Kill Him, Panther King!

However, just as Soi Fon was puzzled by the silence in the courtyard and hesitated between opening the Bee Love Glasses Shop for business or following her faint curiosity to investigate whether some secret was hidden within the courtyard,

A powerful spiritual pressure appeared above Karakura Town without the slightest attempt at concealment!

Boom!

With no restraint whatsoever, it was as if he feared people would not know that he—Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez—had arrived.

"Soul Reapers hiding in Karakura Town, get the hell out here!!"

Grimmjow's voice, seemingly filled with rage, echoed wildly through the skies above Karakura Town. A glow of Cero began to gather directly in his hand, as though he were preparing to wreak wholesale destruction upon Karakura Town.

The violent spiritual-pressure reaction instantly drew the attention of everyone in Karakura Town. Within the barrier, Chiba Makoto, Unohana Retsu, Yoruichi Shihoin, and Nel all sensed Grimmjow's presence at once.

Grimmjow, splendid work!

Chiba Makoto nearly wanted to praise Grimmjow's timing out loud, but his expression turned utterly grave. Spiritual pressure so powerful that space itself seemed to tremble erupted forth, causing Unohana Retsu, Yoruichi Shihoin, and Nel to pause.

"The playing stops for now. Grimmjow's appearance may well be the advance force for Aizen Sōsuke's full-scale assault on Karakura Town."

Chiba Makoto spoke in a weighty tone.

At once, Unohana Retsu, Yoruichi Shihoin, and Nel turned serious as well. They understood that, now that they stood on the same side, their internal conflicts absolutely could not affect the bigger picture.

Or rather, for Unohana Retsu, Yoruichi Shihoin, and Nel, the core of their conflicts was undoubtedly their ranking beneath Chiba Makoto. But what they could tolerate even less was anything that endangered Chiba Makoto.

Thus, after Chiba Makoto made his stance clear, Unohana Retsu, Yoruichi Shihoin, and Nel all