"Endless Chase Game!"

From within Shimo's arms, Nel poked her head out, shouting in excitement.

"Shimo, you should play with us too!"

After a brief conversation, Nel's simple childlike mind concluded that the man before her was clearly not a bad person.

Dondochakka and Pesche, however, watched Shimo with sharp wariness.

Unlike Nel, they had memories—memories that made them far less trusting. Though they often acted foolish or strange, their loyalty to Nel was absolute, and they would die to protect her.

They could see it clearly—this man was definitely a Shinigami from the Gotei 13.

The efficient movements, the fierce gaze, the occasional flicker of killing intent in his eyes… there was nothing ordinary about him.

"I don't have time right now," Shimo said with a calm smile.

"Tell me—have you seen any Shinigami in the area recently? We're looking for them."

Nel pressed a finger to her lips and tilted her head in thought.

"Hmm… I don't remember.

Dondochakka, Pesche—do you know?"

Shimo and Nel looked toward the two Arrancar, who were trembling under the stares of dozens of Shinigami.

For them, simply staying put without fleeing was already an act of great courage.

"If you mean a squad of Shinigami… yeah, we did see something like that," Dondochakka said, digging into his memory.

"I remember now!" Pesche suddenly smacked the horn on his head and said in his usual bizarre tone:

"They were banished to the Forest of Death by Lord Runuganga!"

At that, Shimo and Ikkaku Madarame exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening.

"Uh… that's the Forest of Menos," Pesche clarified in a smaller voice.

"The nesting grounds of the Menos."

Shimo set Nel gently down on the sand.

"Then… do you know how to get to the Forest of Menos?"

The moment he asked, Dondochakka and Pesche frantically shook their heads and waved their hands.

"Nope, nope, no idea!"

Shimo glanced at Ikkaku.

Catching the signal, Ikkaku's eyes lit with understanding.

"Tch. You really don't know?!"

In one motion, he drew his Zanpakutō, letting his naturally vicious aura pour out unchecked.

Shimo pressed a hand to his forehead, speechless.

I should've told him to tone it down. Anyone would be terrified seeing that face.

Dondochakka and Pesche clung to each other, letting out a desperate scream.

"Underground!"

"The Forest of Menos is underground!"

BOOM—

The words had barely left their mouths when the ground beneath their feet began to convulse violently.

Centered on the group, a massive whirlpool of sand began to spread outward.

"A hundred Runuganga… they really think highly of us," Shimo murmured, sensing the spiritual pressure of the super-massive Menos and quickly counting their numbers.

By now, it was obvious—they had been under surveillance all along.

As for who was watching… they'd find out once they reached the Forest of Menos.

The sand collapsed in a spiraling vortex, engulfing the group.

"Don't panic! This is how we're getting to the Forest of Menos!" Shimo called out, steadying everyone's nerves.

"Runuganga can't beat us, so they're banishing us instead."

The sand beneath them gave way completely, and the Shinigami plummeted into the depths.

Shimo shifted Nel back into his arms, shielding her with his body.

An Arrancar without combat ability in a place like this could easily meet a tragic end.

Aside from Dondochakka, Pesche, and the massive battle-worm Bawabawa, everyone else landed safely on solid ground.

"So this is the Forest of Menos, huh?" Ikkaku grinned, scanning the area.

"I can already feel their spiritual pressure!"

From the darkness ahead, countless blood-red lights appeared—like a sea of lanterns.

And then, towering figures began to emerge from the shadows of the forest.

"Gillians!"

"There's so many of them?!"

"My giant hammer's been thirsty for too long!"

The Eleventh Division Shinigami's reaction was nothing like what a normal person should have in this situation—every face lit up with wild excitement.

Seeing this, Nel shrank deeper into Shimo's arms.

They all feel so dangerous… I'm doomed… I'm gonna die!

Dondochakka and Pesche clutched their heads in despair.

"We've fallen into the Forest of Death!"

"Bawabawa!!"

The air grew tense—strangely tense.

"Shout that doomsaying crap again and I'll cut you in half!" Ikkaku roared suddenly, turning his glare on the two Arrancar.

They clung to each other and shook like leaves.

Compared to the Gillians, the bald Shinigami seemed even scarier.

"Looks like the Shinigami who got dropped in here before us didn't have much of a chance," Shimo said with a sigh.

"Shouldn't we be thinking about how to escape?" Nel asked timidly, peeking out from his arms.

At her question, Shimo's lips curved into a grin, his teeth flashing white.

"No… it's them who should be escaping."

Nel followed his gaze—and saw an endless horde of Menos Grande before them.

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