XX-level Hokage

“Ichigo Chad…” Rukia called softly.

Orihime Inoue gritted her teeth, her face covered in sweat; clearly, healing such a severe injury was a huge burden for her. "I will do my best...!" Orihime said firmly, knowing it was the only thing she could do.

Nellyel also came over, looking at the unconscious Ichigo with eyes filled with worry and self-reproach. She reached out and gently stroked Ichigo's cheek, silently praying in her heart.

Although Szayelaporro was defeated, the crisis at Las Noches was not over.

More powerful Espada and Aizen's conspiracy await them ahead.

Chapter 201: The Beginning

In the laboratory of Szayelaporro Granz, the Eighth Espada of Las Noches, a scene of utter devastation unfolded, with a massive iceberg standing in the center, signifying the end of a fierce battle.

The air was thick with the chill of snow and the lingering smell of burnt meat, making one want to vomit.

Hitsugaya Toshiro withdrew his gaze from the iceberg and turned towards Inoue Orihime. He could see Orihime's exhaustion and the severe depletion of her spiritual pressure.

"Inoue, are you alright?" Toshiro Hitsugaya's voice carried a hint of concern.

Orihime Inoue shook her head, forcing a smile. "I'm fine... just a bit exhausted. Chad and Ishida's injuries are too severe; they need more time." She then looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, who was still unconscious, her eyes filled with worry. "Ichigo... he shows absolutely no signs of improvement."

Nelly stood beside Ichigo, her brow furrowed as she sensed his faint, almost imperceptible spiritual pressure. She extended her index finger, gathering a small ball of emerald-green spiritual pressure in her palm, and carefully channeled it into Ichigo's body.

This wasn't a traditional treatment; it was more like a transfer of spiritual energy from one entity to another, attempting to awaken the dormant power within Ichigo. "Neriel?" Rukia exclaimed in surprise at her actions.

“I…I just wanted to see if I could help,” Nelielu said softly, her gaze fixed on Ichigo, her eyes filled with worry.

After a moment, she withdrew her finger and shook her head: "His Hollow power... seems to have fallen into a deeper slumber. My spiritual pressure cannot directly awaken him." Toshiro Hitsugaya walked over, watching Nelliel's actions thoughtfully. He knew that the Hollow power system differed from that of the Shinigami; Nelliel might...

Perhaps she has her own unique way of perceiving things.

“Now, the most important thing is to get out of here.” Toshiro Hitsugaya looked around. Although Szayelaporro was dead, the laboratory was still eerie, and they couldn’t stay here for too long.

Aizen's Espada were far more than just Szayelaporro.

"Rangiku, Hinamori, go ahead and scout out a safe exit," Hitsugaya Toshiro ordered.

"Yes, Captain!" Matsumoto Rangiku and Hinamori Momo immediately accepted the order and cautiously walked towards another door in the laboratory, remaining vigilant at all times. "Renji, Rukia, how are you recovering?" Hitsugaya Toshiro asked again.

"My spiritual pressure has barely recovered somewhat, I can still fight!" Renji stretched his limbs, his eyes resolute. Rukia nodded as well: "I can too."

“Very good.” Toshiro Hitsugaya looked at Neriel. “Neriel, you should know Las Noches better than we do. Besides here, is there anywhere else that is safe, or where we can rest temporarily?”

Nellyel pondered for a moment, then pointed in a direction: "This area is Szayelaporro's private territory. Go south along this corridor, and there's an abandoned area where Broken rarely appear; it might be safe for now."

“An abandoned area?” Toshiro Hitsugaya pondered. In Las Noches, abandonment often meant danger, but for them, who needed to hide and rest, it might also mean that no other Espada were paying attention to them.

“We’ll move immediately.” Toshiro Hitsugaya made a decisive decision. “Inoue, continue treating Ichigo, Chad, and Ishida. Renji, Rukia, you and Nereil are responsible for guarding and protecting them.”

