You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

After finishing the rough statistics, Xi Guan glanced at the gate and saw that no human figure appeared in the light curtain. When he realized what had happened, his face turned pale.

He grabbed a member of the expeditionary force and used great force in his hands: "Saito-sama...there is no Saito-sama! Didn't she come back!?"

"Saito-sama, she...she was trying to cover us...ugh! Damn it!"

The soldier who had escaped death knelt on the ground uncontrollably, hammering the hard ground madly, creating cracks with blood, and hot tears fell down.

"It's all our fault... I want to go back too... but except for the Four Heavenly Kings, everyone else is just a burden! Damn it, if only I were stronger..."

"The captain didn't come back... Saito is immortal, was he killed in action?"

The officer gasped. Bankai-level masters are extremely rare in the entire Soul Society, and Saito is a martial artist who has lived for more than a thousand years. If she were to die in Hueco Mundo, it would be a huge loss for the Gotei 13!

I'm afraid even the captain-general would be shocked by this!

"How is it possible... What on earth did you encounter?" The officer still couldn't believe that a captain had died like this. "Was it a virtual tide riot?"

"Yes, there are a lot of them, but more importantly, we have encountered the legendary [Vastold]!"

The team member raised his head, his eyes filled with endless resentment: "If it weren't for that leader, the Hollow, the captain would never have been able to stay in Hueco Mundo!"

"Vaastod!"

The officer opened his eyes wide: "Isn't that a legend...it actually exists?"

Although I was shocked, I calmed down and thought that if it was Vastod who appeared, then everything would make sense.

In the textbooks of the Maou Academy of Spiritual Arts, "Great Hollows" are described as existences that ordinary soldiers cannot match. Among them, the lowest-level Killian is already enough to make the chief officer-level Shinigami treat him with caution, and Achukas is considered to be a "captain-level" one that can be properly handled.

As for Vastod?

Because it is so rare, the textbooks are vague about it, but the evaluation is very direct:

An existence that is superior to the captain (normal level)!

If this Vastod also commands many great hollows at the same time... then he does have the power to kill Saito the Immortal.

"How should this report be written?" The officer in charge of the response looked embarrassed.

This matter is beyond his ability and should be reported to higher-ups immediately. It would be safer if the captains were to handle it!

He looked at the gate again, frowned slightly, and decided to continue waiting.

Judging from the information provided by the team members, Saito Fulaubushi faced Vastrod and Hollow Tide alone in order to cover the expeditionary force, and his chances of survival are probably very small... But it is his duty to continue to maintain the gate until the device on the Hueco Mundo side stops functioning.

Only in this way can we conclude that there are no survivors!

This decision was correct. Later, a few soldiers who were left behind actually rushed back, but Saito Immortal was not among them. This made the chief officer's colleagues extremely disappointed and completely extinguished the last glimmer of hope.

Just when the officer was about to leave and hand over the situation to others, the portal suddenly began to fluctuate again, and it was brighter than before!

"what?"

The official turned around in surprise, only to see a one-eyed girl with twin ponytails and wearing a blood-stained haori walking out of the passage.

"Master Saito!" The officer was overjoyed, "You are not dead!"

"Pooh!"

Saito showed an unhappy and disgusted face: "Can you say something nice? Hurry up and prepare a banquet to welcome me, and also prepare hot water. I can't take a bath in Hueco Mundo for ten days or half a month."

The chief official naturally agreed. Since Saito came back alive, no matter how great the loss was, it was still within an acceptable range. It was undoubtedly good news for Seireitei, which was in a state of war.

"Anyone else?"

The officer saw the light curtain flicker again, followed by the appearance of elite Grim Reapers who were wounded to varying degrees. Their faces had a look of determination that was different from that of ordinary people, as well as a hint of relief for having escaped death.

After waiting for a while, the last thing that came out of the gate was a pair of young boys and girls who were relatively neatly dressed and had outstanding looks.

"Soul Society, Seireitei..."

Iori looked at the black and white buildings in the distance that rose and fell, revealing a sense of grandeur in their solemnity, and smiled from the bottom of his heart.

"I'm finally back~"

-

"Captain, Lord Saito has arrived."

"Let her in."

"Yes!"

As the wooden door was opened, Saito Furuobushi, who took off his haori and was only wearing an ordinary Shinigami outfit, walked into the door. Without even bowing to Yamamoto, he sat cross-legged on the futon.

Looking at the captain's slightly bent back, the one-eyed girl frowned and said bluntly, "Anything else? I have already said everything I should say in the report. Do you have any questions that require you to come to me specifically?"

