"Honestly, the Captain and Lieutenant could be a little more discreet."
The 8th Division members on morning patrol covered their faces as they passed the Captain's office.
The sliding doors were wide open.
Inside, Batsu'unsai and Kazuma were lying on the tatami mats, wrapped in an embrace, fast asleep.
The patrol gently pulled the doors shut and fled.
"Mmm... I haven't slept this comfortably in a long time." Just as Batsu'unsai was about to stretch, she realized her arms were pinned.
Opening her bleary eyes, she found herself tucked into Kazuma's chest. She glanced around the empty office and exhaled.
"Thank goodness no one saw. How embarrassing."
Now awake, Batsu'unsai shifted, trying to free herself.
"Don't move, Batsu'unsai... sleep." Kazuma's voice made her jump.
'Thank goodness, he's just talking in his sleep,' she thought.
She gave him a shove.
No reaction.
Stealthily, she slipped out of his arms and tiptoed out of her own office.
...
It was high noon by the time Kazuma woke up.
"Hiss, my head hurts. I shouldn't have drunk so much. Where's Batsu'unsai?"
'I should head to the First Division. I still have to master Kidō and Hakuda. Time is tight.' Kazuma gave instructions to the on-duty squad and hurried toward the First Division.
"You're early. I thought you'd take a day off," Yamamoto said before Kazuma could speak.
He shoved three heavy scrolls into Kazuma's hands: Kidō Incantations Compendium, Hakuda Techniques, and Hueco Mundo Survival Guide.
"I compiled these. Read them yourself. And do not die in Hueco Mundo."
'What's with this? The old man is brushing me off,' Kazuma thought as he was summarily dismissed.
...
Back at the 8th Division, Batsu'unsai saw him off.
"Kazuma, be careful in Hueco Mundo. This isn't the Rukongai. If something happens, no one can save you. I'll be waiting for you to come back for nabe," her tone was earnest.
"I know, I know. Just wait for me!" Kazuma drew his Zanpakutō, tore open a Garganta, and stepped into the void.
Passing through the Garganta, Kazuma officially set foot in Hueco Mundo.
As far as the eye could see, the realm was desolate.
No streets, no buildings—only an endless expanse of white quartz sand dotted with petrified quartz trees.
A single, eternal crescent moon hung in the black sky. Hueco Mundo knew no dawn.
'The environment is a complete contrast to the Soul Society. The only upside is the sheer density of Reishi in the atmosphere. This will accelerate my growth.' Just as Kazuma took a breath, a Hollow lunged from the dunes.
To a Hollow, the taste of a Shinigami's soul was far sweeter than ambient Reishi.
Kazuma drew his blade, bisected the creature in a single strike, and sheathed it.
Hueco Mundo was vast, and he had no landmarks.
Hunting fodder Hollows served no purpose. He decided to study the old man's scrolls first.
Flipping through the Kidō Incantations Compendium, Kazuma absorbed the principles of spellcraft.
By weaving Spiritual Pressure, a Shinigami could launch long-range attacks (Hadō), erect defenses, or bind targets (Bakudō).
'Hmm? Why aren't the principles of Kaidō recorded here? It seems if I want to learn the Healing Arts, I'll have to ask Captain Unohana. Kaidō hasn't been formalized yet.'
Kazuma organized his thoughts.
The plan was to find ordinary Hollows, practice Kidō, and improve his casting speed.
Fodder Hollows weren't worth drawing his sword.
The great sweep of Hueco Mundo had begun!
...
"Charge!"
"Hadō Four: Byakurai!"
Kazuma started his practice with the lowest-level Kidō.
A streak of pale lightning pierced a Hollow's mask.
'It feels great not having to draw my sword. I'm like a mage casting from the backline. Maybe I should transfer to the Kidō Corps.'
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!"
"Hadō Thirty-One: Shakkahō!"
A massive sphere of crimson fire erupted from Kazuma's palm, incinerating an attacking Hollow.
'This really feels like grinding mobs to level up.'
Suddenly, a thick, crimson Cero shot across the dunes, aimed straight for him.
'Not bad. After days of wandering here, I finally found a Menos, even if it's just a Gillian.'
"Bakudō Thirty-Nine: Enkōsen." A circular shield of condensed Reiatsu flared to life, deflecting the Cero.
Kazuma triggered Shunpo, closing the distance instantly.
"Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!"
"Bakudō Sixty-One: Rikujōkōrō."
Six beams of solid light slammed into the Gillian's midsection, paralyzing it.
Kazuma raised his hand, preparing to cast Sōkatsui to finish it off, but an idea struck him.
He drew his Zanpakutō and delivered a shallow slash across the Gillian's mask.
He controlled his force perfectly—enough to cause agony, but not to kill.
Writhing in pain, the Gillian shattered the Rikujōkōrō bindings and turned to flee.
'If I remember correctly, the Menos Grande congregate in the Forest of Menos, located deep beneath the quartz sands.' Kazuma tracked the Gillian at a leisurely pace.
He followed it to a massive sinkhole, where the beast dove headfirst into the sand.
Kazuma observed the shifting dunes and jumped in after it.
A massive subterranean fissure opened before him. It was pitch-black, echoing with the guttural roars of thousands of Hollows.
Kazuma followed the winding tunnel down.
He arrived in the Forest of Menos.
Towering quartz trees formed a dense, claustrophobic canopy. The Reishi density here was suffocating.
As Kazuma ventured deeper, he sensed multiple massive signatures converging on his location.
A pack of towering Gillians emerged from the petrified forest, surrounding him.
'Goodness. A whole herd. I can finally test my Shikai on a proper crowd!'
The lead Gillian roared, a Cero charging at the tip of its elongated tongue.
Kazuma sidestepped the beam and drew his blade.
"Beneath the starry firmament, let thunder shatter the nine heavens. Slay gods and vanquish demons. Strike down, Raiteiken!"
The blinding flash of purple lightning illuminated the subterranean forest.
Kazuma kicked off the ground and charged.
The lead Gillian swung a massive, clawed hand to intercept him.
Kazuma chained two Shunpo steps, vanishing from its line of sight, and cast a rapid-fire Bakudō mid-air to shackle its arms.
Tightening his grip on the silver-wrapped hilt, Kazuma plummeted from the canopy.
He brought the blade down in a devastating arc.
The blade traced a blinding blue line through the air.
With a sickening crunch, the strike cleaved the Gillian cleanly in two. The Menos dissolved into ash before its halves hit the ground.
"Come on! Give me a good fight. Seems like only a Menos can hold my interest today!" Kazuma smiled, lightning arcing off his blade.
The hunt had begun!