Paratrooper Sōgo Has Landed

Early the next morning.

"Thank you for all your help over the past month, Master Kirinji."

Yoruichi Shihōin bowed respectfully to Tenjirō Kirinji, expressing her gratitude for his help in training her Shunpo.

"Go make a name for yourself in the Seireitei! Don't you dare tarnish Tenjirō Kirinji's sterling reputation! If your Shunpo doesn't become the best in the Soul Society, don't call yourself my disciple."

Tenjirō Kirinji raised his chin with prickly pride. Over the month of training, he had fully acknowledged Yoruichi Shihōin. In terms of Shunpo alone, he could count those faster than Yoruichi in the entire Soul Society on one hand. He believed her name would soon resound throughout the Soul Society.

"Thanks for this past month. I already feel like my body is indestructible."

Kisuke Urahara spoke to Sōgo Shihoin, his words laden with countless emotions. It was hard to tell whether he was complaining or thanking him.

"In terms of spiritual body toughness alone, you're above average even among the current captains of the Gotei 13!"

Sōgo Shihoin gave Kisuke Urahara a thumbs-up, a sunny smile on his face.

"Why, thank you!"

Deeply moved once again, Kisuke Urahara thanked Sōgo Shihoin.

"Sōgo... you're staying here, right?"

Yoruichi hesitated for a moment before asking Sōgo.

"Yes. By the time I return, I'll be able to live normally out there."

At Yoruichi's words, Sōgo Shihoin's expression turned solemn, and he spoke seriously.

"Hmph!"

"I'll be waiting for you at home."

Looking at her serious little brother, Yoruichi wore a hearty smile and held out her little fist to Sōgo.

"By the time I get back, you'd better be a captain, Sis!" Sōgo held out his fist and gently bumped hers. "Just imagining you commanding the Stealth Force feels ridiculously cool."

"Of course, little brother!"

As she spoke, Yoruichi leaped up and clung to Sōgo, rubbing his face with both hands.

"S-Sis, there are plenty of other people here."

Sōgo Shihoin's words came out muffled as Yoruichi rubbed his face.

"By the time Sōgo comes home, he'll be all grown up~" At his words, a trace of tenderness flashed through Yoruichi's eyes. She hopped down from him and turned around. "I'm off! No need to see me out!"

Even as she turned away, Yoruichi looked cool, carefree, and thoroughly dashing.

"Stay safe out there on your own... though that's probably unnecessary. It doesn't feel like anything in this world could threaten you, does it?"

Yoruichi took two steps toward the gates of the Kirin Palace, then suddenly stopped and turned sideways to address Sōgo.

"Out there?!" Sōgo froze at her words, then veins bulged on his forehead. He already knew who had sold him out. "Urahara..."

"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!"

Feeling the terrifying Spiritual Pressure pouring from Sōgo Shihoin's entire body, Kisuke Urahara bowed over and over.

"Thanks~"

Watching Kisuke Urahara bow repeatedly, Sōgo Shihoin smiled gently, thanking him for telling his sister what he himself could not say.

"Huh? Ahahaha... you're welcome!"

Hearing Sōgo Shihoin's words, Kisuke Urahara slowly raised his head, his eyes lighting up. He had thought he was going to get beaten up!

"Did you think I'd say that?"

Smack!

Then Sōgo Shihoin punched Kisuke Urahara in the stomach.

"Urgh..."

Kisuke Urahara felt his stomach churn, and his eyes rolled back once again.

"Sis, I'm leaving this idiot to you!"

Sōgo Shihoin tossed Kisuke Urahara's "corpse" to Yoruichi Shihōin.

"Sure!"

"Leave him to me!"

Yoruichi Shihōin hoisted the dazed Kisuke Urahara over her shoulder, brimming with energy.

"Goodbye..."

"Goodbye..."

The siblings spoke softly, turned around, and walked in different directions.

Their farewell needed no floods of tears. This mutual understanding was enough.

"Boo-hoo-hoo..."

"So moving!"

Crystal-clear tears streamed from the Big-Eyed Monk's eyes. He was touched.

"I'll beat you to death!"

Standing beside the Big-Eyed Monk, Sōgo Shihoin spoke with a smile.

"Hahaha... well then, let's get going too!"

Like a Sichuan opera face-changer, the Big-Eyed Monk instantly stopped crying and burst into laughter.

"We need to open a Garganta to get to Hueco Mundo, right? Can you do that?"

Sōgo Shihoin glanced at the Big-Eyed Monk, his words full of distrust.

"Listen to you. I've spent thousands of years in the Soul Society. You think opening a Garganta could stump me?"

As the Big-Eyed Monk spoke, the Zanpakuto in his hand was already released.

"Whether it's a Garganta or our Soul Reapers' Senkaimon, the principles are actually the same. There's basically no difference. With a slight adjustment, a Senkaimon can be connected to Hueco Mundo."

As the Big-Eyed Monk spoke, a Senkaimon slowly took shape before them.

"Go, Sōgo! Crush all those Hollows that trouble us Soul Reapers!"

The Big-Eyed Monk cheered Sōgo on, his words sounding like a Zanpakuto release command. Something like, "Crush him, Sōgo!"

"If I end up somewhere weird, I'll definitely beat you to death when I get back!"

Sōgo picked up the black bundle Ōetsu had given him and jumped into the Senkaimon without looking back.

Darkness! Pitch-black darkness! The kind where he couldn't see his fingers even if he held out his hand.

"Which way am I supposed to go now?"

Looking at the pitch-black expanse before him, Sōgo Shihoin scratched the back of his head in some frustration.

Whoosh!

Just as Sōgo was feeling troubled, the black bundle in his hand suddenly lit up, then shot out a beam of light to guide his way.

"Ōetsu really is the reliable one!"

Looking at the path gradually lighting up before him, Sōgo Shihoin followed the beam and sped forward.

Sōgo used Shunpo continuously, his figure flickering through the Dangai. His immense Spiritual Pressure forcibly carved a path through it.

Sōgo had no idea how long he traveled through that endlessly dark passage. The light before him grew brighter and brighter, until he could gradually make out everything in the distance...

On the outskirts of Hueco Mundo lay an endless desert. Unlike the Soul Society's buildings, which clearly brimmed with intelligence, the outskirts of Hueco Mundo showed not the slightest trace of intelligence or civilization.

It was as though Hueco Mundo was a world completely opposite to the Soul Society, representing humanity's most fundamental desires after death.

In the desert, several gecko-like Hollows wandered through the sand. Little Hollows like them were unfit even to be prey, let alone hunt. They wandered the desert all day, surviving by consuming the Reishi on Hueco Mundo's outskirts. Yet, ridiculous as it was, this was the most peaceful and stable place in all of Hueco Mundo.

Boom!

Just as the little gecko Hollows were about to breathe in Reishi as usual, Hueco Mundo's previously calm sky suddenly filled with cracks like glass, then shattered. A figure carrying immense Spiritual Pressure descended from the sky and plunged into the sand.

Before the little Hollows could even realize what had happened, that boundless Spiritual Pressure crushed them to pieces.

"Pfft!" Sōgo Shihoin crawled out of the sand and spat out the sand in his mouth, his brows tightly knitted. "Bastard! Big-Eyed Monk! I'm definitely killing you when I get back!"

"So this is Hueco Mundo?"

Looking at the endless desert before him, Sōgo Shihoin raised an eyebrow.

I saw a reader say they liked Tier Harribel. Great, I'm actually on Team Harribel too.

(End of chapter)