Hundreds of Gillians surged out from the space rift.
They descended onto the battlefield like a dark tide.
Towering figures as tall as mountains cast vast shadows across the land, blocking out the sky and sun. The ground trembled beneath their steps. The Shinigami beneath them looked small—fragile and insignificant.
All captains now wore grim expressions. The easy confidence they held earlier had vanished.
The recent casualties had jolted everyone into grim reality.
This wasn't a hunt.
This was war.
A true, brutal war.
Anyone who approached this battlefield with carelessness or luck would be crushed without mercy.
"Sting all enemies—Suzumebachi!"
Sui-Feng released her Shikai first. Her sharp gaze locked on the incoming Gillians, filled with bloodlust.
"Burn it—Engetsu."
Shiba Isshin, equally solemn, unsheathed his blade and let it ignite in flames.
One after another, the division captains released their Zanpakutō, preparing for the storm.
Ichimaru Gin led the Third Division forward. Until now, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Divisions had remained in support roles and thus had suffered minimal casualties.
"Looks like this is going to get messy…" Gin said in his usual Kyoto accent, smiling as he drew his Zanpakutō.
The Third Division was joining the fray at last.
"Aizen, assist the wounded!"
"Understood, Captain Unohana."
The Fourth and Fifth Divisions swiftly began tending to the injured still scattered across the battlefield.
No battle horn blew.
But war had already begun.
The forward squads launched their assault on the Gillians.
Silent determination showed on every face.
No commands were needed. These were battle-hardened warriors. They knew their duty.
Even the newly recruited Shinigami had shed their innocence. The sight of blood and fallen comrades had hardened their spirits.
Every last one of them surged forward—without hesitation.
Only one thought echoed in their hearts:
For the fallen.
For the Soul Society.
Eliminate them.
A silent army is the most terrifying.
A united army with one heart is invincible.
"GYEEEHH!!"
The Gillians roared in response. The true battle had begun.
Shing!!
A Gillian was split cleanly down the center by a blinding sword arc.
Zaraki Kenpachi didn't even glance back. He had already moved on to the next.
Boom!
Another Gillian was smashed into the earth by Komamura Sajin's Bankai, then finished with a single blow.
Petals danced.
Multiple Gillians collapsed in pieces beneath Byakuya Kuchiki's cold gaze as he walked forward, cloaked in silent grace.
Fists blurred. The monstrous force behind them slammed Gillians backward. Sui-Feng moved like a phantom, striking hard and fast.
Ukitake Jūshirō, Kyoraku Shunsui, Tōsen Kaname, Shiba Isshin—all captains had now joined the fray, no longer holding back.
The other squads weren't idle either.
Though their individual attacks barely made a dent, they attacked relentlessly.
Soon, the Gillians retaliated.
Red Cero beams lit the skies once more, slamming into the ground with explosive force.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Mushroom clouds erupted one after another. The entire battlefield trembled.
The world turned to smoke and fire.
But this time, the Shinigami were ready.
Having learned from the earlier ambush, the non-captain-class Shinigami scattered immediately, casting Shunpo to evade.
The red Cero weren't fast—most could dodge.
This time, casualties were minimal.
The previous deaths were due to surprise.
Now, chaos ruled the battlefield. Shunpo trails flashed in every direction.
Abarai Renji and Rukia Kuchiki weaved through the chaos, narrowly avoiding blasts.
But their inexperience showed.
Renji cast Shunpo at the last moment, barely dodging a beam.
"Tch… Close one."
He sighed, patting his chest.
Then he turned—
And spotted a familiar figure nearby.
At first, it wasn't strange.
There were plenty of acquaintances on this battlefield.
But this man stood out—not by presence, but by complete indifference.
Hands in his pockets.
Calm. Unmoving.
Surrounded by paramedics and explosions, he hadn't moved an inch.
"That bastard…"
Renji's eyes went red.
Everyone else was fighting tooth and nail.
And this guy—just standing there?
"You call yourself a Shinigami?!"
The man was Su Li.
He wasn't watching the battlefield. He didn't flinch at the Cero. He didn't even seem to hear the medics.
His gaze was lowered, eyes narrowed in thought.
Renji exploded in anger.
"I'm gonna beat the hell outta you!!"
He charged, shouting—
"You here to help or take maternity leave, huh?! Useless coward—"
"Renji! Watch out!!"
Rukia's scream pierced through the battlefield.
Before Renji could react, Su Li vanished.
In the next instant, Su Li appeared in front of him—and slammed Renji's head into the ground.
BOOM!!
A red Cero passed just centimeters above them.
Through Su Li's fingers, Renji saw the blast hit exactly where he'd stood.
A massive mushroom cloud erupted in the distance.
"Renji!!"
Rukia ran over, panic in her voice.
"I-I'm okay..." Renji mumbled. Su Li still had his hand pressed to his face.
Finally, Su Li let go.
Renji sat up, face burning red with embarrassment.
He knew… without Su Li, he'd be ashes.
"T-Thank you… Su Li..."
Su Li smiled and patted his cheek—hard.
Smack!
"No need for thanks. Just doing my job."
Then, at last, Su Li looked toward the battlefield.
He hadn't joined yet—not because he was avoiding the fight, but because he was thinking.
He still hadn't fully grasped the situation.
But now, a chilling theory had begun to form.
This Menos Grande invasion was no accident.
Only a select few could command so many Gillians—and even fewer could open a rift from Hueco Mundo into the Soul Society.
And yet…
A hundred Gillians? Against captains?
Too weak. Too obvious.
That man wouldn't waste his time like this.
No, it had to be deeper.
The true purpose was still hidden.
Su Li's expression grew cold.
His gaze locked onto the man calmly healing the wounded, his gentle eyes watching every soul with care.
Aizen Sōsuke.
And for the first time, Su Li narrowed his eyes.