"The spirit particle concentration in Hueco Mundo is significantly higher than in the Soul Society. Did someone not adjust the parameters?" Yoruichi glanced at the instrument in Aizen's hand, offering a bland reminder. "Let's not cause a scene because of that."
"Precise data processing is a researcher's fundamental skill. In this regard, I differ from certain boastful individuals." Aizen adjusted her glasses, her gaze locked onto the rapidly approaching point of light on the screen. "The target is moving toward us at high speed!"
BOOM!
A jade-green meteor descended from the sky, crashing heavily onto the dune ahead of the trio. The shockwave kicked up a small sandstorm, obscuring everything around them.
"Bakudō #81: Dankū!"
Aizen raised her hand almost instinctively. A transparent defensive barrier instantly unfolded before the three, blocking the oncoming sand blast.
As the dust settled, the three observed the figure now within their view.
Yoruichi and Aizen wore grave expressions, already adopting postures ready for combat.
Kensei, however, stared with shining eyes at the figure's true appearance.
The upper body was that of a human female, with deep green hair cascading down to her waist. A bone-like, devilish mask adorned her head, featuring curved ram horns on either side. Her gold-green eyes regarded Kensei and the others with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
From the waist down, however, was the sleek, powerful form of a female antelope. Four hooves stood firmly on the sand, surrounded by a faint emerald-green glow of spiritual pressure.
Though she showed no immediate hostility, the spiritual pressure unconsciously radiating from her already surpassed that of an ordinary Captain-level Shinigami.
Yoruichi and Aizen braced for a formidable enemy. Encountering such a strong opponent right upon arriving in Hueco Mundo was not good news. Shinigami and Hollows had always been mortal enemies; whenever they met, only one side could survive.
Kensei recognized her at first glance: Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, the great Hollow simply known as Nel. His gaze slid from Nel's face—serious yet innocent—down to the majestic curve of her chest, then inevitably drifted toward the area covered in white wool behind her.
No wonder certain cultures associate goats with temptation. These proportions truly are... aesthetically vibrant with life force.
Kensei nodded as if understanding this psychology.
"Be careful. With that level of spiritual pressure, it should be a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow."
The experienced Yoruichi gave a warning, her spiritual pressure already gathering toward her shoulders, clearly prepared for the imminent fierce battle.
"You, what are you?"
A voice carrying a hint of childlike naivety yet resonant rang out. Nelliel tilted her head, her eyes sweeping over the three in turn, finally settling on Kensei.
"Shinigami? But..." Her small nose twitched slightly, as if sniffing the air. "Your scent is a bit strange. There's... a smell similar to us inside, but not quite the same."
Her manner of speaking was direct, her grammar simple like a child who had just learned to talk, yet carried the certainty of stating a fact.
Hearing Nel's words, Aizen frowned slightly. The Hollow power factor within Kensei's body was in a dormant state. Could this Hollow perceive it just by scent? Or was it because the unique environment of Hueco Mundo had stimulated the Hollow factor within Kensei?
Kensei's eyes lit up, believing this was a case of mutual sensing between Stand users.
Nel took a step toward Kensei. The sudden movement immediately put Yoruichi and Aizen on high alert, their Zanpakutō almost fully drawn from their waists.
"Don't worry. She means no harm."
Kensei laughed, grabbing the collars of the two women and pulling them behind him, signaling they didn't need to be so tense around this Hollow.
"You didn't come here to fight, right?"
Kensei grinned at Nel, raising a hand in a friendly greeting.
Nel blinked. Seeing Kensei's unfamiliar gesture, as if understanding the goodwill it contained, she mimicked it, waving her own arm. "Mm. I don't like meaningless fights."
"See? I was right."
Kensei crossed his arms, as if showing off his exceptional intuition.
"It's the first time I've seen a Hollow possessing intellect."
Although the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy provided a general introduction to Hollows, witnessing one firsthand truly conveyed the impact. If the timing weren't so poor, Aizen would have wanted to dissect and thoroughly study this Hollow's structure.
"You've come at a bad time."
Perhaps the scent on Kensei made Nel feel a kinship with a kindred being. She kindly reminded the people before her.
Hearing this, Yoruichi frowned. "What do you mean?"
Nel didn't answer Yoruichi's question directly. Instead, she turned to look into the distance.
"It seems trouble has come knocking."
Aizen had just finished speaking, watching the fluctuating data on her instrument, when several murderous spiritual pressures surged in the distance.
Seven or eight Adjuchas of varying forms were fanning out to surround Kensei and the others. Their eyes, gleaming with an eerie light against the night sky, fixed intently on Kensei's figure. Initially, they had been ordered to recruit that female great Hollow to become a subordinate of the King of Hueco Mundo. But upon catching the unique scent emanating from this human, instinct told them that devouring this human would allow them to become the highest-class Vasto Lorde.
