The night sky over Karakura Town was calm, but beneath its quiet surface, pressure built. Ichigo was enjoying a rare peaceful moment—sitting with Rukia, who had been temporarily staying at the Kurosaki house. A pot of hot tea steamed on the table while Yuzu and Karin argued over a TV channel.
"Feels strange to finally relax," Ichigo said, leaning back.
Rukia smiled faintly. "Don't jinx it."
Just then, Ichigo's head snapped up—his eyes widened, and he instinctively reached for his badge.
"That spiritual pressure…" Rukia stood up beside him, her eyes narrowing. "Ichigo… it's them."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. From all across town, their allies felt it—powerful Hollow reiatsu surging through the sky like thunder rolling in.
Elsewhere in Town…
Yumichika and Ikkaku were strolling down a quiet road, arguing over which ramen stall was better, when they felt it. Ikkaku smirked. "Finally, a real fight."
Renji, lounging at Urahara's, jumped to his feet. "Damn it, they're moving in already!"
In a dark alley just outside town—7 shadows landed.
Grimmjow stood at the front, arms crossed. Behind him were Edorad, Shawlong, D-Roy, Ilfort, Nakim, and Neroxis.
"Did anyone spot you?" Grimmjow's voice was cold.
"Nah," Shawlong replied. "Passed a few strong spiritual pressures, but nothing saw us."
Grimmjow closed his eyes for a second and let his own reiatsu flare—sensing the city.
"…Yeah, reinforcements. A lot of them."
Then, with a grin, he gave the order: "If you feel spiritual pressure, crush it. I want everyone dead."
The arrancar scattered—heading into different corners of the city.
Orihime's Apartment
Mohit, already standing outside, had sensed the coming threat. He touched the small comm-device on his collar.
"Arthur, be on standby. I might need you. But don't reveal yourself to the others yet. This isn't Soul Society's call."
Inside, Orihime and Rangiku were sipping tea when the walls trembled slightly.
"Get ready," Mohit said sharply, eyes focused.
Moments later, three arrancar dropped from the sky—Shawlong, Nakim, and Neroxis—slamming into the pavement with a shockwave.
"Captain," Rangiku said, instantly beside Mohit in her soul reaper form, blade drawn. Her usual teasing demeanor vanished—now she was sharp, cold.
"Orders?"
"Take the fat one—Nakim. Keep Orihime safe. I'll handle the rest."
Nakim roared and charged, and Rangiku met him halfway with a flash of her blade. As they vanished into combat, only Shawlong and Neroxis remained.
They stood opposite Mohit, both now drawing their sealed zanpakuto.
"You are Mohit," Shawlong said. "We've heard of you."
"And I don't care who you are," Mohit replied, his tone even.
Shawlong smirked. "Just know—this is a test. We are the army. The Espada—numbers ten to one—they're Aizen's real blades."
"Then let's see how sharp the dull ones are," Mohit muttered, unsheathing his blade.
The Battle Begins
The two arrancar lunged at Mohit with brutal speed. Shawlong swung horizontally while Neroxis came from above.
CLANG! Mohit's blade met Shawlong's, sparks flying. He ducked under Neroxis' falling blow and swept a kick to Shawlong's legs, pushing both of them back.
"You're fast," Neroxis hissed, eyes narrowing.
"Faster than most," Mohit said, calm and focused.
But the two arrancar released their Resurrección without hesitation.
"Feroz Lobo!" Shawlong roared.
"Descarga Umbral!" shouted Neroxis.
Shawlong's body grew into a bestial, lupine form, claws like blades, reiatsu spiking. Neroxis transformed into a sleek, humanoid hollow with jagged bone-like armor and a twisted, broken mask hanging from his side like a trophy.
Their speed and strength doubled. Mohit was forced onto the defensive.
He took a deep breath.
"…Honor Arcane."
With a surge of pressure, his sword changed—growing hundreds of tiny holes. Crawling out of each were spider-like creatures—black and glistening, spreading into the air and vanishing into shadows.
"What the—?!" Shawlong hesitated.
The spiders silently crawled across the walls and ground, invisible to the untrained eye.
Mohit moved. He parried a slash, pivoted, and swept behind Neroxis—his blade dragging through the air.
A strand of silk shimmered and tightened—SNAP—a cut appeared on Neroxis' shoulder.
"Wha—" Neroxis hissed, stepping back, slapping the silk away.
"The silk hardens in five seconds," Mohit said. "Too late to react after that."
"Kill him!" Shawlong charged again with a howl, claws slashing with animalistic fury.
Mohit evaded, controlling spiders with small gestures of his fingers. Threads of silk weaved mid-air, glimmering like lines of fate.
Neroxis blinked—and found himself surrounded by near-invisible strands. He turned to leap—
SLASH! His leg was cut.
"Those threads…!" Shawlong growled.
"Not threads," Mohit corrected. "Execution lines."
Final Moment
Mohit narrowed his eyes and pointed his blade to the sky—more spiders swarmed.
But he didn't go further. He felt the battle didn't need more than this.
With swift motion, he wrapped both arrancar in a web of hardened silk—binding them in mid-air like puppets. Blood ran from their arms and legs.
