Chapter 71: The X-Axis
Hueco Mundo was a dead, silent land that seemed to dry out the very soul.
The sky appeared blanketed by a thick layer of ash, while the ground was an endless pale sea of sand stretching to the edge of sight.
This was the nest of Hollows.
Two figures walked one before the other across the soft sand, moving slowly and cautiously through some part of the pale desert.
Both wore standard Soul Reaper Robes, covered by gray-white cloaks with a degree of Spirit Particle insulation and corrosion resistance to withstand Hueco Mundo's harsh environment.
Zanpakuto hung at their waists. Their Spiritual Pressure was restrained, but their senses were fully alert as their sharp eyes swept the surroundings.
They were members of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, a special unit composed of elites drawn from the Gotei 13 and stationed in Hueco Mundo for extended missions, independent of Seireitei's regular organization.
Its primary duties were to exterminate excessively proliferating or overly powerful Hollows in Hueco Mundo, controlling their numbers to maintain the balance of the soul cycle among Soul Society, the Living World, and Hueco Mundo;
as well as to investigate the depths of Hueco Mundo and monitor the movements and gathering places of Menos Grande.
The two maintained a standard scouting formation. One was slightly ahead, watching the front and flanks, while the other lagged behind, covering the rear and the sky.
They had just cleared out a nest of minor Hollows and were now returning to a hidden outpost somewhere in Hueco Mundo.
The surroundings were frighteningly quiet, broken only by the faint sound of their boots sinking into the sand.
Suddenly, the Soul Reaper in front paused almost imperceptibly.
He raised a hand to signal his companion behind him to stop. Tilting his