Chapter 133: An Order, Not a Negotiation
Ulquiorra's figure vanished, leaving Aizen alone atop the mountain peak.
Aizen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes glinting with a cold, calculating light.
Ulquiorra's return signaled a significant boost to Aizen's power. The Fourth Espada was like a cold-blooded demon, one who would carry out Aizen's orders with absolute, ruthless efficiency.
Just as he had been in Hueco Mundo, Ulquiorra was the enforcer of Las Noches. Whether facing Shinigami or any other foe, if Ulquiorra perceived a threat, he would act decisively, employing the most brutal means to eradicate his target.
On the winding path through the mountainside, the shinobi legion of the Land of Demons advanced in an orderly formation. At their center, the Shrine Maiden Shion was heavily guarded.
They were desperate to reach the sealed grounds and thwart the mysterious culprits' conspiracy. Unfortunately, they were unaware that the danger had already silently closed in.
The shinobi of the Land of Demons did not know they had become prey. The appearance of the Black-Winged Demon would herald the withering of their life's flower.
"Lady Shion, we have now entered the territory of the Land of Swamps," Asaho reported, his face grave and ever-vigilant. "From this point on, we must remain on the highest alert. The mysterious individuals are likely to ambush us along the way."
His sole duty was to protect the Shrine Maiden. He would not hesitate to lay down his own life for her safety.
"You are being overly cautious," one of the Chūnin sneered, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "We number in the hundreds. Are we to fear a handful of murderers?" He looked at Asaho with derision. "Or are you simply lacking confidence in your own strength?"
"Hahaha... what a coward," another ninja joined in, laughing.
The surrounding ninjas all chuckled, looking at Asaho with intense contempt. As shinobi, they relied on their noble status and always looked down on mere samurai. Especially in a small, desolate country like the Land of Demons, their sense of superiority was even more pronounced.
"Protecting Lady Shion is the duty of every subject of the Land of Demons!" Asaho retorted angrily, his face flushed. "What is there to laugh about?!"
"You are just a lowly samurai. What right do you have to posture so righteously in front of us?" the Chūnin sneered, not bothering to hide his disdain.
"Enough!" Shion's voice, though filled with anger, still rang out as sweetly as a bell. "Whether you are samurai or shinobi, you are all subjects of the Land of Demons! There is no need for such pointless quarreling at a time like this!"
She glared at them. "Cast aside your prejudices. We continue our march."
But as her words faded, a cold, bone-chilling voice cut through the air, freezing the blood in their veins.
"It is too late to leave now, humble humans."
Instantly, all eyes snapped toward the source of the voice.
Whoosh!
A sound like tearing cloth echoed, and a slender figure materialized before them.
Emerald green eyes. Short, jagged black hair. A slim white robe. A Zanpakutō sheathed at his waist.
Ulquiorra Cifer.
The Great Black-Winged Demon, who had once made the entire Soul Society tremble in fear, was about to reveal his edge in the shinobi world.
"Who are you?!" a ninja shouted, his face pale with shock and fear.
They were horrified to discover that merely meeting Ulquiorra's gaze invoked an involuntary, primal terror. Those eyes held no emotional fluctuation, only the purest chill and a bottomless contempt for humanity.
They were ruthless, murderous, and brutal.
No human could ever possess such a gaze!
"Hand over that woman," Ulquiorra stated, ignoring their questions entirely. In his eyes, ninja and samurai were no different from ants. "She belongs to Lord Aizen."
His only task was to bring Shion to Aizen. Nothing else mattered.
"It's him! He is one of the mysterious men!" Shion's face lost all color, her fear so profound it drained the blood from her cheeks.
Ulquiorra's figure overlapped perfectly with the one from her prophetic dream. She recognized him immediately.
"Capture him!" Shion cried out urgently, her heart pounding. "Or you will all die by his hand!"
In that dream, the entire army of the Land of Demons had been annihilated. Not a single soul had survived.
"To think your ability is beyond my expectations," Ulquiorra remarked, his voice as cold and expressionless as his face. "But your struggle will only make your end more bleak."
If not for his almost human appearance, the ninjas would have sworn they were facing a wild beast.
"Damn it! How dare you speak with such arrogance when you're alone?!" a ninja roared, his anger overriding his fear. "Everyone, attack! Kill him!"
His cry stirred the others. A raging fire ignited in their hearts. For the safety of the Shrine Maiden and the glory of the Land of Demons, they were prepared to fight to the death!
But before any of them could make a move, Ulquiorra's figure disappeared.
Sonído!
In less than a blink, Ulquiorra seemed to transcend space itself, reappearing directly before their front line.
His frosty eyes swept over them. He raised his hand, two fingers extended. A brilliant, emerald-green energy began to coalesce between his fingertips.
Fwoosh.
The turquoise energy radiated an unparalleled, terrifying pressure. As the green light fully condensed, this dreadful aura reached its peak.
Cero.
A massive beam of emerald energy blasted forth. An aura of absolute destruction swept outwards. The shinobi of the Land of Demons didn't even have time to react before they were erased from existence.
A moment later, the green light faded, revealing a scene of utter carnage.
Nearly half of the Ghost Country's shinobi were gone, vaporized into indistinct chunks of flesh and blood. The faces of the survivors were ashen; their legs gave way, and they collapsed to the ground, paralyzed with terror.
"Come with me, woman," Ulquiorra commanded, taking a step forward as if he were merely strolling through an empty field. In moments, he stood directly before Shion. His cold eyes pinned her in place, shooting icy daggers into her soul.
"Do not speak. You may only answer 'yes'. Any answer other than that, and I will act. I will not kill you," he stated, his voice devoid of all warmth. "I will kill your companions."
"Do not ask anything. Do not say anything. You have no rights here. What you hold in your hand..." he paused, his gaze intensifying, "...is the rope of the guillotine tied to your companions' necks. Nothing more."
Ulquiorra slowly turned, preparing to leave, his final words dropping like chips of ice.
"Woman, you must understand. This is not a negotiation. It is an order."
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