Chapter 542 - 542 Beneath Las Noches

As Toshiro and the others rushed towards Las Noches, in a massive prison constructed of Sekkiseki somewhere in Las Noches, over three hundred Shinigami of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force and Nel's companions, Pesche and Dondochakka, were held in dozens of cells of varying sizes.

In fact, at its peak, the Expeditionary Force had nearly a thousand members. The reason only three hundred remained was not because many had died or been injured when Las Noches captured them, but because most had gradually returned to Soul Society over time.

After the efforts of two Commanders, Toshiro and Shusuke, the number of Hollows in Hueco Mundo had been reduced to a relatively low level, sufficient to maintain a relative balance between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo.

So, the Expeditionary Force no longer needed to maintain a large force of nearly a thousand. Its numbers were gradually reduced to around four hundred.

When Aizen sent people to capture the Expeditionary Force earlier, after a battle, several dozen were killed or injured. That's why the Expeditionary Force now only had just over three hundred members.

The current Commander of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force was Ando Akimine.

Ando had been the Vice-Commander of the 1st Corps when Toshiro was Commander of the Expeditionary Force, and also his adjutant.

After Toshiro stepped down as Commander, he recommended Shusuke to succeed him. When Shusuke became Commander, Ando took over Shusuke's previous position as Commander of the 3rd Corps.

Some time ago, after Shusuke returned to Soul Society, Ando became the Commander of the Expeditionary Force.

"Hey, you two are Arrancar, aren't you? Why were you brought here?"

Perhaps out of boredom, Ando couldn't help but strike up a conversation with the two oddly shaped, comical Arrancar in the cell across from him.

"Eh? Are you talking to me? How rude. My name is Pesche, not 'hey'. And this is my companion, Dondochakka."

Quite coincidentally, the ones in the cell across from Ando were Nel's companions, Pesche and Dondochakka.

"Haha, sorry, sorry. My name is Ando Akimine. I suppose we're cellmates now. Nice to meet you."

Ando laughed, finding humor in his misery.

"Hmm, Ando, is it? Judging by your appearance, you must be Shinigami from that 'Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force', right?"

Pesche guessed.

"Eh? You know about us?"

Ando was somewhat surprised.

"Hmph, what's there to know? Hundreds of Shinigami suddenly appearing in Hueco Mundo… only the Expeditionary Force's Shinigami could be responsible. Besides, when we were captured, we heard that Tosen bastard say he was going to capture you Expeditionary Force Shinigami too."

"Come to think of it, the reason we were captured is also tied to you Shinigami."

Pesche complained, dissatisfied.

"Tied to us?"

Ando was utterly puzzled by Pesche's words.

"Since you're a Shinigami, do you know Hitsugaya Toshiro? We were dragged into this because of him!"

Pesche said.

"Commander Hitsugaya! Of course I know Commander Hitsugaya. He was once our Expeditionary Force Commander. I served under him back then. But how are you connected to Commander Hitsugaya?"

Ando was very surprised.

"It's because that guy Hitsugaya Toshiro ran into us and another companion, Nel-sama, in Hueco Mundo back then. Somehow, Las Noches found out about it. They wanted to capture Nel-sama and us as hostages to lure Hitsugaya Toshiro here to rescue us."

"Oh, and by the way, the reason you were captured seems to be the same… to be used as hostages to lure Hitsugaya Toshiro here."

Pesche added another point.

"Is that so..."

Hearing Pesche's words, Ando's expression became very grave.

"Sigh! Earlier, Pesche and I risked our lives to protect Nel-sama, and we managed to send her to the Living World to find that guy Hitsugaya Toshiro. I wonder how things are now."

Pesche sighed.

Ando frowned. "Is that so? So, Commander Hitsugaya should already know about us. Sigh... Commander Hitsugaya has always valued loyalty and friendship. If he knows we've been captured, he'll probably rush to Hueco Mundo to rescue us without hesitation."

"Although we do want to be rescued, this is clearly an enemy trap. If possible, I wish Commander Hitsugaya wouldn't come."

"Even if our entire Expeditionary Force is wiped out, it's no big deal. But Commander Hitsugaya is now the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. His safety is far more important than the entire Expeditionary Force."

Hearing Ando's words, Pesche looked at him with some surprise, then nodded in agreement. "You're right. Actually, I don't want Nel-sama to come and rescue us either. The reason Pesche and I risked our lives to send Nel-sama to the Living World to find Hitsugaya Toshiro was just so he would protect her. We didn't want Nel-sama and Hitsugaya Toshiro to come and rescue us. But knowing Nel-sama as I do, she will definitely come to rescue us."

"Yes, Commander Hitsugaya is the same. Sigh... I don't know whether to be happy that Commander Hitsugaya will come to rescue us, or worried that he'll fall into the enemy's trap."

Ando said with emotion.

Ando and Pesche, one a Shinigami and one an Arrancar, as they talked, developed a sense of shared feeling. For a time, their relationship became very amicable.

…

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The figures of Toshiro and the others flickered and appeared before Las Noches one by one.

After some travel, Toshiro and the others had finally reached Las Noches.

"After so many twists and turns, we've finally made it to Las Noches."

Rangiku said with emotion.

"But what's with this wall? It doesn't feel like Sekkiseki."

Rukia touched the towering, majestic wall of Las Noches and frowned.

The place where Toshiro and the others appeared was not the gate of Las Noches, but beside a towering, majestic wall.

"If it's not Sekkiseki... then a full-powered attack should be able to break through, right?"

Renji walked up to the wall with a malicious grin.

Clang—

Renji drew his Zanpakuto and, with all his might, slashed at the wall.

Boom—

With a loud crash, a large hole was blasted in the wall of Las Noches.