There were speculations about the Soul Society sending people to the Human World and about the Visoreds. After all, they had once been members of the Gotei 13, and their positions had not been low; they had been captains and vice-captains. Still, the question remained: why could a shinigami encountered at random mask his spiritual pressure so effectively? His power was clearly not ordinary. It was assumed that he might be carrying some kind of device to conceal his reiatsu.
Another possibility arose in Hirako Shinji's mind, though he immediately dismissed it as unlikely. For the man's spiritual pressure to be completely undetectable, it would have to surpass his own-to exist on a level beyond a captain's. Since Shinji himself possessed captain-class strength, the idea of someone whose reiatsu exceeded that threshold seemed impossible. Beyond captain level? Beyond even the limit achieved by shinigami and hollow together? As one who had merged hollow abilities into his shinigami powers long ago, Shinji believed such strength to be incomprehensible. Still, he raised his guard, the sensation of danger pressing against his back like a blade of light.
Kurosaki Ichigo glanced at Shinji's state of agitation before looking over at Yuta, who remained lazy and detached. Ichigo realized that Yuta's unusual presence had unsettled even someone like Hirako Shinji. Shinji's backward way of speaking and the unnatural nail piercing his tongue only made him appear stranger still.
Yuta's eyes shifted suddenly toward the sky, as though he had noticed something the others had not. A moment later, the heavens split open as a Garganta tore through the air. The crack widened like the jaws of a massive beast lined with teeth. From within the darkness stepped a man with messy blue hair and a hollow hole in his lower abdomen. A fragment of his mask clung to his right cheek, exuding menace. He was Sexta Espada-Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.
Five figures followed behind him: Arrancars numbered 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16. Their appearances varied-short, tall, stocky, and lean. Each radiated spiritual pressure that pressed against the world itself.
"No one noticed us arrive, right?" Grimmjow spoke casually with his hands in his pockets, carrying himself with arrogance.
Arrancar No. 11, Shawlong Kufang, replied, "Of course not. However, on the way here I sensed several strong spiritual pressures. Ulquiorra's report was clearly insufficient." Shawlong was tall and thin, his hair tied in a small braid at the back of his head, and his mask fragment extended leftward like a pipe.
"All of you-expand your Pesquisa," Grimmjow ordered.
The five Arrancars closed their eyes, letting their senses spread. In their perception, the Human World was enveloped in darkness, and within it, souls with spiritual power stood out like glowing candles. Grimmjow's eyes narrowed. "There are so damn MANY of them. Ulquiorra was too soft. If it were me, I'd have killed Kurosaki Ichigo already instead of bothering with all this." His gaze hardened as he barked out names. "Shawlong, Edorad, Nakeem, Ilforte, Di Roy-spread out. Anyone with reiatsu worth noticing-kill them."
In that instant, the combined spiritual pressure of the five Arrancars surged across the Human World.
Yuta immediately sensed it. At the same time, Ichigo's Substitute Badge emitted a loud alarm as his face paled with recognition. "This reiatsu…!" Ichigo left his classroom in a rush, muttering to excuse himself as needing the restroom. Once outside, he activated his Substitute Badge, transforming into his shinigami form before rushing out.
Ishida Uryu took notice but remained still. Having sworn to his father not to help shinigami again as the cost for regaining his Quincy powers, he did nothing but watch coldly from his seat. Sado Yasutora and Inoue Orihime, however, started toward the exit only to be halted by Hirako Shinji.
"You should know battles like this aren't yours to fight," Shinji told them firmly. "If you stay here, you'll remain safe."
Their teacher, Yoshi, froze in alarm. "Hirako… what on earth are you saying?"
Even Arisawa Tatsuki could feel the oppressive reiatsu pressing against the school and muttered to herself, "The world… it's in danger."
Yuta disappeared silently from the classroom to watch from the sky above, observing the multiple battlefronts that were taking shape. There was no need for him to act just yet.
-- Rooftop --
Hitsugaya Toshiro narrowed his eyes as he felt six massive sources of spiritual pressure descending within Karakura Town. Rangiku Matsumoto climbed up behind him. "Captain, Orihime and Chad are still in the school. But Yuta's there too, so they should be safe." Hitsugaya gave a short nod. "That's fine then." But before another word could be said, two figures appeared before them: Arrancar Nos. 11 and 14-Shawlong and Nakeem. Slim and tall, Shawlong resembled a pair of chopsticks. By contrast, Nakeem was round and heavyset, his stomach layered like floating rings of fat.
"Hello there," Shawlong greeted almost mockingly before drawing his sword and swinging at Hitsugaya without delay. The clash of blades exploded with sparks.
"Arrancar No. 11, Shawlong Kufang," Hitsugaya stated coolly.
"The Captain of the Tenth Division of the Gotei 13, Hitsugaya Toshiro," Shawlong returned.
The two separated briefly, Shawlong smirking as he spoke again. "To meet a captain directly… lucky me."
Hitsugaya's gaze sharpened. "No… unlucky for you."
-- Elsewhere --
Kuchiki Rukia landed opposite Arrancar No. 16, Di Roy. His mask fragment covered his head like a broad hat, yellow hair slipping over his eyes so much it was unclear if he could see clearly at all.
Elsewhere, Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika stood before Arrancar No. 13, Edorad Leones. His hair was half gray and cropped short on one side, long red and wild on the other-like ash and flame combined. His mask fragment resembled spectacles but sat across his nose instead of his eyes. His towering frame loomed before them like a wall.
Meanwhile, Renji Abarai faced off against Arrancar No. 15, Ilforte Granz. Tall and well-built, his pale blond hair fell long over his slender frame, and his piercing dark purple eyes carried arrogance. His horn-shaped mask fragment jutted from the top of his left temple.
Back on Rukia's battlefield, Di Roy bared a row of teeth sharp as a shark's. "Arrancar No. 16, Di Roy."
Rukia spoke steadily. "Thirteenth Division of the Gotei 13-"
He cut her off gratingly. "Spare me your name. Why bother? Once you're dead it means nothing anyway."
"Then remember this instead," Rukia said, raising her Zanpakutō. "The name of my sword." She lifted it firmly before calling out, "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
Her blade dissolved into pure white steel, its long ribbon trailing elegantly from the hilt as icy reishi swirled through the air. It was known as the most beautiful Zanpakutō in Soul Society. She began with its first dance technique.
"First Dance: Tsukishiro."
Di Roy stiffened in alarm as a glowing white circle appeared beneath his feet. From the circle, ice spread rapidly across the ground and up his legs, attempting to encase him entirely.
He roared in frustration and forced his reiatsu outward, breaking apart the ice barely in time as he leapt into the air. With a sneer he called down, "What a pity! Fighting me in the air is your mistake. Your circle can freeze the ground, but it can't touch me up here!" He dove with his hand sharpened like a blade to strike her down.
Rukia turned slightly, her voice calm. "That's where you're mistaken."
Behind her, the circle expanded upward and a massive ice pillar erupted from it, freezing Di Roy mid-strike.
"Sode no Shirayuki doesn't only freeze the ground," she said firmly. "Everything within that circle-from the heavens to the earth-falls within its domain."
Shawlong glanced back once mid-fight and remarked flatly, "Di Roy is dead."
Ilforte frowned lightly. "That fool begged to be taken along, yet this is the result. Even with Aizen-sama's blessing as an Arrancar, he dies like a weakling."
Edorad smirked grimly. "Then his opponent was lucky. But you two… aren't so fortunate. With me here, resistance means nothing-you're already dead men." He released a surge of spiritual pressure that shattered the ground and nearby structures.
Ikkaku was thrown back across the street, blood streaking down from his forehead. He wiped it away with the back of his hand and grinned. "Heh… I don't know your name yet. You're huge."
Edorad started to reply but cut himself off. "I am Arrancar No. 13-but names don't matter for the dying."
Ikkaku's smile widened as he raised his Zanpakutō. "That's not my way. I always give my name to the one I cut down. Ikkaku Madarame, 3rd Seat of the Eleventh Division." His grip tightened as his stance lowered. "You don't have to give me yours-but remember mine. Because I'm the man who's going to kill you."
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