Chapter 244
"Then we'll meet again, Captain Ashido."
Ashido wouldn't travel alongside the Gotei 13, otherwise he would have returned with the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force back then; whatever the reason— Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's death, or the Shibari of Soul Society's rules— Haruto respects his choice.
"Same to you."
"..."
Haruto didn't leave, while Ashido simply stared blankly at him.
Could you please give me directions?
Haruto asked tentatively.
"Ah?"
"I didn't come from the Expeditionary Force headquarters."
Haruto quickly added an explanation.
"Reinforcements?"
"That's right."
"Feel sorry..."
It was only now that Ashido understood why Haruto had emerged from some hidden corner and run into Szayelaporro —Actually, Ashido had already warned the 11th Division when they were heading this way; however, these brutes had very few who even knew Kidō, let alone something as sophisticated as Kakushitsuijaku.
As it happened, Ashido had urgent business to attend to, and seeing a Captain-level the team, he figured things wouldn't go wrong so easily—his original reason for coming to Haruto's place was actually to help Kanmuri Yasu and the others—who could have imagined that so many things would happen in just an hour or two.
"Um..."
Ashido's directions were far more sophisticated than Haruto had imagined.
"This is for you."
He took out a map of Hueco Mundo drawn with Adjuchas from his small den—a fairly well-equipped cave that was clearly Ashido's place of refuge—and even thoughtfully marked it up.
After a Hollow Death, the body transforms into Reishi. However, under certain special methods, it is still possible to preserve the whole or some organs for a long time. This is especially true for Adjuchas, who possesses Captain-level combat power.
"Doesn't Captain Ashido use it himself?"
"Don't worry..."
Upon hearing Haruto's words, Ashido quickly took out a large stack of replica maps from the box he had just been holding.
I have many more here.
"..."
Haruto fell silent.
"You can't possibly send a suit of armor to the Soul Society every time they send Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, can you?"
Ashido never corrected Haruto's way of addressing him as captain, which shows that he still had some attachment to the Gotei 13.
"Almost."
Ashido nodded.
"It's just that Baraggan changed frequently, so some labels had to be changed often."
"Adjuchas too?"
"Apart from Vasto Lorde, the other Menos Grande Baraggan are treated basically the same."
"... Understood."
Haruto solemnly placed the map in his hand into the Kukai Box.
It might not be valuable in Ashido's hands, but it was a crucial treasure for Haruto and the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. Haruto had never heard of such a Hueco Mundo map when he was in the Gotei 13, and he didn't know if there was a problem with the higher-ups or if the captain or a member who obtained it had taken it for personal purposes.
――――
I said goodbye to Ashido.
Haruto began heading towards the Expeditionary Force headquarters.
The 11th Division under Kanmuri Yasu is indeed in a terrible state, but with Ashido secretly helping them, the situation at headquarters should be much better.
The only problem...
Would they accept advice from strangers?
After all, not everyone knows Ashido, and not everyone who does know him will believe the "advice" of those who have been excommunicated.
"Um?"
There is no main path in the Forest of Menos.
Haruto decisively chose to go in a straight line, and all the Menos Grande and Huge Hollows he encountered along the way became fuel for the Soul King Hakusui.
The area of Hueco Mundo is extremely large.
But after traveling for more than half an hour using Shunpo, Haruto was less than halfway to the Expeditionary Force headquarters marked on the map.
Just then...
"Captain-level?"
He suddenly felt the unfamiliar spiritual pressure of a captain-level Shinigami.
As well as...
Almost completely overlapping with this aura, simultaneously displaying weakness and power, a spear-like...
An immense, Menos Grande Reiatsu.
Besides.
Vice-Captain-level Hollows and Soul Reaper appeared in multiples around these two most distinct Reiatsu.
"Standing out?"
Haruto increased the speed of his Shunpo.
"Ashido has already warned us; we can't afford to have another squad ambushed, can we?"
However.
"Whoosh!"
When he arrived at the scene...
For a moment, I really didn't know which side to help.
――――
Volume 1: 147, Tia Tier Harribel
Red eyes and white hair.
He wasn't wearing Shihakushō.
