Smack~~
The barrier shattered, and Tōshirō's face lit up with joy. He instinctively looked toward the smoke.
Renji Abarai, Matsumoto Rangiku, and Hisagi, who had been fighting nearby, also stopped. Along with their opponent—Tier—they looked toward the center of the smoke.
Everyone wore varying degrees of delight.
As the smoke gradually cleared, Duan Mu slowly appeared in everyone's sight.
Duan Mu looked rather disheveled. He was bare-chested, and his black work pants had been reduced to shorts, but he had not suffered a single injury.
Buzzzzzz~~
Amid the heavy buzzing, four figures appeared around Duan Mu.
Halibel frowned as she looked at Szayelaporro, her eyes filled with doubt and questioning.
Szayelaporro, meanwhile, stared gloomily at Urahara Kisuke, his gaze filled with hostility and killing intent toward a fellow researcher.
"What an interesting barrier."
Meeting Szayelaporro's gaze, Urahara smiled without concern. "However, I began researching Boss Duan Mu many years ago."
"..." Duan Mu.
Why does that sound so strange?
Too lazy to argue with Urahara, Duan Mu turned toward Halibel and the others and smiled.
"Are you still planning to capture me?"
Halibel said nothing. She merely swung her Sharkskin-patterned greatsword. Azure light blazed wildly across the blade, while an astonishing Spiritual Pressure far surpassing her earlier level radiated from her body.
Clearly, she had no intention of abandoning the mission—and no intention of holding back any longer.
"Seal it, Murciélago!"
Ulquiorra shared the same idea. Once the barrier vanished, he released his Zanpakuto without hesitation.
Jet-black reishi gathered into a huge sphere. The next moment, a roar came from within it. A dark-green spear made entirely of Spiritual Power pierced through the sphere and shot straight toward Duan Mu in midair.
"Looks like we'll have to fight after all."
Duan Mu did not dodge. Instead, a smile slowly appeared