After having beaten Lázaro, Lucius was fed a dried-out mummy. It was very small, like the size of a tennis ball, yet when he ate it—
He could feel himself returning to 100% of his power. All of his drained energy was filled back up.
And the taste? The food tasted heavenly. This was to be expected from his majesty. {Necessary glaze.}
His majesty had said he would gift him a pair of eyes to help with the strain his technique put on his body.
He would be grateful to have them, but for now, he didn't have them. More like he hadn't unlocked them yet. His majesty had integrated a lot of powerful techniques into his body, and he needed to trigger them in order to be able to properly use them.
Anyway, since his body was mostly Shinigami—and he was, like, a strong one, with Class 3 spirit rank—he craved food.
Not Hollow food, but actual food. Once again, his majesty's inventions were helping him. The food he ate was delicious. He quite enjoyed it.
Now back to full power, he could finally defeat that harlot, Lilith.
She would not beat him.
He would not lose to the wench.
Time to beat some ass.
Putting on his jacket, he took his sheath and got ready to fight.
POV Change
Lucius stood tall, arms crossed, his ever-composed face giving away nothing as he waited for Lilith to step forward.
He had heard plenty about her—how strong she was, how dangerous she could be.
And, of course, how annoying she was.
Lilith sauntered into the arena, her signature smug smirk already plastered on her face. Her sharp crimson eyes gleamed with amusement as she looked him over.
"Hoh? So you're my opponent?" she purred, stretching languidly. "Gotta say, you're even more stiff-looking up close. Like, ridiculously uptight. Tell me, do you ever loosen up, or is that pole lodged in your ass permanent?"
Lucius did not react. He would not give her a reaction at all.
Lilith grinned wider. "No response? Come on, give me something, prude-boy. Or are you too busy clutching your imaginary pearls?"
"Your words are meaningless, harlot. This battle will not end in your favor," was his very simple response. Frankly, he felt like he spoke a bit too much. He had made his point clear—she should have gotten it by now.
Lilith gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Harlot? Oh no! You wound me! Whatever shall I do?"
Lucius gave her a flat look. "Cease your pathetic antics. They will not work on me."
This trick would not work on him. It would never work on him.
Lilith leaned in slightly, a sly glint in her eyes. "Are you sure? You seem a little... tense."
She just loved fucking around with people. It made her happy. She quite enjoyed it.
Messing with people was fun.
Lucius' brow twitched—but just barely.
Lilith laughed, clearly enjoying herself. But then—
She stretched again, rolling her shoulders, and—yawned.
And just to fuck with him even more, she opened her mouth and said,
"Welp, I forfeit."
"...What?"
Lucius was dumbfounded.
The fuck?
Could she actually do that? Could this be done? How was this not illegal?
How was he supposed to show off in front of his majesty?
"Yeah, I'm out. Used way too much power earlier—if I fight you now, I'll just get beat, and I'm too pretty for that."
She said it with a smile on her face. Oh, she saw the pissed look on his face.
This was the good shit.
She was loving every second of this.
He was pissed.
Lucius stared.
Silence.
A crack echoed in his mind.
Something inside him snapped.
"NO." His voice boomed across the arena. "You will fight me!"
"Aww, what's the matter? Not happy with your empty victory?"
She knew what she was doing. She knew that, to him, this victory would feel hollow, undeserved, and he wouldn't get the chance to show his power in front of his majesty.
And that was why she forfeited.
To get him all riled up.
It was fun for her to witness.
A true crash-out... fufufufu.
Lucius' hands curled into fists. His body tensed. He didn't even care about her teasing anymore.
He needed the fight.
He needed the fade.
And she had just stolen it from him.
"Ohhh, you're actually mad. That's adorable."
Yup.
She was fucking with him. No ifs, ands, or buts.
She was fucking with this man, badly.
Lucius' teeth clenched.
"You cowardly wench—!"
She gave him a smile, watching him almost crash out with the happiest look on her face.
Fufufufu, this was fun. A cute guy losing it was quite thrilling.
She wondered what else to say to get him riled up.
"Come on, don't be so stiff."
She had the most innocent look on her face.
"BANKAI!"
Oh my—
But before he could finish that sentence, he remembered his majesty was watching and thus did not finish his release.
Even though he had just activated it and didn't use a move, his Reiatsu pool had been drained. He only had about a third seat's worth of spiritual energy left.
Yes.
From Captain-level to third seat-level from just releasing his Bankai...
His power was that draining.
Yet, he would master it.