Chapter 174: Hueco Mundo
Hueco Mundo.
Suoh surveyed his surroundings, spiritual perception fully deployed.
Spirit particle density truly proves high!
Within a radius of several miles, he sensed no Menos Grande or large-scale Hollow spiritual pressure.
Only some weak, chaotic fluctuations scattered behind sand dunes and rocks.
Lowest-grade small trash Hollows—existences comparable to sandworms.
Coming to Hueco Mundo, Suoh experienced no discomfort whatsoever—rather, he felt like a fish in water.
With each breath, abundant spirit particles naturally permeated his spiritual pathways.
Spirit particles in the air had grown so abundant that even spiritual bodies of average strength could obtain sufficient replenishment merely through breathing.
In such an environment, physiological dietary needs greatly decreased.
From departure until now, five hours had passed. Squad members' spiritual pressure fluctuations behind him even exceeded their departure state under surrounding spirit particles' natural recovery.
Suoh produced a pocket watch from his clothing, glancing at the time—nearly noon.
Yet Hueco Mundo lacked day-night alternation, possessing only eternal unchanging pale moonlight shrouding all directions. Time lost its customary calibration here.
"Shuzo."
Suoh called softly.
"Here."
Konoe Shuzo stepped forward quickly, hands holding just-inspected equipment.
"How's team member status?"
"Spiritual pressure states universally good—currently adjusting breathing rhythms to adapt to Hueco Mundo's environment."
"Long-range communication affected by environment—requires some adjustment time."
Konoe Shuzo's report proved clear and concise.
"Rest and reorganize in place here. Let team members familiarize themselves with environmental pressure. After adjusting conditions, we'll depart toward the Forest of Menos."
"Forest of Menos?"
Konoe Shuzo followed his gaze toward the distant boundless white sand sea.
Aside from sparse quartz trees, he saw nothing resembling a forest.
"Hueco Mundo lacks landmarks. Only the sky's moon represents the sole constant reference point."
"The Forest of Menos isn't above ground but beneath the white sand covering."
"My goal is advancing toward the moon."
The Forest of Menos was Hollows' nest. Eight or nine out of ten Hollows in the Living World and Soul Society originated from the Forest of Menos.
As long as Hollows here decreased, harm to both realms would correspondingly reduce.
The world scale's two ends—soul balance—would also stabilize further.
This also represented Hueco Mundo expedition objectives.
"Understood!"
Konoe Shuzo's expression grew solemn as he nodded heavily.
"Go make arrangements. During reorganization, maintaining minimum vigilance suffices."
"Yes!"
Konoe Shuzo received orders and withdrew, instructions rapidly transmitted.
Each person in the formation silently adapted to Hueco Mundo's unique environment.
Suoh leaped atop a towering rock, gazing far to seek the fortress architectural complex called Las Noches from memory.
The original work's Segunda Espada Baraggan Louisenbairn, before Aizen conquered Hueco Mundo, had been the veritable King of Hueco Mundo, possessing abandoned architectural complexes named Las Noches while ruling Hueco Mundo's core regions.
According to memory, in the original work when Aizen's trio conquered Hueco Mundo, Ichimaru Gin's clothing indicated they'd only begun formal action after he became Captain.
Another of Suoh's expedition objectives involved verifying Aizen's experiment's approximate status through investigating Las Noches' periphery.
Time flowed past in silence.
Only wind brushed across sand dunes, sketching invisible ripples on the earth's white cloth.
Approximately half an hour later.
"Third Seat Suoh, all personnel reorganization complete. We can depart at any time."
Konoe Shuzo leaped beside him to report.
Suoh withdrew his distant gaze, looking down toward squad members who'd reformed ranks.
"Maintain exploration formation. We depart."
He spoke concisely, using shunpo to arrive before the formation.
The formation resumed its journey—like a silent wedge cutting into Hueco Mundo's vast moonlight and sand sea, pointing toward that crescent moon in the sky.
The formation advanced thus for over ten spirit ri.
Surrounding environment remained utterly unchanged, falling into an eerie cycle.
"Truly boring scenery."
Suoh gazed at the eternally endless white horizon ahead, sighing inwardly.
First white sand dunes, now more white sand dunes.
Endless desolation truly proved tormenting.
Unchanging barrenness sufficed to erode ordinary people's will, creating illusions of walking in place.
But he knew the formation was advancing. His spiritual perception continuously monitored surrounding environment and underground spirit particle pulse's minute changes.
Suddenly, Suoh raised his left fist in signal.
Following his gesture, all personnel instantly halted, movements neat and uniform, all gazes instantly focusing on him.
"Hollow swarms approaching. Adjust conditions—prepare to engage enemies."
Rumble—
Before long, dense heavy muffled sounds transmitted from the distance.
This disturbance immediately placed everyone present into combat readiness.
Narrowing eyes for distant viewing, a distorted black line accompanied by dust cloud struck from the horizon's other end, speed extraordinarily fast.
As distance closed, everyone vaguely discerned this black line's true face.
Over ten large-scale Hollows accompanied by countless small Hollows in the dust cloud behind them formed a torrent.
Squad members only felt spines rising with tremors.
Having campaigned with Suoh over a hundred times, they'd grown accustomed to combat, yet never imagined their first enemy encounter would involve such quantities.
"First, Second, Third Squads—scatter left and right."
"Fourth Squad, rear vigilance. Watch beneath the sand. Stand by to support."
"This represents Hueco Mundo's first welcome for us. Are you ready?"
Suoh's voice remained steady as stone, instantly suppressing ripples rising in everyone's hearts.
He slowly drew the zanpakuto at his waist—the cold blade flowing with brilliant colors under moonlight.
"Yes!"
"Ruler! Hadou #31: Shakkaho!"
Neat unified chanting broke Hueco Mundo's silence as over ten spiritual pressures actively fluctuated with chanting.
Hueco Mundo's high-concentration spirit particle environment became optimal accelerant, making Hadou's formation speed and power far exceed normal.
High spirit particle density benefited not only Hollows but Shinigami equally.
The next moment, crimson fireball clusters trailing blazing tails plunged rain-like into the Hollow swarm.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—
Violent explosions rang in sequence, crimson firelight illuminating half the sky while instantly swallowing forward-charging Hollow swarm figures.
Dust mixed with shattered Hollow remnants surged skyward like filthy fountains.
Explosion sounds and miserable shrieks mingled together, echoing through night sky amid dust clouds.
Remaining Hollow swarms had charged within a hundred meters, massive bodies and fierce features appearing heart-palpitatingly clear under moonlight.
"Tch, for dealing with these guys, Hadou Thirty-One still proves too gentle."
One squad member spat, gripping his blade tighter.
"Prepare close combat!"
"According to indicated formation, scatter! Don't let them break the battle line!"
Konoe Shuzo shouted loudly.
First, Second, Third Squad members rapidly deployed in arcs toward both sides, forming a semi-encirclement net facing the Hollow swarm's charge direction.
Their footsteps proved steady, gazes sharp, blades glinting coldly under moonlight.
Though facing enemies outnumbering themselves, long-term missions and coordination left them without slightest panic.
"Kill!"
Unknown who first issued the roar.
Blade flashes and claws crossed, thunderously colliding on the pale sand sea.
Suoh didn't immediately join combat.
Still standing in place, blade tip angled toward ground, gaze calmly sweeping across the entire battlefield.
Spiritual perception like invisible spider webs spread outward with battlefield as center.
***
40+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces