Yamamoto ignored the trapped Aizen and his companions, turning his attention to the Arrancars instead.
"Then, I will deal with you first." His voice was calm but carried ancient power, resonating across the battlefield.
Facing the threat of the strongest Shinigami, the Primera Espada Starrk, the Segunda Espada Barragan, and the Tercera Espada Harribel all maintained outward calm without showing the slightest fear.
But their hearts told a different story. Even at such a distance, they still felt the scorching heat, their lips already becoming chapped.
The leader of the Gotei 13 was indeed formidable.
However, they would not surrender.
Barragan, who resembled an elderly man, stepped forward and declared, "Since our leader cannot act for the time being, I will give the orders." His voice carried the weight of millennia, filled with arrogance born from his long reign.
After he spoke, he gave a command, and the five Fracción behind him immediately unfurled a scroll, manifesting a bone throne as they shouted:
"Long live His Majesty Barragan! His Majesty Barragan, the God of Hueco Mundo!"
"I've finished speaking. Do you have any objections?" Sitting upon the bone throne, Barragan projected dominance, showing no intention of rescuing Aizen.
In his heart, he wished Aizen would die. If it weren't for Aizen, he would still be happily lounging in the halls of Las Noches, enjoying the simple life of a king.
Who would have thought that while he was listening to music, drinking wine, and watching his subordinates fight in Las Noches, Aizen would crush him so directly? This was a disgrace! Aizen deserved to die.
Besides, as the former king of Hueco Mundo, it was natural for him to lead the Arrancar in battle. Although he hadn't been in charge for many years, the kingly aura in his bones remained undiminished.
He would bow to no one, determined to remain invincible and maintain his royal dignity.
Of course, before taking action, Barragan had already confirmed that Shiroha wasn't present. If there was anyone he truly feared, it was definitely not the Shinigami before him.
If facing Shiroha, he would certainly avoid that opponent. This was the true king's style! Greatness needs no words!
"Barragan, you show too much disrespect to Lord Aizen," Harribel said coldly, her mouth and nose covered by her high collar. Her sea-green eyes narrowed with disapproval.
Behind her, three female Fracción stood proudly, looking at Barragan's five subordinates with disdain.
"I don't have any objection," Starrk replied casually, only to be immediately punched and kicked by Lilynette, his Fracción.
While beating him, Lilynette berated Starrk for his lack of motivation and passivity. Despite being the Primera Espada, he displayed no leadership abilities, allowing his position to be usurped by a mere Segunda Espada. He was truly pathetic.
Starrk responded helplessly, "I don't care about leadership at all. If Barragan wants it, he can have it. He's an old senior after all." He yawned, seemingly more interested in finding a place to nap than engaging in battle.
Ignoring the two and their antics, Barragan turned to Yamamoto and declared confidently, "Your barrier is quite impressive. Unfortunately, you just revealed that this barrier needs pillars at the four corners to maintain it. Then what I must do is very simple. As long as the pillars at the four corners are destroyed, the barrier will fail. When that happens, Karakura Town, which now sits on the outskirts of Rukongai, will return."
After saying this, he waved his right hand, and several new Gargantas appeared in the sky.
As soon as multiple Arrancar with skull-like heads emerged, they immediately attacked the four barrier pillars, trying desperately to destroy the structures maintaining the barrier.
Seeing this, Omaeda covered his face with his hands and shouted, "NO! If the pillars of the Tenkai Kecchu are destroyed, Karakura Town will return to the human world from Rukongai! Then everything will be over. What should we do?" Sweat poured down his face as he panicked.
As soon as his voice faded, several Reiatsus burst forth, and four lieutenant-level Shinigami appeared at the pillars, easily dispatching the attacking low-level Arrancar.
The 3rd Seat of the 11th Division, Ikkaku Madarame, and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, along with Lieutenant of the 3rd Division, Izuru Kira, and Lieutenant of the 9th Division, Shūhei Hisagi, each guarded a pillar at the four corners.
Renji Abarai had also joined this battle to prove himself. As for Momo Hinamori, she had obeyed Shiroha's orders and remained at Teigun headquarters, "hanging out" with Nanao Ise.
Seeing this, Omaeda was stunned. Several captains and lieutenants revealed they had known about these hidden defenders all along.
Omaeda complained, "Am I the only one who didn't know about their presence? I thought I didn't see these lieutenants because my status had improved and they weren't worthy of fighting alongside me. So, I was the one not qualified to know the strategic arrangements?"
"What else?" Suì-Fēng replied ruthlessly, her zanpakutō on her back, not even bothering to turn her head. Her dismissive tone cut deeper than any blade could.
As expected of the commander of the stealth division, her finishing blow was precise and fatal.
With the initial attack failed, Barragan spoke disdainfully, "Don't celebrate too soon. Although you've made arrangements, they are futile. Since you've stationed ants to guard the pillars, I will send dragons to crush both the ants and pillars together."
After that declaration, he ordered the four Fracción behind him to launch attacks against the four Shinigami guarding the pillars.
These match-ups were quite fitting.
Ikkaku faced the massive Poww; the narcissistic Yumichika confronted the flamboyant Charlotte Chuhlhourne; the somber Kira battled the "hot-blooded" Abirama Redder; and Hisagi faced the calculating Findorr Calius.
Shiroha had no interest in this battle between "rookies."
The results unfolded much as expected. Yumichika, Hisagi, and Kira all defeated their opponents and protected their Tenkai Kecchu pillars. Ikkaku, who believed himself quite powerful but feared being appointed captain if he revealed his Bankai, remained overconfident and refused to use it.
Consequently, the bald fighter became the only one among the four who failed to defeat his opponent.
If it weren't for the timely intervention of Captain Komamura, who activated his Bankai to save him, the battle might have collapsed because Madarame was "too proud."
It could only be said that self-confidence was good, but novices needed more practice.
After the surprise attack plan failed, Barragan and the other Espada engaged in battle with the group of captains.
However, Yamamoto remained motionless, sitting firmly at the rear, constantly monitoring Aizen's movements. The ancient flames of Ryūjin Jakka danced around him, responding to his slightest thought.
With his restraint, the Aizen trio couldn't make significant moves.
Aizen simply wanted to use this opportunity to test the combat capabilities of his top three Espada. So he wasn't in a hurry to break through the fire cage surrounding him.
He had invested considerable effort and time creating the Espada, so naturally, he wanted to witness their quality in battle.