Despite the turmoil within the Seireitei, Yama-jii remained in his office, overseeing the entire organization. He had already issued the necessary orders; now, the Captains had to handle the situation themselves.
It can be said that as long as Zero doesn't appear, Yama-jii will continue to observe the battlefield quietly. This is a way to train the Gotei 13 and also a way to show his confidence in their abilities.
Only two Captains did not participate in the battle: Unohana from the Fourth Division and Kuchiki Ginrei from the Sixth Division. One was responsible for treating the wounded, while the other was critically ill due to old age and could no longer engage in intense combat.
At this moment, the second-generation director of the Research and Development Institute launched a sneak attack on Szayelaporro, who was collecting samples, destroying most of the sample he was about to complete...
"You dared to destroy my sample? Captain-level officer certainly has some nerve. As compensation, I'll take you back to be used as a Specimens."
Szayelaporro's calm eyes were filled with raging fury; he wanted to use the Captain, who was grinning excitedly, as an experiment.
"Heh, using some Reishi that make up the foundation of a building as Specimens? Looks like you're plotting something!"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi sneered, completely ignoring the other party's words. He was already excited at the thought of encountering another Arrancar invasion, and this time he had prepared quite a few things.
You'll never know what they're planning...
Before he could finish speaking, Szayelaporro appeared behind Mayuri Kurotsuchi, drew his Zanpakuto and slashed down fiercely. Mayuri Kurotsuchi seemed to be a beat too slow, and his left arm was severed and fell to the ground before he managed to dodge with Shunpo.
"You bastard!"
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi roared, his eyes red, a few drops of sweat glistening on his pale face.
"Haha, it seems there's a difference in strength even among you Captain-level; you're not as strong as we previously observed, just like among us Espada."
Szayelaporro wouldn't mind using such a surprise attack; given his current weakened state, any means are a form of strength.
Coincidentally, Mayuri Kurotsuchi thought so too, and just as Szayelaporro was feeling smug, Mayuri Kurotsuchi also revealed a strange smile.
"Why are you laughing?"
Szayelaporro had barely uttered his question when a deafening roar erupted, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's arm exploded. Because of the close proximity, Szayelaporro was hit squarely by the blast.
Moreover, its power was considerable; a huge, smoking crater appeared instantly, with an estimated diameter of over ten meters.
"Hehehe, what are you laughing at? Laughing at your ignorance. Those so-called powers are nothing more than what a bunch of brutes need," Mayuri Kurotsuchi said, pointing to his head before continuing, "And my power is here, understand?"
When the smoke cleared, Szayelaporro's hair was disheveled, and his right hand and right leg, which were in the direction of the explosion, were severely burned. The two had returned the favor.
"Heh, interesting. You must be the Captain in charge of the Research and Development Institute? I have some information on you," Szayelaporro said with a stern face.
"Oh? That's quite an honor. But your intelligence gathering is quite good! It seems we need to give the Seireitei a thorough cleaning up..."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi showed no fear, instead praising Hueco Mundo's abilities. Then he took out a syringe and injected himself directly into the severed part of his arm.
The flesh and blood writhed, and the hand actually grew out, exactly the same as before in appearance and Reiatsu intensity.
"What is this? Has Soul Reaper also mastered the technology of High-Speed Regeneration?" Szayelaporro was extremely surprised, never expecting that Soul Reaper's science and technology were so advanced.
"Open your claws! Ashisogi Jizō!"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi did not explain, but instead released his Zanpakuto, transforming the originally Asauchi -Zanpakuto into a trident-shaped Zanpakuto with three blades.
When the release was complete, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Reiatsu increased slightly. Although it was still slightly weaker than Szayelaporro's, the difference was not significant. He sneered and charged forward, using Ashisogi Jizō to strike at Szayelaporro.
With his hands and feet injured Szayelaporro managed to hold off a few blows but was completely overwhelmed. After being slightly grazed on the Ashisogi Jizō, he used Sonído to create distance.
However, what followed was Mayuri Kurotsuchi's attack with the scythe hook hidden in his ear, which Szayelaporro shattered with a single Bala.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was about to give chase, but two Giant Hollows appeared out of nowhere. One of them suddenly swung its tail, blocking Mayuri Kurotsuchi's advance.
"Heh heh heh, so you're resorting to summoning Grunts to buy time because you can't win? That's hilarious. You don't actually think that trick will work, do you!"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi sneered at Szayelaporro, saying that he could easily handle any number of Hollows of this level... Moreover, Szayelaporro Ashisogi Jizō, was no longer capable of defeating him.