The magnificent decorations symbolizing nobility are visible from head to toe.
Based on the above three points, as well as the information Haruto obtained upon his arrival, it is easy to determine who the Captain-level of the Soul Reaper faction is.
Haru Kusaka, the younger brother of En Kusaka, joined the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force along with Kōga Kuchiki, and is of noble birth.
Although various sources say that the two brothers are incompatible in terms of personality and stance, he is, after all, the representative of the Kusaka Clan, and no one can guarantee that the above information is not a smokescreen.
Given Haruto's relationship with the Kusaka Clan, in this remote and Forest of Menos Novola, how could he possibly eliminate the other party?
That would be the most correct approach: it's rare for a clan to have two captains. If the clan could have one more, or if either of the brothers could advance to the Second-Class Spiritual Pressure, they might be able to challenge the authority of the great nobles.
What?
You said he has several other mid-level nobles behind him?
The unrelated vice-captains, Haruto, took action without any hesitation... They weren't even part of the Gotei 13.
Speaking of which...
The conscription of Soul Reaper by the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force consisted mainly of clan heads from lower and middle-ranking noble families, while those from higher and greater noble families were mostly elites from their clans.
Haruto's identity is the same.
As for the area opposite Haru Kusaka...
Disheveled blonde hair, and azure eyes revealing Visored.
The streamlined, pure white "armor" clung to the vital areas like a bodysuit, while the inside was a light blue "gel coat"-like structure.
At last.
The shark tail swaying behind him and the fin-like blade extending from his right arm together constitute the only two features of his beast-like form.
The future No.3 Broken Blade, Vasto Lorde —
Tia Tier Harribel.
The beast-shaped Adjuchas behind her—a doe, a lion, and a white serpent—are undoubtedly her three subordinates.
Kill the Void?
The Soul Reaper's Duty.
Kill nobles?
Personal grudges.
Of course, regardless of the method, the prerequisite is that you have to be able to win.
Haruto wasn't too worried about that.
Haru Kusaka's skill level is much higher than his brother's, but he still hasn't surpassed the level of Third-Class Reii. Because he didn't inherit the family's divine weapon, he has devoted most of his energy to his own Zanpakuto, and it is said that his Shunpo is also top-notch.
Simply put
It belongs to the Captain-level specializing in cutting and moving.
As for Tier Harribel on the opposite side—
As Vasto Lorde, Tier Harribel is the type to launch direct attacks, and in a head-on confrontation, he is stronger than Szayelaporro.
Logically speaking...
Haru Kusaka and his noble squad had no chance of stopping Tier Harribel, let alone maintaining the stalemate they were in now.
But!
There was no need to even look at the three wounded subordinates.
Tier Harribel's condition alone is enough to explain the reason:
Half of the Visored on her face had shattered.
Even for Vasto Lorde, injuries of this severity would take an extremely long time to heal—and he might end up like Nel: even if Vasto Lorde's power doesn't drop in level, he would still fall into a weakened state due to the massive loss of Reiatsu.
Certainly.
The Vasto Lorde were in different states. Nel was turned into a child, and her death was largely due to the poisoning of Szayelaporro. Otherwise, Nnoitra's sneak attack alone would not have been enough to beat her so badly.
Just as Haruto was observing the situation...
"Fourth Seat Haruto!"
Among the nobles behind Haru Kusaka, some recognized Haruto's identity.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and help us deal with what's in front of us—"
"Bang!"
The head of this unknown mid-ranking nobleman had his head shatter like a watermelon on a summer beach, and his headless body fell straight backward.
"!!"
The situation between the two sides suddenly became tense.
"Noisy."
Haruto made no move, but no one doubted that he was the one who had done the dirty work. Third-Class Reii Adjuchas like Haruto would die in one move if he wasn't careful, Vice-Captain-level was no threat to him at all.
To solve this level, Haruto doesn't even need to lift a finger:
By releasing Reiatsu through the eyes, the target is crushed directly by the "pressure" at the locked point of vision; even though the combination has been modified countless times, the usage with such a strong sense of déjà vu is actually Haruto's signature move, the Hadō #1: Rush.