The Arrancar Retreat

Luppi held captive by Rangiku Matsumoto Antenor's tentacles, was now staring coldly at the arrogant Arrancar in front of her.

Luppi turned around, looking at Rangiku Matsumoto, who was once again under her control, a mocking smile on her face, "Sigh, whatever, let's continue, big brothers and sisters. You guys are so fragile. It's rare for a guy in wooden clogs to come and save you, but you're about to die. But, there's nothing we can do about it—eight against four, it's really hard to win."

His tone was flippant, as if the outcome was already predetermined.

Rangiku Matsumoto's expression remained unchanged. She stared at Luppi, her voice calm yet carrying a certain pressure. "I mean... I've been thinking, you really talk a lot."

Luppi's smile froze slightly. He looked at Rangiku Matsumoto, his eyes turning dangerous. "So what?"

Rangiku Matsumoto continued, her tone laced with undisguised contempt. "I hate talkative men the most. It's like they can only prove themselves through talking. I think you're pathetic."

These words were like a thorn piercing Luppi's proud heart. His expression turned completely cold, his eyes flashing with a chilling murderous intent. "Big sister, you haven't forgotten that I still have you captured, have you? You're only alive now because I'm in a good mood. If you anger me, I'll kill you right now—"

He raised another tentacle, preparing to deliver the final blow to this reckless woman.

But the tentacle stopped halfway up.

Luppi froze. He tried to wave the tentacle, but no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't budge. He looked down, and his pupils suddenly contracted—

The tentacles were frozen in ice.

Not only that one, but all of his tentacles were covered by a thick layer of ice. The ice started from the ends of the tentacles and gradually moved closer to his body.

A cold voice came from behind him. "You were too careless against the enemy. Have you ever heard of the word 'Zanshin'?"

Luppi whirled around, her eyes wide with disbelief. Standing behind her was Tōshirō Hitsugaya, whom she had thought was already dead. Now, the youngest Captain was covered in frost, holding Hyōrinmaru, his eyes sharp as knives.

"How are you still alive?!" Luppi's voice revealed genuine shock for the first time.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya raised Hyōrinmaru, a cold blue light swirling around its blade. "Hyōrinmaru is the strongest ice-type Zanpakuto. Even if it breaks, it can be revived as long as there is water."

Luppi gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with anger and resentment. "Damn it..."

Tōshirō Hitsugaya's expression remained calm, but his words carried an undeniable air of authority:

"Don't be silly. You have no chance of winning now. You had many opportunities to make your move, but you gave me too much time. If your weapon is those eight hands, then my weapon is all the moisture in this atmosphere."

He raised Hyōrinmaru and pointed it at Luppi. Countless ice crystals began to condense in the surrounding air. The ice crystals grew larger and larger, eventually forming huge ice pillars that floated around the two of them, completely surrounding Luppi.

"Thousand-Year Ice Prison."

Tōshirō Hitsugaya twirled the Hyōrinmaru in his hand. As he moved, the suspended ice pillars simultaneously compressed inward, completely enveloping Luppi within them.

Luppi tried to struggle and resist, but the power of the ice pillar was too great. His tentacles were completely frozen, his body was covered in ice, and he was eventually turned into an ice sculpture.

As Luppi froze them, the four people she had been controlling finally broke free. Rangiku Matsumoto landed on the ground, panting heavily, but her eyes were filled with relief at surviving the ordeal.

Just then, a roar came from afar.

Yammy Rialgo frowned, his eyes blazing with anger. "What? Luppi actually lost? It's all his fault for underestimating her opponent! What an idiot! If this continues—"

Before he could finish speaking, a voice came from behind him. "Won't Lord Aizen scold you?"

Yammy's pupils contracted sharply. He whirled around and threw a punch behind him. Kisuke Urahara's figure retreated rapidly, creating distance between them.

"Damn it!" Yammy roared, "Why did you—"

"You're asking me why I'm still alive, aren't you?" Kisuke Urahara interrupted him mockingly, a smug smile on his face. "Then why?"

Yammy's anger flared instantly. He raised his hand and fired a Bala at Kisuke Urahara: "Are you messing with me?! I'm asking you a question, not the other way around!"

The Bala exploded at Kisuke Urahara's location, filling the air with smoke and dust.

Yammy grinned. "Ha, you idiot, you're going to be smashed to pieces now--"

Before he could finish speaking, a Zanpakuto was already held against his neck.

Kisuke Urahara stood beside him, the blade pressed against his throat, his voice chillingly calm. "I've seen you make your moves so many times. Now, you won't fall for it again."

