Arrival in Hueco Mundo, Reunion with Old Friends

Within the Garganta, endless darkness receded. The group ran along the Reishi path opened up by Liu Hao, surrounded only by the whistling wind and the sound of their own footsteps.

Half a day passed in darkness. There was no sunrise or sunset, no time reference, only the increasingly bright light ahead reminding them that the exit was near.

Liu Hao slowed his pace and turned back to remind everyone, "We might be in the air later, so watch your step when you jump out."

Everyone echoed in unison.

Liu Hao turned around, took a deep breath, and rushed towards the light. His figure flashed in the light and disappeared outside the Garganta.

Renji Abarai followed closely behind, then Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida. The five figures passed through the portal of light one after another and entered another world.

Upon landing, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

The endless white Desert stretches in all directions, reaching the horizon. The sky is an eerie pale purple, devoid of sun and clouds, with only the ever-present moon hanging in the center, radiating a cold, clear light. The dunes undulate like frozen waves, casting long shadows in the moonlight.

The whole world was nothing but white. It was desolate and suffocating.

Ichigo Kurosaki looked around and couldn't help but ask, "Liu Shu, is this Hueco Mundo? Why does it look so desolate?"

Liu Hao glanced at him, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "You can't expect a bunch of irrational Hollows to build Hueco Mundo into a city, can you?"

Renji Abarai gripped the Zabimaru at his waist, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. "Liu Hao, which way do we go?"

Liu Hao didn't answer immediately. He looked up at the sky, seemingly recalling something. After a moment, he pointed west. "I just looked from the air, and there seem to be some building ruins to the west. We can head that way first. I still have some friends in Hueco Mundo; I'll try to contact them."

"Friends?" Rukia Kuchiki frowned slightly, her tone filled with doubt.

Liu Hao nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. When I came to Hueco Mundo before, I met a few Arrancar and made some friends. I just wonder how they've been doing since we last contacted each other."

"They weren't recruited by Aizen, were they?" Rukia Kuchiki asked the question that everyone was concerned about.

Liu Hao shook his head. "I won't take them in. I just don't know—whether they're still alive or not."

After speaking, he closed his eyes and began to sense something. His right hand gently pressed against his chest—where a special bracelet was hidden, a keepsake he had left for someone. Through the power of the Imperial Sword, he sent a secret message to the bracelet.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and led the group westward.

The white Desert stretched as far as the eye could see, the fine sand beneath our feet leaving deep footprints with every step. But strangely, those footprints were quickly erased by the wind, as if they had never existed.

After walking for half a day, the surroundings remained endless white, unchanged.

Ichigo Kurosaki finally couldn't hold back any longer. "Liu Shu, isn't this Hueco Mundo? We've been walking for so long, how come we haven't found a single Hollow?"

Liu Hao didn't turn his head, his tone tinged with helplessness. "You guys are all releasing your Reiatsu so obviously, what Hollow would be so foolish as to come and die? Hollows may lack reason, but that doesn't mean they lack instinct."

Ichigo Kurosaki was speechless. He glanced at his companions— Renji Abarai's Reiatsu was like a burning flame, Rukia Kuchiki's was as cold as ice, Uryū Ishida's was pure and powerful, and Yasutora Sado's was as heavy as a mountain. Add to that his own strange Reiatsu, a mixture of Soul Reaper, Hollow, and Quincy Reiatsu—

These five Reiatsu, when combined, were like five lighthouses in the darkness. Any Hollow with a brain would avoid them.

Ichigo Kurosaki was silent for a moment, then asked a question that had been puzzling him, "Liu Shu, I've always wanted to ask you—why can't we usually sense your Reiatsu?"

Liu Hao stopped and turned to look at him. His gaze held a hint of pity, as if he were looking at a child who had asked, "What is one plus one?"

"It's the precise control of Reiatsu," Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses and answered the question for Liu Hao.

Liu Hao gave Ichigo Kurosaki a look that suggested he was an idiot, his tone filled with deep helplessness. "Don't ask such idiotic questions anymore. You're not stupid, so why do you always ask such stupid questions?"

Ichigo Kurosaki was speechless, his face instantly turning bright red. He wanted to retort, but found himself utterly speechless. In the end, he could only sullenly walk forward without saying a word, his steps much faster than before.

Seeing his embarrassed expression, everyone couldn't help but chuckle. Even the usually serious Rukia Kuchiki had a slight smile on her lips.

After walking for another half day, the white Desert finally began to change.

In the distance, a colossal creature was moving towards them. Its massive size left deep furrows in the ground as it moved. As it drew closer, they finally saw its form clearly—it was a gigantic beetle-like creature, covered in a thick carapace, crawling on six legs at an astonishing speed.

Even more striking was the presence of three figures atop the Menos Grande's head: two the size of adults, and one the size of a toddler.

Renji Abarai placed his hand on Zabimaru, leaning forward slightly, ready for battle. "Liu Hao, it looks like we're in for a tough fight."

Rukia Kuchiki gripped Sode no Shirayuki tightly, her eyes wary. "It's an unfamiliar Arrancar, be careful."

Liu Hao smiled. His smile was one of relief and contentment.

"Don't be nervous," he said, his tone as relaxed as if he were talking about old friends, "They are my friends."

Everyone turned around at the same time, looking at him in disbelief.

Meeting their gazes, Liu Hao smiled and explained, "Didn't I tell you before—I have a few friends in Hueco Mundo?"

The giant fighting insect stopped in front of everyone, raising a cloud of dust. After the dust settled, the Arrancar, about the size of a child, jumped off the insect's back.

