Capítulo 23: Chapter #18 - Allied Talks (2)
Time passed quickly. As Kizuna waited for an answer, he shook off his thoughts and concentrated on improving his techniques. It was likely that the answer would not come immediately. Because Antonella had a lot of work on her plate.
He had too many techniques, too many skills. It would be downright foolish to develop them all. The system had already told him that he had to find his own path in the diversity given by the Ability Tree.
He carefully examined the available array of abilities and powers to determine his own path. Finally, he decided to start training himself. Through training, he was cleansed of his absurd thoughts. He was also not bad at developing his non-Resurrección body.
As time passed, he heard footsteps coming towards the training ground. He instantly dispersed the strange ball of light he was forming in his hand.
The owner of the footsteps was a woman with a cool demeanor. Her short, golden hair was naturally striking on this bright day in the fake sky. Most of her face was covered. But Kizuna could instantly see her almost emerald green eyes.
She was one of the few people who was the closest in height to him. Kizuna smiled and waved his hand.
"Tier-san, is that you?"
Tier Harribel was a name he hadn't seen for a while. It was only natural, especially since he had been shut in in his room for three days.
Tier nodded her head in confirmation.
"Yes, I think you're finally available."
Her tone was quite normal. But this sentence startled Kizuna slightly. She couldn't have accepted his offer when he had just relaxed, could she? If she did, Kizuna knew very well that he couldn't hold himself back.
"I don't want sex! Uhm I mean... Y-Yeah, I guess. What happened?"
The first sentence caused Tier's eyebrow to twitch for a moment. But then, seeing the sudden change in Kizuna's face, Tier Harribel calmed down, took a few steps closer to him and closed the distance between them. Kizuna was not wearing his usual jacket and his upper body was completely exposed.
Nevertheless, Tier looked into his eyes. She could smell Kizuna's scent. Even though there was a height difference between them, it didn't matter. The panic she saw in Kizuna's eyes confirmed her guess. She said what was on her mind.
"Your movements are so tense. You seem to be trying to get your thoughts out of your head."
It was true. Fighting was not a problem. He could maintain his status. Names like Barragan, Cyote Stark or Ulqiorra could only threaten him.
But that was exactly the problem. Was his decision the right one? Was it a good idea to negotiate with him? He could not be sure.
Kizuna told Tier directly about this uncertainty. After hearing what he said, Tier Harribel had a thoughtful expression. Then she reached out and stroked Kizuna's cheek. She said in a soothing tone:
"You think too much, Kizuna. When you make a decision, you need to stand by it. That is what a leader should do."
Kizuna was surprised by the contrast between her tone and her words and tilted his head slightly towards her. As he did so, Tier ran her fingers through his hair.
"Barragan will be difficult to talk to. Someone sculpted with arrogance is perhaps not a wise choice."
Kizuna was beginning to think that his decision was all wrong. Until Tier continued with these words:
"But I think if anyone is going to form an alliance with him, it will be someone like you. You can bring him to his knees. Not just with your power, but with your words."
Yes, these were Tier's own thoughts. Kizuna, with the wear and tear of the last three days, did not seem to be thinking clearly. It was good that Tier had realized this by chance. Otherwise Kizuna might have had problems during the negotiations.
First Antonella and now Tier were stroking his head. When this unconsciously comforted him, he seriously realized that the burden on his mind was wearing him down. But at that moment he wondered something. How did they know that this would soothe him?
Of course, instead of thinking about it now, he nodded slightly. He said gratefully:
"Thank you, Tier."
Tier pulled her hand away when she saw the obvious relief in Kizuna's expression. She replied in a normal voice:
"You're welcome. If you need anything, I'll help you as much as I can."
Hearing these words, Kizuna's heart warmed. His lips unconsciously curled upwards. After taking a few steps back, he thanked her once more. Then he asked what came to his mind:
"Hey... you know... what I told you... Have you thought about it?"
Tier paused and turned so that Kizuna was behind her. Before she walked away, she left these words in the air:
"Yes, and my answer is ready. But I will give you my answer when you are better."
Kizuna was surprised by what he heard. But before he could say anything more, Tier walked slowly away. Just then he was startled by a voice behind him.
"Barragan is waiting for you. Tell me when you want to go."
Kizuna turned to see Antonella, covered as usual in dirt, sand and dust. Breathing a sigh of relief, he warned.
"Don't suddenly come after me again."
He almost took his claws out. It wouldn't have been nice if Reiatsu hadn't looked familiar. Antonella responded in a flat voice.
"Noted."
Kizuna paused for a moment at the clear answer, then scratched the back of his neck with a slight sigh. Antonella was always like that.
"Then let's go."
There was no need to keep him waiting any longer. Kizuna was energized by Antonella's warning and, more importantly, by Tier's words. Even the fatigue of his mind had disappeared. There was no better time to go than now.
"Understood. Please follow me."
