wouldn't be too difficult.

"And I happen to know the location of the Forest of Menos Grande," Szayelaporro continued, clearly relieved. "I also know where the Adjucha lairs are."

"But there's one thing to be cautious about."

"The Forest of Menos Grande is closer to Las Noches."

"Our movements might be discovered by Baraggan..."

Shendu nodded but didn't seem overly concerned.

With the unlocking of the Dragon Talisman, he could feel the surging power coursing through his body.

It was like an endless ocean, overflowing with energy.

In a short span, Shendu had already grasped the meaning of evolving beyond third-class Reiatsu on his personal panel.

As the natal Talisman of the Holy Lord, the Dragon Talisman was of paramount importance.

It didn't just represent the power of explosive flames; it also contained infinite energy.

Even an ordinary person holding the Dragon Talisman could unleash city-destroying molten flames.

What if the Dragon Talisman was developed to its ultimate form?

Third-class Reiatsu was merely the beginning.

As Shendu continued mastering the Dragon Talisman, his Reiatsu would climb ever higher—seemingly without limit.

With his expanding power, Shendu wasn't as cautious as before about Baraggan, who ruled Las Noches.

No matter what, if he couldn't win, he could always escape.

"I don't mind making a move," Shendu said, waving his dark green dragon claw, gesturing for Szayelaporro to continue.

He was waiting for this guy to spill everything.

While Gillian and Adjucha populated the Forest of Menos Grande, he recalled that a hundred years ago, a squad from the 11th Division had mistakenly entered the forest while chasing a Hollow horde.

Though most perished, one figure—comparable to a Captain—still survived and had been fighting there ever since.

This individual was as dangerous as any Espada.

Such knowledge wasn't a secret to Szayelaporro, who was familiar with the Forest of Menos Grande.

Yet he had no intention of continuing.

"That's the extent of my sincerity," Szayelaporro said, rolling his eyes before extending his right hand in a gesture of goodwill.

"I hope to grow stronger like you. I don't mind cooperation."

Seeing this, Shendu was startled for a moment. Then, his ferocious mouth stretched into a wide grin, and white air escaped from between the gaps between his teeth.

He extended his right claw and shook Szayelaporro's hand firmly.

"So..."

"Happy cooperation!"

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