"So you came after all, Zaraki."
Toshiro wasn't too surprised by Zaraki's sudden appearance.
Or rather, Toshiro had long anticipated that Soul Society would send reinforcements for him.
In the original work, Ichigo was only a Substitute Shinigami and didn't have a deep relationship with Soul Society, yet even so, Soul Society ultimately sent reinforcements for Ichigo.
And Toshiro is the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, the next Captain-Commander. His position is too important. Soul Society couldn't just watch Toshiro go alone to risk Hueco Mundo. After determining that they couldn't stop Toshiro from going to Hueco Mundo for a rescue operation, they would inevitably send reinforcements for Toshiro.
Toshiro had also anticipated Soul Society's reaction, so he wasn't very surprised to see Zaraki appear at this moment.
"What? Looks like you expected me to come?" Zaraki asked.
"Ah, of course. We're friends who became close through fighting. And if a friend is in trouble, how could you just stand by and watch!" Toshiro said with a smile.
"Ha? Friends? Stop joking! I just heard the old man say there are a lot of strong guys in Hueco Mundo, so I came here looking for a fight. It's not because of you that I was willing to come to Hueco Mundo!" Zaraki directly denied.
"Hehe... Ken-chan is lying! He was very worried when he heard you wanted to go to Hueco Mundo! So when the Captain-Commander asked him and several other Captains to go find you, he agreed right away! And before entering the Senkaimon to come to Hueco Mundo, he couldn't wait to be the first one through!" A pink-haired girl, even shorter than Toshiro, Kusajishi Yachiru, suddenly popped out from under Zaraki's shoulder haori and said.
"Hmph! Shut up! No such thing!!" Zaraki denied angrily.
"Yo, Yachiru, you came too? Right, you're usually inseparable from Zaraki." Toshiro greeted Yachiru.
"Hee hee! Shiro-chan, long time no see!" Yachiru leaped from Zaraki onto Toshiro's side.
"Really, how many times have I told you, don't call me 'Shiro-chan'!" Toshiro said helplessly. "Besides you and Zaraki, who else came this time? From what you said earlier, there should be others, right?"
"Mmhm, besides me and Ken-chan, there's Captain Unohana, Vice-Captain Kotetsu and someone named Yamada something, and Captain Kuchiki, the Captain from the 12th Division, Lieutenant Nemu... Anyway, quite a few people came! But everyone split up and didn't stay together. Me and Ken-chan specifically came to your side, Shiro-chan!" Yachiru explained.
"Well, they really did send quite a few people. Looks like the old man values me quite a bit!" Toshiro said with a somewhat proud smile.
However, Aizen on the other side, upon hearing Yachiru's words, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
"Really, the old man is too much. Having me alone is enough, yet he still had to send so many people." Zaraki also complained.
…
Meanwhile, outside the palace of the Octava Espada, Szayelaporro.
Renji was injured and lying on the ground. Szayelaporro, after his Resurrección, was about to kill Renji when he suddenly paused, stopped, turned around, and looked at the suddenly appearing figure and asked: "Who... are you?"
"Hehehe... Asking who I am? Does that question... have any meaning worth answering?" Mayuri sneered.
…
In the palace of the Novena Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie.
Perhaps by some unseen fate, Rukia ultimately encountered the Novena Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie. Although she was initially confused by Aaroniero, Rukia, protected by her protagonist's halo, ultimately defeated the Espada Aaroniero with her Lieutenant-level strength.
However, after defeating Aaroniero, Rukia herself also fell unconscious due to severe injuries. Looking at her blood-soaked body, it seemed like she might die from her wounds at any moment.
"Still breathing? What tenacious vitality." The Septima Espada, Zommari Rureaux, came to Aaroniero's palace, glanced at Rukia lying on the ground, and couldn't help but remark.
This wasn't Zommari Rureaux's palace. The reason he appeared here was simply because he had suddenly sensed Aaroniero's Reiatsu disappear and came to check.
"Being able to defeat Aaroniero, an Espada, shows you are a worthy opponent. However, it's a pity I won't be able to learn your name." Zommari Rureaux said, then drew his Zanpakuto to completely kill Rukia, who was still barely alive.
"Hmm?"
Zommari Rureaux suddenly seemed to sense something and turned to look behind him.
There stood a handsome man wearing a Kenseikan and a scarf around his neck.
That iconic attire, if recognized by someone from Soul Society, would immediately identify him as the head of the Kuchiki Clan, Captain of the 6th Division, Kuchiki Byakuya.
"Who are you?" Zommari Rureaux asked.
Byakuya did not answer Zommari Rureaux's question. Instead, he glanced at Rukia, who was covered in blood and lying unconscious on the ground, then looked at Zommari Rureaux with an extremely cold expression.
Zommari Rureaux noticed the clothes Byakuya was wearing and suddenly realized: "That haori... looks like Captain-class. I see, you must be one of the Captains of the Gotei 13. Hello, I am the Septima Espada, Zommari Rureaux. And you...? State your name, invader."
"There is no need to answer that question. Our identity is only one… your enemy!" Byakuya said expressionlessly.
"I see." Zommari Rureaux said noncommittally.
"I also have a question for you. Was it you who fought her earlier?" Byakuya looked at Rukia on the ground and asked Zommari Rureaux coldly.
"No, not me. However... I was just about to deliver the final blow." Zommari Rureaux said.
"Is that so?" Hearing Zommari Rureaux's words, Byakuya's expression seemed to grow even colder. An invisible aura emanated from Byakuya, causing his Captain's Haori to flutter audibly.
Zommari Rureaux, not far away, seemed to feel a sense of oppression and couldn't help frowning.
For some reason, although Byakuya maintained a cold, expressionless face, Zommari Rureaux felt that beneath that cold facade was concealed an endless anger. The flames of that anger even made Zommari Rureaux feel a bit heart-pounding with fear.
Unfortunately, Zommari Rureaux didn't know the relationship between the fallen Rukia and Byakuya. Otherwise, he would understand that this was precisely the anger of a 'Siscon Brother'.