"You've misunderstood me. The reason I've paid attention to your information is because I feel you're like me!"
As he spoke, Szayelaporro snapped his fingers, and the two Giant Hollow screamed as they began to shrink in size, eventually becoming marble-sized pills that fell into Szayelaporro's hand, which he swallowed whole.
The instant he raised his hand to unleash the Bala, Szayelaporro had already noticed the rapid stiffening of his limbs. He concluded that he had been affected by some kind of ability of the opponent, which was why he summoned the two Giant Hollows.
This is a mobile potion he created; one of them, once ingested, can eliminate all negative effects from the body, and one can swallow it whenever there is an opportunity.
The other one is for repairing injuries; when used together, they are as powerful as a miracle drug.
Szayelaporro chuckled, "Then, let's begin the second round! The loser will become the subject of our story!"
Having said that, he picked up his Zanpakuto and put it in his mouth, making a strange sound... Mayuri Kurotsuchi just watched his performance quietly, then muttered, "The release of Arrancar's sword? Heh heh heh, interesting!"
Szayelaporro was not the first Espada to be liberated; it was Dordoni, located in the 65th Rukongai, who was the first to do so.
He launched a direct attack on Byakuya and his three companions. After the battle, Byakuya, who originally had three subordinates left, now only had the one named Shigure remaining.
Moreover, he was seriously injured and fell into a coma.
Once again caught up in the battle for revenge, Byakuya Bankai his Bankai, and Dordoni also released his Resurrección. The 'Storm Baron's' Resurrección created more than ten hurricanes, which would scatter Senbonzakura whenever it got close to Dordoni.
In an instant, most of the buildings in the town were destroyed by the hurricane and the Senbonzakura. Some of the Pluses who had not escaped earlier were caught in the blast and died on the spot.
The two fought with all their might for less than a minute before Byakuya was hit by a Wind Lord's attack and bled as he was sent flying.
This Dordoni is no longer the weakling from the original timeline. Before he Arrancar, he was just a hair's breadth away from becoming Vasto Lorde. In addition, he has been constantly sparring with Grimmjow and being challenged by others in recent years. At this moment, his strength is completely above Byakuya's.
On the other hand, Byakuya's legs were injured, slightly affecting his mobility. He had only recently mastered Bankai and was still honing his skills, and the battle with Luppi taken its toll...
"Let me ask you a question: Are you Espada?"
Byakuya wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and asked coldly. He was slightly restrained and his strength was also inferior to his opponent's. He had already made a judgment in his mind based on Luppi's strength.
Upon hearing this, Dordoni solemnly introduced himself, "No. 10 Espada, Dordoni Alexandro Sokarchio, my orders are to cripple you and bring you back to Hueco Mundo. Can you surrender?"
"You think you can capture me alive after only being tenth? So that's how it is. Does Nangong Ling have that much faith in the abilities of the Espada? I swear in the name of Byakuya Kuchiki, I will surely kill you today to avenge them."
Byakuya's anger was evident on his face. He hadn't yet mastered the art of facial paralysis, but at least he had given his enemy his name.
He hated Dordoni, but he hated his own incompetence even more; in a fair fight, he had only managed to save Shigure, while the other two had died at Dordoni's hands.
Realizing that 'Gokei' was useless, Byakuya began to use Senbonzakura's second move— Senkei!
The flying blades coalesced, forming thousands of sharp blades that surrounded Byakuya and Dordoni.
The fact that Byakuya could use this move shows that he has acknowledged Dordoni's strength; if he doesn't go all out, he might really lose his life here.
It's unbelievable that this is only the tenth Espada, yet he could completely suppress him when he used Bankai. The strength of the higher-ranking Espada must be incredibly terrifying...
"The blade seems to have become even more powerful after it condensed! Did he resort to this move after ordinary blades couldn't break through my Storm Baron?"
Dordoni's observation was thorough, and his analysis was incisive. There were many Senbonzakura blades earlier, but they lacked offensive power. Now Byakuya has discarded them.
"This is Senbonzakura's stance of abandoning defense. Only those I deem worthy of my personal slaying are worthy of seeing her. You cannot escape from here either. Prepare to be beheaded."
After briefly explaining his intentions, two blades suddenly descended from the sky. Dordoni deflected them with his Wind Blade, and one of them landed in front of Byakuya, who then took it.