"My, my. You all look quite disheveled."
A familiar, mocking voice cut through the tension of the battlefield. All eyes turned to see a group of newcomers arriving on the scene. For some, their appearance brought a wave of relief; for others, confusion.
"Well, now. If it isn't an old friend, Captain Aizen," Gin Ichimaru said, his trademark slit-eyed smile widening as he glanced from the new arrivals back to his leader.
"Hmm. My apologies, Gin," Aizen replied, his tone infuriatingly gentle. "It seems I neglected to inform you. Ulquiorra reported the presence of these… rodents to me some time ago."
"Eh? You've already met Captain Hirako and the others?" Gin feigned surprise, looking curiously at Shinji Hirako and his group of Vizards.
"The so-called former Captains and Vice-Captains of the Gotei 13 could do nothing but watch as Ulquiorra and Baraggan openly abducted Inoue Orihime," Aizen commented, his voice dripping with disdain. "It seems a hundred years in exile has done nothing for their competence."
"But I must thank them," he added with a light chuckle. "Their inaction allowed Inoue Orihime to assist me in perfecting the Hōgyoku."
The undisguised contempt in Aizen's words sent a jolt of pure rage through the Vizard ranks.
"AIZEN! I'LL KILL YOU!" Hiyori Sarugaki shrieked, instantly losing control and lunging forward. Shinji Hirako's hand shot out, grabbing her collar and yanking her back.
"Wait, Hiyori! It's a provocation! Don't take the bait!" he said, his voice low and serious.
"Since you already know we're here, and you've even exposed that skeleton's ability to us, Sōsuke Aizen," Shinji called out, a confident smirk on his face, "are you sure that's a wise move?" Last time, they had been confined, unable to fight at full strength. Now, in the open air, it was a different story.
Aizen merely smiled, offering no reply.
At that moment, the giant, one-eyed Arrancar behind Aizen, Fura, opened its massive maw and vomited forth a torrent of black, viscous liquid. A closer look revealed it wasn't liquid at all, but a horde of countless Gillian-class Menos Grande.
"Hmph! Alright, everyone!" Shinji Hirako yelled, taking charge. "Those who wanna say hello, go say hello! Those who don't… go cut 'em down!" He led the charge, his body flashing straight towards Aizen himself.
The other Vizards sprang into action, rushing the clustered Gillians. And as they moved, they all performed the same act: donning their Hollow masks. In a flash of swirling reiatsu, their Visored powers were unleashed.
In a shockingly short time, the entire horde of Gillians spat forth by Fura was utterly annihilated by the coordinated assault of the masked warriors.
Shinji Hirako closed the distance to Aizen in a burst of speed, his Zanpakutō slicing down in a silver arc.
But before the blow could land, Kaname Tōsen finally moved. He flash-stepped into the path of the attack, his own blade slashing horizontally towards Shinji's neck.
The two swords passed each other. Tōsen looked at the faint trace of blood on the tip of his blade. "A miss?" he asked calmly.
Shinji touched his forehead, where a thin line of blood welled. "What nonsense are you talking about? You clearly hit me."
"Shinji Hirako," Tōsen said, ignoring the comment. "Do you know why Sōsuke Aizen did not deem it necessary to specifically report your presence to us?"
"Huh? It's 'cause he's scared of us, obviously."
"It is because, in Sōsuke Aizen's eyes," Tōsen stated flatly, "you are not worth the effort of a formal report."
Hearing this, Aizen couldn't help but smile. It was the truth. With every one of them under the complete hypnosis of Kyōka Suigetsu, anything they did was inherently flawed and predictable.
"This little minion sure talks a big game…" Shinji grumbled, but he wasn't truly angered. It was clear that to get to Aizen, he would have to go through the two men flanking him.
Just as Shinji and Tōsen were about to clash, a massive, armored form intervened.
"Excuse me, masked guest," boomed Sajin Komamura, his deep voice resonating. "Might this old man also lend a hand?"
"Is that alright? You trust us that much?" Shinji asked, surprised.
"Just by seeing you take the lead against those Menos, this old man can determine you are allies. This old man has decided to stand on the same front as you!"
"Is that so… then we won't refuse your help!"
As Shinji spoke, the other Vizards found their places, moving to support the beleaguered Gotei 13 Captains.
"Yo, shorty! You didn't get beaten up too bad this time," Hiyori Sarugaki said, landing familiarly next to Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
"Shorty?!" Tōshirō's temper flared immediately. "Hey! Don't think you can be so rude just because you're helping! And what do you mean 'this time'?!"
"Ah? Oh, right. Last time you were unconscious when you came to us, so you haven't actually seen us yet," Hiyori recalled the incident where Orihime had healed them all. The severity of their injuries had prevented any formal introductions.
"Last time?" Tōshirō's memory clicked. The last battle in the Human World, where the Sixth Espada's Resurrección had overwhelmed him, leading to severe injuries.
"…I see. Thank you for your care then," he said, his voice softening for a moment before hardening again as he glared at the freed Tia Harribel. "But now is not the time for this." He raised Hyōrinmaru, aiming its tip at the Tercera Espada.
"Hmph! An enemy like this, leave her to me and… Hey! Lisa! Why are you charging in alone?!" Hiyori hadn't even finished her sentence before Lisa Yadōmaru, her Hollow mask already in place, launched herself directly at Harribel.
On another part of the battlefield, Hachigen Ushōda approached Suì-Fēng and Marechiyo Ōmaeda.
"Long time no see, Miss Suì-Fēng," Hachigen said softly.
Suì-Fēng pointedly refused to acknowledge her former colleague from the Kidō Corps, which prompted a stream of questions from Ōmaeda beside her until she silenced him with a brutal punch to the gut.
"I understand you may not think highly of us," Hachigen continued, undeterred. "However, please allow me to assist you. I believe I have fully analyzed the enemy's abilities!"
"Analyzed?" Baraggan Louisenbairn's voice rasped, his bony jaw clacking. "I remember you. That barrier in the Human World… I assume it was your work. But before my power, it was utterly meaningless!" He let out a deep, rattling laugh, his skeletal form a terrifying sight.
"Is that so…? Then let us test that theory!" Hachigen clapped his hands together, and a complex Kidō seal flared to life around Baraggan.
The Segunda Espada didn't even flinch, allowing the binding spell to simply decay into nothingness before it could take hold.
"You still think your pitiful Kidō can resist my aging?" Baraggan mocked mercilessly. "Have you learned nothing? Have you forgotten who effortlessly destroyed your proud barrier?"
"Hey! Is that all you've got?!" Suì-Fēng snapped, the formidable enemy before them forcing her into a tacit agreement to cooperate.
"Miss Suì-Fēng," Hachigen said, his voice filled with a sudden, firm resolve. "Please, coordinate with me. I have a plan…"