In his Murciélago form, Ulquiorra's physical prowess doubled.
At this moment, he exuded a chillingly powerful aura, and his words were filled with unprecedented confidence.
Yoriichi stood quietly to the side.
He didn't know what Ulquiorra had encountered, nor could he fathom his current feelings.
But watching Ulquiorra transform, Yoriichi vaguely felt that he might have found his life's purpose.
Undoubtedly, this would be Ulquiorra's first transformation, and quite possibly his last.
After all, the positions of both sides were now so clear, leaving no room for negotiation.
Boom!
As Ulquiorra regained his strength, a great battle erupted once more in the silver desert.
Ulquiorra, who originally possessed physical abilities comparable to a Vasto Lorde, now surpassed most Vasto Lorde.
His figure was as swift as lightning in the fierce storm, making it difficult to even discern his afterimages.
Every attack seemed to carry the power to topple mountains and overturn seas, striking fear into one's heart.
Such a sudden drastic change caused even Harribel, who was not far away, to freeze.
Is this truly a Vasto Lorde?
She even felt that the Ulquiorra before her could instantly kill the former King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan.
Of course, this was merely an illusion.
Harribel's shock was only due to the long period of not eating.
Coupled with her power not being fully developed, she appeared so insignificant.
For Yoriichi Tsugikuni, even Ulquiorra's doubled physical prowess still fell within the scope of a Hollow or Shinigami.
The reishi longsword, roaring like a giant axe, was steadily caught by him.
The reishi long spear that followed, almost like lightning, was also easily shattered by him again.
The continuous tide of reishi enveloped Yoriichi Tsugikuni tightly, like a surging ocean.
Their movements were extremely fast; even with Harribel's full concentration, trying not to miss a single moment, she still found it difficult to see clearly.
One second, Ulquiorra charged forward with infinite might, the next second he was sent flying, and the second after that, he reappeared, flapping his wings.
No matter how severe the injury, Ulquiorra could instantly recover.
Even just watching a battle of this caliber from afar, Harribel felt a heavy heart.
Ulquiorra was one thing.
How could Yoriichi Tsugikuni's strength be so formidable!
It had only been a little over a year since their last meeting.
In her perception of time, a year was as brief as yesterday.
Yet, in such a short period, Yoriichi Tsugikuni had made a leap from third-tier to first-tier,
Leaving her, his former opponent, far behind, unable to even see his taillights.
That makes no sense!
It felt to Harribel as if they were just drinking and talking about the future today, saying they wouldn't forget each other if they became rich.
But tomorrow, the other party transforms into a boss with a net worth of billions.
What about the 'don't forget each other'?
It was somewhat difficult to accept.
The bone blade, wreathed in a scorching reishi current, swung casually to the side.
With a whoosh, Yammy's chest was instantly sliced open, and blood spurted out.
Harribel glanced coldly at Yammy; much of the anger in her heart dissipated with Yammy's severe, near-fatal injury.
Although such a heavy hand did not align with her principles, what was done was done, and regretting it now would be too laughable.
Yammy had severely injured Sung-Sung, and his target was herself; letting him go would undoubtedly be disrespectful to Sung-Sung and tarnish the word "partner."
Harribel exhaled lightly, watching Yammy's life force gradually dim, before refocusing her attention on the battle between the two not far away.
At this moment, Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Ulquiorra had already carved a massive hole in the Hueco Mundo desert, with large amounts of sand pouring down.
The silver moonlight poured down like mist, clearly illuminating every corner of the Forest of Menos.
The Menos Grande living in the Forest of Menos thought it was daytime and looked up.
However, the two soaring figures that met their eyes caused their pupils to suddenly constrict.
They could hardly believe what they were seeing.
What's going on?
a Shinigami can actually suppress a Vasto Lorde?
And this Vasto Lorde looks very powerful.
Some Adjuchas, close to Vasto Lorde in power, put themselves in that position and found that they couldn't even withstand the aftermath of the two's clashing attacks.
When did Shinigami become so powerful?
In their impression, Shinigami were at most on the level of Ashido.
