The Sternritter of the fear As Nodt stood silent as he watched over massive Descorrers that surrounded the holds and the Silver City.

He then bears witnessing the combined forces of Apprentice Knights and Special Agents working together to fight off and devastate the first three waves of the Hollow invasion and leaving behind only a couple of remnants, which are now being quickly taken care of by the surviving Soldats.

However, even with the first group of enemies being defeated, Nodt knew that the true challenge lay beyond those dimensional rifts. In which the Arrancar and the Espada will make their appearance and use all their might and power to lay devastation upon them.

And yet...much to As Nodt's confusion, the elite Arrancar have yet to arrive on the battlefield, and as the seconds stretched on to minutes to nearly half an hour. The Sternritter's patience and anxiety reached their breaking point.

'What is taking them so long' As Nodt was irritable. 'An Imperial invasion like this usually has the Espada arrive here by now.'

The pale man then senses another presence behind him.

'Well, perhaps the Espada are just making a big grand entrance for themselves or lost the courage to face us when they saw how we devastated their armies!' A male voice shouted, and As Nodt then slowly turned his head.

Was James Masklune the Sternritter of the super-Star. A huge, hefty yet extremely muscled bound youth with a round face, a tuft of blond hair combed in a twirl, and a domino mask that covered his eyes while wearing a wrestling champion belt and cape over their uniform. While wrapping his arms around his shoulders and sporting a confident smile...only for As Nodt to shake his head in annoyance.

'The Esapda never cared how much cannon fodder they send to their deaths, only that their enemies were worn down. However, even in that case, they should have appeared by now... not even the other Arrancar like the Números or the previous have appeared either' As Nodt commented, he continued to stare into the Garganta. 'What is it that they are planning, I wonder?'

James then continued to smile brightly. 'Well, whatever it is, I am sure that we can handle it together, As!' While patting the pale Stenritter on the back who grunted in annoyance.

'...you are lucky that you are enduring James, ' Nolt insulted plainly when the blond man chuckled in delight.

'And your admiration feels me with joy!' He replied, and upon hearing that, As Nodt just shook his head—all the while, giving James the of briefest smiles.

Then he suddenly felt an enormous spiritual pressure engulf him and pressing down the remaining Quincy and Fullbringers within the entire region and nearly pinning them down by the sheer force of it.

'Is it the Espada?' James said with just the slightest hint of fear in his voice. 'It feels more robust and chaotic than what I am used to...' his eyes widen. 'Have they already gone into their Segunda Etapa.

As Nodt took his time to analyze the spiritual and frowned. 'No...it feels like something else's entirely and not just because it is powerful...' he then grits his teeth. 'But also because it felt like madness and torture itself.'

Then as if to confirm the Sternritter's suspensions. A horrifying howl roared out of the Garganta, and from it, a pair of two substantial yellow eyes stared out from the dimensional tear.

Eyes that were filled with not only the rage of a beast but also with a single-minded purpose...

Later at the watch room

'Grandmaster, four Espada class spiritual objects have been detected within the Garganta. However, they do not appear to be the Espada themselves but rather some form of a huge hollow,' the commutators replied and Hashwalf looked concerned.

'Give me a visual,' the Grandmaster ordered. Immediately, four holographic screens came up on display around the central monitor showing four massive lurking beasts within the Garganta from all four fronts of the battlefield. Each of them had glowing blank yellow unblinking eyes—much to the surprise of Jurgram, Uryu, and Robert.

'This was not in the report that Quilge sent us...' Robert said in shock and worry. 'Has Barragan changed his attack planes at the last minute?'

Uryu then focused his gaze. 'It's possible...likely as a result of the enemy already figuring out that we knew of their plan of invasion and brought in something that we haven't been able to anticipate for' The white prince turns towards The Grandmaster.

'What are your orders?' Ishida questioned, and Hashwalf decided after a short pause in thought.

'Have all the Sternritters in the outer regions to gather around those creatures and prepare for the worst,' He commanded, and the rest of Quincy communicators then began to send out those orders into the field.

Meanwhile, in Las Noches

'Damn it...' Ichigo moaned as he rubbed his head. 'Hope I didn't bust my skull or anything.'

The shingmai then took a look around and realized that he was at the bottom of the stairway of Las Noches, and he got himself separated from the group.

Or instead, all but one of them.

That was a fun little comedy gag, wasn't it?' Gremmy said blissfully while laying his back on the walls of the buildings. Much to Ichigio's annoyance.

'We wouldn't even be part of that stupid gag. Had you had enough insight to give that old-timer the ability to shield us from security cameras! Ichigo ranted and then placed both of his fingers on his temple in frustration. 'I mean seriously. How could you overlook something like that!'

Gremmy, however, just shrugged. 'What can I say? With the power of the visionary, you have to take into account everything, and if you miss one crucial detail. It can't be imagined,' He then sweats a little, 'even for details that seem the most obvious...'

