Sousuke Aizen remained composed, his presence calm and sharp without the frame of his glasses.
"The Great Kido Chief truly knows everything. Sometimes I wonder if the Great Kido Chief possesses the ability to see through the future," he remarked.
Yuta smiled faintly and chose not to respond.
"But I do have something I'd like to ask you," Aizen added.
"But it's fine."
...
The Garganta appeared.
Several of the Espada Arrancar walked out of the black cavity.
The moment they emerged, a wave of spiritual pressure swept across Karakura Town.
Just their arrival above the town created unease, every presence beneath the sky struck with dread as their pupils shrank upward instinctively.
At this time, Inoue Orihime was walking with Arisawa Tatsuki and Honshou Chizuru.
Honshou Chizuru leaned in close while joking with Orihime, and the three of them laughed casually together.
In the next instant, a shadow fell before them.
Ulquiorra Schiffer descended silently from the sky, hands in his pockets, his gaze cold and unyielding as it settled on Orihime.
"Woman, follow me."
Orihime froze, her pupils tightening sharply.
An Arrancar.
Arisawa Tatsuki immediately stepped in front of her, spreading her arms wide.
"It doesn't matter who you are," she said firmly. "If you want to take Orihime away, you'll have to kill me first!"
Ulquiorra's tone was flat and unchanging.
"Although I do not attack women without reason, if you insist, then I will comply."
His blade flashed before the words settled.
Blood spilled as Tatsuki was cut in half in a single motion.
Ulquiorra straightened, returning his sword to its resting place without ceremony. His gaze remained unchanged as he looked at the broken body on the ground, organs spilling across the pavement.
"Tatsuki!" Orihime's voice cracked as her body trembled. It was as if lightning struck her mind, leaving her thoughts blank with horror. She screamed out and thrust both hands forward in desperation.
Santen Kesshun activated, the hairpins glowing and releasing a light that enveloped Tatsuki's body.
Honshou Chizuru's eyes widened in shock before her expression collapsed into helplessness.
"What…? What happened?" she stammered, her voice breaking. Seeing Tatsuki split apart so suddenly twisted her stomach, and she fell unconscious to the ground, an accident of fear staining her clothing.
The light of Orihime's ability wrapped fully over Tatsuki's halves, and the wound began to close miraculously. Within moments, her body reformed as though the sword strike had never occurred.
Ulquiorra tilted his head slightly, his tone betraying mild surprise.
"Oh? Can injuries of that extent truly be restored?"
Orihime's hands shook terribly. For a moment she had thought Tatsuki was gone forever. Every memory of their time together seemed to tear apart in her mind under the weight of Ulquiorra's strike. Relief pressed painfully against her chest now that Tatsuki breathed again.
Tears mixed with snot ran freely down her face as she forced a strained smile that looked worse than open crying.
Ulquiorra stepped closer.
"Come with me, woman. We require your strength. Answer 'yes.' Any other answer… I will not act against you, but against your companions."
His eyes narrowed.
"You need not ask anything further. Their lives rest in your hands."
Light curtains opened in the air behind him, showing moving images of Kurosaki Ichigo, Chad Yasutora, and Hitsugaya Toushirou engaged in battles of their own, each one pressed to the limit.
Orihime's lips parted but she said nothing for long moments. Finally, her voice steadied.
"No need for time," she said quietly. "I'll come with you."
Ulquiorra paused, as though momentarily surprised, then replied evenly.
"Very well. Lord Aizen requires your ability. Come."
...
Above the rooftops, Ichigo Kurosaki pressed his palm to his face as a Hollow mask formed.
"In ten seconds, I'll finish you!" he shouted.
His blade cut down with the force of Getsuga Tenshō glowing bright like the moonlit sky.
The strike slammed into Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, and for ten seconds Ichigo believed victory was possible. Yet the mask fractured too soon.
Ten seconds was all he had, and ten seconds was not enough.
Grimmjow recovered and struck back without mercy. Ichigo was thrown down hard against the ground, pinned in place as Grimmjow's blade pierced through the back of his hand.
Too weak.
Grimmjow's body was bloodied from the exchange yet his grin was wide and feral.
"So it's only ten seconds! You can hold that power for no longer than that!"
Ichigo breathed raggedly as Grimmjow's clawed hand reached for his head.
"Next, I'll crush your skull."
Red energy gathered in Grimmjow's palm as a Cero charged directly over Ichigo's face.
Tears fell from Ichigo's eyes. They were not shed for death itself but for the frustration of helplessness.
But before the killing blow, light surged across the battlefield.
Ulquiorra's voice drifted coldly through the air.
"The mission is complete. We withdraw. Lord Aizen won't hold back the Gotei 13 for long."
Grimmjow clicked his tongue and withdrew his hand. He gave Ichigo one last sneer.
"Waste. You should be grateful you're alive… saved by a woman."
He turned away as Ulquiorra and Orihime joined him. Together they stepped into the light of the Garganta's closing.
Ichigo knelt to the ground, clutching his face. His body shook as tears mixed with blood and dust ran down his cheeks.
"Hateful…" he whispered.
...
Seireitei.
The grounds of Kōkyoku Seirei no Kane remained still and quiet, far removed from the battles above the human world. The air was calm, as if untouched by the chaos raging elsewhere.
Yuta placed a black stone carefully on the board before him. His voice was measured.
"Which side do you think is more just, Aizen...the Shinigami…or the Quincy?"
Sousuke Aizen studied the board in silence for a moment before replying.
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