XX-level Hokage

“Nel, you just said you knew a place that can make people better… what are you referring to?” Toshiro Hitsugaya asked.

Nel held the unconscious Ichigo in her arms. Her once innocent eyes had become deep and sorrowful. She looked up at Toshiro Hitsugaya, and then at the towering Hueco Mundo complex.

"The place that's gotten better... is Inoue's spiritual pressure... I'm very familiar with it." Nel said softly, her voice carrying a hint of vague memory, but her tone was unusually certain, "She's in that direction... very far away, but... very powerful." She pointed to the central area of ​​Las Noches, where Aizen's tower was located.

Upon hearing Nel's words, hope ignited in Rukia and Renji's eyes; Orihime Inoue's healing ability was their only hope.

Hitsugaya Toshiro pondered for a moment, his gaze lingering on the three heavily injured men for a brief while before making a decision: "If we advance as a whole now, we'll be too obvious a target and easily picked off one by one. We must split up and act separately."

"Splitting up?" Matsumoto Rangiku asked in surprise.

“Yes.” Toshiro Hitsugaya’s eyes were firm. “Considering Ichigo and the others’ injuries, and the complexity of Las Noches, we will split into two groups. Renji, Rukia, and Nel will escort Ichigo, Chad, and Ishigaki deeper into Las Noches to find Orihime Inoue. Nel seems to have some knowledge of the interior of Las Noches and can serve as a guide.”

He looked at Renji and Rukia: "Your mission is to protect them and, once you find Inoue, to help them recover as quickly as possible."

Renji and Rukia nodded solemnly. Although their own spiritual pressure was also nearly depleted, they had no other choice but to do so for their comrades. "And what about you, Captain?" Hinamori Momo asked worriedly.

Toshiro Hitsugaya's gaze shifted deeper into Las Noches, where several powerful spiritual pressures were stirring, far stronger than Grimmjow's subordinates.

"Rangiku, Hinamori, and I will venture deeper via another route to draw the attention of the Espada and buy you time," Hyuban Shiro said solemnly.

The interior of Las Noches is a labyrinth, except for the central area. I suspect Aizen has placed Orihime in a core area to prevent her from being rescued. This requires us to conduct a search simultaneously and bear the risks.

“Captain!” Mori Momo and Matsumoto Rangiku both felt a sense of unease, which meant they would be facing an enemy of Espada caliber directly. “This is the only way,” Hitsugaya Toshiro said in a deep voice, “We must delay the Espada as much as possible before they recover.” Renji and Rukia also knew the urgency of the situation.

As the captain, Toshiro Hitsugaya possesses the ability to deflect attacks. Although he is not as strong as Captain-Commander Yamamoto, he is still a top-tier fighter among the captains. Having him lead a team to draw fire is undoubtedly the most reasonable choice.

"Captain... please be careful," Rukia said earnestly.

"Enough talk, let's get moving!" Hitsugaya Toshiro urged. And so, the group split up to carry out their tasks.

Renji carefully carried Chad on his back, Rukia supported Ishida, and Nel tightly embraced the weakened Ichigo. Her deep eyes...

It emitted a soft light, guiding them towards a more secluded passage.

Meanwhile, Hitsugaya Toshiro, along with Matsumoto Rangiku and Hinamori Momo, rushed towards the other side of Las Noches, an area with even stronger spiritual pressure. Their goal was to draw the Espada's attention away and buy Ichigo and the others precious time to recover.

Hueco Mundo, the central tower.

Orihime Inoue sat quietly in the room, her face calm, but deep within her calm eyes lay a barely perceptible anxiety and worry.

She felt it!

She sensed the familiar yet weak spiritual pressure from Kurosaki-kun, as well as the violent and painful Hollow power emanating from him, just like the two incredibly powerful spiritual pressures from Yammy and Ulquiorra.

She knew that Kurosaki-kun must be in danger, and in an extremely dangerous situation; her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

"Kurosaki-kun...please...you must wait for me." Inoue Orihime prayed silently in her heart, suppressing the urge to rush out, because she knew that rushing out now would only make her look foolish.

She had to... wait for an opportunity. An opportunity that could truly help Kurosaki-kun.

However, just as she was feeling uneasy, a shadow suddenly loomed over her room. "Oh? You sensed it so quickly?"

A masked figure, draped in a white robe, slowly entered the room. He had long green hair, wore glasses, and appeared somewhat refined, but his eyes gleamed with a chilling madness and a thirst for knowledge.

He was none other than the Eighth Blade, Szayelaporro Granz.

"Human perception is surprisingly sharp." Szayelaporro approached Inoue Orihime with a playful smile. "Don't worry, your friends will soon arrive here... to become my experimental subjects."

Orihime Inoue's pupils suddenly contracted. She sensed the cold and dangerous spiritual pressure emanating from Szayelaporro, an evil completely different from Ulquiorra and Grimmjow, filled with twisted cruelty.

Seireitei, Third Division Barracks.

He watched the Grim Reapers split up and act within the Spirit Sphere with a playful smile.

"Very good... Splitting into two groups is the best choice." Mashiro murmured to herself. She saw Hitsugaya Toshiro take the initiative to draw fire, which would undoubtedly make the battle in Hueco Mundo even more intense.

She paid particular attention to the movements of Nil's squad.

Although Nel is still in child form, the determination and sorrow in her eyes foreshadow that she is no longer a simple child. Her "protective" instinct, which Mashiro has intentionally deepened, is now guiding her toward Namikaze Orihime.

“Szayelaporro…you must treat my guest well.” Mashiro turned her gaze to the area where Szayelaporro was located, which was the laboratory of Las Noches, and another trap she had carefully set.

She knew that Szayelaporro's arrival would make Orihime Inoue feel true despair, and that this despair would ultimately become the key to triggering her "power of rejection".

“Nel’s complete awakening, Orihime Inoue’s ‘rejection,’ and Ichigo Kurosaki’s breakthrough to Hollowfication… the power of the three is gradually approaching completion.” Mashiro chuckled, a fanatical light flashing in her eyes.

This war in Hueco Mundo has only just begun... The most exciting parts are yet to come. Soon, very soon, this world will...

Chapter 195: The Espada (Part 10)

Inside Hueco Mundo, the labyrinthine passageways are deep and silent, like the maw of a colossal beast that devours all light.

Renji Abarai carried the unconscious Chad on his back, while Rukia Kuchiki supported the weak Uryu Ishida. Every step they took was extremely difficult, with the depletion of spiritual pressure and physical exhaustion following them like shadows.

Nel held the still unconscious Ichigo Kurosaki tightly in her arms, her deep emerald green eyes becoming their only guide in the darkness.

“Inoue’s spiritual pressure… it’s just ahead… getting closer and closer.” Nel’s voice trembled slightly, a premonition of the unknown that was about to come and of the past. She pointed to a huge stone door in front of her, covered with strange runes. A disturbing spiritual pressure wave emanated from behind the door, filled with cold rationality and a hint of morbid excitement.

"Is this the place?" Rukia asked with difficulty. She could sense the peculiarity of this spiritual pressure. Unlike Grimmjow's wildness before, this spiritual pressure was colder and more sinister, as if it concealed something terrifying.

"Watch out!" Renji suddenly shouted, feeling a strange tremor beneath his feet. However, before they could react, the massive stone door slowly opened with a loud rumble.

Behind the door was not the spacious hall one might expect, but a vast laboratory filled with various glasswares, blood, precision instruments, and exotic specimens. The smell of formalin mingled with the stench of blood, permeating the air and making one want to vomit.

In the center of the laboratory, the Eighth Blade, Szayelaporro Granz, stood elegantly, adjusting his glasses and a playful smile playing on his lips, like a scientist who had been waiting for a long time.

Behind him, Orihime stood quietly, her face pale, but her eyes filled with terror and anxiety. She sensed the arrival of her friends, and she also felt the despairing malice emanating from Szayelaporro.

