join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones=1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr | 16 novels being updated, I can't read all comments
"I hereby express my respect to all of you who defeated the Espada."
"Next, we will launch an attack on the Human World."
Aizen's voice, magnified by the Tenkū Sorō, reached everyone's ears, whether Arrancar or invaders.
Launch an attack on the Human World?
The meaning revealed in his words made everyone who heard it look grim.
However, compared to the invaders, Cirucci and the others were quite calm.
Cirucci didn't care about the Human World at all; as long as Aizen didn't invade the Soul Society and didn't disturb Ishikawa's recovery, she had no reason to risk stopping him.
After experiencing Aizen's Reiatsu up close, Cirucci felt a fear of him, a sense that he was not an enemy to be trifled with.
Even now, Cirucci felt that her act of betrayal under Aizen's nose was simply too insane.
Though…
She didn't hesitate at all when she betrayed him.
"I have placed Orihime in the Fifth Tower; if you want to save her, go ahead."
Cirucci frowned upon hearing this and glanced at where Nnoitra had disappeared. With Nnoitra gone, who would be guarding Orihime?
Picaro were currently scattered throughout Las Noches. Although they hadn't entered the Inner Circle of Las Noches due to her warning, they had confirmed the current status of many Espada.
Subtracting herself, number '9', and number '5', whom she had killed.
Those whose locations could be confirmed were numbers '10' and '8', who were currently fighting Shinigami Captains.
Although number '6' wasn't fighting a Shinigami Captain, he was battling the Substitute Soul Reaper. Cirucci wasn't worried about that situation at all, because many Picaro had gathered there.
But the reason for their gathering wasn't to help Ichigo; it was because…
They wanted to play with Nel.
And even without the Picaro, there was no need to worry at all. If the situation became critical, the gift she left for Nel would be used by her under instinctual drive.
Getting back to the main topic.
Subtracting the deceased number '7', only the top four Espada remained whose specific locations could not be confirmed.
If Aizen didn't want the 'rescue the princess' game to end, then one of these four must have been left in Las Noches.
Who would be left to hold back the Shinigami?
Aizen continued to elaborate on his plan. This might be a common trait among those who love to scheme: they all enjoy revealing their plans and arrangements to everyone in the end.
Byakuya released his spiritual perception and said in a deep voice:
"The Black Portal we used to come here has been sealed."
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Aizen's voice rang out again:
"Thirteen Captains, three have betrayed, four have been sealed."
"What is left of the Soul Society now?"
Despite his words, Aizen's tone was very flat, as if whether the four in Hueco Mundo were trapped was not even worth mentioning.
He didn't emphasize it, nor did he show any smugness from a successful scheme. He simply used a flat tone to inform everyone of his next plan:
"Next, I will lead my forces to destroy Karakura Town, create the Ōken, and finally conquer the Soul Society!"
The Tenkū Sorō ended, and the giant crack in the center canopy of Las Noches disappeared with it. At the same time, the terrifying Reiatsu that enveloped all of Las Noches also vanished.
This made everyone realize that Aizen had already left Hueco Mundo!
"Brother, we…"
Rukia looked at Byakuya in front of her with a face full of guilt. If they hadn't trespassed into Hueco Mundo, four Captains wouldn't have been sealed here for support.
"It has nothing to do with you."
Byakuya shook his head: "After the decisive battle was confirmed, Captain-Commander Yamamoto had already decided to send a portion of the Squads to Hueco Mundo to rescue… or kill Orihime, thereby delaying the unsealing of the Hōgyoku. However, from Aizen's words, the unsealing of the Hōgyoku doesn't require Orihime at all, so the first command can already be said to have failed."
In fact, the first command faced extreme opposition before it was implemented. This opposition did not come from within the Gotei 13, but from the Central 46.
Within the Gotei 13, there was actually only one opponent, and that was Ishikawa, who was temporarily serving as the Ninth Division Captain.
But whether it was Ishikawa's opposition or the strong opposition from the Central 46, both were forcefully rejected by Captain-Commander Yamamoto, who insisted that everything proceed according to the original plan.
However, Byakuya didn't know…
The strong opposition from the Central 46 was actually also suggested by Ishikawa, but it was useless.
If Captain-Commander Yamamoto complied, then the supreme judicial authority of the Central 46 was supreme; if Captain-Commander Yamamoto chose not to comply, then the supreme judicial authority of the Central 46 was merely a decoration.
"So whether or not you came here, we were destined to appear in Hueco Mundo."
Byakuya glanced at his adopted sister and continued: "And Captain-Commander Yamamoto's second command was for the remaining Captains to gather in Karakura Town."
Captain-level Shinigami gathering in the Human World?
Upon hearing this, Rukia's expression did not improve; instead, it became even worse.
The destructive power of Captain-level Shinigami causing major disasters in the Human World was no secret. Just imagining so many Captain-level Shinigami gathering in the Human World and engaging in battle with Aizen's group… one could only imagine the terrifying consequences.
"Transfer Junction Pillars."
Byakuya patiently explained to his adopted sister: "This is a type of barrier created by Urahara Kisuke. It can form a giant Senkaimon with a radius of one spiritual mile through the connection of four points. But unlike a Senkaimon, the Transfer Junction Pillars can replace all people and matter within the four Transfer Junction Pillars with things from the Soul Society."
"So Urahara Kisuke also commissioned the Shinigami Research and Development Institute to 'create an equivalent replica model of Karakura Town' and place it on the outskirts of Rukongai, so that the entire Karakura Town could be transferred intact into the Soul Society."
Rukia's eyelid twitched slightly. To be honest, when she heard that this insane plan was led by Urahara Kisuke, she wasn't surprised at all.
"Tsk tsk, I thought Hueco Mundo was cold-hearted enough, but I didn't expect your Soul Society to be so terrifying."
Cirucci sat on a nearby stone, pulling out what was clearly a makeup bag from the Human World from who knows where. While reapplying her makeup, she said: "I thought you were here to rescue little Orihime, but I didn't expect you actually wanted to kill that innocent child."
Byakuya remained silent upon hearing this. Regardless of whether Orihime was innocent or not, if she couldn't be rescued, then in order to delay the unsealing of the Hōgyoku, the only option was to prevent her abilities from being used by Aizen.
So, Byakuya did not defend himself against Cirucci's taunt.
Because…
He also did not approve of killing Orihime, otherwise he wouldn't have needed to inform everyone about the necessity of killing Orihime if necessary.
"That…"
Rukia then looked at Cirucci.
Cirucci smiled slightly: "You can just call me Cirucci."
Cirucci didn't care about the Soul Society; after all, Hueco Mundo could only be worse than the Soul Society.
But Cirucci was friendly to the people Ishikawa asked her to look after.
"Miss Cirucci, can you take us to the Fifth Tower?" Rukia asked earnestly: "We want to rescue classmate Inoue and then go to the Human World."
"Taking you to the Fifth Tower is no problem."
Cirucci shook her head slightly: "But I cannot help you go to the Human World. Aizen's blockade of Hueco Mundo is so absolute that even the Espada cannot open a Black Portal. So, until the battle in the Human World ends, you cannot leave here."
This made Rukia's expression sink. Byakuya, beside her, was not surprised by Cirucci's words.
Given that there were known betrayals among the Espada, Aizen wouldn't fail to guard against Arrancar helping them open Black Portals.
Even if I could go, I wouldn't want to…
Cirucci secretly added a sentence in her heart.
Although after the battle, if Aizen's side won, he would definitely settle accounts with her.
But that was for later. If she went to the Human World now, Aizen would definitely not mind getting rid of her, the traitor, along the way.
So, it's better to honestly stay in Hueco Mundo.
