"Some things are better left unsaid," Sombravida said with a faint smile.
"Alright. We're returning to the city. Have all Shinigami withdraw immediately. And one last reminder—be wary of Aizen Sōsuke. If you ever get the chance… eliminate him."
With that, Sombravida and Nel departed using Sonído, disappearing toward the city skyline.
Hirako watched them go.
"Hey, Urahara," he muttered.
Urahara Kisuke's expression had subtly changed beneath the brim of his striped hat.
"That Hollow," Urahara said instead of answering directly, "what are his abilities?"
"Spatial manipulation," Hirako replied grimly. "Extremely refined. He can anchor coordinates mid-combat. Also concealment techniques—very advanced. I couldn't track him once he displaced."
"And the female Adjuchas?"
"Unknown ability set. But her reiatsu stabilized after absorbing my arm. She's at peak Adjuchas now."
Urahara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Spatial abilities…" he repeated quietly.
That was not a common Hollow trait.
Meanwhile—
Sombravida and Nel returned to the city.
No Shinigami obstructed them.
Sombravida activated his concealment domain briefly and swept across multiple districts. He detected only distant captain-class spiritual pressure signatures observing from afar.
No lieutenant-level fluctuations remained in the city.
Good.
They had withdrawn.
Sombravida had no intention of harming humans. He had been human once himself. Random slaughter served no purpose.
"Master," Nel asked softly, standing in the now-empty municipal library, "how much should we take?"
"This row. That section. And the entire communications shelf," Sombravida replied, moving methodically.
Language.
Physics.
Electromagnetic theory.
Signal engineering.
Wave propagation.
He selected foundational texts rather than specialized advanced research volumes.
"Hueco Mundo lacks structured civilization," Sombravida muttered. "But principles of wave transmission remain consistent. Reishi still vibrates. It can still propagate."
"Even if reishi density is higher?" Nel tilted her head.
"Even then. We adapt."
He also pulled several mechanical engineering manuals, electrical system design books, and multiple firearm schematics.
Then—
He paused.
And grabbed a stack of manga volumes.
"…Timd might need these."
Nel carried everything in a large reinforced travel bag.
Sombravida glanced at her antelope form briefly.
Convenient transportation, indeed.
"All set, Master."
"Next, base station hardware."
They moved.
Sombravida dismantled several non-essential signal relay components from a suburban telecommunications tower, carefully removing antennas, signal amplifiers, and a small modular transmitter.
He transported them piece by piece using short-range spatial displacement to avoid structural collapse.
He did not destroy infrastructure—only removed isolated components.
When he returned—
Nel had devoured half a fruit stand.
Sombravida stared.
"…There are dozens of fruit stalls on this street."
Nel blinked innocently.
Since half was already gone, Sombravida simply took the rest.
He left no visible supernatural traces—only what would appear to be theft.
Before departing, Sombravida looked toward the distant captain-level reiatsu signatures and gave a small wave.
Then—
He opened Garganta.
The black fissure split space.
And they left.
"They're gone," Urahara confirmed quietly, lowering a modified spiritual pressure detection device.
Hirako stood beside him, arm bound in Kidō-based stabilization.
"I withdrew all Shinigami before they entered the city," Hirako said. "I'll delay the report."
Urahara nodded.
Both understood the implications of what had been mentioned:
The Hōgyoku.
Aizen.
And spatial manipulation.
"I'll handle the explanation," Urahara added. "You losing an arm is convenient cover."
Hirako stared into the night sky.
"…Do you think any of what he said was true?"
Urahara was silent for a long moment.
"Information from a Hollow is unreliable," he said carefully. "But dismissing it outright would be foolish."
Hirako exhaled slowly.
"Something feels wrong."
Meanwhile—
Sombravida and Nel traveled back toward Hueco Mundo through Garganta.
Sombravida knew expecting the Gotei 13 to eliminate Aizen was unrealistic.
Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis activates upon witnessing its Shikai release. Once affected, the victim's five senses are entirely under Aizen's control.
