Shadows in Hueco Mundo
Harry sat on the edge of the training ground, catching his breath as Ichigo and Renji spoke nearby. His muscles ached from the sparring match, but beneath the exhaustion, there was something else—exhilaration. He was improving. Slowly but surely, he was learning how to wield his scythe properly.
Ichigo leaned against a wooden post, arms crossed. “You’re strong, but you still hesitate.”
Harry raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Ichigo’s gaze was sharp. “Your weapon’s got range, flexibility, and a ridiculous amount of power—but you’re not using it to its full potential. It’s like you’re still holding back.”
Harry frowned. He’d heard that before. Kyōraku, Renji, even his Zanpakutō’s spirit had said as much. But why?
Renji sat down beside him, stretching his arms. “It’s normal. Your Zanpakutō is an extension of yourself, and if you’ve got any doubts or baggage, it’ll show in your fighting.”
Harry exhaled, gripping the handle of his scythe. His past—the weight of expectations, the burdens he carried in life—he’d always pushed through them. But here, that wasn’t enough. He had to face them.
Before he could dwell on it further, a voice interrupted.
“Captain Kyōraku!”
They turned to see a Shinigami messenger rushing toward them, his face pale. Kyōraku, who had been lounging lazily under a tree, cracked one eye open. “Mm? What’s the rush?”
The messenger bowed quickly, his voice urgent. “It’s Hueco Mundo. There’s… been a disturbance.”
Silence fell over the training ground.
Renji and Ichigo immediately straightened. Harry watched them closely, noticing the shift in their expressions—serious, focused. Whatever this was, it wasn’t normal.
Kyōraku sighed, standing up. “Go on.”
The messenger swallowed. “A scouting squad was sent to investigate lingering Hollow activity near the remains of Las Noches. They didn’t return.”
Ichigo’s eyes darkened. “You think it’s just Hollows?”
Kyōraku tilted his hat, his easygoing demeanor shifting into something more calculating. “Maybe. Maybe not. Arrancar numbers have been low since Aizen’s fall, but… something’s stirring.”
Harry listened carefully. He wasn’t entirely familiar with Hueco Mundo, but he knew the basics—a wasteland filled with Hollows, Arrancar, and remnants of past wars.
Kyōraku glanced at Ichigo. “Think you’re up for another trip?”
Ichigo scoffed. “Like you have to ask.”
Renji cracked his knuckles. “I’ll go too.”
Kyōraku nodded, then turned to Harry. “What about you, kid? You’ve been training hard—want to see how you do in a real fight?”
Harry tensed. His gut told him this wasn’t just about a missing scouting squad. If something was stirring in Hueco Mundo, then it meant trouble.
But if he was going to truly understand his Zanpakutō, he couldn’t just train in a controlled setting forever. He had to fight.
He stood, gripping his scythe. “I’m in.”
Kyōraku grinned. “Good answer.”
As the group began preparing for departure, Harry couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission was going to change everything.
Because deep in Hueco Mundo, something watched.
Something ancient.
Something that should have been destroyed long ago.