"Oh? They've arrived so quickly, Deaths." Szayelaporro's voice trailed off deliberately, as if savoring something. "How pitiful, the mortally wounded, the dying warriors... and... my most interesting experimental subjects."

His gaze swept over Chad, Ishida, and Ichigo, finally settling on the unconscious Ichigo. His eyes gleamed with fanaticism: "Kurosaki Ichigo, a combination of Hollow and Shinigami, is truly the most perfect research subject that Lord Aizen has prepared for me."

"Release Inoue!" Rukia roared, ignoring her exhaustion, and held up her sleeve, Shirayuki.

"You bastard, how dare you trap Inoue here!" Renji glared angrily. Although Zabimaru had been greatly depleted, he still held his Zanpakuto tightly in his hand.

Szayelaporro smiled elegantly, as if he had heard an amusing joke: "Let go? That won't do. My research needs fresh samples, especially rare samples like yours...on the verge of death."

He suddenly waved his hand, and the spiritual pressure in the air instantly became viscous. Countless tiny, thread-like spiritual particles surged towards Renji and Rukia from all directions, attempting to bind them.

"What is this?!" Renji brandished the Serpent Tail Maru, trying to sever the spirit particles, but found them incredibly resilient, coiling around him as if they were alive. Rukia also felt her body being pulled by an invisible force, making it difficult to even breathe.

Szayelaporro's spiritual pressure was strange and powerful, and since they were already in extremely poor condition, they were simply unable to resist it.

“Don’t waste your energy,” Szayelaporro sneered. “This is my research territory. Every inch of air is under my control. Your spirits…”

"Pressure, your physical structure—all are within my analysis."

He pointed to the huge glass container behind him, which contained various strange biological specimens and dissected life forms, and the air was filled with a suffocating fear.

"You will soon become one of them, thoroughly analyzed by me... I will uncover the secrets of your power, and then create a perfect life form that surpasses you!" Szayelaporro's eyes were filled with a fanatical obsession.

As Orihime Inoue watched Renji and Rukia bound, Szayelaporro's vicious words pierced her heart like needles. She felt Kurosaki's faint breath, and she felt Chad and Yuu's pain.

She couldn't wait any longer!

"Stop!" Inoue Orihime suddenly raised her head, her brown eyes filled with an unprecedented determination. She stretched out her hands, and the six-petal hair clip instantly shone with a bright light.

I refuse!

A gentle yet powerful barrier of light emanated from her hands, spreading towards Szayelaporro. This barrier was not an attack, but a pure "rejection"—a rejection of the existence of all things in the world, a rejection of Szayelaporro's evil.

A hint of surprise flashed in Szayelaporro's eyes. He hadn't expected Orihime Inoue to be able to use her abilities under these circumstances. He simply looked at the light barrier with curiosity and did not try to dodge it.

However, when the light screen touched him, he suddenly felt an invisible force trying to repel him, but this force was still...

It is not enough to pose a threat.

"Oh? So this is your power of rejection? What a rare and interesting ability!" Szayelaporro's face lit up with an excited smile. "It seems you are indeed worthy of study! Your power... it's practically the rejection of phenomena. If only we could analyze it..."

He reached out, attempting to directly touch Orihime Inoue's light screen to conduct an analysis.

Just then, Ichigo, who was in Nel's arms, let out a painful groan. The fragments of his Hollowfication mask began to become even more unstable, as if they would completely dissipate at any moment.

Nel felt Ichigo's pain and hugged him tightly. Her emerald green eyes suddenly emitted a strong spiritual pressure, and her body underwent a dramatic change in an instant. The child's body was enveloped in a green light. When the light dissipated, a tall and mature figure appeared in front of Szayelaporro!

She had long, dark green hair and wore a tattered white uniform with mask fragments covering her forehead and left eye. Her eyes were no longer those of a child, but were filled with majesty and anger.

"Szayelaporro...how dare you!" Nel's mature and powerful voice, filled with suppressed rage, echoed in the laboratory. She was none other than Nelielu du Odschavank, the former Thirtieth Espada!

