Chapter 140: A Third-Party Force

"Hum!"

The red cube that dropped from Chojiro's cuff suddenly erupted with a spiritual pressure upon its emergence. It was not overwhelmingly powerful, but it was enough to make even Aizen feel a slight sense of oppression.

"This is..."

Chojiro would not answer Aizen's question, nor would the red cube answer his doubts. Furthermore, the rate of change in the cube completely exceeded Aizen's imagination. The moment its spiritual pressure surfaced, the entire cube suddenly shattered, bursting forth with a blinding crimson light.

"Boom—splash!"

Aizen was naturally the core of everyone's attention in the field. Whether he liked it or not, he was a figure formidable enough to make even beings like Yamamoto Genryusai wary, so becoming the focal point of this battle was inevitable.

Therefore, when the red cube suddenly exploded, although its spiritual pressure was not immense, everyone present immediately sensed the anomaly generated here.

"What is going on..."

"What happened?"

"Hum..."

As the one who used this item, Chojiro naturally understood its purpose. However, he did not have the leisure time to explain its function to the other captains. He could only, just like Aizen, be swallowed by this mass of blinding red light.

"Lord Aizen..."

Seeing Aizen fall into a passive situation, Ulquiorra opened his hand, and another Lanza del Relámpago appeared in his grip. Without any hesitation, he hurled it directly toward the mass of red light.

"Clap!"

"!"

Unfortunately, the immensely powerful Lanza del Relámpago collided with the red light like a fragile egg smashing against solid rock, shattering into pieces upon impact.

What on earth is this thing?

Such a doubt arose in Ulquiorra's heart.

In this world, apart from the very few individuals whose strength surpassed his current level, Ulquiorra believed that his Lanza del Relámpago could destroy anything, and that his attacks would never return empty-handed.

He had always believed this to be the case.

Yet unexpectedly, the Lanza del Relámpago could not even disperse such a cluster of red light, let alone shake it in the slightest.

"Lord Aizen..."

This Arrancar, who had given almost everything for Aizen, could not help but worry about the safety of Aizen, who had been swallowed by the red glow.

"Whoosh!"

After expanding to a certain extent, the red light mass suddenly began to contract, finally solidifying into a deep crimson cube resembling a prison, sealing Chojiro and Aizen within it.

In other words, Chojiro had temporarily managed to drag Sosuke Aizen down using just his own strength.

***

However, despite dragging such a huge trouble down with him, the war situation on the Soul Society's side remained far from optimistic.

Captain Yamamoto, Soi Fon, Komamura, and Hitsugaya were the only remaining combat forces currently left in the Soul Society—Unohana had long since decided not to meddle in the battles, so at the moment she was busy healing Isane, Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Kurosaki Ichigo, rendering her unavailable for combat.

As for the Hueco Mundo side, Kaname Tosen, the 3 Tercera Espada Tia Halibel—whose strength after Resurrection: Segunda Etapa was not inferior to the Primera Espada Ulquiorra Cifer—Halibel's three fractions: Apache, Mila Rose, and Sun-Sun, along with their pet Ayon, the mountain-sized Menos Grande known as Fllur, and the secret weapon created by Aizen, Wonderweiss Margela.

Although Captain Yamamoto had previously drawn his blade, he sheathed it after Chojiro used the "Itto Kaso" style confinement—after all, if he was the slightest bit careless with that technique, he might injure himself as well.

Therefore, Fllur and the Menos Grandes had very fortunately survived until now.

Yet the situation was extremely unfavorable for the Soul Society. If Captain Yamamoto did not step in to fight, there was no doubt whatsoever that the Soul Society would face defeat.

Even with Wonderweiss present on the field, if Captain Yamamoto wanted to secure victory, he would likely have to expend a considerable amount of effort, for the abilities of the Prince of Fire Extinction were not merely for show.

"This time... it's truly over..."

Kira, who was responsible for healing Matsumoto, Nemu, and Hisagi, could not help but feel a sense of despair upon seeing the scene before him.

With disadvantages in both quantity and quality on their side, how was this battle supposed to be fought? Could they really expect Lieutenant Sasakibe to take down Aizen inside that red cube?

Whether it was because the red cube's isolation barrier was too effective or because the two inside had not yet begun fighting, not a shred of spiritual pressure could be felt from the outside. For everyone wanting to know what was happening inside, the best method was simply to wait.

"The situation doesn't look too good, does it? Then let us join in as well."

"!"

To everyone's surprise, the Soul Society side, which had seemed entirely at its wit's end, suddenly heard a voice that should not have existed on this battlefield.

"You shouldn't have any objections, right?"

Tossing his white flat cap high into the air and accurately catching it with his index finger, the newcomer revealed a mischievous and slightly cunning smile.

"Right? Head Captain Yamamoto."

"Who are they?"

Hitsugaya had only become a captain of the Gotei 13 in recent decades, so he naturally knew nothing of events from a century ago, but that did not mean the others were equally ignorant.

"That is..."

At the very least, Soi Fon was exceptionally clear on the true identity of these individuals who had suddenly appeared.

"Shinji Hirako!"

Equally as shocked as Soi Fon was Captain Yamamoto.

"Impossible, there is a barrier set up outside, and guards are stationed there. How did you guys..."

"Eh, you mean this fat pig?"

Looking helpless, Shinji dragged a bruised and swollen figure out from behind him, a guy who looked even more like a pig than before.

"This fellow was quite tough, but after a bit of a tune-up, he obediently opened the door."

"Wuu... wuu... Captain..."

It was Omaeda.

The tragic victim who had been thoroughly beaten up by the Visored army was none other than the Lieutenant of the 2nd Division, Marechiyo Omaeda.

Yet this pitiful state made Soi Fon feel completely humiliated while simultaneously wanting to beat him up all over again.

Such a disgrace...

"Well, anyway, we got in regardless of how. You're not planning to chase us back out, are you?"

Tilting his hat crookedly onto his head, Shinji looked at Captain Yamamoto as if playing a prank. In the current situation, if Captain Yamamoto really drove his group away, things would truly become hilarious.

"Shinji Hirako..."

Captain Yamamoto was also hesitating.

If they were willing to join his side now, it would naturally be for the best. But if they were here to exact vengeance on his group, he would have to eliminate them before they made a move.

The crux of the matter was—

Were they enemies or allies?

"Can this old man view you all as 'comrades' now?"

"Comrades?"

Shinji's expression suddenly turned very strange, as if he had just heard something rather unpleasant.

"Of course not."

He flatly refused.

"Don't make me vomit right here, Head Captain Yamamoto. Although we aren't here to find trouble with you guys, that doesn't mean we stand on the same front. The reason we decided to help you deal with them..."

"Is entirely because the enemy is Aizen, nothing more."

"Clang."

Sheathing his faintly drawn blade back into its scabbard, Shinji cracked a grin once more, reverting to his usual roguish demeanor.

"So as for 'comrades' or whatever, let's leave that for after the fight is over."