A vast darkness appeared in the sky above Las Noches.
And after that darkness descended, people had already materialized across every corner of Las Noches.
Kurosaki Ichigo was dodging Nnoitra's blade when, suddenly, another sword blocked Nnoitra's scythe.
"Kenpachi?!"
Ichigo stared at Kenpachi in shock, exclaiming, "How did you get here?!"
Kenpachi, wearing his eyepatch, didn't even glance at Ichigo. He kept his eyes on Nnoitra and said, "Idiot, it's not just me who came… We came."
At the entrance of Las Noches, five young women emerged from the Garganta.
"This is my first time going through a Garganta. So this is what it feels like," Meninas said, pouting as she described her novel experience.
"There's nothing good about it. It's much more troublesome than the Gate of the Sun," Bambietta, the leader, replied disdainfully. "Why else would they call it a Hollow's thing? It's just low-grade."
"This is such a hassle. I knew I shouldn't have come," Liltotto complained. "The smell of food wafting in the air here isn't very pleasant."
"Complain less!" Candice grinned. "I'm ready for a massacre!"
"Eh? Isn't our mission just to slack off?" Giselle tilted her head. "We're supposed to turn defeated Hollows into zombies and bring them back to Wandenreich, but it doesn't say we have to defeat them ourselves. Couldn't we just let the Shinigami do the work?"
"Gigi is right," Liltotto said dully. "This is originally the Shinigami's business. I think it's fine to just follow them around."
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm telling you guys, at least show some enthusiasm!" Bambietta snapped. "Don't let the Shinigami look down on us!"
"It's right for them to look down on us," Liltotto replied. "Won't they underestimate us that way?"
"I think Lily makes a good point," Meninas nodded.
"Then let's just deal with these people!" Candice shouted. "Look, they're already surrounding us!"
Appearing before them were the remaining Three-Digits—four in total, three men and one woman!
"104, 105, 106, 108… They all seem like small fries," Bambietta sneered.
"Where did these bitches come from?" Loly Aivirrne spat, glaring at the arrogant Bambietta. "I was going to eliminate that Kurosaki Ichigo, but now, you guys are definitely more disgusting."
"Forget it, it's about the same," Giselle shrugged. "It seems like many more Fracción are coming from behind. Let the Shinigami handle the rest. We've helped enough, haven't we?"
"If you ask me, after we take care of this group, we might as well take out those Shinigami too."
"Then you go do it. I'm too lazy to fight them; just thinking about it is exhausting."
"Lily, you're really no fun at all!"
But as they spoke, the massive Garganta behind them suddenly began to close!
?!
This sudden change shocked both Shinigami and Quincy alike.
In the next moment, Aizen's voice echoed in their minds.
"Intruders, welcome to my world."
"…Is that Aizen?"
"That voice sounds pretty good."
"Idiot Candice, don't be fooled by that guy!"
"Aizen…" Rukia gritted her teeth, looking skyward. She recognized this as 'Tenteikūra.'
How could it be so fast? As soon as the Captains arrived, he closed the Garganta and then broadcasted his message?
If…
If Aizen launched a siege at this moment, wouldn't they… be doomed?
Aizen's next words struck Rukia and Ichigo with shock.
"We are now going to launch an attack on Karakura Town in the Human World."
?!
What?!
Ichigo's pupils shrank. He immediately turned toward the core of Las Noches!
"I know your objective: to rescue Inoue Orihime. However… unfortunately, she has already become one of us."
"She will serve as the Fracción of the Fourth Espada, Ulquiorra, and fight to defend Las Noches."
"Speaking of defense, it's naturally because we are going to the Human World to destroy Karakura Town."
…
In the core palace of Las Noches, Aizen looked at the opened Garganta before him, speaking indifferently.
"Inoue Orihime's existence will inevitably draw Kurosaki Ichigo to Hueco Mundo."
"And Kurosaki Ichigo's arrival will inevitably prompt the actions of the Gotei 13, allowing me to trap their key combat forces in Hueco Mundo."
"The most formidable aspect of the Gotei 13 is not that any one Captain is particularly strong, but that every one of the thirteen Captains can serve as a primary combat force."
"But now, four of them have betrayed, and four are sealed. The Soul Society's power is at its lowest point."
"Too easy to deal with."
Aizen stepped into the Garganta, accompanied by Gin Ichimaru, Tōsen Kaname, and others. Inside, Aizen continued:
"We will first destroy Karakura Town, then create the King's Key, and then conquer the Soul Society and the Soul King Palace."
"As for you all, I will deal with you slowly after I have taken care of all this."
The next moment, Aizen and the others vanished into the Garganta!
…
As the voice faded, Ichigo's eyes widened. He wanted to rush to the core, to rescue Orihime and stop Aizen!
But before he could move, a new voice entered their minds.
"Soul Society, it's been a while."
This is…
Those who were about to act involuntarily stopped.
Yoshio's voice!
Upon hearing it, people couldn't help but focus, frown, or be shocked.
"It seems everyone still remembers me, which saves me the trouble of introducing myself again," Yoshio said, standing before the nearly closed Garganta.
"Just as Aizen said, we are going to destroy Karakura Town, but I'm sure you won't just watch us achieve our goal…"
"There should be a battle in Karakura Town, right?"
!
The arriving Captains raised their eyebrows. They had indeed thought so.
They had guessed that Aizen might exploit their absence to attack Karakura Town, so they had already prepared.
But now, Yoshio had seen through their plans.
If Aizen and his group changed their strategy—if they besieged everyone in Hueco Mundo instead—then they…
…would be in grave danger.
Even the most confident Shinigami doubted they could defeat Aizen's group with their current forces.
Everyone grew tense.
If this was truly the case… then the coming battle would be bitter indeed!
Yoshio's voice continued.
"But you can rest assured."
"Because in our view, whether it's the Shinigami of Karakura Town or Las Noches, they are merely obstacles easily removed."
"Enemies that can be dealt with by a single swing of a sword, even if they are split into two locations, only require two swings."
"I… actually hope you can put on a spectacular performance."
With those words, Yoshio's voice faded. He too entered the Garganta.
…
"What kind of battle is this for you?"
Aizen seemed to be waiting for Yoshio ahead. He asked softly.
"Well…"
Yoshio walked over, smiling. "Perhaps it's a good path to deification."
"Deification, huh…"
Aizen, hearing this, showed a faint smile, then took a step forward.
It was as if he had stepped from one world into another—from the false daylight of Las Noches, into the true, sunlit sky of the Human World.
In the blue sky, a group of six emerged from the giant Garganta:
Aizen Sōsuke, Gin Ichimaru, Tōsen Kaname, Hinamori Momo, Kira Izuru, and Yoshio Kamado.
The moment they stepped out, three distinct groups appeared in silent Karakura Town:
On the left: a group in strange clothing, staring intently at the newcomers above.
In the center: Captains in white haori and Lieutenants in black, led by the Captain-Commander, hands on their blades, ready for battle.
On the far right: only three, clad in white military uniforms and caps. Only one among them seemed to have good morale.
"Visored, Gotei 13, and… Quincy."
Aizen looked at the three factions, smiling faintly.
"Three factions that should be hostile to each other, yet they cooperate for our sake?"
"That only proves your wickedness," Yamamoto Genryusai declared, standing at the front. "Aizen Sōsuke, do you think you can defeat us?"
"Today is your doomsday."
"On what grounds do you say that?"
Aizen looked down from the sky. "Contacting Hirako Shinji and the Quincy to oppose us—this is proof of your efforts. But it will have no effect whatsoever."
"Because… this is also proof of your weakness."
"Whether it's Shinigami, Visored, or Quincy, if a group of ants chooses to join forces, a dragon will simply trample over them."
"Starrk, Baraggan, Szayelaporro, Halibel… Come out."
As his voice fell, a vast darkness appeared behind him.
From that darkness, four groups emerged—Espada No. 0, 1, 2, and 3!
Only Baraggan and Halibel brought their Fracción.
As they appeared, an immense spiritual pressure swept out!
Boom!
The released power formed a terrifying, invisible wave. Within a hundred-mile radius of Karakura Town, all Hollows were instantly crushed by the pressure—flattened to the ground, then exploding!
In one instant, weeks—months—of the Shinigami's work was obliterated.
This overwhelming pressure changed the expressions of the Shinigami—especially the Lieutenants.
"This… this is like a monster!"
Ōmaeda, Lieutenant of the Second Division, sweated profusely, his words jumbled. The others, even the Captains, wore grim faces.
Aizen's group was trouble enough. Now, these monsters had appeared—is this… Aizen's Espada?
"I won't participate in this," Yoshio said with a smile from behind Aizen. "I'll go have a talk with Angra Mainyu. After all, he's an 'old friend'."
"Of course," Aizen replied casually. "I won't restrict what you do, Yoshio-kun."
Yoshio vanished, reappearing on a distant building.
Someone was there already: Angra Mainyu.
Yoshio had no interest in participating in this battle—at least not yet. With Angra Mainyu as cover, the two could reasonably slack off.
When the Shinigami saw Yoshio disappear, they actually breathed a sigh of relief.
In their eyes, Yoshio was a formidable opponent, no less than Aizen himself.
With one less enemy, their pressure eased.
"Yoshio actually fled the battlefield," Szayelaporro laughed as he watched Yoshio leave.
"You should speak with more respect," Halibel said, arms crossed.
"I'm No. 2, and you're No. 3. So you should respect me, too."
"It wasn't fleeing," Starrk said softly, glancing at Angra. "He blocked the strongest enemy for us."
His words plunged everyone into silence. They all knew of Angra—currently the only Menos Grande who had surpassed Vasto Lorde.
"Forget it, none of that matters anyway," Szayelaporro looked at the Shinigami below. "So, all we need to do is eliminate these Shinigami and it'll be over?"
"There's no need to rush, Szayelaporro," Aizen said, standing at the front. "Killing Shinigami, destroying the Soul Society, creating the King's Key—it can all proceed as usual…"
"And the world will be within our grasp."
...