Yammy looked down at the severed arm on the ground, then at Yoriichi standing in front of Orihime.
"You're the Soul Reaper Lord Aizen mentioned?"
He grinned, immense Reiatsu erupting from his body. The already shattered ground beneath his feet caved in again.
"You don't look all that special."
Yoriichi ignored his provocation.
He glanced at the people lying in the street and said calmly, "Give their souls back."
"Huh?"
Yammy looked as though he had heard a joke.
"I already digested what I sucked out of them."
Yoriichi's grip on his sword tightened a little.
"Is that so?"
Grimmjow stepped out from the side, his turquoise eyes fixed on Yoriichi.
"Quit acting so high and mighty."
He licked the corner of his mouth, an excited grin spreading across his face.
"That slash was fast. Come on, let's see if you can swing a second time."
"You'll die a miserable death."
Yoriichi looked at him, his tone utterly even.
The grin on Grimmjow's face froze for an instant, then grew even more savage.
"Then let's find out!"
Off to the side, Ulquiorra picked up his severed arm and pressed it back against the stump.
Flesh slowly writhed, but the wound would not heal completely. Crimson burns reached deep into his soul, and Sun Reiatsu continued to destroy his body.
"The wound won't regenerate."
Ulquiorra raised his head.
"Is this your ability?"
Yoriichi slowly drew Hekyō.
"You shouldn't have attacked ordinary people."
Ulquiorra fell silent.
Yoriichi lowered his blade to his side.
"Breath of the Sun, burn away all Hollow filth."
"Hekyō."
Boom!
Blazing scarlet Reiatsu shot into the sky, instantly bathing the entire shopping street in red. The dark gray blade rapidly turned crimson, golden-orange flames flowing along its edge as the surrounding temperature rose.
Yammy was about to charge, but Grimmjow raised a hand to stop him.
"Get lost."
Grimmjow rolled his neck.
"This one's my prey."
"Stay out of my way."
Before his words had faded, he had vanished.
Sonído!
Grimmjow appeared above Yoriichi in an instant, his right leg crashing toward Yoriichi's head under the weight of heavy Reiatsu.
Yoriichi moved half a step aside.
Bam!
Grimmjow shattered the ground beneath his foot. Before he could turn, the crimson blade was already slicing toward the back of his neck.
His pupils contracted, and he forced his head down.
The blade brushed past his short blue hair, leaving a wound on his shoulder deep enough to expose bone.
"Bastard!"
Grimmjow spun and threw a punch.
Yoriichi raised his sword hilt and struck his wrist with precision. Grimmjow's entire right arm instantly went numb, and the blow knocked him off balance.
The next instant, Yoriichi's knee slammed into his abdomen.
Bam!
Grimmjow spat out blood and flew backward, smashing through two walls in succession.
The dust had barely risen when a blue Cero erupted from the rubble.
"Die!"
The thick beam tore across the street.
Yoriichi stood where he was, gripped Hekyō in both hands, and swung upward.
"Second Form, Blue Heaven Ascension."
A spiraling blade of flame surged skyward, splitting the blue Cero straight down the middle. The remaining flames swept onward, instantly blasting the entire stretch of rubble into the air.
Grimmjow charged out of the dust, his fingers pressed together like a blade as he thrust straight at Yoriichi's chest.
Yoriichi turned sideways, his blade sliding along Grimmjow's arm.
Shhk!
Blood sprayed.
Grimmjow's right arm was almost cleanly split open, but as though he felt no pain, he kept driving his left fist toward Yoriichi's face.
Yoriichi ducked under it and stepped forward.
The two passed shoulder to shoulder.
Grimmjow suddenly froze in place.
The crimson blade was already against his neck. Just another inch forward would sever his head.
Too fast.
Since the fight began, he had not even truly touched Yoriichi once.
"It's over."
Yoriichi turned his wrist.
A pale hand suddenly reached in from the side, seized Grimmjow's collar, and forcibly dragged him away from the blade.
Ulquiorra stepped between them and kicked at Yoriichi's wrist.
Yoriichi drew his sword back and retreated, avoiding the blow.
"I don't need you to save me!"
Grimmjow clutched his neck and roared furiously.
"If you keep fighting, you'll die."
Ulquiorra's tone was flat.
"The mission has failed. We must retreat."
"Are you kidding me?!"
Yammy charged from the other side, his enormous fist swinging toward Yoriichi's back.
"He's just one Soul Reaper! I'll smash him to pieces!"
Yoriichi did not turn.
A crimson flash of steel swept behind him.
Shhk!
Yammy's fist and his entire arm flew into the air, blood raining onto the shattered street.
He froze for a moment before letting out a furious roar.
"My hand!"
Yoriichi turned around, pointing his blade at the three of them.
"You're not going anywhere."
Ulquiorra looked up at the sky.
A pillar of light suddenly descended, enveloping all three Arrancar. Yoriichi unleashed a scarlet slash, but it merely sent a ripple across the pillar's surface.
"Negación."
Ulquiorra stood within the pillar of light, watching Yoriichi calmly.
"I will report the intelligence from this encounter to Lord Aizen exactly as it happened."
Grimmjow's face was filled with resentment, but he could not leave the Negación.
"Soul Reaper, next time I'll kill you!"
Yoriichi watched the three bedraggled figures.
"You won't have a next time."
The pillar of light rapidly rose into the sky, and the three figures vanished into the depths of the Garganta.
Yoriichi did not pursue them.
The inside and outside of the Negación were two completely isolated spaces. It was not impossible to force his way through with a slash, but there were still too many unconscious people nearby.
He released his Shikai and turned to Orihime.
"Inoue, are you hurt?"
Orihime was still holding Tatsuki. Only when she heard his voice did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'm fine, but Tatsuki..."
Yoriichi crouched and placed his hand against the side of Tatsuki's neck.
Her breathing was steady, and her soul had returned to her body. The impact of the Reiatsu had only knocked her unconscious for the time being.
"Her life isn't in danger."
Yoriichi looked up at the unconscious people scattered across the ground.
"Let's help them first."
Orihime nodded firmly and raised her Six Flowers hairpins again.
"Sōten Kisshun, I reject!"
Before you continue