Chapter Twenty-One: Within the Hollow Realm

Many thanks to Rice Soup for making the cover for me… I am truly grateful.

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“Did you come to ask for my help?”

Achucas swung his enormous nose, speaking in a deep, resonant voice, “Have you lost your mind, Soul Reaper?”

“I am a Hollow, you are a Soul Reaper, and you want me to help you—do you really think I would?”

“Rest assured, I won’t let you walk away empty-handed.”

Chojirou placed his hand on the hilt of his blade. There was not a trace of the timidity or frivolity he once possessed; now, he seemed like a god presiding over life and death in the realm of Hollows.

“What benefit?”

Achucas brought his head closer to Chojirou, whispering.

“I can guarantee you will not die right now.”

“Pfft… hahahahahaha!”

Achucas suddenly raised his long nose and burst into loud laughter.

“You guarantee I won’t die? Are you joking, Soul Reaper?”

“My name is Gigadro, the strongest Achucas in this territory. You stand within my domain, and yet you dare speak such words to me. Or perhaps…”

Gigadro squinted his eyes, bringing his head even closer to Chojirou.

“You think that killing Emmetaros means you can defeat all Achucas in Hueco Mundo?”

“How naïve.”

Gigadro tapped Chojirou with his nose, his tone tinged with mockery.

“You probably don’t know, right? That Emmetaros fellow had strong spiritual pressure, but he was a picky eater—only consuming Soul Reapers. Because of that, his stamina and endurance were inferior even to ordinary Gillians.”

“He wasn’t even on the same level as us Achucas.”

“So?”

Ignoring Gigadro’s words, Chojirou asked in a cold voice.

“So…”

Gigadro suddenly raised his nose high, swinging it down at Chojirou.

“You will never defeat me!”

Boom!

As expected from a Hollow of the Achucas rank, the mere force of his nose sent a cloud of sand billowing across the ground, instantly obscuring Chojirou’s figure.

“There’s something I forgot to mention.”

“!”

He had thought his blow was fatal, yet Chojirou’s voice still echoed, and from the sound of it, his attack had barely harmed him. A flicker of fear stirred within Gigadro.

“You must have sensed when I used Bankai to kill that Achucas, right?”

“The reason I used Bankai was that I didn’t understand just how powerful Achucas really were. But now, I have a clearer idea…”

“If you’re not willing to help me…”

As the dust cleared, Chojirou stood revealed, blocking Gigadro’s long nose with a single arm.

“Then you can die.”

Shing!

Gigadro never even saw when Chojirou drew his blade. He only felt a chill on his nose—and then it was severed, flying away from his body.

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Unable to endure the pain, Gigadro howled loudly.

“Damn… damn… damn…”

“You damned Soul Reaper!”

“I’ll tear you to pieces!”

Buzz!

Gigadro opened his mouth, a massive red orb of light forming within, casting a terrifying glow.

Boom!

The red orb became a beam, striking the spot where Chojirou stood and consuming everything in its path.

“Let my nose be your burial! Hahahahahaha!”

“Oh? Was that a Cero just now? It’s my first time seeing one.”

“!!”

Chojirou was suddenly at Gigadro’s feet. Glancing at the sand behind him, still billowing with smoke, he remarked with some surprise, “It’s more powerful than I imagined.”

“You… when did you…”

Gigadro could hardly believe it—the Soul Reaper before him had managed to move to his side with flash steps, unnoticed.

“When did… what do you mean?”

“!”

Once more, a Captain Chojirou appeared before Gigadro, his clothes torn and battered, looking gravely injured.

Crack!

The blade of Yan Lingmaru crackled with lightning, the bolts converging into the shape of a sword, which Chojirou swung to sever Gigadro’s two left legs.

Boom!

With two legs lost, Gigadro could no longer support himself, collapsing to the ground.

“You… you… what was that…”

From the moment he fell, Gigadro knew he stood no chance. He had given up resistance, knowing survival was impossible, yet he did not understand why he had lost.

“‘Raijin’s Avatar.’”

The battered Chojirou raised his blade, while the intact Chojirou beside Gigadro slowly dissipated into lightning, returning to Yan Lingmaru.

“By manipulating lightning to create my likeness and deceive the enemy. But it can only be used once per battle; a second time, the difference between the avatar and the real body would be too obvious.”

Chojirou ran his hand through his hair, then shook the dust from his fingers.

“I merely wanted you to open a Garganta for me so I could return, but I didn’t expect you’d fight me to such lengths.”

“You came to Hueco Mundo… do you still plan to go back?” Gigadro said weakly. Though his mask was intact, Chojirou sheathed Yan Lingmaru, convinced that Gigadro, in his current state, no longer had the courage to fight.

“From the moment you arrived here… you were destined to die here, Soul Reaper.”

Gigadro raised his voice slightly, mocking Chojirou.

“No Hollow would help a Soul Reaper! This truth was set at the dawn of the world!”

Struggling, Gigadro lifted his head, roaring, “Prepare to die here with me!”

“Whether any Hollow will open a Garganta for me isn’t your concern, Achucas.”

Chojirou glanced at Gigadro before turning away, ignoring the half-dead creature. Even if he survived, he would likely become food for other Achucas or lesser Hollows.

“Quite the speech, and to think you still have some backbone, Gigadro.”

Boom!

Before Gigadro could reply, his head was crushed underfoot, his mask shattering and fragments flying everywhere. Some even struck Chojirou, but he had no time to care, for his body was now engulfed by a vast shadow.

“A captain-class Soul Reaper… haven’t seen one in ages…”

“That’s right, the last Soul Reaper was quite delicious…”

“And increased our power quite a bit…”

“The one before us can’t be much different—he’s captain-class as well…”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s attack…”

Five Achucas!

An unprecedented crisis pressed in on Chojirou!

“Oh… five. Perfect…”

Chojirou drew his blade once more.

“Perhaps you all can help me return.”

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