At the outskirts of Las Noches, across the desolate white sands, ten figures descended simultaneously.
Fischl furrowed her brow, scanning the horizon. "The environment here is dreadful... it's like a wasteland. Nothing but sand as far as the eye can see."
"To be precise, this is a wasteland—the deepest part of the underworld," Beidou remarked, having visited similar realms before. "If the Soul Society is the world of the dead, Hueco Mundo is the abyss where the Hollows—the wicked spirits—dwell."
Bosacius and Xiao, participating in their first extra-dimensional mission, looked around with keen interest. The laws of this world felt fundamentally different from Teyvat.
Rosalyne turned to the group, her voice commanding. "Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions will be arriving shortly. Let's divide the labor. To ensure we locate Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck quickly, Fischl and Hanachirusato will stay in the outer perimeter."
"The rest of us will spearhead the assault into Las Noches. Any objections?"
"None," the group chorused.
With Oz's superior scouting capabilities and Hanachirusato's kitsune magic to guarantee safety, the plan was solid. The group split up: one team charging toward the massive dome of Las Noches, while the other began scouring the endless dunes.
"Manifest, Oz! Find our target!" Fischl commanded.
"By your will, Mein Fräulein," the night-raven spiraled into the sunless sky.
The Encounter
Ten minutes later, Oz let out a sharp cry. "Found them! Over there!"
Fischl and Hanachirusato moved with blinding speed. They arrived just as Ichigo Kurosaki was encountering the small, green-haired child, Nelliel.
Ichigo, the Substitute Shinigami, was about to speak when he looked up and saw a massive crow circling above. "Is that... a Hollow?"
Before he could react, a bolt of purple lightning struck the sand. A girl in gothic attire, clutching a longbow, appeared before them. The Electro Vision pinned to her chest hummed with power.
"You... you're from Teyvat, aren't you?" Ichigo gasped, recognizing the energy signature from previous crossovers.
"Hmph. Indeed, I am the Prinzessin der Verurteilung," Fischl declared. "I seek the one known as Nelliel. I believe it is this little one."
Nelliel and her two bumbling Arrancar subordinates shrunk back in terror. The pressure radiating from Fischl was far beyond anything they had expected from a human.
Suddenly, a wisp of cherry-blossom flame flickered in the air. Hanachirusato, wearing her white fox mask and shrine maiden robes, manifested behind the child. She reached out and gently took Nelliel's hand, a playful yet dangerous smile on her lips.
"Hello, little one. I've been looking for you for a long time. Care to come with me?"
"Wah! Who are you?! Let me go!" Nelliel squealed.
"I am a Celestial Fox," Hanachirusato whispered, her golden eyes flashing with a light that brooked no refusal. "Do you wish to regain your true power? Do you wish for revenge? Follow me, and I will grant it. Refuse... and I shall send you to the void."
A pillar of fox-fire erupted behind her. Nelliel trembled, tears pricking her eyes. The killing intent was real; she knew that a single wrong word would result in her end. Her subordinates tried to intervene, but Hanachirusato swiped a hand through the air, sending them tumbling across the dunes with a mere flick of spiritual pressure.
"Your answer?"
"I... I'll go with you. Can you really help me?" Nelliel whimpered, completely suppressed.
"Good girl," Hanachirusato chuckled. She turned to Ichigo. "You there, the orange-haired boy. You're here to save a friend, right? Follow us. We're heading into Las Noches."
The Fall of the 6th Espada
As they advanced, the sands churned. A massive guardian Hollow emerged. Nelliel screamed, "Run! It's unkillable!"
"Unkillable? How quaint," Hanachirusato mocked. "In my presence, nothing is immortal. Nine-Glory Fox Fire!"
She swept her fingers like a blade. A crescent of white flame tore through the desert, disintegrating the Hollow's soul and body instantly. Nelliel went silent, thanking her lucky stars she hadn't resisted.
Five minutes later, the air grew heavy. A terrifying spiritual pressure descended as two figures intercepted them: the blue-haired Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and the lanky, multiple-armed Nnoitra Gilga.
"Invasion? I thought the pests were already inside. Who are these women?" Grimmjow sneered.
"Doesn't matter. Kill them," Nnoitra grunted.
Grimmjow used Sonido, appearing instantly before Hanachirusato with a red orb of energy—a Cero—forming in his palm.
Before the blast could leave his hand, a thin needle of flame pierced through his forearm.
"Kneel, little dog," Hanachirusato said coldly. "And I might forgive your insolence. Otherwise, prepare to perish."
"Don't mock me!" Grimmjow roared, reaching for his zanpakuto, only to realize his entire right arm had already been incinerated to ash.
The shock paralyzed him for a split second. Fischl watched with wide eyes; she finally understood the gap between a "high-tier fighter" and a Celestial-class being.
"Disobedient," Hanachirusato sighed. "Stellar Path: Eight-Gate Seal—Blazing Ruin!"
A geometric magic array ignited beneath Grimmjow's feet. A pillar of white-hot fire surged into the sky, tearing the 6th Espada's body into fragments. His head shattered, his soul disintegrated. The 6th Espada was erased in seconds.
The Trap is Sprung
Seeing his comrade fall so easily, Nnoitra lost his composure. He immediately released his form. "Pray, Santa Teresa!"
"You're strong, but don't think I'll go down like that dog!" Nnoitra shrieked, firing a golden Cero from his tongue.
The blast headed straight for Fischl. In a moment of panic, Oz dove in front of the girl, using himself as a shield. The raven took the full brunt of the Cero, vanishing into a cloud of smoke.
"Oz!" Fischl screamed, her heart breaking.
Hanachirusato shook her head. "Quiet, child. He's just a summon; he's fine, just weakened. I'll give him some lightning later. As for this ugly thing..."
She stepped toward Nnoitra. The Espada swung his four scythe-like arms in a frantic flurry. But as the blades were about to touch the fox's robes, he found his body locked tight.
Nnoitra looked down. Thousands of nearly invisible, glowing spiritual threads were wrapped around his limbs.
"When did you..."
"Since the moment you opened your mouth," Hanachirusato smiled. "Welcome to my parlor, little spider."
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