Chapter 684 Darkness: I Can't Hold It In Much Longer

The final expedition roster featured elites from all sides.

2nd Division's Lieutenant, Kato Megumi, skilled in covert operations... 4th Division's Third Seat, Kotetsu Isane, proficient in Kaido... and Kuchiki Rukia, who had great talent in Kido and hoped to gain combat experience through this expedition, so that upon her return she could inherit the will of the late Shiba Kaien and officially become the 13th Division's Lieutenant.

The 7th Division sent the most members, with Lieutenant Kocho Kanae as the leader, along with key members including her sister Kocho Shinobu, Katsura Kotonoha, Darkness, and Yuuki Asuna.

There were also many male members.

For instance, Abarai Renji, who was currently still with the 11th Division and hadn't yet transferred to the 6th Division, and Kira Izuru, who had just transferred from the 5th Division to the 3rd Division but hadn't yet been officially promoted to Lieutenant.

Hitsugaya Toshiro, the 10th Division's Third Seat, had also intended to join the expedition. But as the Gotei 13's priority prodigy, Yamamoto personally decided that he should remain in the Seireitei.

In case of any unexpected loss of Captain-class combat power in Hueco Mundo, the Seireitei needed a ready candidate to fill the gap.

Finally, after a unanimous discussion among the Captains, led by Captain-Commander Yamamoto, it was decided that 7th Division's Lieutenant, Kocho Kanae, would serve as the expedition's leader.

Her overall strength was among the very best among non-Captain-class Shinigami. Her steady personality and extensive command experience made her the only candidate to receive unanimous approval from all Captains.

A few days later, the expedition members assembled in front of the 2nd Division's barracks.

The 12th Division's large Senkaimon had been fully calibrated, ready to transport the team to that eternal desert of night.

Renji stood in the formation, looking around at the female squad members who filled most of the plaza. He scratched his conspicuous red hair, feeling a bit out of place, and nudged Kira beside him. "Hey, Izuru, don't you think we guys stand out a bit too much?"

Including him, the male members of the expedition probably accounted for only about thirty percent. The remaining seventy percent were female Shinigami pulled from various divisions.

This made Renji, who looked like a rough thug on the outside but was still a virgin on the inside, feel extremely uncomfortable.

Kira was also ill at ease. His perpetually worried face now showed an extra layer of helplessness. "There's no helping it. The number of outstanding female Shinigami has been exploding in recent years."

He subtly glanced at the 7th Division's female members standing not far away.

Just then, Renji suddenly spotted a familiar figure among the female members.

Rukia was standing on the other side of the formation, surrounded by several attendants wearing the Kuchiki Clan's distinctive Shihakusho, conducting final equipment checks on her behalf.

Renji instinctively raised his hand to greet her, his mouth half-open. But when he saw the Kuchiki Clan's attendants around Rukia and the prominent noble crest on her Shihakusho, his arm lowered again.

A surge of inexplicable inferiority rose from the depths of his heart.

Kira naturally knew what his old classmate was thinking. He sighed softly and patted Renji's shoulder. "She's in a different world from us now. Let it go, Renji."

Clap, clap, clap—

Just then, a crisp sound of applause came from the platform above.

Everyone turned their heads in unison to see the expedition leader, Kocho Kanae, already standing before the Senkaimon platform prepared by the 12th Division.

After gathering everyone's attention, Kanae addressed the members below: "Everyone, our primary objective is to reduce the number of Menos Grandes in Hueco Mundo to maintain the balance of souls in the three worlds."

"Our main targets are Adjuchas and below. If you encounter a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow, do not hesitate... run immediately."

She paused, her voice softening. "I have only one requirement for all of you: don't die."

"She's such a gentle leader. Completely different from our 11th Division's atmosphere."

Ayasegawa Yumichika, an 11th Division's seated officer, twirled his meticulously styled hair and whispered to his fellow seated officer, Madarame Ikkaku.

"Hmph! Transfer if you want. That's assuming they'll take you. The 7th Division only accepts female members. Though I think you'd fit right in."

Ikkaku shot back mercilessly.

Then, with the assistance of the 12th Division's Lieutenant, Kurotsuchi Nemu, the large Senkaimon slowly opened.

A bright white light poured out from within.

Nemu stood beside the Senkaimon, bowing slightly to the expedition members filing through. "May you all return safely."

With Nemu's blessing, Kanae was the first to step into the Senkaimon.

Her figure was swallowed by the white light as she crossed the Reishi Threshold. Then, the expedition members followed one by one, disappearing into the light.

The moment they stepped into Hueco Mundo, everyone was awestruck.

Above them hung an impossibly large crescent moon, its cold, bright light illuminating every detail of the endless white desert.

"So this is Hueco Mundo?"

Rukia stood on the white sand, gazing up at that massive crescent moon hanging at the edge of the sky.

Standing there in person, she could feel it was completely different from what she had learned in the academy textbooks.

The moment she finished speaking, the white sand beneath her feet began to shake violently.

The tremor nearly threw the members off balance.

Then, several Hollows, each nearly a hundred meters long, with pitch-black bodies and white, trunk-like masks covering their heads, burst from beneath the sand. Sand cascaded like waterfalls from their massive forms.

These were the lowest-level Gillians, without intelligence.

They were generally formed when a relatively strong Hollow devoured hundreds of ordinary souls.

They had no self-awareness, only the instinct to devour. And at this moment, all their instincts were locked onto this group of Shinigami radiating delicious Reiatsu.

"I didn't expect there to be so many Gillians! Wow, magnificent!"

Darkness, a 7th Division's seated officer, looked up at the several sky-covering behemoths. Then, she wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders involuntarily twisting, her expression becoming flushed and enraptured.

"If I were trampled underfoot by such a huge body, th-that would be so blissful... hah... hah..."

Hearing Darkness's thunderous remarks, Rukia, Renji, and everyone else were completely dumbfounded.

'Wait, what was she saying?!'

Asuna, standing next to Darkness, had had enough. She slapped her on the back of the head.

"Can you keep your weird fetishes in check in front of outsiders?!"

Darkness rubbed the back of her head, looking wronged.

There was no helping it... She had been in this world for decades now. Without Makoto around to torment her, she had been left with only her own hand every night. Her body was reaching its limit...

Kanae stood at the front of the formation, slowly drawing the blade at her waist.

Seeing her draw her sword, the surrounding members quickly composed themselves, placing their hands on their own hilts.

"Let me repeat one more time."

Kanae's voice reached every member clearly. "I have only one requirement for all of you... don't die."

The moment she finished speaking, she charged ahead, toward the towering behemoths.

Behind her, dozens of figures followed, sword lights weaving a cold silver net under the moonlight.