The longer it takes Bawabawa to slither his way through the frozen desert of Hueco Mundo, the more the size of Las Noches seems to be driven home. The fortress already stands against the horizon almost to the point that it swallows it entirely but, as they get closer the sheer size and scale becomes more real as time goes on. Aizen's palace in modern size and scale is close to the combined size of North and South Korea. The mega structure is so large that it bends with the curvature of Hueco Mundo, and as they get closer to it, it seems to take up the entire horizon. For the most part, time in Hueco Mundo, The world of the living and soul society are pretty similar to each other, though it doesn't help that much. The minutes slowly tick by on Uryu's watch, one hour coming and going, then two then four. The clock almost strikes 10am by the time they make it to the outer wall of the Desert fortress.

"This is just as foolish as using the front door." The monotone voice of Byakuya says as he watches Ichigo pass his hand over the stone that makes up the outer wall of Las Noches. "Once you blast the wall, everything inside there will know we're here."

"Most importantly," Ichigo says as he tries to sense how thick the walls of Las Noches really are. "Rukia will know too. Besides, Captain Ukitake said that since she's a seated officer now, she's required to try to escape being a prisoner of war." Giving up on the idea of trying to find a cavity behind the wall by tapping it, Ichigo draws his sword and scratches a large X shape in the stone. "So are you gonna stand there and watch me blow this up or are you gonna help? With how huge this place is I bet the walls are gonna be pretty damn thick."

"Once we break in, we get Rukia and get out." Uryu says taking a few paces back before shielding Orihime from the blast that the three soul reapers are about to do.

"Cero or Kido?" Ichigo asks, bringing his hand to his face to summon his mask if it's the first option.

"Hollow Reishi might buy us a bit more time. Anyone on watch might be stupid enough to think it's a fight between any of the local hollows." Renji says.

"Don't be stupid, the only person that dumb that was here was Yammy and Rukia decapitated that idiot already. When the wall comes down we haul ass. I have a score to settle with Nnoitra, so while you idiots find his wife I'm gonna go kick some ass."

"Go nuts Grimmjow." Ichigo says as he pulls his hollow mask over his face. "On three?" He asks, Byakuya sighs then does the same. Renji groans as Grimmjow licks his lips, eager for the prospect of getting to fight again. The espada and two vizards begin charging three different ceros, the crimson lights of the energy blasts growing larger and larger. "Fire." Ichigo declares, prompting each of them to fire the blast of condensed hollowfied reishi into the wall.

The three ceros slam against the concrete causing large chunks to be blown off and evaporated into the aether. Orihime turns and shields Nel in her arms as the dust and debris from the combined blast against the wall. Pieces continue to crumble away as the energy blasts melt through the concrete and penetrate the walls of Las Noches. Feeling the wall give way to a cavity on the other side, the Espada, Captain and Lieutenant stop firing the spiritual energy attack, dropping their hands to gaze at their handy work. "Lets go, they probably know we're here now." Ichigo declares, waving a hand forwards before sprinting down the hallway. "Orihime, stick with either me or Uryu and don't get separated while you're healing her." He commands, taking leadership of the rescue mission as the others chase after him down the long frozen corridor.

Meanwhile,

In Aizen's throne room, the traitor captain sits on his throne, sipping from a cup of tea as he looks over the espada all gathered before him. It's the first meeting since Rukia's conversion into the Cero Espada, despite the fact that her transformation is complete and she sits in front of him at the head of the table, the permafrost that has taken over Hueco Mundo still covers everything. Aizen takes note of that of all the espada, Rukia is the only one without any markings of a mask on her face whatsoever. Instead the large hollow hole sits prominently in her chest, her eyes aren't the same royal purple they once were, instead they're lighter; a light purplish blue color frames the piercing orbs of the former soul reaper. Her scowl still fixed on Aizen himself, as if trying to freeze him to death with just her eyesight alone. It doesn't help that he is the only one out of everyone in Las Noches to not be wearing a winter coat. Aizen lowers the tea cup then rests it on the waiting tray of one of his servants before clearing his throat preparing to speak.

"Hueco Mundo is being invaded." He says, though the others in the room don't react, Rukia's heart skips a beat at the traitor captain's words. "Kurosaki Ichigo and several others are going to arrive any moment now, it means it is time to make our move on the human world."

"How many of them are there?" The sadistic and calculating voice of Szaelporo asks, sounding closer to a snake's his rather than a normal human voice.

"Seven." Aizen answers. "Among them are Kurosaki himself, Sixth squad captain Kuchiki Byakuya, the lieutenant of the six squad Abarai Renji, former sixth espada Grimmjow Jaeger Jacquez, A quincy by the name of Ishida Uryu and two humans with spiritual powers. A female, Inoue Orihime with the capabilities to heal and create barriers as well as a male Yasutora Sado, he is a brute of no finesse but do not underestimate his power."

"Who is to stay to squish these worms?" The grovely voice of the 2nd espada Barragan asks.

"Every single Espada under rank three." Aizen answers. "Harribel, Barragan, and Starrk. You are going to be coming with me along with the lesser arrancar to the human world. The privaron espada and those four and lower will stay and delay or defeat the intruders."

"What of Kurosaki Rukia?" Ulquiorra asks,

"She will remain here." Once again Rukia's heart skips a beat, this was the opportunity she was waiting for. "The intruders are after her, the longer they are delayed from reaching her the more time we have in the human world to complete the Oken." Aizen pauses once more thinking for a moment. "It doesn't matter if she returns to their ranks, she wears that number she is an espada and she will be fought as such. You are dismissed, Kurosaki Rukia, you are to come with me back to your quarters."

