Among the ruins of Hueco Mundo, Zaraki Kenpachi walked alone. The endless yellow sand rolled across the sky, yet it could not stir his bored heart.
"Tch… boring." His face twisted with irritation as he muttered, each step heavy with disappointment. When Yamamoto had sent him to Hueco Mundo, his blood boiled at the thought of finding powerful enemies to cut down. Instead, he had wandered for hours, blade unsheathed and spirit ablaze, without meeting a single worthy opponent—not an Espada, not even a Menos Grande. The thought of returning only to carve Mayuri apart crossed his mind more than once.
The silence broke with a low groan. Kenpachi turned slowly. From the rubble crawled a massive figure, jaw mask cracked, body covered in dust. Kenpachi's mouth curved in a savage grin. Finally.
It was Espada No.10, Yammy Llargo.
"Damn it…" Yammy cursed, shaking debris from his body. His face was twisted with rage and humiliation. When his eyes lifted, recognition dawned instantly.
A deep voice rumbled. "You're not dead?"
Another deeper voice answered. "Espada, huh?"
Two subwoofers collided in the air, the sparks of battle igniting in their eyes. Both were furious—Yammy, buried and shamed; Kenpachi, denied combat for too long. Nothing more needed to be said. Their spiritual pressures surged, colliding like two storms.
Before they could strike, a calm step echoed on stone.
"Click."
Grass sandals crunched over gravel. A third presence joined them.
Byakuya Kuchiki appeared, gaze cold, face untouched by emotion. He looked down at them with the indifference of a noble lord appraising dust.
Yammy's face twisted. "Tch… another one."
Kenpachi's snarl deepened. "Oi! Bastard! Don't steal my prey!"
Byakuya met his glare with an even colder one. "Prey? He's mine." His hand slid toward Senbonzakura.
Kenpachi's single eye widened, then narrowed in delight. "Oh? Then I'll kill you first."
Their reiatsu rose, colliding, killing intent dripping from both sides. Yammy blinked, dumbfounded. These two are insane. But his fury boiled over. He had no interest in waiting. His body swelled with rage as his reiatsu exploded, Zanpakutō bared.
"Enrage, Ira!"
The ground split beneath him as Yammy transformed. His body twisted, expanding into a towering beast, his shoulder number shifting from ten to zero. Espada No.10 vanished—what stood before them was Espada No.0, the true strongest.
The spiritual pressure suffocated the air, vast enough to rival mountains crumbling. Yet neither Byakuya nor Kenpachi flinched.
Kenpachi grinned, baring teeth. "Don't hold back, noble."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed, his voice flat. "The same to you."
Their combined reiatsu flared, two titanic presences challenging Yammy's monstrous form head-on. In a flash, they charged, swords gleaming, battle erupting with a roar that split Hueco Mundo's silence.
—
Meanwhile, atop the fifth tower of Las Noches, another battle neared its end.
Ulquiorra lay crumpled, pale as death, the lower half of his body destroyed. He stared blankly upward, his regeneration shattered before it could keep pace with the merciless strikes that ripped him apart. Even his composure cracked at the realization: the horned Hollow before him wielded regeneration as well, and its power eclipsed his own Segunda Etapa.
White vapor hissed from Kurosaki Ichigo's mouth. His eyes burned red with madness, his breath heavy with bloodlust. Orihime's heart clenched as she looked at him.
"...Ichigo…"
She had prayed for his victory, begged for his return, yet what stood before her was a monster more terrifying than the Espada he had defeated. She had seen him tear Ulquiorra's arm, rip apart his wings, strike with brutality no Shinigami should possess. This was not the Ichigo she knew. Fear crushed her chest harder than captivity ever had, because it was him—her friend, her savior—who now made her tremble.
Ichigo's head tilted slowly at her voice. His blood-red eyes fixed on her, devoid of warmth, devoid of recognition. His steps echoed as he approached. Each one froze Orihime's blood further, her teeth chattering uncontrollably, her legs shaking beneath her.
He stopped before her, towering, horns gleaming. Red light gathered between them, Cero swelling with murderous intent.
Tears poured down her cheeks. "Ichigo…" Her voice cracked, breaking into sobs. "You're our companion! Stop!" Ishida's weakened cry echoed behind her, desperate, but Ichigo's madness drowned all reason.
The crimson glow painted the world in blood. Orihime trembled, whispering broken words. "Help me… someone… please…" Her vision blurred, tears drowning the world. Only the blinding red remained.
At last, a single name burst in her heart.
"Su—Li—san!!"
Her scream pierced the heavens.
The red Cero ignited fully. The explosion roared, blood-colored light flooding the tower. Dust billowed, her hair seared by its heat—
And then she froze.
Before her stood a white figure, hand wrapped firmly around Ichigo's horn.
The storm halted. The light flickered, then dispersed.
"Even trying to kill your own companion…" The boy's voice was calm, but carried weight sharper than any blade. His clear tone sliced through the madness. "You've really gone insane."
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