"Captain Ryūjin, it seems the situation in The Void Land is far more complicated than we expected."
After Tōshirō Hitsugaya departed, Aizen adjusted his glasses and addressed Ryūjin Uchiha.
"Complicated?" Ryūjin replied with clear disinterest. "Do what Kenpachi does, find the Hollows and kill them. That's it."
"Captain Ryūjin is quite optimistic," Aizen said gently. "Knowing I'll be acting alongside someone as powerful as you is reassuring."
Though his words sounded casual, Aizen was subtly reinforcing the idea that they would be working together.
Ryūjin answered with cold indifference, staying in character, but inwardly he scoffed.
You definitely sent Hitsugaya away on purpose.
Even so, Ryūjin did not expose him or try to shake him off. He continued forward with Aizen and the others, scouting as if nothing was out of place.
Everything remained quiet until they advanced another two kilometers.
Then Ryūjin's expression shifted slightly.
He sensed it.
Twenty-seven, maybe twenty-eight Hollows rushing straight toward them.
Good heavens.
According to the Captain Commander's report, there were only around thirty Hollows in total.
And yet Aizen had practically gathered all of them just to greet him.
That was some dedication.
The unstable Spiritual Pressure in The Void Land disrupted perception heavily, so no one else noticed.
No one except Aizen.
There was no way Aizen had not detected them, especially since he was the one orchestrating it.
"Captain, what's wrong?" Ikkaku Madarame asked, noticing the change.
"Stay sharp. A group of Hollows is coming," Ryūjin said flatly.
Shock spread through the group.
Hollows appearing in groups like this was unheard of.
They tried sensing for themselves, but found nothing. Their Spiritual Pressure simply was not strong enough.
Behind his glasses, Aizen's eyes flickered slightly.
Ryūjin had detected them from that distance. His Spiritual Pressure was monstrous.
Only the Captain Commander and Aizen himself might compare.
"A group?" Yumichika Ayasegawa asked, visibly stunned.
"Twenty-eight. Two of them are Adjuchas. Get ready," Ryūjin ordered.
Just as he finished speaking, his perception caught something else.
Another group.
From a different direction.
Smaller, about seventeen.
"In that direction," Ryūjin said, pointing sharply. "Seventeen more incoming."
"Nani?"
This time, the reaction was even stronger.
Forty-five Hollows in total.
This was completely abnormal.
"Captain Ryūjin, we cannot let them surround us. If both groups converge, we'll be trapped. The Tenth Division will intercept the second group."
Third Seat Shion stepped forward, speaking with firm resolve.
The plan was solid.
"Fine. We'll handle the rest," Ryūjin replied without hesitation.
Shion immediately led the Tenth Division away, moving to intercept the second group.
"Captain Ryūjin, the Fifth Division is not suited to advance further."
Aizen adjusted his glasses again.
"My squad will remain here to provide support and backup."
That made sense. The Fifth Division was not built for direct combat, especially against this scale of enemies.
"However, Captain Ryūjin, I will accompany the Eleventh Division personally and use Kyōka Suigetsu to support you."
He did not even wait for a response.
Everything he said was perfectly reasonable, leaving no room for objection.
"Captain Aizen, we're counting on you," Yumichika said sincerely.
"This is only natural. Let us work together and resolve this quickly," Aizen replied with a composed smile.
Just like that, the combined force of three divisions was reduced to the Eleventh Division and Aizen.
Everything flowed so smoothly it barely raised suspicion.
Ryūjin said nothing more. He led his division forward, heading straight for the incoming Hollows.
The pressure ahead was suffocating.
Through the thick fog, massive silhouettes moved closer.
Even the battle-hardened Eleventh Division felt the tension.
Grips tightened on zanpakutō. Sweat gathered in palms.
The ground trembled.
The Hollows, showing clear intelligence, paused briefly before charging.
Their advance shook the earth like a marching army.
At the front, Ryūjin stood with his asauchi in hand, expression steady.
Unbothered.
Behind him, the Eleventh Division formed ranks, faces set with grim focus.
"Captain Ryūjin, members of the Eleventh Division."
At that moment, Aizen stepped forward.
He came to Ryūjin's side and raised his zanpakutō.
"I will use Kyōka Suigetsu to disrupt them. The rest is up to you."
His tone carried a sense of duty.
Several members looked at him with gratitude, even admiration.
Despite not being suited for combat, he stood at the front for their sake.
Clang.
Aizen drew his blade.
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
He released it right beside Ryūjin, directly within his line of sight.
Every detail of the Shikai was seen.
Half of Aizen's plan was complete.
What he did not realize was that Ryūjin had allowed it.
The effect was immediate.
The charging Hollows fell into chaos.
Some attacked empty space, others turned on their own kind.
Only the two Adjuchas resisted partially, their movements slowed but not entirely disrupted.
Even so, it was more than enough.
"As expected of Captain Aizen. They're already disoriented!"
"Now's our chance!"
The Eleventh Division surged forward with renewed confidence.
"I'll take the two big ones. The rest are yours," Ryūjin said, already moving.
"Let's go!"
"We're not letting the Captain have all the fun!"
They followed, clashing with the Hollow horde.
Despite their numbers, the confused state of the Hollows made them manageable.
The real issue was sheer quantity.
Still, with Ryūjin handling the strongest enemies and Aizen providing support, victory seemed certain.
Then everything changed.
The surrounding Spiritual Pressure began to surge violently.
The air grew heavy, unstable.
"This is bad. A Spiritual Pressure Storm. Retreat immediately!"
Aizen's voice cut through the chaos.
Shock hit the Eleventh Division.
A Spiritual Pressure Storm was no joke.
Anyone caught in it would be torn apart instantly.
Even lieutenants could not guarantee survival.
Only captains stood a chance, and even they avoided it whenever possible.
The wind howled.
Spiritual Pressure surged like a raging sea.
A massive tornado of energy approached, devouring everything in its path.
"Fall back!"
"Move, now!"
Everyone abandoned the fight and used Shunpo to escape.
Moments later, the storm swept through.
The Hollows, still trapped in confusion, were swallowed instantly.
Their bodies were shredded, broken down into reishi, absorbed into the storm.
The sight sent a chill through the survivors.
This was the true terror of The Void Land.
The Eleventh Division scattered, each member forced into isolation.
Even Aizen was separated.
Ryūjin watched the storm recede, eyes narrowing slightly.
Too convenient.
Spiritual Pressure in The Void Land was unstable, but this timing was suspicious.
Knowing Aizen, it was hard to dismiss.
Then he felt it.
A presence.
A Hollow, but far beyond Adjuchas.
Its Spiritual Pressure was overwhelming.
Ryūjin turned slowly.
A skeletal figure approached through the fog.
It wore a black robe.
A golden crown rested upon its skull.
Ryūjin recognized it instantly.
Baraggan.
The king of Hueco Mundo.
So that was the point of the storm.
To isolate him.
Aizen had arranged this carefully.
Sending Baraggan directly at him was not a small move.
Back when Aizen defected, a Hollow had opened the Garganta for him.
That alone proved he had already conquered Hueco Mundo.
Which meant one thing.
Baraggan had been under his control for a long time.