"Lord Aizen, you need her power?"
"That woman… is she really that strong?!"
When they heard the line Ulquiorra had just emphasized on the screen, every Hollow and Arrancar in Las Noches furrowed their brows in doubt and curiosity.
Up to now, Inoue Orihime had never appeared in any ranking.
The only information the audience had about her was this:
she was one of Kurosaki Ichigo's companions.
That was all.
Yet unexpectedly…
This mere human girl had actually been singled out by Aizen, who even staged a diversion—ordering the Espada and Arrancar to invade the World of the Living on purpose…
All just to bring Inoue Orihime back to Hueco Mundo!
Such a move completely exceeded everyone's expectations, and at the same time highlighted just how important Inoue Orihime must be!
"No way…"
"Could it be that this human girl also has some kind of cheat-like ability similar to Kurosaki Ichigo's?"
Yammy shook his head, clearly unconvinced.
Kurosaki Ichigo, as the protagonist, having cheats stacked all over his body—everyone could reluctantly accept that.
But there was no way that…
Even the people around him were all cheats too. That would be way too over the top!
At that rate the entire Bleach world…
Was basically being played like a private modded server by Kurosaki Ichigo!!!
A custom-made game tailored to him alone.
Even a certain "Third General" had to sigh, after watching so many clips, that Kurosaki Ichigo was the one truly sitting on the throne.
Aizen's eyes glinted.
Although his expression did not change, he quietly pieced together the answer from all the exposed clues.
"Is it because of the Hōgyoku?"
"In the original timeline, because it remained hidden inside Kuchiki Rukia…"
"During the time she stayed in Karakura Town, everyone around Kurosaki Ichigo was affected by the Hōgyoku's power."
"Their heart's desires turned into reality and awakened as new abilities!"
With Aizen's intellect, it was easy for him to deduce the entire chain of cause and effect.
Because of that, he was just as curious about Inoue Orihime's power.
What kind of ability…
Could make his future self value her so highly?
Did she trespass upon the forbidden domain of the gods?
Or was it… something related to the Soul King?
In any case—
The appearance of this mystery instantly captured Aizen's interest.
He became even more eager to see the upcoming Hueco Mundo storyline revolving around Kurosaki Ichigo and Inoue Orihime!
————————
After that—
The screen dimmed for only a short moment.
Then new images flickered into view and the video continued.
"Ichigo!!!"
"At this rate… Ichigo… he'll really die…!"
A childish, tearful voice suddenly rang out.
Right after, as the camera turned—
A small, child-sized figure appeared, with short ash-green hair and a fragmentary Hollow mask on her head: a cute little girl.
Not far in front of her…
Kurosaki Ichigo was gripping his Zanpakutō, locked in combat with an Arrancar.
But he was clearly being pushed back and had already suffered injuries.
That was why the little girl Arrancar was so worried she burst into tears.
The moment this scene was revealed—
Especially when everyone clearly saw the little girl Arrancar's appearance—
Las Noches immediately exploded into an uproar.
The Espada in particular all showed clear changes in their expressions.
"If I'm not mistaken…"
"That little girl… should be… Nel, right?"
Starrk raised an eyebrow and blurted out, "Former No. 3 Espada, the 'Knight of the Antelope Horn,' Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck!"
"That's right."
Zommari nodded in confirmation. "Back then she was ambushed by Nnoitra. Her mask was split open, and she degenerated from a Vasto Lorde into one of the weakest Hollows."
"I didn't expect… from the looks of it, she seems to have become Kurosaki Ichigo's companion?"
These words instantly drew every gaze toward Nnoitra.
He, however, did not deny it.
With both hands folded behind his head, he let out a scornful, mocking laugh. "She's just a piece of trash that Las Noches forgot about… A useless woman who's lost all her power—just ignore her."
"On the contrary, dragging along such a useless extra only makes things harder for Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Although he was surprised she was still alive…
Times had changed. The gap in rank and strength was too great now. Nnoitra could not be bothered with her at all.
In his eyes—
So long as she remained in that childlike form, Nel could never regain her peak.
If they kept moving as a party…
Kurosaki Ichigo would only continue to be held back!
Having Nel by his side served only one purpose—
To bump up the difficulty of the dungeon he had to clear!!!
"Tch…"
"Although Nnoitra's way of putting it is pretty blunt…"
"Nel isn't the only one; the Arrancar fighting Kurosaki Ichigo there is also a washed-up former Espada."
Yammy grinned, the corners of his mouth curled in playful contempt.
He too had recognized the identity of Ichigo's opponent—
A member of the first generation of Espada.
Former Espada No. 3 (with his number stripped), Dordonii Alessandro Del Socacchio!
His Resurrección form: Giralda!
At the moment—
He was the one stalling Kurosaki Ichigo.
And the battlefield was an underground passageway beneath one of Las Noches's outer strongholds!
"So he's already close to Las Noches?"
Gin narrowed his eyes with a sly smile. "A mere ex-Espada whose number was taken away… There's no way he can really stop Kurosaki Ichigo's advance."
After that—
Under everyone's watchful eyes—
The battle on the screen continued.
"Cero!!!"
A crimson flash gathered, the attack sweeping in from directly in front.
Judging from the angle, it was about to slam right into Kurosaki Ichigo's face and engulf his body.
Yet at that very moment…
Something no one expected happened.
The frail little Nel suddenly threw herself forward, utterly unafraid of death.
She spread her tiny arms wide and leapt in front of Kurosaki Ichigo to shield him!
Because her body was so small compared to the massive torrent of the Cero—
At first glance, it looked exactly like suicide.
The sight caused an immediate uproar. The audience everywhere erupted into noisy discussion.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"Kurosaki Ichigo's charm is that big?!"
"Even a little girl is willing to die for him!"
"It's not just in the human world—he's got women throwing themselves at him in Hueco Mundo too!"
"This guy… is he planning to openly start a harem or what?"
Some people were envious.
Others were downright jealous.
Most, however, were simply teasing and astonished.
By the look of things…
Even a loli Arrancar had joined the harem group…
At this rate, when the Thousand-Year Blood War rolls around—
Wouldn't the female pure-blood Quincy in the Wandenreich also fall for Kurosaki Ichigo one after another?
Would they end up joining the "Reunion Harem Squad" too?
Yhwach, watching this, would probably be so angry he'd faint!!!
————————
Then—
Just when everyone thought Nel was doomed—
Something no one saw coming happened.
"Cero Doble!!!"
Not only was Nel unhurt—
She even swallowed the entire Cero right in front of the camera.
Then, in the next instant, she spat it back out as three separate blasts with even greater power.
In that moment, her true nature was revealed—she was clearly not some ordinary Arrancar.
She possessed a strength completely at odds with her appearance!
Once again, the scene sent shockwaves through the audience.
Even Kurosaki Ichigo himself was visibly stunned.
"She's so strong!!!"
"This girl Nel… there's no way her background is simple…"
Kurosaki Ichigo's eyes lit up.
The scene he had just witnessed instantly fired up his spirit.
Originally—
He'd thought he had simply picked up a loli on the road.
And Nel was so adorable—like a little porcelain doll.
For him, that kind of story event already felt pretty satisfying.
But he never expected…
There was still a surprise lying in wait.
Nel's past and her true strength were far from what they seemed on the surface.
It was obvious she was not just some temporary throwaway side character!!!
"Ichigo…"
Behind him—
Inoue Orihime's expression grew complicated.
Staring at the screen and at Kurosaki Ichigo's back, her eyes turned dim.
Previously—
When the video had shown that scene on Sōkyoku Hill where Ichigo, with one hand, pulled Kuchiki Rukia into his arms—
She had already been jealous!!!
And now—
A random loli named Nel had suddenly appeared!
Even though—
Orihime herself felt there was no need to fuss over a little girl, and the other party was an Arrancar to begin with—a natural-born enemy of humans and Shinigami…
Nonetheless—
A woman's sixth sense strongly warned her:
Nel—
Was a major threat to her "wife" status!
For all she knew, something unexpected might happen with this loli Arrancar in the future as well.
In short—
Nel's sudden appearance left Orihime deeply unsettled.
She was afraid that her future husband—
Might get snatched away right under her nose!
Women…
Can never quite avoid rivalry and jealousy.
Even someone as kind and pure-hearted as Inoue Orihime was no exception!!!
————————
Later—
The video jumped forward.
To protect Nel—
Kurosaki Ichigo donned his Hollow mask. Once the crimson streaks finished forming across the white surface—
He only needed a single swing.
One slash, one kill, effortlessly ending the fight—
He cut down Dordonii and brought this segment to a close!
"Has he gotten stronger again?"
"Kurosaki Ichigo's control over his power…"
"Even the duration of his Hollowfication seems to have improved."
"Although any time he 'states' how long he can stay Hollow, it never counts… It's always just unlimited Hollowfication in the end!"
Inside the First Division—
The Gotei 13 captains widened their eyes and sighed.
Through this battle—
They could clearly feel the growth in Kurosaki Ichigo's combat power.
Especially his composure in combat and his seasoned fighting experience—
Compared to when he was still in the World of the Living, the difference was obvious.
He had truly grown into an old hand at battle, firmly stepping into the ranks of top-tier fighters in the Bleach world!!!
"Tch…"
"Even a former Espada has been defeated…"
"Then Kurosaki Ichigo's next opponent can only be a current Espada worthy of him, right?"
Zaraki Kenpachi spoke up.
He clearly remembered—
His own battle with Nnoitra had taken place right here in Hueco Mundo.
So—
Barring any surprises—
Kurosaki Ichigo's next opponent would certainly be an Espada as well!
"Will it be that Grimmjow?"
"Round three in the outskirts of Las Noches?"
