"Yeah, Sandal-hat, given the situation now, you're the only one who can help us," Ichigo said bluntly.
"Alright, I understand." Kisuke Urahara waved his small fan and looked at Ichigo deeply.
"Come with me."
Urahara led Ichigo and the others down into the underground training hall, where Chad was already waiting.
"Ichigo, are you going to Hueco Mundo?" Chad asked seriously.
"Yeah, we're heading through the back..." Ichigo started to explain.
"Alright, I'm coming with you!" Chad declared confidently.
"Chad, you…" Ichigo hesitated.
Last time they fought Arrancars, Chad had nearly been taken out instantly. If his strength was still at that level, going to Hueco Mundo would just make him a burden... and someone else would have to protect him.
But before Ichigo could finish, Chad stepped forward and threw a punch.
Ichigo reflexively blocked it with his sword sheath. Chad's right arm had transformed—different from before, now more like an armored gauntlet. The blow was so powerful that it forced a surge from Ichigo's Zanpakutō. If Ichigo hadn't consciously suppressed it, Zangetsu would've released into Shikai on the spot.
The force of that strike far exceeded what Ichigo expected. He stared at Chad in surprise—he had grown this much stronger in just two months?
"Chad, you—!"
Before he could finish, countless spiritual arrows rained down from above! Ichigo flash-stepped away, looking up to see Uryū Ishida landing beside Chad, wielding a spiritual bow made of reishi.
"Uryū? Your powers are back?" Ichigo was shocked.
"You knew?" Uryū looked just as surprised.
Ichigo sighed, "You weren't in the last few battles, and your spiritual pressure kept getting weaker… of course I knew something was wrong."
Uryū nodded. "Yeah, I've recovered. So, what do you think? Can Chad and I go with you to Hueco Mundo now?"
Ichigo nodded seriously. "I'm not going to say anything extra. If you've decided, then let's go!"
Chad and Uryū exchanged a glance and stood behind Ichigo.
At that moment, Urahara opened a Garganta to Hueco Mundo.
"I can send you there," he said, "but coming back will be up to you. Even I can't open a portal from inside Hueco Mundo."
"I know. Thank you, Urahara."
Urahara adjusted his hat. "It's nothing. Orihime's powers are incredibly important to Aizen. He won't let you take her back so easily. Be prepared."
"I understand," Ichigo said and was the first to leap into the Garganta.
Rukia, Senna, and Tatsuki exchanged glances and followed. Chad and Uryū brought up the rear.
Once they were gone, Urahara turned toward the stone wall and called out, "Alright, you can come out now. You've seen what Ichigo's been up to lately, right?"
From behind the stones, Mizuiro Kojima and Keigo Asano emerged.
"He's going to rescue Orihime, isn't he?" Keigo asked.
Urahara gave them a brief explanation. After all, for regular humans, it was best not to get too involved in the world of Shinigami and Hollows.
...
Hueco Mundo.
After Orihime was brought there, she was placed in what used to be the palace of the former 20th Espada. Aizen had taken it for himself.
Aizen sat on his self-proclaimed throne, staring down at Orihime.
"Oh? So you're Inoue Orihime?" he asked with amusement. "I know your power… it shouldn't exist in this world. The others don't understand it yet, but please, show them what you can do."
Orihime nodded and stepped forward. Seeing Grimmjow with a missing arm, she used Sōten Kisshun to reconstruct it from nothing.
The Arrancars around her were stunned.
This wasn't time reversal—it was rejection of events. To be precise, it was rejection of anything that went against her will.
Grimmjow stared at his restored arm, then grinned coldly. In the next moment, he sonidoed behind Luppi and charged a Cero at his waist.
"That Sexta title belongs to me!"
Everyone was shocked by his sudden move.
Luppi hadn't expected Grimmjow to attack in front of Aizen. A Cero blew through his abdomen, and he cried out for Orihime to heal him—but Aizen simply waved his hand.
Ulquiorra escorted Orihime away, and Grimmjow fired another Cero to finish Luppi off completely.
Aizen gave him a satisfied nod. "From now on, Grimmjow will once again be the Sexta Espada."
Meanwhile, Ichigo's group had just entered Hueco Mundo.
Unlike entering the Soul Society and appearing in midair, they landed inside a building.
They stood in a long, dark hallway.