Without any objection, everyone sprang into action. Renji and Rukia kept watch over the surroundings, while Nereel gently lifted the still unconscious Ichigo, her movements extremely tender, as if afraid of hurting him.

Orihime Inoue continued to stay by Ichigo's side, her hands never leaving Chad and Ishida, continuing her treatment.

Guided by Matsumoto Rangiku and Hinamori Momo, they carefully left Szayelaporro's ravaged laboratory. The corridors still carried the deathly silence and oppressive atmosphere characteristic of Hueco Mundo, but it was much better than the bloody stench inside the laboratory. After navigating several intricate corridors, they arrived at the abandoned area Nellyel had mentioned.

The place indeed appeared even more dilapidated, with dust filling the air, many rooms half-collapsed, and not a trace of spiritual pressure emanating from it, as if it had been forgotten by time.

“This place should be safe for now.” Nelielu looked around and found a relatively intact room, gesturing for everyone to enter.

As soon as they entered the room, Toshiro Hitsugaya immediately set up several layers of hidden ice and snow barriers around them, completely concealing their presence.

While they cannot completely withstand the powerful Espada, they can at least buy some warning time.

"Let's rest here for a while, and then go back up to try and help Ichigo and the others recover as much as possible," Toshiro Hitsugaya said in a deep voice.

Orihime Inoue sat on the ground, carefully settling Chad and Ishida's bodies, and then focused more of her attention on Ichigo. She saw Ichigo's pale face and the wound on his chest that had not yet fully healed, and her heart ached. She could feel the powerful spiritual pressure within Ichigo, but at this moment it was like a candle flickering in the wind, on the verge of death.

Nelly sat beside Ichigo, her gaze never leaving him. Her dark green eyes were filled with worry, regret, and a deep protectiveness. She knew that Ichigo had come here to save them, and that was why he was seriously injured.

“Ichigo Kurosaki…” Nereel whispered, her hand grasping Ichigo’s wrist again, feeling the faint pulse. Deep within Las Noches, in another enormous hall far from the abandoned area.

Barragan Ruisenbon, the Twentieth Espada, sat high on his throne made of bone. A hint of impatience appeared on his aged face.

"That insect, Szayelaporro, was actually dealt with?" Beside Barragan, a masked man in a black robe with a striped mask on his face respectfully reported.

"Hmph, a fool who only knows how to conduct research." Barragan sneered, his aged fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the throne. "He thinks he can become perfect by fusing various powers? How laughable! In the face of absolute death, everything is nothingness!"

He looked in a certain direction from Hueco Mundo, where the Szayelaporro Laboratory was located.

“However, it’s actually Toshiro Hitsugaya and that crippled 30th Espada…that’s interesting.” A glint of light flashed in Barragan’s eyes. “It seems Hueco Mundo is about to get lively again.”

"Should we handle this?" the masked man asked.

“No rush.” Barragan raised his head, his cloudy eyes seeming to pierce through the walls of Las Noches and see far beyond. “Let those who think they can…”

Yes, let Guan Cai and the ambitious ones cause trouble first. In the end, everything will decay and decay, and everything will return to my death.

His words were filled with absolute domineering and arrogance, as if the entire Hueco Mundo, and even all life, would eventually submit to the "death" he controlled.

On the other side of Las Noches, Nnoitra Gilga, the Fiftieth Espada, also sensed the disappearance of Szayelaporro's spiritual pressure. "Tch, that sissy, finally dead?" Nnoitra scoffed disdainfully. "So weak. But..." He gripped his Zanpakuto, "Holy Cry Mantis," his eyes flashing with bloodlust.

“Nelliel...you've recovered?” Nnoitra’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Very well...this time, I will personally kill you completely! I will ensure you never have another chance to rise again!”

He made no attempt to conceal his murderous intent and hatred for Nelielu; his intense obsession seemed to burn the entire Las Noches Palace to ashes.

