Capítulo 14: Harribel's Resolve: Ascend or Perish
Ever since that frenzied battle, Esteban Vortice had been silently nursing his wounds. He was secluded in a hidden passage beneath the treacherous terrains of Hueco Mundo, far removed from prying eyes and the relentless pursuit of enemies. For a day, he chose quiet introspection over conflict, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
The silent echoes of the underground passage served as a relentless reminder of his past recklessness. As he reflected, he sought to better understand the new powers that had awoken within him. With every passing moment, he could feel the latent energy coursing through his veins, waiting to be harnessed and directed.
The hours turned into a full day as he patiently unraveled the threads of his abilities. Gradually, he began to gain more control, gradually understanding their depth and potential. It was a painstaking process, but he recognized the need for it. He needed to be prepared, not just for the enemies that lay ahead, but for himself as well.
As he honed his skills, he couldn't help but reflect on the past encounter. His pride, his overwhelming desire to dominate, had nearly been his undoing. His hollow instincts and chaotic nature had led him to underestimate his enemies and overestimate his own abilities. He realized he had let his aggression and thirst for freedom cloud his judgment, triggering a battle that was, in truth, unnecessary.
Looking back, he saw that the logical course of action would have been to retreat, open a portal, and slip away into the relative safety of the unknown. Despite gaining considerable strength, unlocking two new abilities, and obtaining more battle experience, he recognized that the risk he took was too great. Victory had come at the expense of a real possibility of his own destruction.
Indeed, he could have easily been wiped out, his existence erased from the world. His potential, his remarkable strength, would have been wasted, his luck squandered in a moment of poor judgment. That realization hit him hard, sparking a resolve within him to change.
He made a vow to himself in the shadowy silence of the passage. He would embark on a journey to better understand himself, control his urges, and temper his chaotic nature. No longer would he let his instincts rule him. From now on, he would command them. It was a decision that would set the course for his future, an internal battle he was determined to win.
However, as he had just finished a grueling training session he sensed a fairly strong spiritual pressure approaching from above the surface. It was undeniably hollow, yet it possessed an intensity that was rare even among their kind. He couldn't resist; curiosity piqued, he ventured towards the source.
As he drew closer, he recognized the chaotic energy of battle. It was a cacophony of raw spiritual power, a savage dance of dominance and survival typical of Hueco Mundo. When he arrived, the sight that met him was unusual. A group of female hollows stood, encircled by a large pack of male hollows, their eyes gleaming with malice.
In their center was Tier Harribel, an infamous Vasto Lorde. Her majestic form stood out like an oasis in the desert, commanding respect and fear. Despite being surrounded, she and her crew stood firm, ready to fight. Yet the odds were clearly against them.
Esteban eventually also released his power. The air around him crackled with energy as he activated Entrophy Quake. With a swift punch, he fractured the air itself, the resulting shockwave rippling through the crowd of male hollows. The impact was instantaneous and devastating, their forms shattering into spiritual particles, their screams fading into silence.
'So this is Harribel...', He thought, his eyes lingering over her form. He quickly surmised that she was a mere Vasto Lorde, albeit a rather ordinary one. Her refusal to consume other hollows for power was a weakness in his eyes, a critical flaw in the law of survival in Hueco Mundo. Yet, he couldn't deny that she held a certain potential, one that he had seen in Nelliel. He found himself intrigued.
The battlefield fell into stunned silence, broken only by the harsh winds of Hueco Mundo. As he walked forward, the scattered spiritual particles of the fallen hollows were drawn towards him, consumed to replenish his energy. His spiritual pressure flared, uncontained, and oppressive, causing Harribel's crew to stagger and fall, overwhelmed by his power.
Esteban Vortice, the chaotic entity of Hueco Mundo, was taken aback by the encounter. As he stood there, towering over Harribel and her fallen crew, a swirl of thoughts stirred within him.
Deciding to offer his help, because he understood the great potential Harribel had to become his follower in the future, he started to approach them. It was then that he realized the extent of his spiritual power.
It had grown considerably since his last major battle, so much so that it was enough to render Harribel's crew unconscious and even make it challenging for Harribel herself to stay upright or even speak.
