Furō opened his massive mouth wide, and the gale-force blast he unleashed instantly blew away Yamamoto Genryūsai's Ennetsu Jigoku, freeing Aizen Sōsuke and his two comrades from the burning inferno!
In that instant, the battlefield shifted dramatically.
Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō were both defeated. Hitsugaya Tōshirō had exited his Bankai. Soi Fon's spiritual pressure had dropped significantly.
Komamura Sajin was busy protecting the vice-captains on the ground, and now, only Yamamoto Genryūsai and his right-hand man, Tenjirō, remained in fighting shape.
Whichever way you looked at it, the Soul Reaper side was on the verge of collapse!
But — just when the Soul Society needed help the most — familiar faces arrived!
"Yo, Aizen! Long time no see! I missed you so much!" Hirako Shinji's voice rang across the battlefield.
And he wasn't alone — the rest of the Visoreds had arrived too!
Though they called themselves the "Visored Corps," it was obvious from Shinji's presence and demeanor that they all hoped to return to Soul Society one day.
After all—
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, still kicking I see?" Shinji called out with a smirk.
Yamamoto Genryūsai, unsure of the Visoreds' allegiance, almost drew his Zanpakutō on the spot.
Enemies were already piling up. If he had to add a bunch of traitor captains and lieutenants to the list, things would get messy…
Well, maybe just a little messy.
Sensing Yamamoto's intent, Shinji laughed. "No need to be so tense, old man. We're just here to settle a score with Aizen Sōsuke. We're Ichigo's comrades, after all — of course we're gonna show up when it counts."
With that, Shinji flash-stepped to the front lines.
Hearing Kurosaki Ichigo's name, Yamamoto hesitated.
After all, this walking, talking seduction spell had already swayed Unohana Retsu — someone Yamamoto once thought no one could ever influence!
So if even Unohana fell under his spell, what chance did someone like Hirako Shinji have?
Ahem. Anyway…
That was when an annoying development occurred.
The massive Arrancar Furō opened his mouth once again and began vomiting a flood of jet-black Gillians, like a tidal wave of black sludge!
Their glowing red eyes locked onto the Visoreds and charged!
But Shinji and company didn't flinch.
"Hey, don't use too much power, alright?" Shinji reminded the group, and they all nodded — choosing not to use the power Ichigo had given them, and instead donned their masks.
Facing a legion of Gillians, the Visoreds sprang into action!
In just moments, the battlefield was cleared of them all.
Shinji himself charged straight for Aizen — but as his blade was about to strike, Tōsen Kaname slashed him across the forehead!
Had Shinji been even a moment slower, he'd have lost half his head.
And seeing Tōsen… someone reacted even more fiercely!
"TŌSEN!!"
Komamura Sajin, once Tōsen's closest friend, roared as he leapt into the fray!
Beside him was Kira Izuru, freshly healed and just as determined — he wanted to ask his captain why he betrayed the Soul Society!
Komamura's punch slammed against Tōsen's blade, stopping his assault on Shinji.
Meanwhile, Ichimaru Gin — perhaps sensing that he couldn't coast forever — joined the fight and began "playing" with Shinji.
The rest of the Visoreds split off to face different Espada.
Kuna Mashiro flash-stepped directly in front of Furō and kicked him to death with one blow!
Wonderweiss' pupils dilated in shock — clearly, Furō's death hit him hard.
Meanwhile—
Baraggan had taken a full hit from Soi Fon's Jakuho Raikoben… and hadn't suffered a scratch.
Soi Fon was exhausted, and Ōmaeda was equally useless.
But just then, reinforcements arrived.
Former Vice-Chief of the Kidō Corps — Hachigen Ushōda!
Having observed Baraggan's "Respira" in previous encounters, Hachigen believed he could counter it.
"Little lady, you're Soi Fon, right?" he smiled.
Soi Fon frowned. "How do you know my name?"
He chuckled. "I'm one of the Visoreds. Kurosaki Ichigo's our partner, and he's mentioned you before."
Soi Fon blushed. "Ichigo… that idiot actually talked about me?"
Hachigen added, "Don't worry, he didn't say anything specific. Just asked me to help out if I saw you."
Soi Fon was taken aback. She didn't like accepting help, but Ichigo's thoughtfulness warmed her heart.
Despite her past grudges — especially how the Visoreds' exile affected Yoruichi — she let all of that go in that moment.
Her thoughts were full of Ichigo.
Some people really do forget Yoruichi-sama the moment they get a boyfriend…
Still, if she had to choose between Yoruichi and Ichigo, she'd probably still pick Yoruichi.
Probably.
Ōmaeda, seeing this shift, was relieved. He had worried Soi Fon would reject the help, but now? She was all-in.
And Ichigo's stock rose yet again in Ōmaeda's heart.
After all, the Ōmaeda family specialized in matchmaking like this!
But Baraggan wasn't going to wait around for their heartfelt moment to finish.
He raised his hand and unleashed Respira — the breath of death!
Faced with the unstoppable black mist, Hachigen placed his palms together and released his own forbidden Kidō:
"Rikujō Fūjin!"
Six towering green pillars emerged, sealing Baraggan from all six cardinal directions — north, south, east, west, sky, and earth!
Baraggan glanced around calmly, unfazed. But for now, Respira had been contained.
Then he smiled coldly.
"Kidō techniques… have lifespans too."
His withered hand reached out — and the six barriers began to rot and dissolve!
The entire formation was consumed by his aging aura.
Hachigen's eyes widened in shock.
His Kidō wasn't ordinary — it contained spatial energy! That should've been immune to time-based attacks!
But Baraggan had effortlessly broken through.
Stepping from the ruined barrier like a true god of death, Baraggan advanced — everything in his path crumbling into nothing.
Hachigen calmed himself.
As Baraggan released another wave of Respira, Hachigen's hands glowed — and green Kidō turned to white paper, forming a solid wall to shield Soi Fon and Ōmaeda!
The white wall withstood the black mist — at least for a moment.
Then, he cast an even stronger spell.
"Gate of the Dragon's Tail!"
He extended both hands, summoning white pillars that formed a massive gate between them and Baraggan!
No matter how he moved, Baraggan couldn't get through.
With the Espada temporarily blocked, Hachigen turned to Soi Fon. "Little lady, I need your help. My techniques can hold him, but they can't harm him."
Soi Fon nodded. "Understood."
Hachigen smiled. "In return, I'll lock Urahara Kisuke inside a barrier for a month — for dragging your Division into this mess."
That lit a fire in Soi Fon's eyes.
Then Hachigen unleashed three more powerful gates:
"Gate of the Tiger's Bite!"
"Gate of the Tortoise!"
"Gate of the Phoenix's Wing!"
"Soldiers of Eight Measures, without retreat or fear — Blue Gate! White Gate! Black Gate! Red Gate! Dragon's Tail! Tiger's Bite! Tortoise Shell! Phoenix Wing!"
As his chant completed, a sealed cube encased Baraggan entirely!
It was overkill — even Harribel might not escape this.
But Baraggan was different.
Too confident.
He believed even this wouldn't stop Respira.
The stronger the seal, the more his power could prove its inevitability.
After casting such overwhelming spells, Hachigen was panting heavily.
But inside the barrier, Baraggan laughed maniacally. "Excellent! Only this kind of power is worthy of testing my Respira!"
Just then, Soi Fon aimed her Jakuho Raikoben directly at the cube.
"Last time… my attack didn't work. Will it now?" she asked.
Hachigen replied, "Before, your attack exploded too far from him. He let it detonate in advance, so it only trapped him in flames."
"But now… he can't dodge. This time, you'll hit him directly!"
Soi Fon nodded and gathered every last ounce of her spiritual power.
JAKUHO RAIKOBEN!
The colossal explosion rocked the entire battlefield — even cracking Hachigen's powerful cube!
Soi Fon collapsed, exhausted.
Thankfully, Ōmaeda caught her again — fulfilling his role as the reliable human cushion.
But Soi Fon was done — completely spent.
And even then… Baraggan was still not dead.
The black mist of Respira began to eat through the cube again.
Baraggan emerged, battered and with part of his skeletal mask blown off — but alive.
Unmatched.
The true King of Hueco Mundo… still standing.
But he was definitely injured.
Badly.
(End of Chapter)
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