Two days later, the Shinigami of the Sixth Division were fully assembled.
"Lieutenant Kuchiki, the students are ready," said Katori Nanatsuki.
Behind him stood seven students: Shiba Isshin, Iba Tetsuzaemon, Komamura Sajin, Yadōmaru Lisa, Kotetsu Isane, Kyōraku Munemitsu, and Ichinose Maki.
Aizen Sōsuke had claimed first place in the Live Blade Tournament and even defeated the Eleventh Division's Vice-Captain Kasumioji Gojō. Once the paperwork was processed, he would graduate early and directly join the Fifth Division as its third seat.
As for the other students who demonstrated seat officer-level strength during the tournament, they had earned the right to undergo an early graduation assessment.
Coincidentally, the Onmitsukidō had discovered abnormal activity from a large force in Las Noches, prompting the Academy to assign these students to accompany the Sixth and Second Divisions on a support mission to Hueco Mundo as part of their graduation test.
Their examiner was Sixth Division Lieutenant Kuchiki Sōjun.
Katori Nanatsuki served as the instructor for the assessment, while also assisting in the Sixth Division's support operation.
"Then let's move out. Vice-Captain Shihōin has already led the Onmitsukidō ahead," said Kuchiki Sōjun, nodding.
Yoruichi Shihōin had departed the day before with the Onmitsukidō, heading for Hueco Mundo.
They had received intel that Menos Grande were frequently appearing in the Forest of Menos.
The previously dispatched forces were no longer sufficient to cover such a large area, so Yoruichi had gone ahead with her subordinates.
After preparations were complete, Kuchiki Sōjun and Katori Nanatsuki led the way through the Garganta.
The journey to Hueco Mundo went smoothly.
They passed through the void of the Garganta without encountering a Reishi storm and arrived safely.
(T/N: I know only Hollows can open Garganta, but the author is always using it, should I change it to Special Senkaimon?)
Their landing site was an endless Hueco Mundo desert.
"So this is Hueco Mundo... Just like the books described—so barren. Not a speck of green, and the air feels horrible."
Yadōmaru Lisa frowned. Though the Reishi concentration was high, it was unpleasant—far from the comfort of the Soul Society.
The overwhelming density of Hollow Reishi felt to Shinigami like toxic smog to a human.
"The Hollow Reishi is way too thick... The expedition force is incredible. I can't imagine what it's like to survive here for years."
Shiba Isshin squatted, scooping up a handful of sand to feel the texture of the land.
"We've successfully arrived! Proceed according to the planned route. Head straight for the Forest of Menos! Stay close and don't fall behind!"
Kuchiki Sōjun unfolded a map of Hueco Mundo, confirming they'd landed in the correct zone.
The Shinigami immediately began moving toward the forest entrance.
Over 200 Shinigami from the Sixth Division were mobilized. The wave of Reiatsu they generated in motion caused many Hollows along the way to flee in panic.
"Up ahead is the entrance to the Forest of Menos. Stay alert once we're inside!"
Kuchiki Sōjun pointed to a sand dune as he issued the warning.
The Forest of Menos lay beneath the surface, and had multiple entrances—this one being closest to the expedition base.
The entrance slope descended at an angle over 70 degrees, and everyone slid down together.
"We're going so fast! What if we run into a Hollow?! That'd be dangerous!"
Kyōraku Munemitsu shouted.
"Don't jinx it! It's already tight in here—if a Hollow shows up, it'll be tough to handle!"
Isshin grumbled.
The Hollow Reishi was even thicker underground. Any Hollow lying in wait would be hard to detect.
"This place is perfect for an ambush. If I were the King of Las Noches, I'd definitely set a trap here for the incoming Shinigami reinforcements."
Munemitsu remarked casually.
Just then, sand exploded beneath their feet—several grotesque Hollows burst from the ground.
"Ambush!" shouted Kuchiki Sōjun.
Kyōraku Munemitsu didn't react in time and was tripped by a sudden attacker, tumbling away.
"They really ambushed us! See what your mouth got us into?!"
Isshin exclaimed.
"What are you waiting for?! Take them down!"
Yadōmaru Lisa placed her hand on her sword hilt.
The students were in the center of the Shinigami formation, and a couple of Hollows had appeared near them—one being the one that tripped Kyōraku.
These Hollows appeared to be common types—no serious threat—but their sudden emergence during the descent disrupted the group's formation.
Clang!
A flash of steel—Yadōmaru Lisa used Shunpo to appear behind a crocodile-like Hollow.
A heartbeat later, the Hollow was cleaved in two.
She turned her gaze to the other Hollow, only to see its head fly off as Kyōraku Munemitsu rose and slashed.
"That one made me fall!" he grumbled, pulling his blade back with a scowl.
The remaining Hollows were swiftly eliminated by the Sixth Division.
They were weak enough that even basic Shinigami squad members could handle them.
"I knew it, this place was perfect for an ambush..." Kyōraku exhaled, "Good thing those Hollows were trash..."
Just as he finished—
"Watch out!" Katori Nanatsuki shouted.
The slain Hollow corpses suddenly began to swell—and exploded.
A red glow filled with terrifying Reiatsu surged forth, engulfing the Shinigami.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Yadōmaru Lisa and the others instinctively shielded their heads.
But the blast never came.
They found themselves enveloped in darkness.
The black space trembled violently; its edges flickered erratically before stabilizing.
"Where... are we now?" Kyōraku asked, confused.
"This is Sensei's Bankai..." Yadōmaru Lisa looked around the dark void and quickly deduced the answer.