"You're good," Shawlong coughed.
"You're dead," Mohit said bluntly, swinging once—shink!—cutting both in a single strike.
As they disintegrated, Shawlong gave one final, bloodied laugh.
"Heh… remember… we're just the outer wall. You haven't seen the Espada yet."
And then he was gone.
Aftermath
Rangiku returned with a few injuries, Nakim defeated. Orihime was safe.
"You okay?" she asked Mohit.
"Yeah," he replied, wiping blood from his chin.
The night was ablaze with clashing steel and bursts of spiritual pressure. All across Karakura Town, Soul Reapers fought tooth and nail against the invading Arrancar.
Ikkaku vs Edorad Leones
Smoke drifted through the air as Ikkaku Madarame panted, his back pressed to the wall of a shattered building. Opposite him stood Edorad Leones, his hulking figure looming, body partially scorched by Ikkaku's attacks.
"You're tough… for a meathead," Edorad growled, his axe-like zanpakutō burning with flame.
Ikkaku wiped blood from his lip. "Heh… I like a fight that pushes me."
He raised his Bankai: Ryūmon Hōzukimaru — the enormous tri-bladed halberd roaring with energy, its dragon crest glowing faintly.
"Let's end this, you bastard!!"
The two clashed with seismic force. Blades collided, flames exploded, and the ground beneath them cracked like glass. Ikkaku fought harder than ever, knowing his pride was on the line.
But despite his efforts — and a brutal final clash that left Edorad coughing blood — the Bankai shattered under the pressure.
CRACK!
Pieces of Ikkaku's weapon flew through the air as he collapsed to his knees, gasping.
"You broke my Bankai…" he muttered, vision dimming.
Edorad staggered, coughing violently, blood pouring down his front. "But you… damn near killed me…"
Ikkaku passed out with a small grin on his face.
Renji vs Ilfort Grantz
In another sector, Renji Abarai battled Ilfort Grantz, gritting his teeth as he tried to keep up with the panther-like Arrancar.
"You can't keep dodging forever, Soul Reaper," Ilfort snarled, attacking with claws sharpened by Resurrección: Del Toro.
Renji slammed into a car, coughing. "Tch… still holding back… can't win like this."
Then, a sudden wave of spiritual energy spread across the town.
A voice echoed in his mind: "Seal lifted. Fight at full strength."
His eyes widened. "No more limits…"
"Bankai! Hihiō Zabimaru!"
His crimson serpent-like Bankai exploded out of the smoke, its segments coiling through the air.
Ilfort's eyes widened — but it was too late.
CRASH!
Renji's final strike crushed Ilfort into the pavement, blood spraying across the battlefield. The Arrancar collapsed,
Ichigo vs D-Roy > Grimmjow Enters
Ichigo slashed clean through D-Roy, barely breaking a sweat.
He stood amidst the wreckage when the pressure around him shifted — a dense, suffocating weight pressed against his body.
BOOM!
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez landed, cracking the earth beneath him.
"So… you're the brat they talk about." He grinned, his teal hair swaying in the wind, his jacket open to reveal the tattooed "6" on his back.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "You're stronger than the others."
"Damn right. And you're gonna entertain me."
The two clashed — Ichigo barely blocking the initial onslaught. Grimmjow was toying with him, treating the fight like a game.
"Ichigo! You're too slow!"
Ichigo activated his Bankai, and suddenly the tide shifted. In a blur of black and red, he managed to slash across Grimmjow's chest, drawing blood.
The Espada's smile widened. "Now this is getting good."
But before he could strike back—
Mohit Enters
CRACK!
A blur flashed through the air and landed a devastating kick straight to Grimmjow's jaw.
BOOM! Grimmjow was sent flying through a wall, rolling into rubble.
Everyone felt it — Mohit's spiritual pressure now blanketed the street like an overwhelming tidal wave.
Grimmjow staggered to his feet, blood leaking from his mouth.
"You bastard…" he growled, claws raised.
Suddenly, a garganta opened — and from its shadow stepped Kaname Tōsen, his expression stoic.
"Grimmjow. That's enough."
Grimmjow growled. "I can take him!"
Tōsen's voice was sharp. "No. You can't. If you fight this man now — you will die."
Grimmjow glared at Mohit, who stood there calm, unshaken. His blade still sheathed.
"You look good, Tōsen," Mohit said dryly. "But tell me, how's your chest? That hole still open?"
Tōsen's jaw twitched — the memory of that injury still fresh.
"You will regret mocking me again," he said coldly, opening the garganta further.
"Take your dogs and crawl home," Mohit said. "Next time, I won't let them walk away."
Grimmjow reluctantly entered, dragging Shawlong, Neroxis, and Ilfort's unconscious body behind him.
As the garganta closed, silence returned.
Ichigo stepped beside Mohit, still breathing hard. "Thanks for the save."
"You held your own," Mohit replied. "But they were just scouts."
Ichigo's eyes widened. "Scouts?"
Mohit looked up at the moon, face serious.
"They were testing our strength. The real war hasn't started yet."