" Sōgo, shall we head straight to Hueco Mundo now?"
Wearing a black, ergonomic bodysuit, Sōgo Shihoin Shaoling Fon while moving her joints.
"No rush... We should at least inform Sōsuke," Sōgo Shihoin gently, waving his hand. "Just in case we arrive and no one comes out to greet us..."
"Who will deliver the message?" Kenpachi Zaraki asked a crucial question. Following the principle that the first to arrive gets the first share, he was eager to try. "If no one else is willing to go, then I'll take care of it!"
"Delivering mail isn't a good job for you."
Tier Harribel glanced at the rude Kenpachi Zaraki, judging that he would affect Kenpachi Zaraki Sōgo Shihoin elegant image.
"Not suitable for me?" Kenpachi Zaraki frowned after hearing Tier Harribel's words. "I think it suits me perfectly... anyway, it's much better than a little girl like you."
"Want to fight?"
A hint of displeasure flashed across Tier Harribel's face. As Vasto Lorde- level Menos Grande, she still possessed the instincts of a Hollow, following the instincts of the strong, and deciding the outcome of a dispute based on strength.
"That suits me perfectly."
Kenpachi Zaraki was eager for someone to fight with him, and he looked at Tier Harribel excitedly as he spoke.
"Alright! Stop it, everyone!"
Just as the atmosphere between Kenpachi Zaraki and Tier Harribel reached a freezing point and was extremely tense, Sōgo Shihoin smiled slightly and stepped forward to stop the two from about to fight.
"Hmph~"
Kenpachi Zaraki snorted coldly at Sōgo Shihoin, who was trying to smooth things over, and said no more. Although he liked fighting, he didn't like looking for a beating. Only a fight between equals was a real fight. One-sided beatings... well, he'd just get beaten up. He wasn't a masochist and didn't like the feeling of having his anus pierced.
Sōgo.
Seeing that Sōgo Shihoin, whom he served, had spoken, Tier Harribel stepped aside.
"I don't need you to deliver the message. I'll tell Aizen myself that I'm going to Hueco Mundo to find out how he's doing things."
After stopping the two from fighting, Sōgo Shihoin explained to them.
" Lilynette... can I borrow your big gun for a moment?"
Sōgo Shihoin turned to Lilynette and borrowed Lilynette pistol.
"Give."
Although Lilynette didn't know why Sōgo Shihoin wanted to borrow her gun, she still lent it out.
"Bang!"
Sōgo Shihoin picked up Lilynette's pistol and fired a shot into the sky.
" Sōgo Shihoin... what are you doing?"
Retsu Unohana looked at Sōgo Shihoin, who was releasing Cero into the sky without a care in the world, with a puzzled look in her eyes.
"Wasn't I firing a gun to signal Sōsuke that I was going to Hueco Mundo?"
Sōgo Shihoin smiled slightly after hearing Retsu Unohana's words.
"Will Sōsuke Aizen be able to hear this gun?"
As Shaoling Fon watched the Cero break through the sky and fly higher and higher, her delicate brows furrowed.
"Shh... Wait patiently, let Cero fly for a bit first."
Sōgo Shihoin looked up at the Cero flying higher and higher and smiled slightly.
Within the Las Noches...
Sōsuke Aizen and his group of subordinates were sitting in the conference room when, shortly afterward, the conference room door was gently pushed open.
Ulquiorra and Yammy, who had returned from their mission, entered the conference room.
How is the World of the Living?
Grimmjow saw the group return to Las Noches, his feline nature and curiosity led him to ask Ulquiorra and Yammy a question.
" The World of the Living... is beautiful."
Ulquiorra pondered for a long time before answering Grimmjow's question.
"And then what? What about that guy named Ichigo Kurosaki who was singled out by Aizen?"
Grimmjow wasn't particularly interested in whether the World of the Living was beautiful or not. To be honest, he didn't have the ability to distinguish between beauty and ugliness. Rather than whether the World of the Living was beautiful or ugly, he was more curious about the strength of Ichigo Kurosaki, Sōsuke Aizen mentioned needing to be wary of!