With Antonella leading the way, Kizuna began to move forward. As their surroundings changed, he noticed that Antonella's steps were getting slower and slower. Although she didn't show it, it was clear that Antonella was nervous too.
After all, the man they were approaching was the Old King of Hueco Mundo. Kizuna was new to the arts of kido and hado. With his current powers, he could go head to head, but he could not see a clear chance of winning.
Compared to him, Antonella was much weaker. It was admirable that she was able to maintain her courage in such a situation.
Their steps were slow and eventually they reached a room that looked like a very classical throne room. Everyone was assigned a seat. Each person customized it according to his or her own neat or twisted taste.
Barragan's was designed to suit his arrogance. He was struck by the white sand and the overcast sky, reminiscent of old Las Noches. A fake moon hung in the air. It looked like a counterpart to the old one.
The atmosphere was gloomy. In the center was a throne and an old man sitting on it. This middle-aged man was tapping his throne impatiently and wearing a bored expression.
If one looked carefully, one could see that he was dissatisfied. At that moment the voice of one of his subordinates was heard from the side:
"Barragan-sama, Kizuna Plata, has arrived."
With that, Barragan's attention turned to him.
"You are finally here, Aizen's hound."
The scorn in Barragan's gaze combined with the mockery in his voice made Kizuna feel uneasy.
He patted Antonella on the head, told her to go and took a few steps forward.
"After all, it was a more appropriate invitation than the first."
There was a table in the center. The teacups were set, ready to be poured. But there was no chair for him to sit.
He thought he was indirectly saying that he couldn't sit in front of her, so he laughed and created a chair. Then he sat opposite him.
Barragan's eyes narrowed. He signaled with his hand. Barragan's brow furrowed because he was referring to an old subject and he reminded him in a stern tone.
"You crippled this king's subordinate. Normally I should have killed you, Hound."
As Barragan said this, an extremely insignificant Hollow with a humanoid body poured them tea.
He only glanced at Kizuna out of the corner of his eye. He was nervous on the inside, but he didn't show it. He grinned at the answer he heard.
"But you didn't. After all, we both have similar intentions."
Barragan's one eyebrow raised.
"What do you mean?"
There was a lot of ruthlessness going on in Las Noches. Naturally, there were many intrigues. But most of it was direct. So Kizuna was open as he put his hands on the table.
"I'm talking about your hatred for Aizen, don't you want to kill him?"
Barragan paused for a moment at the sudden change of subject. Instead of refusing, he looked at Kizuna's confident face and laughed.
"So what then? It was the boss himself who said that no one should feel loyalty."
"Boss" came out of his mouth in mockery, like an insult. Barragan continued drumming his fingers on the throne.
"If our intentions are similar. Then become my subordinate. So that this king may forgive your disrespect, both in the past and in the meetings."
Kizuna became serious with a sense of death. It was as if Barragan was reminding him by his presence, even if not intentionally, that death was near.
Wolf instincts or Hollow instincts, Kizuna was not sure, but he was sure he was in danger.
He straightened his body.
"Sorry old man, I'm done being someone's subordinate."
After declining his offer, he took a sip of the offered tea. He didn't think Barragan would poison him. Such a despicable act would not suit him, the King of Hueco Mundo
Barragan's expression turned concerned as his subordinates' reiatsu threatened Kizuna from all sides.
"Then what did you come here for? There are better ways to die."
His subordinates had undoubtedly turned their anger on Kizuna. Barragan did not take kindly to rebels who opposed him. But he wondered what this little hound, whom he could easily kill now, was up to.
Despite all this pressure, Kizuna remained calm. He put it bluntly.
"I have come for an alliance."
Barragan raised one eyebrow in brief surprise. Kizuna explained himself.
"I am a simple man. I just want a peaceful life with my women, and you want to kill Aizen."
Barragan remained silent, wondering where this was going.
"It is clear that Aizen's goal is to use us all. So there is no point in arguing. We are all following him. There will come a time when he will fall, and until then I propose that we leave each other alone and help each other when necessary."
In short, what he wanted was a pact of neutrality. Each offered to completely ignore the other's presence unless needed.
To Barragan it seemed that for a little hound, he had a big bite to take. He was aware that even though he was an Arrancar, the amount of his reiatsu had increased. It was necessary for a king to be able to weigh his enemies well.
Either way, if this little wolf could keep this up, it could really bite something big. Not bad, according to Barragan. A so-called equal was not a bad deal to use him for, no matter how ridiculous he found it to think he would be equal to a king.
As someone who knew Aizen's power personally, using him to make them turn on each other didn't seem so bad. Of course, that would only be an investment for the future.
Barragan laughed.
"A simple wolf wants to form an equal alliance with a king. How funny."
Barragan enjoyed looking at him. His eyes sparkled with a dangerous glint.
"Nevertheless, you have succeeded in attracting this kings' intere. I accept, but I have some conditions..."
Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder