Within Hueco Mundo.
After Seiya left, Mayuri returned to normal. He busied himself with something on his person, his movements hidden from view.
But Ishida Uryū wasn't interested.
He already had a poor impression of Mayuri—and after everything with his grandfather… Just one glance was enough to make him look away and turn to Orihime.
"Orihime, come with me. Let's leave."
"Y-yes…"
She had barely taken a step forward when Ulquiorra, standing outside the doorway, spoke flatly.
"Woman. Stop."
—That such a seemingly mute man would speak was truly unexpected.
Ulquiorra gazed calmly at the three, his tone utterly devoid of emotion.
"My duty is to guard this barrier's interior. This was Lord Seiya's final order before departing."
"Thus, every blade of grass here is under my supervision."
He raised a hand, pointing with his index finger, his eyes cold and empty.
"This woman included."
Taking Orihime wasn't out of the question—
If Uryū could defeat him.
"So, Ishida Uryū. Do you intend to fight me?"
The young Quincy's face twisted in indecision. His hands clenched slightly.
Let Orihime suffer? Morally, that was unacceptable. But fighting now would almost certainly end in failure… What was the best decision?
"You'll die. Better give up," Mayuri chimed, mocking and taunting as he fiddled with something.
"Your little tricks are no match for an Arrancar."
"If you really want to save her, retreat. Go find someone stronger."
"Like… Ichigo Kurosaki, perhaps? Though personally I don't think much of him—everyone else seems to like the guy, for some reason."
Uryū's brow twitched—disgust clear on his face.
"My decisions are none of your business."
"Of course~ I wasn't trying to chat with you anyway."
Mayuri's words weren't without deeper purpose.
He retrieved something spherical from his robes, holding it to his face as his pupils narrowed like a feline predator's.
"A prototype Hōgyoku, crafted by imitation, hmm?"
"It lacks Reiatsu and self-awareness—but it's tailor-made for Arrancar…"
"Pfft—hahaha! Hahahahaha!"
"A mere support squad researcher trying to study something this advanced—how laughably arrogant!"
"Talentless fools will never comprehend true secrets. All they can do is abandon their paths and choose shortcuts."
"So what now? You've decided to leave it to me?"
"Not Urahara Kisuke. Not Aizen Sōsuke. But me, Captain of the 12th Division, Director of the Research Bureau—Mayuri?"
"What excellent judgment! I'm impressed, Seiya Arima. You've improved."
Rambling to himself, lost in his own world, Mayuri barely noticed anyone else.
"Well? Not leaving yet, Ishida Uryū? Ignoring my advice?"
"I told you: the Gotei 13 is en route to Hueco Mundo. My primary body's first destination—is here."
"That prototype's very interesting. And that girl? I'll just grab her while I'm at it. No big deal."
So casual.
Uryū narrowed his eyes.
"Why would anyone trust you…"
Mayuri paused, then gave a mock-epiphany smirk.
"Ah, right—you have no reason to trust me."
They had decades of bad blood between them.
"So? What'll you do now?"
He pointed at his own face.
"Wanna kill me? Might make you feel better."
That mocking, unpleasant expression…
Even without the past, Uryū still wouldn't like this man. They were like magnets with reversed poles.
He turned his head, his voice cold.
"There's no point in that."
The dead were already gone. And while death might not be an end in this world, it was a farewell.
"Back in Soul Society, I realized something."
"People like you—who know nothing of sorrow, who don't even value their own bodies—I've no desire to argue with."
"Go chase your childish dreams. Live a lonely life."
The past, washed away the day the Sanrei Glove was removed. This disgust—it was just instinct now.
"…Hoh," Mayuri chuckled lightly.
"I see. My opinion of you's risen slightly, Ishida Uryū."
Uryū didn't respond. He paused, then spoke softly.
"People grow. Whether they want to or not."
And with that, nothing more needed to be said.
"Orihime… I'm sorry. I can't take you safely out of here."
He looked ashamed. But Orihime shook her head.
"No, don't apologize! This was all my fault to begin with. I hate that it's made everyone worry so much…"
Always so sensitive. Just two sentences and her eyes were wet.
She wanted someone—anyone—to share her pain with.
"Orihime…"
Watching someone cry never feels good. But she wiped her tears away quickly.
