Chapter 120: The Beginning of Total War

Nothing changed in the slightest because of Gin’s sudden appearance. After Ichigo defeated Dordoni, he finally encountered Ulquiorra—the man he regarded as his number-one enemy after Aizen.

“Since you’re the leader of the Espada, right? If I defeat you, then this battle should be over.”

Clinging to that naïve assumption, Ichigo once again challenged Ulquiorra.

But when Ulquiorra used the Tensa Zangetsu in Ichigo’s hand to tear open the slightly damaged garment over his chest, revealing the small yet glaring number “4” marked there, Ichigo felt the terror of despair.

“What a pity. I am number four. In other words, there are still three Espada above me.”

And so, after everything Ichigo possessed was crushed by Ulquiorra’s overwhelming strength, the orange-haired Soul Reaper who had once thrown the Soul Society into chaos was pierced through the chest by the cold-hearted Arrancar who had always been shackled by the concept of a “heart,” and collapsed to the ground.

“Well, well. I never thought Mr. Sasakibe would really be right.”

Not long after Ulquiorra departed, the lavender-haired fox with a smiling face appeared at the place where the two had fought. Looking at the grievously battered intruder, he wore a smile tinged with helplessness.

When Sasakibe had originally sent him here, he had warned him that Ichigo would certainly fight Ulquiorra—and not merely once. Until their final battle, Ichigo would undoubtedly be beaten half to death by that stone-faced Arrancar.

“But this is a little too brutal…”

Gin scratched his hair, looking troubled, then glanced faintly toward a pillar not far away.

“What do you think?”

A figure dressed entirely in white shifted behind the pillar before revealing himself.

“Grimmjow.”

“I didn’t expect to find you here.”

The blue-haired panther approached Gin with both hands in his pockets, his expression calm.

“Well, how cold. Our relationship was never particularly good, but there’s no need to speak to me in such a frigid tone.”

The smiling fox did not ask why Grimmjow was there. The reports sent back from the World of the Living had made everything clear: the proud, aloof Arrancar who had gone there twice had only one target—the young man lying on the ground.

“What are you planning to do?”

“That’s what I should be asking you.”

Wagging a finger, Gin stopped looking at Ichigo. He turned and walked toward the darkness deeper within.

“But I suppose there’s no harm in leaving him with you for the time being.”

“…You aren’t afraid I’ll kill him?”

“That would be your problem, Grimmjow.”

Gin stopped, but did not turn around. After a brief pause, he continued toward his own objective.

“If you want to kill him, then do as you please.”

Thus, Grimmjow reached Orihime before Ulquiorra could, brought her out, and had her heal Ichigo. He even sealed Ulquiorra inside the Negación box.

He had done all of it so he could finally fight the Soul Reaper he had always regarded as a thorn in his side.

Unfortunately, the result was obvious.

Under the radiance of the protagonist’s halo, the poor panther became nothing more than a stepping-stone in the young hero’s growth. Afterward, while he was already gravely wounded, Nnoitra viciously struck him down, leaving him completely unable to stand.

Naturally, under such circumstances, several captains from the Soul Society appeared, just as the story demanded, to block Nnoitra’s path.

The sole difference from the original course of events was that Gin appeared there as well.

That meant something was bound to change somewhere.

And so, the scene became this—

“Oh? Who the hell are you?”

Aaroniero, released into his Resurrección and wearing Kaien Shiba’s appearance above his own head, frowned unhappily at the man standing before the grievously wounded Rukia.

His confusion did not last long. He had already found information about the man before him in the memories of Kaien Shiba, whom he had devoured.

“No, wait. I know you… I see…”

A mocking smile spread across Aaroniero’s face.

“Although quite some time has passed, I never expected that proud man, the head of the Kuchiki family, would actually step forward for a younger sister adopted from the Rukongai. That’s rather different from the personality described in this man’s memories.”

Using Kaien’s body, he tapped his own head, then casually swung the trident in his hand. The nauseating smile never left his face.

“So, if the you in this man’s memories is accurate, may I ask what business brings you here?”

“I never imagined that a mere lower-ranked Menos would dare question me in such a tone…”

Byakuya raised his eyes, a flash of killing intent passing through them.

“Who gave you the authority to look down upon me?”

“Hahahahahahahaha!”

Hearing Byakuya’s arrogant words, Aaroniero burst into laughter, twisting Kaien’s handsome face into an unnaturally distorted expression.

“Where do you think you are? Do you still believe yourself to be the captain of the Sixth Division, or the head of one of the Four Great Noble Families? Even arrogance should have its limits.”

Aaroniero raised both hands high, his expression one of adoration.

“This is Hueco Mundo! Lord Aizen’s territory! And yet a mere Soul Reaper dares to show such disrespect here…”

A cold glint flashed through his fixed gaze. The white trident in his hand began spinning rapidly, while a large amount of moisture gathered around its shaft, forming a thick column of water.

“You’re asking to die.”

“Crash!”

As Aaroniero swung down the trident, the enormous column of water surged toward Byakuya’s seemingly defenseless body.

“Brother…”

Rukia, who had been gravely wounded by Aaroniero earlier, no longer had the strength even to cry out. She could only watch helplessly as the pillar of water rushed toward Byakuya, who stood protectively before her.

“Impertinent fool…”

Byakuya cast a faint glance at the rapidly approaching column of water, drew the Zanpakuto from his waist, and then released his grip.

“Do you truly think you are qualified to punish me?”

A vast number of pink blade fragments swept out from behind Byakuya and gathered into a pink wall, blocking Aaroniero’s attack in its entirety.

“What?”

Completely unprepared for his attack to be rendered useless, Aaroniero staggered back a step. As he felt the immense spiritual pressure pouring from Byakuya’s body, beads of cold sweat appeared across his face.

“Allow me to tell you…”

The pink blade fragments transformed into a thin stream that coiled around Byakuya’s right arm, making him appear even colder and more noble.

“The gap between us is a hundred times greater than you could ever imagine.”

His hand rose slowly, leaving fluttering petals drifting through the air.

“Despair.”