If the Soul Society wins, she can go wherever she wants; if the Soul Society loses, she can still go wherever she wants, as she won't escape death no matter where she runs…
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Cirucci's expression darkened, and she muttered to herself: "Is it him who stayed?"
"What's wrong?"
Cirucci's muttering made the few people present look at her.
"The one who stayed in the Fifth Tower to guard little Orihime…"
Cirucci frowned, and said in a deep voice, "It's the Second Espada, Baraggan Louisenbairn, the former Lord of Hueco Mundo before Aizen, and several of his Fracción. The people I sent just died."
After confirming Aizen had left, she had already sent the Picaro, who were playing in various parts of Las Noches, to the Fifth Tower to investigate.
And just now...
The dozens of Picaro who went to the Fifth Tower all died inside the Fifth Tower!
...
At the same time, in the wilderness of the Outer Circle of Las Noches.
Two figures were clashing wildly in mid-air, and on the outskirts of the battlefield, a large group of children around ten years old surrounded an Arrancar:
"Hey, Nel, play with us!"
"Let's play together! Let's play together!"
"Let's play the infinite hide-and-seek you always play. I've wanted to play with you for a long time, but Cirucci-nee didn't let us out."
"We'll be the 'Oni' (it)!"
"I really want to... play together too."
"If you get caught, you have to swallow a thousand needles!"
"Won't... let you... escape..."
"Your fingers will be cut off too!"
"Can I eat you?"
...
The words of the surrounding Picaro made little Nel's face turn pale.
She really couldn't understand why the Picaro appeared here; weren't they already dead?
Mischievous brats—Picaro!
Although she hadn't heard this name for a long time, the legends about the Picaro still circulated among every Hollow.
They always acted in groups, like army ants or locusts in the eyes of the residents of Hueco Mundo. They were an existence in units of 'groups,' including boys and girls, a total of hundreds of juvenile Hollows. Although they were a 'Hollow group' composed of many individuals, they were actually regarded as a 'single entity,' jointly possessing the number '102,' the Espada who had been eliminated.
The Picaro's innocent way of thinking was no different from that of a child. Therefore, they also lacked reason and would not specifically suppress the fundamental instincts of a Hollow, meaning they were loyal to their own desires.
These Hollows, with an incredibly innocent aura amidst their childlike desires, roamed freely throughout Hueco Mundo.
When they occasionally found 'someone to play with,' they would keep playing until the other party broke down and couldn't move...
This was their daily life.
For the weaker party, once targeted by the Picaro, it was equivalent to the collapse of their daily life.
Ultimately, it was Lord Aizen of Las Noches who, to prevent them from causing trouble or secretly going to Soul Society and the Human World, confined them in a perpetual sandstorm.
Later, it was said that they were eliminated by Lady Cirucci, the Ninth Espada, and since then, no news of the Picaro had been heard.
Nel had no idea...
The Picaro, rumored to be dead, would appear before her like this, and in such large numbers.
The number of Picaro was not fixed, because all of them inherited the wish of the original individual 'Picaro,' which was to have many friends and feed their flesh and blood to those pitiful... and same-aged children, because they firmly believed—
If they could forget hunger, everyone wouldn't fight!
Although this caused the Picaro to forever remain at the Adjuchas level and unable to advance further, it also led the Picaro down another path, like the expansion of a legion.
"I... I don't want to play... play with you. You go find someone else."
Little Nel said in horror. As her words fell, she noticed that the surrounding clamor suddenly disappeared, and all the Picaro fell silent.
Did she anger them?
Little Nel tremblingly raised her head and found that the Picaro who had been pestering her earlier suddenly turned their heads in unison towards the center of Las Noches.
"They're dead."
"Pikachu is dead."
"Who is Pikachu?"
"Pika, Pika, Pikachu... that guy who kept talking about the name Ishikawa-nii gave him."
"The minions are also dead, the masks inside the containers are all shattered."
"What to do? What to do?"
