The captains and vice-captains present were no strangers to the name, Uehara Byakuya.
After all, Uehara Byakuya's style and aura were simply too outstanding.
Even if such a person wasn't strong, they would still have some fame.
What's more, Uehara Byakuya was a genius.
But which of the captains and vice-captains present wasn't a genius?
Even if he was a genius, how strong could a Seventh Seat who had only been a Shinigami for less than twenty years really be?
Did such a fellow truly have the qualifications to undertake such a heavy responsibility?
However, even if they had doubts in their hearts, these captains and vice-captains could only keep them bottled up inside.
After all, they wouldn't dare openly question Yamamoto-Head Captain's orders in such a setting.
At this time, Kyoraku Shunsui beckoned to Uehara Byakuya.
Without hesitation, Uehara Byakuya used Shunpo to appear beside Kyoraku Shunsui.
He stood there with a relaxed expression, in front of all the captains and elite Shinigami.
He completely disregarded the questioning gazes of these Shinigami.
…
Looking at Uehara Byakuya, who had a carefree expression and an extraordinary aura, the two madmen from the Eleventh Division and the Second Division Captain, Soi Fon, all changed their expressions as if they had recalled some unpleasant memories.
A sharp gleam flashed in the gentle eyes of the Fifth Division Captain, Aizen Sousuke, before disappearing without a trace.
The Eleventh Division Captain, Zaraki Kenpachi, revealed a bloodthirsty smile. His killing intent permeated the surroundings, preventing any other Shinigami from approaching within a hundred meters.
…
At this time, Kyoraku Shunsui, the overall commander of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, stepped forward and loudly recited the long-established pre-battle oath:
“We are now going to the place of our final battle!
Believe! Our blades will never shatter!
Believe! Our hearts will never yield!
Even if we cannot fight together, our steely will will be with us!
Take the oath! Even if the earth splits, we will return here alive!”
Each squad of Shinigami felt their blood boil and their fighting spirit soared.
On the side, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s eyes finally opened, not fully, but half-open.
As his eyes opened slightly, the old man inadvertently released a hint of his Reiatsu.
Instantly, the heavy Reiatsu like that of a mountain permeated the entire venue, carrying with it a scorching sensation.
The seated officers present felt their mouths dry and their bodies weak.
The captains, however, had bright eyes and faces full of admiration.
“Good luck to you all! Let's go!” With a simple sentence, Yamamoto-Head Captain boosted the morale of all the Shinigami, making them feel incredibly reassured.
The Hueco Mundo Expedition officially began!
Before Kyoraku Shunsui could give any orders, Zaraki Kenpachi let out a boisterous laugh: "The prey inside are all mine. Anyone who tries to steal them will be cut down!"
After speaking, he was the first to step through the Hueco Mundo Gate, his Zanpakuto slung over his shoulder.
Soon, a group of Eleventh Division Shinigami, their faces contorted in a way that made it clear they weren't good people, followed closely behind and rushed into the Gate.
"He’s really impossible to deal with..." Kyoraku Shunsui said helplessly as he walked toward the Hueco Mundo Gate.
Ise Nanao, holding a book, was about to follow, but Uehara Byakuya pulled her back.
While the other members of the Expeditionary Force one by one entered the Hueco Mundo Gate, Uehara Byakuya chatted with Hitsugaya Toushirou as if nothing had happened:
“I didn’t expect Captain Hitsugaya to participate in this ceremony. Is your body alright?”
“I'm fine...cough...cough...on such an important day, I wouldn’t...cough cough...be absent.” Hitsugaya Toushirou perfectly embodied the meaning of “disabled but determined.”
Facing the somewhat strange looks of the other Shinigami, Ise Nanao clearly felt uncomfortable and shrank back.
Uehara Byakuya seemed not to notice, and even wanted to strike up a conversation with the old man who was closing his eyes and pondering, but the latter ignored him.
Only after everyone had entered the Gate did Uehara Byakuya say to Ise Nanao:
“Good, we have successfully completed the rearguard mission, let's go!”
Ise Nanao looked at the silent Head Captain, then at the many captains, feeling as if there wasn’t much need for them to stay behind.
As they passed by Nē Kūjaku, who was wearing a black and white mask, Uehara Byakuya commented:
"This Gate is good, quite sturdy, stronger than Urahara Kisuke's."
"Are you deliberately picking a fight?" Nē Kūjaku gritted his teeth and suppressed the urge to activate his Bankai.
This Gate was actually made using the Seiketsu-ryū created by Urahara Kisuke.
Nē Kūjaku was only responsible for its installation.
Uehara Byakuya's praise was truly heart-wrenching for Nē Kūjaku, who was determined to surpass Urahara Kisuke in terms of technology.
Uehara Byakuya and Ise Nanao walked through the Gate, one in front of the other.
What they saw was a dark passage that seemed to extend infinitely forward.
Uehara Byakuya knew this was the 【Break】.
Hueco Mundo, the World of the Living, and Soul Society were all floating in the endless 【Black Void】.
The 【Black Void】 was the chaotic land outside of the world, similar to the vacuum between planets.
The 【Break】 was the passage that connected these worlds, like a barrier separating the 【Black Void】.
Therefore, whether it was the Shinigami's 【Gate】 or the Hollows and Arrancar's 【Black Void】, they essentially used the 【Break】 to cross the 【Black Void】 and travel to other worlds.
The principles were the same, one combining technical power, very stable;
The other is the manifestation of innate abilities, relatively crude and unsustainable.
In the future, Uehara Byakuya would definitely develop his own method of interdimensional travel.
If it really didn’t work out, he could still mooch off of “Urahara Doraemon.”
At the beginning of the story, Urahara Kisuke had already developed a teleportation gate with the ability to convert spiritual energy.
While thinking, Uehara Byakuya strode forward, several red Hell Butterflies fluttering ahead, leading the way.
Ise Nanao followed behind, walking for a while, only to feel as if she had come to a place where the world was exiled.
Being in this place, she felt that the boundaries of time and space had become blurred, and a sense of unease arose in her heart.
However, when she saw the figure ahead, Ise Nanao’s heart instantly calmed down, and she began to focus on her journey.
The two of them rushed forward, and soon the view in front of them suddenly became clear.
Uehara Byakuya took a step forward and arrived in a desolate desert.
Besides the Shinigami Expeditionary Force who had arrived earlier, there was only the vast and boundless desert.
High in the sky, a crescent moon hung on the horizon, casting down a cold and lonely light.
Under the night sky, the Shinigami around them emanated a chilling atmosphere, which fit well with the scenery here.
From behind, came the shocked voice of Ise Nanao: "So Hueco Mundo is like this! It really is so desolate!"
She had only seen descriptions of Hueco Mundo in the textbooks at the Soul Society Academy.
Thinking of the various terrifying rumors about Hueco Mundo, Ise Nanao became uneasy again.
Uehara Byakuya looked up at the crescent moon in the sky and suddenly became interested:
“Such a large canvas, it's given me an interest in creation. This time, I'll paint with blood and fire!”