Chapter 173: Garganta
Endless darkness.
After the final squad member entered the doorframe, the humming behind them completely severed the expedition team from Soul Society.
Standing on the Technology Development Bureau's equipment-stabilized spirit particle platform, facing this boundless space before them, all surrounding senses were instantly swallowed by the Garganta's vastness and disorder.
As the primary spatial medium outside Soul Society, the Living World, and Hueco Mundo, the Garganta filled all gaps between the three realms.
Unlike the Dangai's periodically stable characteristics, another difference was that the Garganta's time flow matched the outside world.
This also gave Suoh time to observe the Garganta's environment.
Couldn't see the end at a glance.
What met the eyes wasn't pure darkness—the overall environment was steeped in dim luminescence stirred up by high-concentration spirit particle turbulence.
Standing within darkness, one experienced only infinitely extending vastness and heart-palpitating quiet.
Only now did Suoh understand why Hueco Mundo creatures had always maintained one-way passage toward the Living World and Soul Society.
Definitely not because of insufficient technical capability to tear through space.
Rather, instinctive talent guidance was needed to find clear exit coordinates within this endless chaos.
Sensing the spiritual pressure turbulence from squad members behind him caused by emotional fluctuations, Suoh's steady voice rang out.
"Stabilize your spiritual pressure. Calm your minds."
"Here, any emotion only increases risk. Follow my trajectory, sense ahead—no need to fear darkness. We came precisely for this."
Fear was normal.
Here, one misstep could mean falling into some space between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo—not impossible.
But actions couldn't be dominated by fear.
The calm voice's volume wasn't raised, yet like an invisible anchor it stabilized morale.
Squad members took deep breaths as spiritual pressure fluctuations gradually settled and stabilized.
"Depart."
Suoh gestured for squad members to follow as his steps first trod upon empty space.
Immediately spirit particles rapidly condensed and solidified—a four-meter-wide path began extending from his footfall point toward their advance direction.
Five meters represented the limit width Suoh could guarantee under stable output.
He still needed to maintain reserves, ensuring smooth safe passage for the formation.
Squad members followed closely behind, four columns advancing side by side.
When the final person at the rear stepped onto the spirit particle pathway, the path connecting to the platform began disconnecting and dispersing.
The expedition team proceeded through the void in this manner.
Complete silence throughout.
Along the way, Suoh sensed no other creature's spiritual pressure.
The Garganta resembled a dead-silent ocean—only their single team represented an anomaly within.
Though the formation maintained steady advance, surrounding environment still brought squad members considerable psychological pressure.
Spirit particle turbulence periodically surging through space brushed past the pathway's periphery, creating a tense sensation of being knocked off.
After approximately one hour's advance, Suoh raised his fist.
"Rest in place for three minutes."
The four small squad leaders positioned themselves around the formation, maintaining vigilance.
Though this journey hadn't encountered any danger, necessary vigilance couldn't relax—sufficient respect for the Garganta environment was required.
Suoh sat cross-legged in place, producing a porcelain bottle from inside his clothing to pour out and consume one pill.
Beginning the habit of random meditation these years had formed.
The sweet-flavored pill rapidly replenished minor consumption from continuously constructing pathways.
Coming to Soul Society so many years, nearly five years since even mastering Bankai, yet he'd never encountered suitable opponents.
Existences like the Captain-Commander exceeded specifications as opponents, plus Seireitei's regulations combined with the Wandenreich's comprehensive surveillance restricted Suoh's performance displays.
This left him with some small regrets in his heart.
This Hueco Mundo expedition—he very much wanted to see what level Menos Grande represented.
While contemplating, Suoh's spiritual perception suddenly captured a trace of abnormality.
Distant spirit particle turbulence was accelerating its gathering, forming a considerably scaled spirit particle storm.
Following this direction forward, in at most another half hour's advance, the formation would collide head-on with that storm.
"Shuzo."
Before moving, Suoh called over his adjutant.
"Your orders."
"Rest concludes. We must accelerate the march next."
"From now on, have everyone maintain stable spiritual pressure states."
"I need to concentrate on reinforcing the pathway. You'll position at the formation's rear to observe—if any abnormalities occur, report immediately."
"Yes."
Konoe Shuzo bowed in response, expression growing serious.
Suoh resumed his steps. This time, the spirit particle pathway beneath his feet clearly widened somewhat.
The formation accelerated forward.
As time progressed, approaching the storm's edge, surrounding spirit particle density noticeably increased.
Within the Garganta, spirit particle turbulence not only impacted pathways but also directly affected Shinigami spiritual bodies.
Pressure grew increasingly heavy—like water pressure in deep seas, invisible yet lethal.
Some members' faces began paling. Merely maintaining their own spiritual pressure stability and rapid advance already proved quite strenuous.
"Third Seat Suoh, right-side squad members can barely hold on!"
Report sounds came from the formation's rear.
Without turning his head, Suoh's right hand waved backward—a transparent barrier spread outward, enveloping the entire formation within.
Pressure on everyone suddenly decreased.
"Continue advancing. Storm edges often prove most fierce. Just get through it."
His voice remained steady, as if the forming spirit particle storm surrounding them was merely a brushing breeze.
Reality indeed matched this.
For Suoh, this degree of spirit particle turbulence proved far insufficient to threaten him.
Another quarter-hour passed.
The formation finally passed through the storm's influence range, returning to the Garganta's relatively calm zone.
Suoh's voice rang through the silence.
"Hueco Mundo's atmospheric spirit particle concentration far exceeds other spaces. Spiritual bodies acting in high-concentration environments will face restrictions."
"Remember the sensation just now. Confronting the environment brings not only pressure but also growth."
"Bring this experience into Hueco Mundo—your adaptation will prove much faster."
"Yes!"
Unable to determine how much distance the formation had traveled, nor knowing how much time had passed in darkness.
Until the small positioning device issued by the Technology Development Bureau in his clothing transmitted regular vibrations, its dim blue indicator light pointing toward a specific direction.
Suoh stopped, drawing the zanpakuto at his waist to stab into empty space.
"Release!"
The blade body bloomed with radiance—light precisely tore through the spatial barrier between Garganta and Hueco Mundo, revealing the pale white world beyond.
Rapidly expanding into a square entrance sufficient for the expedition team's passage.
Through the fissure, entirely different scenery became visible.
No longer the Garganta's endless darkness and dim light, but rather boundless pale sand and quartz dead wood, plus the moon suspended high in the sky.
"Maintain formation—pass through in sequence!"
Suoh's voice clearly reached every ear.
He took the lead entering. The instant both feet touched Hueco Mundo's sand, heavier pressure filled the air along with omnipresent desolate atmosphere.
Spiritual pressure naturally flowed around Suoh's body, adapting to this environment vastly different from Seireitei.
Squad members followed closely behind.
When the final person passed through, the spatial fissure behind them slowly closed—the Garganta's entrance vanishing from sight.
The expedition team had officially set foot in Hueco Mundo.
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