chapter 14: Hueco mundo (part 2)

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Hueco Mundo - A Few Weeks Later.....

Time in Hueco Mundo had a strange quality to it. With the perpetual night and the unchanging landscape of white dunes, the days and weeks blurred together. For Yami and the other Shinigami of the extermination force, the passage of time was marked only by the rhythm of their mission—patrolling, hunting Hollows, and securing the area around their base camp. The air was heavy with a tension that never fully dissipated, but it had become a part of daily life, an undercurrent that everyone had learned to live with.

In the weeks that had passed since their arrival, Yami had engaged in numerous battles against the Hollows that roamed the desolate wastelands of Hueco Mundo. But to him, these encounters were more routine than challenging. The Hollows he faced were weak, their strength hardly enough to provide him with any real sense of danger. They fell easily to his blade, their bodies dissipating into the night as he cut them down one by one.

Yet, despite the lack of challenge, Yami had not been idle. He had taken advantage of the countless Hollows he encountered, using his unique ability to raise the fallen as shadow soldiers under his command. His army of shadows had grown steadily, now numbering 85 in total. Most of these shadow soldiers possessed the strength of seated officers below the 10th seat, their power comparable to Gillian-class Menos or recently evolved Adjuchas. The strongest of them was the Hollow Yami had defeated back in Naruki City, a fearsome creature he had named Kuro. Kuro had the strength of a lieutenant without the release of there shikai , a fact that gave Yami a certain degree of confidence, though he kept the existence of his shadow army a closely guarded secret.

Despite his growing power, Yami couldn't shake a feeling of dissatisfaction. The Hollows they had encountered so far felt like mere foot soldiers, and the ease with which they were dispatched had left Yami feeling restless. He felt as though he had hit a bottleneck in his training, a plateau that he could not overcome no matter how hard he pushed himself. This frustration gnawed at him, a constant reminder that he was not yet as strong as he wished to be.

Yami had even gone so far as to consult with Ashborn in his inner world, seeking advice from the ancient being whose power he had inherited. In that ethereal realm of shadows and endless darkness, Yami had expressed his concerns, his frustration at his lack of progress.

"You seek strength, but strength does not come from fighting the weak," Ashborn had told him, his voice echoing in the void. "You need a true challenge, an opponent who can push you beyond your limits."

Yami had known that Ashborn was right. He needed to face a powerful opponent, someone who could force him to grow, to break through the barriers that held him back. As he reflected on Ashborn's words, Yami found himself reminiscing about his secret sparring sessions with Unohana Retsu, the captain of the 4th Division. Those brutal, intense duels had been some of the most challenging moments of his life, and he couldn't help but sigh as he thought about them. Unohana had been a terrifying opponent, but she had also been a mentor of sorts, someone who had helped him understand what it truly meant to push one's self in a battle and grow from it .

But now, in the endless night of Hueco Mundo, Yami felt as though he was stagnating. The days passed in a blur of routine patrols and battles that did little to test his limits. Some of his comrades had fallen in battle, their deaths a stark reminder of the dangers they faced, but others had grown stronger, their skills sharpened by the relentless fighting. Even so, the overall progress of the extermination force had been slow but steady. The Hollows were defeated, their numbers dwindling, but no truly formidable enemies had emerged.

Captain Akiro and Captain Ryoma, the leaders of the expedition, had spent much of their time at the base camp, overseeing operations and ensuring that everything ran smoothly. The two captains often shared drinks together in the evenings, their laughter echoing through the camp as they reminisced about past battles and adventures. Yami had come to understand that they were quiet close friends but both captains have been bored, bored with the lack of real challenge, bored with the monotonous routine that had set in.

Yami hadn't slacked off in his own training, but he could feel the frustration building within him. His strength had reached a plateau, and despite his best efforts, he couldn't seem to break through it. It was during one of these moments of frustration, as he sat in his tent going over the latest reports, that Captain Akiro paid him an unexpected visit.

The captain burst into Yami's tent with his usual exuberance, plopping down in the chair across from Yami's desk with a wide grin on his face. "Hey, little Yami! How've you been holding up?"

Yami looked up from his paperwork, his expression calm as always. "I've been doing well, Captain. The operations in Hueco Mundo have been progressing smoothly."