Byakuya Kuchiki said calmly.
He likewise remembered joining the expedition into Hueco Mundo.
The others—
Including the Head Captain—
All agreed that the coming plot would surely follow that path.
An Espada seeking revenge, a counterattack from Ichigo, and then a victory.
However—
The next sequence that played, and the opponent who crossed swords with Kurosaki Ichigo, were completely beyond everyone's expectations.
Thud, thud, thud—!
Footsteps echoed through the passage.
After finishing his previous fight, Kurosaki Ichigo ran forward at full speed with Nel.
His black Shihakushō-clad figure dashed down the long underground corridor.
He was just about to reach the exit—
When suddenly—
"Sonído…"
Without the slightest warning—
At the top of the stairs, in a space that had been empty a moment ago—
Ulquiorra's figure appeared out of nowhere.
Hands in his pockets—
He stood there, cold and aloof.
In the shifting half-light, those emerald eyes gleamed with a predatory chill—
He looked utterly ruthless and devoid of emotion.
On top of that—
He exuded an overwhelming pressure.
Ulquiorra's appearance, framed in a three-stage close-up, instantly blew up the comment section!
Viewers all over the world launched into heated discussion.
"It's him again!!!"
"He really does seem like the one most loyal to Aizen out of all the Espada!"
"A Vasto Lorde-class Arrancar—one of the three enemies close to destruction!"
"If I'm not mistaken… his rank should be No. 4, right?"
"I didn't think he'd be the one to block the way before Grimmjow!"
First—
Based on the clips shown earlier—
It wasn't hard for viewers to guess Ulquiorra's standing among the Espada.
He was Espada No. 4.
Second—
His sudden move was also unexpected.
According to numerical order, it should have been the Espada whose rank was closest to Ichigo's previously defeated foes who struck next.
Moreover—
Up to this point, Ulquiorra had not had much direct interaction with Kurosaki Ichigo.
The countdown videos—
Had never really focused on him either!!!
At that moment—
Inside Las Noches—
Grimmjow himself was extremely displeased.
"Tch…"
"Ulquiorra, you bastard!!!"
With both hands shoved in his pockets, his jaw clenched.
He scowled, turning to stare daggers at Ulquiorra's icy silhouette.
His voice was cold as he warned him, "Don't you understand how stupid it is to lay hands on prey someone else has already marked?"
Ulquiorra, however—
Only responded with a faintly indifferent look.
He even let out a soft, mirthless laugh and could not be bothered to trade glances with Grimmjow at all.
He simply, calmly said:
"Grimmjow… all you need to know is that everything I do is done in service to Lord Aizen."
"Cleaning up small fry—no matter who makes the move, it doesn't matter in the least."
Once he finished—
Ulquiorra went silent again, returning to his usual taciturn self.
On the screen—
His future self—
Was already confronting Kurosaki Ichigo head-on.
"Kurosaki Ichigo…"
"At first I thought you were just a brat who only knew how to rely on brute force."
"Following me all the way here… that is enough to earn you some recognition."
Ulquiorra's tone was ice-cold.
It was like midwinter snow, seeping into the bones.
As he spoke, he began to walk slowly down the steps, closing the distance bit by bit.
"Let's see how far you can go."
"Yes…" He raised his right hand, pointing directly at Nel. "Just as I thought… I will now use my full strength to defeat you here."
Kurosaki Ichigo's eyes narrowed.
The dust and wind stirred—
And his Hollow mask formed over his face.
Boom!!!
A tremendous surge of spiritual pressure erupted from his body.
Dark red reiatsu exploded outward from him—
Whipping into a violent gale.
The entire area shook, along with the camera, as if an earthquake had struck!
Within that intense battle aura—
A dragon-shaped wave of red Getsuga Tenshō, infused with nearly all his spiritual pressure—
Scraped along the ground, carving out a deep gouge in its wake, and roared straight toward Ulquiorra!
However—
Ulquiorra treated it as nothing.
With a casual gesture, he raised one hand and with a single finger easily flicked the attack aside.
What truly shocked everyone, though—
Was the stance Ulquiorra assumed to face the attack.
His posture, lightly braced against the oncoming wave, seemed to show that he intended to stop Getsuga Tenshō with his bare hand.
"Wait, what?!"
"He's blocking it one-handed?!"
"This Arrancar is seriously going to catch Getsuga Tenshō with nothing but his body?"
"Isn't that way too arrogant?!"
Indeed—
On the screen—
Ulquiorra's stance was crystal clear.
One finger extended—
The other arm half-raised—
The way he planned to take the blow was pure arrogance incarnate!!!
Arrogant to the extreme!!!
And that was where this video segment cut off.
The audience was left hanging, hearts pounding—
All waiting to see whether Ulquiorra could truly catch Kurosaki Ichigo's Getsuga barehanded…
And how terrifying his power as the No. 4 Espada really was.
(End of Chapter)
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