Chapter 105: Support
Over ten days later, evening.
When blood-red sunset dyed Rukongai's wall foundations crimson.
Earthen walls toppled, dust flying.
Battle shouts rang out endlessly.
An expanded Thirteenth Division advance team found itself trapped in unexpected predicament at West District Fifty-Five's edge.
Within the battlefield, over ten squad members engaged in chaotic combat with numerous Hollows.
Two large Hollows led over ten small and medium-sized Hollows, forming an exceedingly rare encirclement formation, completely blocking the advance team's route.
"Prepare Hadō incantation! Aim Red Fire Cannon at the left flank! Others construct defensive line for cover, ready to break through at any moment!"
"Information's already been transmitted back to the division."
"Support should arrive quickly. We just need to hold!"
The team leader issued precise commands. Squad members systematically shifted formations.
Despite the urgent situation, his voice remained firm and resonant.
The appearance of two large Hollows completely disrupted his expectations.
Observing the two massive Hollows blocking both forward flanks, he'd already decided.
They must retreat.
Choosing to fight stubbornly would leave most squad members dead here.
Within the Thirteenth Division's contingency plans, clear protocols already addressed precisely this situation.
"Sovereign, mask of flesh and bone..."
The kido incantation had barely begun when spiritual pressure gathering in squad members' hands immediately triggered battlefield changes.
On the other side, the ape-like large Hollow on the left opened its mouth. Immense spiritual pressure gathered and compressed at alarming speed. An ominously emanating energy sphere rapidly formed.
The bull-demon large Hollow on the right raised thick forelimbs, heavily slamming them toward the ground, creating continuous shockwaves.
The earth released deep groans. The ground beneath squad members' feet trembled violently.
"Hold steady! Prepare defense!"
"Bakudō Number Thirty-Nine: Enkosen!"
The team leader roared hoarsely.
Squad members who barely stabilized themselves coordinated simultaneously. Several shouts rang out in succession.
A row of circular spiritual shields manifested in response.
However, under continuous shockwave influence, some shields' radiance flickered unsteadily. Obvious gaps appeared in the defensive formation.
"All things in the universe, scorched and chaotic..."
Squad members responsible for Hadō incantation clenched their teeth, veins bulging at their temples, concentrating to continue the Red Fire Cannon incantation.
Precisely when the scene intensified.
BOOM—!
A majestic thunderclap erupted from the battlefield's flank, clearly overpowering all battlefield cacophony.
"Hadō Number Sixty-Three: Raikōhō!"
Within the calm voice, golden thunderlight slanted inward, arriving first despite departing later, washing across the battlefield.
Instantly and with pinpoint precision, it pierced along the invisible axis between both large Hollows.
Everywhere it passed, several Hollows unable to dodge didn't even release death cries—their bodies instantly vaporized, scattering as drifting fragments.
Countless golden lightning serpents ruthlessly scoured the ape Hollow and bull-demon Hollow's massive frames.
"AAAAHHH—!"
Two piercing shrieks nearly simultaneously erupted from both large Hollows' mouths.
The energy sphere nearly condensed within the ape Hollow's mouth violently detonated. The backlash explosion shattered most of its skull, causing instant death.
The bull-demon Hollow's movements were forcibly interrupted. Its thick frame was electrocuted pitch-black. The battlefield's shockwaves abruptly ceased.
A tall figure hovered soundlessly in the air beside the battlefield.
None other than Suoh.
Strike successful, Suoh didn't pause. A shunpo flash brought him beside the bull-demon Hollow.
Blade drawn from sheath, sword light flashing.
The bull-demon Hollow's four limbs instantly separated from its torso. Losing support, the limbs along with the entire massive body crashed thunderously to the ground.
"Bakudō Number Thirty: Shitotsu Sanze!"
Three pointed-beak light plates successively descended, sealing the bull-demon Hollow's neck, chest, and abdomen.
Smoke and dust were expelled by air pressure. The surrounding area cleared completely.
Suoh's black shihakusho hem floated lightly. He didn't spare the heavily wounded and sealed bull-demon Hollow beside him a single glance. Turning sideways, his gaze fell upon the squad members, his clear voice delivering instructions.
"Leave the rest to you. Clean up the battlefield."
"What are you standing around for? Eliminate the remaining stragglers!"
The team leader recovered first, responding loudly, his voice carrying more elevated fighting spirit than before.
With Suoh present, squad members' morale surged. Their formation reorganized, they advanced proactively.
Red Fire Cannon explosions sounded successively. The remaining Hollows quickly collapsed under squad members' orderly counterattack.
The battle's outcome held no suspense.
Squad members began methodically cleaning the battlefield.
The team leader calmed his rapid breathing, approaching Suoh's side and bowing solemnly.
"Suoh 3rd Seat, thanks to your timely arrival."
"No need for excessive courtesy. It's my duty."
"Have the injured squad members come receive treatment."
Suoh raised his hand in a supporting gesture, his tone gentle.
"Yes!"
The team leader immediately turned, raising his voice to summon others to bring the wounded.
Several injured squad members were helped over by their comrades.
The most severely wounded had his left arm bent unnaturally. A wound torn by Hollow claws marked his chest. Though blood had congealed, it still seeped.
Suoh spoke no words, walking directly before the critically wounded. Palm condensing spiritual pressure, he covered the man's face, directly using hypnotic suggestion to plunge him into sleep.
The critically wounded's body instantly relaxed, consciousness sinking into painless darkness.
Subsequently, Suoh's hands moved extremely quickly across the twisted left arm joint with a pinch and push.
A soft click accompanied the wounded's unconscious slight tremor. Displaced bones were precisely repositioned.
Next, Suoh's fingertip pressed the man's chest, healing the wound.
"Keep this arm from exerting force in coming days. After returning, send him to the nearest Fourth Division aid station for recuperation."
Suoh instructed while his Kaidō radiance already shifted toward the next wounded person.
"Yes!"
Suoh's treatment movements proved highly efficient.
After mere moments, several lightly wounded had their injuries healed, complexions recovering healthy color.
Finishing treatment of the last wounded person, Suoh dispersed the radiance on his hands, looking toward the team leader who'd remained watchful nearby.
"Feed the critically wounded a recovery pill. Transport by stretcher. Everyone else take one pill each. After brief rest, prepare for return journey."
"Yes!"
The team leader's gaze toward this person overflowed with reverent admiration.
Formidable strength naturally commanded awe. Yet Suoh's meticulous care for subordinates proved even more moving.
Nodding in acknowledgment, he immediately turned to make arrangements.
Soon a stretcher rapidly assembled on level ground. The critically wounded was helped onto it, lying stable.
The team leader retrieved a medicine bottle from his clothes, feeding a small brownish-red pill into the unconscious man's mouth. The pill dissolved upon entry.
Moments later, the critically wounded's breathing became steady and deep, as though simply fallen into ordinary sleep.
Other squad members also consumed distributed recovery pills, sitting cross-legged in a circle on the spot, smoothing the weakness and fatigue from severe spiritual pressure depletion.
Arrangements complete for his subordinates, Suoh carried his zanpakuto back before that bull-demon Hollow still firmly pinned to the ground by Shitotsu Sanze.
Skylight illuminated its scorched, shattered massive frame, along with those three light plates deeply embedded in its body.
Hollows possessed abnormally tenacious vitality. Before the core mask sustaining their existence was completely shattered, they died with extreme difficulty.
The previously severed four limbs' cut surfaces had long since healed and stopped bleeding.
***
35+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces