Chapter 94: Night Palace Skirmish
"What kind of creature is this? The latest Menos Grande? "
Renji positioned Rukia securely behind him, his wide eyes locked onto Runuganga as it rose from the sand, speaking cautiously.
"Ah~"
"Is that an invader? Master Aizen truly lets me, someone so formidable, guard this location! "
Runuganga stretched in a manner that suggested he was still half-asleep, his voice lethargic.
"Huh? It seems there are two Shinigami? This is fascinating! Shinigami in Hueco Mundo! "
As Runuganga finished his statement, both Rukia and Renji stood in shock as an immense hand struck the ground, creating a substantial crater with a resonating "boom. "
"This guy. . . possesses immense power! "
Renji and Rukia swiftly evaded as Runuganga's palm, in mid-air, Renji unsheathed his Zanpakutō, shouting, "Roar! Zabimaru! "
The ever-extending blade whipped like a flexible metal lash, cleaving through Runuganga's form in one motion.
"What? That can't be it.. . "
Before Renji could complete his thought, he watched in disbelief as Runuganga's mangled body miraculously reformed.
"Is this guy. . . immune to death? "
With remarkable speed, Runuganga thrust his hands into the sand, sending a violent spray of sand cascading from above. Renji found himself unprepared and on the verge of being engulfed by the sea of sand.
Rukia's ethereal voice cut through the chaos: "Hadō' 58 · Tenran! "
As Rukia pressed her hands together, a powerful whirlwind surged towards Renji's position.
Hoo hoo—
The gust of the whirlwind howled as it swept away the torrent of yellow sand that was about to engulf Renji.
"Thanks for saving me, Rukia! " Renji used Shunpo to reach Rukia's side, his tone tinged with frustration.
"Be cautious, Renji; our opponent appears to be composed of sand, rendering typical physical strikes ineffective against him," Rukia warned as she unsheathed her Zanpakutō. "Stay back, Renji! "
Feeling protective of the girl he admired, Renji's cheeks flushed as he protested, "I can still fight. There's no need to retreat! "
Rukia merely shot him a stern look before she pivoted her wrist and invoked her Zanpakutō, declaring, "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki! "
Upon the release of Sode no Shirayuki, she clutched the hilt with both hands and softly chanted, "White wave. "
A wave of chilling air erupted from Sode no Shirayuki's blade, heading directly for the sluggish Runuganga.
"Crack! "
With the sound of freezing echoing, Runuganga's lower half was the first to succumb to the subzero temperature.
"What is this? "
Unfortunately for Runuganga, before he could fully register the situation, a white magic circle appeared beneath him, and Rukia was suddenly behind him, lightly tracing her Zanpakutō.
With a blank expression, Rukia stated, "First dance · White Moon! "
At this moment, within the white magic circle, a beam of white light surged upward into the sky. In the blink of an eye, Runuganga's entire form was enveloped in ice, rendering him immobile.
"Crack! "
As Rukia sheathed her Zanpakutō, the massive ice statue that previously encompassed Runuganga shattered instantly, scattering shards of ice onto the sand.
"Impressive. . . Rukia! "
Witnessing the girl effortlessly handle what he considered a powerful foe, Renji instinctively offered his admiration.
"Um? "
Surprisingly, Rukia shot Renji a stern look and remarked, "After all this time, you don't truly believe I'm strong, do you? "
"How could I? Haha~"
Sensing the precariousness of the moment, Renji quickly shielded his face with his hands, mumbling absentmindedly.
Nevertheless, Renji's response did not alleviate Rukia's suspicions; she eyed him skeptically and asked, "Is that really true? "
"It seems like you're being dishonest! "
"Never mind, let's focus on what matters; that individual we just faced appeared to be a sentry, and taking him out brings us closer to the Night Palace! "
"Absolutely! "
Renji replied with a serious demeanor: "Since our arrival in Hueco Mundo, we haven't detected their Reiatsu; I honestly have no idea where they might be now."
Rukia and Renji commenced a brisk trot towards the direction of the Night Palace, conversing as they moved.
"Ichigo's abilities are reliable; nothing will go wrong, I believe in him! "
Rukia displayed no signs of concern like Renji; determination radiated from her gaze.
Meanwhile, Ishida had entered a palace, and after traversing a lengthy corridor, he encountered two Arrancars, one lanky and the other stocky, dashing past him.
They shouted while running, "Master Szayel Aporro! Master Szayel Aporro! "
"There are intruders! Intruders! "
"Are these. . . Arrancars? They seem utterly ineffectual."
Ishida adjusted the frames of his glasses and recalled that just hours earlier, he had separated from Sado at a different junction due to an orange-haired Arrancar blocking their path.
To buy time, Sado had volunteered to remain behind, allowing Ishida to advance first.
After proceeding for less than ten minutes, he arrived at the narrow corridor, but he hadn't anticipated that the guards stationed there would be two diminutive Arrancars.
"Are you the guards here? "
The bracelet on Ishida's wrist drooped down, and a crossbow appeared in his grip instantly.
Unexpectedly, the two Arrancars remained oblivious to him, continuing to dance joyfully in circles. Soon, measured footsteps echoed from deep within the corridor.
As a figure emerged from the shadows, a mask adorned one face shaped like glasses, with short pink hair and golden eyes that gleamed with curiosity at Ishida Uryu.
In that instant, the individual suddenly extended his tongue and licked his lips, expressing, "A Quincy? This is quite a rarity! "
"Rare? Have you encountered any other Quincies? "
Szayel Aporro narrowed his eyes as he regarded Ishida, extending his right hand. His long, agile fingers twisted in a playful manner as he chuckled, "What's with that expression? "
"Could it be. . . you haven't encountered other Quincy before? "
Observing Ishida's astonishment, Szayel Aporro appeared relieved, declaring, "So it's true; you're someone who has been forsaken! "
"Then die here! "
With that, Szayel Aporro drew his Zanpakutō, unleashing a wave of sword energy aimed at Ishida's face. Ishida, entirely alert, leaped to evade the attack.
Raising his hand, he fired several projectiles.
Szayel Aporro managed to intercept three shots head-on, but Ishida swiftly moved to his side and launched an assault from multiple angles.
"Here it comes! Three-ringed Seiya! "
From where Ishida had just glided, a magic circle formed by reiatsu appeared on the ceiling.
With a resounding explosion, three golden arrows infused with intense Reiatsu surged forth from the magic circle, striking Szayel Aporro directly underneath.
As the palace trembled violently, debris and dust cascaded down, burying Szayel Aporro beneath the rubble.
Ishida landed gracefully, his spiritual bow still ignited in his hand without a hint of relaxation, as the opponent's Reiatsu remained resolutely strong.
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