With Nnoitra's death, the Hollows scattered in panic.

The Gillians, too, began retreating deeper into the Forest of Menos under the command of the Adjuchas.

After chasing for a while, the Shinigami regrouped around Shimo.

"Shimo-sama,"

Rokushima Yusuke's face was pale from exertion, yet it couldn't hide his excitement.

"In this operation, the Sixth Relief Unit eliminated a total of 289 Gillians and 30 Adjuchas. The results are outstanding!"

Shimo nodded calmly.

"Keep up the effort. The coordination of your formations still needs improvement."

"Also, all squad members must fully master mass healing techniques."

"Only then can you truly be considered a qualified unit."

Nearby, the Eleventh Division members stood dumbfounded at their conversation.

What… the fuck?

Wasn't the Fourth Division just a support unit?

Not only had they taken out nearly as many enemies as the combat units, but they also carried the responsibility of healing the entire team.

"Why do the words 'Sixth Relief Unit' sound so damn irritating to me?"

Ikkaku crossed his arms, tilting his head in confusion.

"It's not just you. I find it grating too,"

Yumichika said, equally annoyed.

"Those words sound like they're mocking our Eleventh Division."

"They're just a logistics squad, yet they racked up more kills than us frontline fighters."

"If this gets out, we'll be a laughingstock."

Shimo overheard and offered flatly,

"No need to feel discouraged."

"Rokushima and the others trained under me for a full year. Their growth has been immense."

Ikkaku and Yumichika exchanged a look and both sighed.

A whole year…

Everyone selected for this subjugation rescue mission had survived countless battles.

Even if they didn't excel in Kidō, their combat strength was unquestionable.

And yet… they were outperformed by a supposedly "rear-line" unit that had undergone just a year of training?

Did these support types have some kind of special talent?

Yumichika pondered seriously.

No… the real reason probably lay with that man.

He stared intently at Shimo, who was playfully ruffling Nel's hair. There was a glint of something deeper in his eyes.

Just then, Shimo paused, his hand still atop Nel's head.

He turned his gaze toward the depths of the Forest of Menos.

"A Shinigami's reiatsu."

"Regroup. We're heading deeper into the forest!"

He issued the command and immediately used shunpo in the direction of the spiritual pressure.

Ikkaku and the others quickly followed.

Shimo leapt swiftly between the branches of quartz trees, making sure not to outpace the other Shinigami too much.

What surprised him was Bawabawa, Dondechakka's massive, eyeless battle worm.

Even crawling along the ground, it was moving just as fast as any Shinigami.

Its squirming body showed no signs of slowing down, even with Dondechakka and Pesche riding on its back.

"That's a damn good spirit worm," Shimo praised aloud.

"Nel's gonna suffocate in here!"

Nel poked her head out from Shimo's arms and called down cheerfully to the ground,

"The ultimate never-ending hide-and-seek is starting!"

"Catch up to us and beat me and Shimo up real good!"

"And then laugh at us while we cry and beg for mercy!"

Below, Dondechakka and Pesche both looked horrified, their bone masks drooping visibly.

"Pesche… are we seriously going to beat up Shimo?"

Smack!

"Idiot!"

Pesche almost pulled out his Zanpakutō from his crotch area, whispering fiercely,

"That guy took out Nnoitra Gilga in one slash!"

"That was the Fifth Espada! Even Nel-sama—"

He suddenly stopped himself, glancing around cautiously.

"Forget it. If Nel-sama wants to play hide-and-seek, we'll play along."

"That Shinigami doesn't seem hostile to us anyway."

"So let's go, Bawabawa! Charge!"

The two Arrancar stood atop Bawabawa's head, pointing ahead dramatically.

Meanwhile, Shimo remained focused on the incoming spiritual pressure.

To his surprise, the other Shinigami wasn't standing still—they were also headed toward his group.

And fast!

"On alert!"

Ikkaku also noticed and called out.

From the shadows ahead, flickers of movement emerged — followed by a sudden burst of crimson Cero high above.

"A battle's already started."

Shimo sensed mixed spiritual pressure— Shinigami and Hollow entangled together.

It seemed that lone Shinigami had run into fleeing Hollows.

By the time Shimo's group arrived, the battle had ended.

Residual spirit particles drifted through the air—clearly the aftermath of fallen Hollows.

At the center of the battlefield stood a lone Shinigami, calmly sheathing their blade, looking toward them.

Their appearance was… strange.

They wore a hollow mask shaped like a twisted ram skull, and over their standard Shihakushō was draped a heavy pelt, decorated with several more broken Hollow masks.

"A new hollow subjugation squad?" they asked flatly.

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