"If they come, what do we do if we can't hold them off?"
Nelliel worried.
Beside her, Rudbornn was also uncharacteristically silent.
Although Kyoya said that Yammy, whom he fought earlier, was the Cero Espada, and in terms of pure strength, was no weaker than the top four Espada-
Judging from Kyoya's description of the abilities of the Primera Espada, Starrk, and the Segunda Espada, Baraggan, there was simply no comparison.
He felt even Nelliel would be no match for Starrk and Baraggan.
As for himself...
Rudbornn shook his head.
Forget it, he was still too weak.
Even with the ability Kyoya called 'god-like', at best he could match the Quinto... well, better than the Sexta Espada, but still considerably weaker than Nnoitra after releasing.
"Hey, Rud, aren't you going to say something?"
"Nelliel-sama, if they dare to come, we can only fight to the death!" Rudbornn said earnestly.
Nelliel gave Rudbornn a sideways glance.
"If they come, I'll naturally fight to the death."
"But what about Kyoya-sama?"
"This..."
"I say, you two..."
Hearing Nelliel and Rudbornn's conversation, Kyoya couldn't help but laugh. "Have I not fought for so long that you've all forgotten how terrifying I am?"
"You're better off worrying about those two than worrying about me."
"Oh, right!"
Hearing Kyoya say this, a smile reappeared on Nelliel's face.
"Kyoya-sama is invincible!"
"Indeed, if Kyoya-sama personally acts, no matter if it's the Primera or Segunda Espada, they are nothing."
Rudbornn also nodded. "Even if Aizen-sa... even if Aizen and the others came, they wouldn't be Kyoya-sama's opponent either."
Aizen, in Rudbornn's heart, was a super-powerhouse surpassing the Espada of Hueco Mundo.
In fact, before meeting Kyoya, Rudbornn thought Aizen was the invincible one.
Even Kyoya was probably about the same as Aizen.
Anyway, with Rudbornn's strength, he couldn't tell at all who was stronger between Kyoya and Aizen.
The Espada of Hueco Mundo were almost all created by Aizen.
Even if they all joined forces, they probably wouldn't be Aizen's match.
Of this, Rudbornn was deeply convinced.
And Kyoya's strength was also unfathomable. The terrifying Reiatsu of the Quatro Espada, Ulquiorra, after releasing, wasn't he also easily slain by Kyoya-sama?
As for Aizen...
No matter how he evaluated in his heart, he now served Kyoya, so naturally he was more biased towards Kyoya.
If Las Noches really came with its full force, then as he said before, they could only fight to the death.
"Ahhh, so boring..."
In the 10th Division, Rangiku lay sprawled on her desk, her hands waving around idly.
"Huh?"
Rangiku looked up to see Kyoraku arriving with his Lieutenant.
"Huh? Kyoraku, are you a devil?"
Rangiku looked at Kyoraku in shock.
Her so-called 'boredom' was just an excuse to slack off and go find a reason to drink.
As a drinking buddy, how could Kyoraku not know?
Under normal circumstances, shouldn't Kyoraku invite her out for drinks and then pick up the tab?
"You're fake, aren't you? You're a fake, right?"
Rangiku got up from her seat and grabbed the front of Kyoraku's kimono.
"I'd like to take you out for drinks too, but there's no helping it. Who made you, the Captain of the 10th Division, the most free one?"
Kyoraku sighed.
Ever since the three Captains defected, the entire Gotei 13 still hadn't recovered.
Although Aizen and the other two left, the Gotei 13 definitely still had Aizen's subordinates.
Without manpower, Aizen and the others couldn't have caused such a big commotion in the Seireitei.
Even Aizen's Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, couldn't accomplish that.
After all, Kyoka Suigetsu could make someone mistake a fly for a dragon, but at the very least, you need to have a fly.
Just like how Aizen made Shinji think he had been following him all along, there had to be someone following Shinji for Aizen to make that 'person' be perceived as himself.
Or rather, to make Hirako perceive the Shinigami following him as himself.
This task fell to the 2nd Division and the 8th Division.
Unohana was still treating the injured Shinigami during this period.
Byakuya of the 6th Division was handling the turmoil caused by the deaths of many nobles due to the attack by Aizen and his group.
Komamura was the most severely injured among the Captains.
Previously heavily injured by Ichigo and not fully healed, he was then severely wounded by Aizen with a Kido spell number 90, and was currently still receiving treatment from Unohana in the 4th Division's Barracks.
Zaraki, after his battle with Kyoya, had improved his strength greatly, but he wasn't suited for such a task.
The 12th Division, after this incident, Mayuri decided to deploy [Surveillance Reishi] in the Seireitei. People might be hypnotized, but Surveillance Reishi wouldn't be.
If Aizen wanted to try something like this again, Mayuri would definitely give him a surprise.
Ukitake, who fought alongside Kyoraku against Yamamoto, moved around a bit too much, causing his old illness to flare up. He was currently resting at home.
So, counting them all, the only one left who could carry out this task was Rangiku.
Hearing Kyoraku describe the situations of the Captains of the various divisions, even Rangiku, who wanted to slack off, couldn't find an excuse now.
"Tch."
Rangiku clicked her tongue and let go of Kyoraku's kimono.
"Tell me, what exactly is the task?"
"Let's be clear first, Kyoraku. If it's very troublesome or dangerous, I won't do it."
"Relax, relax. I don't want to create another enemy like Kyoya for the Gotei 13 before we even deal with the trouble from Aizen Sosuke."
Kyoraku patted his kimono, speaking nonchalantly.
This was indeed Yamamoto and Kyoraku's thinking.
Everyone knew Rangiku was important family to Kyoya.
Rangiku serving as Captain of the 10th Division was, in a way, also a bridge of communication between the Gotei 13 and Kyoya.
But if Rangiku encountered danger while carrying out a task, the first to act against the Gotei 13 would undoubtedly be Kyoya.
"So what's the task?"
"To transfer and escort the Oin."
"The Oin?"
Rangiku frowned.
She had never heard this name before.
"What is the Oin?"
"The so-called [Oin] is a treasure imbued with the Soul King's power, possessing the ability to control space."
"Every hundred years, the location where the Oin is stored and sealed needs to be transferred."
"This year is the time to transfer the Oin."
"You need to protect the Oin along with the unit escorting its transfer, ensuring it is successfully transferred to its new storage location."
"Oh? Since you say 'protect', that means there will be people trying to snatch it?"
"Mhm."
Kyoraku nodded. "The power of the Oin cannot be directly used by Shinigami."
"But for Hollows, destroying the Oin allows them to obtain its space-controlling power."
"Therefore, every time the Oin is transferred, many Hollows are attracted to try to seize it."
"Among them, there might even appear Adjuchas-class or even Vasto Lorde-class Menos."
"Vasto Lorde?"
Rangiku raised her voice. "Kyoraku, do you want me to die?"
"Vasto Lorde are beings standing at the apex of countless Menos. You're actually asking me to face such a dangerous enemy?"
"Rangiku, that's enough..."
Kyoraku extended his right hand, holding up two fingers towards Rangiku. "If you accept this task, when you complete it and return, I'll treat you to drinks twice!"
"Twice?"
"..."
"Three times!"
Kyoraku raised another finger, and one could see the pain on his face.
Unlike a noble like Kyoraku who 'savored' wine, Rangiku was a true 'drunkard'.
When she drank, it was always measured in 'jars'.
One could say, treating Rangiku to one drinking session cost Kyoraku enough for a month of his own drinking.
"Rangiku, you should think carefully. It's just a Vasto Lorde..."
"For you, an ordinary Vasto Lorde poses no threat."
"But three rounds of drinks are money I saved by being frugal for half a year."
"If you refuse, I can always go find Komamura."
"Captain Komamura, although injured earlier, probably wouldn't refuse this task."