However, he resolved to rectify the situation, to guide her in a way she was least expecting, to set a path for her that would either lead to her rise or her fall, 'She definitely needs to understand the harsh reality...', Esteban thought, 'She needs to evolve or perish.'
Only Harribel remained standing, though she too seemed to struggle against his spiritual pressure. Her eyes met his, a mix of wariness and surprise, as he approached. It was clear that gratitude for his intervention was the furthest thing from her mind. A new conflict was brewing, and it was likely to be more intense than the last.
Harribel was a stunning figure even amidst the cruel harshness of Hueco Mundo. As a Vasto Lorde, she held an air of refined grace that most hollows lacked. Her form was humanoid, unlike many others of her kind, a testament to her evolved status.
Harribel's eyes were a radiant emerald green, they were sharp, intelligent, holding an unwavering strength that spoke volumes of her battles endured and victories won.
A skull mask adorned the entire lower part of her face, a common feature among hollows, but the design was striking, almost elegant. The mask served as a chilling reminder of her hollow origins, contrasting the humanity in her gaze and the short spiky blonde hair that poked out.
Esteban Vortice towered before Harribel, his overwhelming spiritual pressure creating a palpable tension. His eyes surveyed her and the barely conscious forms of her crew, quickly drawing conclusions about their strength and potential. His gaze finally rested on Harribel, recognition and a flicker of admiration in his eyes.
He began, his voice grating, deep, and powerful, "I hadn't realized my spiritual power had grown so potent.", His eyes held hers, the silence speaking volumes more than his words.
He continued while glancing at Harribel directly, "You've got some potential. But you're weak, too weak to protect those you hold dear.", His gaze flicked towards her fallen comrades, "In fact, they're about to die because they can't withstand my spiritual pressure."
His words stung, but Harribel's eyes did not waver from his. He was telling the truth, a bitter, harsh truth that she hadn't wanted to acknowledge. She knew her crew was teetering on the brink of death.
"I'll leave soon.", He continued, his voice uncharacteristically soft, "It's my mercy and appreciation for your potential that lets them live now. But if you don't get stronger, they won't be so fortunate next time."
Harribel, struggling to maintain her footing, managed to stay standing, her will battling the crippling force of his spiritual pressure. His words echoed in her ears, stoking the fire within her.
He didn't mince his words, "I am Esteban Vortice, the future of Hueco Mundo, and you could become my concubine if you're not strong enough to resist me as opposed to a real subordinate If I find you valuable. I will come back and decide in the future when you least expect it.", His last words left her breathless, not from the spiritual pressure but from the reality they proposed.
He turned, beginning to withdraw his oppressive spiritual presence, "When we meet again, woman, I hope to see a leader, a warrior, a Vasto Lorde that Hueco Mundo can be proud of. Stop living in fairy tails.", With that, he vanished, leaving her alone with her crew and his heavy words.
Harribel's legs buckled, and she fell to her knees. She struggled for breath, her mind a whirl of thoughts. She could barely believe what had happened. Yet, within her, a determination sparked.
She looked towards her fallen comrades, her heart heavy but her resolve stronger than ever. She would become stronger, for them, and for herself. She would not become a concubine; she would become a queen.
The notion of consuming other hollows to increase her own power was not one she had ever contemplated. The brutality of it, the sheer inhumanity, was something she had always opposed.
But the situation demanded drastic measures. If the cost of her crew's safety was her own moral code, then it was a price she found herself willing to pay.
"Esteban Vortice...", She murmured his name a bitter poison on her tongue. His presence was an uninvited intrusion in her life, his actions and words a challenge to her beliefs. But he had also ignited a spark in her—a determination to grow, to change, to adapt.
Gazing at her crew, her resolve solidified. If consuming other hollows was what it took to protect her own, then she would do it. She would forsake her own principles for their safety. In the silence of Hueco Mundo, under its pallid, bone-white moon, Harribel made her decision.
She would heed his warning, not because she feared him or was swayed by his ambitions of the future, but because she valued the lives of her crew more than her own reservations.
In doing so, she hoped that one day she would stand before him not as his subordinate, but as an equal who could stand against him and protect her subordinates and avenge this day.
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