Afterward, Shin upgraded both [Sonído] and [Eye Cero] by one level. But since his remaining attribute reserves were too low, the upgrade for [Ring Cero] had to be put on hold.
Once he finished tidying up, all the low-value attributes were converted into reiryoku. Only then did Shin close the system and quicken his pace. He had to admit, he'd been dragging his feet for a while now. Nel was probably running in circles with worry at the rendezvous point.
Yet when he finally reached the dead tree, Nel and her two fracción were nowhere to be seen.
Scanning the dunes, Shin sensed something hidden just beyond one of them.
"Oi, Iilforte, is that brat really our target?"
Sure enough, four figures stepped into view from behind the dune.
"He looks way too weak. Do we really need all four of us to bring him in?" one of the pudgier men sneered.
Shin's lean frame had clearly made them underestimate him.
"I've crossed paths with him a few times. His only trick is breaking down corpses, yet somehow that got him noticed by the higher-ups, and even invited to Las Noches. Honestly, I don't get it either," Iilforte replied helplessly.
"You three aren't doubting Aizen-sama's judgment, are you? Or mocking Grimmjow's orders?" The fourth one, silent until now, finally spoke.
"Ah… Shawlong, we didn't mean, "
The others grew hesitant immediately, showing a trace of respect for him. Shawlong's gaze, however, stayed fixed on Shin. "That boy doesn't look like he'll agree so easily."
…
Standing his ground, Shin recognized them at once: Shawlong, Nakeem, Iilforte, and D-Roy. Grimmjow's fracción.
From their open conversation, Shin guessed they still didn't know Edorad was dead. They weren't here for revenge, they'd just come to escort him to Las Noches.
But Shin couldn't shake the thought that Nel's disappearance might be connected.
Soon, the four approached him directly and stated their purpose. Shin's reply was simple: "You want me in Las Noches? If that's really the case, then at least release my companions first."
D-Roy snapped, "Brat! Watch your mouth! We never saw any of your companions!"
"D-Roy, calm down," Shawlong cut in smoothly. "It's true we've heard of three others traveling with you, but we don't know their whereabouts."
"Then there's nothing more to say. I'll find them first, after that, we'll talk about Las Noches."
Shin turned to leave, his mind set. He had no intention of walking willingly into Aizen's fortress. Whether or not they were lying about Nel, one thing was certain: nothing good awaited him inside Las Noches.
But suddenly, a rush of sonido cut him off. Three of them flashed forward, surrounding Shin from all directions, leaving Shawlong standing back.
They formed a tight circle, trapping him in the middle. Nakeem sneered first: "So, in your eyes, Aizen-sama's invitation is worth less than the lives of your little companions?"
The words made Shin's blood run cold. He couldn't tell if they were insulting Nel and the others, or mocking him outright.
"Yes. That's exactly how I see it."
He kept walking forward, voice steady.
"You'd better understand, our patience has limits."
Shawlong's tone dropped, like a final warning.
But Shin never stopped, still striding calmly away.
Shawlong's expression hardened. At his signal, the others moved in.
Of course, they didn't dare go all out. This boy had been personally "invited" by Aizen. If they harmed him enough to ruin his evolution, they'd pay dearly. No, their goal was intimidation, overawe him, rattle him, and cut him down to size.
But Shin showed no hesitation.
His reiryoku flared, surging outward. In an instant, four blood-red spheres appeared around him, each one glowing with destructive energy.
Four spheres, the telltale prelude to [Ring Cero].
At his center, they spun into a blazing orbit, grinding violently against the spirit particles in the air.
The heat spiked. Then, with a booming crack, the orbit solidified into a burning crimson ring that wrapped around Shin like a barrier.
Less than a heartbeat later, the ring cracked apart and detonated.
A flood of scarlet light erupted outward, like a perfect wall of searing energy, surging toward the four Arrancar.
The fracción panicked, abandoning their earlier restraint. They'd never seen such a terrifying technique.
Instantly, they pulled on their full power and released Resurrección.
Four Arrancar revealed their true forms, pouring spiritual pressure into the desert until the very air grew heavy.
But none dared to relax. Every instinct screamed that this attack was lethal.
Only Cero could hope to oppose it.
Without exchanging a word, their teamwork was flawless. All four began charging Ceros at once.
Four beams, each a different hue, roared out to meet Shin's attack.
Yet the moment they struck the crimson ring's edge, it was like waves hitting a tidal vortex, swallowed and torn apart before they could even ripple the surface.
The next instant, the four were engulfed completely.
The burning wall of energy smashed into them, stripping reiryoku from their bodies, shredding their armor, and obliterating their Resurrección forms.
When the dust cleared, the battlefield was silent.
They weren't dead, thanks only to their own Ceros absorbing some of the blast, but their releases were gone, their bodies battered, their pride shattered.
They stared at Shin in disbelief. This frail-looking boy had unleashed such overwhelming power.
"I already told you, I'll find my companions first. Don't you understand plain words?"
Unscathed, Shin walked past them.
The four flinched but didn't move, not one daring to block his way again.
Then-
From above, the sky itself split with a razor-sharp roar.
"You! You look far too cocky!"
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150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter