One-Strike Kill

Clearly, Chiba Makoto had no answer to that question for the time being, nor did Unohana Retsu. From an even longer-term perspective, it involved institutional changes tied to the underlying logic of this world.

However, Chiba Makoto was now quite certain of one thing: forming an alliance with Aizen Sōsuke brought nothing but benefits at present.

At the very least, the battle in the World of the Living was developing in the direction Chiba Makoto had hoped for.

Boom!

With Aizen Sōsuke and Ichimaru Gin temporarily trapped by Castle Inferno, the Arrancar and Soul Reapers fully launched into a chaotic melee, each captain choosing an opponent of their own.

Komamura Sajin VS Tōsen Kaname, Kyōraku Shunsui VS Stark, Hitsugaya Tōshirō VS Barragan, Zaraki Kenpachi VS Yammy, Kurotsuchi Mayuri VS Zommari Rureaux, Ukitake Jūshirō VS Aaroniero...

As for the remaining Vice-Captains and some exceptionally strong seated officers who had been specially summoned, they charged into battle against the many Espada Fracción who had followed them here.

Casualties appeared almost immediately!

Or rather, Ulquiorra, with no spare captain available to hold him back, brought despair akin to a dimensional mismatch when he attacked Soul Reapers at the Vice-Captain or seated-officer level.

Even though Iba Tetsuzaemon, Abarai Renji, and Madarame Ikkaku had joined forces to stop Ulquiorra!

Yet after just one exchange... Ulquiorra's right hand pierced straight through Iba Tetsuzaemon's chest...

As Ulquiorra withdrew his hand, a heart beat violently in his palm.

Ulquiorra's gaze calmly swept over it. His five fingers closed, and the still-warm heart was crushed into dust in his hand.

Iba Tetsuzaemon's broad, muscular body then collapsed directly at Ulquiorra's feet.

"Vice-Captain Iba!"

"You beast, you bastard!!!"

The sight left Abarai Renji and Madarame Ikkaku both shocked and furious.

The three of them had once served in the