NOTAKING
patreon
Chapter 103(Remake)
🕑 Added 2025-07-08 12:18:02 +0000 UTCInside Las Noches. In a dark room with 10 seats, were sat 10 people, all of them unique, their spiritual pressure thick in the air like a storm waiting to be unleashed. The shadows clung to the corners of the vast chamber, lit only by the cold, pale light filtering in from the ceiling above.
These were the Espada, the elite of the Arrancar army—each of them deadly, each of them dangerous, and each seated in perfect silence as they awaited their leader.
The massive iron doors groaned open, a deep echo reverberating through the chamber. Three figures walked in, their presence immediately commanding the attention of every Espada.
Aizen, with his usual smile of confidence and cockiness, strode in first, his white captain's haori fluttering softly behind him. Beside him were Tōsen, stoic and blind yet unnervingly aware, and Gin Ichimaru, whose perpetual foxlike grin gave nothing away.
Aizen looked at his Arrancar soldiers, his calm, unreadable eyes scanning the room.
"Good morning... Espada’s. It seems we've been invaded—I'm sure you already know. But first... let’s have some tea," he said, his voice calm yet laced with irony, as though the intrusion was little more than a trivial matter.
Servants entered silently, gliding across the polished obsidian floor with trays of elegant cups and steaming tea.
The faint clink of porcelain was the only sound as the Espada were served, some of them ignoring the tea entirely, others accepting it with cool disinterest.
Once tea had been served, Kaname Tōsen stepped forward. With a smooth motion, he activated a visual projection—an illusion of light and spirit energy—revealing an image of Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions standing with Nel Tu and her brothers in the white dunes outside Las Noches.
Grimmjow tensed the moment he saw Ichigo, his fingers clenching slightly. His mind flashed to their last battle—the raw, relentless power Ichigo had shown.
"There are three of them. Uryuu Ishida, Yasutora Sado, and Kurosaki Ichigo," Aizen said, his voice cool and deliberate, as though reading from a report.
Espada No. 9, Aaroniero Arruruerie, whose grotesque mask and dual personalities gave him an eerie presence, tilted his head.
"That’s the enemy? I expected more," he scoffed, his voice a watery rasp echoing through his glass helmet.
"I thought you said this was an enemy raid. Those are just kids," No. 2, Baraggan Louisenbairn, grumbled from his throne-like seat. The self-proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo sneered with contempt.
"Don’t underestimate them. They were among the Ryoka that invaded the Soul Society... and defied the Thirteen Court Guard Companies," Aizen said, his tone a subtle warning beneath the surface of his calm.
"Oh, well that doesn’t make them any interesting," No. 8, Szayelaporro Granz, said dismissively. Reclining in his seat with elegance, his pink hair gleamed under the light, and he stirred his tea with a gloved finger, bored already.
"Are you deaf? You were warned not to underestimate them," Espada No. 3, Tier Harribel, said coldly. Her piercing teal eyes, partially obscured by her collar and mask fragment, showed little patience for Szayel’s arrogance.
Suddenly, a chair creaked.
The tension spiked instantly.
Grimmjow stood up, his teal hair swaying as he turned without a word and began to walk toward the exit. His jacket flared with every step, his pressure rising.
"Where are you going, Grimmjow?" Tōsen asked, his voice calm but sharp with disapproval.
"Where? I'm going to kill them, of course. What other reason?" he replied with a feral grin, not stopping.
Suddenly the room turned cold. An unnatural silence swept through as Aizen slowly turned his eyes. Though his back was still to Grimmjow, the weight of his gaze pressed down like a crushing tide. Grimmjow could feel it—not with his eyes, but in his bones. He stopped mid-step.
"Your enthusiasm is appreciated... but I haven’t finished talking yet," Aizen said softly.
Grimmjow paid him no mind, continuing to walk with defiance in every step.
Then—
*voooom*
An immense, suffocating pressure slammed down on him. Grimmjow dropped to one knee, gasping slightly as Aizen's spiritual pressure pinned him like a nail to the floor.
The air rippled with invisible force, and even some of the lower-ranked Espada shifted uncomfortably under the weight of it.
"Good. Now we understand each other," Aizen said as he slowly stood up from his chair, his presence commanding and absolute.
"As you can see, three enemies have arrived. I wouldn't underestimate them... but there's no need for excessive alarm either. I want all of you to return to your palaces. Just wait for the enemy. And don’t be afraid. No matter what happens... as long as you’re with me—" his eyes narrowed, his tone now resolute—
"No one can defeat you."
....
Ichigo watched as Nel and her brothers knelt respectfully, bowing their heads with guilt etched on their innocent faces.
“Nel had no idea our game of endless tag would lead to a misunderstanding like this...” she said, voice soft and nasally. Her green eyes glistened. “There’s not a whole lot to do for fun here in Hueco Mundo.”
'Endless tag?' Uryuu blinked, adjusting his glasses in disbelief. ‘This desert really does rot brains...’
“No worries. So, what’s your names?” Chad asked, a faint blush coloring his cheeks as he glanced at Nel sitting so adorably. The innocence in her tone contrasted everything they'd seen in Hueco Mundo so far.
“I’m Nel Tu of the Arrancars!” she declared proudly, smiling wide, a little drool slipping down her chin as she beamed.
Her brothers, Pesh and Dondochakka, did a silly little spin and introduced themselves too, though neither Uryuu nor Chad could keep up with the full names.
Not long after, the group continued their journey across the endless desert—now riding atop the enormous, slug-like Bawabawa, who slithered smoothly beneath them.
Nel happily perched herself on Ichigo’s lap, her tiny body bouncing with each movement. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Are you guys really Arrancars?” she asked, tilting her head cutely.
“Nah.” Ichigo replied casually, gaze scanning the horizon.
“Huh?” Nel blinked. “You guys look more like Soul Reapers… now that I think about it.” Her words slowed. Her eyes widened. And then—
“AAAAHHH! THEY’RE SOUL REAPERS!!” she screamed, launching off Ichigo’s lap in panic.
Her brothers followed suit, flailing about the ride as if it had suddenly become a battlefield.
Ichigo didn’t react. His attention had shifted.
From deep beneath the sands, he sensed pressure—heavy and unstable.
Then—
RUMMMMBLE!
The ground exploded upward, sending a shockwave rippling through the dunes. A massive Sand Golem, born of reishi and broken earth, rose with a monstrous roar. Cracks ran down its crumbling fists as it loomed over them, its body emitting spiritual static.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes, already readying Zangetsu on instinct.
‘I could take it out… but that’d waste time.’
Before he could make a move, a chilling gust of wind swept over them. The heat of Hueco Mundo was pierced by a sudden, unnatural cold.
" Hakuren!"
SHHHHRRRRRRK!
From the sky descended snow—sparkling and sharp. Ice crept across the creature’s stone body like a living frostbite, seizing its limbs and wrapping it in glimmering crystal.
CRACK!
The Sand Golem shattered like glass.
A second later, Rukia Kuchiki stepped into view, Sode no Shirayuki lowered beside her, the pale blade still steaming. Her breath was calm, posture graceful like a ghost drifting across the wasteland.
A few paces behind, Renji Abarai walked forward, arms crossed, Zabimaru coiled along his back.
“You guys are stalkers,” Ichigo muttered dryly, tilting his head toward them.
Rukia gave a small, dignified smile, ignoring his sarcasm.
Then Ichigo’s eyes landed on Renji, and he grinned wide. “Wow, they even sent you? Man, Soul Society really short staffed, huh?”
A visible vein popped on Renji’s forehead, but he kept his composure—barely.
Ichigo sighed. “You’re no fun when you don’t get mad.”
TO BE CONTINUED
