"Silver!"
"Rangiku, you're awake!"
Soon after, the orange-haired girl woke up and immediately called out the boy's name. The two were young Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto.
Rangiku was truly wronged. In later generations, she became Vice-Captain simply because Gin barely restored her Reiryoku. If her Reiryoku hadn't been taken away, she would definitely have been a super Captain, and she would certainly have been able to Bankai...
Unfortunately, that's all in the past now.
Because of this experience, Gin Ichimaru wants to become stronger so that he can better protect the girl he loves... At the very least, he wants to take back what she has lost.
One Snowy Night, Gin set off alone for the Seireitei. Rangiku, who had chased after him, stopped trying to stop him after learning where he was going, because she had also decided to go there to find him.
110 years before Aizen was sealed away, Kirio Hikifune accepted the invitation from the Zero Division and became another promoted individual after Tenjirō Kirinji.
With the position of Captain of the Twelfth Division vacant, Yoruichi recommended the habitually lazy Kisuke Urahara to be the Captain, and he successfully passed the test.
Aizen was also present at Urahara's Captains' Meeting Urahara. Aizen didn't think much of it at first, but Urahara later established the Research and Development Institute in the Twelfth Division, which pleased Aizen greatly.
Any researcher would know that the incident of 'Nangong Ling causing his colleagues to be infected by the Void' would eventually lead to research into the Hollowfication aspect...
The unfortunate Tenth Division still has no Captain. The highest-ranking member of the Shiba Clan is currently Kaien Shiba, the Third Seat of the Thirteenth Division. He is quite strong, but he can only reach the Vice-Captain and has not yet learned Bankai.
Jūshirō Ukitake wanted to train him and invited him to be the Vice-Captain several times, but this guy only wanted to slack off and refused Ukitake repeatedly...
In the same year, two geniuses graduated from the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy: Byakuya Kuchiki and Gin Ichimaru. They completed all the courses in just one year, which amazed the Captains.
Byakuya Kuchiki naturally joined the Sixth Division, while Gin Ichimaru was recruited by Aizen to the Fifth Division. After Gin deliberately approached him, Aizen accepted him into his team.
Apart from a few veteran Captains, the other Captains and Vice-Captains have gradually been replaced by a new generation, and some of these new Captains and Vice-Captains are even classmates from the same Shin'ō, so they have a very good relationship.
Aizen, on the other hand, began to secretly monitor the Research and Development Institute, trying to figure out what Urahara was doing from their every move.
As soon as Aizen discovers that Urahara has made contact with a certain area of research, he will begin his arrangements...
Within Hueco Mundo, Zero received a report that the Quincy had reappeared in Hueco Mundo and had abducted two Arrancar; their whereabouts are currently unknown.
Ulquiorra went to find Vasto Lorde. Grimmjow's fighting strength was insufficient to take the risk, so Zero directly dispatched Baraggan to find out the reason for the disappearance of the Half-Arrancar...
"It's just a search; there's no need for Baraggan to personally intervene. We can complete the task ourselves."
Your His Majesty need only wait here for good news.
Upon receiving Zero's order, more than a dozen Half-Arrancar knelt before Baraggan, ready to take Baraggan place; these were all his loyal subordinates.
"In that case, you few will go first, investigate that area thoroughly, and if you find any enemies, eliminate them before I arrive..."
Baraggan raised his hand and selected five Half-Arrancar to serve as the vanguard, while he himself would set off later.
"Your Great Emperor, please await our presentation of the enemy's head."
Before their upgrades, these Half-Arrancar -Half-Arrancar under Baraggan's command were meek and subservient to those who had previously defeated them; after their upgrades, they became utterly invincible.
However, they're in trouble this time. The Quincy who attacked the two Half-Arrancar haven't left...
"What the heck! I thought some tough guys would come, but it's just Grunts. What a disappointment."
"Lord Cang Du, how about we handle these few Grunts?"
"This kind of trash will only get adults' hands dirty."
"It is our duty to execute the wicked."
As soon as Cang Du, one of the Sternritter, spoke contemptuously, the seven Holy Soldier beside him immediately knelt and fawned, indicating that they would deal with the five Half-Arrancar.
Cang Du gave a wicked smile, "I really can't do anything with you guys. Go! Two Specimens are enough; these don't need to be live... As for those of you who lose, hehehe, then you'll become Research Material!"
"Yes!"
Hearing that laughter, the Holy Soldiers felt a chill run down their spines, but they still loudly agreed, not believing they would lose.
"It seems to be them."
"They're not even going to run? Utterly arrogant!"
"Go! Kill them before the Great Emperor arrives!"
As for the five men sent by Baraggan, they never even considered finding the missing person; upon seeing the enemy, their first instinct was to kill them.
So, before the two sides could even exchange a word, they were already locked in combat, their thoughts surprisingly aligned: since they were enemies, they should kill each other first.
That's right, the one who abducted the Half-Arrancar was Cang Du Opie. He had been sent to Hueco Mundo to monitor it for a long time and had discovered a lot of information, such as that Nangong Ling was already the master of Hueco Mundo, rather than simply colluding with the Hollows.
The Half-Arrancar were quite powerful, so Cang Du was ordered to send back a few of Half-Arrancar for research.