Even if there were stronger ones, they shouldn't be much stronger.
Now...
Let's escape quickly!
Some Adjuchas quickly made up their minds.
When gods fight, mortals suffer.
Now that even the Forest of Menos has been breached, what if they fight their way into the Forest of Menos...
Then no matter how capable these Adjuchas are, they would likely struggle to survive, as they would be instantly killed by a single move.
Damn Vasto Lorde...
At this moment, some Adjuchas did not resent the Shinigami in their hearts, as that was the common enemy of the Hollows, and an enemy attacking them was to be expected.
They mainly hated Ulquiorra for being too weak.
He was a Vasto Lorde, the highest rank of Hollows, at the pinnacle of Hueco Mundo, yet he couldn't even defeat a mere Shinigami,
thereby endangering innocent Adjuchas like themselves...
...
Above, at this moment.
"Shinigami, you are very strong." Ulquiorra's calm voice was somewhat dispersed by the fierce wind.
He held a dark green reishi sword, and with his makeup and styling, his overall demeanor became even colder.
"Clang!"
Weapons violently collided, and the storm instantly tore apart, the reishi sword shattering in an instant.
Ulquiorra flapped his wings and retreated rapidly, but in that flash of lightning, his chest was mercilessly pierced!
"Cough..." Ulquiorra coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Although the wound healed in an instant, the fatigue deep within his soul, like heavy shackles, tightly entanglement him, unable to dissipate.
He lowered his gaze slightly, his eyes sweeping over the pierced wound, then he softly opened his lips:
"If there are no surprises, this battle will end with my demise."
"You helped me find my heart, Shinigami, I do not resent you."
He slowly raised his eyes.
With a bang, Ulquiorra flapped his wings and vanished from his spot, the dark green reishi reformed in his hand.
"But..."
Boom!
A lightning-fast reishi spear instantly pierced through the heavens and earth!
It slammed into the desert with a deafening roar, making the opening in the Forest of Menos even larger.
His cold voice sounded again:
"I will not give up easily. I always remember Lord Aizen's words: the death of the body is not true death."
"Shinigami, release your Zanpakuto and let me see your true power."
From the moment the battle began until now, Yoriichi Tsugikuni had been engaging him in his normal state.
In the beginning, this seemed fine, as neither side was fighting at full strength.
But now, with Ulquiorra giving his all, Yoriichi Tsugikuni still hadn't released his Zanpakuto, which was extremely strange.
Clearly, after a Zanpakuto's release, combat power would skyrocket like a rocket.
Is it that he doesn't want to release it... or can't?
Surely, he isn't pitying me.
Ulquiorra had never seen a Shinigami like this.
Or perhaps, this is the choice of "heart"?
...
Ulquiorra experienced a feeling called confusion.
Undoubtedly, this was "heart."
But with the appearance of this "heart," more questions surged in like a tide.
Although he now possessed emotions, he still found it difficult to understand the actions of others.
His gaze was fixed on Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
He urgently wanted to delve into the reason why Yoriichi Tsugikuni had not yet released his Zanpakuto.
He yearned to know the answer.
Because he felt that if he could understand the reason, he might be able to experience other, more complex emotions.
However, he had just uttered half a syllable.
Yoriichi decisively interrupted his words.
His response was a strong and powerful slash.
With a "bang."
Ulquiorra barely managed to condense a reishi sword to block, but a new wound inevitably appeared on his body.
He knew well that Yoriichi would not give him any other answer.
He could only reluctantly suppress the "heart" that had just emerged.
And throw himself wholeheartedly into the battle.
...
On the other side, Kisuke Urahara had just led the three Adjuchas to a safe place.
Turning around, he saw the battle between Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Ulquiorra.
The incredibly fast movements and the surging storm instantly caught his eye.
He couldn't help but sigh deeply, "Too strong!"
"This speed of power growth is simply inhuman!"
If he remembered correctly.
Two years ago, Yoriichi Tsugikuni was only at the level of an ordinary Captain.
Now, two years later, he has leaped to being nearly on par with the Captain-Commander.
What an astonishing rate of improvement!