" Ichigo Kurosaki is strong... but he's at most at the level of the Fifth Espada, I don't think he's anything to fear!"
Ulquiorra wasn't afraid of offending anyone, and he proceeded to curse Ichigo Kurosaki, along with the Fifth Espada and all the Espada after him.
"Huh?" Nnoitra, a powder keg himself, immediately expressed his displeasure after hearing Ulquiorra's arrogant words. " Ulquiorra, are you saying I'm not even as good as a mere Substitute Soul Reaper?"
"That guy is more than just Substitute Soul Reaper!"
"That guy named Ichigo Kurosaki is just like us Hollows who have obtained the powers of Soul Reaper."
"He was Soul Reaper, yet he gained the power of a Hollow..."
"In a way, he's like us—neither a Hollow nor Soul Reaper, but somewhere in between, a gray existence."
After gently stroking his empty chest with his right hand, Ulquiorra Ichigo Kurosaki, who, despite being Soul Reaper, could wield Hollow powers, as well as those Hollows created by Aizen and granted Soul Reaper powers.
"What kind of bullshit gray existence is this? A Hollow is a Hollow, Soul Reaper... is Soul Reaper."
Nnoitra pursed his lips. What he hated most was Ulquiorra's empty rhetoric. They were all on the same side, so why couldn't he just be more straightforward?!
" Ulquiorra is right. We are all beings of gray. We are neither Soul Reaper nor Hollows. We are comrades standing together for the same goal, for the same cause." But just as Nnoitra expressed his disdain for Ulquiorra, Sōsuke Aizen instead expressed his affirmation of Ulquiorra and posed a question to the assembled Menos Grande, "Are you willing to give your lives for my cause?"
"We are willing!"
Four simple words... yet everyone said them with a completely different expression. Some were genuinely loyal to Aizen, some were just going along with the crowd, and some were simply aimlessly following the crowd all day long...
Sōsuke Aizen took in the expressions of all the Menos Grande. He knew, of course, which of these Hollows were truly loyal to him, which were traitors, and which were just blindly following along...
Sōsuke Aizen never cared what others were thinking; he only cared whether these people could be used by him. As long as they could be used by him, what they were thinking was not that important. As long as they could be used by him and do things for him, that was enough.
"Buzz!"
Just as Sōsuke Aizen was looking at everyone's expressions thoughtfully, a huge rift suddenly appeared in the sky outside Las Noches.
A crimson flash ripped through the sky, shattering the ceiling of Las Noches, heading straight for Aizen's attack... The speed of that light was so great that none of the people present could react in time.
"Boom!"
With a deafening roar, the entire conference room was reduced to ruins.
" Lord Aizen!"
Although the Menos Grande each harbored their own ulterior motives, at this critical moment, they all displayed the demeanor of loyal subjects.
"I'm fine."
Sōsuke Aizen emerged from the ruins, lightly dusting himself off to indicate that he was unharmed.
"It seems Sōgo-kun is getting a little impatient, so he's deliberately reminding me in this way."
"This method... really does have Sōgo Shihoin's style."
Sōsuke Aizen stood amidst the ruins, responding to the Menos Grande with a warm smile as gentle as spring sunshine.
"Ai... Lord Aizen..."
Nel's eyes flickered slightly as she watched Aizen emerge from the ruins.
"What's wrong, Nelliel..." Sōsuke Aizen saw the fear in Nel's eyes and a bad feeling suddenly rose in his heart, but the deep-seated man did not show it. He still faced Nel with a smile, "Is there something strange on my face?"
" Lord Aizen... your hair."
At this moment, Gin Ichimaru, who had been standing to the side secretly laughing, spoke up to remind Aizen.
My hair?!
Sōsuke Aizen was slightly taken aback, then took out a mirror and looked at himself.
"Oh dear... Sōgo, he's really quite mischievous."
