"Oh? Isn't this the Shinigami who fled in disgrace last time? If not for that Shinigami named Yamazaki blocking us, none of you would have escaped. Now you dare show your face before me again?" Flores taunted, looking at Ando.
Seeing the hatred in Ando's eyes, Flores wasn't angered but instead shpwed a pleased expression. What Flores liked most was enemies hating him to death yet being helpless against him.
"Who will be the one not escaping this time?!" Toshiro sneered, looking at Flores's arrogant demeanor.
"Huh? Brat, where'd you come from? I don't remember a brat like you among the Shinigami in Hueco Mundo," Flores said, looking at Toshiro curiously.
When Flores attacked the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force last time, he had seen their Shinigami. Although he couldn't remember every face, there definitely wasn't a Shinigami as young as Toshiro.
Garcia, standing beside Flores, looked at Toshiro fearfully and said, "Flores-sama, this Shinigami is one of the reinforcements sent by the Soul Society. Moreover, he's the one I mentioned last time who..."
"Reinforcements from the Soul Society? Hahaha... Seems the Soul Society has declined, sending even a brat like this to the battlefield. Maybe I should visit the Soul Society next time. Perhaps I alone could defeat all the Shinigami of the Soul Society! Ahahaha..." Before Garcia could finish, Flores arrogantly burst into laughter.
"Flores-sama, please don't underestimate this Shinigami! He's the Captain-level Shinigami I told you about who has Bankai and single-handedly crushed an entire Hollow horde," Garcia hastily explained to Flores.
"What?! It's this brat?!" Flores looked at Toshiro in disbelief.
"Hey! Are you two done with the chatter? If so, it's my turn to say a few words," Toshiro said coldly.
The reason Toshiro let these two Hollows ramble instead of immediately cutting them down was that he had questions for them.
"Why did you attack the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force?" Toshiro asked Flores.
The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force had existed for centuries. Since they operated only in the outer circle of Hueco Mundo, mostly eliminating ordinary Hollows, the dominant Hollows in Hueco Mundo generally tacitly allowed their existence.
If the Hollow population grew unchecked, once it affected the balance between Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society, not only the Soul Society but perhaps Hueco Mundo itself could collapse. That's why the dominant Hollows in Hueco Mundo tolerated the expeditionary force. Otherwise, it would have been eliminated long ago.
If Hueco Mundo dared send a large force to the Soul Society, the Soul Society wouldn't hesitate to annihilate them immediately.
"Why attack the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force? Hmph! Blame yourselves for killing my subordinate!" Flores snorted coldly.
Flores's subordinate once entered the outer circle and happened upon the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, resulting in his death. So, Flores wanted to eliminate the expeditionary force.
Of course, this wasn't because he cared about his subordinate's life… he just felt the Shinigami killing his subordinate made him lose his honor.
Flores, having recently evolved to Captain-level, was unaware of the tacit approval from Hueco Mundo's higher-ups regarding the expeditionary force's existence.
"In that case, there's nothing more to discuss. Are you prepared for death?" Toshiro said coldly.
"Hmph, interesting. Let me test your strength. Everyone else, step back!" Flores declared arrogantly.
"Flores-sama, this Shinigami is too strong. How about having all the Hollows attack him together?" Garcia cautiously suggested.
"What?! You're saying I alone can't defeat him?!" Flores roared furiously.
"No, no! That's not what I meant. It's just that attacking together would save effort and finish him faster," Garcia hurriedly explained.
"Hmph, no need. With my strength, I'll quickly deal with him!" Flores said confidently.
Seeing Flores's confidence, Garcia inwardly decided: if things went wrong, he'd flee immediately.
"Come, Shinigami. I'll give you a fair duel. Let me, the Great Flores, witness your strength firsthand!" Flores pointed at Toshiro.
"Ando, Amagai, both of you, step back further," Toshiro said to Ando and Amagai.
"Yes, Commander Hitsugaya!"
Although somewhat unwilling, Ando and Amagai knew that with their strength, they couldn't help and would only be burdens.
Shiing!
Toshiro drew his Zanpakuto, pointing the sword at Flores.
"Hey! Shinigami, don't you have Bankai? If you don't use it now, you won't get another chance."
Seeing Toshiro showed no intention of using Bankai, Flores expressed dissatisfaction.
"Hmph! Want to see my Bankai? You're not worthy!" Toshiro said disdainfully.
"Damn it! You dare look down on me?!" Flores fumed.
"Die, Shinigami!"
Flores used Sonído, instantly vanishing from his spot.
Then, a whooshing sound came from behind Toshiro.
"Too slow, Flores!"
Toshiro casually leaned to the right. Flores's claw grazed past his body.
[Shunkuho]
As Flores's attack missed and he was off-balance, Toshiro directly used Shunpo, appearing behind Flores and slashing at his back.
At the critical moment, Flores fiercely kicked the ground with his right foot, sending a wave of sand towards Toshiro.
Toshiro frowned and swiftly dodged aside.
Even if sand blocked his vision, Toshiro could sense Flores's position via Reiatsu and attack. But Toshiro didn't want to get covered in sand and look disheveled.
Flores seized this chance to react, quickly putting distance between himself and Toshiro.
"Hmph, Shinigami, you're not bad. But don't get cocky. I was just careless earlier," Flores said, trying to sound tough.
[Shunkuho]
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Due to Toshiro's extreme speed, countless afterimages appeared across the battlefield.
Seeing Toshiro move so fast his eyes could barely keep up, Flores began to wonder if choosing to duel Toshiro one-on-one was a mistake!