Even a rocket wouldn't be this fast!
Kisuke Urahara felt as if Yoriichi Tsugikuni was cheating.
He mused that perhaps only when his Hōgyoku experiment was complete, and he allowed a group of Captain-level combatants to master the ability of Hollowfication, would he be able to surpass him.
Of course, that would be a few years from now.
No one could say what level Yoriichi Tsugikuni would reach in a few more years.
He couldn't possibly surpass the Captain-Commander, could he!
Thinking of this, Kisuke Urahara couldn't help but shake his head.
Even he found the idea somewhat laughable.
The Captain-Commander was the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years.
His Ryujin Jakka could destroy the Three Realms.
No matter how strong Yoriichi Tsugikuni was, limited by his Zanpakuto itself, at most he would only surpass the Captain-Commander in terms of physical prowess.
But even the strongest physical prowess, when facing Yamamoto Genryusai's Bankai, would be nothing more than being burned to ashes in one strike.
Thus, the gap became clear.
Unless Yoriichi Tsugikuni's Zanpakuto ability underwent a qualitative change.
Otherwise, the title of the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, Yamamoto Genryusai could hold for another thousand years.
Whew… Kisuke Urahara slowly exhaled.
His thoughts gradually converged.
Despite the conclusion.
But to be able to surpass Yamamoto Genryusai in terms of physical prowess was also a remarkable achievement.
It had only been two years.
"What an incredible fellow," he murmured to himself.
A hint of envy subtly arose within him.
At the same time, a strange thought began to sprout in his mind.
Since Yoriichi Tsugikuni was already so powerful, then letting him master the ability of Hollowfication as well…
Perhaps…
…
"Boom!"
As an explosion roared in his ears,
silver-white sand splattered everywhere.
Ulquiorra suddenly felt that his body had reached its limit.
The Murciélago form, in the end, was merely the full exertion of his sealed power.
And power had its limits.
Once the limit was surpassed, the body would collapse.
Currently, he was already standing on the brink of collapse.
There was some regret in his heart, as he hadn't been able to satisfy Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
He had fought with all his might, yet Yoriichi Tsugikuni hadn't even displayed his Zanpakuto's release.
This was undoubtedly an overwhelming victory.
Perhaps, this was the price of finding his "heart."
Regret, sorrow, and other complex emotions intertwined in Ulquiorra's heart.
Though his expression remained as usual,
subtle movements revealed a slight change in him.
He couldn't articulate what these emotions were.
But clearly, he had found himself.
Thinking of this,
"I lost," he said calmly.
The reishi gathered in his hand gradually dispersed.
His black wings no longer flapped.
Ulquiorra fell into the Forest of Menos.
The loss of power made him feel a little weak.
He feebly clenched his fists, and a clear sense of acceptance appeared on his cold face.
"Kill me."
He had no remaining strength to fight.
Murciélago was his initial form, and also his final form.
If he couldn't defeat the opponent even using Murciélago,
then all that awaited him was death.
As for Segunda Etapa, it had not yet appeared.
Because Aizen had not yet developed the Hōgyoku.
No matter how strong an Adjuchas was, it only had one form.
This was also why Yammy had not continued to grow.
Without the Hōgyoku to break the upper limit, a dozen meters was his limit.
From the moment of his birth, Ulquiorra understood that all things were void.
It was but death.
The only thing he regretted was disappointing Lord Aizen's expectations.
Yammy was also going to die.
As a friend who shared hardships, it was the last thing he could do for Yammy.
Surging emotions, like a flood from an opened gate, crashed against his chest.
Once they appeared, they were like rolling waves, unstoppable.
A rustling sound arose.
Yoriichi slowly landed.
His gaze reflected the sight of Ulquiorra's wings behind him dispersing like wind.
Noticing Yoriichi observing these,
Ulquiorra, using his remaining time, explained:
"This is the ultimate fate of my Murciélago form."
"Abusing Cero Oscuras ultimately leads to the collapse of the body."
"Kill me, Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Dying by your hand will be a fitting end to my life."
"I found my heart, but I don't have much time left."