Even in Las Noches, the ice covering the floor is thick, the footsteps of the espada don't even carry enough weight to break the ice. However, of the denizens of Las Noches, only two have enough strength to do so. As Aizen steps across the ice covered floor, the thick layer of frost cracks beneath the weight of his spiritual pressure. Similarly, it happens as Rukia walks as well; however after they crack, the ice mends itself back again. "I know that the moment we attack Fake Karakura town you will make your escape." Aizen begins, the idea that he is already aware of the fake city ploy causes her heart to stop for a moment. "The reason why we are not attacking Soul Society's displaced true Karakura town directly is to deal with any resistance from the Gotei 13. Even if they have help from the vizards, they will fall and I will become the new soul king." Rukia remains silent as they walk through the corridors to the palace of the Cero Espada. "I can tell you're trying to sense for your swords but you won't be getting those back so easily. I have sealed them with Kido much the same way I did the Hogyoku. Tell me, did you feel that I had the Hogyoku when you ascended to my Cero Espada?"

"No." Rukia answers.

"Then you may stop using your pesquisa to look for them. Only when we leave to destroy the Gotei 13 may you have the blades back." Aizen says, his arms folded behind his back as he walks along the path towards Rukia's quarters.

"I can't summon my swords behind whatever Kido he's used on them," Rukia thinks to herself, normally a Shinigami can summon their blade to them since it's a part of their being, however they need to be able to sense the weapon.

"He's alone and his guard is down." The hollowfied voice of the fused hollow and zanpakuto echoes through Rukia's mind. "You might not have access to us, but you can steal his sword and cut him down."

As they enter the hallway towards Rukia's room, the temperature gets colder and colder as they near the dark room at the end of the hall. Ice and mist waft off of Aizen's breath as they get closer and closer to the room. With time running out on her opening to attack Aizen, Rukia has one choice. Kill him, take the Hogyoku, devour it and escape. As Aizen takes a step forwards Rukia makes her move against him. As his heel makes contact with the ice, Rukia wills it to freeze his legs all the way up to the waist. The moment the Ice moves, Rukia vanishes from behind the traitor captain, reaching for the handle of his sword while moving at hypersonic speed. The ice suddenly creeping up his leg causes Aizen's eyes to widen in slight fear as he instinctively reaches for his blade. In the split second that he reaches for it, Rukia grabs the weapon and unsheathes Kyoka Suigetsu, turning the sword on its master. Coming out of the Sonido, Rukia is holding Kyoka Suigetsu up at head level pointing it at Aizen.

"Clever girl." Aizen says seeing her with his sword, having been frozen in place Aizen is forced to watch as Rukia sonidos once again before a burning stinging sensation lines its way across the front of his neck, around the sides and through the back. Aizen reaches up towards his neck, finding his voice having been severed as a moment later his knees give way and he collapses to the floor. The floor spinning in his vision as his head rolls several feet away from his body coming to a stop staring at the cero espada as she flicks the blade to the side casting the blood off the weapon.

"When I bring your head to Captain Yamamoto, he will allow me to return to Soul Society. Even if I am an Espada." Rukia says, stabbing the blade into the ground then wrenching it to the side causing the soul steel to snap like glass. The look of hate on her face relaxes slightly as she takes a step forwards to collect Aizen's head from the floor. Picking up the severed head by the hair, Rukia can only stare at it with pity looking at the slack jawed expression on the head.

"Hmhmhmhm Hahahahaha..." Aizen's head begins laughing maniacally causing Rukia to drop the severed head, hitting the ground with a sickening thud. "Clever girl indeed." He says before continuing to laugh. Behind her, Aizen's decapitated body stands up on shaky legs for a moment before standing sturdy. "But not clever enough." Aizen says as the stump of his head begins to glow with a familiar powerful dark purple spirit energy. It rips itself free of Rukia's grasp, floating back to his body's outstretched hands. Clasping his head between his hands, he lifts it above his shoulders then plants it on his shoulders. "Did you really think for a second that I didn't know you were going to attack me? It was all according to my plan, all you did was definitively prove that the Hogyoku has responded to my will."

"N-no... Im-impossible." Rukia says, staring horrified as Aizen reaches up to the front of his cloak. He pulls it aside revealing his bare chest and the Hogyoku firmly implanted in his sternum. Stretching out from it, long tendrils of power fuse itself with Aizen's flesh in the shape of a cross on his chest.

"I thank you for the invitation to your wedding Kurosaki Rukia... unfortunately for you it will be a Red Wedding." Aizen says with a wicked smile on his face. "I am immortal, I am All Powerful and Nothing will stand in the way of my Apotheosis." Lord Aizen raises a hand tucking his middle finger beneath his thumb then flicking it forwards. Rukia is hit square in the chest by a bullet of condensed spiritual pressure and air. Though most of it goes through the hole in her chest, she is still sent flying backwards into one of the adjourning rooms, the very same where she became an espada. "I can't have you dying on me, Kuchiki. You've become more important than you ever could have imagined. So you will stay here, or your friends will die and you'll be a widow long before you ever become a wife." Aizen flicks his hand to the side causing the large stone door over the prison cell to slam shut. As he walks away, he opens his hand summoning Kyoka Suigetsu to his side in a repaired state. Getting to the end of the hall, he rubs a hand along the back of his neck feeling the frigid scar that runs along his flesh.