Isshin's Last Stand

"BOOM!!!"

As the sea of sand outside Las Noches continued to quake.

Inside Las Noches.

Kurosaki Isshin, Chad Yasutora, and Ishida Uryū swiftly began moving as well, trying to seize the opportunity Kurosaki Ichigo had created by holding Aizen Sōsuke back.

Perhaps because of the war, the Arrancar under Aizen Sōsuke had suffered heavy losses as well.

There were now so few Arrancar left in all of Las Noches that, as Kurosaki Isshin, Chad Yasutora, and Ishida Uryū rampaged through it in search of their targets, they encountered very little resistance.

Naturally, Kurosaki Isshin was searching for Kurosaki Masaki, Ishida Uryū wanted to retrieve Kurosaki Makoto's body, while Chad Yasutora simply hoped to be of some help to his friends.

As for the layout of Las Noches's interior, Kurosaki Isshin was not entirely unfamiliar with it.

When Kurosaki Isshin had trained with Kurosaki Ichigo in the Dangai, Chiba Makoto had given him a copy of a map of Las Noches drawn by Sōya Azashiro.

Moreover, on that map, Sōya Azashiro had specifically marked the location where Kurosaki Masaki might be imprisoned.

However, just as Kurosaki Isshin and the others, with their destination in sight, were about to enter the palace where Aizen Sōsuke resided, several figures appeared before them.

Aside from Ulquiorra, who was still maintaining his Second Stage Resurrección, there were also Stark, the former No. 1 Espada, and Barragan, the former No. 2.

In an instant, the expressions of Kurosaki Isshin, Chad Yasutora, and Ishida Uryū all darkened.

Kurosaki Isshin's plan had been to launch a surprise assault on Aizen Sōsuke's palace and rescue Kurosaki Masaki before the other Arrancar could react.

Ulquiorra, who had discovered Kurosaki Isshin's group from the start, was one thing—but Stark and Barragan were here too?

"Tch. A Soul Reaper, a Quincy, and...