"Ulquiorra, this is for you."
As Yoshio walked down the corridors of Las Noches, he spotted Ulquiorra ahead. With a flick of his wrist, a small fragment shot out and landed in Ulquiorra's hand.
"This is…?" Ulquiorra examined the object, his expression unchanging. "Substance from that human woman's body?"
"Precisely," Yoshio replied with a faint smile. "Now that Inoue Orihime is your subordinate, her things naturally go to you."
Indeed, after being manipulated, Inoue Orihime had been assigned by Aizen to serve under Ulquiorra.
Of course, Orihime spent most of her time with Aizen, assisting him with a certain research project. With her powers, many experiments could be conducted boldly, as failure would have no impact.
The only problem was that Orihime's own spiritual pressure was too weak to affect extremely powerful beings—like Aizen himself.
After handing the seed of light to Ulquiorra, Yoshio waited quietly. Both sides were nearly ready.
…
After Orihime was taken, everyone began their final preparations—especially Kurosaki Ichigo.
Ichigo was the most anxious of all. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sought out Ishida Uryū for training, or agreed to his conditions.
After about a week, Ichigo simply couldn't wait any longer.
He asked Rukia, but she told him Soul Society was still preparing and needed a few more days.
So, when night fell, Ichigo clenched his fists and ran straight to the Black Cat Bookstore.
…
"Angra-san…"
Angra Mainyu was reading in the bookstore when he saw Ichigo walk in. Seeing Ichigo's tense expression, Angra said softly, "It seems you've made up your mind."
"Mm." Ichigo nodded. "I really can't wait any longer. I want to go to Las Noches and rescue Inoue!"
"What about Karakura Town?" Angra asked. "If you go to Hueco Mundo, who will protect Karakura Town?"
Ichigo fell silent. After a moment, he said, "Rukia and the others are still in the Human World."
"Who said we're here?"
Suddenly, Rukia's voice came from deeper inside. She was sitting in a corner, reading a book!
Ichigo jumped in surprise. "Rukia? What are you doing here?!"
"Why can't I be here?" Rukia smiled. "I knew you'd come looking for Urahara and Angra-san, so I've been waiting."
"Rukia… No matter what you say, I'm going to Hueco Mundo. I can't wait any longer."
"Who said I was going to stop you?" Rukia's smile didn't fade. "I only said Soul Society's Shinigami wouldn't go for a large-scale operation yet. But I never said I couldn't go."
"...?" Ichigo stared, stunned. "Rukia, you…"
"Enough talk. Going to Hueco Mundo alone is suicide. The more people, the better."
"You didn't mention a Shinigami would be here, too."
A new voice startled Ichigo from behind—he turned and found Ishida Uryū!
"Ishida?! Why are you here?" Ichigo's eyes widened.
"You told me about Inoue. Did you think I'd stand by and do nothing?" Ishida replied coldly. "Is this where the Shinigami gather?"
Ichigo waved his hands. "No! This is just a bookstore. The owner is our friend, that's all!"
He didn't dare reveal everyone here was a Shinigami, or Ishida would fixate on the place.
Rukia also seemed lost in thought after seeing Ishida.
"Ishida Soken... what's your relation to him?" she asked.
"It's good you still remember," Ishida said coldly, meeting her gaze. "He was my grandfather."
Rukia's pupils contracted. She stood up quickly, as if wanting to say something, but finally, she only managed a quiet, "I'm sorry."
Ichigo watched, bewildered by the strange atmosphere.
Rukia had encountered Ishida Uryū before, once mistaking him for a Quincy who'd appeared in Seireitei. Later, her curiosity led her to investigate—and she realized Ishida Uryū had always been in Karakura Town.
At that time, she'd thought of Ishida Soken. She recalled being nearly killed by an Arrancar named Shawlong Koufang, only to be saved by Ishida Soken—who also died at Shawlong's hands.
Seeing Ishida now, she felt a sense of guilt.
"Our goal is to rescue Inoue. It has nothing to do with the Shinigami, so… don't blame Rukia!" Ichigo interjected, still not knowing the whole story.
Ishida didn't respond. He knew his grandfather's death couldn't be blamed entirely on Rukia, but he still scoffed at the Shinigami for their failures.
Angra Mainyu interrupted. "The three of you intend to challenge Hueco Mundo?"
"Yes!" Ichigo nodded firmly.