"What is this place?" Ichigo asked, sensing the surroundings.
Rukia tugged on his sleeve. "Ichigo, something's off. This place… feels like a trap."
Senna nodded. "Right. There's a breeze, but in a sealed space like this, that shouldn't be possible."
At the rear, Uryū suddenly noticed the floor shaking.
"Hey! Stop talking! The floor's collapsing!" he shouted.
"Run!" Ichigo led the group forward.
Suddenly, a giant stone dropped from above, threatening to crush them.
Chad ran ahead and shattered it with one punch.
Ichigo glanced around at the traps and muttered, "What, does Aizen think we're some kind of treasure-hunting party from the Human World? He really thinks these traps will stop us?"
They kept going until they reached a wide hall.
Two Arrancars attacked from the front and back—one looking like a bird, and the other a towering five-meter-tall brute.
Ichigo was about to draw his sword, but Chad and Uryū stopped him.
"Let us handle this," Uryū said, drawing his new Quincy cross and forming a web-like spirit bow.
Chad said nothing, his right arm glowing red with armored energy.
"Chad, Uryū—" Ichigo began.
But Rukia and Senna clamped hands over his mouth.
"Let them show you what they've got," Rukia whispered. "They trained hard to gain this power. Even if they're not as strong as a captain, don't ruin the moment."
Ichigo sighed. "I'm not that dumb."
Chad and Uryū faced their enemies.
"Hmph, you're fast," Uryū said, "but not faster than my arrows."
"You're strong," Chad said, "but not stronger than my fist."
Ichigo watched their awkwardly balanced fight with the girls and sighed. Honestly, he could have taken these two out with a single burst of spiritual pressure.
Still… they had grown stronger.
"Rain of Light!"
"Giant's Strike!"
With their moves, the two Arrancars were defeated.
But just before dying, the enemies triggered a final trap.
The ceiling began to collapse.
Ichigo drew his Zanpakutō. "Getsuga Tenshō!"
A blue wave cut through the ceiling, creating an escape path. The group fled through it.
Finally free, they stepped into true Hueco Mundo.
Above them was a dark night sky—not like the daytime of Soul Society or the Human World.
They stood in a white, endless desert. Cold and barren.
There were no plants, only jagged stone formations resembling trees.
In the distance stood a giant white tower. Ichigo could feel Orihime's spiritual pressure coming from there.
That was their target.
Inside Las Noches.
After settling Orihime, Aizen gathered Gin, Tōsen, and the Espada for a strategy meeting.
"Our topic: the intruders," Aizen began.
"Tōsen, serve the tea."
Tōsen passed out tea and started projecting a video of Ichigo's group.
Aizen gestured to each image as he spoke.
"These are the ones who've invaded Hueco Mundo. The leader, Kurosaki Ichigo, is exceptionally powerful. I dare say, even among those present, few can defeat him one-on-one."
"If any of you encounter him alone, you are permitted to retreat. I won't punish you."
That remark earned mixed reactions.
Grimmjow clenched his teeth. He knew better than anyone how strong Ichigo was.
Aizen continued, "The two female Shinigami behind him are also not to be underestimated. Each one is on par with a Gotei 13 captain."
"Grimmjow, you can vouch for that, yes?"
Grimmjow scoffed. "I let my guard down last time. Next time, I'll win."
Even his refusal to argue showed how strong Rukia and Senna had become.
Szayelaporro, the Espada scientist, eyed Rukia with curiosity, his brain floating in a strange solution as he began plotting something sinister.
Aizen then said, "The final girl, Kurosaki's childhood friend, Inoue Tatsuki. Power unknown. Last seen defeating 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame. No recent records of battle, but assumed to be at least near lieutenant level."
The Espada didn't seem too interested—someone below captain level wasn't worth their attention.
As for Chad, Aizen gave a brief mention before skipping him.
But the last profile got everyone's attention.
"This," Aizen said, "is the final Quincy. The last of the Quincy Clan—Ishida Uryū."
The image zoomed in on Uryū.
"The last Quincy?" Szayelaporro said with a greedy gleam in his eyes. For a scientist, rare specimens were the greatest treasure.
After watching, Grimmjow stood and walked out.
"Where do you think you're going?" Tōsen asked.
"What do you think? I'm going to kill them."
(End of Chapter)
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