On the other side of the clearing.
The moment Metastacia appeared, Suō Tsukasa confirmed its identity. Its twisted form matched his memories almost perfectly. Judging by the intensity of its spiritual pressure, this Hollow had devoured and fused with a significant number of its kin; its strength was likely no weaker than when it appeared in the original story.
His gaze then quickly swept toward the depths of the cave. There, a faint but stubbornly persistent flicker of a soul flickered like a candle precariously close to being extinguished.
"Toshiro, deep in the cave against the left rock wall—that squad member is still alive."
"Once the Hollow is lured away, go in immediately. Use medicinal pills and Kaido to stabilize his vital signs."
"Brother Kaien, I'm leaving Toshiro and the cave entrance to your protection. Kaido requires high concentration and cannot be interrupted."
"That fellow seems very interested in Miss Rangiku. I'll support the front lines; don't worry!"
Tsukasa's voice was steady and rapid, reaching everyone's ears with absolute clarity. In this group, only he and Toshiro were well-versed in Kaido, making their presence indispensable for the rescue. He chose to remain on the front lines because he possessed specific knowledge about Metastacia.
First, the first person to touch its tentacles each night would have their Zanpakuto neutralized. Second, it could eject its core to parasitize and occupy a spiritual body.
The Hollow before them likely possessed the abilities shown in the original work, while any other capabilities remained unknown. Even if it possessed entirely new powers this time, Tsukasa was confident he could handle it.
"Understood!" the others responded in unison. With the tactics set, only execution remained.
"Oh? You've taken a liking to me? How unfortunate, I haven't the slightest interest in a disgusting, ugly creature like you!"
Matsumoto Rangiku took a deep breath, suppressing her revulsion and anger. A cold arc curved at the corner of her mouth, her voice dripping with provocation.
"Growl, Haineko!"
The moment her Zanpakuto was released, the blade dissolved into countless fine dust particles, sweeping out like a sandstorm and shimmering with a silver luster under the moonlight. The dust instantly enveloped Metastacia's massive body.
"Trivial tricks!" the Hollow hissed. Despite its obstructed vision, it showed no panic, letting out a low growl. The tentacles on its head lashed about rapidly, attempting to disperse the shroud of ash.
At that moment, Rangiku swung her hilt through the air. Countless tiny lacerations suddenly erupted across the creature's body, spraying blood. The particles did more than just obscure sight; every grain of ash was an extension of her blade.
"ROAR—!"
"Damnable woman! I shall start eating you from your feet and savor every moment of your wailing!"
The pain and humiliation thoroughly ignited Metastacia's rage. Its spiritual pressure exploded, blowing away the surrounding ash. Simultaneously, a thick mucus began to secrete from its skin, rapidly sealing its wounds. It then charged straight at Matsumoto Rangiku.
"Tsk, what a revolting thing!" Rangiku frowned. The ash instantly pulled back, re-solidifying into a blade in her hand. Her Zanpakuto's lethality was limited; the damage she just dealt was the peak of her Shikai's capability.
"Now!"
The moment had arrived. Toshiro and Shiba Kaien blurred into motion, circling the perimeter from the left and right before lunging toward the pitch-black cave behind the Hollow. Shiba Kaien stood firm in front of the cave entrance, his figure acting as a barrier between the main battlefield and the rescue site.
Inside the cave.
A red glow lit up Toshiro's hand, illuminating the surroundings. He immediately located the mangled, dying figure slumped against the rock wall.
"Hitsugaya—"
"Don't speak. Hold on." Toshiro whispered deeply, pulling a pill from his robes and placing it in the man's mouth. Then, the green light of Kaido bloomed from his palms, covering the wounded man as Toshiro immersed his mind in the healing process.
Back on the main battlefield.
Under Metastacia's wild fury, its speed was staggering. Its thick arms tore through the air as it lunged for Matsumoto Rangiku.
Tsukasa shifted his stance slightly, naturally stepping half a pace in front of Rangiku. His Zanpakuto left its scabbard, the tip dipping slightly to point toward Metastacia's center of gravity.