Chapter 202: Nemesis

Inside a secluded room in the abandoned area of ​​Las Noches, the space was completely silent under the shroud of an ice and snow barrier, with only the spiritual pressure fluctuations that Orihime Inoue was trying to heal slowly dissipating.

Ichigo's spiritual pressure remained weak, like a candle flickering in the wind, weighing heavily on the hearts of everyone present.

Nelliel sat beside him, feeling his every faint breath. She knew that Ichigo's injuries were more serious than they appeared. It wasn't just physical trauma, but also the depletion of spiritual pressure and the enormous backlash from Hollowfication.

Her gaze fell on a shallow scar on her wrist, a mark left from her past battle with Nnoitra, which now seemed to resonate with Ichigo's predicament.

Toshiro Hitsugaya surveyed his surroundings. Although the environment was temporarily safe, his vigilance remained unwavering. The Espada of Las Noches, as Barragan and Nnoitra had demonstrated, were no ordinary individuals. Szayelaporro's death would only bring forth even stronger figures.

“We can’t stay here any longer,” Toshiro Hitsugaya broke the silence. “Hueco Mundo is Aizen’s home turf. Every minute we delay, the situation will worsen.”

It could get worse.

"But Ichigo, he..." Rukia looked at Orihime Inoue with concern. Fine beads of sweat had already seeped from the latter's forehead, clearly indicating that the burden of treatment was extremely heavy.

“Inoue will do his best to treat him, but we need a safer place where treatment can continue,” Hitsugaya Toshiro said in a deep voice. “And we must find Aizen and stop him.”

Matsumoto Rangiku and Hinamori Momo kept watch outside. According to their spiritual pressure, the outer perimeter of the abandoned area remained deathly silent, but this only made them more uneasy.

The tranquility of Hueco Mundo often foreshadows a greater storm.

Suddenly, Matsumoto Rangiku's spiritual pressure sense jolted, and her face instantly turned pale.

"Captain!!" Rangiku's voice was tinged with panic, "A powerful spiritual pressure is approaching! Very fast!"

Hitsugaya Toshiro's eyes suddenly sharpened. He sensed the intense spiritual pressure, which was filled with a beastly ferocity and bloodlust, and rapidly approached the abandoned area where they were.

This spiritual pressure is filled with a strong personal will, and is by no means an ordinary Arrancar.

"This spiritual pressure... it's Nnoitra!" Neliel suddenly stood up, her long, dark green hair moving without wind, her eyes blazing with fury.

This spiritual pressure was all too familiar; it was from the enemy who had betrayed her and knocked her down from her position as an Espada.

Toshiro Hitsugaya frowned. Nnoitra Gilga, the Fiftieth Espada—he knew that name. Now that the other party had come looking for him, a fierce battle was inevitable.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Toshiro Banya commanded in a deep voice, and Hyōrinmaru was instantly drawn, emanating a chilling aura.

"Rukia, Renji! Protect Inoue and Ichigo! We absolutely cannot let Nnoitra get close!" He knew Nnoitra's cruelty and that they would never let any weak target go unpunished.

"Yes!" Rukia and Renji immediately stood in front of Orihime Inoue and the unconscious Ichigo and the others, drawing their swords and preparing for battle.

Neliel walked straight to the only exit of the room, her eyes filled with no more hesitation, only a boundless rage towards Nnoitra. "Nnoitra... I've been waiting for you for a long time!" Neliel's voice was full of determination; she knew this was the fate she had to face.

"Neliere! Wait!" Toshiro Hitsugaya tried to stop her. He knew about Neliere's feud with Nnoitra, but he was even more aware that Nnoitra's strength was not to be underestimated.

However, Neliel did not stop. The flames of hatred had completely ignited her fighting spirit.

Just then, with a loud "BOOM!", a huge hole was blasted through the wall of the abandoned room by a brute force!

Amidst the rising dust, a tall figure appeared at the cave entrance. He was draped in a white robe, wore a strange crescent-shaped mask, and wielded a massive, uniquely designed Zanpakuto—"Holy Cry Mantis," its blade resembling the arm of a giant mantis, sharp and bloodthirsty.

It was the Fiftieth Espada, Nnoitra Gilga!

Nnoitra's appearance was accompanied by a suffocating killing intent. He glanced at everyone in the room, finally fixing his gaze on Neliel, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

“Oh? Isn’t this Nelieel? She’s actually recovered.” Nnoitra’s voice was hoarse and full of sarcasm. “Looks like you’re really lucky to be alive.”

However, this time, I won't give you any more chances.

He ignored Toshiro Hiya and the Shinigami behind him; his eyes were only on Nelliel, and that almost pathological obsession made his spiritual pressure even more violent.

"Nnoitra!" Nelielu roared, her "Antelope Knight" glowing with emerald light as she charged forward to meet Nnoitra head-on.

"How impatient you are, you piece of trash." Nnoitra sneered, brandishing "Holy Crying Locust" and mercilessly slashing at Nelieel. The two Zanpakuto clashed violently in mid-air, producing a piercing metallic scraping sound.

A powerful shockwave instantly engulfed the entire room, sending debris flying and cracks rapidly spreading across the walls. "Captain Toshiro, what should we do?" Momo asked anxiously.

"Attack!" Toshiro Hitsugaya's eyes were resolute. "Nnoitra's target is Neriel; we must assist her! Rangiku, Hinamori, from both sides..."

"Hold them back! Renji, Rukia, protect the wounded and be ready to evacuate at any time!"

The abandoned room instantly became a new battlefield. The shadow of death loomed once more, and this time, they faced an even more powerful Espada, as well as the irreconcilable blood feud between Nellyel and Nnoitra.

Meanwhile, in the far center of Las Noches, Aizen Sosuke sat on his throne.

“Szayelaporro is dead.” Aizen’s voice was flat and devoid of any emotion, as if it were a trivial matter.

"It was Toshiro Hitsugaya and Nelielu du Odeschvank who killed him together," Gin Ichimaru said with a light laugh. "It seems that the former thirtieth..."

The blade has been fully restored.

"Has it recovered...?" Aizen repeated softly, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "This was also within my calculations." He raised his eyes and looked in a certain direction from the Hōkyō Palace, in the abandoned area where Ichigo Kurosaki was currently located.

"Ichigo Kurosaki's Hollow power has reached its limit," Aizen said calmly. "Now, it's time to give him... a further boost." "Then, Lord Aizen, should I handle this?" Gin Ichimaru asked.

“No rush.” Aizen shook his head. “I need to see just how far that power I’ve placed my hopes on can unleash in a desperate situation.” He paused, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

"And Neutra... he will give me the result I want."

Aizen's words were filled with an air of complete control, as if the entire battle in Hueco Mundo was merely a meticulously orchestrated play in his hands. What he awaited was Ichigo Kurosaki's "evolution," erupting from a deeper level of despair!

Chapter 203: Jealousy

The arrival of Nnoitra Gilgar in a room in the abandoned area of ​​Hueco Mundo shattered the brief peace.

Hitsugaya Toshiro's orders were remarkably clear amidst the chaos: Matsumoto Rangiku and Hinamori Momo held off the enemy from both sides, while Renji and Rukia held off Inoue Orihime and the unconscious Kurosaki Ichigo and the others, and Nelliel was already engaged in direct combat with Nnoitra Gilga.

The Laughing Mantis and the Antelope Knight collided violently in mid-air, producing a deafening metallic roar.

Nnoitra's attacks were fierce and brutal. His soul blade was like a giant mantis scythe, each swing carrying the power to split mountains and shatter rocks, attempting to tear Nelliel apart completely.