"Saito, the report is too simple and the handwriting is very sloppy. As a captain, you can't even do basic clerical work. How shameful!"

The old man in the haori slowly turned around and dropped the thick wooden cane in his hand heavily on the floor. His admonishing tone made Saito grin.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, judging from his appearance, is just an ordinary old man with droopy eyes, sagging skin, deep wrinkles, and a slightly hunched back. Apart from his long eyebrows and waist-length beard that seem like an immortal, there seems to be nothing awe-inspiring about him.

In fact, the captain-general has not personally participated in battles for a long time, and ordinary soldiers have never even seen the old man take action.

Although they have great respect for him, they also tend to guess that his strength is far weaker than his peak period. Although he is above the average captain, the gap is not so big that it cannot be made up.

Of course, considering that Team 13 is a violent organization and the captain-general has maintained the title of "the strongest" for a thousand years, his strength should indeed be the best in Soul Society.

According to many speculations, if you want to compete with the Captain-General... at least two or three captains must come together, right?

——The above is the opinion of the new generation of Death Gods. Veterans with more experience or who have reached a certain level of strength will scoff at such speculation.

But the captains will not explain it to the ordinary team members, because Yamamoto Shigekuni's strength is beyond their understanding.

After all, in the rabbit's view, the threats posed by the jackal and the lion are indeed similar. Only as both are predators, one would understand how big the gap is!

Saito had followed Yamamoto more than 800 years ago, and was one of the first captains. He naturally knew how strong a body this old man, who looked like he was dying, was hiding under his haori...

So, no matter how frivolous the attitude is, things still need to be explained clearly.

"To put it simply, I encountered Vastod unexpectedly," Saito added, "and two of them."

"Some people have long speculated that there is more than one Vastod in the depths of Hueco Mundo. Although this is an unexpected encounter, it is not something that is incredible."

Yamamoto said in a deep voice: "It's just that the Skeleton Hollow you mentioned seems to be the 'king' who commands the Achucas. If left unchecked, it may become a hidden danger."

"Indeed, but that guy is definitely not young anymore. Although he is powerful, he has an air of old age that cannot be concealed... I was tricked into coming here and offended him this time."

"Do you think the other party has no extra ambitions?"

"I'm afraid so... But if a war really breaks out, we must prepare in advance. I suggest that you take action yourself, old man."

Saito said seriously: "That ability is too tricky. Although there are several masters in the current 13th team, you are the only one who is absolutely sure."

Yamamoto nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Some things cannot be seen from the report alone, but after talking with Saito in person, it can be seen from the attitude of this old subordinate that the Vastod-level Great Hollow King is indeed powerful to a certain extent, which is why the first-generation captain gave up the idea of ​​revenge in a one-on-one fight.

"The war with the Quincy has not yet ended, so we must focus on the human world. As for Hueco Mundo... temporarily suspend the exploration of Hueco Mundo and reorganize the expeditionary force after the war is over."

"It's not over yet?"

Saito laughed disdainfully: "A bunch of remnants are having such a hard time fighting. The Thirteenth Team is really in decline now~

Old man, if it was you in the past, you would only need one day to kill all the Quincies in the world, right? Why bother with so much trouble! "

Yamamoto Shigekuni did not respond, and Saito also tactfully did not continue speaking.

First of all, as the captain-general, Yamamoto needs to stay in Soul Society and cannot go out easily.

Secondly, the Thirteenth Squad’s rules state that in order not to destroy the real world, Shinigami above the vice-captain level will not be sent to the real world unless necessary. Even if they do go on a mission, they must seal off most of their spiritual pressure.

Now is a special period of war. The captains who go to the real world are not sealed, but the Soul Society also strictly limits the size of the army and the number of captains to reduce the damage to the real world.

Even the captain has to be so careful, let alone Yamamoto. With his destructive power...even his Shikai is not suitable for use in the human world!

Saito was just complaining, but she also understood that Yamamoto was no longer the same as he was eight hundred years ago. He had many concerns when doing things and always "put the overall situation first". He was no longer the wanton "Flame Demon" and would never be the first to break the rules.

"It would be better to stop exploring Hueco Mundo."

Saito carelessly lifted up his death suit and showed the wound on his abdomen to Yamamoto.

"I removed some of my internal organs to stop the erosion of 'aging'.

