Fate In Bleach (487)

Chapter 487 - The Espada's Battle

"Escape?"

With a mere thought from Ailin, golden spatial ripples instantly appeared in the sky.

From these ripples emerged Zanpakutō, each inscribed with black flame patterns.

Swish swish swish swish swish swish...

These Zanpakutō transformed into streaks of golden lightning, instantly blanketing the fleeing Quincy.

Boom boom boom boom boom...

Without the slightest surprise, under this wave of attacks from Ailin, these dozen or so Quincy, not even members of the Sternritter, had absolutely no room to resist and were annihilated in one fell swoop.

"Who is it?"

This scene was naturally witnessed by the Hollows previously pursued by the Quincy.

However, upon seeing the unmistakable captain's haori on Ailin, their reaction was even more exaggerated than when facing the Quincy.

The Quincy, led by Yhwach, had been defeated by the Gotei Thirteen under Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto a thousand years ago.

Even the remaining Quincy in the World of the Living had been hunted down by the Shinigami over two hundred years ago.

Now, only Ryūken Ishida and Uryū Ishida remained as Quincy.

Therefore, these Hollows, with lifespans under two hundred years, were completely unaware of the Quincy's existence.

To them, the Shinigami were the greatest enemy.

They didn't know about the Quincy's Sternritter, the Schutzstaffel, or Emperor Yhwach...

But they knew about the Shinigami's seated officers, vice-captains, and captains...

Being chased and killed by the Quincy earlier was a matter of inferior strength.

Meeting a Shinigami captain, however, was more than just a problem of inferior strength.

Las Noches, the palace ruling Hueco Mundo, had engaged in a great war with the Shinigami of the Seireitei just two years prior, under the proxy leadership of Lord Aizen.

Unfortunately, Hueco Mundo's Las Noches lost that war.

Two Shinigami captains had almost completely killed the Espada guarding Las Noches.

Another Shinigami captain had fought Lord Aizen in Hueco Mundo, and the shockwaves from their battle had nearly destroyed a tenth of Hueco Mundo itself.

Furthermore, at that time, the entire Hueco Mundo had been blanketed by the spiritual pressure of Lord Aizen and that Shinigami captain.

Just sensing Ailin's spiritual pressure slightly stirred the fear deep within their hearts.

Thus, before Ailin could even attempt to question them, these Hollows, saved by Ailin, vanished from his sight even faster than when they were fleeing for their lives earlier...

"..."

"Forget it."

Seeing the Hollows flee, Ailin abandoned the idea of questioning them.

Even though there were two Arrancar among the group, judging by their spiritual pressure, they were likely failed experiments of Aizen's, expelled from Las Noches.

They probably still didn't know what was happening.

Raising his right hand high, a white ring of light instantly bloomed above Ailin's fingertips.

"Bakudō Number 58: Kakushitsuijaku!"

As the white light spread, the spiritual pressures within Hueco Mundo were captured by Ailin.

Among these spiritual pressures, besides some familiar ones, there were many unfamiliar yet powerful signatures.

The familiar spiritual pressures included the Sexta Espada Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, the Cuatro Espada Ulquiorra Cifer, the Tres Espada Tier Harribel, and the Primera Espada Coyote Starrk.

In the war between the Seireitei and Las Noches two years ago, the Primera Espada Starrk's opponent had been Captain Jūshirō Ukitake of Squad Thirteen.

Coyote Starrk's Resurrección ability, Cero Metralleta, was incredibly strong; few within the Gotei Thirteen could stand against him.

But coincidentally, Jūshirō Ukitake was one of those few.

Moreover, Jūshirō Ukitake's Zanpakutō, Sōgyo no Kotowari, completely countered Starrk's abilities.

Thus, in his battle against Jūshirō Ukitake, the Primera Espada Coyote Starrk was defeated without even forcing Ukitake to use his Bankai.

Of course, precisely because of this, Jūshirō Ukitake held back at the last moment and did not kill Starrk.

Although Hollows lacked the Shinigami's healing Kidō, their own "High-Speed Regeneration" ability allowed them to fully recover from non-fatal injuries in a short time.

However, after Aizen was defeated, the Espada of Las Noches effectively ceased to exist as a unified group, each governing their own territory.

Among them, the Cuatro Espada Ulquiorra remained stationed in Las Noches, claiming he would guard it for Lord Aizen, awaiting his return.

The Primera Espada chose to leave, embarking on a journey with Lilynette Gingerbuck to find new companions.

The Tres Espada, with Ulquiorra guarding Las Noches, took her three Fracción and left Las Noches, returning to the valley where she lived before joining the Espada.

The Sexta Espada Grimmjow was the only remaining Espada who hadn't left Las Noches.

Of course, this wasn't because Grimmjow submitted to Ulquiorra.

Quite the opposite, Grimmjow aspired to surpass Ulquiorra, occupy Las Noches, and become the new king of Hueco Mundo.

Besides these four top Espada members, Ailin also sensed the spiritual pressures of the other Quincy.

...

Boom!

A figure crashed through one of the red structures in the desert, slowly rising from the smoke and rubble.

"Cough!"

Grimmjow coughed up a few strands of blood, his eyes fiercely fixed on the pink-haired girl before him.

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

Grimmjow wasn't an ancient Hollow but an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande who had grown incredibly rapidly within the last two hundred years.

Therefore, he didn't know about the Quincy.

Simultaneously, Grimmjow was the candidate most widely recognized by the lower-class Menos Grande as the most suitable to become the "King" of Hueco Mundo.

Currently, Grimmjow becoming the new king of Hueco Mundo only lacked the necessary strength.

Among the four remaining Espada, Starrk and Ulquiorra had no ambition to become "King" and lacked followers.

As for the Tres Espada Tier Harribel, if Grimmjow didn't exist, she would likely take on the responsibility of "King of Hueco Mundo," dedicating everything to protecting it.

After all, Harribel's aspect of death was "Sacrifice."

Grimmjow's aspect of death, however, was "Destruction." More Hollows identified with Grimmjow than with Harribel.

Even Harribel acknowledged Grimmjow.

Once Grimmjow's strength surpassed hers, she wouldn't mind serving under him.

However, Grimmjow was currently in a foul mood.

He hadn't expected to be injured by this girl who had suddenly barged into Las Noches.

"Ara, just some light injuries?"

"You didn't die after I punched you."

"You're strong, Mr. Hollow."

The pink-haired girl slowly descended to the ground, looking surprised at Grimmjow emerging from the ruins.

This pink-haired girl was Meninas McAllon, a member of the Wandenreich's Sternritter female knight order.

Meninas McAllon's Schrift was "P" - "The Power".

In other words, despite her seemingly petite frame, Meninas possessed immense strength.

Grimmjow had been sent flying by one of her punches earlier in their fight.

"Heh!"

Hearing Meninas' words, Grimmjow sneered.

Injured by her punch, not dying just meant strong?

Was this woman mocking him?

"Woman, I hope you can still laugh later."

Although furious, Grimmjow understood that this woman with the strange spiritual pressure who had suddenly appeared was a powerhouse he couldn't handle in his current state.

Immediately, Grimmjow pressed the five fingers of his left hand onto the blade of his Zanpakutō.

"Grind—Pantera!"

Boom!

Grimmjow's Zanpakutō dissolved into blue light, merging into his body. Immense spiritual pressure erupted from him.

His short blue hair grew longer, a long, slender tail appeared behind him, and blue, claw-like spiritual pressure condensed at his fingertips.

"Ooh?"

Meninas placed her right hand before her forehead, shielding herself from the fierce wind caused by Grimmjow's Resurrección.

"No wonder His Majesty sent us and Quilge Opie to Hueco Mundo. So you possess such power..."

"Repent for your earlier words, little girl!"

While Meninas was surprised, the already transformed Grimmjow instantly appeared before her, thrusting both feet violently towards her.

Boom!

A massive roar sounded.

Grimmjow's expression, however, turned extremely ugly.

Faced with his attack, Meninas hadn't even tried to dodge, directly taking the hit.

