"To deal with you guys, I'm more than enough on my own." Tenjiro said disdainfully, a blade of grass in his mouth.
They were just some ordinary Arrancars, plus a few Vasto Lorde-class Hollows. Tenjiro didn't even bother to put them in his eyes.
Some Arrancars who were close by, seeing Tenjiro's arrogant demeanor, charged forward, attacking him from all directions.
"Come on. All of you, come at once!"
Tenjiro brandished Kinpika, and a scalding white hot spring water pillar washed all the Arrancars away.
"Ah—"
A series of screams could be heard as all the attacking Arrancars fell to the ground, heavily injured, some even revealing white bones beneath their skin.
"Idiots." Grimmjow cursed under his breath.
The strength of the Zero Division was absolutely not to be underestimated.
"Apache, Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, step back."
"Yes, Harribel-sama."
As Harribel's three subordinates retreated, other Arrancars also fell back, leaving only Kaname, Starrk, Harribel, Ulquiorra, Grimmjow, and Tenjiro in a standoff.
"Oh my, why are you all retreating?" Tenjiro said mockingly, carrying Kinpika on his shoulder.
Then, pointing at the five, he said, "Next, it's your turn, you four Vasto Lorde Hollows, and one former Shinigami."
"Grind, Pantera!"
Grimmjow immediately released his Resurrección, his body transforming into a white panther, and pounced on Tenjiro.
Tenjiro didn't even draw his long sword, simply slashing it down directly.
Just as the long sword was about to strike Grimmjow, Grimmjow grinned.
"Hogyoku Transformation!"
Grimmjow's hair turned from blue to white, his original white tight armor disappeared, black and white leopard spots appeared on his legs, his upper body was bare with black markings, and a black Hogyoku was at the center of his chest.
He caught Kinpika with one claw, and with the other, he slashed across Tenjiro's chest.
Tenjiro's eyes widened slightly.
Grimmjow's sudden burst of speed was more than ten times faster than his pouncing speed.
However, Tenjiro, known as "Lightning-Fast Tenjiro," was someone whose strength lay in his speed. With a swift movement, he had already put dozens of meters between himself and Grimmjow.
Looking at his torn clothes, Tenjiro praised, "Quite capable, aren't you?"
Then, he examined Grimmjow's new form and said, "Hogyoku Transformation? Is this a new trick Aizen came up with?"
"Is that a Hogyoku on your chest? It doesn't look like it. The power is too different. It should just be materialized Reiatsu, right?"
Grimmjow wasn't in a hurry to attack. Last time, when he supported Seireitei, he hid this power, which resulted in him being instantly defeated. This time, he could finally unleash his full strength.
Grimmjow said, "Aizen-sama has shared a portion of the Hogyoku's power with us. The Hogyoku has the ability to make people evolve in their desired direction."
"My death aspect represents 'destruction,' meaning that after my Hogyoku Transformation, I will possess greater speed and stronger destructive power."
"Is that all?" Tenjiro said, taking off his sword sheath.
"Flash from illuminating heavens, Kinpika!"
Kinpika emitted a powerful golden light.
Tenjiro swung his sword at Grimmjow, but Grimmjow let out a roar to the sky, and surprisingly, five identical figures split off from him.
"Illusions? These things are useless."
However, those so-called illusions actually caught the Shikai-released Kinpika with their claws.
"These aren't illusions. The extreme power of 'destruction' is something even my own body can't withstand, so I can only use clones to divert a portion of it. That means all five of these are me, and they all possess the power of my initial Hogyoku Transformation." Grimmjow's voice sounded from the five clones.
"Hoh? Interesting." Tenjiro put away his disdain and finally became serious.
Desgarron!
All six figures extended enormous blue claws. The Reishi they touched immediately ignited, looking as if flames were attached to their sharp claws.
Everything in the path of the attack was torn apart. The Cage of Life was continuously destroyed, yet continuously regrew under Kirio's maintenance.
Tenjiro fought six opponents, yet he did not fall into a disadvantage.
Grimmjow's battle hadn't lasted long when a black bullet shot towards Tenjiro. After he dodged it, a violent explosion occurred, igniting a dark green flame.
One of Grimmjow's clones had its arm touched by the flames and instantly turned to nothingness.
"Hey, Ulquiorra, why are you interfering in my fight?" Grimmjow said, displeased.
Ulquiorra said blandly, "Completing Aizen-sama's mission is the most important thing."
In his Hogyoku-transformed state, Ulquiorra's hair and tail turned white, dark green flames shaped like horns appeared on his head, his wings became two pairs of black feathered wings, and the hole in his chest was occupied by a Hogyoku.
"Speaking of missions, your mission wouldn't happen to be to destroy the Zero Division Riden, would it?" Tenjiro muttered to himself.
He wondered how Aizen knew that their foundation lay in the Zero Division Riden, as these Arrancars headed straight for it upon reaching the Soul King Palace.
Once the Zero Division's Riden is completely destroyed, they will no longer be able to revive.
Ulquiorra remained silent and launched another attack.
Seeing this, Starrk, who was nearby, scratched his head and said to Harribel, "It seems we can't be lazy either. Let's go together."
Harribel nodded.
Thus, both of them also activated their Hogyoku Transformation and joined the battle.
Tenjiro instantly fell into a disadvantage.
—
Kaname, meanwhile, led the remaining Arrancars to relentlessly bombard the Cage of Life.
...
In the shadows.
Shin was somewhat surprised by the new forms of the Four Espada. This Hogyoku Transformation was unknown to him.
He asked, "Can the power of the Hogyoku be distributed?"
Like a researcher observing his proud creation, Aizen explained, "This is the research I conducted in Hueco Mundo. I never completed the Espada because, in my opinion, no matter how many ants there are, they are useless."
"Their Hogyoku Transformation forms will take a portion of my power. However, if they die or I actively reclaim it, that power will return to my control."
After listening, Shin had a strong sense of déjà vu. This seemed like another form of Yhwach's Auswählen, didn't it?
First, distribute the power, making people willingly work, and then reclaim it when needed.
Thinking of this, Shin couldn't help but ask, "If you reclaim the power, will they die?"
Aizen glanced at Shin. "Of course not. After all, I am not like Yhwach."
Shin nodded.
He agreed with this point. Yhwach, that black-hearted "boss," was far more brutal.