"ROAR!"
Hollows roared, and Shinigami fled in desperation.
"Aren't the reinforcements here yet? "
Countless Shinigami stared at the towering Hollow slowly approaching them, eyes filled with exhaustion and despair.
Hueco Mundo—a land steeped in hopelessness, a place that grants equal despair to all who enter, whether Hollow or Shinigami.
Whoosh!
Boom!
A crimson Cero ripped through the sky, detonating in the wasteland, taking countless Shinigami lives with it.
"Damn it… damn it…"
"Why aren't the reinforcements here yet? "
Among the stationed forces was Haruko, one of the many sent by Soul Society. Unlike the others, she had no combat ability—she belonged to the medical corps. But when the sudden Hollow invasion descended upon their base, she realized with bitter clarity: medicine cannot save a Shinigami here.
When the crimson beams swept past, leaving only scorched corpses and massive craters, she knew there was no place for her skills.
Run!
That was the only thought left in her mind. She had to escape, wait for reinforcements, and return to Soul Society.
"Hehehehehe…"
"Well, well, what do we have here? A little Shinigami all alone! "
Reality, however, is cruel. A massive black shadow crashed down in front of Haruko, whipping up a violent gale as an overwhelming spiritual pressure bore down on her.
"A… a Hollow—and not an ordinary one! "
Sweat poured down her forehead as she looked upon the monstrous figure before her.
"Hehehehehe… a female Shinigami… you must taste divine! "
The Adjuchas-level Hollow before her grinned maniacally. Its intelligence was high—too high. It reveled in the thought of devouring her alive.
"Hel—"
Haruko's wide eyes brimmed with terror. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably as the oppressive aura crushed her.
"Huh?"
"What was that? "
The Adjuchas didn't kill her immediately. It stared at her with sadistic delight—like a cat toying with a helpless mouse before the final bite.
"Hel… help me!! "
Her knees buckled as she collapsed, tears streaming down her soot-streaked cheeks. She screamed with all the strength left in her.
"Hahahaha!"
"She said it! She really said it! "
"Too bad, little girl—this is Hueco Mundo, our land! No one's coming to save you! "
"Ahahahahaha!"
The Hollow laughed, fully satisfied with the desperation in her eyes. Now, it was time to dine.
"Farewell, Shinigami."
It opened its gaping maw, lunging forward to devour her—
SHING!
A brilliant silver flash cleaved through the night. In the next instant, a clean line split the Adjuchas in two.
"…Huh?"
The Hollow blinked in confusion. It felt itself being cut apart—how strange…
Before it could process the thought, its body disintegrated into reishi under the cold, starry sky.
"Yo! Are you okay, little lady? "
Still clutching her head, Haruko froze. Death never came. Instead, a warm, magnetic voice reached her ears—a miracle in the bleak night.
She slowly raised her tear-streaked face, eyes meeting a towering figure like a living mountain, radiating pure strength and safety. Her lips trembled, and she nodded softly.
"…Mm!"
The man gave a short grunt, patting her head gently before roaring toward the desert:
"Listen up, boys! Show these Hollows who the real kings of this world are! Don't let these maggots underestimate the Shinigami! "
"OOH!!!"
The battlefield erupted in battle cries as countless Zanpakutō were drawn, glinting in the moonlight.
"From Seireitei—the 11th Division has arrived! "
The man strode forward, Zanpakutō still in its sealed state, cleaving through the enemy without hesitation. Gillians, Adjuchas—it didn't matter. They fell like wheat before a scythe.
One strike, one kill. Blood sprayed with every motion, yet his expression never wavered.
This was Kiganjō Kenpachi, the 7th Kenpachi, Captain of the 11th Division—hailed as the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society, second only to Yamamoto himself.
From that moment, the battle turned.
The Hollows, once relentless, now scattered like rats before a lion.
A Month Later
"My lord! Two more Adjuchas fell to the Shinigami today. The others are terrified—they don't dare move anymore! "
A spider-like Adjuchas reported to the towering figure seated on a throne—the General of Hueco Mundo's armies, a Vasto Lorde under Barragan himself.
"Damn it! My glorious Hollow army—brought to ruin by a mere 11th Division?! "
"You pathetic worms! How am I supposed to explain this to His Majesty Barragan?! "
His furious roar shook the chamber.
"Enough! I never planned to rely on trash like you. I'll handle this myself."
"It's time the Shinigami learned the true power of a Vasto Lorde."
The humanoid Hollow rose from his throne, spiritual pressure rippling like a storm. He would lead this next battle personally—and drown the Shinigami in despair.
Half a Month Later
"Foolish Shinigami…"
"Drown in hopelessness! "
The Vasto Lorde stood before an army of countless Hollows—Adjuchas, Gillians—his killing intent burning through the air.
"That one… I've never seen anything like it. Could it be… a Vasto Lorde? "
Kiganjō Kenpachi eyed the figure, stroking his chin. His messy hair swayed in the wind, a wild grin spreading across his face.
"Go! Slaughter them all! "
The Vasto Lorde thrust his arm forward, unleashing his army with a deafening roar.
"ROAR!!!"
Hollows surged like a tidal wave toward the Shinigami lines.
Kenpachi laughed, ecstatic.
"Hahahaha! Now that's more like it! "
"That big one's mine. The rest? All yours! "
Without waiting for his men, Kenpachi charged headlong into the fray—steel in hand, bloodlust blazing.
One leader hid behind his army.
The other led the charge.
The difference was clear.