Chapter 43

"Absolutely! "

Thus, Shawlong Koufang (NO.12 Arrancar), Erad Leonis (NO.13 Arrancar), Nakeem (NO.14 Arrancar), Yylfordt Glanz (NO.15 Arrancar), and Di Roy (NO.16 Arrancar) activated their spiritual senses to detect individuals with potent reiatsu.

Grimmjow hovered alone in the sky, casting his gaze downward. He was particularly intrigued by the underdeveloped Shinigami that Ulquiorra had mentioned. His primary objective in this realm was the elimination of that Shinigami.

As the Arrancars utilized their spiritual senses to locate the source of reiatsu in Karakura Town, Urahara Kisuke, Tōshirō, and others also detected the unique reiatsu belonging to the Arrancars.

"Is this. . . the Reiatsu of an Arrancar? "

"More Espada? "

Due to their earlier confrontation with Fiander during the day, Tōshirō and Rangiku from the reinforcement team had yet to fully heal from their injuries.

Noticing the presence of their Reiatsu, Koufang set his course toward Urahara's shop first.

Meanwhile, Ichigo, lying in bed, was still lost in thought about his battle with Yammy. He had found himself unable to control his body due to White intervening, leading to his defeat by Yammy. He lay in despair while staring up at the ceiling.

Even in the afternoon, when Karin called him for dinner, he chose to ignore her.

His body was wrapped in bandages, and he extended his palm, fingers wide, while gazing vacantly.

He was uncertain about the nature of the monster residing within him; every time he fought, especially upon using Bankai, he sensed this presence.

"What am I supposed to do, Rukia? "

His feelings of powerlessness left him as a bystander while Inoue and Sado sustained serious injuries. Ichigo burdened himself with guilt and self-blame. Despite Inoue's assertion that her weakness was the issue and it wasn't his fault, he had always viewed himself as the "shelter" for everyone, and he couldn't excuse himself for allowing his friends to suffer.

This brought to mind Hirako Shinji, the new transfer student who had recently approached him about joining his group called the Visored.

He claimed that they could assist in controlling the Hollow within him and help him harness that power, yet Ichigo was reluctant to associate with someone of uncertain background, creating internal conflict within him.

Suddenly, several massive streams of Reiatsu emerged above Karakura Town. These energies were dispersed throughout the area, but Ichigo sensed three of them converging in one spot, which was the direction of Kisuke's shop.

The other two groups were making their way to the location where Fiander and the others had battled, near the dimensional crossing gate.

Among those energies, the most intimidating reiatsu surged toward him.

"Damn it, Yuzu and Karin are here. "

No longer able to dwell on his thoughts, Ichigo transformed into a Shinigami, leaping from the window to confront Grimmjow, who had already ascended into the sky.

"Heh, there you are, half-hearted Shinigami. "

Grimmjow nonchalantly placed his hands in his trouser pockets, exhibiting an air of relaxation, yet Ichigo remained on high alert due to his opponent's reiatsu being even more potent than Yammy's, the adversary he had previously been defeated by.

"Bankai! Tensa Zangetsu! "

Without flinching, Ichigo activated his Bankai and made the first move.

The Getsuga Tenshō, infused with black and red reiatsu, surged towards Grimmjow.

"Oh~ is this really all you can do? "

As he spoke, he reached out to grasp Ichigo's Bankai attack and effortlessly ripped it apart.

"Impossible! ! "

"Hehe~"

Grimmjow grinned as he remarked, "Yeah, good evening, half-baked Shinigami. "

"I am No.6 of the Espada, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. "

At Urahara's shop, Tōshirō, Rangiku, and Yoruichi exited the store only to find three Arrancars gazing at them.

These were Koufang, Edrad Leonis, and Nakeem.

Observing the trio, Yoruichi inquired with a serious demeanor, "Are you Espada as well? "

"Espada? No, we are subordinates of No.6 in Espada, Lord Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. "

"Subordinate officers? ! "

Clearly, this concept was new to them. They had assumed there were only ten Menos Grande who successfully became Arrancar, but it seemed the reality was quite different. The title Espada referred only to the ten most formidable Arrancar. There existed additional classifications beneath them.

"Based on information from the Night Palace, you are Hitsugaya Tōshirō, captain of the 10th division, and Matsumoto Rangiku, vice-captain of the 10th division. "

"And as Aizen-sama pointed out, the current exceptional combat force in the human realm is the former captain of the second division and ex-commander of secret operations—Shihouin Yoruichi. "

Koufang assessed the three individuals, identifying their ranks, before drawing his Zanpakutō and stating, "Earlier during the day, you clashed with No.10, No.4, and No.9 from the Espada, and they treated you as playthings. "

"However, we won't pull any punches. "

Koufang unsheathed his Zanpakutō and called, "Cut it off, five-claw worm. "

With the overwhelming surge of berserk reiatsu, a monstrous figure clad in insectile armor and skin materialized before them. Yoruichi was taken aback that the Arrancar chose to initiate their resurrección right away.

"Crazy Scythe! ! "

As Koufang extended his slender bone blade and struck at them, five massive wind blades hurtled toward the trio.

Boom--! !

The shockwave from the explosion caused significant damage to Urahara's shop, while Edrad and Nakeem seized the moment and dashed past Yoruichi's group, making their way toward the wrecked store.

"This isn't good. "

"Their target is Abarai, who's seriously injured! "

Tōshirō snapped back to reality and shouted urgently.

-

In the vicinity of the crossing gate, Yylfordt Granz (No.15 Arrancar) and Di Roy (No.16 Arrancar) were stationed outside when, suddenly, three figures emerged as the gate opened.

"What's this? I thought the old man claimed we would encounter formidable foes, not these two weaklings. "

Carrying his zanpakutō over one shoulder and Kusajishi Yachiru on the other, Zaraki Kenpachi approached the two Arrancars.

"I'm here solely to avenge my vice-captain. "

Byakuya Kuchiki, clad in aristocratic attire, also emerged from the gate.

The second reinforcement group sent by the Soul Society has arrived in the human realm. The team consists of Zaraki Kenpachi, the captain of the 11th squad, Kusajishi Yachiru, the vice-captain of the 11th squad, and Byakuya Kuchiki, the captain of the 6th squad.

Captain Yamamoto appeared quite irritated by the earlier events of the day, prompting him to dispatch two captain-level combatants directly this time.