Yammy's body ended its uncontrolled flight, crashing heavily into the soil of Karakura Town Park!
Boom-
A circular crater exploded, thick dust billowing out in all directions!
Intense pain radiated from multiple points on Yammy's body!
However, at this moment, Yammy had no chance to care about the pain in his body!
Drip... drip!
Two or three drops of blood fell from above, landing on Yammy's forehead before sliding into his eye socket, dyeing his vision red!
Yet, despite having blood in his eyes, Yammy paid it no mind. Instead, he widened his eyes even more, looking up at what was above!
There, Ulquiorra had not only used his sword to block Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu, but had also extended a hand to tightly grasp Tensa Zangetsu's blade!
The blood dripping onto Yammy's face came precisely from where Ulquiorra's palm met Ichigo's blade!
Seeing this, Yammy showed an expression of utter disbelief: 'How is this possible?'
'That Ulquiorra, injured by a mere brat like this!!?'
'That's... that's... a Vasto Lorde!!" Yammy roared inwardly!
Unlike Shinigami, whose power classifications become less distinct after reaching Captain-level, the ranks of Menos Grande have always been clearly defined.
Gillian, Adjuchas, Vasto Lorde!
And Vasto Lorde, as the highest class of Hollow, even Aizen, who ruled Hueco Mundo, only managed to find a mere six of them.
Namely: Ulquiorra Cifer, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, Tier Harribel, Baraggan Louisenbairn, Coyote Stark.
And the Octava Espada, Szayelaporro Granz.
But just as the 1st Espada, Stark, split his soul, Szayelaporro also split his own soul, causing him to degrade from Vasto Lorde to Adjuchas.
Thus, the current number of Vasto Lorde in Hueco Mundo is only the first four Espada!
Yet such a Vasto Lorde, after undergoing the Arrancarization that greatly increased his power, still needed to use both sword and hand to block Ichigo's attack!
That's why Yammy was so shocked, shocked beyond measure!
Even Yammy, who was rated as the Cero Espada after his Resurrección, had now lost his voice and presence in the face of rapid defeat.
Completely ignoring Yammy, still lying at their feet, Ichigo gave a faint smile as he looked at Ulquiorra ahead.
"Managed to react, not bad!"
"Then, how about this?"
Ichigo exerted force on his blade again!
Massive Reiatsu frantically poured into the blade in his hand, while Reishi within his body rapidly infused his blood vessels!
The long-unused Blut Arterie activated!
After his strength had undergone a complete transformation, the difference between Ichigo's Blut Arterie now and before was like comparing a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier to a nuclear-powered one… worlds apart!
The force pressing down like a mountain was something Ulquiorra could not withstand!
Boom-
The immense force compressed the air, actually forming an effect like an air cannon. The ground in front of Ichigo seemed struck by a heavy hammer, a crater nearly half a meter deep appearing!
Within this half-meter deep crater, lay a pale severed hand!
On the other side, Yammy, who had been dragged out by Ulquiorra, ignored the sword still embedded in his body, looking at Ulquiorra's arm in shock.
"Ulquiorra, how are you...?" Yammy asked with concern.
However, compared to Yammy, the heartless Ulquiorra was very composed, only his expression growing a few shades more serious.
"It's fine. I have High-Speed Regeneration. This is but a minor injury."
As he spoke, Ulquiorra's hand regenerated.
Looking at Ichigo, Ulquiorra said calmly, "Aizen-sama sending us to assess your strength was indeed the correct decision."
"Kurosaki Ichigo, you indeed have the qualification to hinder Aizen-sama's grand undertaking!"
"Therefore, as the Arrancar army personally created by Aizen-sama, we, the Espada, shall slay you here!"
Ulquiorra declared impassively.
His words shocked the viewers in the live stream.
"Espada! Arrancar?"
"Wait, Aizen mentioned the paths beyond Shinigami and Hollows at Sokyoku Hill, namely the Hollowfication of Shinigami and the Shinigamification of Hollows."
"We just saw the Hollowfied Shinigami of the Visored, Shinigami without masks, so wearing masks is called Visored."
"Hollows have masks, so removing the mask is called Arrancar."
"Could this be what Aizen mentioned at Sokyoku, the Shinigamification of Hollows?"
"Before, we were discussing how Aizen would deal with all those Captains in the Seireitei!!"
"It seems he's been preparing for a long time!"
They were shocked once again by Aizen's meticulous thinking.
Simultaneously, watching the current battle, everyone became focused.
Although Ichigo's strength had greatly increased and he had always held the advantage-
For the opponent to declare they would slay Ichigo here meant they had the confidence to do so!
Everyone watched Ulquiorra with tension.
Beside Ulquiorra, Yammy, who knew his friend very well, was shocked for what felt like the umpteenth time.
He knew Ulquiorra's strength, and had just experienced Ichigo's strength firsthand.
Even so, Ulquiorra still declared he could slay him. Such words...
"Ulquiorra, are you going to use that move now?"
Yammy asked in astonishment. "Is this brat really worth you using that move? Just upon meeting?"
To this, Ulquiorra did not answer. He merely stared intently at Ichigo.
Coincidentally, at this moment, Orihime and Chad, having sensed the battle here, came running over.
"Kurosaki-kun, are you alright?" Orihime looked at Ichigo with concern.
"I'm fine. Chad, I'll leave it to you and Orihime to take these two somewhere else for treatment! Remember, the farther the better!"
Ichigo said quickly.
"Mm!" Seeing Ichigo like this, both understood the situation was tense.
Using Soten Kisshun to envelop Jing Bing and Xin Na, with Chad transporting them, the four quickly left.
Meanwhile, seeing Ulquiorra's eyes drawn to Orihime's Soten Kisshun, Ichigo asked Yammy, "That move?"
"Ah..." Yammy responded in a low voice, explaining:
"The Hollowfication of Shinigami is Shinigami gaining Hollow abilities, such as Cero, Hierro, Sonído!"
"The Shinigamification of Hollows naturally means gaining Shinigami abilities!"
"And the most obvious Shinigami ability is that one!"
Yammy's gaze fell on the Zanpakuto in Ichigo's hand.
"After becoming Arrancar, we Hollows seal our original Hollow core within a Zanpakuto. The method of releasing this power is called Resurrección!"
"Now, Kurosaki Ichigo, do you know, in Las Noches, only two things are forbidden!"
"First, the use of Gran Rey Cero is prohibited. Second, Espada ranked four and above are forbidden from releasing their Resurrección below the dome!"
"I must say, Kurosaki Ichigo, you are honored. To witness the Resurrección of an Espada ranked four or above during our Espada's first appearance in this world!"
"Ulquiorra is precisely the one ranked fourth among the Espada!"
Speaking of Ulquiorra's status, Yammy smiled with pride, looking at Ichigo as if he were already dead. "Tremble, Kurosaki Ichigo!"
"Your family, your friends, everything you hold dear will be destroyed under the Black Winged Demon!!"
As Yammy narrated, a heavy pressure descended upon Ichigo and his live stream audience.
Of course, Ichigo himself wasn't really pressured, but his live stream audience grew somewhat panicked.
"Oh no, we were just thinking how great it was that Ichigo saved two goddesses, but now it seems he's run into another steel plate!"
"This Espada, Fourth Espada, Resurrección stuff, it all sounds very imposing. Look at this guy's cold expression, he definitely looks strong!"
"Right now, I feel like when Ichigo first encountered Kuchiki Byakuya!"
"What to do, what to do?"
"Where's the Shopkeeper, where's Yoruichi? Someone save him!"
In Ichigo's live stream, everyone was discussing fervently.
However, they didn't know that both Kisuke and Yoruichi had already arrived!