At the same time.
On the other side.
After a series of manoeuvres, Gojoshibe Kenpachi had already reached the underground of Hueco Mundo.
The Forest of Menos, as its name suggests.
The lowest level of Hollows living within it were all Gillian-class Menos Grande.
Adjuchas-class were even more numerous.
However, there were almost no Vasto Lorde.
Although Gojoshibe Kenpachi had lost his Zanpakuto, due to his immense reishi, he could instantly kill ordinary Adjuchas even without a weapon.
Because of this, he showed no hesitation when entering the Forest of Menos.
Compared to this place, Hueco Mundo was simply too dangerous.
Thud.
Countless grains of sand swirled around him like starlight as Gojoshibe Kenpachi dropped from dozens of meters in the air, landing on the ground with a thud, causing the earth to tremble twice.
He patted himself off and stood up, looking around with his team.
Having never seen the Forest of Menos before, they couldn't help but gape at its unique geographical environment.
Numerous quartz trees shot up from the ground, forming a vast forest.
There was no moonlight around, only the faint glow emitted by the rocks illuminating this silent space.
Using these lights.
One of the Shinigami was surprised to find that the quartz stones on the ground were all formed by the parts of the surrounding trees that had pierced through the surface.
Those were tree branches.
"Is this the Forest of Menos?"
"It was worth the trip."
A Shinigami murmured with emotion.
As soon as he finished speaking.
Gillian lurking in the darkness appeared one after another, sensing the reishi fluctuations.
Like assassins, they quietly surrounded the group.
Without warning, they condensed large Cero at their mouths, intending to completely blast them to oblivion.
Buzz!
Countless reishi gathered and converged, the swaths of Cero as conspicuous and dangerous as flashing artillery fire in the night.
Just seeing them caused their pressure to double.
Seeing this situation.
Gojoshibe Kenpachi snorted coldly.
He instinctively drew his Zanpakuto, but realised it was already shattered the moment he moved.
So he could only unleash his reishi, attempting to crush them with his fists and feet.
Just then.
"Roar, Benihime!"
One of the people beside him quickly activated his Shikai, and amidst a series of low shouts, waves of reishi fluctuations of varying strengths erupted around them.
These reishi spread out in all directions like radio waves.
Not far away.
About dozens of miles out.
Ashido, who was resting in a cave, suddenly opened his eyes.
Above him was the faint light emitted by Kido.
Ashido propped himself up on the stone bed, his long, narrow, stern eyes looking outwards, his silent face inexplicably solemn.
"Shinigami?!"
His gaze swept over the bone mask hanging on the wall, and after a moment of silence, he slowly got up.
When he stood outside the cave, his reddish-brown short hair fluttered slightly, and Ashido's eyes deepened, suddenly recalling the past…
Once upon a time.
He was also a Shinigami, serving Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.
However, during the Hollow invasion of Soul Society that year, he followed the main force into Hueco Mundo, fell into a Hollow trap, and mistakenly entered the Forest of Menos, disappearing ever since.
All his comrades died in that battle, leaving only him.
A very tragic thing.
And very lonely.
Initially, Ashido thought so, even having thoughts of self-abandonment when he witnessed the death of his last comrade.
But later he realised that enduring loneliness was something he had to do.
After all, only by staying here would his comrades' sacrifice not be in vain.
Killing the Menos Grande in the Forest of Menos, in his opinion, could effectively reduce the number of Hollows appearing in the Human World and decrease casualties among humans and Rukongai residents.
This was the duty of a Shinigami.
And it was his belief as a Seat Officer of the Eleventh Division.
And there was no sunrise or sunset in Hueco Mundo.
So since then, he also didn't know how many years he had spent here.
One hundred years… or two hundred years?
After such a long time, have Shinigami arrived here again?
And it looks like… their reishi is not weak.
Ashido gazed at the unchanging silver-white rocks and casually put on his mask.
Click.
He tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his resolve hardening instantly.
Whoosh!
He disappeared like the wind.
When he reappeared, through the surrounding light, he could vaguely be seen leaping among the strangely shaped, rocky trees.
In the darkness, some Adjuchas with glowing red eyes saw his figure, but only watched for a moment before looking away.
—Can't beat him.
Although he was only at the level of an ordinary Seat Officer at first, after several centuries of combat, Ashido's current strength was comparable to that of a slightly weaker Captain.
Although his reishi had not reached the third tier, he was skilled in practical combat.
Even if these Adjuchas could temporarily team up, they still couldn't gain a clear advantage.
Unless…
An unknown variable appeared.
Some Adjuchas followed their instincts and looked towards the source of the reishi eruption.
Sensing the reishi that was even more immense than Ashido's, their faces instantly darkened.
To hell with unknown variables, the Shinigami over there are clearly stronger than Ashido.
If the two teamed up…
They could already imagine their miserable future.
No!
Must leave here!
Some intelligent Adjuchas understood how to seek advantage and avoid harm, and after cursing under their breath, they immediately packed their things and prepared to leave.
However, at this moment, Ashido, who should have disappeared, suddenly appeared above the Hollows.
He stood on a rock-like tree, his sharp Zanpakuto glinting with a cold light, aimed at the Adjuchas, and said in a cold tone:
"Where are you going?"
"Huh!" This voice seemed to come from hell, and although some Hollows were unwilling to believe it, they still looked up, their expressions changing:
"Ashido!"
"You bastard! Why didn't you leave?"
The smooth blade reflected Ashido's ferocious appearance with his bone mask on.
The long years of solitude had gradually made him taciturn.
Facing the Hollows' questioning.
He merely said faintly:
"Why should I leave?"
"Do you really think I would go save them?"
Such naive thoughts, simply laughable.
Although he hadn't been a Shinigami for many years, he hadn't reached the point where he couldn't distinguish between strong and weak reishi.
A group of Gillians trying to defeat a Shinigami of third or even fourth-tier spiritual power…
Unless a Vasto Lorde was mixed among the Gillian, even tens of thousands of them would be impossible.
Countless zeros, added together, are still just zero.
The reason he disappeared was simply to show these Adjuchas and test their intentions.
The conflict between them had been going on for centuries.
Initially, he couldn't defeat them…
But now it's different.
For the peace of the Three Realms.
They must die.
Under the collective gaze of several Adjuchas, Ashido swung his sword at the nearest Menos Grande.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the Menos Grande vanished into dust.
Seeing this, the Adjuchas' faces became incredibly grim, and without the slightest hesitation, they all shouted, "Charge!"
The battle suddenly intensified.
And at the same time.
On the other side.
Boom!
Dozens of Gillians fell one after another.
Gojoshibe Kenpachi gradually reined in his reishi, staring into the depths of the darkness.
Before he could catch his breath, his expression suddenly changed due to the sudden reishi fluctuations.
"Shinigami?!"