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On the other hand, Cirucci, who had left her palace, wasn't actually worried about Inoue Orihime's safety.
Putting aside the vague feeling Roja gave her, when she brought Roja to her side, she had always provided targeted guidance and modifications based on her own situation.
This modification was based on the Hollow Mark, though it couldn't reach Ishikawa Katori's level.
However, as someone who had accompanied Ishikawa Katori in creating the Hollow Mark and was the first Hollow Mark experimental subject, she was capable of briefly condensing the Hollow Mark to perform basic modifications on Arrancar.
Therefore, she had always been trying to help Roja perfect herself, and in doing so, she also gained a deeper understanding of the Hollow Mark within her own body.
Leaving the Espada palace, Cirucci headed straight for the 'three-digit' area.
As Las Noches's only two friends, Cirucci still hoped they could survive if possible.
Moreover, she also wanted to try…
If she could reveal some information to those reckless invaders, after all, according to Orihime, these few people had a good relationship with Ishikawa Katori.
"I wonder how that guy is doing now?"
Cirucci couldn't help but think to herself.
She and Peixe both had a connection with Ishikawa Katori, Cirucciel could clearly feel that… in a distant place, Ishikawa Katori might currently be undergoing some crucial transformation.
If the few people who came to Hueco Mundo encountered danger, Ishikawa Katori would likely find it difficult to come to their aid.
However, it seemed he had left marks on two of them, allowing Cirucci to faintly sense their presence.
It seemed Ishikawa Katori was not planning to let herself and Peixe continue to hide.
This made TCiruccireathe a sigh of relief, but also made her worry about Ishikawa Katori.
Before seeing Aizen, when she sensed Ishikawa Katori's transformationCiruccil was happy for him, but after seeing the similarly transformed Aizen, this happiness turned into worry for Ishikawa Katori.
That was a monster!
A monster whose true form was unknown and completely incomprehensible!!
Such an Aizen, even Ishikawa Katori…
Shaking her head slightly, Cirucci's rapidly moving figure paused, stopping in an area filled with pillars.
This was a place she had briefly resided in, but with her departure, it had once again become an uninhabited area.
Normally, she would chat with Dordonii and Gantenbainne here.
However, today, two uninvited guests appeared here.
"Why are you following me, you guy?"
"I was originally looking for Nel.
Nel was chasing after you guys, yelling 'Ichigo'.
By the way… you're the one named 'Ichigo', right?"
"Hey, Uryū, I'm Uryū, and didn't you call me Uryū when you just saw me?"
"..."
This is…
Cirucci looked at the two arguing people, slightly stunned.
Human and Arrancar?
This combination was truly strange, but the name Nel caught Cirucci's attention.
Cirucci carefully observed the young man in white clothing among the two.
This human should be the Quincy named Ishida Uryū that Orihime mentioned.
Ciruccididn't know much about this young man, but Ishikawa Katori had mentioned his grandfather to her, saying he was one of Ishikawa Katori's employees.
"Hmm?"
Just then, the two arguing people also noticed Cirucci's presence, and their expressions changed.
Cirucci looked at the two, her peripheral vision subtly glancing upwards, and said, "This is not my assigned area, so I have no interest in dealing with you two small fries."
After speaking, Cirucci's mouth slightly opened, but no sound came out.
However, a message directly echoed in Ishida Uryū's mind:
"I suggest you change your direction.
Going further will lead you into Szayelaporro's palace, also known as Espada number '8'.
Compared to that side, the left passage is the area controlled by the Espada number '9' who was eliminated by Ishikawa Katori, and currently, there is no Espada stationed there."
After inheriting the '9' sequence, she also inherited the '9' palace.
As Las Noches's outermost palace, the area she controlled was not too dangerous.
As long as these two did not venture rashly, they would not encounter other Espada, because Aizen's order was for all Espada to remain in their own palaces, waiting high and mighty for challengers to arrive.
Ishida Uryū's originally wary expression froze, but immediately returned to normal, still looking at Cirucci with vigilance.
However…
He felt incredibly strange in his heart, and the image of the child-like Arrancar who helped Ishikawa Katori in the Human World couldn't help but surface in his mind.
From what this woman said, she was clearly very familiar with Ishikawa Katori.
But it couldn't be ruled out that she was deliberately using Boss Ishikawa Katori to gain his trust, so Ishida Uryū did not relax his guard.
Moreover, even if she truly knew Boss Ishikawa Katori, he couldn't show the slightest hint of it.
Because from her clandestine message, there should be surveillance here, and if he acted improperly, it was very likely that her identity as an undercover agent would be discovered…
Undercover…
The more Ishida Uryū thought about these two words, the stranger he felt.