Szayelaporro's smile froze on his face as he stared in shock at the transformation before him. His once refined face was now filled with disbelief.

A sense of trust and a hint of fear.

"Nelliel?! How is this possible?! You've recovered?!" he cried out, his eyes filled with terror. Neliel's spiritual pressure was a deep nightmare to him.

“What did you do to my friend?” Nelielu ignored Szayelaporro’s shock, her emerald eyes fixed on him, her hand gripping the sword “Antelope Knight” tightly.

Renji and Rukia were equally shocked by what they saw. They couldn't believe that the innocent and adorable child from before had become the powerful Arrancar before them.

Seireitei, Third Division Barracks.

Mashiro's smile reached its peak as she watched Nel fully recover inside the spirit sphere.

“Finally… finally fully awakened, Nel.” Mashiro exclaimed softly, her eyes gleaming with fervent light. “Szayelaporro’s spiritual pressure… truly is the best catalyst. Fear, anger, protectiveness… everything has blended together perfectly.”

She knew that Nilu's full recovery was a crucial step in her plan.

This former 30th Espada not only possesses formidable combat power, but more importantly, the unique bond between her and Ichigo will be key to driving Ichigo's continued evolution.

Chapter 196: The Espada (Part 11)

In the laboratory of Szayelaporro Granz, the Eighth Espada of Las Noches, the atmosphere suddenly froze upon the arrival of Nelielu du Odeschvank.

Nellyel's imposing gaze was fixed on Szayelaporro, the air thick with her long-suppressed anger and powerful spiritual pressure, as if it were about to tear the entire laboratory apart.

"What have you done to my friends?" Nelieel's voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable chill. The Zanpakuto "Antelope Knight" in her hand gleamed with a sinister light, its tip pointing directly at Szayelaporro.

Szayelaporro's terror lasted only a moment. He quickly regained his calm and morbid smile, pushed up his glasses, and his eyes gleamed with fanaticism, as if Neliel before him was not the victim he had betrayed in the past, but the experimental subject he had longed for.

"Oh my? What a surprising evolution, Nellyel." Szayelaporro clapped his hands, his tone full of feigned admiration. "I thought you had completely become useless, but I never expected that you could recover to this extent under the stimulation of these humans and Shinigami! As expected of the former Thirtieth Espada, the evolutionary potential within you is truly endless!"

His tone shifted abruptly, turning icy: "But even so, what can you do? This is my laboratory. Do you think this is still the high and mighty Hueco Mundo you once were?!"

"Insolence!" Nelielu roared, her figure vanishing instantly, leaving only a blur. She furiously swung her Zanpakuto, slashing fiercely at Szayelaporro!

"So fast!" Szayelaporro was startled. Neriel's speed was much faster than he had expected. Even in the space he had analyzed, she seemed like a ghost. He flashed and narrowly avoided Neriel's attack. His Zanpakuto grazed his cheek, bringing with it a scorching breeze.

Nellyel's attacks were as dense and fierce as a storm, each strike containing immense spiritual pressure and accompanied by a whistling sound that tore through space. She knew Szayelaporro's ruthlessness and cruelty, and gave him no chance to breathe. The flashing of swords and the clash of blades filled the laboratory, and various glasswares and precision instruments were shattered by the aftershocks, emitting a piercing shattering sound.

Although Renji and Rukia were bound by Szayelaporro's spirit threads, they still stared wide-eyed in shock at Neriel's battle. The former 30th Espada's strength was far beyond their comprehension.

"Her speed... completely surpasses my limits!" Renji said with difficulty. "Is this... the true strength of the Espada?" Rukia was shocked.

Although Szayelaporro was being suppressed by Neriel, his morbid smile remained unchanged. He constantly analyzed Neriel's every attack, every spiritual pressure fluctuation, and even her breathing and heartbeat were under his control.

"Analysis complete... Speed, strength, spiritual pressure characteristics... everything about you is in my data, Neriel." Szayelaporro suddenly stopped dodging, a strange smile playing on his lips. "Now, let me show you the welcome ceremony I've prepared for you!"