Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 178 - Half a Year

The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force had four missions.

One: kill Hollow Beasts in four-man squads wherever possible. The goal was to build squad coordination and train them to fight above their weight class. Take that mid-stage Adjuchas they brought down earlier, if those dozen-plus squad members had fought individually, the outcome didn't need thinking about. They'd have been wiped out. But because they worked together seamlessly, attacking and defending in turn, even though they couldn't drive the enemy off quickly, as the thing wore down, sooner or later they'd drag it to its death.

Two: capture Hollow Beasts deemed special and bring them back to the Seireitei for Mayuri Kurotsuchi to study. This was the task Kurotsuchi had given Wayne. If they found a Hollow Beast with unique abilities, they could capture it alive or extract a sample. As for quantity, there was no requirement. This was the first time doing anything like this, and Kurotsuchi certainly hadn't put his full focus on it. That these expedition elites came back alive at all was already a blessing.

Three: locate the Vasto Lorde-class Hollow known as Ace Wayne. According to Aizen's reports and the Hollow Beast that had appeared during the last attack, this Vasto Lorde named Ace Wayne was the prime suspect. And Wayne just so happened to use the investigation into Ace Wayne as an excuse to head toward his own stronghold and search for his former subordinates.

Four: investigate the truth behind the Hollowfication incident. This was Aizen's doing and couldn't yet be reported upward. This mission was destined to yield nothing.

Half a year had passed since Wayne arrived in Hueco Mundo. In that time, of the sixteen people across the four squads, only eleven remained. The number had been cut nearly in half. Wayne had captured sixteen Hollow Beasts and obtained their samples, storing them in the special containers Kurotsuchi had given him.

After half a year of campaigning, the eleven who remained were utterly exhausted, everyone except Wayne. In Hueco Mundo, Wayne could absorb the Reishi here without restraint, convert it into Reiatsu matching the Hollow Beasts, and pour it into his Zanpakuto. His Zanpakuto could also obtain Reishi through battle, or even by plunging into the sand. Of course, the amount gained that way wasn't high; the greater supply still came from Wayne's own conversion.

Half a year of campaigning, and of the four missions, the only one Wayne hadn't completed was Kurotsuchi's task. The remaining three were simply impossible to finish. Because in that half year, Wayne hadn't found a single Hollow Beast belonging to his own faction. And when he finally pried his location out of a captured Hollow Beast, Wayne learned he was in the southeastern part of Hueco Mundo. The distance to his former stronghold was thousands upon thousands of miles. With that kind of distance, there was no way he could bring people across.

To cross the central mountain range, where no small number of Vasto Lorde-class Hollows dwelled, with an obstacle like that, leading these squad members across was impossible.

"Sir, we've been in Hueco Mundo for half a year. Should we consider heading back?"

After half a year of campaigning, the squad members were exhausted to the bone. The Adjuchas-class Hollow Beasts that had died under their blades numbered eighty if not a hundred. Half a year of life-or-death trials had forged them through countless battles. Their Reiatsu and combat experience had all improved dramatically. But spending so long steeped in battle and constant fear had pushed their minds to the brink. Some would wake mid-sleep and suddenly draw their swords.

Because Wayne had been the one leading everyone through these campaigns, the squad members had gradually all started addressing him as "Sir." It was respect, and also fear of Wayne's power.

"Not yet." Wayne shook his head. "We've only completed one mission in half a year. If we go back like this, we'll be laughed out of town." In six months in Hueco Mundo, Wayne had gained nothing on the whereabouts of his own faction. This place was far from his heartland. And with so many people in tow, if he truly wanted to reach the west, it wasn't something that could be done in a year or so.

"Bullshit! You just want to use us for your own selfish goals!"

Half a year later, that Squad 10 member who had always held a grudge against Wayne was still alive, only now, two ugly scars marked his face. A Hollow Beast had ambushed him during a capture. Had Wayne not rescued him in time, he would have died on the spot. But judging from the current situation, not only did he show no gratitude, he blamed everything on Wayne. If Wayne hadn't insisted on coming to Hueco Mundo for this expedition, he'd still be enjoying a comfortable life back in Squad 10.