As the research results quickly came out, revealing that these were all Adjuchas mutated Half-Arrancar, he immediately received another order: to fight against the Vasto Lorde under Nangong Ling's command and verify their strength...
Cang Du knew that Jugram Haschwalth wanted to avenge what happened back then. If the Vasto Lorde under Nangong Ling's command were too weak, then he would come and hunt them down, clip their wings, and finally surround and kill Nangong Ling.
However, it now seems that these Half-Arrancar are not weak at all; they all possess the ability to fight against Holy Soldier, and are even slightly stronger.
Moreover, the Little Captain among them was very strong; in just a few rounds, the Holy Soldier he was fighting was killed by being pierced through the heart.
After nearly an hour of fierce fighting, the Holy Soldier actually lost. Seven against five, only one of the opposing Half-Arrancar was still standing, slightly injured, while all the Holy Soldier were wiped out.
The one still standing is the Little Captain among the five Half-Arrancar creatures, a humanoid saber-toothed tiger about two meters tall, with considerable strength.
Cang Du watched from beginning to end, and throughout the entire process, he made no attempt to help his subordinates.
After all his subordinates had died in battle, Cang Du pressed a hand to his ear and reported the incident using the Quincy's unique communication method. This could be considered experimental data.
Cang Du clapped his hands in praise, "Very good, very good, well done! You wouldn't happen to be Vasto Lorde, would you?"
The Half-Arrancar, resembling a humanoid saber-toothed tiger, was named Ggio Weiger. He sneered, "Heh heh heh, dealing with trash like you doesn't require the intervention of Vasto Lorde-class. I'm enough!"
"Really? Then let me see it for myself!"
Cang Du was not angry, nor did he show rage towards the guilty; this was something he had learned long ago from His Majesty, for they were about to receive divine punishment.
"Arrogant!"
Ggio also had several bloody marks on his body, but it did not affect his speed. In a few Sonído, he approached Cang Du from behind. A short sword formed from Reiryoku appeared in his right hand, and he slashed it directly at Cang Du's skull... Pain Piercing the Crown!
The Reiryoku dagger didn't feel like it was cutting into a person's body. Ggio's eyes widened. His Reiryoku dagger struck Cang Du's head, but only split the hat open. When it touched the scalp, it didn't budge.
"Could you... use a little more force?"
As soon as Cang Du's mocking voice rang out, Ggio gritted his teeth in surprise and kicked at Cang Du's temple, but the somewhat effeminate Quincy simply raised his hand and blocked the attack.
When his kick failed, Ggio tried to pull his leg away, but it was as if he were caught in a trap, and he couldn't pull it away at all.
The Sternritter Medal slid from Cang Du's sleeve, transforming into a Reishi longsword. With a casual swing, a spray of blood erupted from Ggio's body... Ggio never expected to be instantly killed; the difference in skill was too great.
'I apologize, Baraggan, I have failed to meet your expectations.'
Ggio felt a pang of guilt towards his superior. He felt a wave of dizziness and collapsed to the ground, where a large foot in a white leather boot stepped on his face.
Cang Du leaned forward slightly. "Seriously, you messed up my hairstyle and ruined my hat. It's caused me a huge loss!"
Just as Cang Du was being arrogant, a red Cero shot straight at him. He dodged it with Hirenkyaku, and the Cero grazed Ggio's face.
"There are reinforcements? Looks like this is the real show!"
Cang Du immediately spotted a portly old man sitting atop Menos Grande's head. The old man emanated a terrifying Reiatsu, which Cang Du could see through despite his attempt to suppress Reiatsu.
"Hmph, so you're the one who kidnapped the Arrancar? The Quincy? Since you're not running away, then I can hurry back and enjoy the Red Wine that's been offered to me!"
Baraggan stood up abruptly, and his men all knelt on one knee, not daring to look him in the eye.
Suddenly, Hand Chicken came from Baraggan's communications officer. The officer, having received the message, respectfully reported, "Baraggan, Headquarters requests that this man be captured alive."
"Snort!"
Baraggan snorted coldly and did not answer, while Zero, far away in the Las Noches, had already monitored everything through the Spirit Worm.
Zero Senses, this somewhat eerie Quincy, might be Sternritter, making him even more valuable to capture alive; it's possible that we can obtain the key to enter that strange dimension through him.
' Baraggan has been subdued too? It seems Hueco Mundo wasn't very strong before.'
Cang Du was now completely certain of the information he had obtained earlier. He sneered at Baraggan, who was approaching, "It's quite surprising that someone as powerful as you, the King of Hueco Mundo, would side with a Soul Reaper."
It was obvious that the Quincy had known about Baraggan, the King of Hueco Mundo, for a long time. Cang Du deduced that Baraggan harbored resentment and decided to use a little provocation.
If we could sow discord between Baraggan and Nangong Ling, that would be ideal.
"Does a mere ant think it can teach this old man how to do things?"
Baraggan roared angrily, and before he finished speaking, he immediately pulled out a Double-Edged Great Axe, Sonído and raised it to chop at Cang Du.
Cang Du used the wrong person. Being taken over Hueco Mundo and controlled by others was Baraggan's lifelong pain, and this human called Quincy was actually rubbing salt into his wounds, so naturally he could not be forgiven.