Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ulquiorra (Part One)

Liu Ziyun returned to Ichigo Kurosaki and Kenpachi Zaraki's side, treated them, and then told Ichigo Kurosaki to continue to rescue Orihime Inoue. After that, he and the others went to the other captains' locations to meet up with them.

After reuniting, Liu Ziyun looked at Mayuri Kurotsuchi and said, "Captain Kurotsuchi, could you please analyze how to open the Garganta here? I'll go and bring Ichigo Kurosaki back later, and then we'll head to the World of the Living to provide support."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood in Ikkaku of the camp, squatting on the ground studying something—samples collected from the remains of Szayelaporro Granz, carefully placed in transparent test tubes that glowed eerily in the light of the Hueco Mundo. Hearing Liu Ziyun's words, he looked up, his eyes behind the mask gleaming with excitement.

"Open the Garganta?" His voice held an almost fanatical interest. "Although Aizen sealed the Garganta, making its opening even more difficult, however..." He paused, a confident smile playing on his lips, "For me, it's just a matter of time."

"Then I'll leave it to you." Liu Ziyun nodded, then turned in another direction. "The others and the wounded Arrancar are all being treated by Captain Unohana. Captain Kurotsuchi..." His gaze returned to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, his tone now carrying a hint of warning, "Don't turn them all into guinea pigs."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes. "Experiments? Mr. Liu, that's a truly hurtful thing to say. I'm just... interested in their physical structure. Especially that little girl named Nel —I really want to know how her mask was repaired."

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his gaze calm and cold. "If that's the case, I'm afraid I might accidentally kill you in a moment of reflex."

He said it so casually, as if he were just stating a perfectly ordinary fact. But Mayuri Kurotsuchi read an undeniable resolve in those eyes. He was silent for a moment, then shrugged, made a "do as you please" gesture, and turned back to continue studying his samples.

Retsu Unohana was healing Rukia Kuchiki on the other side of the camp. Her hands moved gently over Rukia's body, the light of the Kaidō energy flowing from her fingertips, tender and precise.

Her expression was calm and composed, revealing no emotional fluctuations, yet every movement was perfectly timed, and every output of Reiatsu was precise to the extreme. Isane Kotetsu knelt beside her, carefully assisting her, occasionally handing her medical supplies or wiping the sweat from Rukia's forehead with a towel.

Liu Ziyun to their side, his gaze lingering on Rukia Kuchiki's face for a moment. Her complexion was much better than before, and her breathing had become steady, but she was still unconscious. Liu Ziyun knelt down, reached out to check her pulse, and only stood up after confirming that she was alright.

"Huajie," he said softly, "I'm leaving this to you."

Retsu Unohana looked up at him. In those gentle eyes, there was a tacit understanding that only the two of them could comprehend. "Go. Don't worry about things here."

Liu Ziyun nodded and called softly, "Nel, let's go."

Nel's eyes snapped open, her large green eyes instantly filled with alertness and consciousness. She jumped down from Pesche's arms, ran to Liu Ziyun's side, and looked up at him.

"Ichigo... will he be alright?" Her voice was soft and trembling slightly.

Liu Ziyun smiled slightly and gently patted her head, "I will. I promise."

Nel nodded vigorously, then ran back to Pesche's side, her small figure appearing exceptionally determined in the light of the Hueco Mundo.

With Liu Ziyun Nel's figure traced an arc in the void as he sped towards the direction where a fierce battle was taking place deep within the Hueco Mundo.

He pushed his Shunpo to its limit, each step covering hundreds of meters. The white wasteland receded rapidly beneath his feet, and the strangely shaped Stone Pillars, the dried-up riverbeds, and the scattered ethereal skeletons all turned into blurry patches of color that swept past the edge of his vision.

He could sense that the collision of the two Reiatsu ahead had reached a fever pitch. One was from Ichigo Kurosaki —weak, yet tenacious, still burning. The other was from Ulquiorra Cifer —cold, deep, like a bottomless abyss, carrying a suffocating sense of oppression.

When his feet landed on the rocks at the edge of the battlefield, the sight before him made him frown deeply.

Ichigo Kurosaki knee, with Tensa Zangetsu planted in the sand beside him, supporting his swaying body.

His body was covered in wounds, and blood stained his Shihakusho, blooming into shocking red flowers on the white sand.

His breathing was rapid and painful, each breath accompanied by violent heaving of his chest, as if something inside him was tearing his life apart.

But what's most chilling is the hole in his chest.

It was a hole the size of a fist, its edges so clean it looked as if something sharp had pierced through it. It was located right next to his heart, nearly killing him. Through the hole, one could see the white sand behind him, and the dim, yellowish light of the Hueco Mundo passing through his body, casting an eerie shadow.