"Tch!"
Rangiku scoffed.
Although her expression wasn't great, Rangiku didn't refuse.
On one hand, Rangiku knew that if it was a task from Yamamoto, Komamura would carry it out no matter how severe his injuries.
On the other hand, as Kyoraku said, within the Gotei 13, she was currently the most suitable.
The other Captains all had their own matters.
If they really sent Komamura on a mission while injured and he encountered a Vasto Lorde, it probably wouldn't end well for him.
"Three rounds it is. Send me the task details."
"Hahaha, I knew you'd agree, Rangiku."
Seeing Rangiku accept the task, Kyoraku took the documents from Nanao and handed them to Rangiku.
…
"Aizen-sama!"
In Las Noches, Tosen came before Aizen.
"What is it, Kaname?"
Aizen opened his eyes and looked at Tosen.
"The Reiatsu of Ulquiorra, Nnoitra, and Yammy suddenly disappeared earlier."
As a blind man, Tosen's perception of Reiatsu was undoubtedly among the top of Shinigami.
Therefore, after Ulquiorra and the others left, Tosen released a Kido spell to track their Reiatsus.
However, Tosen didn't expect that in such a short time, the Reiatsus of all three had disappeared.
And not disappearing one after another, but almost simultaneously.
From Nnoitra's death to the final dissipation of Yammy's Reiatsu, less than a minute passed.
"Oh?"
"Did you sense the opponent's Reiatsu?"
"Apologies, Aizen-sama."
Tosen knelt on one knee. "I only sensed the Reiatsu of the former Tres Espada, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, and the former leader of the Hueco Mundo Exequias, Rudbornn Chelute."
"Among them, the Quinto Espada, Nnoitra, and the Diez Espada, Yammy, were both killed by Nelliel."
"Ulquiorra's Reiatsu increased enormously immediately after releasing, as if he encountered a very powerful enemy."
"However, I could not sense the opponent's Reiatsu. I only sensed that in an instant, Ulquiorra's Reiatsu vanished."
"Oh? Able to kill Ulquiorra in an instant?"
Hearing Tosen's description, a hint of gravity finally appeared on Aizen's face.
Aizen still held Ulquiorra's strength in high regard.
Although he didn't know about Ulquiorra's [Segunda Etapa], with Aizen's discerning eye, he could naturally see that Ulquiorra's body still hid even greater power.
Of course, Aizen also knew that no matter how strong Ulquiorra's hidden power was, it couldn't be a match for Baraggan or Starrk.
Therefore, based on the released strength Ulquiorra displayed, he was ranked fourth.
Within the entirety of Las Noches, those who could kill Ulquiorra in an instant, in Aizen's estimation, were only the three of them.
Gin's Zanpakuto, Shinso, was an assassination weapon.
If one wasn't careful, even Aizen could be injured or killed by it.
Tosen's Zanpakuto, Suzumushi, could seal four of an enemy's senses. If he could pull Ulquiorra into his Bankai, it wasn't impossible to kill him in one strike.
As for Aizen himself, there was no need to say more.
To kill Ulquiorra, he could just release his Zanpakuto, walk over, and cut off Ulquiorra's head.
"It seems the person behind this City of Daylight really should not be underestimated..."
"Shall I make a move, Aizen-sama?"
Tosen inquired.
Although the enemy who killed Ulquiorra was strong, Tosen was also very confident in his own ability.
Except for Aizen, no one could defeat him within his Bankai.
"Hmm..."
Remembering that Army Commander from the Revolutionary Army who possessed a light-type Zanpakuto, a trace of concern arose in Tosen's heart.
Even that Army Commander could injure him within his Bankai. If it were the wielder of the strongest light-type Zanpakuto, could he still defeat his opponent?
Shaking his head inwardly, Tosen stopped thinking further.
An enemy of Kyoya's caliber would be dealt with by Aizen himself.
Those like him should just defeat others who wanted to disrupt Lord plans.