As soon as he finished speaking, he swung his sword horizontally. A red slash flew from the blade and exploded on Yammy's body.

Yammy was blown away, emerging from the smoke and dust covered in blood. He struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Kisuke Urahara looked at him, a hint of mockery in his voice. "You must be wondering why I'm still alive after that storm of phantom Bala, which I clearly felt hit, right?"

Seeing Yammy's shocked expression, Kisuke Urahara took out a small sphere from his pocket. He gently blew on the sphere, and it instantly expanded, transforming into another Kisuke Urahara.

"This is it." Kisuke Urahara said, putting the sphere back in its case. "This is my latest portable Gigai."

Yammy frowned deeply. "I've never seen anything like that before!"

Kisuke Urahara laughed, "Of course, this is my latest development, and I haven't shown it to anyone yet. However, developing it is easy, but using it is difficult. I think that apart from me, it would be difficult for others to fully utilize it. Using it as a Substitute, the timing of the substitution would be very difficult to grasp—"

He paused, then his smile widened, "So, you probably don't even know when I was replaced, do you?"

Yammy's rage erupted completely. He furiously unleashed Bala at Kisuke Urahara, each strike carrying the power to destroy everything. "You damned bastard! Die!"

Kisuke Urahara raised his Zanpakuto and lightly drew a circle in the air. The same Bala flew from his blade, colliding with Yammy's Bala in mid-air, and the two canceled each other out.

"Why don't you understand?" Kisuke Urahara shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Didn't I tell you? Your trick doesn't work anymore."

Looking at Yammy's angry face, he calmly explained, "I've just analyzed the Reishi structure of your move, as well as the muscle momentum before the attack. As long as you combine these two points, dodging or timing your attack to counteract it won't be a problem."

He paused, then added, "However, it's quite difficult to do. It's time... to make a clean break."

"Don't underestimate me!" Yammy roared, preparing to launch another attack.

But at that moment, three huge black cracks suddenly appeared in the sky.

The Garganta opens simultaneously.

Three golden beams shot out from the Garganta, precisely enveloping Yammy, Wonderweiss Margera, and the frozen Luppi Antenor.

Negación.

Yammy looked up at the golden light, his anger gradually replaced by calm. He snorted, his tone carrying the relief of someone who had completed a mission: "Hmph, is the mission over?"

Upon hearing this, Kisuke Urahara felt a sudden surge of unease. He abruptly turned around and looked at the other two Negación.

Luppi Antenor, frozen in Thousand-Year Ice Prison, is gradually thawing in the radiant light of the Negación. Her body breaks free from the ice, and although she is badly injured, she is still alive.

Luppi looked down at Tōshirō Hitsugaya, her eyes gleaming with vengeance. "Too bad, Captain, you couldn't kill me. But remember what I look like—because next time we meet, I'll definitely twist your head off."

The light grew stronger and stronger, and the three figures were gradually sucked into the Garganta.

Kisuke Urahara stood there, watching the crack gradually close, his heart heavy.

They won this battle, yet they didn't truly win.

The Arrancars have retreated, but what was their true purpose?

At the edge of the street, Liu Hao and Ichigo Kurosaki stood together, witnessing the end of the entire battle.

Ichigo Kurosaki gripped his twin swords tightly, his eyes filled with confusion and resentment. He looked at Liu Hao and asked urgently, "Liu Shu, what is this mission they were talking about? Do you know?"

Liu Hao did not answer immediately. He stared at the three gradually closing Garganta, looking in the direction of the Hueco Mundo, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he sighed, his tone filled with deep helplessness. "Sigh, I didn't expect them to act so quickly. Before, it could be said that it was the Arrancar's own actions, but this time—they came to distract Soul Society's forces."

Ichigo Kurosaki frowned. "What does this mean?"

Liu Hao didn't answer his question. He turned to look at Rukia Kuchiki standing to the side, his tone becoming urgent. "Rukia, contact Captain Ukitake. Ask him if Orihime Inoue has returned to the World of the Living."

Rukia Kuchiki's body jolted. Looking at Liu Hao's solemn expression, an ominous premonition welled up in her heart. Without asking any questions, she immediately took out her communicator to contact Soul Society and began contacting Jūshirō Ukitake.

Ichigo Kurosaki watched this scene, feeling even more confused. He wanted to ask more questions, but seeing Liu Hao's unusually serious expression, he ultimately held back.

The communicator is connected.

"Captain Ukitake," Rukia Kuchiki's voice trembled slightly, "Is Orihime Inoue already back in the World of the Living?"