A Despairing Form

"Kuchiki Byakuya... Captain?!"

Upon hearing that, Abarai Renji turned to Ulquiorra with an agitated expression. "You know the Captain? Did you see him in Hueco Mundo?"

"I did. I won; he lost," Ulquiorra stated.

"Impossible!"

Abarai Renji instinctively refuted him.

Ulquiorra answered in the same exceptionally calm tone.

"This is merely a fact. However, measured as a warrior, Kuchiki Byakuya was undoubtedly an opponent worthy of respect. The White Emperor Sword, in which he abandoned everything and staked it all, was quite impressive."

At that moment, Abarai Renji fell completely silent...

White Emperor Sword!

That had undoubtedly been Kuchiki Byakuya's final move, one in which he had staked everything.

If Ulquiorra had not truly fought Kuchiki Byakuya, there was no way he could have known of that technique.

And the fact that Ulquiorra could appear here completely unscathed was enough to prove the final outcome of that battle.

Compared to the hot-tempered Abarai Renji, Madarame Ikkaku seemed considerably calmer at this moment as he spoke.

"Then could you tell us where the other Captains are in Hueco Mundo?"

Ulquiorra answered in that utterly emotionless voice.

"Lord Aizen personally dealt with Kurosaki Makoto. Judging by the time elapsed, the remaining Soul Reapers are likely nearing the brink of annihilation as well."

The moment those words were spoken, both Madarame Ikkaku and Abarai Renji felt that something had gone terribly wrong.

A force that had gathered nearly half the combat strength of the Thirteen Divisions, with Mr. Kurosaki Makoto among them, was actually... nearing the brink of annihilation?

Ulquiorra's answer made the pupils of quite a few Soul Reapers who still had the energy to watch this battlefield contract, while two figures landed directly behind Ulquiorra.

"Ulquiorra, what did you just say?"

"How is Uncle Kurosaki?"

Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū questioned