Ichigo then grumbled a bit before sighing. 'Uh, whatever...anyway, we need to find a way to regroup the with the others to find Barragan.'

Gremmy then narrowed his eyes. 'I believe we will have to put a pin on that.'

Ichigo then looked at the visionary in confusion. 'What are yo-!?'

The Shinigami's instincts then kicked into overdrive as he suddenly dodged out of the way of a tidal wave of sand that came—crashing down upon him and crushing the ground where he once stood at.

'So...a male voice echoed throughout the entire fortress. 'You were able to dodge my blow even when unguarded...no matter'

The sands around the buildings and pathways of Las Noches then swirled around and formed into the massive white mask of a hollow up high into the air.

'For I Runuganga, the guardian of the white sands of Hueco Mundo, will eventually crush you to oblivion!' The massive sand hollow roared, and Ichigo looked immediately irritated.

'Great, there has also has to be an alternate counterpart of him,' Ichigo complained as he readied his Zanpakuto, but Gremmy suddenly moved his arm hand in front of the Shingmai.

'Do not waste your strength on small fry Kurosaki. Remember, your mission is to target Barragan' Gremmy reason as you walk up to the hollow. 'And my mission as part of the Imperial guards is to protect you from the small fry. So please, for the time being, let me handle this.'

Ichigo then looked at the huge sand spirte, let out a reluctant breath, and stepped back.

'Hahahaha,' Runuganga laughed. 'You think you can take me on your own? How foolish!' He mocked as a massive sand tornado formed around his mask and then several huge drills of sand from outside of it, all of which were aimed at the Quincy.

'However, given your bravery, I will be sure to give you quick death!' Runuganga then launched the sand drills at Gremmy, but before the attacks could reached the Sternritter. They were immediately dispersed by a torrent of wind that surrounded the young man in the form of a sphere.

'Foolishness, bravery?' The blond youth questioned with a bloodlusted grin. 'Such things are unneeded when it comes to people of my cabler. After all, guardian of the white desert, you stand before the mightiest of his majesty star knights. Gremmy Thronax, who carries the script of the V The Visionary.'

He then stretched out his hand. 'For things that I invasion within my imagination...' The Quincy then grab his fist. 'Becomes reality'

Runuganga suddenly transformed himself into a baked cookie filled with chocolate chips. Much to Ichigo's bafflement, the hollow head and entire body crumbled apart before falling.

'What...' he stuttered as he stared fearfully at Gremmy. 'The hell did you just do!?'

Gremmy then gave Ichigo an amused expression. 'Haven't I just explained and showed it to you? My Schfrit allows me to imagine anything I can think of into reality. So I imagine his entire sand-like body becoming one huge cookie, so he became...' he looked over his fallen foe. 'A huge cookie that is crumbling apart'

'I-I get it's just that...' Ichigo continued to stammer as he had difficulty finding the words. 'It's that if you could that to any enemy. I don't know why you wouldn't do that to Braggan himself!'

Gremmy then stared at Ichigo with a knowing...yet sad smile. 'Hmph, you would think that, wouldn't you...but unfortunately, even with my imagination, it's not that easy.'

'No better words spoken!' Runugana spoke out to shook of both Gremmy and Ichigo.

'I will admit. That I would be honored to battle the mightiest of the stenrrriter!' Runuganga declared as his mask then reformed. 'Which will make it all the better when I annihilate you with my power!'

Suddenly, the entire fortress of Las Noches itself was covered in a massive sandstorm, forcing Gremmy to increase his air sphere's range and power to protect Ichigo.

'Struggle, all you want, Gremmy Thoumeaux, but even the power of your imagination cannot comprehend the full vastness and scope of this entire desert that makes up my body!' Runugana roared as the sandstorm began to intensify around the sphere.

But Gremmy remains undeterred. 'My, my, aren't we acting so high and mighty?' the youth mocked. 'You think that just because you survived just a small ounce of my imagination. You think you can beat me' Gremmy then giggled a bit. 'Talk about ego.'

Runuganga then sneered. 'And what makes you think I would be so egotistical that I would take you on my own!?'

Then Gremmy's and Ichigo's eyes widened when a fist of sand unrelated to Runuganga suddenly appeared from behind them in hopes of smashing through the wind barrier. However, The stenrriter quickly conjured a blade of light that vaporized the fist and the sand composed that it was made of.

But it did little to hamper their new foe.

'Indeed, brother...' a second voice echoed through the halls of the palace of the night, and soon another hollow mask formed next to Runuganga. 'After all, we are both guardians that protect The domain of the Hollow King.

'One who guards the desert sands,' the mask on the right said'

'And one who guards the halls of the palace walls, Battikaroa,' the head on the left, spoke.

'And together, we will eliminate you who have dared mocked us, Quincy!' Then the two brothers said in unison while Gremmy focused his gaze on them.