The Shinigami reinforcements arrived at the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force camp.
The Shinigami did not hide their Spiritual Pressure fluctuations, so the Shinigami in the camp had long since sensed their arrival.
Ashido led a group of his subordinates out of the camp to greet them.
"Mr. Katori, we can work together again!"
Ashido was very happy about Katori Sora's arrival; he was a strong ally.
"Long time no see!" Sora said, then introduced, "This is the 6th Division's Lieutenant, Sōjun Kuchiki."
"Captain Ashido, I have come to provide support under the orders of Captain-Commander Yamamoto!" Sōjun Kuchiki said.
"Impressive, you're already a lieutenant!" Ashido patted Sōjun Kuchiki's shoulder and laughed heartily.
Before Ashido set out on the expedition, he was the head of the swordsmanship department at the Academy, and Sōjun Kuchiki was a student there at the time.
"Are these the students participating in the 'graduation assessment'?" Ashido looked at the students behind Sora. "I heard from Ms. Yoruichi that this year's students are very impressive!"
"They are the ones taking the assessment," Sora nodded.
"Then you all will act together with Lieutenant Kuchiki. First, you'll carry out patrol and guard duties for a while to familiarize yourselves with the terrain of the Forest of Menos." Ashido turned to a subordinate, "Yūtarō, take them to get settled."
"Yes!"
Yūtarō led the 6th Division Shinigami and the students into the camp to settle in.
Ashido personally led Sora and Sōjun Kuchiki to the command tent.
The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force had been stationed here for many years, and the camp facilities were no longer as simple as they used to be.
"It's actually forged from Sassengan stone," Sora's eyebrows raised. "Last time I came, this place was just a tent!"
"Hahaha, thanks to the support of our colleagues in the Kidō Corps, they brought over a batch of Sassengan stones." Ashido pointed to a crystal in the hall emitting terrifying Spiritual Pressure. "The core of the Reishi barrier protecting the camp is also placed here. With the protection of the Sassengan stone and myself standing guard, even if a Hollow with special abilities manages to sneak into the camp, they won't be able to shut down or destroy the barrier's core!"
The expeditionary camp had once been infiltrated by a Hollow with special abilities. To prevent such a thing from happening again, the core of the Reishi barrier was placed inside the command tent forged from Sassengan stone.
"With you standing guard, Mr. Ashido, the security here is foolproof," Sora said, then immediately asked about the mission information. "What's the situation with Las Noches right now?"
Ashido said: "The situation in Las Noches is currently unknown. Ms. Yoruichi led the Onmitsukidō this morning to investigate. If there's any anomaly, it will be detected by the Onmitsukidō."
"Our sweeping mission is basically complete. For the past two years, it's been difficult to see any Menos in this area. But starting last week, the Onmitsukidō reported that Menos from Las Noches have been heading to the Forest of Menos and scouting near our camp."
"Afterward, I expanded the patrol range of the patrol teams and caught two Hollows, interrogating some information out of them. The Menos frequently appearing near the expeditionary camp are indeed all from Las Noches."
This movement from Las Noches immediately caught Ashido's attention, and he promptly requested reinforcements from the Soul Society.
If Las Noches were to attack the camp, Ashido wasn't confident he could handle the assault.
"It seems the King of Las Noches wants to make a move against the expeditionary force. Otherwise, he wouldn't be sending Hollows to scout the camp so frequently for no reason," Sōjun Kuchiki nodded slowly.
"I thought so too. To prevent Las Noches from attacking the camp, I immediately requested reinforcements from the Soul Society," Ashido said. "The possibility of a battle is high. While the war has yet to break out, you should take your subordinates to familiarize yourselves with the surroundings with the patrol teams."
The 6th Division Shinigami and the several students were mostly in the Forest of Menos for the first time. Acclimatizing to the environment in advance would be useful for the future war.
...
A sand dune with higher terrain a few kilometers outside of Las Noches.
Yoruichi Shihōin and some Onmitsukidō Shinigami dressed in black with black headscarves were observing the movements of Las Noches.
"What's the situation now?" Yoruichi asked.
She had just arrived in Hueco Mundo yesterday and came to observe Las Noches today.
"The situation in Las Noches is highly abnormal. The Hollows that were scattered around Las Noches have gathered together!"
An Onmitsukidō Shinigami reported.
"Lieutenant, look over there. It's all Hollows!" Marenoshin Ōmaeda pointed to a dense cluster of black dots next to Las Noches.