Unless one avoids ever seeing the release—or touches the blade before activation—escape is nearly impossible.
Even captain-level perception becomes meaningless.
Strength does not counter illusion.
Awareness does.
Sombravida could not rely on Hirako or Urahara.
He would rely on himself.
He calculated timelines carefully.
If this was Turn Back the Pendulum era—
Aizen's experiments were already underway.
He needed to reach Vasto Lorde-level strength before Aizen's Hueco Mundo involvement escalated.
Their return journey was slower due to the delicate human equipment.
Three months through Garganta.
One more month across the inner territories.
Nearly half a year had passed when Sombravida returned.
Jekain had already brought Timd from the Forest of Menos.
When Timd saw the haul—
His eyes locked not onto the signal transmitter.
But onto the manga volumes.
Sombravida said nothing.
He handed everything over.
Timd's clone ability proved invaluable.
Each independent clone could study separate subjects simultaneously.
Once recombined, knowledge consolidated seamlessly.
Parallel processing.
An absurd research advantage.
Sombravida also refined Timd's combat applications.
Micro-clone infiltration.
Internal detonation.
Cero discharge from within enemy bodies.
If opponent reiatsu was not overwhelmingly superior—
Timd became lethal.
Hundreds of clones dispersed into the base's cavern system, each carrying texts.
Sombravida's stronghold, carved into cliffside stone, expanded steadily.
Mud-type Hollow units stabilized structural integrity.
Civil engineering books were assigned accordingly.
Two years had passed since Sombravida entered the inner circle.
Influence stabilized.
Subordinate development accelerated.
Only small scout groups remained in the Forest of Menos.
Sombravida summoned Jekain.
"No sightings of Szayelaporro or Grimmjow?" Sombravida asked.
"None," Jekain replied.
However—
One prisoner had broken.
Chiliamela.
A mid-level Adjuchas formerly under Barragan's command.
Location of Barragan's domain disclosed.
Distance: three months via standard Garganta transit.
Shorter if using sustained high-speed Sonído inside Garganta.
The other captives had been executed.
Only Chiliamela and Grimmjow's subordinate remained.
Sombravida entered the holding cavern.
Chiliamela lay weakened but conscious.
"Your name?" Sombravida asked.
"Ch… Chiliamela."
"I'll give you a month to recover," Sombravida said calmly. "Then you guide me to Barragan. I release you afterward."
"I… I'll guide you."
Sombravida poured a restorative powder across the Hollow's wounds.
Physical regeneration accelerated.
Reiatsu recovery would take longer.
"Guard him with two high-tier Adjuchas," Sombravida ordered. "If he attempts escape, execute immediately."
"Yes, my lord."
Outside—
Nel tilted her head.
"Why wait a month? We could leave now."
"What if Barragan sends another probing force in that time?" Sombravida replied lightly. "We harvest more resources. And we let Chiliamela understand our strength."
Two months passed.
Territory fortified.
Outer patrols extended.
Finally—
Barragan's third envoy arrived.
A towering Hollow approached, accompanied by eight high-level Adjuchas.
The leader itself—
Peak Adjuchas.
Reiatsu density inferior to Sombravida's.
"You rule here?" it demanded.
"Yes," Sombravida replied calmly. "Are you here to talk? Or fight?"
"Is Chiliamela here?"
"You have impressive tracking methods," Sombravida replied evenly. "Care to explain them?"
"Answer me!"
A Cero fired without warning.
Sombravida did not move.
Nel stepped forward instantly.
Her Cero erupted—
Twice compressed.
Higher density.
Simultaneously—
Sombravida used Sonído and appeared directly before the envoy.
Void Strike condensed around his right claw.
He targeted the mask.
The envoy attempted to elevate reiatsu output to block both attacks.
Too slow.
Nel's Cero destabilized its guard.
Sombravida's Void Strike shattered its mask.
The explosion tore through its head.
Nel's Cero pierced its torso immediately after.
A peak Adjuchas—
Instantly killed in coordinated strike.
The remaining eight froze.
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