Bleach: Awakened — Chapter 85 - The Worrying Future of Hueco Mundo

"Captain Aizen..."

Seated on his throne, Aizen toyed with the Hogyoku in his hand. A familiar voice rang out from beyond the door. The next moment it swung open, and a fox-faced figure with a head of white hair walked in wearing a broad smile.

"The triple-digits over there got beaten," Gin Ichimaru said cheerfully. "From contact to finish, it looks like it only took a few minutes."

"And according to the spiritual pressure readings at the time, it wasn't just one triple-digit on the scene, it was three."

"Is that so?" Aizen let out a light laugh. "And the enemy, who was it?"

"No idea. No spiritual pressure was detected at all." Gin Ichimaru shook his head and spread both hands. "By all appearances, the enemy didn't use spiritual pressure. Pure physical ability alone, and that was enough to take down the triple-digits."

"Hm..." Aizen rested his chin in one hand. "Do you really not know, Gin?"

"Other than the one who cut you down to near-fatal in a single stroke, tell me. Is there anyone else in all Three Realms who could do something like this? Defeat several triple-digit Arrancar using nothing but physical ability."

"...Ha ha ha." Gin Ichimaru laughed softly. "Fair point. It does seem like no one else could pull that off besides that kid. Not even Captain-Commander Yamamoto, I'd imagine."

"So then, what do we do next, Captain Aizen? That is, after all, an opponent even you could only choose to run from. If we stay here, it won't be long before he comes knocking."

"No need to worry, Gin." The Hogyoku in his hand gave off a faint, indistinct glow. Aizen smiled with complete confidence. "Go and call Kaname Tosen."

"...Understood, Captain Aizen..."

"You were so amazing, Ichigo!" Draped across his shoulder, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck looked up with open admiration. "Those were triple-digits who used to be Espada! And you just beat them like that!"

"It was fine." Ichigo waved a hand. "They'd only just reached the level of a low-end Captain. Any Soul Reaper Captain could take them down with a little effort."

"I see..." Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck blinked, then continued, "So Ichigo, can you beat Sosuke Aizen?"

"Probably." Ichigo glanced over. "Why?"

"Once you beat Sosuke Aizen, doesn't that make you the king of Hueco Mundo?" The expression on Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck's face was pure, guileless innocence. "Then as king, you could summon even more people to play games with me!"

"Is that really all you care about?" The corner of Ichigo's mouth twitched. "I'm a human. I'm not going to be any king of Hueco Mundo."

"Then after you beat Sosuke Aizen, who becomes king?" Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck counted on both fingers. "If there's no king, Hueco Mundo is going to fall into chaos."

"Doesn't matter. When the time comes, you pick, point to whoever you want. Anyone who doesn't like it, I'll cut down for you."

"Ooh! Okay!"

Is it really alright to decide the fate of Hueco Mundo this casually...

Grumbling inwardly, Pesche Guatiche had not the slightest doubt that Ichigo had the strength to back it up. Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck might not see it, but Pesche Guatiche understood perfectly well: not even using spiritual pressure, and those triple-digit Arrancar had been dispatched with ease. That kind of power had no equal anywhere in Hueco Mundo. Not even Sosuke Aizen, in all likelihood.

So what had just been tossed out as a throwaway joke might very well become reality before long.

"Oh, we're through."

The end of the white corridor finally appeared ahead. Two surges of powerful, savage spiritual pressure rolled toward them, and Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, who had been lively and bouncing just a moment before, went rigid the instant that pressure registered. The light drained from Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck's eyes, and for a long moment, nothing came out.

Ichigo turned to look. Something was clearly wrong. He said nothing, then glanced back at the two behind him, expression carrying a quiet weight.

"We understand."

The voice was low. Pesche Guatiche gave a nod, moved quickly to Ichigo's side, and gently lifted Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, still standing there in a daze, away.

"We'll take good care of Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck." There was nothing clownish about Pesche Guatiche's tone now. It was completely serious. "And we wish you, good fortune in battle."

"Ha... I'll take those words."

Ichigo stepped through the corridor first. The three Arrancar shrank back against the wall behind him, only their heads poking out toward the open space beyond, saying nothing.

White sand stretched out ahead. Sparse stone pillars stood here and there across a space that wasn't especially large. Looking out across it, several more corridors were visible in the distance.

"Orange-haired Soul Reaper... You're Ichigo Kurosaki, aren't you."

The one speaking had short, pale-blue hair with a few loose strands across the forehead, a white mask fragment on the right cheek, a Zanpakuto at the hip, and an arrogant look on the face.

"Hey... doesn't look like much."

The other had black, medium-length hair parted down the center, wore a single-eye patch, stood tall and lean, and carried an enormous double-crescent scythe. The grin on that face was full of reckless contempt.

"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. Haven't had the pleasure." Ichigo said it evenly. "But before I answer, go ahead and release first. I'm more interested in what you look like in Resurrección than I am in your names."

"That's called Resurrección." The blue-haired figure gave a cold smirk. "I'm No. 6, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."

"No. 5, Nnoitra Gilga." The tall, lean figure stepped forward, scythe raised high. "I've heard you're strong, Ichigo Kurosaki."

"But looking at you right now—you really don't seem like anything special."

"Yeah, yeah." Ichigo couldn't be bothered to argue. "Just get on with it. Right now I'm only interested in your Resurrección."

"Arrogant bastard!" Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's face darkened, and an overwhelming surge of spiritual pressure burst outward, body leaning slightly forward. "I'll give you what you want, Ichigo Kurosaki!"

"Roar and creak—Pantera!"

As the release words left the mouth, white-and-gold armor covered Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's body. Both hands became sharp claws. Ears shifted to leopard ears. The short hair grew into long locks that fell to the waist. Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez dropped into a low crouch, exactly like a leopard that had locked onto its prey.

"Pray—Santa Teresa!"

After Resurrección, a crescent-shaped horn rose from Nnoitra Gilga's head, yellow facial markings spread across the face, and six arms grew out, each gripping a double-bladed scythe. The overall form looked like a towering mantis.

"Oh!"

A surge of powerful, savage spiritual pressure hit head-on, loaded with malice. Ichigo's expression was pure excitement.

"Your Resurrección is just like a tokusatsu hero transformation," Ichigo said, genuinely impressed. "Gives you that same sense of anticipation. Same feeling I get being curious about what Soul Reaper Zanpakuto abilities can do."

"Should we wait for your allies? They all seem to be closing in from this direction."

Several powerful surges of spiritual pressure were drawing steadily nearer, but reaching here would still take a little time. The paths inside Las Noches were a labyrinthine tangle, and just walking through without breaking anything ate up serious time.

"No need!"

Like a true leopard, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez moved, fluid, powerful, and fast, closing the distance to Ichigo in an instant. The claws drew together and drove straight for him.

➤ Next: No. 5 and No. 6