"They've gathered so many Hollows..." Yoruichi's brow furrowed. "It's almost certain they want to attack our expeditionary force!"
Those dense black dots were the Hollow army assembled by Las Noches.
So many Hollows wouldn't gather here for no reason. Las Noches was indeed going to attack the expeditionary camp.
"Let's move a bit closer and see where that self-proclaimed King of Las Noches, Baraggan, is!"
Yoruichi felt that Baraggan's movements were the key to the battle's outcome. If they could find his position before the war started, it would be very advantageous for the coming conflict.
She took several of her best Shunpo users and headed near the Hollow army to gather intelligence.
The group was wearing invisibility cloaks and hiding their Spiritual Pressure, so for a time, no Hollow could detect them.
"The Spiritual Pressure of these Menos is quite strong..."
Marenoshin Ōmaeda was on edge.
After getting closer, he sensed many powerful Spiritual Pressure fluctuations within Las Noches.
"The situation isn't looking good... there are quite a few Menos alone,"
Yoruichi's expression was grave. "Baraggan should still be in the palace. There are also some 'Adjuchas' and 'Vasto Lorde' class Menos in there."
Las Noches had unknowingly gathered a considerably powerful force.
Outside Las Noches, several thousand ordinary Hollows and hundreds of Gillians had gathered!
Yoruichi was highly skeptical whether the 6th Division and the expeditionary force alone could repel this force.
"It's a good thing the Professor came too..."
Yoruichi thought of the Professor accompanying the 6th Division as reinforcements, and her heart calmed slightly.
"Lieutenant, they're starting to move!"
Marenoshin Ōmaeda saw the terrifying Spiritual Pressures he had sensed emerge from Las Noches.
"Don't speak!" Yoruichi saw it too, concentrating fully on observing the few Menos with the most terrifying Spiritual Pressure fluctuations.
"'Adjuchas'? Or maybe 'Vasto Lorde' who haven't removed their masks yet?"
Yoruichi felt that the red-haired Hollow and a small Hollow sitting on the shoulder of a giant were the most terrifying.
Their Spiritual Pressure was stronger than hers.
Just then.
The small Hollow on the giant's shoulder suddenly turned its head and looked over.
"Hmm... are there mosquitoes?"
An Onmitsukidō Shinigami waved his hand and swatted a mosquito that had landed on his face.
"Tsk... even the mosquitoes in Hueco Mundo wear Hollow masks!"
The Shinigami opened his hand, looking at the dead mosquito on his palm and marveling.
Yoruichi suddenly felt a strong sense of dread wash over her.
"Not good! We've been discovered! Retreat, now!"
The next moment, the dead mosquito's body rapidly swelled, and a blinding red light instantly engulfed the group.
"Isn't that Lady Tim's Cero bomb... what's going on?"
Cirucci saw the explosion outside and was somewhat puzzled.
"Hee The little bugs found a new toy"
The petite Tim stood up from the giant's shoulder, put her hands over her eyes, and peered into the distance.
"They got away..." Tim patted the giant's head and shouted excitedly, "Pascal, after them!"
Dong—
The giant remained silent. With the sound of a Sonído, Tim and the giant instantly vanished.
"What's happening?" Luppi asked, tilting his head.
"A Shinigami must have come to investigate," Cirucci said with some worry. "As I thought... the Shinigami already know that Las Noches has gathered a large number of Hollows. Are we really going to fight prepared Shinigami..."
Cirucci had a bad feeling.
She faintly sensed that Baraggan's motive was probably not to drive the Shinigami expeditionary force out of the Forest of Menos.
"Why think so much? Don't you want to reclaim our territory in the Forest of Menos!" Luppi pushed Cirucci. "Let's go! While so many Hollows are gathered here, let's take back our territory in one fell swoop!"
The Menos led the Hollow army out of Las Noches, heading towards the Forest of Menos.
...
Before the Cero bomb exploded, Spiritual Pressure instantly surged from Yoruichi Shihōin's body.
With a flash of her blade, she cut off her subordinate's arm and pulled him back rapidly.
BOOM—
The Cero exploded violently.
However, even though she completed these actions within a single breath, she was still caught in the blast wave.
With Yoruichi's advance warning, the Shunpo masters of the Onmitsukidō had all escaped the blast radius ahead of time.
"Lieutenant, are you alright!"
Marenoshin Ōmaeda asked anxiously.
"I'm fine... I blocked it with Kidō."
Yoruichi shook her arm, which was numb from the shock.
