The moment Szayelaporro's Reiatsu vanished, it wasn't just those nearby who noticed.
Kinroku Izuhara stood before the central tent of the encampment, gazing at the faint spiritual glow in the distance, eyes narrowing slightly.
Ryūma Kuruyashiki, puzzled, turned to him, asking softly, "Captain Kinroku?"
"Ryūma, issue the order." Kinroku removed his glasses, wiping them with a cloth from his sleeve, his voice calm. "Signal all Shinigami in nearby encampments to retreat. Recall those fighting in other sectors. The expedition headquarters will strategically shift toward the Sixth District."
His tone held no hesitation.
It was clearly a plan long prepared.
Kuruyashiki froze at the words.
A full strategic shift?
What a massive undertaking.
What about their ongoing combat missions?
Questions flooded the young man's mind, leaving him momentarily speechless, unsure where to begin.
"Captain Kinroku, this…"
"Don't think it's an overreaction."
Kinroku spoke calmly, "We didn't come to Hueco Mundo to fight its true rulers to the death."
"Give the order."
"Yes!"
Though still brimming with questions, Kuruyashiki obeyed Kinroku's command.
Kinroku remained in place, staring toward Las Noches.
Even from here, he could sense the immense, oppressive Reiatsu from far away.
Before the expedition, he'd received a secret order from Yamamoto.
Their mission in Hueco Mundo wasn't to slay as many Vasto Lordes as possible but to maintain the balance of the three worlds.
Moreover, this was a large-scale training operation.
Through this campaign, the Hueco Mundo expedition would yield promising talents over the long battles.
These individuals would become the Gotei 13's pillars, not to be lost lightly.
Unlike Makoto, Saito, or Katori, tasked with stirring trouble in Hueco Mundo, Kinroku, the most seasoned among them, was Yamamoto's designated brake on this reckless team.
Thus, he held the expedition's critical command authority.
However…
Gazing toward the direction of Szayelaporro's vanished Reiatsu, feeling Makoto's stubbornly resilient Reiatsu, still faintly glowing, Kinroku's face broke into smile.
"Well done, kid."
"His Shikai is truly terrifying."
"To reverse the tide against an opponent with such a Reiatsu gap?"
"I wonder… what would happen if my Shikai faced his."
Kinroku mused, envisioning a fierce clash.
If Makoto knew the old veteran's thoughts, he'd likely sigh inwardly.
Good thing you don't know a thing…
Or you'd avoid me like you avoid the tabi on my scabbard!
…
In the heart of Las Noches' depths.
"Crack."
A sharp sound of snapping bone echoed.
Following the sound, Baraggan sat motionless on his throne of pure white bones, his skeletal frame flickering with dark embers.
But now, beneath his right skeletal palm, the pristine bone throne bore fine cracks.
The white bones seemed consumed by a black aura of decay, forming traces of rot.
The surrounding Adjuchas guards stood breathless, unmoving.
As elite Adjuchas serving in Las Noches, they sensed the powerful, frenzied Reiatsu vanish from their perception.
Though the location was distant, it was unmistakable.
Few in Hueco Mundo possessed such potent Reiatsu.
"Szayelaporro…"
"Felled by a Shinigami?"
Baraggan's skull sockets flared with ghostly fire, swaying slightly with emotion.
His lapse lasted a moment before he reverted to his stoic demeanor, bone fingers tapping the throne's armrest, emitting soft "tap, tap" sounds.
"Tch."
"As expected, he was useless."
"A waste of my resources."
Baraggan's dismissive voice reached the remaining Adjuchas, making them tremble.
Those familiar with Baraggan's nature knew he rarely spoke of fallen Hollows, even Vasto Lordes, let alone vented anger.
To speak thus meant one thing.
Baraggan's fury had reached its peak.
Crash!
As expected, Baraggan's form slowly rose from the bone throne.
Under the black aura of decay, the throne collapsed into scattered, gray bones, as if rotted for centuries in a mass grave.
Baraggan strode down Las Noches' main path.
"However."
"Letting uninvited guests linger too long isn't Hueco Mundo's hospitality."
"Best teach them a lesson."
He murmured as if to himself.
Behind him, dozens of Adjuchas naturally followed.
Even disciplining a dog depends on its master.
Moreover, Szayelaporro was a rare 'researcher' among his subordinates.
Such versatile talent wasn't comparable to a mere Vasto Lorde or two.
By the time he reached the gates, a vast Hueco Mundo army trailed him.
Yet, they didn't head toward Szayelaporro's death site.
Instead, they marched toward the Shinigami encampment, previously scouted.
…
As Baraggan mobilized, Makoto had just reunited with Saito.
"Damn it! You're one lucky bastard!"
Seeing Makoto seated by the tree, Saito's face lit up, then he grumbled loudly, stomping, "You took down that annoying creep!"
"I wanted to carve his face myself, but now I've got no chance."
"Relax." Makoto, pale, waved a hand, chuckling weakly. "I took him down, but he escaped with his core… not completely dead."
"Core?" Saito blinked, his single eye widening, not catching on.
As long as a guy's got that, he can come back?!