She was a little girl who looked only five or six years old, with green hair, big eyes, and an innocent smile on her face. She was wearing a simple white dress, barefoot, and ran up to Liu Hao, hugging his leg tightly.

"Liu Hao!" the little girl exclaimed excitedly, then climbed up Liu Hao's legs and finally sat on his shoulders. "You're finally here! We all thought you wouldn't come to Hueco Mundo again!"

Liu Hao reached out and gently touched her head. "Nel, why do you still look like a child?"

Nel Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck —swinging her legs on his shoulder, said with a grin, "This form is better. We don't usually need to fight anyway."

Liu Hao smiled but didn't say anything more. He turned to the two adult Arrancar — Dondochakka Birstein and Pesche Kadishe—and nodded.

"We're here to rescue people," Liu Hao said to Nel, who was perched on his shoulder. "You know where Las Noches is, right? Point us in the right direction."

Nel blinked, then flashed a bright smile, "I'll go with you! There are some old matters to take care of at the same time."

Liu Hao looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded. "Okay."

He beckoned everyone to climb onto the giant fighting insect. Bawabawa —the insect's name—submissively lay down, allowing everyone to climb onto its back.

Once everyone was seated, Bawabawa stood up and headed west. It moved several times faster than it could walk, leaving a long trail in the white Desert.

On the insect's back, Liu Hao introduced his three new friends to the others, "This is Nel, whose full name is Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. She used to be Aizen's subordinate, but later left Las Noches for some reason."

He pointed to the two adult Arrancar: "These two are Dondochakka Birstein and Pesche Kadishe, Nel's Fracción."

Everyone greeted the three of them. Renji Abarai's gaze lingered on Nel for a moment before he asked, "You used to follow Aizen, and now we're going to Aizen to rescue people. Don't you object?"

Pesche Cadische—the Arrancar with the bizarre hat and comical appearance—waved his hand. "I don't object. The reason we left Las Noches was because we were ambushed by Aizen's subordinates."

Liu Hao added, "You don't need to be wary of them. Their enemies are the current Espada Nnoitra Gilga, and the 8th Espada Szayelaporro Granz. If it weren't for those two ambushing Nel and the others wouldn't have been able to leave Las Noches."

Looking at Nel's small figure, Ichigo Kurosaki asked in confusion, "Aren't you comrades? Why did they ambush you?"

Nel sat on Liu Hao's shoulders, swinging her legs, her tone as casual as if she were talking about someone else. "Because they're dissatisfied because I'm a woman, and number 3, ranked higher than them. Aizen created the Espada to rule Hueco Mundo; he doesn't care about the infighting among his subordinates. So even if I'm ambushed and forced to leave Las Noches, he won't care—after all, he only sees us as tools to achieve his ambitions."

These words were spoken lightly, but everyone could sense the bitterness in them.

Rukia Kuchiki looked at the small figure, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. "So, you're coming with us this time for revenge?"

Nel tilted her head and smiled, "If I wanted revenge, I could have gone a long time ago. Otherwise, Aizen might have taken me back to be used as a tool. It's much better to be free like this now."

Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses and asked, "Then why are you coming with us?"

Pesche Kadishes stepped forward, his expression turning serious. "Because Liu Hao is our benefactor. It was Liu Hao who cured Nel, and we are very grateful to him. So as long as Nel wants to help Liu Hao, we are willing to give our lives for him."

Dondochakka Birstein—the large, seemingly honest-looking Arrancar —nodded vigorously and said in a deep voice, "Yes!"

Nel looked at her two Fracción, a warm light flashing in her eyes. "Pesche, Dondochakka, you don't really need to do this. You know I've always considered you my brothers. But if it can help Liu Hao, I'm very willing to do my best. And—"

She paused, a hint of sharpness creeping into her voice. "If we run into those two this time, it wouldn't be bad to settle old scores."

Looking at Nel's small figure, Uryū Ishida couldn't help but ask, "But can you really fight looking like that?"

Nel didn't answer, but looked at Liu Hao with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Should I revert to my original state? Otherwise, they might not believe in my strength."

Liu Hao looked at her, a smile playing on his lips, "It doesn't matter. But did you bring any clothes? Don't scare the kids after you transform."

"Hehe, no way." Nel's smile widened even more. "My strength has fully recovered, and it's even increased quite a bit. So when I transform, I can directly condense new clothes using Reishi."

Liu Hao nodded. "In that case, you can have whatever look you want."

"I thought you'd want to see what I really look like," Nel blinked, a hint of mischief in her voice.

Liu Hao laughed, a hint of helplessness in his smile, "She's just a sexy, mature woman. Although I haven't seen her, I know she's definitely my type."

"Cough, cough!" Renji Abarai suddenly coughed violently. "Liu Hao, we are Soul Reaper, they are Hollows—different races."

Liu Hao looked at him calmly. "I can get Kisuke Urahara help. Also, liking someone is fine, but don't have such dirty thoughts."

"Pah!" Renji Abarai turned his head to the side and muttered under his breath, "You said I had dirty thoughts, but your first thing was asking Kisuke Urahara help."

Hearing his whisper, everyone covered their mouths and chuckled. Even the usually serious Rukia Kuchiki couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Ichigo Kurosaki laughed the loudest, all his previous gloom vanishing.

Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Although Yasutora Sado didn't laugh out loud, the smile in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Just then, Pesche Kadischeh suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with nervousness. "We're almost there."

Everyone's smiles vanished simultaneously; they raised their heads and looked ahead.