Fortunately, she had already left the center of the explosion and was not seriously injured.
"We've been discovered, retreat!"
Yoruichi immediately led her subordinates in a retreat. She didn't want to deal with so many Hollows here.
At the same time, she took out her Denreishinki to contact Ashido:
"This is Yoruichi Shihōin, the Las Noches Hollow army has started to move! I've spotted many 'Adjuchas' and 'Vasto Lorde' class Menos, and at least a hundred Gillians. Please have the expeditionary force prepare for battle!"
Ashido's voice came from the Denreishinki: "Received. Continue to monitor them from your side and keep me updated on their position at all times!"
"We've been discovered. Until we shake off our tail... I'm afraid we won't be able to provide you with intelligence for the time being!" Yoruichi sensed the Spiritual Pressure pursuing them relentlessly from behind.
She turned to look at the distant Las Noches. The Hollow army had already left and was heading towards the entrance of the Forest of Menos.
Yoruichi said: "The Hollow army is heading towards the entrance of the Forest of Menos!"
Ashido replied: "Please be careful as well!"
Yoruichi didn't respond, but instead warned her subordinates:
"Halt! Something is surrounding us up ahead!"
The members of the Onmitsukidō stopped. They looked around and found that they were surrounded by many insect-like Hollows.
Dong—
The giant appeared outside the swarm of insects.
"Heehee, to guard against you, I've already laid many bombs near Las Noches!" Tim said with a giggle.
"We're surrounded..." Yoruichi gripped her short sword in a reverse grip and gritted her teeth. "Looks like I'll have to take care of you first!"
...
Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force Camp.
After receiving the message from Yoruichi Shihōin, Ashido immediately had someone notify Katori Sora and Sōjun Kuchiki.
"Yūtarō, notify Katori Sora and Sōjun Kuchiki to come over, and have the Kidō Corps prepare the Kidō Cannon!"
"Yes!"
His adjutant, Yūtarō, left the command tent.
The Kidō Cannon was brought over by the Shinigami of the Kidō Corps. It could concentrate the Spiritual Pressure of the Kidō Corps Shinigami to release a powerful Kidō.
Its power was impressive.
A moment later, Katori Sora and Sōjun Kuchiki arrived at the command tent.
"Las Noches has already started to move?" Sora asked.
"Ms. Yoruichi just sent word. The Las Noches army is on the move and heading towards the camp!"
Ashido nodded and continued, "I've had the Kidō Corps prepare the Kidō Cannon, but it can only be fired once in a short period. We need to discuss how to use it to achieve the greatest results."
"What's the power of the Kidō Cannon in the camp? If it can hit Baraggan, can it kill him?" Sora asked.
The Seireitei also had Kidō Cannons. If the entire Kidō Corps prepared one, even a captain could not withstand such a Kidō attack.
"There aren't many Kidō Corps Shinigami in the camp. The power of our Kidō Cannon is probably about the same as a Gran Rey Cero, but its area of effect is wider," Ashido said.
"Then it should be used against the ordinary Hollows and Gillians to reduce our casualties," Sora suggested.
"I was thinking the same thing, so our initial operational goal is to gather the ordinary Hollows and Gillians together as much as possible!"
Ashido walked to the sand table in the room and pointed out three locations. "There are three relatively close entrances near the camp. The Las Noches army is likely to attack from these three directions. We need to lure them here. There is a depression here. Once we lure them there, we will use the Kidō Cannon to eliminate them!"
"I originally wanted Ms. Yoruichi to be in charge of one entrance, you two to be in charge of another, and my adjutant Yūtarō to be in charge of the last one. However, Ms. Yoruichi has encountered an enemy in the Hueco Mundo desert and cannot return for now. Now I need you to split into two groups!"
Ashido needed to hold the main camp and be ready to support the other fronts at any time.
All three routes needed someone to lead, so Katori Sora and Sōjun Kuchiki had to act separately.
"No problem. I'll lead the students," Sora nodded.
He and the students were more than strong enough to hold one front.
"Then I'll lead the 6th Division to take charge of one of the entrances," Sōjun Kuchiki also had no objections. "Professor Katori, I'll leave the grading of the students to you."
Sōjun Kuchiki was the examiner for this graduation assessment, but he was well aware of the students' strength. Barring any accidents, they would definitely pass the assessment. The current assessment was more of an opportunity for these students to gain experience.
"Then I'll leave the two fronts to you!" Ashido said solemnly. "If you can't hold on, please be sure to contact me. I will immediately bring people to support you!"
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