Reunion with Ashido

Nel led Ye Yang and the others forward, but they encountered trouble right away. A huge Hollow blocked their path. Ichigo went to fight, while Ye Yang stood quietly beside Nel.

That Hollow was made of sand, and swords couldn't cut through sand, so no matter how Ichigo attacked, he couldn't kill it. The only way to kill it was with water-based techniques.

Just as Ichigo and the others were in danger, the Menos Grande was instantly frozen in ice. Then, as the ice shattered, the Menos Grande also broke apart. Ichigo turned around and looked at the two people who had saved them in the distance. His expression changed slightly because the people in the distance were none other than Renji and Rukia, who had come from Soul Society.

Ichigo exclaimed in astonishment, "Rukia? Renji? How did you get here? Isn't Soul Society..."

Rukia into a rage, instantly appearing in front of Ichigo and punching him. "Damn it, why did you trespass into Hueco Mundo? Why didn't you wait for us to return to the World of the Living? Aren't we comrades?"

Ichigo's expression shifted slightly, then he smiled calmly.

Ye Yang asked with a smile, "You guys snuck out, didn't you? Renji, Rukia, you really are..."

Rukia smiled and said, "Teacher Ye Yang, aren't you one of them? Captain-Commander Yamamoto ordered us to stop rescuing Orihime, but you still ended up in Hueco Mundo, didn't you?"

Ye Yang smiled mysteriously, "I have received permission from Captain-Commander Yamamoto. You are all too impatient. It won't be long before Captain-Commander Yamamoto sends a few captains to Hueco Mundo."

Just then, the Void suddenly revived, and a vortex of sand appeared beneath Ye Yang and the others, pulling them directly into the ground.

Below him was a dark, gray space. Ichigo looked around and asked, "Is everyone alright?"

Ye Yang looked around at this familiar place. He had spent thirty years here, cultivating here for thirty years, and was very familiar with the terrain.

"Is this underground?" Ichigo asked, puzzled.

Ye Yang said softly, "This is the Forest of Menos!"

"The Forest of Menos? What does that mean?"

"The Forest of Menos, as the name suggests, is the forest where Menos Grande live. There are countless Menos Grande here, and tens of thousands of Gillian, making it extremely dangerous!"

Ichigo murmured softly, "The forest of the Menos Grande? How do we get out of there?"

Ye Yang gazed into the distance. Within this Forest of Menos, Ye Yang Ye Yang another friend, someone with whom he had spent thirty years: Ashido, the unwavering Grim Reaper, a Grim Reaper who lived for his beliefs as a Grim Reaper!

"I once practiced my spiritual cultivation here. Come with me."

At this moment, Renji exclaimed in surprise, "Where's Rukia?"

This time, everyone discovered that Rukia was nowhere to be seen; she must have fallen from a different spot than they had.

Ichigo looked around and said, "Captain Ye Yang, let's find Rukia first before we leave."

"Alright, let's split up and search." Ye Yang took out several signal flares from his pocket. "Each of you take one. Release this signal flare after you find Rukia, and we'll be there. Also, remember not to get entangled with the Menos Grande, otherwise you'll only attract more Menos Grande. If you encounter the Gillian Group, run away as fast as you can, understand?" Ye Yang distributed the signal flares. Ichigo and Ishida were in one group, Renji and Chad in another, while Ye Yang himself took Nel and their subordinates with him.

Nel looked terrified. In her current memory Forest of Menos was a place like a forest of death. Ye Yang gently picked her up and said, "Don't be afraid, I will protect you."

Nel immediately felt much more at ease, and then stopped crying and quietly nestled in Ye Yang's arms.

Ye Yang quickly moved towards Ashido's secluded place, which wasn't far from where Ye Yang was now. They arrived shortly afterward, and Ye Yang walked in slowly, calling out loudly, "Ashido! Are you still here?"

When Ye Yang walked in, Ashido was chatting with Rukia. Upon seeing Ye Yang, Ashido exclaimed in surprise, "Ye Yang? What are you doing here?"

"Teacher Ye Yang? You know Ashido?" Rukia was also very surprised.

"Of course, we've been best friends for thirty years," Ye Yang laughed and hugged Ashido. "So many years have passed, how have you been?"

Ashido laughed heartily, "Yes, it's been over sixty years, hasn't it? You haven't changed a bit. But why did you come back?"

"There was no other way. Coming to Hueco Mundo this time was out of necessity. What do you think? I told you, you would come with me when I come here again, and you agreed back then, didn't you?" Ye Yang chuckled.

"Well, let's not talk about that now. Come on in and let's talk," Ashido invited Ye Yang and Nel to come inside. Although Nel and her subordinates were Arrancar, Ashido didn't ask them any questions since they had come with Ye Yang.

Although Ashido has destroyed countless Menos Grande in Hueco Mundo, he has seen all kinds of Hollows over the years, including some who are peaceful and unassuming. Nel is clearly a Hollow without combat abilities and is basically harmless.

Ye Yang first fired a signal flare to signal Ichigo and the others to come over quickly, and then went inside with Ashido.

"What happened in Soul Society?" Ashido asked.

"What?" Ye Yang asked, puzzled by his question.

Ashido removed his mask, revealing a handsome face with dark red hair that made him even more dashing. "The powers of the Menos Grande are beginning to shift here, and Ye Yang, you've appeared here too. Something extraordinary must have happened in Soul Society to cause this."

Anyway, Ye Yang was determined to take him out this time no matter what, so he told him about Aizen and the Hōgyoku. Ashido listened to Ye Yang's stories and sighed. He didn't expect that so much had happened since he left Soul Society. Especially when he heard about Aizen's betrayal, a trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

"So that's how it is. It was that tiny Hōgyoku that caused the Menos Grande of Hueco Mundo to mutate their powers, just like her?" Ashido said, pointing at Nel.

Nel quickly hid behind Ye Yang, staring blankly at Ashido. Ye Yang patted her head, "Nel is indeed Arrancar, but her mask was shattered, so she lost her power. Don't worry about that."

Ashido nodded, not dwelling on the question, but instead inquired about Aizen. Ye Yang then began to explain the current situation in Soul Society, concluding, "Ashido, come with us. The situation in Soul Society is extremely precarious; we need your power. Only by coming with us can you unleash your full potential!"

Ashido closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then smiled frankly, "Alright, I already declined your invitation last time, and it seems I have no reason to refuse this time. I'll go out with you."

"That's right. Staying here will only bury your abilities. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. With your joining, Soul Society's chances of winning will be much greater." Ye Yang revealed a faint smile. Ashido finally agreed. Ashido's matter in Hueco Mundo was also one of Ye Yang's purposes in coming to Hueco Mundo this time.

"As Shinigami, fighting is our duty," Ashido said firmly. He had stayed here because both the real world and the Menos Grande invading Soul Society originated from here, and he was fighting here for the sake of his responsibility as a Shinigami.

But that won't work now. Aizen's plan has already threatened the entire Soul Society and even the Spirit Realm! If the Soul Society doesn't exist anymore, what's the point of him fighting here?

Suddenly, a violent Spiritual Pressure filled the air, likely emanating from a group of Gillian, including the Spiritual Pressure of Ichigo and Ishida Chad. It seemed that Ichigo and his Menos Grande.

Ye Yang said softly, "Tch, didn't we say we wouldn't let them fight the Gillian group head-on? Let's go, let's go rescue them."

"Your companion? That's quite impulsive," Ashido sighed. The most dangerous creature in the Forest of Menos is the Gillian horde. While their individual strength is not great, they always appear in groups. Once someone engages in battle with them, all the Gillian that sense the battle will rush towards this place. No matter how strong you are, you can't withstand thousands upon thousands of Gillian.

When Ye Yang and his group arrived, Ichigo and the others were already panting heavily. There were many Gillian around them. "Captain Ye Yang? Rukia? You're here too!" Ichigo said with surprise.

"Didn't I tell you not to get entangled with the Menos Grande? This place is no place to stay! Let's go!" After saying that, Ye Yang led them to flee, and the group finally returned to Ashido's secluded place.

Ichigo asked, "Rukia, where did you go? And who is this...?" Ichigo looked at Ashido strangely, as he had never seen him before. Ichigo was puzzled by his sudden appearance in front of Ichigo.

Rukia then told Ichigo about Ashido, and Ichigo looked at Ashido with admiration. To live alone in the Forest of Menos for hundreds of years just for the sake of this Shinigami responsibility was something Ichigo could not even imagine. Just how strong a heart does that require? Anyone who heard about Ashido would have the same feeling.

Ishida asked, "What should we do now? Where is the exit?"

"Of course, I know where the exit is. Follow me," Ye Yang said, standing up.

Ashido spoke up, "Many Menos Grande know about that exit you mentioned, including many Adjuchas- level Menos Grande. We just caused such a commotion; I'm afraid the exit area isn't peaceful. Over the years, I've eliminated quite a few Menos Grande in the Forest of Menos alone, and I don't think they'll let this opportunity pass them by."

Ye Yang looked up into the distance and said helplessly, "But there's only one exit. If that's the case, we'll have to prepare for a fierce battle..."