Grimmjow, sent Gin Ichimaru flying hundreds of meters with a single slash, demonstrating astonishing force.
As Grimmjow chased after him with a sinister grin, his extended Shinsō was aimed at his head. Grimmjow tilted his head, letting the sharp blade slash his cheek, and headed straight for Gin Ichimaru.
Gin Ichimaru swung his extended 'Shinsō', Grimmjow ducked back slightly before continuing his charge. Gin Ichimaru was now completely serious. When Grimmjow reached him, the Shinsō had retracted to the appropriate length, and the two clashed once more.
The Reiatsu surged wildly, and even though he had already Shikai his Shikai, Gin Ichimaru was completely at a disadvantage, and in an instant, another wound appeared on his body.
Byakuya Kuchiki had arrived, holding a new type of communicator. "Freeze the 500 rooms centered around Captain Ichimaru. The opponent is the Espada. I will also join the battle. Also, prepare a burial for Vice-Captain Tsubaki..."
After saying that, without waiting for a reply from the Research and Development Institute, Byakuya hung up the phone and drew his Zanpakuto, Shunpo over.
At that moment Grimmjow unleashed a Cero at Cero range, bombarding indiscriminately. Gin Ichimaru had just emerged from the smoke of the explosion, and Captain's Haori was already tattered.
Just as Grimmjow chased after her, preparing to finish her off, the cherry blossom-shaped blades surrounded him. But only for a moment, he unleashed a powerful Reiatsu, forcibly breaking free from the range of Senbonzakura's slashes.
"Two Captain-level? Haha, worth the challenge..."
Buzz!
Grimmjow was feeling pleased, a Negación struck him. Ulquiorra, having finished his business, didn't wait any longer and headed straight back.
The battles of the other Arrancar Fracción also came to an abrupt end. The only one who died was Shōtsubaki Jin'emon, who was extremely unlucky and was instantly killed by Grimmjow.
In the basement of a large mansion outside the Rukongai in Seireitei, a man with green hair on the right and yellow hair on the left side of his head monitored this information.
He immediately picked up the communicator and contacted. "Lord Aizen, the Arrancar has found Kisuke Urahara's hiding place."
"Send me the exact location. Will that tell me their purpose?"
"No, they're too far away to detect. They didn't fight."
"I see."
After the phone call ended, Aizen released the hypnosis on those around him and returned to the light. In fact, he knew without being asked that Nangong Ling had gone to find Kisuke Urahara because of the Hōgyoku.
As for the Arrancar's attack on Naruki City tonight, it was most likely a cover-up for their true purpose.
The fact that no battle had taken place between the two sides puzzled Aizen. What benefits could Nangong Ling possibly offer in exchange for Urahara? Did they intend to join forces against him? He had to be on guard.
The Arrancars returned to Las Noches, Ulquiorra gave a detailed report of what had happened. Zero then ordered everyone to wait, as he was certain that Urahara would change his mind, but he would use methods against the Hōgyoku.
Among the ten thousand years of history that Maki obtained, there were also records about Kisuke Urahara. Kuzō others interpreted Kisuke Urahara's various behaviors and judged that he was not a heartless person.
How could someone who yells at his subordinates in the Captains' Meeting room be heartless and ruthless?
If they were truly heartless, why bother saving the Hollowfication Hirako and the others? They could have just used them as experimental subjects like Aizen did...
The Soul Society is still investigating what the Arrancar are planning this time, and whether it's a sign of an attack on Naruki City. They have no way of predicting Nangong Ling's true purpose.
Just after the Arrancar retreated, someone suggested sending technicians to track and investigate the remaining Reiatsu at the scene. Soon after, Urahara Shop came into view of the Seireitei.
After several investigations, Soul Society concluded that this was Kisuke Urahara's hiding place.
Ulquiorra, Espada of the Arrancar, had his Reiatsu appear here without any battle taking place, which led the higher-ups of the Seireitei to conclude that the criminals from that year were involved with Nangong Ling.
