Szayelaporro stopped provoking Ichigo and company and frowned a little bit, "Hmmm... How weird. Hell's [Punishment] should have gotten hold of you the moment you entered through the door. I know that disgusting Captain should be able to do something about it, but I didn't expect that it would be to the point of complete nullification... Did I underestimate him once again?"
Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad immediately felt weirded out by his statement. They knew for sure that Szayelaporro had a way of watching the Human World since he was able to identify Renji's daughter without actually meeting her, but he didn't know about Kazui and how his little ritual made them safe from Hell's [Punishment]?
They all looked at each other to confirm that they were thinking the same thing but refused to say anything.
At that moment, they heard Akon's panicked voice and subsequently, the door closing behind them.
Upon seeing that, Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad immediately put some distance from each other while pulling out or manifesting their respective weapons and abilities.
"So it's a trap all along." Uryu gritted his teeth as his Heilig Bogen extended from his right wrist.
Chad's right and left arm became covered by black and white liquid respectively before they hardened and formed differing armors for each arm, "...Do you think Sitri-san is part of this. After all, she's the one who hinted that we should directly intercept the enemies before they came out of the doors."
Szayelaporro who was intently listening to their conversation suddenly snapped his fingers, "So her name is Sitri, that strange woman with the unknown ability. I can finally hear her name. It's amazing how she could block Hell's [Eyes] even though it's just her name which, honestly, is pointless."
"Well... From the looks of it, she's not." Uryu replied to Chad before a certain idea dawned on him, "She's really amazing being able to stop Hell's [Punishment]. Thanks to her, we could cross safely."
Ichigo and Chad looked at him surprised but Uryu ignored them and just intently watched the grin from Szayelaporro disappear, "...It's not that disgusting insect?"
Szayelaporro started contemplating what this all means, 'There's a big hole in my information network.'
But soon enough, his grin returned to his face, and said, "Kukuku, it doesn't really matter. It doesn't change the fact that you people who are 'alive' can't set foot in here. No matter how strong that strange woman's ability to block Hell's Authority, that can't last forever, and sooner or later, these chains will take hold of all of you."
Szayelaporro swung his arm and the hundreds of Beasts of Hell around him started running and flying toward Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad, "Who knows? Maybe after you've accepted these chains, we'll get along very well."
"That's the most disgusting thing I've heard in a while." Ichigo visibly recoiled when he imagined the possibility. He raised the two black blades he was holding and crossed them, "Getsuga... Juujishou (Moon Fang Cross-Shaped Piercer)" The cross-shaped blast of massive energy was the signal for the battle to begin.
Meanwhile, their conversation was also being relayed to Mayuri who's making his way to the Human World, "Good thinking, Quincy boy." All this time, the only information they had about their enemies is when they were alive so the fact that Szayelaporro didn't know anything about Kazui and Serafall despite claiming an all-seeing ability put a smile on his face, "Is it because those with the same or similar power are immune to his [Eyes]?"
The moment he got out of the Senkaimon and entered the Human World, Mayuri immediately gave out his directive, "To all attack groups. We'll try to reopen the doors from this side so do your best to stay alive... If you know you're going to die, inform me too. That way, we'll be able to prioritize the other doors. Also, if you can kill them, bring their bodies back."
Most of the attack units shuddered at what they heard from their communicator, but once they realized that it was Mayuri who was speaking, they immediately calmed down thinking, 'That's definitely the morally bankrupt Captain of the 12th Division.' Even then, there's no better voice to reassure them than his as all of them believed in his ability to adapt to the situation.
.
.
.
The moment they heard Mayuri's voice, the Quincy girls all shuddered and a cold sweat poured down their backs, "Even though he's the one who'll be pulling us out from this mess... I still really don't want to meet him." Meninas muttered while rubbing the goosebumps on her arms.
"Are you sure there won't be any hidden fees for his help?" Candice asked nervously as one of the few people who'd experienced Mayuri's cruelty.
However, their conversation was immediately interrupted by a prideful but also fed-up voice, "What's this? A bunch of little girls?"
The girls turned their attention towards him and saw that the one who spoke just now is a very tall and lanky man holding a giant axe-like weapon bearing two crescent moon-shaped blades fused together at the backs, with a large looped chain connected to the shaft at the end of the handle.
They immediately identified who it was since they also had information on the former Arrancars while they were preparing their invasion of Soul Society. However, there was something different from the information they have, "His left arm doesn't have flesh, leaving only behind a black skeleton. He also has a pair of horns that he didn't formerly have." Liltotto murmured.
"Look at the other one." Giselle pointed at the tall, muscular, and dark-skinned Arrancar with noticeably large lips, "Both of his hands don't have any flesh either. Though his horns are growing from his shoulders."
"We can assume that everyone who was sent to Hell has this kind of variation to their appearance. Though we don't really know what that means." The moment they stepped into Hell, Liltotto had been tasting the air around them and was able to confirm that the concentration of Reishi from the surroundings was on the same level as the Human World, 'Unbelievable... This place is supposed to be the place of the condemned and individuals with a very large amount of Reiryoku, but the environment is like this? To think we'll immediately be put at a disadvantage... I hope they're not much stronger than when they were alive.'
Although they regained some of their strength, it was still a bit far from the time before Yhwach used Auswählen on them. But while Yhwach's Letter Empowerment disappeared, the cavity that the 'Letter' left shaped the power of the Souls and all they had to do was fill this missing gap with their own power and training. They didn't want to admit it, but they all agreed that this is the last gift they received from Yhwach. It may take a while, but there's a chance for them to regain their former abilities without relying on a Quincy with a Soul Distribution Power.
'Compatibility with our enemy will be our biggest advantage.' Liltotto thought of a plan in her head and immediately issued a command, "Giselle, Bambietta, take on the skinhead. Candice, Meninas, you'll be with me to deal with this creepy bastard."