"Cirucci-nee is going there, let's hurry too."
"But I want to play with Nel."
"Anyway, Nel can't run away... Cirucci-nee is very angry, and I'm angry too..."
...
Having made up their minds, all the Picaro grew a pair of wings on their backs and, like a dense swarm of bees, flew towards the Fifth Tower.
At the same time, the Picaro scattered throughout Las Noches, who had been playing, also unanimously dropped their 'playthings' and moved from different directions towards the same location.
Having been confined by Cirucci in the Forest of Menos, their appearance in Las Noches this time meant their nature was completely unleashed. Without exception, the Fracción and Arrancar became their playthings...
At the same time, outside the Fifth Tower.
Four figures appeared on the platform in front of the tower: Cirucci, Roka, Byakuya, and Rukia.
"This is..."
As soon as she arrived, Rukia's expression changed.
On the flat ground of the tower, there were bodies everywhere, and without exception, these bodies were in the form of small children, both boys and girls.
Some were torn apart, lying in pools of blood.
Some seemed to have been flattened by a heavy object, turning into meat patties.
Some were gnawed on, their bodies incomplete.
The deaths of all the children were extremely gruesome. Even though Rukia knew these children were Arrancar, such a horrific scene still made her feel pained by their plight.
Most importantly...
She and Byakuya had seen some of these children in the Human World; they were precisely the few young Arrancar who had helped Ishikawa.
Rukia looked up at the six perpetrators who caused this scene, her eyes filled with killing intent.
In front of the tower, six Arrancar stood side by side, looking at the arriving four with a playful expression.
"What a bizarre sight, a Shinigami and the failures among the Espada actually united."
One of them, a man with a helmet-shaped mask and a ponytail that looked like a rooster's comb, looked at Cirucci mockingly: "As Lord Baraggan said, you betrayed Hueco Mundo and chose to side with the Shinigami."
Cirucci ignored him. These six were all Baraggan's Fracción.
Before Aizen became the Lord of Hueco Mundo, these six had already been following Baraggan, so their strength was among the best of all the Fracción.
The individual strength of the Picaro, however, varied. Some possessed strength infinitely close to Captain-level, while others were even inferior to ordinary Gotei 13 Squad Members. It was not surprising that dozens of Picaro would die at their hands.
After Cirucci carefully observed the gruesomely dead Picaro on the ground, her initial gloom gradually receded, replaced by a smile.
"Cirucci-nee... we're here..."
"I'm coming~ I'm coming!"
"Let's play together."
"Where is Baraggan, that dead skeleton, we want to play games with him."
...
Noisy sounds came from all directions, and tiny figures continuously gathered, their auras strong and weak.
The weak ones were simply vulnerable, but the strong ones made even Rukia feel threatened.
They are...
Rukia frowned, then looked at Cirucci beside her, wanting to persuade Cirucci to let those non-combatant children leave, but in the next second, her pupils contracted.
Because...
"Wahhh~ It hurts!"
"They taken advantage of me."
"Cirucci-nee, that big guy hit me so hard."
...
Looking around, the gruesomely dead children in front of the tower actually opened their eyes one after another, and their bodies rapidly healed themselves.
The child who was smashed into a meat patty gradually swelled up...
The child who was dismembered quickly reassembled...
In the blink of an eye, the platform, which had been incredibly bloody just moments before, didn't even have a trace of blood left. Children climbed up from the ground, patting the dust off their bodies, while accusing the six people in front of the tower, and crying inconsolably with immense grievance...
As if the tragic scene just now was merely an illusion.
This scene, not to mention Rukia, even the six Fracción in front of the tower were momentarily stunned.
But then...
A chill rose in their hearts.
Looking up, they saw that the children who were still continuously gathering, upon arriving here, all turned their gaze towards the six of them.
Those big eyes, innocent and...
Bloodthirsty!
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones=1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr | 16 novels being updated, I can't read all comments