Even though everyone had grown accustomed to the destruction-laden battles between Gin and Ulquiorra, when they saw Ulquiorra perish so calmly and without a ripple, their pupils still contracted as they stared in disbelief at the scene before them!
Outside the battlefield, everyone from Las Noches looked suspiciously at Aizen, whose face remained expressionless, unable to understand why Lord Aizen had allowed Ulquiorra to die like this.
Clearly... clearly, this was merely a battle to determine who would rule Las Noches from now on, wasn't it...?
Aizen had no intention whatsoever of explaining the doubts in their hearts.
He stood high in the void, allowing the cold wind to brush through his brown hair, his deep eyes filled with nothing but indifference.
He merely gazed calmly at the place where Ulquiorra had vanished, as though he did not care about Ulquiorra's death in the slightest, his expression composed... and detached.
Barragan's expression was no better at the moment. The arrogance had vanished from his aged face, replaced by grave solemnity.
After carefully sensing the aura on the battlefield, he could not help muttering hoarsely, "That fellow's aura has completely vanished from the field... Did he really die just like that...?"
As he spoke, his cloudy eyes subtly flicked toward Aizen, who stood high in the air, and a sinister glint flashed through his gaze.
Elsewhere, Sakuya and the others stood with Fugaku, their expressions equally grave.
"Did the First Espada... truly die...?"
Confusion flickered across Sakuya's lovely face. Uncertain of her own judgment, she softly asked Tokino and Fugaku beside her.
At her words, Fugaku's expression grew solemn. After carefully searching the battlefield with his Mangekyō Sharingan, he silently nodded.
Seeing this, Sakuya's pupils contracted. She then turned to look worriedly toward the distant Aizen.
Tokino, meanwhile, subtly glanced at