177: Chapter 177 Targeted by a Female Assassin, Should I Run Away?

A massive teal gas protective shield rose from the six of them, merging into one to withstand the impact of the Cero...

After this teal air cushion was completely worn down by the Cero (which happened in an instant), the Cero's power was no longer what it once was.

Immediately after, a large swath of pink crystals enveloped everyone. When the Cero hit the pink crystals, it actually reflected back in the direction it came from...

Two screams echoed in the distance, and then the horizon of Hueco Mundo returned to silence. The three dark figures that had rushed over wildly vanished as if they had never existed...

"Tsk, Tuaner's [Breath of Wind] is still as weak as ever..." Ryan's grumbling made Ikkaku certain that this guy definitely belonged to Mia's family, because this habit was exactly the same as Tuaner's.

As the crystals faded, the [Omamori] on everyone shattered, turning into a sky full of starlight.

The starlight drifted down, healing the injuries of the nearby Soul Reapers. Everyone slowly recovered; at the very least, those who had lost their combat effectiveness were now barely able to walk by supporting each other.

"It even has healing capabilities?" Aizen deliberately reached out to touch a bit of the starlight.

The sound of popping corks rang out. Aside from Yachiru, several members of the 11th Division began tilting their heads back to gulp down red potions. Their injuries recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Best friend, drink the potion Mia gave you earlier. That way you won't look too pathetic when we go back. I'm thick-skinned enough to ask for more from home later." Ryan stuffed two bottles of [Greater Healing Potion EX] into Sajin's hands, opening one for him in the process.

"Alright," Sajin Komamura said, looking at the starlight filling the sky. He took a large gulp of the potion and handed it back to Ryan.

"There's still more than half a bottle left. If you're not drinking it, I'll finish it." Ryan tilted his head back and downed it.

"Wait!!" A mature, charming female voice called out from the direction of the Senkaimon...

Ryan drank even faster. He didn't want to go back with a scorched, bald wolf head and form a 'light bulb' squad with Ikkaku.

Just as he was about to finish the last drop, an elegant hand rested on his metal gauntlet. "Please leave the last bit for the 4th Division to use for research!"

A negotiating tone but a firm attitude. Standing before Ryan was the personification of beauty and grace—calm, gentle, and deeply loved by her subordinates. She was the woman with the strongest 'Yamato Nadeshiko' aura in all of Bleach, the Captain of the 4th Division, Retsu Unohana. She was also the woman who looked the most pure and kind in the entire story, but was so 'black' on the inside that she could absorb light.

Captain Unohana had received the distress signal sent by Aizen and led her team through the Dangai to Hueco Mundo to clean up. However, it seemed only the Captain of the 7th Division had the most severe injuries. Using her zanpakuto, Minazuki, Captain Unohana took in the 7th Division Captain, Aikawa Robu.

She then looked solemnly at the crystal bottle in her hand and the small amount of ruby-colored liquid remaining inside...

In the corner, Aizen also seemed very interested in this potion, listening intently while he continued his work.

Shinji Hirako, however, impatiently urged him to hurry and bring the lightly injured members back to the Soul Society. A debriefing report was unavoidable this time, and they might even face a reprimand from Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

"Excuse me, could you tell me the origin of this potion?" Captain Unohana's question, as gentle as water, made even Sajin Komamura feel flattered and overwhelmed.

He awkwardly pointed at Ryan. "Uh, this was a thank-you gift given to me by the family of my best friend, Ryan..."

Unohana's gaze immediately shifted to Ryan, who shuddered.

"This seated officer seems to be very afraid of me?!" Unohana specifically asked her subordinates to check if there was anything improper about her attire.

After receiving a negative response from her subordinates, the look she gave Ryan became somewhat dangerous. "If it's not an issue with my clothing, am I really that scary?"

Kenpachi Zaraki took a step forward, shielding Ryan behind him. "His family are my friends!"

"Hmm? You're not one to gossip, Kenpachi. I just want to know why he harbors such fear toward me. It looks like he's not even a hundred years old yet, is he?" Captain Unohana's tone grew increasingly dangerous.

"Uh, I learned a little bit about your past through some other channels. It wouldn't be very appropriate to say it out loud here, would it?" Ryan's stalling tactics were masterfully executed.

"Very well, then I shall pay you a visit another day." With a smile and a slight bow, she narrowed her eyes, telling him silently: *You're dead, Ryan!* Why was this routine exactly like Mia's? It was entirely possible Mia had learned it from her...

"Oh, it seems this Seated Officer Ryan isn't just afraid of me. He has quite a few fears in his life!" Unohana chuckled, covering her mouth, and tucked the crystal bottle into her wide sleeve.

"Come back to the 11th Division with me first," Kenpachi Zaraki said, glancing at Sajin Komamura who stood beside Ryan. Sajin nodded to Ryan, signaling that he would handle things and Ryan could go without worry.

...11th Division Barracks, Dining Hall.

Mia's serving spoon whacked directly against Ryan's helmet. "What's there to be afraid of? Just tell her straight up!"

"So what if she's the first Kenpachi? She's powerful, but she can't just rob us openly, right?" Mia felt that after spending so much time with Sajin Komamura, Ryan's reactions were noticeably slower than when he was getting beaten by Tuaner every day.

She turned around to look for Tuaner, only to remember that she and Xiaoya had already been sent to the Shinō Academy of Spiritual Arts. She couldn't help but sigh.

The good news was that there was finally word of Sister Loran. Ikkaku said he heard that some new supervisors had arrived at the Maggots' Nest. Apparently, they were new assistants recruited by that perpetually sleepy Captain of the 12th Division. One of them looked very similar to Mia's description.

After Ikkaku was disciplined by Mia and told to speak plainly, he grumbled, "She looks like Mia, and she looks like Xiaoya. One look and you can tell she's Xiaoya's mom!"

Because of this, Mia gave Ikkaku an extra scoop of braised pork at dinner, which moved the young man deeply.

While everyone was devouring meat and drinking large bowls of sake, there was a knock at the barracks door...

The arrivals weren't the expected Captain Unohana, but three other people: a blushing Soi Fon, a curious Yoruichi, and Kisuke Urahara, who was rubbing his hands together, not knowing what to say.

With two Captains visiting, Kenpachi couldn't very well kick them out late at night. He had Yumichika ask Mia to set three more places so they could join the dining hall meal.

After Yoruichi had her fill of food and drink, she gave Kisuke Urahara a look. The latter sheepishly pulled out the [Omamori] and [Greater Healing Potion EX] that Mia had given Soi Fon earlier, then bowed deeply to the floor...

"Please, you must tell me the principles and manufacturing methods of these two Magic Items!! I would be eternally grateful!!" Kisuke Urahara's words were sincere and persistent.

"Oh, that's actually quite difficult!" Mia said with a giggle, the natural peach-colored makeup at the corners of her eyes darkening slightly...