"Serving the Soul Society and resolving its troubles — how is that using anyone? We all came to complete the mission the Seireitei assigned."

Wayne had been ignoring this man's outbursts all along, mainly because three Squad 5 members were still present. Who could say whether those three were Aizen's plants? So Wayne had always faced the Hollows with a posture of vengeance, just so Aizen couldn't get anything on him. Who knew whether they were carrying surveillance items? For all he knew, Aizen might be watching his side's live feed through some screen right now.

"Nonsense! For half a year, you've been dragging us around hunting mid-stage Adjuchas and above, and you've gotten half our brothers killed. But the missions the higher-ups gave us — you've paid them no mind. Now we don't even know what Ace Wayne looks like. If that's not your own personal revenge, then what is it?! If you want to get yourself killed, go alone! I'm going back!"

As he spoke, the Squad 10 member stood up, ready to open a Senkaimon. His two teammates stood with him, along with one Squad 5 member from another team.

Bzzzt!

Wayne's Zanpakuto left its sheath. A pale blue sword gleam flashed before their eyes and shot toward a large tree in the distance.

With a boom, the blade-light cleaved through the tree, slammed into the ground, and kicked up a violent gust.

"Lady Mizusue. Desertion in the face of the enemy — according to Soul Society regulations, how is it handled?" Wayne's expression didn't change. He directed the question to Mizusue, who sat behind him.

"..." Mizusue was silent for a moment before she spoke. "Desertion in the face of the enemy is treated as treason. Those present have the right to execute first and report later."

"You!" The Squad 10 member was livid. That blade-light had practically grazed his hair. He'd seen a few severed strands drifting down before his eyes.

"You want to murder a teammate?!"

"What face does a deserter have to call himself my teammate?" Wayne's expression went ice-cold. He might swing again at any moment.

But right then, a roar sounded. Beside the tree Wayne had just cleaved, a Hollow Beast burst out of the sand. With a shriek, it charged straight at them.

"Enemy attack! Mid-stage Adjuchas!" Mizusue called out.

"Form up! Engage!" Wayne stopped looking at that squad member. He gripped his Zanpakuto and prepared for battle.

Skree-ong!

A grating roar came from the Hollow Beast's mouth. It was a grotesque thing with wings growing from its back. Its body wasn't particularly large, still over twice the height of a man, but combined with its humanoid torso, Wayne concluded its speed was likely not slow.

And the strength it displayed matched his assessment. Its speed made it extremely difficult for the Soul Reapers below to handle.

"Tsuki. This is the worst type to deal with." Dodging a Cero from the Hollow Beast, Mizusue fell back to Wayne's side.

"That's exactly what makes it training." Wayne's tone was cold, his expression unchanged. Behind his tinted lenses, his eyes were locked on the Hollow Beast.

"Tsuki..." Mizusue's brow furrowed. She could sense it, after arriving in Hueco Mundo, Wayne's personality had shifted. He was no longer warm and genial. He'd turned increasingly icy. It didn't match his usual image.

Yagami Kina's death was bound to affect someone who valued bonds this deeply. But Mizusue knew Wayne was absolutely not the type to let hatred cloud his judgment.

He was still hiding something from her.

Skree-ong!

The Adjuchas was besieged by two groups of Soul Reapers. Its speed and Hierro provided good evasion and defense, but if it kept being worn down like this, there would come a point when it couldn't hold out. And that would be its death.

So it raised its head to the sky and roared, then began pouring everything into its Reiatsu, trying to find a chance to flee.

But as it channeled all its power, Wayne saw it clearly, on this Hollow Beast's shoulder, a greatsword emblem was slowly emerging.

Found one.

Wayne's heart jolted. After searching for half a year, he'd finally found one bearing his faction's mark.

"The enemy is raising its Reiatsu — it's preparing a suicide attack. Everyone withdraw. I'll cover the rear!"

He had to get everyone away before he could talk to this Hollow Beast.

At Wayne's command, the Soul Reapers immediately pulled back, letting Wayne, coming up from behind, take over the battlefield.

CLANG!

