Chapter 130: Yaon and Fule

“Boom!”

Yawn’s enormous fist smashed into the spot where Hinamori had been standing moments before, gouging a deep trench into the ground. Yet Hinamori herself was nowhere to be seen.

“Ugh… ah…”

Sent flying by the monstrous force of Yawn’s blow, Hinamori’s frail body was utterly incapable of withstanding it. Not only had she been hurled away, but the injuries she had sustained had left her with no strength to continue fighting.

“Ugh…”

She spat out a large mouthful of blood, and even the hand gripping her sword was forced to let go.

“How surprising.”

Apache and Mila Rose slowly approached from the distance, their killing intent completely undisguised.

“When she appeared so suddenly, I thought she might be rather strong. But she’s only this good…”

Looking contemptuously at Hinamori, who lay on the ground and could no longer even rise, Apache found her more and more irritating. At last, she simply drew her weapon.

“Die.”

“Clang!”

“!”

Apache was just about to deliver the fatal blow when a strange sound came from behind her. She turned and saw a slender iron chain wrapped around Yawn’s neck. The other end was clearly held by another lieutenant who had joined this battle that would determine the fate of the Soul Society.

“Mr. Iba!”

“Heh…”

Taking advantage of Hisagi’s having Yawn’s neck restrained, Tetsuzaemon Iba charged straight at the monster’s head with his Zanpakuto in hand. No matter how terrifying the creature was, it would be finished if its head were severed.

“Gaaah!”

“!”

“!”

Unfortunately, Hisagi and Iba had both underestimated Yawn’s strength and ferocity. Yawn reached out, seized Iba, and slammed his entire body violently into the ground.

“Mr. Iba—!”

Just as Hisagi watched Iba fall beneath Yawn’s attack, a tremendous force struck him before he could finish speaking. His body flew uncontrollably in another direction.

“Snap…”

“Roaaaar!”

After defeating three lieutenants in succession, Yawn pinched the iron chain between his fingers and snapped it effortlessly, as though it were nothing more than a fragile thread. Then, as if sensing something, he suddenly raised his head and let out an enraged roar. Ignoring the commands of Apache and the others, he charged straight into the sky.

“Hmm?”

Komamura narrowed his eyes as he sensed the immense spiritual pressure rushing upward from below, then immediately drew the sword at his waist.

“Did Hisagi and the others fail?”

The original plan had been for Hisagi and Iba to stop Yawn and rescue Matsumoto and Hinamori while Komamura came here to reinforce the captains. But no sooner had Komamura arrived and found his footing than Yawn had already ended the battle below and charged toward them.

“Roaaaar!”

Yawn came straight at them, roaring. With no reason or judgment left to guide it, the only thing it knew was to find its opponent by instinct and destroy him. The possibility of danger did not even enter its mind.

“Heavenly Retribution.”

“Swish!”

A colossal blade suddenly descended from the heavens, cleaving directly toward Yawn’s unguarded body.

“Boom!”

“!”

Komamura froze for a moment, then swung his sword again. Another enormous blade appeared and slashed horizontally at Yawn, who had suffered surprisingly little injury.

To withstand my Heavenly Retribution head-on and suffer only that degree of damage… This creature…

“Roar!”

This time, Yawn did not endure the attack with its body. Instead, it thrust out both hands and seized Komamura’s enormous blade, relying on sheer strength to stop the attack.

“What—”

“Ugh… wow…”

Just as Komamura and Yawn clashed, Fleur, who had not yet completely emerged from the Garganta, suddenly opened its enormous mouth and spewed out a vast mass of unknown black material.

“Vmmm… crack… creak…”

The black mass twisted and interwove in midair, revealing the white bone masks encased within it. Then it slowly split apart, transforming into individual Gillians.

“Are all of those… Gillians?”

Soi Fon was so astonished that cold sweat appeared on her face. Though she had served as a captain for many years, she had never seen a group of Gillians so astonishing in number—not even in Hueco Mundo.

“Well, well… this is quite something…”

Kyoraku lowered the brim of his hat and gave a bitter smile.

A single Gillian—or even ten times that number—would mean nothing to captain-class fighters. Gillians could be dispatched with ease. Even against such overwhelming numbers, the captains were not entirely without means of resistance. However, there were also four formidable enemies present whose strength might surpass the captain level. In terms of sheer numbers, their side was at an overwhelming disadvantage.

Naturally, the difference in numbers could be made up for with quality. But since Aizen had yet to make a move, their final commander would certainly not act so readily either. In other words, the few of them would have to find a way to deal with these creatures themselves.

“Kyoraku…”

“I know, I know. So stop rushing me, Ukitake…!”

“Roar!”

They were still trying to find a way out of their predicament when the Hollowfied Ichigo, who had remained motionless until then, suddenly attacked. Gripping the slender blade of his Zanpakuto, he charged straight at Ulquiorra in his second release.

“Damn it!”

Chojiro, who had been standing to the side and silently observing everything, cursed and sprinted toward Ichigo, ramming him away from his original path.

“Are you trying to destroy this entire place, Kurosaki Ichigo?”

“Roar!”

After becoming a Hollow, Ichigo had lost all semblance of reason. He knew only to blast his enemies—and anyone who stood in his way—into scraps. It was instinct.

A red sphere of light appeared between their faces. Chojiro could even feel the violent turbulence of spirit particles radiating from within it.

“Vmmm!”

“Boom!”

The red Cero erupted, swallowing everything before Ichigo, but it failed to strike the target he had truly intended to hit.

“Tap…”

“Thud!”

Chojiro used Shunpo to evade Ichigo’s attack. The two landed almost simultaneously, having crossed paths in the exchange. Their enemies were now unmistakably one another.

“Whew… I suppose there’s no helping it…”

After letting out a long breath, Chojiro removed his white captain’s haori and tossed it aside.

“I never expected you and Ulquiorra to suddenly arrive in the World of the Living. You certainly caught me off guard.”

“Thud!”

Ichigo slammed one fist heavily into his palm. Chojiro assumed a fighting stance. He had now decided to use these two hands to bring the mindless youth back to his senses—though, admittedly, that might be rather unnecessary.

“Come on, then. Let me teach you how to control your own power, brat!”