The boy stared at the little girl with the fractured mask clinging to her forehead, a faint trace of surprise flashing across his calm eyes. He recognized her instantly—the jagged crack across the mask, the scar etched between her brows, the faint blush of her cheeks, the tattered green dress clinging to her frame. If not Nilu, then who else? Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, once the original Espada No.3. His gaze drifted to the two figures at her side, and recognition struck again—her loyal subordinates, Pesche Guatiche and Dondochakka Bilstin.
Nilu, Pesche, Dondochakka... To see them alive here left him momentarily stunned. He never thought their paths would cross in this way. At the same time, the trio were overcome with emotions of their own. None of them had imagined that the one who saved them from certain death in Hueco Mundo would be a Shinigami. That was impossible. What was a Shinigami doing here? In Las Noches' shadow, this world belonged to Hollows alone. Yet the boy before them radiated only the silence of the Shinigami.
"You… you're a bad person..." Nilu's voice trembled, her small body shaking uncontrollably as fear poured through her eyes. Before she could say more, Pesche covered her mouth quickly, panic breaking through his voice. "Nilu!! Stop! Say that again and we'll be killed!!" They had seen the carnage with their own eyes—his power was such that wiping them out would be as simple as crushing ants beneath a heel.
"But… he's a Shinigami," Nilu protested weakly, voice quivering, her eyes filling with tears. "He saved us…" Dondochakka bit his finger nervously, muttering half to himself, half to the void, "The will of God… but why send someone so terrifying to us… what do we do now…" Pesche's own voice faltered, as if every word trembled on the edge of fear.
A shadow fell over them. The boy's voice drifted through the silence. "What are you whispering about?"
All three froze. The moonlight fell faintly across his face, blurred by haze, but the faint curve of a smile could still be seen—and in that moment, it felt more like the smile of a ghost than a savior.
"You… you're going to kill us?!" Nilu burst out, tears spilling down her face as terror overtook her small form. "Waaaa… help me…" Dondochakka wailed with childlike panic, tears streaming endlessly. Pesche shuddered uncontrollably, clutching the other two as they wept together.
The boy shook his head slowly, a wry smile flickering across his lips. "Where is the entrance to Las Noches?" His tone was steady, quiet, almost like a spring breeze.
The three froze in confusion. Then Nilu blurted out, "We won't tell you! You're a bad person!" Her body recoiled instinctively, trembling as she backed away. "Even if you saved us, we won't betray Hueco Mundo!" Dondochakka stammered nervously, finger pressed to his lips as his voice shook violently.
The boy's brow furrowed slightly. He had only asked to save himself time, to avoid wandering Hueco Mundo endlessly. If they refused, there was no need to press. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
The trio blinked, dumbstruck. Pesche was the first to break the silence. "He… he didn't intend to kill us?" Dondochakka blinked stupidly. "It… it seems so…" Nilu stared at his back, biting her lip before finally shouting, "Wait! Where are you going?!" She sprinted after him, crying out, "You can't go near Las Noches!"
"Nilu!!" Pesche and Dondochakka turned pale, rushing after her without hesitation.
Elsewhere in Hueco Mundo, the black maw of a garganta split the skies once again, spitting several figures down like meteors. They crashed into the sand, leaving yet another crater behind. Groaning, they dragged themselves out of the pit.
"Damn it, Urahara Kisuke… you could've warned us…" Kurosaki Ichigo cursed under his breath, brushing off the dust. Crawling out beside him were Ishida Uryū, Sado Yasutora, and Rukia Kuchiki—the group who had chosen to storm Hueco Mundo for Orihime's sake.
Orihime Inoue had been abducted only recently, and without hesitation the four had joined together, setting foot into the Hollow realm. For Ichigo, Uryū, and Sado, it had been an obvious choice. But for Rukia, it was rebellion. Her orders from above had been clear: "Someone else will handle it. You need not intervene." She had pressed for answers, but her superiors gave her nothing—silence met her at every turn. In the end, she defied them. Orihime was one of her few friends. She would not stand aside.
"Stop whining and move," Rukia snapped, dusting herself off as she glanced towards the distant fortress.
"Rukia, do we have a plan?" Ishida adjusted his glasses, concern flickering in his eyes.
"Tch. What's the point of plans? We go straight to their lair and smash through!" Ichigo grinned recklessly.
Uryū and Sado exchanged silent, exasperated looks.
"I disagree," Uryū said firmly, "Charging headlong without a plan will only get us killed." Sado gave a small nod in agreement. Their gazes turned to Rukia, waiting for her judgment.
Her eyes hardened. "This time… we move with no plan."
Both Uryū and Sado froze in disbelief.
"We don't know where they're keeping Orihime," she continued. "The only option is to infiltrate their stronghold, gather intel, and strike at the right moment. In that sense… Ichigo is correct."
Their silence said it all—she was right. Without knowledge of Orihime's location, infiltration was their only viable course.
"Hah! I told you!" Ichigo's grin widened smugly.
A sharp smack echoed as Rukia's fist landed on his head. "Idiot! I said sneak in! Not storm in like a reckless fool courting death!"
"Damn it…" Ichigo rubbed the swelling bump, glowering, but no one paid his sulking any mind. Their eyes had already shifted to the towering fortress in the distance.
"Move out," Rukia ordered coldly, stepping forward with swift, precise shunpo. Ishida and Sado followed close behind, faces grim with resolve.
"Tch… always running ahead." Ichigo clicked his tongue before sprinting after them, determination burning in his chest.
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