Just how resourceful was Boss Ishikawa Katori, to even have his people among the Arrancar.
Cirucci did not continue to explain, and with a step, her entire being abruptly disappeared from her original spot.
Seeing this, Ishida Uryū's pupils slightly contracted, and his body subconsciously tensed up.
After a long while…
"Did… did she… she… she leave?"
Peixe's voice trembled, asking cautiously.
"She should have left."
Ishida Uryū looked around, nodded, and then looked at the trembling Peixe beside him with some confusion: "Do you really need to react so strongly, you guy?
If you're scared, why don't you just go back?"
"You don't know anything!"
Peixe glared: "Didn't you look at her thigh?"
Upon hearing this, Ishida Uryū's eyes showed disdain, and he moved a few steps away with a look of disgust.
"…What kind of look is that?"
Peixe glared at Ishida Uryū in annoyance: "I'm talking about the '9' number, the Espada number!!"
Number?
Ishida Uryū's pupils contracted: "Could it be…"
"That's right, that girl just now was an Espada.
It's a good thing she wasn't interested in us two, otherwise, following you, the weakest-looking guy, I would definitely be dead this time!"
"Hey, hey, hey—"
Ishida Uryū's face darkened.
Why was he the weakest in this scoundrel's eyes!
However…
That little girl who looked like a middle schooler was actually an Espada.
And it seemed she had an unclear relationship with Boss Ishikawa Katori…
Ishida Uryū's respect for Boss Ishikawa Katori in his heart rose another level.
No wonder his grandfather was willing to follow him.
"How about we just go back the way we came?"
Peixe swallowed, saying nervously: "We just entered Las Noches and already encountered an Espada.
Who knows who might be waiting for us ahead."
Ishida Uryū didn't speak, but looked at the left passage.
The left passage mentioned by that female Espada was the one Kucihki had chosen at the fork in the road.
If it was truly as she said, then Kucihki should not encounter any danger.
After a moment of hesitation, Ishida Uryū ultimately chose to continue straight.
Because at the five-way fork, they had already agreed that each person would explore one passage, and they promised to return alive!
So Ishida Uryū was not going to change passages as the female Espada suggested.
…
On the other side, Cirucci arrived in a spacious area.
After arriving here, she did not step out, but remained hidden in the shadows, her gaze strangely fixed on the intense battle unfolding in the space.
Looking out, she saw a Shinigami youth with spiky orange hair engaging in a fierce battle with Dordonii, but Cirucci's gaze was not on their battle, but entirely on a small girl-like Arrancar on the outskirts of the battlefield.
She is…
Cirucci always felt a strange sense of familiarity from the other party, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
Lake-green hair, grayish-brown eyes, rose-colored horizontal facial markings…
Aside from her appearance, these features were extremely similar to someone in her memory.
Is it really her?
Just then, the battle in the arena suddenly changed, and the orange-haired Shinigami youth was sent flying backward.
Dordonii, standing in place, did not pursue, but crossed his little fingers and index fingers in front of his chest.
Cirucci frowned at the sight, because Dordonii's stance was a sign of releasing a Hollow Flash.
As expected.
Accompanied by a huge roar, a powerful Hollow Flash shot through the air, heading straight for the retreating Shinigami youth.
Just as Cirucci was hesitating whether to intervene, a sudden change occurred.
A small figure suddenly appeared between the Hollow Flash and the Shinigami youth; it was the Arrancar little girl.
Immediately…
She opened her mouth, and swallowed!
She actually swallowed the powerful Hollow Flash directly, and then, opening her mouth towards Dordonii, who had released the Hollow Flash, she returned the Hollow Flash to Dordonii.
Seeing this, Cirucci's pupils suddenly contracted.
Cero Doble!
Sucking the enemy's Hollow Flash into her mouth, then adding her own Hollow Flash and reflecting it back at her enemy.
This was precisely the unique technique of the person in her memory.
It really was her.
Halibel's predecessor, the Arrancar who once held the '3' sequence among the Espada - Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck!
Cirucci didn't pay much attention to the subsequent battle; her entire focus was on Nel.
Is it because of the crack on her mask?
Cirucci's eyes were full of curiosity, pondering possible ways to heal Nel.
Although Ishikawa Katori had not asked her to gather forcesCiruccil had always wanted to provide greater assistance to Ishikawa Katori and help him accumulate strength.
After experiencing Aizen's terror, this desire became even stronger.
If…
If she could help her recover and bring her to her side, it would definitely play an unexpected role.
Ishikawa Katori's Hollow Mark should be able to help her.
