Reinforcements from the Shinigami arrived at the expeditionary camp in Hueco Mundo.
They didn't suppress their Reiatsu; the Shinigami in the camp had already sensed their arrival.
Ashido led his subordinates out to welcome them.
"Katori-kun, looks like we'll be working together again!"
Ashido was clearly pleased by Nanatsuki's arrival—this was a powerful ally.
"Long time no see!" Nanatsuki smiled and introduced, "This is Kuchiki Sōjun, Vice-Captain of Squad 6."
"Commander Ashido, I've come under orders from Head-Captain Yamamoto to support the operation!" said Kuchiki Sōjun.
"Impressive, already a vice-captain so soon!" Ashido clapped Kuchiki on the shoulder with a hearty laugh.
Before the expedition, Ashido had served as the Head of the Swordsmanship Department at the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy, and Kuchiki had still been a student back then.
"These students behind you, are they the ones who took part in the graduation exam?" Ashido asked, glancing at the group behind Nanatsuki. "I heard from Lady Yoruichi that this year's batch is quite promising."
"They're the ones who participated," Nanatsuki confirmed with a nod.
"Then you'll move out with Vice-Captain Kuchiki for now. Start by taking on patrol and perimeter duty. Get familiar with the layout of the Forest of Menos." Ashido turned to one of his subordinates. "Yūtarō, help them get settled."
"Yes, sir!"
Yūtarō led the Squad 6 Shinigami and the academy students into the camp.
Meanwhile, Ashido personally guided Nanatsuki and Kuchiki Sōjun to the central command hall.
The expeditionary force had been stationed here for years, and the facilities were no longer as crude as before.
"It's made of Sekkiseki now?" Nanatsuki raised an eyebrow. "Last time I came here, it was still just tents!"
"Hahaha, we have the Kidō Corps to thank for that. They brought a batch of Sekkiseki with them." Ashido pointed at a crystal stone radiating a terrifying Reiatsu in the hall. "That's the core of the Reishi barrier protecting the camp. With the Sekkiseki and my presence here, even if a Hollow with special abilities sneaks in, it won't be able to shut down or destroy the barrier core."
The camp had previously been infiltrated by special-type Hollows. To prevent that from happening again, the Reishi barrier's core was now housed in this hall forged from Sekkiseki.
"With you here, Ashido-kun, the camp's safety is assured." Nanatsuki nodded, then moved on to the current mission. "So, what's the situation in Las Noches?"
Ashido replied, "Unknown for now. Lady Yoruichi led the Onmitsukidō earlier this morning to scout Las Noches. If anything unusual is going on, they'll find out."
"Our Hollow-cleansing mission is basically complete. Over the past two years, it's become rare to even encounter Menos-class Hollows in this area. But starting last week, the Onmitsukidō reported sightings of Menos from Las Noches investigating near our camp."
"I expanded our patrol range and managed to capture two Hollows. We interrogated them and confirmed that all those Menos-class Hollows scouting near us were indeed from Las Noches."
This sudden activity from Las Noches made Ashido immediately send a request for reinforcements from Soul Society.
If Las Noches launched a full assault on the camp, even Ashido couldn't guarantee holding them off.
"Looks like the King of Las Noches is preparing to move against the expedition," Kuchiki Sōjun nodded gravely. "Otherwise, there'd be no reason to send out scouts so frequently."
"I think the same. That's why I immediately sent a request to Soul Society for backup. There's a high chance of war breaking out. Before it starts, you should lead your teams to familiarize yourselves with the surrounding terrain."
Most of Squad 6 and the academy students were visiting the Forest of Menos for the first time. Getting used to the area could help reduce casualties when war breaks out.
A few kilometers away from Las Noches, atop a high sand dune—
Shihōin Yoruichi and several Onmitsukidō operatives in black clothing and hoods were observing the movements of Las Noches.
"What's the situation now?" Yoruichi asked.
She had only just arrived in Hueco Mundo yesterday, and immediately came to scout Las Noches today.
"Las Noches is behaving strangely. The Hollows that were spread around its perimeter are now gathering together!"
A member of the Onmitsukidō reported.
"Vice-Captain, look over there. All of them—Hollows!" Ōmaeda Kishinosuke pointed toward a dense cluster of black dots beside Las Noches.
"So many Hollows…?" Yoruichi frowned deeply. "Eighty, ninety percent chance they're planning to strike the expeditionary force. Those black dots—that's the Hollow army gathering near Las Noches."
There was no way so many Hollows were gathering here for no reason. As expected, Las Noches was preparing to attack the expedition's camp.
"We're moving closer. Let's try to locate Baraggan, the so-called King of Las Noches!"
Yoruichi knew his position would be key to the upcoming battle. If they could pinpoint him before the fighting started, it would be a major advantage.
She selected several of the best Shunpo officers and approached the Hollow army to gather intel.
Cloaked in camouflage and suppressing their Reiatsu, they went unnoticed by the Hollows.
"The Reiatsu from these Menos… it's pretty intense…"
Kishinosuke, a bit nervous, moved in closer. He could already sense several powerful waves of spiritual pressure inside Las Noches.
"This is bad… there's not just a few Menos." Yoruichi's face was grave. "Baraggan's likely still inside the palace, and there are some Adjuchas and even Vasto Lorde-class Hollows in there."
Without anyone noticing, Las Noches had quietly gathered a truly formidable force.
Outside its walls, thousands of ordinary Hollows and hundreds of Gillian-class Menos had assembled.
Yoruichi began to doubt whether Squad 6 and the expeditionary force could withstand this army alone.
"Good thing Sensei is here too…" she muttered to herself, slightly reassured knowing her teacher had also come with Squad 6.
"Vice-Captain! They're moving!" Kishinosuke suddenly exclaimed.
From within Las Noches, those overwhelming Reiatsu signatures began to pour out.
"Quiet!" Yoruichi's expression tensed as she focused on the sources of those immense spiritual pressures. "Are they Adjuchas? Or perhaps un-evolved Vasto Lordes?"
To her, the most dangerous ones were a red-haired Hollow and a small, child-sized one sitting on a giant Hollow's shoulder.
Their Reiatsu was stronger than hers.
At that moment—
The small Hollow sitting atop the giant's shoulder suddenly turned to look their way.
"Hmm…? A mosquito?"
One of the Onmitsukidō operatives casually slapped a mosquito on his face.
"Pfft… even the mosquitoes in Hueco Mundo wear Hollow masks!"
He opened his palm and stared curiously at the tiny corpse.
A sharp chill rushed through Yoruichi's entire body.
"This is bad—we've been spotted! Retreat, now!"
In the next instant, the mosquito's corpse rapidly swelled, and a blinding red light engulfed them.
"Wait—that's Lord Timu's Cero bomb… What's going on?" Tiluti looked toward the explosion outside with confusion.
"Hehe~ A little bug just discovered a new toy~"
The smaller Hollow—Timu—stood up on the giant's shoulder, cupping her hands over her eyes and peering into the distance.
"They're escaping…" Timu patted the giant's head. "Pascal, go get them!"
Boom. Without a word, the giant and Timu vanished with a flash of Sonído.
"What just happened?" asked Loly, tilting her head.
"Probably some Shinigami came to scout." Tiluti said worriedly. "So… the Shinigami already know Las Noches has gathered a massive number of Hollows. Are we really going to fight them when they're this prepared…?"
Tiluti was clearly uneasy.
Deep down, she suspected Baraggan's goal wasn't just to drive out the expeditionary force from the Forest of Menos.
"What's the point of overthinking? Don't you want to reclaim the forest for ourselves?" Loly nudged her. "Let's go! With so many Hollows gathered, now's our best chance!"
The Menos led their army away from Las Noches, marching toward the Forest of Menos.
Just before the Cero detonated, Yoruichi's Reiatsu flared.
In a flash of steel, she severed her subordinate's arm and yanked him back.
BOOM! The Cero exploded violently.
Even though she completed these actions in a single breath, she was still caught in the shockwave.
Thanks to her quick warning, the elite operatives of the Onmitsukidō escaped the blast radius in time.
"Vice-Captain, are you alright?!"
Kishinosuke shouted in concern.
"I'm fine… I blocked it with Kidō."
Yoruichi flexed her arm, numb from the impact.
Luckily, she had retreated far enough to avoid serious injury.
"We've been compromised. Fall back!"
She immediately led the group into retreat—no way was she fighting this many Hollows here.
At the same time, she pulled out her Denreishinki to contact Ashido:
"This is Shihōin Yoruichi. Las Noches' Hollow army is on the move! I've confirmed the presence of several Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde-class Hollows, plus at least a hundred Gillian. Prepare for battle!"
Ashido's voice came through the communicator: "Understood. Keep tracking them—update me on their position constantly!"
"We've been compromised. Until we lose their trail… we won't be able to provide any more intel." Yoruichi said as she sensed the Reiatsu signatures giving chase.
She turned back to glance at Las Noches—the Hollow army had already departed, heading toward the entrance of the Forest of Menos.
"The Hollow army is advancing toward the forest entrance!"
"Be careful out there," Ashido replied.
Yoruichi didn't respond. She quickly warned her team:
"Stop. We're surrounded."
The Onmitsukidō operatives came to a halt, scanning the surroundings—sure enough, a swarm of flying insect-type Hollows was closing in.
BOOM! A giant Hollow appeared just beyond the insect swarm.
"Heehee, I planted lots of bombs near Las Noches to catch intruders!" Timu giggled.
"We're surrounded, huh…" Yoruichi flipped her short blade into a reverse grip. Gritting her teeth, she muttered, "Looks like I'll have to deal with you first!"
Back at the expeditionary camp in Hueco Mundo—
After receiving Yoruichi's message, Ashido immediately gave the order to notify Nanatsuki and Sōjun.
"Yūtarō! Go tell Katori Nanatsuki and Kuchiki Sōjun to come at once. Also, have the Kidō Corps ready the Kidō Cannon!"
"Yes, sir!"
His adjutant, Yūtarō, left the strategy hall at once.
The Kidō Cannon had been brought by the Kidō Corps Shinigami. It could channel their collective Reiatsu to unleash devastating Kidō.
Its power was nothing to scoff at.
Moments later, Katori Nanatsuki and Kuchiki Sōjun arrived at the command tent.
"Las Noches has already begun moving?" Nanatsuki asked.
"Lady Yoruichi just sent word—Las Noches' army is already on the march, heading straight toward us!"
Ashido nodded solemnly. "I've ordered the Kidō Corps to prepare the cannon. But it can only be fired once in a short time, so we need to discuss how to maximize its effectiveness."
"What about the firepower? If we land a direct hit on Baraggan, can we kill him?" Nanatsuki asked.
Even the Seireitei had Kidō Cannons. When powered by the full Kidō Corps, they were capable of obliterating even a captain-level target.
"The number of Kidō Corps members here is small. Our cannon is probably about as strong as a Cero fired by a Vasto Lorde. But the blast radius is much wider," said Ashido.
"Then we should use it on the ordinary Hollows and Gillians—to minimize our casualties," Nanatsuki proposed.
"My thoughts exactly. So our goal in the early phase is to corral as many ordinary Hollows and Gillians as possible into one area!"
Ashido stepped over to a sand-table map and pointed to three locations. "There are three entrances near the camp. The enemy will likely approach from these directions. If we can herd them into this sunken area, we'll fire the cannon there and wipe them out in one shot!"
"I was originally planning for Lady Yoruichi to handle one of the entrances, you two would handle the other two, and my adjutant Yūtarō would manage the final one. But since she ran into enemies in the desert and can't return in time, I'll need the two of you to split up now!"
Ashido himself needed to stay behind and coordinate support for all three routes.
That meant Nanatsuki and Sōjun would have to each take a team and hold one of the fronts.
"No problem. I'll lead the academy students," Nanatsuki said with a nod.
He and the students were more than strong enough to hold one flank.
"Then I'll lead Squad 6 and take one of the other routes," Kuchiki Sōjun agreed. "Katori-sensei, I'll leave grading the students to you."
Kuchiki was technically one of the proctors for this graduation exam, but he already knew how strong the students were. There was little doubt they would pass. The exam at this point was more about giving them real battlefield experience.
"Then I'll leave those two flanks to you." Ashido spoke solemnly. "If the pressure becomes too much, contact me immediately—I'll bring reinforcements right away!"