The Battle in Hueco Mundo Ends

When the group descended from the dome of the Las Noches onto the battlefield below, the sight before them made Ichigo Kurosaki gasp.

That was no longer a "battlefield"; it was a wasteland.

Countless huge craters were blasted into the ground, their edges charred black by the intense heat and wisps of smoke rising from them. Broken Stone Pillars were scattered all over the ground, some cut in half, some blasted into fragments, and some crushed into powder by some immense force. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood, making people involuntarily hold their breath.

In the center of the battlefield stood a—no, a "thing".

The creature was at least tens of meters tall, its massive body blotting out the sky and casting a huge shadow in the dim light of the Hueco Mundo. Its skin was dark red, covered with hideous patterns, like the traces of lava cooling after flowing across the earth.

It had two enormous, curved, sharp horns on its head, gleaming a ghastly white in the light, like a demon's crown. Its eyes were blood red, with vertical pupils, burning with a frenzied, irrational flame. Thick saliva flowed from its mouth, dripping onto the ground with a hissing, corrosive sound.

Its Reiatsu was so intense it was suffocating, like a mountain pressing down or a tsunami surging. That power was violent and chaotic, without direction or purpose, simply and instinctively released outward, crushing, tearing, and destroying everything around it.

Yammy Rialgo – Complete form.

Liu Ziyun looked at the enormous creature, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, "Oh, it's become its complete form. This guy seems to have been pushed to his limit."

Ulquiorra stepped forward and looked up at the giant, who was many times larger than him. His expression remained unchanged, but a hint of solemnity appeared in his green eyes.

"Yammy," his voice wasn't loud, but every word was as clear as if etched into the air, "Stop. The fight is over."

Yammy's enormous head slowly lowered, his blood-red eyes looking in the direction from which the sound came.

"What's over?" His voice was low and hoarse, like a roar from underground. "Didn't you see those bugs are still here?"

His gaze passed over Ulquiorra and landed on Liu Ziyun and Ichigo Kurosaki. In his blood-red eyes, killing intent was as solid as a tangible substance.

Liu Ziyun looked at this behemoth, at this fool who thought he was at the top of the food chain but couldn't even control his Reiatsu, and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

He released his Reiatsu.

That force was like an invisible giant hammer, crashing down from the sky, striking Yammy's massive body with precision and without mercy.

Boom!!

Yammy's body jolted violently, and then—he knelt down.

His enormous body, tens of meters tall and weighing countless tons, was like a child whose shoulders were being held down by an adult, his knees buckling and he kneeling down with a thud before Liu Ziyun's Reiatsu.

The ground cracked beneath his knees, sending shards of stone flying and dust billowing. He struggled desperately to stand, but the Reiatsu pressed down on him like an immense burden, rendering him immobile.

"A little bug?" Liu Ziyun's voice came from above, calm as still water, yet carrying an undeniable contempt. "Only a fool like you, who can't control his Reiatsu, deserves to be called a 'bug'."

Yammy lay on the ground, his massive body trembling, not from fear, but from anger and resentment. He desperately channeled his Reiatsu, trying to break free from the oppressive force, but each effort was like an ant trying to shake a tree, futile and ineffective.

"How is this possible..." His voice was forced out through clenched teeth, filled with disbelief and shock, "How could someone as small as you release such a level of Reiatsu?!"

No one answered him.

Byakuya Kuchiki stood on a rock at the edge of the battlefield, his white Captain's Haori fluttering gently in the wind. His expression remained cold and imposingly calm, but a hint of surprise flashed in his purple eyes.

He had witnessed Liu Ziyun's strength—in the Soul Society, in the World of the Living, and in countless battles fought side by side—but he had never seen Liu Ziyun release his Reiatsu so unreservedly. The power of that force far exceeded his expectations.

Kenpachi Zaraki stood not far away, his Zanpakuto slung over his shoulder, a hint of excitement on his lips. He looked at Yammy, who was kneeling on the ground under the pressure of Reiatsu, and then at Liu Ziyun, a glint of fighting desire flashing in his eyes—not a desire for Yammy, but a desire for Liu Ziyun.

This man, who always seems cheerful and harmless, actually possesses such immense power. How exhilarating it would be to fight him!

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood further away, still holding the test tube sample in his hand, but his attention was completely drawn to Liu Ziyun.

He watched the Reiatsu emanating from Liu Ziyun, and how that power precisely and effortlessly suppressed a fully-formed Espada. His eyes behind the mask flickered with a complex light—shock, fear, and an almost insane thirst for unknown power.

"Liu Ziyun," his voice was low and heavy, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "I never imagined you were so powerful. It seems everyone underestimated your existence."

Liu Ziyun ignored him. He withdrew his Reiatsu, and the suffocating power dissipated like the receding tide. Yammy suddenly felt a lightness on his body, and he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. His blood-red eyes were still filled with disbelief.

Liu Ziyun turned around to face Ulquiorra. His expression returned to its usual calm, as if what had just happened was nothing more than a trivial matter.

"Alright," his voice was calm and direct, "Enough with the nonsense. Ulquiorra, take Yammy and Grimmjow and leave. Go and consolidate the forces of Hueco Mundo in preparation for any future Hueco Mundo."

Ulquiorra nodded slightly, without saying a word.

"Remember," Liu Ziyun's gaze turned serious, "Don't cause any more trouble. Aizen is definitely not coming back. As for the other Espada, I don't know if they'll have a chance to return. That's all."

He paused, then added, "Hueco Mundo needs you. This world needs balance. If Hueco Mundo collapses, Soul Society and the World of the Living will suffer as well. So... live well, and protect this land."

Ulquiorra remained silent for a long time. His gaze lingered on Liu Ziyun's face, as if judging the truth of his words and considering how much this man actually knew. After a long while, he slowly nodded.

"I understand." His voice remained calm, but it held something new—a promise, a promise for the future.

Liu Ziyun didn't look at him again. He turned around and faced Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

"Captain Kurotsuchi," his voice rose slightly, tinged with urgency, "Have you analyzed the sealed Garganta? Prepare to open Garganta. Captain Unohana and I will take Ichigo Kurosaki to the World of the Living to provide support."