Captain Akiro nodded, though there was a slight frown on his face as he leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, I've heard. But if I'm being honest, this whole thing has been pretty boring. Where are all the strong Hollows? It's like they're hiding from us!" He let out a dramatic sigh, acting more like a child than a captain.

Yami couldn't help but sigh as well, though his was more out of resignation than anything else. He was used to Captain Akiro's antics by now, and he knew that the man's frustration was genuine. "It's true that the Hollows we've encountered so far haven't been much of a challenge," Yami admitted. "But I suppose that just means we're doing our job well."

Captain Akiro gave Yami a contemplative look, his eyes narrowing slightly as he seemed to be considering something. After a moment, he leaned forward, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Yami, since you were in the 4th division you do know how to set up barriers and you should be good at healing injuries right ?"

Yami blinked in surprise at the sudden question, but he nodded. "Yes, I'm familiar with barrier techniques as well as healing techniques ."

Captain Akiro's grin widened, and before Yami knew what was happening, the captain had grabbed him by the arm and was dragging him out of the tent. "Perfect! I've got a great idea!"

Yami barely had time to process what was happening as Captain Akiro practically hauled him across the camp, heading straight for Captain Ryoma's tent. The 11th Division captain was inside, looking over some reports of his own, when Captain Akiro burst in, still dragging Yami behind him.

"Ryoma! I've got a plan to cure our boredom!" Captain Akiro announced with a huge smile on his face.

Captain Ryoma raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? What kind of plan?"

Captain Akiro didn't bother explaining right away. Instead, he simply grinned and beckoned for Captain Kuruyashiki to follow him. "Just come with me. You're gonna love this."

Yami, still trying to regain his composure, could only sigh inwardly as he was dragged along. Captain Ryoma, for his part, seemed amused by the whole situation. He shrugged his broad shoulders and followed Captain Akiro out of the tent, a grin spreading across his face as well.

The three of them left the base camp, passing through the 15-kilometer safe zone and venturing further into the desolate expanse of Hueco Mundo. The further they went, the more Yami's curiosity grew. What exactly did Captain Akiro have planned? And why did he need Yami to set up barriers?

Finally, after they had traveled a safe distance from the camp, Captain Akiro came to a stop and released Yami's arm. "Alright, Yami, this is where we'll do it. Set up a few barriers around this area, would you?"

Yami was still confused, but he nodded and began to work. As he concentrated on the task at hand, weaving the intricate threads of Reishi to form a protective barriers, he couldn't help but glance at the two captains. Captain Ryoma was watching Captain Akiro with a curious expression, clearly wondering what the plan was.

When Yami finished setting up the barrier, he stepped back and looked to Captain Akiro for further instructions. "The barrier is in place, Captain. What now?"

Captain Akiro grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now, we spar!"

Yami blinked, taken aback by the simplicity of the plan. "Spar?"

Captain Ryoma, who had been silent up until now, let out a huge laugh, followed by a savage grin. "You want us to fight each other, Akiro? Here, in the middle of Hueco Mundo?"

Captain Akiro nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! We've been bored out of our minds with these weak Hollows, so I figured, why not have a little fun? And Yami here can heal us if we get too banged up. It's perfect!"

Yami was still processing the idea, but Captain Ryoma's laughter broke him out of his thoughts. The 11th Division captain seemed genuinely excited by the prospect, and his grin widened as he stepped back, putting some distance between himself and Captain Akiro.

"You know what, Akiro? I think I like this idea. It's been a while since I've had a good fight," Captain Ryoma said, his tone filled with anticipation.

Yami, despite his initial surprise, quickly regained his composure. He understood now why Captain Akiro had asked him to set up the barrier. This was going to be no ordinary sparring match. These were two captains, each with immense power and strength, and their battle would undoubtedly be intense. The barriers were necessary to contain the destructive force that would be unleashed.

With a calm demeanor, Yami stepped back as well, giving the two captains plenty of room to maneuver. Captain Akiro and Captain Ryoma squared off against each other, both of them wearing matching grins of excitement and anticipation. The air around them seemed to hum with energy, the tension building as they prepared to clash.

"This is going to be interesting," Yami thought to himself as he watched the two captains get into position.

And with that, the chapter ends hehe, leaving you guys on the edge of your seats, ;)