But, to Grimmjow's shock, his attack hadn't caused Meninas the slightest injury.

Vaguely, Grimmjow could see blue patterns beneath the pink-haired girl's skin.

"Mr. Hollow, is this the best you can do?"

"It doesn't seem very strong."

"Could it be I didn't actually hit you properly earlier, which is why you didn't die from my punch?"

Meninas looked at Grimmjow with innocent eyes, asking seemingly naively.

"How is this possible?"

Grimmjow's pupils constricted.

The strongest being he had ever encountered was the former leader of Las Noches, Aizen.

Next was Ichigo Kurosaki, who had utterly defeated him without even using Bankai.

Grimmjow hadn't witnessed Sōsuke Aizen's full power.

After two years of training, Grimmjow considered that even Ichigo Kurosaki wouldn't emerge unscathed if he took a hit like that head-on.

But now, his attack in Resurrección couldn't even push this girl back.

This woman, could she be even stronger than Ichigo Kurosaki?

"Hah!"

Grimmjow roared, flipping his body. The blades on his forearms glowed with blue light as he slashed down at Meninas.

Boom!

White light flashed. A red cylindrical structure over ten meters in diameter collapsed violently, kicking up a cloud of smoke dozens of meters high in the desert.

However, when the dust settled, Grimmjow's pupils contracted sharply once more.

Meninas, having taken another, stronger blow from Grimmjow, still remained completely unharmed.

"Hey, Mr. Hollow, it seems you really aren't very strong."

"I must not have hit you properly before."

"Well then, let me kill you with one punch this time!"

Boom!

While Grimmjow was still reeling in shock, Meninas threw a punch, striking him directly in the abdomen.

Rumble!

Grimmjow's body created two white sonic booms in the air before crashing into the ground. The immense kinetic energy sent sand flying dozens of meters high.

...

Boom!

A dark green Cero erupted from within Las Noches, blasting a large hole in one of its walls. The Cero shot straight into the sky, tearing a black rift through the blue sky and white clouds above.

This was the Cuatro Espada Ulquiorra's Cero Oscuras!

Inside Las Noches, Ulquiorra stood with one hand in his pocket, slowly lowering the index finger of his right hand.

Before him, a male Quincy in tattered clothes cracked his neck.

Blue patterns flickered faintly across his entire body.

The Cuatro Espada Ulquiorra's Cero Oscuras had failed to inflict any effective damage on him.

"It's useless, Arrancar."

Quilge Opie adjusted his glasses and looked up at Ulquiorra. "This is the 'Blut Vene' His Majesty created for us in these years."

"To date, no one has appeared capable of breaking through the defense of 'Blut Vene'."

"Surrender obediently, Arrancar."

"If you do, I can put in a good word for you before His Majesty, allowing you to become one of us, contributing your strength to the destruction of the Seireitei."

As the commander of the Hueco Mundo invasion force, Quilge Opie's strength was undoubtedly the greatest among all the Quincy present this time.

Even Ulquiorra's "Cero Oscuras" couldn't break through his "Blut Vene Anhaben" to injure him.

"The only one in this world who can make me surrender is Lord Aizen."

Compared to two years ago, Ulquiorra's tone now seemed to carry a hint of "humanity."

"As for you saying no one has broken your 'Blut Vene' yet..."

"That is because you have not encountered Lord Aizen!"

Although the "Cero Oscuras" released in this state couldn't harm Quilge Opie, Ulquiorra didn't believe the so-called "Blut Vene" could withstand Lord Aizen's attacks.

"Besides, this form is not my strongest."

"You blocked an attack from this form, what exactly are you so proud of?"

"Could this be your 'heart of arrogance'?"

"Then, allow me to annihilate you, the enemy who trespassed into Las Noches, with a stronger form."

Saying this, Ulquiorra drew the Zanpakutō from his waist.

"Enclose—Murciélago!"

Boom!

A pillar of dark green spiritual pressure shot into the heavens. The canopy of Hueco Mundo groaned under this pillar of spiritual pressure.

Countless black cracks appeared on the ceiling of Las Noches.