A deafening crash of metal, Wayne's Zanpakuto collided with the Hollow Beast's arm.

"Tsuki!" Seeing that Wayne hadn't cut through, Mizusue instinctively assumed the enemy's defense was too strong, not that Wayne was holding back.

"Get out of here! I'll catch up!" Wayne didn't look back. He just shouted toward Mizusue.

"Don't die!" Mizusue's brows tightened, but she led the group fleeing into the distance.

Then let's play a little first.

Wayne swung again, clashing with the Hollow Beast before him. He still couldn't let his guard down. Who knew whether those people had actually gotten far enough away.

They exchanged blows for dozens of rounds. The Adjuchas's Reiatsu began to drop. Its limit for raising it had passed. Its strength was waning.

About time.

Wayne expanded his perception to its fullest, scanning the surroundings. Once he confirmed no one was around, he raised his Reiatsu, preparing to subdue the Hollow Beast.

His Reiatsu rose. His speed sharpened. His Zanpakuto, without any incantation, changed form the instant he flicked his wrist. Then Wayne launched a Shunpo, caught up to the Hollow Beast mid-Sonído, and with one strike sent it crashing from the sky to the ground, kicking up a cloud of sand.

Before the dust could settle, Wayne was already on it. He pinned one of its wings to the ground with his Zanpakuto. His other hand pressed down on its body, rendering it immobile.

ROAR!

The Hollow Beast howled in agony. It couldn't move an inch. The only countermeasure it could think of now was self-detonation.

Skree-ong! It kept roaring, and the Reiatsu inside its body began surging violently. Wayne knew the signs. This was the precursor to a self-destruction.

"Is Jekain still alive?"

If he didn't speak now, it would be too late. And the Hollow Beast pinned beneath him, upon hearing that familiar name, suddenly trembled. Its golden pupils, hidden beneath its Hollow Mask, reflexively turned toward Wayne.

"I'm asking you — is Jekain still alive?"

"How... do you... know..." The Hollow Beast's Reiatsu fluctuated again. In its understanding, a Soul Reaper knowing its faction administrator's name was no good thing. It likely meant its surviving faction had been targeted again.

"Don't self-destruct. I know Ace Wayne's whereabouts."

"What..." The Adjuchas's Reiatsu fluctuated harder.

"If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already. Now, can you listen to me? About Ace Wayne's whereabouts. And right now, I want to know about Jekain. Nel. Harribel. Timd. Mude. All of them."

Wayne pulled out his Zanpakuto and stepped back.

"You... just what..." The wounded Adjuchas got to its feet. The self-detonation Reiatsu swirling around it had slowly subsided. Every single name Wayne had rattled off, it knew them. Without exception, they were all high-ranking members of its own faction. Given how low-profile its faction was, there was no way a Soul Reaper could leak this many. Every member had a unique emblem, which effectively prevented traitors from leaking information.

For its faction's high-ranking members to be so thoroughly known, this was no simple matter.

"This. Recognize it?"

Wayne raised his Zanpakuto and released its Shikai. The blade instantly transformed into the Sky-Rending Greatsword.

"That's,!" The Adjuchas reflexively glanced at its own shoulder. Sure enough. Exactly the same as its faction's mark.

"Through your emblem, contact Timd. Tell him what's happened here. Then return to base and have Timd, Jekain, Nel, and Harribel all come here."

"Lady Nel, she..." Facing a Soul Reaper's questioning, the Adjuchas nearly blurted it out. But because the other party was a Soul Reaper, it forced the words back.

"What about Nel?" Wayne's Reiatsu suddenly fluctuated. In that instant, the Adjuchas nearly mistook the Soul Reaper before it for a comrade.

"Nothing."

"...Forget it." Wayne shook his head. He knew he couldn't fully earn this Hollow Beast's trust right now.

"Use your emblem to tell Timd what's happened here. Have them all come. I have news of Ace Wayne. I'll stay and wait in this area. I hope you really can get the message through. Also, have them bring eight or more mid-stage Adjuchas. One month."

His words fell, and Wayne left with a Shunpo, leaving the Adjuchas standing there in a daze.

➤ Next: Reunion