Chapter 67 Sneak Into Hueco Mundo (Part 2)
"Is that. . . the entrance to Hueco Mundo? "
Kurosaki Ichigo's eyes widened as he stared at the black void that appeared, murmuring softly.
At that moment, the sudden emergence of the black void generated a powerful pull, causing nearby sand and debris to swirl violently.
Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions had to shield their faces with their arms beneath the black void to avoid being blinded by the flying dirt and wind.
Urahara Kisuke, was providing them with explanations.
"Indeed, Mr. Kurosaki, the portal for Arrancars connecting various passages is this black Void. You've had multiple encounters with them, so you should be quite familiar with their tactics, correct?
There is no designated path within the black Void, and the erratic flow of spirit particles creates a whirlpool. So, while moving forward, make sure to utilize the spirit particles to forge a path.
It's akin to your usual fighting; where you utilise reiatsu to fight in the sky.
You will eventually reach the realm of Hueco Mundo, if you go straight. "
After absorbing Urahara Kisuke's instructions, they exchanged glances and leaped into the air simultaneously.
Upon entering the black Void, the whole space immediately leveled out, causing the entrance to seal shut behind them.
Navigating through the black Void, they spent over ten minutes in transit.
Ultimately, they spotted a glowing light ahead, and at the right moment, Ichigo and the others exited without hesitation.
"A structure? "
Ishida Uryu scrutinized the surrounding walls, adjusting his gaze to observe the environment with composure.
"Boom! ! "
Suddenly, Sado struck the wall forcefully, making the room tremble slightly.
Fine dust trickled down from gaps in the ceiling.
"What are you doing, Sado! ? "
Kurosaki Ichigo inquired urgently.
"I was merely curious about what lay behind the wall, however, this wall is quite sturdy, with a significant thickness to it. "
"Certainly, since we are in an underground area,"
Ichigo was taken aback by Ishida's observation.
"How can you tell this is an underground area? "
"Honestly, haven't you noticed the absence of windows in these rooms or passages?
Let's continue straight along the corridor, we should be able to find an exit. "
With that, the three raced down the corridor. Naturally, given it was an underground area, guards were expected to be present.
As they proceeded, they encountered two low-level Arrancars who attempted to obstruct their path, but they dispatched them effortlessly.
Soon, at the far end of the chamber in the subterranean area, they came across a staircase leading upward.
The trio dashed up the stairs with large strides, but upon emerging, they were greeted by an immense desert that extended endlessly before them.
This is the true visage of Hueco Mundo. Fixating on the imposing castle in the distance, Kurosaki Ichigo surmised that this must be the hideout of the Arrancars.
Consequently, the three raced toward the Night Palace.
Simultaneously, within the Night Palace, the door to the Espada meeting room creaked open slowly.
Step, step, step
The orderly, polished floor echoed with rhythmically consistent sounds beneath the Espadas' footsteps.
"Really, calling us here at this hour. "
"I heard there's intruders. "
"Intruders? "
"The underpass 22 has collapsed. "
"Number 22? That's quite distant from the Night Palace. "
"True, if they had charged in from the palace itself, that would be far more entertaining. "
"Heh! That would be."
"Noisy. I'm tired, please keep it down."
The commotion among the Espadas quieted as Starrk took his seat in irritation.
Just as the Espadas settled in, three sets of footsteps approached from outside the hall. Aizen, their leader, entered alongside Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname.
"Good morning, Espadas. As you've heard, we have intruders.
Let's enjoy a cup of black tea first."
Once Aizen was seated, two Arrancar attendants served black tea to those present.
Meanwhile, Starrk glanced at the quiet Reinhard and remarked, "You really are true to your nature; you hardly converse with anyone except for Fiander."
"Don't tease me, Lord Starrk, Master Fiander knows I wouldn't dare disrespect you. He'd certainly give me a beating. "
Reinhard lifted his cup of black tea, and began savoring its fragrance.
"Reinhard..... How's Fiander doing ? "
Harribel, after hesitating for a moment, she couldn't resist inquiring about Fiander's condition.
"Thank you for your concern; Master Fiander will recover in a few days, so please don't worry. "
Reinhard's reassurance allowed her to exhale in relief. After all, in this impersonal Hueco Mundo, having a friend to confide in is a rare comfort.
"Hmph, that scoundrel was defeated so easily. "
Baraggan raised his teacup, scoffed, took a deep sip, and uttered in a low tone.
With all the tea served, Aizen rested one hand on the table, surveyed the gathered Espadas, and spoke.
"I have gathered all the information, let's watch while we drink our tea."
Tousen Kaname, positioned behind Aizen, acknowledged and flipped a switch.
The center of the round table gave way, allowing a spherical device to ascend slowly.
On the projected screen, the images of Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions appeared suddenly.
"The intruder is Ishida Uryu. "
Sado Yasutora.
And, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Upon seeing Kurosaki Ichigo's image in the video, Grimmjow immediately rose to his feet, his eyes wide, intensely focused on him.
"What's going on? I imagined our foes to be more formidable, but they seem like a bunch of kids. "
"Huh? There are only three of them. Is it really necessary to gather all of us, Espada? "
The remarks made by the Espadas did not sway Aizen.
Aizen set down his teacup and replied calmly, "It is a grave mistake to underestimate the enemy. They are the ones who infiltrated the Soul society."
"These humans who infiltrated the Soul Society with just four individuals and instigated a conflict with Gotei 13."
"Four individuals? There's still one missing; where did that person go? "
Aizen's statement prompted an Espada to question curiously.
"It's Inoue Orihime"
Aizen glanced at each of them, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
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