Afterwards, the Seireitei began rapidly devising a plan targeting Kisuke Urahara... Aizen smiled slightly at this.
On the second night, no one knows what Urahara was doing, but he eventually contacted Zero to trade for the Hōgyoku, and he set the location as the Outskirts of Naruki City.
As before, two people and one spirit went to the meeting. They waited at the designated location. Tessai chanted incantations and raised a large Barrier to slightly shield the approaching Reiatsu.
As for those tails behind them, they pretend not to know...
Eight Garganta opened simultaneously, and the Espada, numbered Zero, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Eighty, emerged from them. The moment this formidable fighting force appeared, the air within the entire Barrier instantly became heavy.
Behind Nel were two of her Fracción, both of whom looked serious. To be honest, Pesche and Dondochakka Birstanne, who were pretending to be serious, were quite handsome. Their remaining masks had not been forcibly torn off.
"Where are Hirako and the others? Release them first."
Urahara immediately saw that the group was full of Espada, but the person he was supposed to save was nowhere to be seen. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and he was secretly alarmed: Masaka... Nangong Ling is going to kill him?
"Don't worry, I'm a man of my word. As long as that Hōgyoku is real, I will definitely release them."
Smack
Zero dispelled Urahara's worries and snapped his fingers. The Fracción named Dondochakka Birstanne behind Nel stepped forward and suddenly opened his mouth wide.
His stomach was a self-contained space, capable of hiding anything, even a giant roundworm.
The eight spheres of Reishi were spat out, eventually transforming into eight members of the Visored lying on the ground. They were now all bound like worms, their mouths sealed, and could only look around with their eyes.
Hirako was making "meows!" noises when the black cat instantly pounced on him with a meow punch and yelled, "What are you yelling for? It's shameful! So many of you getting captured alive, you should all just kill yourselves..."
When Yoruichi was disciplining Hirako, all the Arrancar were incredibly surprised. "Cats can talk?"
"He visited the Soul Society and the World of the Living quite often during his Menos Grande era, but this is the first time I've seen him like this."
"The World of the Living is truly a strange place!"
"Kitty, are you going to Hueco Mundo to be a pet?"
Zero recognized Yoruichi; at least from her Reiatsu, it was undoubtedly her. The only question was why she had transformed into a cat; this was likely Kisuke Urahara's doing.
"Stop playing around. This is Captain-level cat. Underestimating her could be fatal."
Zero interrupted the Espada's joke, bluntly stating the cat's danger, sending chills down their Espada... A cat with Captain-level strength? That's unbelievable.
"You've checked all your goods, haven't you? Now it's time to show me what I want, right? I don't want you trying to fool me with a fake." Zero's meaning was clear: she wouldn't release him until she was certain it was the Hōgyoku.
"How cautious!"
Urahara's face darkened. At this point, he was afraid that Zero would take the Hōgyoku and refuse to release the hostage. However, since the other party hadn't killed the hostage yet, he would just follow the rules.
After silently reciting Kotodama, his right hand turned a woody green color, and then he thrust it into his chest, pulling out the dazzling gem— the Hōgyoku.
Urahara nearly lost his balance after being ripped open like that; a huge hole, like a Hollow's, appeared in his chest. Ulquiorra exclaimed in admiration, "I only like making holes for others, but he can actually make a hole for himself..."
But the emptiness that pierced his soul quickly healed, and Urahara returned to normal. He raised his hand and said, "The real deal!"
"Show me!"
Rei smiled and reached out to take it, but Tessai suddenly clasped his hands together, creating a small space that swallowed Urahara's outstretched hand.
Behind that spatial rift lay Dangai, and the flowing black matter was not restrained, as if it wanted to devour everything.
Upon seeing this, the Espada all drew their swords and instantly surrounded the two people and one enemy. Nel and her Fracción also viciously surrounded the eight people on the ground, preparing to finish them off.