But since Ishikawa Katori wasn't here, she could probably only temporarily help her return to her original form.
While Cirucci was pondering, the battle in the arena was already nearing its end.
The victory did not go to Dordonii, who had previously held the advantage, but to the orange-haired youth who used his Bankai and momentarily wore a bone mask resembling an Arrancar.
The mask only appeared for an instant before the battle concluded.
Dordonii's chest was slashed with a huge gash, and he immediately passed out.
Cirucci did not emerge from her hiding place, because after cutting down Dordonii, the orange-haired youth did not press his advantage, but instead had the child-like Nel spit saliva on Dordonii…
It seemed Nel's saliva had a healing effect on injuries.
Cirucci didn't know about this, after all, the former Nel would not act like she was now… sticking her finger into her throat and constantly vomiting on others.
But from Dordonii's stable spiritual pressure, it should indeed have a healing effect, it's just the method…
Cirucci would rather die than accept her treatment!!
"Hmm?"
Just as Cirucci was hesitating whether to come out, her brows suddenly furrowed.
What is 'he' doing here?
Aizen's orders…
No, from Aizen's previous orders, the Exequias should not be deployed at this time.
And besides Aizen, there was only one person who would mobilize 'him'.
NO. 8 - Szayelaporro.
Upon realizing this, Cirucci's expression turned cold, and she stepped out from her hiding place.
As soon as she appeared, the three people present all looked towards Cirucci simultaneously.
"Cirucci?"
Dordonii on the ground frowned, glanced at Kurosaki ichigo and the other person in front of him, and his expression showed some hesitation.
"Don't worry, I'm not interested in dealing with your opponents."
Cirucci spoke directly.
Ever since she realized Ishikawa Katori was preparing to expose herself and Peixe, she had become increasingly laid-back… Not to mention that the order she received was to wait in her palace for enemies to challenge her.
She didn't care if she was suspected now.
Anyway, as long as Aizen didn't make a move, she was confident she could leave here against anyone, and besides, Peixe was currently in the Forest of Menos directly below her, ready to come to her aid at any time.
"Seeing as you saved my friend, I'll let you off this once."
But the superficial work still needed to be done.
Cirucci looked at Kurosaki ichigo with cold eyes and said, "But next time we meet, I will kill both of you."
Upon hearing this, Kurosaki ichigo didn't react much, but Dordonii, lying on the ground, breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Cirucci with eyes full of emotion and gratitude.
This made Cirucci feel a bit speechless…
Are people who were once in sequence '3' all this kind?
And these two '3s' in front of her both seemed to have a certain fondness for this Shinigami youth.
As Cirucci passed by Nel, her steps paused, and she reached out to place her hand on the Arrancar mask on Nel's small head.
Seeing this, Kurosaki ichigo's expression sharpened, but when he realized the other party wasn't harming Nel, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Little Nel looked at Cirucci in front of her with curiosity, and meeting her gaze, Cirucci smiled slightly, and gently rubbed her mask.
"Long time no see."
"Huh?"
"Don't you remember?"
Cirucci murmured to herself, then removed her hand and said, "Use it when you need it.
Consider it repayment for you taking care of me back then."
Little Nel touched the mask on her head with a puzzled expression, and a Spiritual Crest gradually disappeared.
"If you're going to leave, then hurry up and go.
Don't wait for me to change my mind."
Cirucci didn't say much more, but came to Dordonii's side, facing the other side of the passage.
Kurosaki ichigo hesitated for a moment, then finally picked up Nel from the ground and ran towards the other side of the passage.
Almost at the same time their figures disappeared, dense footsteps could be heard.
One by one, skeletal figures slowly emerged from the passage, stopping in front of Cirucci.
Upon seeing Cirucci, the red light in the eyes of the leading skeletal Arrancar flashed, and he said in a deep voice: "Lord Cirucci, we are ordered to pursue and kill the injured invaders.
Please clear the way."
"Your stance doesn't look like you're here to pursue invaders."
Cirucci chuckled strangely, a chilling killing intent appearing on her delicate face: "If it's not an order from Lord Aizen, then go back to where you came from.
This is my territory."
The red light in the eyes of the leading skeletal face flashed: "Since you've already guessed, then please forgive my offense."
Dordonii looked at Cirucci, who was blocking his way, and immediately realized that the arrival of the Exequias was not to pursue the young man, but to retrieve himself!
"Just lie still."
Just as Dordonii was about to get up, Cirucci's voice came, and then…
A powerful spiritual pressure, unfamiliar even to him, suddenly filled every corner of this space!
"So, I, an Espada, am no longer even taken seriously by the Exequias?"
The cold voice was filled with killing intent.
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