"I can send you, but I won't go with you," Angra said softly. "Aizen could unseal the Hōgyoku at any time, and may attack Karakura Town. I must stay in the Human World."
"I know," Ichigo said. "The safety of Karakura Town—I entrust it to you, Angra-san!"
Angra nodded, and with a gesture, opened a massive Garganta.
Ishida's eyes widened. He'd thought Angra was a Shinigami—but this was clearly a Hollow's technique. Was Angra a Hollow?
But… he had no mask. Could that still be called a Hollow?
This wasn't the time to worry about Angra's identity. The Garganta was open. The three stepped inside together.
Ichigo was familiar with the Garganta. Along the way, he tried to ease the tension between Rukia and Ishida, but neither said much. It made Ichigo feel uneasy.
Soon, they reached Hueco Mundo. Ichigo steadied himself, then saw Ishida walk off to the left.
"Eh? Ishida, wait—!"
"There's nothing to wait for," Ishida said coldly. "I won't cooperate with Shinigami. I'll rescue Inoue my own way."
Before Ichigo could reply, Ishida vanished with Hirenkyaku.
"That guy…!" Ichigo clenched his fists, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
"Forget it, Ichigo. This was my fault to begin with," Rukia said softly.
"If I hadn't been so incompetent, Ishida's grandfather probably wouldn't have died."
"..." Ichigo didn't know what to say. This was family—he couldn't interfere.
"So in the end, the culprit is still the Hollow. If he didn't die, then let's take him down this time! Avenge Ishida's grandfather!"
Rukia was surprised. "How do you know Shawlong Koufang isn't dead?"
"Isn't it obvious? You said Yoshio took him down, but Yoshio's a traitor. They're on the same side—of course, he wouldn't really kill him."
"Uh. That makes sense." Rukia was chagrined. She hadn't realized it before.
"Ishida, alone in Hueco Mundo… won't he be in danger?" she asked, worried.
"He'll be fine," Ichigo replied. "That guy is much smarter than me. I trust him."
Hearing that, Rukia could only nod.
They surveyed their surroundings: a vast expanse of white, and a blood-red moon in the sky.
The sight reminded them of the battle above Karakura Town, and the horrifying scene of monsters cutting their own throats. They'd never forget it.
"Let's… go!" Ichigo said in a low voice. They had to head for Las Noches.
"Be careful. According to our intelligence, the outer perimeter of Las Noches is the 'Tres Cifras,' guarded by a powerful Three-Digit army," Rukia warned. "The strongest Three-Digits are no less powerful than the Espada we encountered before."
As she spoke, the ground beneath them began to collapse.
Rukia was quick, grabbing Ichigo. "Runuganga!" she shouted. "I know it's you! Stop playing tricks!"
The sand around them came alive. Countless grains gathered, forming a gigantic white giant crowned like a king.
He stared at them with leaden eyes. "Insignificant insects dare trespass into Las Noches? I will… crush you!"
Sand surged forward. Ichigo swung his hand, unleashing a Getsuga Tensho that scattered the sand—but it quickly reformed!
"In this world of sand, I am invincible!" Runuganga laughed. "How can you Shinigami possibly contend with endless sand?!"
"Don't speak too soon." Rukia's eyes glinted. Sode no Shirayuki was unsheathed.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
With a swing, countless rays of clear light spilled forth. The sandstorm froze instantly, forming a giant wall of ice. The power spread, freezing Runuganga's body solid!
"Ichigo!" Rukia called.
"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo understood, unleashing a massive slash. The frozen sandstorm shattered, the blast smashing into Runuganga!
In the blink of an eye, the giant shattered into icy fragments!
Rukia had learned from Hitsugaya that Runuganga's weakness was water. Without it, he was nearly invincible. But with water, he was easily defeated!
Rukia with Sode no Shirayuki was his bane!
"We still don't know which Three-Digit is ahead," Rukia said. "The Three-Digits circle the outer perimeter. If we break through at one point, we only face one. Runuganga is an exception—his body is sand, so he can appear anywhere. But we've taken him down. If we defeat the next Three-Digit, we can enter Las Noches!"
"Got it!" Ichigo nodded, listening carefully.
They hurried forward.
But the next enemy forced them to stop.
Standing ahead was a figure: Dark Rukia, waiting for them with an indifferent smile.
Rukia's expression hardened. "Alright. It seems we'll have to split up. I'll take her down, Ichigo. You go ahead—I'll catch up!"