At the moment of the explosion, Nanatsuki had expanded the Shadow Space, pulling in several Shinigami and students from the blast zone.
This was a special use of the Shadow Space.
By bringing people into it, he could isolate them from an external explosion.
As long as the Reiatsu of the blast couldn't breach the space, they were safe.
"That explosion... was a Cero..."
Katori Nanatsuki furrowed his brow.
"That red light was a Cero?!" Munemitsu shouted. "No wonder it was terrifying! I thought I was gonna die!"
At such close range, Munemitsu stood no chance of withstanding the blast.
"It was stronger than the average Menos Grande's Cero, though still not on par with a Vasto Lorde's."
Having taken the brunt of the explosion, Nanatsuki could feel its force.
"But only Adjuchas or Vasto Lorde-level Hollows could unleash a Cero of this magnitude. Yet those attackers were just low-level Hollows."
This puzzled him deeply.
"Thank you, sir! If not for you, we'd be dead!"
Even the seasoned Sixth Division Shinigami in the Shadow Space were shaken.
At this distance, even seated officers might not have survived a direct hit.
"Let's see what's happening outside."
Nanatsuki dispelled the Shadow Space.
Outside, the Shinigami were anxiously waiting.
"Are you all alright, Katori-sensei?"
Kuchiki Sōjun rushed over.
The Hollows had appeared in the center of the formation.
Kuchiki, stationed at the front, had assumed they were weak and let nearby allies handle them.
No one had expected those Hollows to explode with Cero-level force.
"We're okay. I blocked it with my Bankai," said Nanatsuki.
"I failed to detect the danger in advance... I nearly put everyone at risk," Kuchiki said with guilt. "We would've suffered heavy losses before even reaching base, if not for you!"
"No need to blame yourself," said Nanatsuki. "The enemy clearly came prepared. These Hollows hid in high-Reishi zones. Even I didn't sense them."
He walked to the explosion site.
"It was the same Cero at every blast point," he noted, after sensing the residual Reiatsu. "At least Vasto Lorde-level."
"The same one? But there were multiple Hollows..." Shiba Isshin frowned.
"Then the Cero wasn't released by them. I suspect a high-level Hollow stored its power in these weaker ones, turning them into living Cero bombs."
"A Hollow can store a Cero inside another Hollow?!"
Yadōmaru Lisa was shocked. That kind of power was terrifying—a seemingly weak enemy could erupt into a deadly explosion when struck.
"Some Hollows have unique abilities. It's not impossible," said Nanatsuki.
He expanded his senses to the max—but still detected no major Hollow nearby.
Kuchiki Sōjun tried as well, but to no avail.
"We move on. Watch your step!"
The Shinigami resumed their journey to the expedition base in Hueco Mundo.
Las Noches
The King of Las Noches, Baraggan Louisenbairn, sat on his skeletal throne, staring coldly at his Hollow subordinates.
"Heh... Looks like my Cero bombs went off!"
A Hollow in the form of a little girl swayed her legs from atop a ten-meter-tall giant Hollow.
"But they didn't kill anyone..." said Timu, sounding disappointed. (T/N: Author based her on either Annie or Teemo from LoL.)
"If the bombs went off, that means the Shinigami reinforcements have arrived. Shall we move, Your Majesty Baraggan?"
Spoke Rudbornn Chelute, a Hollow with a bull-bone mask.
"Indeed! We should act now!" said Di Roy, an oval-masked Hollow.
Many Hollows spoke up in agreement. The throne room became noisy with chatter.
Baraggan silently watched the commotion, not stopping it.
After a while, the Hollows seemed to realize their king hadn't spoken. The room grew quiet.
"Done discussing?"
Baraggan asked calmly.
"Your Majesty, the Shinigami have only just arrived and haven't even set up. Now is the perfect time to strike!" said Ludborn, bowing.
"Tch... Baraggan, if you're too scared, stay seated. I'll lead the charge and crush them myself!" said a red-haired Hollow, impatiently.
"I think we should attack too!" Timu stood atop the giant's shoulder.
"It is time," said Baraggan slowly. "Begin. Expel the expedition and reinforcements from Hueco Mundo."
"Yes!" The Hollows, already itching for action, began moving out to gather the Las Noches army.
"Ruby, are we really going with them?" asked Tiruti Sanderwicci.
"Of course! When else do we get to slaughter Shinigami? Don't tell me you're scared!" replied Loly Aivirrne, her body covered in white tendrils6.
"I don't trust Baraggan. If he wanted to strike, why wait until after the reinforcements arrived?"
Tiruti looked uneasy.
She suspected Baraggan had another agenda.
"Who cares? As long as there are Shinigami to kill!" Ruby shrugged.
Back inside the palace, Baraggan Louisenbairn still sat on his throne.
As Tiruti feared, his real aim wasn't to repel the Shinigami.
He knew the strength of himself and Las Noches well. Together, they could eliminate the expedition force.
But Hueco Mundo couldn't survive the Soul Society's retaliation.
His true plan was to use the Shinigami to eliminate unruly voices within Las Noches.
The expedition force had occupied the Forest of Menos for a long time.
The Menos on the outskirts had either been slain or fled deeper into the forest or the deserts.
Those who fled were strong—dangerous even to Baraggan's rule.
They formed their own groups, threatening his authority.
If too many such factions arose, they could destabilize Las Noches.
So, under the pretense of repelling Shinigami, he rallied the Hollow army.
As expected, many rogue Menos joined the cause.
They wanted revenge—to destroy the base and reclaim territory.
"It's time to prune the weeds."
Baraggan Louisenbairn rose and walked slowly outside.