21 Hueco Mundo

After getting updates from his two subordinates, Yami went back to his room before locking the door and setting up a few kido barriers. If Yoruichi knew what he was about to do, she would surely stop him.

"My right hand is the stone that bridges worlds. My left hand is the blade that binds reality. The black-haired shepherd is hung from a chair. Stratus clouds come, and I strike down the ibis."

Blue light began to form around Yami's right hand before shooting forward and stopping in midair. The light then began to spread out into a line before the line slowly opened itself, only to reveal a void of darkness. Yami looked at the portal before him and hesitated momentarily before jumping inside.

As soon as he was inside, a foothold of green reishi appeared beneath his feet. Yami stepped on it a few times to make sure that it was secure before running forward with more reishi appearing beneath him as he traveled ahead.

This portal was a Garganta. It was one of the few ways shinigami could get to Hueco Mundo, the land of the Hollows. And this was usually forbidden.

Partially because of how difficult it was to enter Hueco Mundo. The Dangai that shinigami traveled through to enter the human realm would only occasionally open up a rift within it that would allow shinigami to travel to Hueco Mundo. Besides, that, only Hollows had a way of always going between Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the Human Realm using a Garganta.

But thanks to Kisuke and Tessai working together and inventing the kido spell that Yami had used, he was able to open up his own Garganta.

The other reason Shinigami were not supposed to enter Hueco Mundo unless they had express permission from the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 was that this place was incredibly dangerous. Not only were there normal hollows that stayed here but there were also Menos-class Hollows. The weakest of them were comparable to lieutenants while the strongest could match even Yoruichi's new form. Shinigami would only invade Hueco Mundo if they truly needed to.

And Yami was going there of his own volition.

Yami ran through the void of darkness until he saw light at the end of the tunnel. When he saw the light, he knew he was reaching the end. Thus, he sped up until he reached the end of the tunnel and jumped through the hole.

On the other side, Yami landed on a dune of white sand before looking around.

'Nothing but endless white sand, just like the reports said.'

Hueco Mundo was unlike Soul Society and the Human Realm. It was an endless desert of white sand covered in an internal night sky. There were occasional trees but these were not actually plants but instead made up of various minerals. The moon was also weird because its lunar phases would be the opposite of Soul Society and the Human Realm. Like how it was a New Moon in Soul Society so Yami was able to see a pure white circle in the sky above him.

Yami placed down a small kido barrier the size of his fist. This was created not to keep out any Hollows but to instead act as a signal for Yami so he would know where to return to and open up his Garganta.

With the barrier down, Yami took off toward the north. His goal was simple. He wanted to slay as many Hollows as possible and gain as much combat experience as he could.

And within minutes, he got his wish.

Yami was suddenly ambushed by 3 Hollows. Each of them looked like an animal but was much larger and had white makes on their faces. But when he sensed their reiatsu, he could tell that these were normal ones and not Menos.

Yami swung his sword 3 times before 3 heads went flying without even stopping his movement. Those 3 weak Hollows were not even a threat to him.

Instead of wanting to battle normal Hollows, Yami wanted to take on an Adjuchas like he did in Soul Society but this time, by himself.

Yami continued traveling for another 2 days, constantly meeting weaker Hollows and killing them without much difficulty before. After so many days, he had yet to find an Adjuchas to battle with him.

And as his rations were starting to run low, Yami was ready to give up and start heading back. But just as he thought of doing that, he came across an unusual scene.

Several large Adjuchas had just surrounded a much smaller one. But the smaller Adjuchas was able to attack one of the others and tear through part of his mask, splattering blue blood all over himself.

It seemed like both sides exchanged some words before the larger Adjuchas bowed to the smaller one.

Seeing this, an idea formed in Yami's head. He used shunpo to appear close to the group. He wanted to be close enough so that they could hear him but far away enough that he could run away if his plan failed.

"Oy! Small Adjuchas there!"

All of the Hollows turned to look at Yami and killing intent flared up. But none of them acted out. They had just sworn loyalty to the smaller one so to act without his permission would basically be agreeing to be killed by him.

The small Adjuchas looked at Yami while he did the same.

The Hollow resembled a panther but it was covered in white armor almost entirely. Its blue eyes had a fierceness to them that told of the way this Hollow lived its life.

"What is your name, Shinigami?" The Adjuchas asked

"Yami Kobayashi. 4th Seat of the 2nd Division of the Gotei 13. Who am I speaking with?" Yami responded neither humbly nor proudly.

"Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. The King!"