I have asked the elites of the Fourth Division to look at it. Although it can be treated with Kaido and regeneration technology, the internal organs of the Shinigami are responsible for the gathering and transfer of spiritual pressure, which is much more troublesome than treating the limbs... I will not be able to use Bankai in the short term, and I will no longer be able to serve as the commander of the expeditionary force. "

"Don't think too much during this period, just take good care of your injuries."

Yamamoto opened his eyes a little, and seemed to be concerned about Saito's injury, but he didn't say much, just a few simple words of comfort.

"These years, I have indeed made you work too hard..."

"Ha~"

Saito laughed heartily and said, "I don't need pity or sympathy. Although Hueco Mundo is a godforsaken place, I still like it!

Besides, compared to those companions who died long ago, I am very lucky to be alive until now and even to escape successfully in this incident."

“Speaking of this matter, you were vague in your report about how you and others escaped.

All I'm saying is that a team member named 'Aizen Iori' fought hard and bought you some time.

Do you have anything to add? "

"Have!"

Saito put away his unruly side and sat on the futon.

She looked at Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and said very seriously: "You should accept Aizen Iori as your disciple - no other Shinigami can inherit the essence of the 'Genryu' better than him, I am sure of that!"

A gleam of light flashed in Yamamoto's eyes: "To be praised so highly by you, it seems that he is not an ordinary soldier.

Aizen... I have an impression of this surname. His sister is an outstanding talent with a promising future, and she was also very active in this incident.

I am just very curious, what qualities does he have that you value him so much?"

"He is strong!"

Saito said, "The four skills that a god of death must learn are slashing, white fighting, instant step, and ghost way... People's energy is limited, and most people will focus on certain skills. Even a god of death who has lived for hundreds or even thousands of years may not be able to master all of them.

But Aizen Iori... he is an extremely rare all-rounder, that kind of impeccable and extremely pure strength is just like you... no, his growth rate is even faster than yours!"

"Oh?"

Yamamoto opened his eyes and looked straight at Saito, and the one-eyed girl looked back at him calmly.

“How come you see?”

"He already has Bankai!"

Chapter 172: Is there feudal superstition in Soul Society?

Bankai...

This matter was not mentioned in the report!

Aizen Iori?

As the captain-general, Yamamoto naturally would not pay attention to the situation of every ordinary soldier, but he knew about Aizen Iori.

Because this person had previously applied to join the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force as a student and had been recommended by the 12th Division's vice-captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and this ridiculous thing was actually approved by Saito Fuuma.

——It seemed like the process was completed easily at the time, but Team 13 is managed in a militarized manner. How could it be so easy to transfer or be promoted between different systems?

The expeditionary force was said to be a group of cannon fodder who were excluded, but they were all selected from the 13th team. At that time, Iori was just a "temporary worker" and did not have the qualifications to join the expeditionary force.

It was Saito who gave the order to accept Iori, which made it possible for the personnel transfer order to be issued so smoothly.

There are not many people who can be personally questioned by the captain, and Saito is a single man without any family descendants to burden him, so Yamamoto noticed Iori when he was handling documents daily.

He didn't think much about it at the time. He just thought of Yuuki when he saw the last name "Aizen". He was slightly moved that both siblings were so outstanding, and was pleased that his Maou Spiritual Academy had cultivated many talents.

However, when the expeditionary force retreated back to Soul Society, Yamamoto saw this name again in the combat report, and the situation was very different.

According to the information previously collected by Suzube, he was previously a reserve Shinigami at the Maou Spiritual Academy, and was promoted to join Team 13 as an exception and entered the Hueco Mundo...it's been less than a year at most, right?

In such a short period of time, he became a middle-level officer (one of the Four Heavenly Kings) of the expeditionary force, and made outstanding contributions in the process of covering the retreat of the large force. His strength, talent, character, and loyalty are impeccable, and it can be said that he has a bright future.

This was already surprising, but now it was said that he had mastered Bankai?

Yamamoto said, "Tell me the details of that day, carefully and without omission."

Saito also seemed very serious at this time. He knew that the following conversation would have a great impact on Iori's life. He restrained his cynical and dissolute side and turned to tell Yamamoto the whole story seriously.

Without exaggeration or excessive embellishment, Saito explained the matter in detail in objective and plain words. After listening, the captain fell into a long silence.

In the battle of Hueco Mundo that day, Saito was unable to fight against Bylergan due to his injury, and he and his subordinates were surrounded by the Hollows. At the critical moment, the Aizen siblings stood up, both freed their swords to repel the Achukas and temporarily blocked the tide of Hollows.