Chapter 176: Zangerin
"Follow me."
Suoh chose another relatively narrow branch passage beside them.
The formation walked through dark, cold corridors. Everywhere one looked held dimness, as if something stirred restlessly within shadows.
Being within Hollows' nest, omnipresent pressure left every squad member's face taut, vigilant toward everything surrounding them.
In contrast, walking at the formation's forefront, Suoh's heart held an almost abnormal relaxation.
Not underestimating enemies, but composure derived from deep understanding of his own strength and Hueco Mundo.
For him, these surrounding existences were merely common soldiers clearable at will.
True threats hadn't yet appeared, and even if they did, he possessed sufficient confidence and methods to respond.
This composure stemmed from strength forged through countless life-or-death struggles.
What other Captain-class Shinigami experienced in injuries and bloodshed over centuries, he could exceed monthly KPI quotas for in one month.
This confidence was what the old man had hammered into his very bones using blade and fists—genuine and solid.
But this didn't mean he'd grow careless.
On the contrary, he understood more clearly than anyone that within this seemingly instinct-dominated Hueco Mundo depths lurked dangers exceeding Soul Society's common understanding.
Mental relaxation more resembled combining strategic contempt with tactical importance.
Thus, the formation under Suoh's strength guarantee for safety gradually explored forward.
Until ahead the view suddenly opened up.
An irregularly structured natural stone hall appeared before everyone's eyes.
The stone hall's rock walls proved solid, surrounding passages neither numerous nor large. Safety far exceeded previous positions.
"This place will do."
Suoh stopped—terrain proved easy to defend and difficult to attack, space also sufficient for establishing camp.
Konoe Shuzo's instructions followed closely.
"Yes. First and Second Squads, immediately deploy defenses!"
"Third and Fourth Squads, clear the ground, divide rest areas, prepare campfires and purification barriers."
Orders like stones cast into still water stirred layer upon layer of efficient ripples.
Squad members moved swiftly, actions silent yet coordinated.
Several white tents rose from the ground. As squad members chanted together, pale blue light membranes like inverted giant bowls enveloped the entire stone hall.
Campfires rose.
In short time, a fully functional temporary camp took initial shape.
The air filled with a kind of calm after suppression.
Suoh removed his backpack, turning to say.
"Shuzo, place the Tenchuren in the camp center shortly. I'll investigate the vicinity."
"You're going alone?"
Konoe Shuzo's tone carried worry.
"Just wandering nearby—won't go far."
"Don't worry. Before leaving I'll set up Danku barrier at the entrance."
"Shuzo, you guard the camp, coordinate overall situation. Just ensure communications remain clear."
Suoh's tone carried undeniable attitude.
"I understand, but still please be extremely careful."
Konoe Shuzo deeply understood Suoh's strength and personality. He could only swallow dissuasion words, solemnly nodding in response.
"Danku!"
Low syllables echoed through the stone cave. Words falling, spirit light flowed from Suoh's fingertips, spreading from ground along the corridor's cross-section.
From ground to passage top, spirit particles in air solidified, forming a transparent light wall thin as cicada wings.
"I'm off."
After adding a safety lock for the camp, Suoh waved his hand. His body passed through the barrier, creating ripples.
Breaking from camp barrier range, Suoh proceeded in shunpo movements with steady yet light pacing.
The journey wasn't completely devoid of life.
Rustling sounds frequently came from beside quartz pillars, followed immediately by several giant-like jet-black figures emerging.
Suoh regarded them as if they didn't exist.
These Gillians with massive spiritual pressure but low intelligence didn't even inspire his desire to draw his blade.
Among Menos Grande, Gillians as Hueco Mundo ecology's core composition belonged to common soldiers among common soldiers before him.
Soul Society records regarding Menos Grande proved scarce and vague. Shin'o Academy curriculum teaching also only briefly mentioned Menos Grande descriptions.
Even Suoh who'd slain countless Hollows in Soul Society only now first witnessed Menos Grande's true appearance.
Among Shinigami existed frequent confusion between books' fragments and Soul Society's ancient legends.
For instance in the original work, when Kuchiki Rukia first faced Gillian-class Menos Grande, she mentioned requiring legendary Royal Guard Squad Zero to handle them.
This wrongly attributed the legendary exploits of the first Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande Ikomikidomoe from Shinigami world's early period.
Couldn't blame her.
Could only say she hadn't read clearly through those collected books in the Kuchiki house.
Differences existed even among Menos Grande.
Suoh's figure suddenly stopped in maze-like passages.
Only because spiritual perception captured 'noise' incompatible with surrounding creatures.
Though it mixed within spiritual pressure background of Hollows too thick to dissolve, almost covered, for perception acute as Suoh's, this proved no different from starfire in darkness.
"A Shinigami... within this Forest of Menos?"
"Ashido—so this person really exists."
His eyes flashed with surprise, immediately replaced by thick interest.
Before departure, Kyoraku Shunsui had mentioned a name while casually chatting at the drinking table about the Forest of Menos, using a tone slightly carrying reminiscence.
Memory fragments automatically assembled at this moment.
Without slightest hesitation, Suoh immediately changed his originally casual investigation route.
Passing through a quartz forest, intense combat sounds came from ahead.
In the pit's center, a figure was surrounded by several Gillians and a group of trash Hollows.
That figure wore an antelope skull Hollow mask, shihakusho covered by a fur cape inlaid with five skull masks.
Found him!
Suoh didn't hide. He walked openly from behind stone pillars.
He looked toward that senior Shinigami below whose clothes appeared ragged yet spine remained straight, tone carrying respect as he directly greeted.
"Thirteenth Division Third Seat Suoh Tsukasa. I've met Senior Ashido."
"And conveniently, greetings from Kyoraku Shunsui across a century—long time no see."
The Hollow-masked Shinigami's hand gripping his blade didn't move a thread.
But eyes hidden behind the mask, upon hearing 'Ashido' and 'Kyoraku Shunsui' these two names, uncontrollably wavered once.
He didn't immediately respond, only deeply imprinting Suoh's figure into his eyes.
Receiving no response, Suoh didn't rush either.
Subsequently leaping into the field, he drew and unsheathed his blade.
"Hadou #78: Zangerin!"
With casual wave, spiritual pressure completed Kido blade's form transformation with spirit particles from atmosphere in an instant.
Using himself as center, light wheels with edges sharp as Age of Gods weapons condensed from thin air, subsequently spreading rapidly with low humming.
Everywhere light wheels passed, all things were easily cut open.
Hollows of various forms from all directions were cleanly severed the instant they touched light wheels' sharp edges.
Zangerin displayed pure, efficient clearing power.
Those several Gillians resembling moving mountains were also forced back several steps by light wheels' residual momentum, deep cuts remaining on their thick jet-black bodies as they issued chaotic, angry roars.
Gazes beneath white hollow masks locked dead onto the newly appeared Suoh, spiritual pressure surging violently.
Simultaneously, a silent shadow-like figure moved.
Just as Suoh used Zangerin's brilliance to attract most Menos Grande hatred, he began finishing off wounded Gillians in the field one by one.
The entire sequence flowed like clouds and water without one excess movement.
Suoh sheathed his blade while standing, taking all this in.
Within mere breaths, no Hollow spiritual pressure fluctuations remained in the field.