"What are you trying to do, Mr. Urahara? Are you going to perish with me for the sake of the greater good? It seems like my losses are minimal!" Zero laughed nonchalantly.
"If this thing falls into the Dangai and can't be found, you'll be in trouble too, Mr. Nangong." Urahara also began to speak calmly.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Zero began to complain.
"I think we should sign a contract or something. You have to guarantee that after you get the Hōgyoku, you won't kill any of us. That's not an unreasonable request, is it?" Urahara stated his purpose.
Unless Urahara is stupid, he doesn't believe that Zero didn't have the idea of killing them after the transaction was over or after obtaining the Hōgyoku... If he had that idea and acted on it, Urahara felt they would be hard to resist.
"It's not excessive, but do you think a contract can really have a binding effect? If you're willing, then go ahead, I'll cooperate." Zero indicated that he didn't care; being afraid of death wasn't shameful.
"The Kotodama Contract will absolutely be fulfilled. It's one of the laws established by the Creator God, Soul Society has been using it all along. If Mr. Nangong doesn't believe it, then feel free to disobey. I will await my execution!"
Kisuke Urahara's story was very impressive, and the technical department of Zero Headquarters began to examine the stolen data. In nearly ten thousand years of history, such a situation really did exist.
The ancestor of the Komamura Clan was cursed for breaking a certain Kotodama contract, and his descendants were turned into werewolves, becoming sinful beings... The Werewolf Clan is very strong, producing many Captain-level experts.
These are not the only things that demonstrate the power of Kotodama. The most common Kidō. After being empowered by Kotodama, the power of the Kidō will be greatly increased, reaching its original level.
In this world Kotodama only works on souls and things composed of Reishi; it has no effect on humans who lack Reiryoku.
After Maki relayed all the information to Zero from behind, Zero's hair stood on end. This thing was really a bit dangerous!
After learning the details, Zero's tone changed slightly. "A signing is possible, but the conditions must be equal. Aside from guaranteeing your safety, nothing else can be added."
Urahara's hand, which had been holding the Hōgyoku for a while, was getting tired. He directly proposed, "Kisuke Urahara and the other two, along with the eight members of the Visoreds, are all exempt from being harmed by Nangong Ling Nangong Ling, as long as they do not interfere with him. If they do, they will be cursed with the curse of 'Become a Swine and Lose All Reiryoku'."
"If any of the aforementioned individuals actively harm Nangong Ling, they will be punished equally. The contract will begin after the incident of exchanging the Hōgyoku for the eight members of the Visored is completed... What do you think of this contract?" After Urahara finished speaking, he began to observe Ling's expression.
"Okay, it's settled then."
Zero noticed that the clause only prevented him from attacking this group, but made no mention of the Arrancar, who were not covered by the contract.
Urahara began his comical antics, one hand still extended into the Dangai, while the other hand was setting up a spell, muttering incantations. When he finished, the spell enveloped the two of them.
The contents of the contract that Urahara just mentioned were also presented in written form between the two of them. It was mostly nothing special; the two of them dripped blood together, and the contract was completed just like that.
But Zero felt something was missing. Finally, he remembered and asked coldly, "How long does our contract... last? It seems that for your safety, one day is enough."
"Sorry, I also forgot to set the time, but it's okay, the contract will automatically terminate after a maximum of one hundred years." Urahara smiled, and didn't look like he had forgotten at all.
Yes, he did it on purpose. It was one of his planned tactics: using the fact that the mask wasn't Arrancar as a distraction to make Zero not notice the time.
Urahara has too many tricks up his sleeve; this is just the first, basic one. He had other plans for the day, some of which hadn't even been triggered yet...
"Hmph, you can take your hand out now, right? This contract can only be triggered after the transaction is completed. If the Hōgyoku is fake, then it won't work."
Zero's eyes were sharp; if Urahara was really trying to fool him with a fake Hōgyoku, then he would be in deep trouble.