That voice came from none other than the current Fourth Division Captain, Unohana Retsu.
This time, she too had come to Hueco Mundo as part of the rescue squad – naturally, for Ichigo.
"Retsu-nee? You're here too?" Ichigo was surprised to hear her voice. He immediately flash-stepped to her side, looking at her in delight.
However, Unohana looked rather cold right now. She had arrived earlier, just as Nel reverted back to her Tres Espada form.
After all, Unohana's strength far surpassed even Zaraki Kenpachi's. If Kenpachi could make it here, why wouldn't she?
Unohana's gaze fell upon Nel, who clung to Ichigo's shoulders, and Nel shivered under the pressure. For the first time, this Hollow felt a murderous aura so intense it made her flinch.
But Nel was strong in her own right, second only to Unohana among Ichigo's allies right now. Though she was startled at first, she quickly stuck out her tongue at Unohana and wrapped her arms tighter around Ichigo's neck, as if provoking her.
That one move left Kenpachi, Yachiru, and Orihime all stunned.
She was far too bold.
Even Kenpachi wouldn't dare provoke Unohana like that.
Seeing Nel's antics, Unohana's eyes burned with fury. The two women locked gazes, tension crackling between them, making Ichigo feel like the surrounding temperature had dropped several degrees.
"Hmph, old woman…" Nel thought to herself.
"Hmph, an insolent little Hollow trying to act cute…" Unohana thought back coldly.
After all, who knew which of them was older? Theoretically, Nel was older, but no one knew Unohana's true age, not even compared to Yamamoto himself.
Thankfully, Ichigo sensed the danger and quickly grabbed Unohana's hand, which eased her anger slightly. Still, she shot him a glare as if to say "I'll let it go for now, but wait until we get back."
Meanwhile, on Kenpachi's side, the situation was dire. Nnoitra's attack had landed square on his neck. If he wasn't treated soon, he really would lose his head.
Orihime snapped out of her shock and rushed over to heal him.
But just as Ichigo was calming Unohana down, a middle-aged man appeared next to Orihime and smiled.
"Sorry, little girl. I'll be taking you with me."
Before anyone could react – even Ichigo and Kenpachi, fast as they were – the man had vanished with Orihime, leaving their blades slicing through empty air.
"Damn it… what insane Sonído speed…" Ichigo cursed under his breath, eyes wide in shock.
That speed was almost equal to his own. Otherwise, he couldn't have snatched Orihime away so effortlessly.
Orihime found herself standing before Aizen Sōsuke, utterly bewildered. But what shocked her more was that he didn't even bother looking at her.
She watched helplessly as Aizen, accompanied by Gin Ichimaru and Tōsen Kaname, stepped into the Garganta leading back to Karakura Town.
As he entered, Aizen's voice echoed back:
"I'll leave Las Noches to you, Ulquiorra."
At the same time, he had Tōsen close the Garganta that Urahara Kisuke had opened to send the Gotei 13 captains into Hueco Mundo.
In other words, no one could enter or leave Hueco Mundo now.
The remaining captains and the rescue team from the human world were all trapped.
Only the top three Espada and their Fracción accompanied Aizen to the human world.
Waiting for them there was the entire remaining force of the Gotei 13.
Yamamoto Genryūsai stood floating above Karakura Town, staring at the arrivals.
"Oh? So that's the former Fifth Division Captain who defected… Aizen Sōsuke?" Amagai Shūsuke asked, eyes widening. His life path had never crossed with Aizen's before, like two parallel lines.
"Yes, Captain Amagai. That's the traitor himself," Kyōraku Shunsui replied, adjusting his hat.
The Gotei 13's preparations were thorough. The Karakura Town beneath Aizen's feet was nothing but a replica created by Mayuri and Urahara. The real town had already been transferred safely to the Soul Society.
But Aizen didn't care. From his perspective, as long as he killed all the captains, creating the Ōken later would be trivial.
The instant Aizen appeared, Yamamoto acted without hesitation.
"All things in the universe, turn to ash. Ryūjin Jakka."
Blazing flames and overwhelming reiatsu erupted, shaking the entire Espada force to their core.
"Whoa whoa whoa… is that real? If that hits us, we're dead!" The middle-aged man who had kidnapped Orihime exclaimed, his Fracción trembling beside him.
