Chapter 106: Confirmation
The bull-demon Hollow's crimson eyes behind the pale mask suddenly rotated, glaring at Suoh with boundless pain and savagery.
Incomparably profound hatred nearly materialized, as though shooting from its eyes to kill the Shinigami before it.
Neck muscles bulged, yet it could only thrash futilely. Under the binding art's effect, its remaining torso couldn't move whatsoever.
Suoh stood mere feet away—a distance it could never traverse.
"Damn... cursed... Shinigami!"
Hoarse roars squeezed from its throat.
Ignoring its hatred.
Shinigami and Hollows—Suoh had long grown accustomed to such gazes.
"Do you know Metastacia?"
Next, his questioning voice directly entered the bull-demon Hollow's ears, his expression calm without any fluctuation, as though merely confirming some trivial matter.
Naturally he hadn't proceeded without preparation.
Suoh always exercised caution. Before approaching the bull-demon Hollow, he'd deliberately employed a small kido technique, containing sound between himself and the Hollow.
Combined with Kikou's ability, no one could determine what he'd said from lip movement.
"...Meta...stacia..."
The bull-demon Hollow repeated the name with difficulty and confusion.
The name Suoh mentioned proved extremely awkward. Given its somewhat deteriorated intelligence and language ability, it couldn't immediately remember or clearly pronounce this unfamiliar name.
"Ah, seems you don't know either."
Suoh observed it quietly.
The demon-faced Hollow's eyes didn't display the violent contraction response Suoh had anticipated when touching upon deep-seated inner fear or hatred.
Only consistent hatred and slight confusion at the inexplicable question.
"Then goodbye."
No pity, no regret. Only ancient-well-like calm.
This outcome had fallen within his expectations from the start.
SHHING—
He extended his zanpakuto smoothly. The blade tip pierced through the mask, precisely stabbing into the bull-demon Hollow's core.
All intense emotions in the bull-demon Hollow's eyes froze in that instant.
Death arrived swiftly and completely, instantly submerging the bull-demon Hollow's consciousness, peacefully dying with confusion about Suoh's question.
"Not a Modified Hollow either."
Suoh silently watched the Hollow dissipate before him, returning blade to sheath, rendering judgment.
Quietly eliminating another possibility requiring vigilance, this bull-demon Hollow's soul foundation proved normal. Its core fluctuations matched no differently from many Hollows Suoh had previously examined.
No traces of technical modification or optimization were discovered. Clearly not one of Aizen's experimental products.
Suoh turned, his gaze no longer falling upon that empty ground where the Hollow finally vanished.
Metastacia.
An experimental subject created by Aizen. A large Hollow possessing fusion ability.
Ordinary Hollows slowly accumulated power through devouring and digesting their kind—an inefficient and wasteful process.
But Metastacia proved utterly different. Its special ability allowed directly fusing other Hollows, absorbing and transforming their strength and characteristics near-perfectly. Evolution efficiency increased exponentially.
In the original story, precisely this Hollow had devoured and killed the Shiba couple.
Speaking of who in the Gotei 13 proved most sensitive and cautious regarding abnormalities.
Then none other than Suoh.
He never regarded any coincidence as accidental, especially concerning Hollow movements.
Therefore, from the moment he detected subtle deviations in Hollow group behavior patterns through document statistics.
Meetings, warnings, distributing medicine, changing Hollow subjugation mission execution models.
Precisely his substantiated words and actions earned Shiba Kaien and Ukitake Jushiro's trust and support.
Recent response strategies shifted from past subjugation team models to his current more efficient solo rescue approach.
After controlling battle situations, Suoh deliberately preserved the strongest large Hollow for brief, covert interrogation.
Not that Suoh didn't want to ask more questions. Hollows' hearts overflowed with negative emotions.
Usually only the first question caught them off guard, yielding relatively truthful feedback.
Suoh had no intention of torture interrogation.
Not only because such actions would appear highly abnormal in others' eyes, but Hollows' pain tolerance and recovery abilities proved extremely strong—simply wasting time.
And today represented another negative answer.
Suoh returned blade to sheath, turning toward the assembled team.
His heart held no excessive disappointment, only deeper contemplation.
Metastacia perhaps currently remained merely an opponent not yet born or formed.
As for whether it might bear a different name—that fell outside Suoh's consideration scope.
Soul Society's great literary figure Aizen maintained his own naming conventions and interests for experimental subjects. White Hollow's true form was pure black yet named "White."
The name Metastacia also embodied meanings of transcendence and recreation.
"Suoh 3rd Seat, we've all completed rest."
"Shall we depart for return journey?"
The team leader hurried forward, requesting instructions.
Suoh's gaze swept across everyone, announcing.
"Immediately proceed on rapid march return to Seireitei along the route. I'll maintain rear guard vigilance throughout."
"Upon return, wounded will be delivered to the comprehensive aid station for follow-up recuperation. All other personnel participating in this operation will self-recuperate for half a month."
"Within half a month, participation in identical missions is forbidden."
"Yes!"
The next day.
The Thirteenth Division office remained as bright and warm as always.
The atmosphere hadn't changed much despite recent vigilance.
Suoh sat at his position, recent Hollow subjugation mission reports spread before him, his expression focused.
Shiba Miyako approached carrying freshly brewed tea, gently placing it beside his hand, inquiring with gentle concern.
"Tsukasa, last night was hard work. Division members said after arranging the wounded, you didn't return to barracks until after midnight."
"Why not rest more? We're here."
"Miyako-neesan, I'm fine. I'm not tired."
"Though recent casualty numbers have decreased considerably due to tactical adjustments and medicine, the overall Hollow quantity in mission reports shows no signs of reduction. We can't relax vigilance."
Suoh raised his head from reports, accepting the teacup.
Shiba Miyako followed his fingertip toward the reports, brow furrowing slightly, suggesting.
"Why not let me handle upcoming rescues? You should rest for a period."
"Previously you were busy at the Fourth Division for two days. You're too exhausted."
"Exactly, exactly."
"Tsukasa, don't always shoulder everything alone. The division still has Kiyone and me who can step up. Just occasionally rest!"
Kotsubaki Sentaro leaned over, his large hand habitually patting Suoh's shoulder, speaking straightforwardly.
"Right! Recently the World of the Living has no problems. I'm available too!"
Kotetsu Kiyone's face overflowed with enthusiasm, raising her hand.
"Thank you everyone, but current circumstances are somewhat special."
"I've always been responsible for Hollow subjugation missions. My personal handling of frontline situations makes detecting unusual abnormalities easier at the first opportunity."
"Besides, I'm not without rest. Though my recent deployment frequency has increased, relative external duration has also shortened considerably."
Suoh extended his hand, tone steady as he supplemented.
He wasn't being stubborn. Eliminating expedition time completely sufficed for several good sleeps.
Shiba Miyako observed his insistent expression, speaking warmly.
"I trust you have proper judgment. However, if you feel tired, absolutely don't force yourself. You can hand things to us anytime."
"Exactly! We're on standby anytime!"
Kotsubaki Sentaro forcefully patted his chest, raising a thumbs-up.
"Me too!"
Kotetsu Kiyone also nodded vigorously.
"Alright, definitely!"
Suoh acknowledged with a smile.
The brief interlude passed. The office restored its usual tranquility.