7th Division Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba sized up their opponents. "Should we go after the leader first?"
"No. Aizen's ability is unusual. Acting rashly would not be wise." 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura's fluffy ears twitched. "We should deal with the people around him first."
8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku adjusted his straw hat and asked Jūshirō Ukitake beside him, "Of those three Espada, who do you think is the strongest?"
A middle-aged man with short, slightly curly dark brown hair, a burly and muscular old man, and a blonde woman with brown skin. None of their Reiatsu was weak.
"That's hard to say," 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake answered honestly. "We can't judge by appearances alone."
10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya stared in Sōsuke Aizen's direction, undisguised killing intent in his emerald eyes.
For what he had done to Momo Hinamori, that debt...
"You... all of you, stand down." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto raised his cane, and the Reiatsu that erupted from him shattered the cane's disguise, revealing the ancient-looking Zanpakutō within. "All things of this world, turn to ashes. Ryūjin Jakka!"
Before the blade even left its sheath, crimson flames surged out impatiently, burning the surrounding air until it warped.
The instant the flame-wreathed katana was drawn, roaring fire shot into the sky and swept wildly outward.
Had everyone not stepped back in advance, they would have been injured.
Sōsuke Aizen narrowed his eyes slightly as everything before him was swallowed by flame.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto swung his katana down, and a raging wave of fire surged forth, engulfing Sōsuke Aizen together with Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen.
"Jōkaku Enjō!" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto slowly sheathed his blade. The flames left behind were like a burning fortress, trapping the three of them inside. "With this, Aizen and the others will not be able to leave this wall of fire for a while. Now, go destroy them."
Shunsui Kyōraku looked toward the wall of fire with lingering fear. "They really went and made Old Man Yama angry."
"Whoa." Gin Ichimaru raised his hand and extended a finger toward the surrounding wall of fire. He had only gotten a little closer when the flames, which had been burning quietly, suddenly lunged at him. "That's hot... The Captain-Commander really doesn't hold back."
He withdrew his finger and tilted his head. "What now, Captain Aizen? If we make a move, we'll have to face the Captain-Commander's flames head-on."
"The outcome of this war was decided before it even began." Sōsuke Aizen's gaze seemed to pass through the flames before him. "Before we act, that destined result will reveal itself."
"Hmm... what should we do?" The elderly Arrancar withdrew his gaze from the wall of fire and swept his eyes over the Shinigami instead. "There are too many enemies to clean up, and the boss is sealed over there."
"Baraggan." The female Arrancar's short golden hair had its longer ends tied into three sections. Her nose and mouth below the eyes were hidden by a high collar, and the hem of her white, long-sleeved short jacket barely covered half of her voluptuous chest. Against her brown skin, the exposed lower curves looked especially deep and alluring. "Speaking of Aizen-sama that way is disrespectful."
The white-haired old man, Baraggan, had a scar over his right eye. He glanced at the female Arrancar with his remaining left eye. "Harribel, speaking to me that way is disrespectful."
He snapped his fingers, and several Shinigami behind him immediately opened their bundles.
White bones flew out, clicking together as they assembled into a massive throne.
Baraggan sat upon it with his thick arms crossed. With the crown-like Arrancar mask on his head and his Fracción bowing respectfully behind him, he looked more like a leader than Sōsuke Aizen. "Since the boss can't move right now, I'll take command." He glanced at the other two Espada. "You... are not allowed to object."
"Whatever..." the middle-aged man with short, slightly curly dark brown hair replied casually, only to be kicked by the little girl beside him. "Ow! What was that for, Lilynette?"
"Whatever, my ass!" Lilynette's head and the left half of her face were covered by a mask, while the exposed half was full of disdain. "Whatever, my ass! You idiot, Starrk!"
"The Jūreichi beneath our feet is fake. It was swapped with a replica from Soul Society. The boss said he was going to attack Soul Society and seize the Jūreichi... but there's no need for that at all." Ignoring the noise on that side, Baraggan looked toward the giant pillars in the four directions. "The soul pulses from these pillars feel familiar. Looks like they're teleportation devices. I wonder what would happen if we destroyed them. Findorr!"
"Yes!" The Arrancar behind Baraggan whistled, and four cracks immediately appeared above the Boundary Pillars. Four Menos emerged from them and charged straight toward the four pillars.
"Idiots!" Crimson blood sprayed as Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's cold shout rang out, and the four Menos died almost at the same time. "I already arranged for people to stand guard there!"
11th Division Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame, 11th Division Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira, and 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi were each guarding a Boundary Pillar in a different direction. The moment the four Menos appeared, they were eliminated with ease.
"So what if there are people standing guard?" Baraggan ordered, "Poww, Chuhlhourne, Abirama, Findorr. Kill them!"
Four figures flew out from behind Baraggan and rushed in four different directions.
Captain Ichimaru, are you over there right now...? Izuru Kira, who looked even gloomier than before, gazed into the distance. His thoughts, once a tangled mess, were now strangely calm.
At this point, it was no longer something his personal feelings could interfere with.
All he could do was obey orders, then calmly accept the result.
Calmly...
"Uwoooooooooh!" Abirama, whose mask was shaped like a crest on his head, clenched both fists and repeatedly squatted up and down. "I'm going to beat you flat! I'm going to kick you to death! I'm going to take you out... Why aren't you doing it with me?"
Seeing Izuru Kira simply gripping his katana and staring at him, Abirama pointed at him angrily. "You gloomy bastard!"
"I should be asking why you're doing that..." Izuru Kira had not expected to face such an agitated opponent. "So what exactly do you want me to do? Play along?"
"This is a ritual!" Abirama corrected him furiously. "A battle ritual where you pour your feelings into a shout before beating your opponent to a pulp, to inspire both sides in combat! I'm starting! You join in too! One... two... I'm gonna..."
Izuru Kira reminded him, "Don't you think this is kind of stupid?"
"You have successfully provoked my rage!" Abirama ground his teeth. "I am Abirama Redder, Fracción of His Majesty Baraggan. Shinigami, state your name."