Meanwhile, the azure sky gradually distorted, as though a gigantic invisible arm were tearing at the heavens like cloth. In an instant, the entire sky was ripped open, revealing an utterly pitch-black passage.
One figure after another emerged from that passage. At their head was none other than Aizen Sosuke, wearing an arrogant smile. Behind him followed a densely packed crowd, including Espada-class Arrancar who had appeared before.
However, even more of them were unfamiliar faces. At a glance, there were more than thirty in total. The expressions of everyone on the Shinigami side sank. If it were merely a matter of numbers, they would not have reacted this way. The reason for their expressions...
Was that every one of these thirty-odd humanoid creatures possessed captain-class spiritual pressure. The spiritual pressure emanating from six of them was especially terrifying. Apart from several familiar faces, the rest were likely the remaining Espada.
After all, aside from the four eliminated by Wu Biao, Espada No. 1 through No. 4 were still alive, along with No. 6 and No. 7—a total of six.
"Something's not right." The monk—Ichibei Hyosube, leader of the Royal Guard—furrowed his brow and muttered.
Oetsu Nimaiya was taken aback. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I don't know!" Ichibei shook his head gravely. Though he did not know what was wrong, the experience of living for so many years vaguely made him feel that he had overlooked something.
"It truly has been a long time, everyone of Soul Society!"
Aizen Sosuke, accompanied by Ichimaru Gin and Kaname Tōsen, stepped through the air as if walking on level ground. "And I never expected to alarm the members of the Royal Guard. I am truly terrified. Is it really alright for you not to guard that thing?"
"You insolent madman!" Senjumaru Shutara