Chapter Nineteen: The Attack of the Hollows

A massive black body, ringed at the neck with white bony spikes, a white mask marked by deep crimson eyes—eyes brimming with murderous intent and frenzy, yet utterly devoid of reason. It was a Gillian.

A Gillian: the lowest among the ranks of Menos Grande, akin to a high-level foot soldier, but also a mindless machine driven solely by the urge to kill. Because it lacked intelligence, it was easily manipulated; yet for the same reason, it would never hesitate when faced with bloodshed.

Such was the nature of a Gillian.

Since achieving his initial release, Nagasumi had yet to face any Hollow directly—his adversaries until now had always been Soul Reapers. This was his first real battle against a Hollow. He never expected that his first encounter would be with a rare Gillian, a sight few witnessed in a century.

Still, beyond his surprise and excitement, Nagasumi felt no fear. Not only did he possess Bankai, but he also had an ally beside him; the outcome of this battle was already all but decided.

“A Gillian, is it? This is the first time I've actually seen one,” he said, drawing his sword without hesitation. He harbored no doubts, not even pausing to wonder why a Gillian would appear here.

“Oh? I’ve seen plenty of these creatures before,” Kusaya remarked, gazing up at the Gillian with unruffled composure, as if such a scene were nothing out of the ordinary.

“Is that so? I never realized you were so experienced.”

“Indeed, very experienced…”

Bang!

Nagasumi felt a sudden impact to his back, sending him hurtling toward the Gillian before him.

Yet the combat experience Nagasumi had accumulated in his battles with Shigekuni Yamamoto and Ichinoe Daisetsu rendered his reactions swift and keen. Though struck from behind, he managed to avoid serious injury—planting a hand on the ground, using the momentum to push back, landing safely, and widening the distance between himself and his assailant.

“So, you resort to ambush tactics…”

“Hah… Ambush? You certainly have the nerve to talk, Kusaya Genkai.”

Nagasumi forced a laugh, but his gaze turned ice-cold. Thankfully, he’d been on guard ever since first spotting Kusaya; otherwise, he'd have been gravely injured. Had he trusted him, he might already be dead.

“Heh, you figured out I was an imposter from the start, didn’t you?”

“It was just a guess…”

Even before Nagasumi had arrived here, he’d been summoned by Captain-General Yasuda and briefed on the situation.

“Here’s a list of the Soul Reapers who went missing in this area.”

“Missing?” Nagasumi looked at Yasuda quizzically and accepted the sheet of paper.

“Those sent to patrol District 75. There’s been no word from them for some time, so we wanted to send someone of captain-level strength to investigate.”

As it happened, among the jumble of unfamiliar names, the only one Nagasumi recognized was Kusaya Genkai.

“Pierce him, Spirit Blade!”

Once more, the familiar Western sword manifested in his hand, crackling with lightning.

“Impressive spiritual pressure, but aren’t you forgetting something?” Kusaya seemed utterly unfazed by Nagasumi’s killing intent, even lowering his guard with an air of nonchalance.

“What…?”

Just as Nagasumi hesitated, the Gillian behind him lashed out with a massive foot, sending him flying.

“Waaah!”

“This isn’t the place for our fight…” Kusaya’s grin was strange and mocking as he stepped aside.

Behind him, in the direction Nagasumi was flung, a bizarre black portal had opened.

“Come along, Nagasumi Suzume.”

With no way to resist, Nagasumi was booted into the black void by the Gillian.

With a harsh grinding sound, the portal sealed shut behind him, as if it had never existed.

“Well done,” Kusaya said, glancing up at the Gillian with a satisfied smile. “Time to feast—let’s head back before any Soul Reapers notice and cause trouble.”

The Gillian rumbled low and deep, retreating into the black fissure and vanishing from sight.

Once again, the forest returned to silence…

…

“Whoa!”

Tumbling from the black portal, Nagasumi landed headfirst and skidded a long distance along the ground in a most undignified manner.

“Oww! That’s hot!” The friction had been so intense that smoke rose from his hair—it looked nearly singed.

“Huh? Where am I?” Only after slapping out the last ember in his hair did Nagasumi realize he’d been kicked somewhere unknown by the Gillian.

A white desert stretched around him, dotted sparsely with leafless, withered trees. Stranger yet, though it had just been broad daylight, night now hung thickly overhead.

Had he been knocked out and only now regained consciousness?

“Welcome to my domain, Nagasumi Suzume.”

Startled, Nagasumi spun around.

Behind him, Kusaya Genkai approached at a leisurely pace, wearing a look of utter ease—yet his eyes gleamed with excitement and greed, like a predator gazing upon its prey.

“Your… domain?”

“That’s right. Here in Hueco Mundo, this is my territory.” Kusaya raised his hands, his voice brimming with pride and mockery. In his eyes, Nagasumi was already a meal, served up and ready.

“Hueco Mundo…?” No… it couldn’t be.

Nagasumi’s heart was on the verge of breaking. All he’d wanted was to while away his days in the Soul Society, gradually growing stronger, basking in the protection of powerhouses like Shigekuni Yamamoto—a life free from worry.

Why had it come to this?

“Don’t tell me you still haven’t realized I’m a Hollow? I did say it’s been ages since I last saw a Soul Reaper.”

No way… It was true.

Nagasumi’s face twisted with embarrassment. He’d suspected Kusaya was suspicious, but never truly imagined it would turn out as he feared—a Hollow in disguise.

This was the worst possible outcome.

Disappearance, kidnapping, accidental falls—anything was preferable to being possessed by a Hollow. If his body were stolen, wouldn’t that be the ultimate loss?

“You still have time to daydream? What a strange Soul Reaper you are.” Kusaya grinned, recalling how every Shinigami he’d brought to Hueco Mundo before had trembled with terror—some had even begged for their lives, laughably pitiful.

And yet, this Nagasumi Suzume not only remained unfazed after uncovering his true identity, but still found time to stand there in a daze.

Was he paralyzed with fear—or simply a fool?

“Well, never mind. If you can remain so relaxed after learning who I am…”

A soft crackling sound. Kusaya’s body began to disintegrate into spiritual particles—no, not his body, just his outer shell.

His Shihakusho and human features faded into the air, revealing a vast, monstrous form beneath.

A rasping, guttural growl sounded from the Hollow, grating on the ears.

But Nagasumi had no choice now but to summon every ounce of his spirit to confront the enemy before him.

For he now stood face to face with an Adjuchas.