Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

Chapter 89 The Monk's Speculation

The Great Void Forest, the core area where the immense forces clashed, is now eerily silent.

Not far from the core area of ​​the battlefield, in a pile of ruins, a slightly disheveled figure leaped out—it was Asido.

He staggered after landing, but managed to steady himself. Without bothering to brush the sand off his body, he suddenly looked up and gazed towards the center of the battlefield.

Despite the considerable distance, he could still clearly "sense" that the two terrifying spiritual pressures that made one's soul tremble had completely vanished.

The battle is over.

Asido gripped the narrow blade tightly, his gaze fixed on that direction, filled with indescribable shock and—a touch of bewilderment.

He has struggled to survive and hunted Void creatures in this Great Void Forest for hundreds of years, witnessing countless brutal battles.

He has fought against various powerful Hollows.

But a battle of that level was completely beyond his comprehension.

The monster that the Quincy finally manifested, with its earth-shattering attacks, exuded a power level that made him instinctively tremble, as if he were facing some kind of higher-level being.

And that young Shinigami wearing the white captain's haori—

The jet-black dragon he unleashed, the eerie black flames, and especially the massive magic array that enveloped hundreds of meters at the end—

That was not the power of the Grim Reaper he understood at all!

At this moment, a huge wave of emotions surged in Asido's heart. When did such a terrifying figure appear in the Soul Society?

Why has the Quincy, a name long buried by the dust of history, reappeared with such power?

Just as he was still struggling to calm his emotions, Liu Chuan's figure slowly emerged from the edge of the pit in the center of the battlefield.

He didn't look much different from before, still wearing that pure white haori, only the edges were slightly torn and stained with some dust from the battle.

His face was calm, and his breathing was steady, as if what had just ended was not a life-or-death battle, but a routine drill.

He took out the Zero Squad's exclusive communicator from his pocket, and the communication was quickly established.

The scene on the other end of the communicator wasn't directly projected, but Hyosube Ichibei's voice rang out: "Yanagawa, I've sensed something about Hueco Mundo. I suppose you've got results on your end. How's the situation?"

"Lord Hyosubu," Yanagawa responded, reporting concisely and clearly, "the Quincy who attacked the expeditionary force is named Lijie Barrow, who claims to be a member of the Sternritter of the Wandenreich."

"Sacred Symbol X" has the ability to "connect all things" and possesses multiple enhanced forms. Its final form's strength approaches or even surpasses the pinnacle of a regular Captain-level Bankai.

It has now been confirmed that he was killed.

He paused slightly, then added crucial information: "Their actions were clearly aimed at me, with the goal of obtaining the King's Key."

They seem to believe that the members of Squad Zero have all had their bodies reshaped into the King Key.

This attack on Hueco Mundo was a deliberate bait and trap to lure me here.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communication, followed by the knowing yet slightly smirking voice of Hyosube Ichibei: "Just as I thought. For the key—after a thousand years of dormancy, they strike with such swift and decisive action, targeting the Zero Division directly. It seems their obsession and schemes for the Spirit King Palace have never diminished."

Your victory not only demonstrates the strength of our Zero Division, but also marks the loss of one of the enemy's top generals. The Quincy's losses this time are truly heavy.

Yanagawa calmly stated his observations and judgments: "Although the enemy's combat strength is strong, their mode of action is more like a precise hunt carried out alone, without any other Quincy cooperating or providing support."

No large-scale Quincy activity was observed in Hueco Mundo, suggesting this is likely not their stronghold or main base.

"Yes, it matches my prediction." Hyosube Ichibei's voice carried the composure of a wise man who had seen through the game. "The Hueco Mundo environment is harsh and the spiritual energy is chaotic, making it not an ideal place for Quincy to develop."

They chose this location because it is far from the center of Soul Society, making it easy to hide and set traps.

This operation by Lijer Barrow is more like a high-risk, high-reward special operation.

Now that the operation has failed and its core combat force has been weakened, the forces behind it will surely be alarmed.

His tone shifted to a calm, strategic analysis: "I surmise that after this battle, the Quincy have failed in their 'key capture' plan and lost significant combat power."

In order to protect themselves and avoid being traced to their true lair, they may take the most extreme measures and go completely underground, entering a deeper state of concealment.

Before they have amassed sufficient strength or await a crucial opportunity, they are unlikely to reveal themselves again, much less launch such a risky, proactive attack.

Upon hearing this, Yanagawa agreed, as Hyosube Ichibei's judgment was basically in line with his own thoughts.

Having lurked for a thousand years, the Quincy must be extremely cautious in their actions.

The failure of a meticulously planned operation to seize the key to the throne, and the loss of a key fighter, who could be considered an "ace," was enough to make them realize the strength of their opponent.

Continuing to risk exposure would be counterproductive.

"In other words, although this trip to Hueco Mundo failed to directly attack the Nest of the Destroyer, it was through this direct confrontation that..."

Its key plot was thwarted, its high-end combat capabilities were reduced, and it was forced into complete silence for the foreseeable future.

Liu Chuan concluded, "From a strategic perspective, we have achieved the initial goals of deterrence and containment."

"That's right," Hyosube Ichibei affirmed. "This is one of the most important meanings of this battle, meant to intimidate the enemy and deter them from showing their faces again."

"Yanagawa, you did a great job. You not only proved your strength but also upheld the dignity of the Zero Division."

The communication then ended.

Liu Chuan put away his communicator, turned around, and walked slowly toward the direction where Asido was.

Asito saw Yanagawa approaching, he simply stood still, his gaze behind the mask fixed on the young Grim Reaper with a complex expression.

In the dim light, the two stood facing each other.

After a brief silence, Ashido spoke first, his voice still hoarse from not speaking for a long time, but his tone was much calmer: "My name is Ashido. I was a member of the Seventh Task Force of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force hundreds of years ago."

He paused, then added, as if confirming an identity long forgotten by the outside world, "The seventh Kenpachi, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, was my captain, and also—my best friend."

Liu Chuan nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

He had looked up the name Kenpachi Kuruyashiki in the Great Spiritual Arts Corridor. He had heard of the man who had refused the Zero Division's invitation and was later defeated by Souya Azashiro, who gave up the name Kenpachi.

The person before him was actually a close friend from the same period, and his ability to survive in this perilous place for hundreds of years speaks volumes about his strength and willpower.

"Zero Squad, Yanagawa." Yanagawa introduced himself briefly, then looked calmly at Asido.

"You've stayed here for so many years, hunting down Hollows. What are your plans for the future?"

He paused, then asked directly, "Do you intend to stay in this Great Void Forest, or—"