"This must be what you often call regrettable, regrettable that I didn't meet you sooner."
"But on second thought, even if it were sooner, it wouldn't have any meaning…"
"I am not Harribel; companions are dispensable in my eyes."
"Even if I found my heart, I still can't empathize with you…"
"Come, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, do it." His expression was as usual.
But his tone clearly conveyed a sense of relief.
As if there was nothing left in the world he cared about.
Hearing this, Yoriichi Tsugikuni fell silent.
He quietly raised his blade.
Meeting Ulquiorra's calm gaze.
Whoosh.
A dark red chain, following the tip of the blade, pierced through Ulquiorra's chest.
Within the Forest of Menos, the Hell Gate roared open.
Amidst the sound, Ulquiorra vaguely heard Yoriichi Tsugikuni's final words:
"Physical death is indeed not true death…"
"Ulquiorra, see you in Hell."
"You are a worthy opponent."
…
Boom!
A loud bang, like a clap of thunder, exploded, and the Hell Gate slammed shut amidst violent tremors.
Ulquiorra and Yammy's figures instantly vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed in this world.
Both of them were above the third-grade reishi level, so their reishi would not be recycled into the Three Realms after death.
Rather than letting them reach Hell on their own, it was better to personally send them off and mark them, to prevent future unforeseen circumstances.
The moment Ulquiorra fell into Hell, Yoriichi Tsugikuni clearly captured his gaze, it was very genuine.
But unfortunately, he was Aizen's subordinate, and his personality was quite terrible.
He was indifferent to life and death, so he naturally held no pity for the weak.
Not wantonly killing the innocent was merely a result of his cold personality.
Just like an extremely rational person would not destroy an ant's nest out of momentary emotion, but crushing an ant casually was not out of the question.
Yoriichi found it difficult to agree.
Another loud boom sounded.
Kisuke Urahara leaped down at this moment, arriving beside Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Both of them gazed at the spot where the Hell Gate had just appeared, Kisuke Urahara remarked with emotion:
"Is that the Hell Gate? It's truly magnificent."
"Yoriichi, actually, there's a question I've wanted to ask for a long time: what kind of world is Hell exactly?"
"Does the fact that you can imprison so many powerful individuals in the Hell Gate mean that you can also control them?"
"After all, if I'm not mistaken, that chain should signify the bonds of Hell, right?"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni quietly glanced at him and retorted, "Why would you think that?"
"I am merely performing the duties of Hell."
"Hell is a world of death without life; after death, once a sin is perceived by Hell, one becomes a Sinners."
"They will experience death again and again in Hell, resurrecting again and again, thereby purging all sins from their bodies."
"The chains are indeed a method to control them, but only limited to pulling them back to Hell."
"They won't die?" Kisuke Urahara keenly noticed a detail, his thoughts instantly became active, and he suddenly remembered a crucial point,
"Yoriichi, are you saying that the First Generation Captains of the Gotei 13 might still be alive?"
"Pulled back to Hell… Is there actually a way to escape Hell?"
If this hypothesis was true, then it would be extraordinary.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's ability, to put it mildly, was to control the opening of the Hell Gate and imprison criminals; to put it grandly, it represented the authority of Hell.
If Seireitei ever faced danger, for example, being invaded by Menos Grande, or by something else…
With Yoriichi Tsugikuni present, at a critical moment, this ability would play a role in turning the tide.
It should be known that since the establishment of the Gotei 13, there have been more than just thirteen Captains.
Hundreds of experts above the third-grade reishi level, which one of them could not be subdued by him?
No wonder those nobles were so wary of him before; it turned out it wasn't just because they could be imprisoned in the Hell Gate at any time, but also because Yoriichi Tsugikuni could overturn the chessboard at any time.
They couldn't determine whether those Captains could be resurrected or controlled by him…
If they could, then Yoriichi Tsugikuni's threat would far exceed Yamamoto Genryusai's.
Because no matter how strong Yamamoto Genryusai was, he couldn't instantly kill hundreds of Captains with one strike.
Among those Captains, there was no lack of experts on the same level as Yamamoto Genryusai.