Chapter 177: Exchange
Silence permeated the air.
Ashido sheathed his blade, halting his movements to stand in place.
His gaze fell upon the smiling Suoh.
Not embarrassment or confrontation, but rather a kind of brief freeze in communication instincts when, after prolonged solitude, suddenly facing one's own kind.
A century of time proved sufficient to make language the most unfamiliar tool.
Ashido's shoulders relaxed somewhat, revealing signs of lowering certain vigilance.
He raised his hand, grasping the mask's edge before slowly removing it.
The face beneath the mask wasn't weathered with age.
Rather quite young—reddish-brown long hair, handsome features, appearing merely thirty-some years old.
Just skin color proved pale from long lacking sunlight, cheeks gaunt, cheekbones slightly protruding.
His eyes appeared very calm—the kind of calm that disregarded life and death in desperate places.
He reported division, seated officer position and name. His question proved concise, voice considerably clearer than when wearing the mask.
Still deep, carrying hoarseness from long periods without speaking.
"Eleventh Division Fourth Seat, Ashido Kano."
"Young one, why would you appear here alone?"
Suoh met his gaze, smile undimmed.
"Under Captain-Commander's orders, leading a team entering Hueco Mundo to execute expedition mission—regulating and investigating ecology."
"Today marks our first day arriving in Hueco Mundo. As commander, I'm reconnoitering camp periphery. Being able to encounter you, senior, in vast Hueco Mundo can only be called fortunate."
"This isn't a place for conversation. If possible, return with me to camp for proper discussion?"
"I imagine you also have quite a few questions to ask me."
Ashido didn't immediately answer, heart seemingly weighing something.
The Zangerin Suoh had just deployed definitely wasn't Kido ordinary seated officers could execute.
That effortless bearing let Ashido see strength far exceeding ordinary Shinigami.
More importantly, he'd mentioned Kyoraku Shunsui.
This name resembled a key, lightly unlocking a heart lock sealed for a century.
"...Please lead the way."
Finally, Ashido nodded.
"Please follow me."
Suoh turned, steps flying rapidly toward camp direction.
Ashido silently followed, both figures one before another, melting into corridor dimness.
Moments later, at camp entrance, spirit particles on the Danku barrier quietly flowed.
"Senior, your mask and cape must temporarily remain outside the entrance. This barrier only permits Shinigami passage."
"This Danku barrier's core lies in identification and filtering—it will block and attempt to purify all spiritual pressure and matter bearing Hollow properties."
Unlike the later Hakudan barrier Eighth Division Vice-Captain Ise Nanao temporarily developed targeting Quincy power, Danku barrier was a product Suoh and she conceived targeting Hollow spiritual pressure while exchanging Kido insights.
However, design from the very beginning implicitly held more far-reaching intentions—preparing for the later Wandenreich.
After all, through adjusting spell structure and mechanisms, this technique could directly transform into defensive means targeting Quincy in the future.
For this, Suoh had specifically left Ise Nanao a research project.
Reducing this Kido's construction difficulty so it ultimately became a technique even ordinary vice-captains could deploy.
Thus, whether responding to Arrancar invasions or preparing for war with the Wandenreich, comrades could possess an additional layer of preparation.
Hearing these words, Ashido's gaze shifted from the barrier to his own cape, then to the pale mask in hand.
These two items had accompanied him a century—lurking, hunting, surviving. They'd almost become his second skin.
Removing them meant not only shedding part of survival armor but also his heart's defenses.
Ultimately, Ashido said nothing.
Raising his hand to unfasten the cape's ties, thick fur inlaid with battle achievements and the past slid to the ground, stacking with the mask beside his feet.
Suoh took all this in without rushing or saying more.
"Please."
He first extended his body into the light wall, creating water-like ripples.
Ashido drew a deep breath of cold, damp air before lifting steps to follow.
Instantly, he felt the barrier's power gently brush across his body.
The moment he passed through the barrier, external cold and oppression suddenly faded, replaced by camp warmth and tranquility.
Within camp, squad members surrounded campfires eating and chatting.
The strange Shinigami's arrival immediately attracted all squad members' gazes—curiosity and surprise varied.
"This is Senior Ashido Kano, a member of the Hueco Mundo expedition team from a century ago."
A century ago?
Squad members exchanged glances, unable to conceal shock in their eyes.
Surviving alone in Hueco Mundo for a century?
This completely exceeded their cognitive scope.
Ashido seemed unaware of the various gazes projected his way.
He quietly stood beside Suoh, surveying this orderly camp and the familiar attire everyone before him wore.
Everything proved so similar to the expedition team he'd belonged to a century ago, yet so different.
Unlike Suoh's formation's active expedition, Ashido and his companions had pursued Hollows into the Garganta before mistakenly entering the Forest of Menos.
Because they lacked any preparation plus encountered too many Menos Grande, Shinigami in the formation died one by one—only the strongest, him, survived.
Promises with companions plus faith in protecting Soul Society and the Living World enabled him to persist fighting until today.
A century's solitary journey—at this moment, heard echoes from his homeland.
"Shuzo, help prepare some tea. The senior and I will have a proper conversation."
Suoh's voice rang through camp, breaking air frozen by Ashido's arrival.
"Yes."
Konoe Shuzo immediately responded, rising to walk aside for preparation.
Though other squad members still couldn't help casting gazes toward Ashido—this living legend—they tactfully dispersed somewhat, clearing the path toward camp tents.
Suoh guided Ashido into the command tent's main chamber.
Leaping lamplight reflected on Ashido's pale face, adding several degrees of warmth to his silent expression.
"Conditions prove limited—only some plain tea. Please forgive this."
Suoh accepted the warm teapot and two ceramic cups from Konoe Shuzo's hands, personally filling them before sending one cup before Ashido.
"You all... prepared very thoroughly."
Ashido looked at heat curling upward from the cup without immediately touching it.
Recalling the orderly camp, squad members' tense yet not panicked faces, he spoke with emotion.
"Expeditions aren't child's play. I must take responsibility for subordinate squad members."
"Before departure, both Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyoraku instructed and taught much. Though fragmentary, I flipped through all records regarding Hueco Mundo in document rooms."
"But only upon truly stepping here do I understand—between records and reality lies considerable distance."
Even understanding the original work, Suoh didn't dare claim truly comprehending everything about this pale world.
Those memory fragments ultimately appeared somewhat thin before reality.
Right now, being able to sit face-to-face with this experiencer who'd walked from time's fault—this was heaven-sent opportunity.
Suoh withdrew his gaze, looking toward Ashido while raising his cup in salute.
"Therefore, encountering you, senior, represents enormous fortune for all of us."
"This cup of tea honors your perseverance these years, also honors that our journey can find the right direction!"