Kensei naturally felt the gazes focused solely on him. With so many people around, why single him out? Did he have some "Tang Sanzang's flesh" setting or something?
Just as the three prepared to muster their spiritual pressure to eliminate these presumptuous Adjuchas, Nel suddenly stepped forward, positioning herself between the group and the Hollow pack.
Without a word, Nel raised the double-headed spear in her hand, lifting her front two hooves as well. Gathering spiritual pressure, she hurled the spear.
The rapidly spinning double-headed javelin left a conspicuous trench in Hueco Mundo's sandy ground. With a sound of tearing through the air, it arrived before the Hollow pack in the blink of an eye. It seemed to be merely a warning; the spear lodged in the ground some distance from the pack, its powerful impact force directly repelling the entire group.
The pack of Hollows, who a second ago had been snarling and radiating murderous intent and desire for Kensei, all screamed as they were sent flying backward. They left several trails in the sand, then struggled to their feet and scattered in all directions.
"So this is the power of a Vasto Lorde?"
Excitement gleamed in Aizen's eyes behind her glasses.
If such terrifying power were further augmented by the Hōgyoku, what kind of existence would it become?
This thought flashed through Aizen's mind. She knew full well that without sufficient data to support it, she couldn't conduct experiments recklessly, or she'd end up harming others and herself.
Nel waved a hand toward the spear's location, and it automatically returned to her grasp.
"Whoa, Universal Pull!"
Kensei was blown away by how cool that move was, almost wanting to take out his own Zanpakutō to show her how it's done.
Nel seemed completely unaware she had done anything remarkable. She turned back, her hooves lightly tapping the sand. "Hueco Mundo has been getting more chaotic lately. The Skullhead has gathered many Hollows, and many more have been disappearing inexplicably. If you don't have urgent business, you should leave soon."
"Skullhead?"
Yoruichi seized the keyword. As the commander of the Onmitsukidō, she could sense the information hidden within Nel's words—it seemed something major was afoot in Hueco Mundo.
"He's a Skullhead living in a dilapidated ruin, calling himself the King of Hueco Mundo or something. He orders his underlings to pick fights everywhere every day."
Nel wrinkled her nose in displeasure, clearly detesting this practice of mutual slaughter.
"I need to patrol elsewhere. Be careful here. Leave if you can."
After admonishing the three, Nel raised her hooves and quickly disappeared from view. As the Antelope Knight, she still had to check other places to see if anyone needed help.
"It seems Hueco Mundo hasn't been peaceful lately."
Aizen took out the Hōgyoku from her robes. When Nel had approached, Aizen had noticed a slight reaction from the Hōgyoku, solidifying her belief that it could affect Hollows to some extent. However, the specific effects would only be known after experiments.
"You should set up your lab first."
Although Yoruichi very much wanted to return to the Soul Society now to report the anomalies in Hueco Mundo to Yamamoto, the intelligence gathered so far was insufficient. They needed to stay for observation and information collection for now.
"And you, don't tell me you're interested in a body like that too."
Seeing Kensei still staring in the direction Nel had left, Yoruichi gave his shoulder an annoyed slap.
"Nonsense! I'm not that kind of lecherous person!"
Kensei had merely been thinking. The "Skullhead" Nel mentioned was undoubtedly Baraggan. That old guy seemed interesting only for his power to age anything; otherwise, there wasn't anything special about him.
The main issue was that after becoming an Arrancar, he was an old man. Since he, Kensei Kenzuru, was now Aizen's partner, the Espada definitely needed careful selection. He couldn't pick unattractive ones; he'd just hand them over to Aizen as research material.
"Keh heh heh!"
Watching Kensei inexplicably emit weird laughter, Yoruichi couldn't help but worry his brain had malfunctioned.
"He's probably thinking about using the Hōgyoku later to remodel those female Hollows into forms that satisfy his desires. After all, this is Kensei Kenzuru."
Aizen replied to the question in Yoruichi's heart while searching for a location to build the new lab.
"Slander!"
Kensei, whose thoughts had been guessed by Aizen, showed signs of embarrassed anger. And here he was, just thinking of leaving high-grade research material for her. Truly, showing kindness to the ungrateful.
"It seems some rats have sneaked into my territory. How interesting."
Seated upon his throne atop the steps, Baraggan laughed heartily upon hearing his subordinate's report, the sound of bones clattering coming from his skeletal face.
"You, you, and you," Baraggan casually pointed out three powerful Adjuchas. "The three of you lead troops to conduct a thorough search of Hueco Mundo for the rats. Bring them to my palace."
The three named Adjuchas nodded, leading a host of Hollows to begin searching everywhere for Kensei and the others.
"Heh heh, Shinigami..."
Baraggan rested his chin on a single hand, lost in thought about something.
***
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