"Your companions are about to die."
At the core of Las Noches, Ulquiorra looked at a panting Ichigo.
Ichigo gritted his teeth. After a fierce fight, he could only admit Ulquiorra's strength.
His time training Quincy powers was too short—he wasn't strong enough yet.
Hearing Ulquiorra's words, Ichigo's eyes widened.
He could sense the Shinigami's spiritual pressures—now as faint as candle flames in a storm.
"Tōshirō! Byakuya! And… Kenpachi!"
He called their names in his heart, anxiety surging.
He couldn't imagine what kind of monster they were facing. Three Captains, beaten so badly?!
"They did their best," Ulquiorra said. "But human power has its limits. As Shinigami, they have reached their limit. No matter what, Shinigami are no match for a Hollow. Just like you."
Ulquiorra appeared before Ichigo in a flash. Ichigo blocked with his sword.
Their blades clashed, forcing both back.
"I have to… defeat you quickly!" Ichigo growled. "Then I'll go take down that giant monster!"
With a flash, a mask appeared on his face—Hollowfication!
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Darkness welled up on his blade.
"Finally, you Hollowfied," Ulquiorra said. "But Hollowfication is just a Shinigami borrowing a Hollow's power out of desperation. It cannot challenge a true Hollow."
Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō crashed against Ulquiorra's blade!
BOOM!
The black crescent moon expanded, swallowing Ulquiorra in darkness!
PFFT!
Ulquiorra flew out of the darkness, blood covering his arm and chest.
He was wounded facing Hollowfied Ichigo—for the first time!
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Ichigo pressed the attack. His Hollowfication wouldn't last long—he needed to defeat Ulquiorra now!
Ulquiorra finally became serious.
"Since you use Hollow power… I'll show you Arrancar power, which surpasses Hollows."
As Ichigo attacked, Ulquiorra spoke in a deep voice:
"…Enclose, Murciélago!"
…
On the outskirts of Las Noches, the Quincy female squad—having finished their battles—gathered together.
Sensing the monstrous spiritual pressure inside Las Noches, they frowned.
Sternritter once looked down on Shinigami and Hollows, thinking them obsolete. But now, they could feel the overwhelming pressure.
"Are these really the Shinigami and Hollows we remember?" Liltotto muttered. "Are we going to fight these monsters later?"
"Let them kill each other," Gigi giggled. "Half will die today, you know."
"What's there to be afraid of?" Bambietta scoffed. "If we're talking monsters, I'm not inferior! And Lilynette, aren't you a monster too?"
"Don't misuse 'monster'!" Liltotto snapped. "I'm normal. If you want monsters, look at you and Gremmy."
"So you talk bad about Gremmy when he's not here?" Candice said. "But yeah, these people are strong. Gigi, you're going to get rich today!"
"I just wonder if my next zombies will be Arrancar or Shinigami," Gigi drooled. "Either way, I'm good! Best if both sides die~"
"But even so, I doubt they can beat Baelz and the others, right?"
"Don't mention that guy," Liltotto said darkly. "They… aren't at our level anymore."
"The Sternritter are invincible, aren't they?"
…
BOOM!
As the battle in Hueco Mundo reached a fever pitch, war raged in the Human World as well.
Facing two Visored opponents, Halibel swung her sword. The massive blade cut through flames and blocked a heavy hammer blow.
"I've had enough fun," Halibel said, and suddenly her greatsword surged with power!
Love Aikawa's eyes widened in disbelief—was this Arrancar holding back before?
A Hollow mask flashed on his face as he poured on power—but it still wasn't enough!
"Blazing Small Hammer!" Love roared, his spiked club erupting in flames.
Halibel whispered, "Ola Azul!"
BOOM!
A golden light shot from her Zanpakutō, piercing Love's hammer—and his body!
Love's mask shattered. He grimaced in pain, then fell from the sky.
"Love!"
On the ground, Rōjūrō Otoribashi shouted, watching Halibel in the sky. With Love down, he could finally use his Bankai—no more allies to endanger.
"Bankai: Kinshara Butōdan!"
He waved his arms like a conductor, and golden figures appeared, dancing to his command.