No way.
He'd killed plenty before, never seeing this.
"Probably modified himself." Makoto, slightly breathless, stayed seated.
"…What a disgusting guy."
Imagining the scene, Saito stuck out his tongue, repulsed.
"How'd you fare? Another Vasto Lorde?" Makoto changed the topic, perhaps wary of questions exposing his fake name.
"Absolutely not!"
Saito waved dismissively, "Got there, saw just a bone stuck in the ground, but I knew something was off, so I rushed here."
"You beat them all!"
Saito exclaimed, striking a dramatic pose with hands on hips, clearly impressed.
So clever!
Saito awaited praise from the big dummy Makoto.
"No rush."
Makoto, now calmer, gazed into the distance, "You won't lack fights soon."
"But be careful yourself."
"Captain Kinroku's orders should arrive any moment…"
As he muttered to himself, their devices buzzed with Kinroku's summons.
The location, the Hueco Mundo Expedition Force's original encampment.
Makoto smirked inwardly.
Captain Kinroku always had things under control.
But as he chuckled, a sharp "thwack" struck his forehead.
Makoto turned to Saito, bewildered.
"Dummy! Big dummy!"
Saito's voice dragged out cutely, her tone brimming with mock anger.
So annoying! This dummy guy.
Didn't even praise me.
Unbeknownst to Saito, her subtle, unconscious expectation for Makoto's approval had grown increasingly natural and frequent.
"Y-Yes, yes."
Makoto knew better.
He understood that arguing with a woman now would earn him endless forehead flicks.
Especially in a place with nowhere to run.
"So…"
Makoto spread his arms toward Saito, feigning collapse, "Saito-chan, I'm out of strength. Mind carrying me?"
"Huh?"
Saito's eyes narrowed, clearly unwilling, "Why should I do that?"
"Even small fry Hollows reduced you to this!"
Makoto teased lightly, "Oh? If Undying-chan won't, I'll just ask Harribel…"
"Fine!"
Saito's tone flipped 180 degrees, "Since we're friends, I'll carry you, but only reluctantly."
"Thank me properly, got it?"
Makoto's face lit up with a smug grin, "Many thanks, Saito-sama."
"Hmph. That's more like it."
Saito beamed triumphantly.
Harribel, watching their playful bickering, muttered inwardly, You never planned to refuse, did you, Saito?
But catching her gaze, Makoto, draped over Saito's back, arms gently around her soft, petite frame, winked at Harribel.
Don't spill the truth, Harribel~
No words were spoken, but Harribel sensed the meaning.
Shinigami… what a hassle.
When the trio reached the rendezvous, the expedition's encampment was already cleared out.
Only two figures stood waiting.
"Hey-"
Saito waved toward them.
Kinroku and Katori had arrived.
Katori, seeing the man on Saito's back, smiled naturally, her tone pure, "Saito-senpai and Makoto-kun sure get along."
"Makoto-kun's holding on tight."
"…"
The moment those words hit, Saito's face shifted. She noisily dumped Makoto on the ground, feigning irritation, "Seriously! Why cling so tight!"
"I wasn't even running that fast."
But no sooner had she dropped him than Katori scurried to Makoto's side, gently helping him up, whispering with concern, "We sensed your battle from afar, Makoto-kun."
"So impressive, taking down such a powerful Vasto Lorde alone."
"Amazing~ Amazing~"
The naive girl spoke, softly ruffling Makoto's hair, comforting him like a child.
Saito's expression froze.
Recalling Katori's earlier tone, she wondered if this seemingly innocent girl was doing it on purpose.
Makoto didn't need to wonder, Katori was absolutely deliberate.
He lowered his voice, grumbling, "You're ruthless. I'm a wounded man, can't move a muscle!"
Katori matched his hushed tone, smiling gently, "But this way, Makoto-kun gets my care alone, right?"
"If you kept clinging to another woman's back, I would get jealous."
"Jealous women are scary, you know."
Her words carried that same soft smile, despite her naive facade.
Makoto didn't know what jealous women looked like.
But Katori? Definitely terrifying.
"Ahem."
Even Kinroku seemed weary of this 'Saito's the only one hurt' scene, stepping forward, his voice steady, "Saito! Take the kid to the rear."
"The enemy's almost here."
He turned, gazing at the sky's far side.
"Huh?"
"I came to fight!"
Saito protested, but her eyes flicked to Katori, who seemed itching to move.
So, she relented quietly, "Fine, no choice."
"What a hassle…"
As Saito grumbled, the distant sky filled with a roiling black mist.
Baraggan stood at the forefront of the Hollow horde, overlooking the few Shinigami on the pale desert, his voice decayed and raspy, "What's this?"
"Only a handful left to die?"
Kinroku Izuhara slowly drew his Asauchi, pointing it at the Hueco Mundo king, calm, "Kinroku Izuhara, Captain of the Gotei 13's Third Division."
"Here to learn from you."
Katori, smiling, spun her Asauchi into a naginata, her tone cold, "The small fry are mine."
"Bold words."
Baraggan chuckled lowly, "Very well, let the king teach you."
"About the gap in strength."
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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