A sudden turn of events.
Before Bai Chen could even catch his breath—before he could fully recover from the fierce battle against Kenpachi Zaraki—
The sky near the boundary of Soul Society tore open without warning.
A massive black Garganta split the heavens apart, exuding dense, oppressive darkness.
Two overwhelming presences descended one after another from within.
"W-What's going on?!"
"That's… a Garganta! Espada have invaded?!"
"No way—why now?!"
"This is a complete disaster!"
The disturbance was far too great.
Black reiatsu poured down like a tidal wave, crushing everything below.
The Shinigami of the purification force shuddered as one, instinctively turning toward the sky.
And when they saw the two figures emerging from the Garganta—
Their faces went deathly pale.
Espada.
An Adjuchas-class… and—
A Vasto Lorde.
"Impossible…"
"Vasto Lorde-class Arrancar are supposed to be legends!"
"Why would monsters like that appear in Soul Society?!"
Even Chōjirō Sasakibe, who had lived for over two thousand years, felt his blood run cold.
He knew exactly what those titles meant.
If such beings truly descended—
It would signal the greatest crisis Soul Society had faced in centuries.
Casualties would be inevitable.
Entire districts could be wiped out.
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe… what should we do?"
Retsu Unohana's successor, Isane Kotetsu, trembled as she spoke.
Unlike front-line captains, she had almost no real combat experience against Great Hollows.
Facing Espada head-on left her mind completely blank.
"Calm yourself," Sasakibe barked, forcing his composure.
"Evacuate immediately! Clear the area!"
"Contact the Research and Development Bureau at once!"
"Request emergency deployment of the Eleventh Division!"
This was no longer a situation they could handle alone.
Meanwhile—
Bai Chen stood at the edge of the shattered battlefield, Great Fire Extinguishing Fan in hand.
He ignored the panic behind him.
His gaze was locked onto the Garganta.
"So it finally happened…"
"Yammy and Ulquiorra."
"This isn't coincidence."
"Top-tier Espada wouldn't invade Soul Society without Aizen's approval."
From the dark rift stepped two figures.
One was slender, clad in the white uniform of Las Noches.
Black hair, corpse-pale skin, emotionless emerald eyes.
A presence as cold and empty as the void itself.
Ulquiorra Cifer — the Black-Winged Demon.
The only Espada to achieve Segunda Etapa.
Aizen's most loyal executioner.
Beside him stood a towering brute.
Massive build. Bestial face. A fragment of Hollow mask still clung to his jaw.
Yammy Llargo, sneering down at the battlefield.
"See that, Ulquiorra?"
"The way those trash Shinigami scatter the moment we show up?"
Yammy laughed cruelly.
Ulquiorra didn't even turn his head.
"Do not forget Lord Aizen's orders."
"Our task takes priority."
Yammy clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Always Aizen this, Aizen that…"
Ulquiorra's voice dropped several degrees.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
The threat was unmistakable.
Yammy stiffened, then snorted and looked away.
"Fine. Let's get to work."
Ulquiorra calmly pulled out a photograph.
Bai Chen's image stared back.
"Bai Chen. Thirteenth Division, Third Seat."
"The Shinigami with a Wood-type Zanpakutō."
He crushed the photo into dust.
"Target confirmed."
At that moment—
Bai Chen shot forward alone, flying directly toward them.
His eyes met Yammy's in midair.
And he smiled.
Yammy's expression twisted.
"The hell is that look supposed to mean?!"
Ulquiorra narrowed his eyes.
"So… he's coming to us."
"Yammy," he said coldly. "Engage."
"We are authorized to subdue and retrieve him."
Far below, Ikkaku Madarame hoisted the unconscious Kenpachi onto his shoulder, panic written all over his face.
"Are you Shinigami insane?!"
"You're letting him fight two Espada alone?!"
Sasakibe grimaced.
"I tried to assist."
"He refused."
"…Refused?"
"Yes," Sasakibe muttered bitterly. "He said we'd only get in the way."
At that moment—
Bai Chen raised his Zanpakutō.
Flames spiraled violently around the Great Fire Extinguishing Fan, compressed reiatsu screaming as it twisted into a roaring storm.
His voice thundered across the battlefield:
"Great Fire — Explosive Gale Dance!"
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