'After the battle between Hueco Mundo and the Seireitei, I'll be able to be with Rangiku.'
Thinking this, Gin shifted his gaze to the buildings surrounding Las Noches.
Inhabiting these buildings were Hollows who had been turned into Arrancar by Aizen using the Hogyoku.
The strongest Espada also lived within these buildings.
These Hollows were likely the main reason both Yamamoto and Kyoya allowed Aizen to leave the Seireitei and enter Hueco Mundo.
And Aizen's initial interest in Hueco Mundo wasn't merely about using Hollows for experiments.
After all, even if Aizen became the new Soul King, he wouldn't really let Hollows rule the world.
Rather, no matter who ultimately became the Soul King, only Shinigami could maintain the balance of Reishi Circulation across the three worlds.
Yhwach, though the King of Quincies, possessed Quincy powers that completely eradicated the Reishi of Hollows.
One could say that if Yhwach didn't have a method to increase the number of souls in this world, the more Quincies there were and the more Hollows they eradicated, the faster the world would head towards destruction.
Therefore, even if Yhwach truly seized the world, if he didn't want it to perish faster, he would have to let Shinigami purify Hollows.
This was also the main reason why Ichibe'e didn't care much about who ultimately won between Ichigo and Yhwach.
If Ichigo won and Yhwach became the Soul King, the world wouldn't change much.
If Yhwach won and Ichigo became the Soul King, Shinigami would still be an indispensable presence for maintaining the world's Reishi Cycle.
Whether it was Aizen, Yamamoto, or Kyoya, the actions of these three were all preparations for the battle against the Quincy faction two years later.
Undoubtedly, in the views of Aizen, Yamamoto, and Kyoya, the battle against the Quincies would inflict severe damage on the Gotei 13.
There was no helping it. Since it was a definite prophecy, it would inevitably come to pass.
But neither Aizen, Yamamoto, nor Kyoya believed the Gotei 13 would give up resistance because of this prophecy.
The emergence of this prophecy merely made them certain that the Gotei 13 would fail in the war resisting the Quincy invasion.
Therefore, Kyoya left the Seireitei to form the Revolutionary Army, and Aizen went to Hueco Mundo to enhance the Hollows' strength, both to increase forces against the Quincies in the future.
However, these Hollows from Hueco Mundo were likely selective.
Not all Espada were willing to cooperate with Shinigami.
Hence, before that battle, Aizen would lead the Espada of Hueco Mundo to fight the Gotei 13. Only Hollows who cared about Hueco Mundo and wanted this world to continue existing would have the right to survive.
Other Hollows who cared only for themselves, indifferent to Hueco Mundo and the world's fate, without potential for cooperation, would be eliminated in this battle.
"Aizen-sama, Szayelaporro has sent a message. He sensed the Reiatsu of the former Tres Espada, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, in the City of Daylight."
"Oh?"
Aizen's gaze lowered, looking at Ulquiorra. "The City of Daylight, that city that suddenly rose to prominence over a decade ago and gained a reputation comparable to Las Noches in just over ten years?"
"Yes."
"Interesting."
Las Noches and the City of Daylight. From the names alone, anyone not foolish could hear the opposition between them.
"And about the ruler of the City of Daylight, you still haven't found any information?"
"My apologies, Aizen-sama."
Ulquiorra bowed. "According to intelligence, the ruler of the City of Daylight only acted a decade ago."
"It is said that when the ruler of the City of Daylight acts, light swords rain from the sky, killing any Hollows who violate the rules around the city."
"Even Adjuchas-class Menos are instantly killed by the light swords."
"Oh? A Menos with light-based abilities?"
Aizen's eyes shifted slightly.
That kind of speed, and that perception ability comparable to the Eighth Kenpachi, Azashiro... just thinking about it evokes envy and jealousy.
'I wonder, if this Menos is nurtured, can it reach his level?'
'Or perhaps, like Wonderweiss, nurture it into a Hollow that absorbs light?'
