Shirayuki Uehara stepped out of the room and saw Kyoraku Shunsui with a carefree smile and Ise Nanao with a look of anxiety.
“What happened?” Seeing their demeanor, Shirayuki Uehara knew something bad had happened.
Kyoraku Shunsui calmly explained the current situation:
“There’s a problem with an intelligence point, and Captain Yoruichi went to investigate.
Just now, the technicians from the Technical Development Bureau detected a strong fluctuation in Captain Yoruichi's Reiatsu, suspected to be Bankai activation.
Captain Yoruichi is currently out of contact.
I've already contacted Captain Komamura for support, and for good measure, you should go there as well.”
The calmness of the two men also calmed the anxiety in Ise Nanao's heart.
Hearing the news from Kyoraku Shunsui, Shirayuki Uehara's heart skipped a beat.
Ever since those Gillian inexplicably gathered to attack the Eleventh Division, he knew someone was behind it.
Now Yoruichi being ambushed further confirmed his suspicions.
However, this was also a good opportunity to practice.
These days, the Gillian in the Great Forest of Hollows couldn’t provide him with much “experience points” anymore.
He was already beyond the level of an ordinary captain, and it didn’t matter if he showed off a bit of his strength.
So, he didn’t refuse this mission, directly saying: “Prepare some good sake, I'll be back!”
Looking at Shirayuki Uehara who disappeared in a blink, Ise Nanao's anxiety gradually turned into determination, pride, and a hint of unwillingness.
This time, she didn’t ask to fight alongside Shirayuki Uehara.
Because, Ise Nanao had already realized that she was not qualified to step into Shirayuki Uehara’s world.
“Nanao, you’re quite unwilling, aren’t you? I can understand,” Kyoraku Shunsui said as he adjusted his straw hat, “This is war, no one is innocent, and no one can stay out of it, but I believe in Brother Shirayuki, he will definitely return victorious.”
…
At this time, in the endless desert, Komamura Sajin was sprinting full speed, carrying his Zanpakuto on his back.
Where he passed, layers of yellow sand rose up.
As he ran, he was like a yellow dragon, charging forward.
While running wildly, Komamura Sajin reaffirmed: “Hachi, are you sure this is the right direction? Can I really trust your so-called intuition?”
“Of course, A-Ken!” Hachi Kusaka, on his back, patted his chest confidently, “This direction is definitely the shortcut, and we can definitely reach the battlefield at the fastest speed.
This time, I absolutely won’t let Little Shirayuki get there first.”
“Hahaha!”
Thinking that he could finally hack at a decent opponent, Komamura Sajin pushed even harder, radiating a terrifying aura all over his body.
Occasionally, some Hollows that were reckless enough to poke their heads out were directly crushed by Komamura Sajin's aura, dissolving into spirit particles.
…
At this time, Yoruichi was covered in wounds, her blood staining her white captain’s haori red.
She looked at the blue-skinned four-armed humanoid Hollow in front of her.
Around the four-armed Hollow, there were three strange-looking Arrancar waiting for an opportunity to move, blocking Yoruichi’s escape route.
Yoruichi gritted her teeth, trying desperately to squeeze out the last bit of her strength.
However, in the next instant, the space rippled, and the four-armed humanoid Hollow’s figure disappeared.
Sonido!
Yoruichi was no stranger to the Hollow's unique high-speed movement.
However, her Reiatsu was nearly depleted, and her senses and body became sluggish, she couldn’t lock on to the opponent’s position in time.
In an instant, the four-armed Hollow appeared behind Yoruichi, its claw-like hand ripped through her Shinigami uniform, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
At this moment, Yoruichi felt the breath of death.
She wanted to dodge using Shunpo, but she found her body heavy, an unknown force was binding her Reiatsu.
Yoruichi desperately concentrated her Reiatsu to defend against the enemy’s next attack, while roaring in her heart with unwillingness:
“I am Yoruichi, Captain of the Second Division, I am going to surpass that person, how can I die in a place like this?”
“Shinigami, your power has been sealed by my ability, don’t struggle anymore.” The four-armed Hollow’s other three arms condensed black Cero.
He intended to use a move that far surpassed the ordinary Cero to directly eliminate this troublesome Shinigami.
Just as Yoruichi was about to use some forbidden technique to die with the enemy, a blazing aura pierced through the air.
Soaring flames accompanied by a flash of cold blade slashed towards the Hollow’s head.
The terrifying slash and Reiatsu broke through space, completely engulfing the four-armed Hollow who was unleashing the black Cero.
Blade light flickered, flames soared, and a figure Shunpoed over, standing in front of Yoruichi.
At the same time, the Hollow activated Sonido, quickly escaping from the flames and blade light.
Yoruichi looked up, only to see a familiar figure gradually solidifying before her eyes.
Her pupils contracted, it was him!
This guy's strength has become even stronger!
Shirayuki Uehara, who Shunpoed over, didn’t pay attention to Yoruichi’s complex expression, but looked at the four-armed Hollow not far away and said:
“You’re able to dodge my blade, both your sensory perception and Sonido are quite good,不愧是瓦虚. [Befitting a Vasto Lorde.]
But why are you in such a hurry to commit suicide when you’ve finally evolved to the pinnacle of Hollows?”
A Hollow needs to absorb the Reiatsu and power of one hundred Hollows to evolve into a low-level Gillian.
Among Gillian, there are some special individuals who awaken self-awareness.
These individuals can evolve into Arrancar after devouring one hundred of their kind.
Similarly, Arrancar can also evolve into the highest level Hollow, Vasto Lorde, by merging through mutual devouring.
However, the prerequisite is that their spiritual bodies are not seriously damaged. Such conditions for advancement are very demanding.
Only Arrancar that have survived such brutal elimination in a thousand-man crossing a single-plank bridge can evolve into Vasto Lorde.
Such Hollows are beyond the reach of ordinary captains, requiring the combined forces of two captains to suppress them.
However, Vasto Lorde are rational and don’t regress into danger.
Therefore, unless there are special circumstances, a Vasto Lorde would not be ambushing a Shinigami captain for no reason, even though the soul of a Shinigami captain is very tempting to them.
In a flash, an image of a bespectacled face with a warm smile appeared in Shirayuki Uehara’s mind.
“Be careful, this Hollow is not right!” Yoruichi endured the pain and reminded, “His ability can seal Reiatsu.”
As soon as she arrived here, Yoruichi felt her Reiatsu was a little out of control.
Coupled with the fact that the other side outnumbered her, she was quickly defeated.
After speaking, Yoruichi stepped back and desperately recovered her Reiatsu and stamina.