Halibel frowned, preparing to strike.
"First movement: Sea Drift!"
The golden phantoms danced around Halibel, their bodies turning blue like water.
"Trying to kill a shark with an ocean current?" Halibel sneered, raising her sword.
Rōjūrō only smiled. "You're right, water can't kill a shark. But what about fire?! Second movement: Prometheus!"
The dancers transformed into lava streams; the water currents became blazing fire!
Fire—the bane of sharks!
Halibel summoned ocean currents to fight the flames, but the burning sea pressed in.
"A shark trapped in fire with no escape… Just thinking about it inspires new symphonies!" Rōjūrō said excitedly.
"…What's going on?" Halibel muttered, struggling within the fire. Her hierro protected her, but she was still in danger.
"Yoshio said no Zanpakutō can control water and fire at once," Halibel frowned. "So this must be—"
"That's right, it's all an illusion!" Rōjūrō laughed. "But even knowing, you can't resist! As long as you hear my music, you're trapped! Now, the third movement—Ein Heldenleben!"
But just as he was about to act, he froze.
Halibel pressed her hand to her ear.
"…?! Wh…?"
A Cero pierced him. Halibel, sword in hand, aimed right at him.
"Thanks for the explanation. If your power works through sound, I just need to block my hearing."
She looked down, almost pitying him. "There's no better way to counter this ability."
She swung her sword. A golden flash. Rōjūrō's eyes widened—his upper body separated from his legs.
"Rōjūrō?!"
Far away, Hiyori Sarugaki shouted, but she was still fighting Arrancar and couldn't help.
Two Captain-class Visoreds defeated—shock rippled through the Shinigami ranks.
Halibel turned her gaze to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who watched from afar, not yet entering the fray.
As Halibel prepared to move, a flame shot toward her from another direction.
She dodged, then turned to see a man.
"Useless trash."
Bazz-B strode forward, one hand in his pocket, the other shaped like a pistol, smoke trailing from his finger.
"They were two Captains, but went down so easily. No wonder the Gotei 13 didn't want them."
"…" Halibel eyed him. "Who are you?"
"Just call me Bazz-B. I didn't know who to play with, but since you handled those two, I'll fight you."
"You seem arrogant. Do you have the strength to match?"
"You'll find out soon." Bazz-B raised three fingers. "With your level, you only deserve three fingers from me."
Halibel's eyes narrowed. "If your three fingers only make flames like that, you should go worship Guanyin Bodhisattva. Maybe she'll give you a hundred more hands."
The defeat of two Captains had a powerful impact on the Shinigami side. Many lost focus, falling to the enemy.
…
"ROAR!!!"
At the battlefield's edge, Abarai Renji faced a monstrous foe, gritting his teeth.
Is this thing immortal?!
Renji was assigned by Yamamoto to guard the four pillars protecting the Soul Society's transfer of Karakura Town. If these were destroyed, Karakura Town would return. They had to be defended at all costs.
Hollows were attacking the pillars. Renji had already defeated three strong Arrancar, but just as he was about to finish them, they combined—shedding their arms and merging into one terrifying giant!
Quimera Parca: Ayon!
It wasn't an Arrancar, but a true Hollow—savage, powerful, and with terrifying High-Speed Regeneration!
Each time it regenerated, it became stronger!
Renji even cut it in half, but it just stitched itself back together.
Bankai activated, Renji swung Sōō Zabimaru!
The massive serpent wrapped around the Quimera Parca.
"Kill him, Quimera Parca!" Apacci shouted.
"ROAR!"
The beast was almost mindless, but at Apacci's voice, it roared furiously.
Renji tried to crush it, but its strength was even greater than his own!
Damn it!
He withdrew Zabimaru, just as the beast lunged at him.
Its speed was incredible. Even a glancing blow would be disastrous!
Renji retreated, barely dodging a punch that cratered the ground and sent cracks spreading like a spiderweb.
He landed some distance away, but the ground beneath him nearly collapsed.
If I don't pay a price, I won't be able to deal with this guy!
Renji clenched his fists, preparing for the next round.