A sharp flash of blade-light flickered.
One thick arm was severed cleanly at the root, falling to the ground instantly.
"Agh! You damnable brat!" Metastacia let out a deafening howl of pain. At the stump of the arm, flesh buds writhed frantically; its incredible regeneration speed stopped the bleeding almost instantly. It used its remaining five limbs to push off the ground, retreating and fixing its hollow eye sockets on Tsukasa, who had struck and immediately backed away to maintain distance.
A tidal wave of killing intent mixed with violent spiritual pressure shifted targets instantly!
"Tsukasa, be careful!" Rangiku cried out, raising her blade to provide support from the flank.
However—
Puff!
A thick cloud of deep purple poisonous gas erupted from Metastacia's mouth, spreading rapidly. It not only enveloped Tsukasa but also blocked Rangiku's path for a coordinated assist.
"Poison mist? How troublesome!" Rangiku furrowed her brows and leaped back. The mist covered a wide area, severely restricting her movement and lines of attack.
"Hadō No. 58: Tenran!"
Tsukasa's eyes remained locked on his opponent, calmly observing its every minute movement. A whirlwind rose from his palm, completing the spell the moment the poison mist began to spread. The dense toxic cloud was completely blown away by the sudden gale, and the Hollow's massive body was forced back several yards. As the mist swept over the edge of the battlefield, the vegetation withered and died instantly upon contact.
"Rangiku, provide long-range suppression. Its other abilities are unknown; don't rush into close quarters!" Tsukasa warned, not letting his familiarity with the original story lower his guard.
"Understood!"
"Growl!" Rangiku responded quickly, stopping her advance and pulling back to ensure she was in a relatively safe position. Haineko turned into fine dust once more, condensing into several ropes that slithered toward the Hollow's limbs. Though she hadn't seen Tsukasa's strike clearly, she could tell the gap in their skill levels. Her Haineko was better suited for control and harassment than frontal assault. Her goal now was clear: entangle and cut the Hollow's joints to hinder its movement, creating an opening for Tsukasa.
"Dammit—so annoying!" Metastacia's rage burned hotter under the harassment. Its spiritual pressure surged again as it broke free from the restraints. Carrying an aura of chaotic madness, it charged toward Matsumoto Rangiku without hesitation.
"This—!" Rangiku felt an inexplicable chill envelop her. The hilt in her hand and the ash in the field vanished instantly. This anomaly caused a momentary disruption in her spiritual pressure, hindering her movement.
Tsukasa sensed its offensive intent. With a flash of Shunpo, he stood before her, blade in hand. Seeing him, Metastacia bared its teeth in a cruel grin. Its rage was real, but the feint was also real. Its target wasn't Rangiku! It had judged that only by eliminating this troublesome Suō Tsukasa could it break the stalemate.
"Die!" The tentacles on its head exploded outward, transforming into countless threads that shot toward the two of them.
And this was exactly the result Tsukasa wanted. He intended to kill Metastacia once and for all; forcing out this trump card meant the enemy had no other tricks left. He had deliberately restrained his combat power at the start to prevent it from using any special escape methods.
"Bakudō No. 81: Danku!"
Tsukasa's voice rang out at the critical moment. A magnificent wall of spirit particles expanded instantly in front of him and Rangiku.
Absolute defense!
Thud, thud—
Countless tentacle threads, strong enough to pierce solid rock, slammed into the suddenly rising Danku, producing a series of muffled impacts.
"Bakudō Number 81—?!" Behind Tsukasa, Rangiku's pupils shrank.
"Illuminate the Ten Thousand Realms—Hikari"
"Radiate!"
Shikou was released, and the field was flooded with brilliant light. Wherever the light touched, Metastacia's chaotic and twisted soul essence was exposed, leaving it nowhere to hide. All the projected threads, along with the remnants of the tentacles that had fallen to the ground, met an irreversible dissipation under the radiance.
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