"Get down!" Kyōraku and Ukitake shouted, urging the other captains back as Yamamoto raised his blade.
"Ennetsu Jigoku."
The technique used during the Zanpakutō Rebellion arc, Fire Prison, erupted from Ryūjin Jakka, encircling Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen in a blazing inferno.
But inside the flames, Aizen simply smiled at Gin.
"What is it, Gin? Excited to see your old friends again?"
Gin's expression didn't change, even though Aizen had clearly noticed his gaze lingering on Matsumoto Rangiku earlier. Gin didn't care. After all, his infiltration had always been something Aizen tacitly allowed. They had that unspoken understanding.
Aizen was curious to see exactly when, and how, Gin would choose to betray him.
"Yeah… seeing these Shinigami after so long does make me a little nostalgic," Gin admitted without hesitation.
"That's good," Aizen chuckled softly. "But there's no need for us to act right now. This battle… doesn't require us to lift a finger."
His words were absolute to Tōsen, who immediately lowered his zanpakutō. Gin folded his arms in silence.
Aizen closed his eyes, as if waiting to hear news of the top three Espada slaughtering all the captains.
Meanwhile, one of those Espada, the elderly Barragan, scoffed.
He summoned a skeletal throne behind him, sat upon it, and declared:
"Since Aizen-sama is occupied, I shall take command of this battlefield."
However, neither Stark nor Harribel paid him any mind. Stark only had his Fracción, Lilynette, while Harribel had her three Fracción who obeyed only her.
Barragan didn't care. He gave orders to his own men.
"Our goal is to create the Ōken here in Karakura Town. There is no need to waste time fighting these captains."
"Find the four pillars acting as the gateway and destroy them immediately."
His logic wasn't wrong.
Unfortunately, his companions had no intention of following his plan.
Barragan opened four Garganta around the battlefield, summoning four Gillians to destroy the pillars anchoring Karakura Town in place.
But did he really think Yamamoto hadn't anticipated this?
Before the Gillians could even move, all four were slain instantly.
At each pillar stood a Shinigami.
Madarame Ikkaku, Ayasegawa Yumichika, Kira Izuru, and Hisagi Shūhei.
Barragan wasn't bothered. The Gillians were mere probes to locate the pillars.
"Just as I thought. You four – go. Destroy each pillar," he ordered his grotesque Fracción.
"Yes, Barragan-sama!" they chorused.
The captains watched as his Fracción moved to attack each defender. They had complete faith in their subordinates.
Well… except Ōmaeda. He looked extremely worried, clearly doubting his own strength compared to the other lieutenants.
Soon, Ayasegawa Yumichika was the first to face his opponent.
"Yo… another pretty boy, huh?" he said, turning at the sound of applause behind him.
Standing there was a tall, muscular Arrancar with long purple hair and a white hairpiece. He struck a flamboyant pose as if showing off his beauty.
But Yumichika, proud of his own aesthetics, wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"I don't even want to look at an ugly freak like you," he said coldly, turning away.
His words clearly enraged Charlotte Chuhlhourne, who snarled and backhanded him across the face.
"Ugly freak?! You dare call me that?!"
Yumichika glared back, furious. "Why did you hit me, you disgusting beast?"
Charlotte's face twisted into a simian rage. "You know nothing! True beauty lies within!"
He calmed down slightly, pointing at Yumichika with disdain. "You can't even appreciate my inner beauty."
The words made Yumichika's stomach churn with disgust, his face contorting as Charlotte drew his sword and slashed at him.
Despite his reluctance to fight such an opponent, Yumichika blocked the strike with his blade. But Charlotte wasn't finished.
He raised his sword above his head, legs pressed together, and unleashed his ultimate move:
"The Beautiful Charlotte Chuhlhourne's Legendary, Sweet, Extreme, Terrifying, Amazing, Dramatic, Romantic, Cruel, Erotic, Active Guillotine Attack!"
Like reciting a shopping list, he leapt high into the air, spinning down with immense power.
Though the name was long, the attack itself was devastating, smashing Yumichika deep into the ground.
But Yumichika wasn't defeated so easily. Using the dust as cover, he flash-stepped behind Charlotte and slashed at his waist.
However, injured as he was, his attack lacked its usual force. Charlotte didn't even look back, casually blocking it with his zanpakutō resting against his back.
(End of Chapter)
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