"Sadly, no compensation for you."

Katori smiled gently, adjusting her thick glasses and flashing Makoto a sweet grin.

Makoto scoffed, unimpressed. He rolled up his sweat-soaked sleeves, damp from hours of training. "So? Captain Katori, you didn't come all this way to interrupt my moment with Saito just out of jealousy, did you?"

"What's the issue now?"

Katori's expression faltered, a glint flickering across her lenses. She sighed, a touch exasperated. "Honestly, Makoto-kun, haven't you been a bit too casual with me lately?"

"I am your direct captain, you know. Captain!"

"If you hadn't shown your true colors, Captain Katori, I'd still hold you in high esteem." Makoto replied, his sincerity cutting through.

"That's favoritism! Favoritism!" Katori huffed, growing more indignant.

"So?" Makoto wasn't in the mood to indulge her theatrics.

His gut and his zanpakuto warned him that this woman, who seemed as innocent as a schoolgirl, might be the most dangerous among the original female captains to cross.

"It's about Hueco Mundo." Katori said, her playful demeanor giving way to seriousness. "The 'Hollow suppression through Hollows' strategy you mentioned in your report? It's been approved in the action council."

"But the specifics depend on your recovery."

"For now, the 1st Division has designated the Hueco Mundo garrison as the 'Seireitei 1st Branch,' under their direct command."

Makoto's eyes lit up. After days of slog, this was welcome news.

If this plan took root, it could significantly ease the pressure on the Hueco Mundo expeditionary forces, at the very least.

"But." Katori continued, and Makoto's budding smile vanished.

That word never preceded good tidings.

"There's a new problem in Hueco Mundo." Katori's brow furrowed, a hint of frustration in her voice. "For some reason, the expeditionary forces detected a massive movement of Gillian and Adjuchas-class Hollows around Las Noches. They've vanished from our scouts' sight."

"Their behavior is… unusual."

"Yet our scouts found no trace of any enemy engaging them."

"Local garrisons suspect a small group, likely centered around two to four Vasto Lordes, is targeting Las Noches."

Katori spoke, hands clasped behind her back, her figure accentuated even through her black Shihakusho, its curves undeniable despite the garb's restraint.

She turned slightly, her gaze meeting Makoto's. "So."

Makoto exhaled heavily. "If I take this on, I'm walking into a mess, aren't I?"

"No." Katori corrected, her tone earnest. "If I don't resolve this in Hueco Mundo, then you'll inherit a real mess."

Makoto gave her a sidelong glance. "You've already got orders for Hueco Mundo?"

"Departing in half a month." Katori said, tilting her head nonchalantly. "It's a chaotic time, isn't it?"

"Just after we wrapped up a war here."

Makoto's tone softened, a trace of gentlemanly concern creeping in. "Don't go dying on me."

"Hey!" Katori's grin returned, her eyes glinting behind her glasses, teasing. "If I died, would you actually mourn me, Makoto-kun?"

"Of course." Makoto said, hand over heart, his sincerity unwavering. "You hold a very special place in my heart, Captain Katori."

"A man who was just flirting with another woman can't be trusted with a single word." Katori shot back, her wit razor-sharp.

"Right, Makoto-kun?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Then why ask?"

"Pfft." Katori burst into laughter, caught off guard by his deadpan retort.

She brushed off her pristine sleeves, casual again. "Anyway, get well soon, Makoto-kun."

"Work is such a hassle."

"If you're saying that, Captain, I might have to extend my hospital stay a few months." Makoto replied, his decision swift.

"Makoto-kun!" Katori planted her hands on her hips, dragging out her words in mock indignation. "You really don't get women, do you?"

Makoto's gaze was hard to read. "And you do, Captain Katori?"

"Not at all." Katori admitted, a smile breaking through.

Exactly. She didn't understand either.

For someone who'd gained power by suppressing emotions since childhood, most "normal" expressions were mere mimicry to blend in. Those borrowed feelings? She couldn't truly grasp them.

Yet, for reasons even she couldn't pinpoint, a brief chat with Makoto lightened her usually unshakable calm. It was as if a blanket-wrapped figure had peeked out to breathe, or a man clad in iron had shed a few plates of weight.

Katori tilted her head, her eyes behind the lenses flickering with an emotion even she couldn't name as she looked at Makoto.

"Oh, right." She added, as if struck by a sudden thought, her smile returning. "For your sake, I'd suggest steering clear of Captain Unohana once you're nearly recovered."

"I visited her recently."

"She's been… tormented, I think, over your last battle."

"Hm?" Makoto blinked, caught off guard.

Before he could press further, Katori stepped forward and vanished with a flicker of Shunpo, leaving only the sharp outline of her retreating form.

"You!" Makoto shouted, scrambling to his feet. "That was definitely on purpose!"