Thinking this, Aizen said to Ulquiorra, "Ulquiorra, take Nnoitra and Yammy to the City of Daylight and bring its ruler here."
"Yes, Aizen-sama."
After receiving Aizen's order, Ulquiorra immediately withdrew from Las Noches to find the Quinto Espada, Nnoitra Gilga, and the Diez Espada, Yammy Llargo.
This was one thing Aizen liked most about Ulquiorra.
He never asked why, and he simply carried out any task assigned to him perfectly.
And precisely because of this, Aizen knew that Ulquiorra could never become his companion.
A Hollow without a 'heart', devoid of any independent initiative, was merely a 'tool'.
Of course, in Aizen's view, perhaps everyone in this world was nothing more than a 'tool'.
Even Aizen himself was likely a tool in the hands of the Soul King.
It's just that as a 'tool', Aizen had grand ambitions. He wanted to become the one standing at the pinnacle of the world, replacing the Soul King within the script arranged by the Soul King.
"Truly... enviable..."
After Ulquiorra left, Aizen murmured softly and closed his eyes.
What he sought but could not obtain was, for Kyoya, merely the most basic of things.
Whether it was the peerless swordsmanship talent, the Zanpakuto possessing the world's ultimate speed, or Kyoya's perception ability that made one feel despair...
Any single one of these traits appearing could allow someone to stand at the peak.
And when all these traits were concentrated in one person, how could one not feel envy and jealousy?
Fortunately, Aizen had finally found a method to break his own limits.
Now, he just had to wait for the two Hogyoku to fully fuse, and it would be time for Aizen to begin his own evolution.
Until then, he'd use these guys from Hueco Mundo to relieve some boredom!
"These three Reiatsu..."
"Nihility, despair, rage..."
In the City of Daylight, Kyoya looked up towards the distance.
Three Reiatsu had left Las Noches and were heading towards the City of Daylight.
"Although it's not very clear due to the light issue, from the feel of these Reiatsu, the ones coming to the City of Daylight are Ulquiorra, Nnoitra, and Yammy, right?"
"Tch, I thought Aizen would let Ulquiorra and Yammy recuperate for a while after they were severely injured by Ichigo."
"I didn't expect he'd have Ulquiorra running errands again so soon."
"What a black-hearted boss."
Kyoya complained verbally.
However, Kyoya also knew that Yammy could increase his size through rage, and Ulquiorra even possessed the [Super High-Speed Regeneration] ability.
The injuries Ichigo inflicted on them might have been severe, but as long as they weren't killed instantly, Ulquiorra and Yammy could still recover.
Of course, Ulquiorra's heart and head weren't damaged, so at most, consuming Reiatsu would allow full recovery.
With so many days passed, Ulquiorra's Reiatsu should have completely recovered.
As for Yammy, he couldn't compare to Ulquiorra.
His right arm was severed by Ichigo, and he couldn't take it with him when he escaped.
Unless something unexpected happened, Yammy's arm probably couldn't be regenerated.
For Yammy, losing an arm would still significantly affect his strength.
However, if Yammy released his Resurrección, the actual impact might not be that great.
Rather, the rage from losing his arm would grant Yammy considerable power right from the start after releasing, so it was a trade-off.
"Nelliel."
"Kyoya-sama."
At Kyoya's call, Nelliel's figure instantly appeared in the hall.
"Three acquaintances of yours are coming from Las Noches. You and Rudbornn handle it. Don't let them cause destruction within the City of Daylight's territory."
"Yes, Kyoya-sama."
Rudbornn was originally the leader of the Hueco Mundo's Exequias.
However, at the time, Kyoya's City of Daylight lacked enforcers for its rules, so he chose a time when Aizen wasn't around and snatched Rudbornn away.
After witnessing Kyoya's power, which surpassed even Aizen's, and the order within the City of Daylight, Rudbornn directly betrayed Aizen and pledged allegiance to Kyoya, becoming the Chief Executioner of the City of Daylight.
Don't think Rudbornn is weak just because he isn't an Espada.
As the leader of the Hueco Mundo's Exequias, Rudbornn's strength was in no way inferior to some Espada.
Moreover, Rudbornn's ability allowed him to create a large number of soldiers under his control, making him a strategic powerhouse for large-scale combat.
Although the Las Noches's side sent three, Kyoya's City of Daylight only had Nelliel and Rudbornn, making two.
But battles in the Bleach World were almost always one-on-one.
Everyone had their own pride and principles.
Even if they died, they wouldn't gang up on an enemy with others.
Well, unless something more terrifying than death occurred, then everyone might unite to fight.
If the three Espada from Las Noches wanted to gang up on Nelliel and Rudbornn, then Kyoya naturally wouldn't be polite either.
Before he achieved the ultimate pirate route achievement of [Pirate King], the City of Daylight couldn't have any problems.
Even if it meant revealing to Aizen that he was the ruler of the City of Daylight, it didn't matter!
Whoosh-
Boom!
Ulquiorra, Nnoitra, and Yammy halted their flight mid-air. A red Cero had just passed in front of them.
If they hadn't stopped earlier, they likely would have been hit.
"Yo, everyone, long time no see."
Seeing Ulquiorra and the others turn their gaze towards her, Nelliel waved her raised hands enthusiastically, greeting them.
After all, Nelliel was the Tres Espada over a decade ago.
She naturally knew Ulquiorra, Nnoitra, and Yammy.
Back then, Ulquiorra was the Quinto Espada, Nnoitra was the Octava Espada, and Yammy seemed to have been the Diez Espada for a very long time, with no change at all over the years.
In the Espada ranking challenges, Yammy had never challenged any of the nine ranked above him.
This made everyone think Yammy was the 'Espada gatekeeper' specially placed by Aizen.
"I was wondering why Aizen-sama sent me and this guy on a mission. So our target is you!"
"Nelliel!"
The moment he saw Nelliel, Nnoitra's pupils contracted sharply. Memories of being defeated by Nelliel multiple times over a decade ago instantly flooded his mind.
Nnoitra, like Zaraki, was a battle maniac.
And both had the desire to fight strong opponents and die by a strong opponent's hand.
Of course, there was one thing Nnoitra had that Zaraki did not.
Zaraki was a pure battle maniac. In his eyes, anyone who held a sword was an opponent, regardless of age or gender… as long as they could fight, it was fine.
But Nnoitra, besides being a battle maniac, was also a male chauvinist.
He believed men were naturally stronger than women.
Only men could be true strong ones.
But regrettably, he was only the Octava Espada.
Even more regrettably, among the Espada ranked above him, one was female.
Therefore, Nnoitra did not acknowledge Nelliel.
He challenged Nelliel.
But how could the Octava Espada possibly be a match for the Tres Espada?
Nelliel defeated him without even releasing her Resurrección.
At that time, Nnoitra was prepared to die, but Nelliel didn't kill him.
Afterwards, Nnoitra challenged Nelliel multiple times, yet each time Nelliel spared his life.
Undoubtedly, for Nnoitra, this was an unacceptable humiliation.
Thus, tempted by Szayelaporro, Nnoitra and Szayelaporro tore off the masks of Nelliel's Fracción. Then, when Nelliel was shocked by her Fracción's tragic state, they ambushed her, broke her mask, and threw her out of Las Noches.
"Ah, it's been a long time, Nnoitra."
Nelliel's face wore a smile. "Over ten years no see, you've become much stronger."
"However, this is not Las Noches."
"Nnoitra, Ulquiorra, Yammy, if you three leave now, I can let you go."
"But if you dare go any further, for that person's sake, I will kill you here!"
"Hahahahaha..."
Hearing Nelliel's words, Nnoitra laughed maniacally.
"Nelliel, a woman like you... can actually say such cold-blooded words..."
"But this is exactly what I've been longing for!"
Nnoitra swung the crescent-shaped staff in his hand. "Your current appearance is much more pleasing to the eye than the face you had over a decade ago!"