Chapter Twenty: Achucas

Far less massive than a Gillian, yet possessing spiritual pressure far surpassing that of any Gillian, and, most importantly, a clarity of mind that Gillians could never attain. This was an Adjuchas.

And standing before Nagatsuro was precisely such an Adjuchas.

"Well then, are you ready to be devoured?" The Adjuchas extended its crimson tongue, staring at Nagatsuro through its fearsome mask.

"Devoured by you?" Nagatsuro raised his hand, lifting the Yanling Pill high above his head.

"Sorry, I don't plan on it just yet."

"Bankai—"

"What..." The Adjuchas was instantly dumbfounded. He had never imagined he’d face a Soul Reaper capable of Bankai.

In his mind, only the captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads could wield Bankai. How could this obscure Soul Reaper before him possibly use such an advanced technique?

But he was wrong, for Nagatsuro was precisely that kind of Soul Reaper.

Thunder roared, rolling across the sky, not only deafening but also summoning dense clouds that blotted out the pitch-black night.

"Radiant Palace of the Yanling Pill."

Nagatsuro was not afraid of death. After all, his opponent was a high-level Hollow, above Gillian. Even with captain-class power, Nagatsuro knew he could not defeat an Adjuchas with only his initial release.

Moreover, this Adjuchas was beginning to show signs of power surpassing even the captain level.

Yet, faced with Nagatsuro’s Bankai, the Adjuchas faltered.

"You... you... How are you able to use Bankai?"

The Soul Reaper before him seemed like the god of thunder, radiating a brilliance that could not be stared at directly and exerting a spiritual pressure that pressed upon the soul.

"You never asked, so I see no reason to explain." Nagatsuro extended a finger—the prelude to his Thunderstrike.

"Don’t forget, I’m not alone here!"

As he spoke, the Gillian who had accompanied him earlier suddenly emerged from the desert, standing imposingly behind Nagatsuro.

"This Gillian is my subordinate. He obeys only my commands, so you might as well abandon hope..."

A golden bolt of lightning crashed down, directly striking the Gillian behind him.

The unfortunate Gillian didn’t even manage to utter a sound before being reduced to charcoal, his body disintegrating into a pile of spirit particles in the Hollow World.

"And don’t forget..." Nagatsuro glanced down at the Adjuchas. "I am using Bankai."

"A mere Gillian could never rival my Bankai."

This time, Nagatsuro raised two fingers.

The Adjuchas, seasoned in the Hollow World, was highly attuned to danger. Seeing Nagatsuro raise his fingers, he immediately leapt backward.

"Your reflexes are impressive, but do you really think you can outrun the speed of Thunderstrike?"

Another golden pillar of lightning crashed down, enveloping the Adjuchas before he could even lift his head.

"Sorry, a single bolt of lightning doesn’t seem sufficient..."

While the Adjuchas was still reeling, yet another bolt struck him.

"Hmm, I was hoping to ask how that felt..."

Nagatsuro pinched his chin, sounding somewhat regretful. "Perhaps the power was too overwhelming?"

Before him lay a massive hunk of charred flesh, still steaming with white smoke.

"But you shouldn’t be dead yet."

Panting heavily, the Adjuchas had survived two Bankai-level bolts, a testament to his extraordinary resilience and vitality.

"Curse you... Soul Reaper..."

After being struck twice by Bankai’s lightning, the battle was settled; the Adjuchas no longer dreamed of devouring the Soul Reaper before him.

The rumbling thunder gradually faded, and the dense clouds in the sky began to dissipate, revealing the original pitch-black night.

With a soft snap, the Yanling Pill reverted from its rapier form to its original, sealed appearance.

"The winner is decided."

Nagatsuro lifted his head slightly, surprised by the sheer power his Bankai wielded—even an Adjuchas with spiritual pressure exceeding that of a captain had proved so feeble before it.

"Don’t get so pleased with yourself... Have you forgotten where you are... Soul Reaper..."

With a half-dead breath, the Adjuchas boasted, "This is the Hollow World—the domain of Hollows."

"How long do you think you can survive here, alone?"

"So what?"

Unmoved by the Adjuchas’s threats, Nagatsuro remained cool, gazing at the Adjuchas, who, even while sprawled on the ground, towered several heads above him.

"You’re doomed! Without a way to return to the Soul Society, you won’t last a single day here! Don’t you understand, Soul Reaper?!"

The Adjuchas roared arrogantly, supporting his body with his scorched arm and managing to stand again.

"I admit defeat this time, but you won’t live much longer! I’ll be waiting for you in Hell..."

Before he finished, his voice vanished.

The reason was simple: Nagatsuro had already cleaved him in two with his Zanpakuto.

"How dare the weak make such noise."

Nagatsuro cast a contemptuous glance at the Adjuchas’s corpse, now split in two and collapsing with a dull thud, then sheathed his blade.

"Gloating over misfortune—you’re not qualified for that."

...........................................

Night—or, more accurately, what Nagatsuro perceived as night.

For in this place, there was no distinction between day and night.

"Ahhh! What am I supposed to do? I haven’t encountered a single Hollow!"

Nagatsuro sat on the ground, clutching his head in frustration.

He’d been searching for nearly a day, yet hadn’t spotted even the shadow of a Hollow. How could the Hollow World have no Hollows? What madness was this?!

Perhaps the world’s population hadn’t reached billions yet, so the number of Hollows was correspondingly low?

Such thoughts came to him, rather shamelessly.

"Hey, isn’t this rare—a Soul Reaper in the Hollow World?"

!

Just as Nagatsuro was lamenting, the second Hollow he’d seen appeared behind him.

"Heh... Must be that guy Emittaros who brought you here. Only he loves eating Soul Reapers in this area."

A massive, elephant-like Hollow swung its long trunk and said, "You’re not an ordinary Soul Reaper. Although Emittaros is the weakest Adjuchas around here, he’s not someone just any Soul Reaper can handle. You’ve piqued my interest."

"The weakest Adjuchas around here? I see. In other words..."

"You’re an Adjuchas too, aren’t you?"

Nagatsuro slowly turned around, his voice icy. "That’s perfect. I have a few things I’d like your help with..."

"Just accept your fate."