But Katori was long gone, too far to hear.

The thought of Unohana's possible reaction, coupled with his current weakened state, barely stronger than a mortal, sent a shiver of unease through him.

Truly, in the world of Shinigami, strength was everything.

…

Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo's Forest of Menos.

As the lowest tier of Hueco Mundo's ecosystem, the Forest of Menos was shrouded in perpetual darkness. Only faint light from bioluminescent plants, scattered glowing minerals, and slivers of radiance seeping through upper-layer cracks illuminated the predators and prey within, roles that often reversed.

Rustle…

A faint scraping rose from beneath the flowing sands.

A small, scorpion-like Hollow extended its limbs, using sharp claws to burrow into the rocky cliff face. It climbed upward, aiming for the glowing moss clinging to the wall's midpoint.

But before it reached its prize, a tendril, resembling a tree root, shot from the shadows.

Crack!

"Gaaah!"

The crisp sound of shattered chitin was followed by the scorpion Hollow's piercing wail from beneath its mask.

The root-like tendril, heedless of its prey, slowly retracted the skewered, small Hollow.

Glowing moss illuminated half its mask.

This was an ordinary Hollow, over four meters long, with six tendrils extending from its back. Yet, in the Forest of Menos, such creatures were the lowest of the low, ever at risk of becoming fodder for stronger Hollows.

The moment it pierced the small Hollow, the ordinary Hollow wasted no time. With a crunch, it stuffed its catch beneath its mask, chewing greedily.

Its body melded into the dark shadows, resembling a withered tree rooted in the black cliff face. It dared not move, lying in wait like a patient predator for the next unlucky soul.

But just as it settled, believing itself safe and preparing to enter a dormant state to conserve energy, a faint sound came from behind.

"Hm?"

Instinctively, the Hollow snapped out of its slumber, its gaze darting toward the noise.

A human?!

It had been decades, perhaps centuries, since it last ventured to the World of the Living. Yet the moment it heard that voice, the Hollow recognized its owner instantly.

Excitement gleamed in the depths of its masked eyes.

A human soul was infinitely richer, sweeter than any Hollow's.

But as it turned, its vision caught a glint of azure arrows, shimmering with deadly light.

Before it could react, the six tendrils that served as its limbs were pinned to the ground, each arrow buried half a foot deep.

The Hollow lunged forward, only to be yanked back like an overstretched spring. The tendrils and arrows held firm, and with a thud, it crashed to the earth.

A chill of dread crept into its heart.

"Lieutenant!"

"There's another straggler here!"

Whether it was a trick of the mind, the Hollow's vision reflected the inexplicable excitement on these humans' faces.

What did they want?!

"Come here, you!"

Before it could struggle, a Quincy soldier thrust forward a hilt-like device.

From the ends of the arrows pinning its tendrils, thick, heavy chains of Reishi shot toward the hilt.

With a fierce tug, the Quincy dragged the massive, root-like Hollow down.

Its robust body was utterly bound by the chains, unable to move.

What was this?!

The Hollow's mind reeled, staring blankly at these white-clad "Shinigami" who bore no Zanpakuto, unlike any it had ever seen.

"ARRRHHH!"

It bellowed at them.

But the Quincy lieutenant, spotting the Hollow's root-like tendrils, lit up with interest.

"Virgil, Petrarch, keep this one secure. See if you can sever those roots."

"We might use them as renewable fuel."

"Yes, sir!"

The Quincy holding a spirit bow lowered it, his gaze now tinged with pity as he looked at the Hollow.

"Drag it!"

At the command, the dozen-strong Quincy squad sprang into action.

The root Hollow, dragged by chains, twitched briefly, only for searing pain to erupt from its wounds.

The azure light seemed to erode it at a soul-deep level, so agonizing it nearly howled in its struggle.

But as it tried to resist, a clattering of chains, eerily similar to its own, rang out behind.

Clank!

The Hollow turned toward the sound.

In the shadowed depths of the Forest of Menos, it saw the truth.

Behind this squad of white-clad "Shinigami." a line of dozens of ordinary and small Hollows trailed, each pierced by chains and dragged slowly toward an unknown destination.

Any that resisted were swiftly struck through the mask by an arrow.

Their shattered remains were devoured by their kin, swarming like vultures.

These white-clad Shinigami were far too strong!

And that strange, perilous power…

The root Hollow watched, stunned, unsure how to react.

Before it could act, a Quincy kicked it down and dragged it forward.

Pain flared from its wounds, forcing the Hollow to stumble after, low whimpers escaping its maw.

It wasn't alone.

The entire trailing squad echoed with wails and cries.

The Quincy ahead paid no heed.

They vanished into the omnipresent shadows of the Forest of Menos, sinking as if into an endless abyss.

Gone.

***

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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