Chapter Twenty-Three: Alone and Unlucky

“Unmatched? That’s a bit much…” Chojirou muttered under his breath, “Lord Funo’s strength is nothing to scoff at.” Still, this was an opportunity— Though mildly annoyed by Reyes’s arrogance, Chojirou quickly began weighing his options for action.

‘I could use this rare chance; with the Garganta these Hollows open, I might return to the Soul Society. But—’ Chojirou was acutely aware of another issue.

By his estimation, these Hollows were likely acting together, which would make it difficult for him to conceal his spiritual pressure, quietly deal with one, and then use the Garganta it opened to return. Or perhaps he could find a Gillian, take it out, and slip into the group. That, too, was a possibility.

But what worried Chojirou most was the next, harsh reality. On the other side of the Garganta, within the fracture, there would be over a thousand Hollows. With his strength only just reaching Captain level, he already faced more chances of loss than victory even against the humanoid Hollow leading them. Add a thousand more, and he’d be torn to shreds the moment he showed himself…

In short, the real challenge was how to blend in among those thousand Hollows in the fracture without being discovered. That was the crux of the matter.

“For now, I’ll wait here… I’ll see what they do before making a move…” Chojirou decided to observe their actions and decide his next step accordingly.

………………………………………………

A solitary moon hung high in the sky, stark and abrupt against the pitch-black night. Suddenly, a hand appeared beside the moon, clenching as if to pluck it from the heavens.

Snap— The fist tightened gently, then slowly released. The moon remained, high and indifferent in the night sky.

So it could not be taken. His strength still could not reach the heavens.

Reyes gazed at his hand, the golden eyes beneath his bone mask narrowing slightly. Then, raising his left hand, he tore off his right—the one that had failed to reach the moon—in an instant.

Blood spurted from the wound, its channel severed, but Reyes showed no sign of pain, staring blankly at his severed hand.

“Doesn’t such self-mutilation hurt?”

“So, it’s you…”

The sudden voice pulled Reyes from his trance. He looked down from his rocky perch to see a massive wild boar-shaped Hollow approaching.

“Debitoru.”

“Doesn’t it hurt?” Debitoru repeated his question, showing none of the fear toward Reyes that most Hollows did.

“This isn’t even close to the pain of his strike, back then…” A surge of white matter burst from Reyes’s wound, contracting and reshaping into a new hand.

“You know full well, Reyes,” Debitoru said, looking up at the humanoid Hollow towering dozens of times above him. “Our strength still cannot rival Soul Society.”

“There are Hollows in Hueco Mundo, but Soul Society has Shinigami as well.”

“In both numbers and power, we’re far behind them.”

“So what’s driving this reckless assault? What’s really happened?”

“No particular reason,” Reyes replied without hesitation, his tone easy.

“I just don’t want to stand idle in this barren land anymore. Breathing this moistureless air alone makes me sick.”

“Don’t you yearn for more, Debitoru?” Reyes extended a finger, curling it slightly to point at the sky.

“Why must Hollows live in such places? Why is it only the Shinigami who dwell in the resource-rich Soul Society, while we must hunt for food in constant fear of being killed by them?”

He dropped his hand, the extended finger tapping the ground.

“I’m done enduring it. Besides, we’re not fighting alone this time.”

“Who else?”

…

Night descended, and silence reigned.

……………………………………………………

“Whoa… That’s a full-on charge…”

Chojirou stood atop a nearby sand dune, shading his eyes as he watched a vast swarm of Hollows gather, one after another opening Garganta and slipping inside.

“Damn… Still couldn’t come up with a good plan…” Though Chojirou could now suppress his spiritual pressure, he wasn’t about to take such a risk. If he were exposed, he’d face the wrath of over a thousand Hollows—just the thought made his scalp tingle.

“Ah well… Guess I’ll have to wait for the next opportunity…” Though frustrated, Chojirou had no choice but to give up this chance.

“How long will I have to wait for the next one…? Hm? What’s that…”

Dejected, Chojirou suddenly spotted a small, panicked figure hurrying from afar toward the Hollow army.

“Alone? No way… Is this really happening…?”

‘Cut the nonsense. Are you going to take the chance or not?’

“Yes………………” Whatever the case, it was an opportunity—one he couldn’t afford to waste.

After a moment’s thought, Chojirou drew his sword, and with his still-unpolished flash step, dashed toward the lone Hollow.

“Huff… huff…” The stray Hollow was running for all he was worth, desperate to catch up. Whatever unknown misfortune befell him—be it a stomachache or a cramped leg—he had overslept and was late.

“Wait… wait for me…” Out of breath, he’d clearly run a long way already.

Unfortunately, Chojirou was not one for mercy or compassion. He lived by the rule of crushing the weakest fruit, and this Hollow’s bad luck was nobody’s fault but his own.

Chojirou’s strength far outstripped the Hollow’s, so even though his flash step lacked refinement, his surprise attack left the Hollow unable to even make a sound. Chojirou floored him with a swift kick and pressed his blade to the Hollow’s neck.

“If you want to live, stay quiet…”

“E-e-e-e-eh? A Shinigami!!!”

Pinned underfoot, the Hollow cried out in shock. He never imagined he’d encounter a Shinigami here in Hueco Mundo!

Wham! Chojirou stomped on the Hollow’s mouth, forcing him into silence.

“Listen, just do as I say and I won’t kill you.”

“Y-yes…”

The Hollow was now terrified, eager to comply with anything Chojirou asked.

“Open a Garganta for me. Follow behind those other Hollows and don’t get us noticed. Once I make it back to Soul Society, I’ll let you go.”

“S-Soul Society? Are you kidding? If I go there with you, I’m dead for sure—mmph!”

Before the Hollow could finish, Chojirou stomped on his mouth again.

“Idiot, you can open the Garganta again to leave. I’ll let you go back.”

“Like you’d really—mmph!”

Chojirou grinned wickedly, stomping for a third time to cut him off.

“One more word and I’ll kill you.”

“Yes…”

And so, a strange partnership was forged between them…