"Sorry… I got emotional again…"
Tears were human. What mattered was what one did after they cried.
She'd learned, during her time with Seiya, the difference between false strength and true resilience.
"I want to leave this place. So… can I trust you, Uryū?"
What other answer could there be?
He nodded immediately.
"Yes. We'll get you out."
There was no point wasting time. He gave her one last look, then turned away.
True to his word, Ulquiorra didn't stop him.
Seiya's orders had become law to him—unyielding as iron.
—Ah, such a moving display of youthful drama.
Mayuri clicked his tongue, uninterested. He returned to examining the prototype Hōgyoku.
He had witnessed too many "miracles." His real interest was this tiny orb—what secrets did it hold?
As long as no one acted hostile, Ulquiorra remained still.
Orihime, however, felt awkward.
One stoic statue-man.
One muttering, scribbling mad scientist.
Let's be honest—
Everyone in Hueco Mundo was some brand of insane.
Just when things seemed to be calming down…
A sharp voice pierced the cold desert wind.
"Well, well. Found ya."
It was familiar—vaguely.
Uryū looked up.
A slender, shadowy figure stood atop a high rock, backed by the broken crescent moon.
Long black hair. Slitted eyes. A twisted, smirking face.
He remembered now.
"Remember me, Quincy brat?"
The figure raised a hand and stuck out his tongue.
Text glowed above him, harsh and bright—his twisted grin grew darker.
"Arrancar No. 5, Nnoitra Gilga, at your service."
"?!?!"
Uryū's nerves screamed.
Why was he here? Seiya had ordered all of them to stay put.
"You… You're…"
Sweat formed on his brow.
"What, speechless?"
Nnoitra dropped lightly from the rock, swaggering forward.
"Did you really think we'd sit around like idiots and wait for you to kill us?"
"Use your head, dumbass. That 'stay put' crap was just to keep us leashed."
"Aizen and Seiya are gone now. And they didn't take us."
Why?
Simple.
"We've been thrown away."
He drew his long blade, twisting his neck with a sickening crack.
Limbs long enough to unnerve a giant, he advanced slowly—but the pressure was immense.
"If we're no longer wanted, then why follow the rules?"
"Besides…"
"A praying mantis is always hunting."
Back in the barrier, Mayuri's eyes lifted sharply.
"…Trouble," he muttered.
Blood sprayed upward—crimson against the moonlight.
Rukia and Renji, just entering Hueco Mundo, stared in shock.
Someone was already hurt.
Meanwhile…
Ichigo clenched his jaw.
He should never have agreed to let Uryū go alone.
Now he was just as responsible.
"Ichigo?"
Nell and the others sensed his Reiatsu spike, concerned.
"Sorry, Nell. I need to save Uryū. Wait here for now."
Chad saw his expression change—gentle to grim.
He tightened his grip on his Zanpakutō.
"I'll deal with this fast. Then we'll get Orihime."
Just as he finished—
BOOM!
The sky cracked like thunder.
A blur of blue appeared—Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, grinning wickedly.
He hovered above, eyes locked on Ichigo.
"I've been lookin' for ya, Ichigo Kurosaki."
His presence said it all: this was a challenge.
"Ichigo, I'll hold him off," Chad offered.
Grimmjow was no joke. Arrancar No. 6—strong and deadly.
Chad had grown since last time, prepared to risk it all.
But Ichigo grabbed his shoulder.
His lips moved—but he didn't make a grand speech. Just a soft smile.
It's okay. I got this.
"I'll do it."
He stepped forward—Bankai complete.
"Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, huh?"
He raised his hand to his face—only one eye showing now, gleaming with ferocity.
"Sorry. I don't have time to waste."
Black-red sparks danced around him like lightning.
Hollow power emerged—Ichigo, in complete control now, felt like he was back home.
Like a fish in water.
Reiatsu surged upward—blasting everyone back.
"So…"
His voice echoed—layered, distorted.
As if many Ichigos spoke at once.
"I'll go all out. And crush you."
The smoke cleared—revealing the dragon-mask across his face. Bone armor spread down his neck.
Ichigo's full Hollow form.
Grimmjow's smirk faded into confusion.
"What… is that?"
"You'll find out soon."
A half-step crouch.
Ichigo gathered every ounce of compressed Reiatsu—
BOOM!!!!!!!
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Powerstones?
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