Sōsuke Aizen looked at the shiny scalp on his head, exposed by the Cero, and his lips twitched slightly. He tightened his grip on the mirror stick, almost breaking the mirror in two.
" Lord Aizen, what should we do? Your hair..."
"I need to sense what Sōsuke Aizen lost in that brief moment!" Kaname Tōsen's expression changed drastically as he asked anxiously.
"Don't panic!"
"It's just that some of my hair was shaved off; I have a way of dealing with that."
Sōsuke Aizen touched his bald head and revealed a confident smile.
"Forehead..."
The Espada looked at Sōsuke Aizen, now bald, and for some reason, Sōsuke Aizen's charm suddenly diminished. Was this the difference between having hair and not having hair?
"Cough cough..."
Perhaps Aizen was aware of his awkward situation, for he coughed lightly twice, took Ulquiorra's hand, and led him into a soundproof room.
" Ulquiorra... I have a task for you."
Sōsuke Aizen his back, giving Ulquiorra a truly imposing view from behind.
" Lord Aizen, what exactly is the task you've given me?"
Ulquiorra really wanted to focus his attention on Sōsuke Aizen's mission, but he couldn't help but look at Aizen head, which was unusually glaring under the room's lights.
"Quickly... quickly go and invite Orihime Inoue!"
Sōsuke Aizen turned around and addressed Ulquiorra in a forceful tone.
" Orihime Inoue?!"
Ulquiorra was taken aback; he remembered that Orihime Inoue was one of Ichigo Kurosaki's friends.
"I won't say much more about Ulquiorra. Sometimes knowing too much isn't good for you!" Sōsuke Aizen rubbed his bald head and sighed. "Go now!"
"Yes, sir!"
Ulquiorra nodded slightly. Although Sōsuke Aizen hadn't said anything, he understood. He knew everything. What was this place called? This place was called... Silence speaks louder than words!
"Well..."
As Sōsuke Aizen watched Ulquiorra's departing figure, he gently touched his bald head. Today, he truly understood the sorrow of middle age.
The World of the Living...
Ulquiorra found Orihime Inoue Orihime Inoue the park in no time. He just looked at her with his melancholy eyes and said nothing.
"..."
Orihime Inoue recognized Ulquiorra; she knew his strength—the terrifying guy who easily defeated Ichigo Kurosaki Ulquiorra. Orihime Inoue wondered why someone as powerful as Ulquiorra would seek her out. Feeling somewhat apprehensive, she met his gaze with sorrowful eyes. The instant their Orihime Inoue met, her apprehension vanished. In Ulquiorra 'Ulquiorra eyes, she saw loneliness, pain, a complete lack of understanding of the world, and emptiness.
Orihime Inoue suddenly felt that perhaps the terrifying person in front of her wasn't so terrifying after all, and perhaps this being defined as a monster... was actually quite similar to her.
Hello...
Orihime Inoue Orihime Inoue that perhaps she should try to accept Ulquiorra in front of her at this moment. Thinking this, she did just that. She looked at Ulquiorra with eyes that embraced and understood everything, and gave him a kind smile.
"Come with me, woman."
Ulquiorra looked at Orihime Inoue's dazzling smile, and suddenly felt a little blinded by it. Orihime Inoue was like a woman living in light, someone he couldn't touch, while he... was like a moth drawn to the light, knowing that rushing forward would only burn him, but still pressing on relentlessly.
"What did you say?"
Perhaps the wind in the park was too strong, because Orihime Inoue didn't hear what Ulquiorra said. She took a half step back and asked.
"..."
Ulquiorra watched Orihime Inoue retreat, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face. He didn't know why he felt displeased. He grabbed Orihime Inoue Orihime Inoue's wrist and pulled her in front of him.
"Forehead..."
Orihime Inoue couldn't resist Ulquiorra, and blushing slightly, she pressed herself against Ulquiorra's chest.
"I said, come with me, woman!" Ulquiorra lowered his head, his lips close to Orihime Inoue's ear. "Do you hear me now?"
"..."
Orihime Inoue remained silent, unsure of what to say, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"No heartbeat, right?"
Ulquiorra looked at Orihime Inoue tightly against his chest, and suddenly thought of something and asked.
"Forehead..."
Orihime Inoue couldn't hear Ulquiorra's heartbeat, but she was certain that Ulquiorra had a heart.
"I have a heart, but no soul..."
Ulquiorra knew what Orihime Inoue was thinking and offered his explanation.
"Forget it, just pretend I was confused for a moment and forgot what I asked you."
Ulquiorra looked at Orihime Inoue's face, his expression turned cold, and he spoke softly.
"If... if it has a heart, then how could it not have a heart?"
Orihime Inoue lowered her head, unsure whether she should speak, but she couldn't control herself from answering Ulquiorra.
"..."
Ulquiorra's pupils trembled slightly after hearing Orihime Inoue's words. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
" Lord Aizen is looking for you, let's go!"
After much thought, Ulquiorra still couldn't figure out how he was feeling, and just started talking incoherently.
"..."
" Orihime!!"
Just as Ulquiorra was about to leave with Orihime Inoue, a dark shadow tore a hole in the sky and fell down.
" Ichigo Kurosaki..."
Ulquiorra looked at the figure wielding a black katana and radiating powerful Spiritual Pressure, and spoke coldly.
" Ulquiorra Cifer!" Ichigo Kurosaki glared fiercely at Ulquiorra with his eyes glowing red. "If you have a problem, come at me! Release Inoue!"
" Ichigo Kurosaki, Lord Aizen has lost interest in you." Ulquiorra looked coldly at Ichigo Kurosaki. "Don't flatter yourself, leave now!"
" Orihime..."
Ichigo Kurosaki ignored Ulquiorra and extended his hand to Orihime Inoue.
" Orihime, don't go with him!"
Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes were filled with longing.
"I'll go with you, please don't hurt Kurosaki-kun."
Knowing Orihime Inoue Ichigo Kurosaki was no match for Ulquiorra, Ulquiorra Inoue pleaded with him.
"Good."
Ulquiorra nodded slightly. He didn't understand why he had agreed to Orihime Inoue, but... he did.
Ulquiorra waved his hand gently at the sky, and Garganta leading to Hueco Mundo appeared out of thin air.
" Orihime Inoue, no."
Ichigo Kurosaki stretched out his hand in the direction of Orihime Inoue and gently shook his head.
"I'm sorry... Kurosaki-kun."
Tears welled in Orihime Inoue's eyes as she followed Ulquiorra into the Garganta...
"..."
Ichigo Kurosaki was deeply shocked by what he saw.
"..."
Inside the screening room, Sōsuke Aizen gently touched his bald head, swirling the red wine in his glass as he quietly watched the entire process.
" Ichigo Kurosaki, I'll be waiting for you in Hueco Mundo."
Aizen smiled slightly. It was true that he Orihime Inoue to Hueco Mundo to help him treat his hair, and it was also true that he Ichigo Kurosaki to Hueco Mundo Hueco Mundo trapped him there.
"..."
After Kaname Tōsen Aizen up, Tosen cleaned up the screening room by himself. Although he couldn't see anything, he was still deeply shocked.
at the same time...
Sōgo Shihoin, leading his invincible squad, finally stepped into the Senkaimon and headed towards Hueco Mundo...
An inevitable conflict between him and Sōsuke Aizen is about to unfold in Hueco Mundo!
This is a grand event, attended by Soul Reaper, Menos Grande, Visored, Quincy Arrancar, and Fullbring User!
"Knock knock... knock knock..."
As Sōsuke Aizen and Sōgo Shihoin prepared for battle, Yhwach and the monk in the Squad Zero Monk of the Eye across the world. At that moment, a heartbeat, unnoticed by anyone, echoed from the depths of Hueco Mundo... A hundred years had passed.
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(End of this chapter)