Just as Gosuke Shigure led Yoruichi deeper into the Forest of Menos Grande, a great disturbance was erupting in the very heart of the forest.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada was amassing an army.
At first, when he fled to Hueco Mundo, it had been an act of desperation. The Tsunayashiro clan had tried to sacrifice him — and he refused. He killed those who intended to use him, and by doing so, severed all ties with Soul Society. There was no place for him there anymore. Branded a traitor, he'd rather flee than submit to execution.
Only two paths remained: the World of the Living or Hueco Mundo.
He chose Hueco Mundo.
He could never bring himself to coexist with weak, mundane humans. As a member of the Tsunayashiro clan — one of the Four Great Noble Houses — he deemed such a life beneath him. But Hueco Mundo was different. The spiritual particle density here far exceeded that of Soul Society, and more importantly, this was a realm ruled by Hollow — corrupted, fallen souls. A kingdom of monsters.
He had obtained a Zanpakutō with an unusual ability — one that enslaved those it cut. With enough time and victims, he could raise an army.
If he succeeded, even Soul Society's pursuit would falter. If he repelled their attempts to capture him enough times, perhaps they'd deem it too costly to chase him. Perhaps they'd simply leave him be.
At first, that was the goal.
But then… an Adjuchas informed him of a palace in this realm — Las Noches, and a self-proclaimed king named Baraggan Louisenbairn.
Tokinada's ambition grew.
He didn't want to just survive. He would rule. He would become the King of Hueco Mundo.
But first — he needed numbers. The blade he wielded enslaved any Hollow it cut, but the price was steep. The victims became drastically weaker, and controlling them drained vast amounts of spiritual power. A better strategy was recruitment — intimidate or dominate the Menos Grande, and force their loyalty.
He learned that Hollow feared death, even if they lived to kill.
Just as Shinigami sometimes bowed before a stronger Shinigami, Hollow too could submit.
So he began — slashing down any who resisted, sparing and recruiting those who surrendered. His army of Gillian and Adjuchas began to take shape.
Then, one day, led by his newly recruited subordinates, Tokinada encountered a particularly powerful Hollow.
"Nnoitra… you've aligned yourself with the Shinigami?" asked a female Hollow, her lower body resembling an antelope, her upper half humanoid with a white mask and long black hair. She had two sharp horns and mantis-like arms shaped like blades. Her eyes burned with restrained fury.
The Hollow she addressed — Nnoitra Gilga — smirked.
Standing with Tokinada's army, he replied with a mocking drawl, "Following Tokinada-sama, I get to fight as I please. Neliel, why not join us?"
Although disdainful, he didn't lie. "I don't like you, but your strength is undeniable. Together, we could overthrow the current king and forge a new Hueco Mundo."
The female Hollow, Neliel Tu Odelschwanck, glared. "Forget it. I won't serve someone like you. And I'll give you one warning: leave this place. If you don't, I won't be kind."
Territorial conflicts between Hollow were common. Especially for powerful ones like Vasto Lorde, trespassing wasn't tolerated. Neliel, though not bloodthirsty, fiercely guarded her domain — and now, intruders stood before her, including Shinigami.
"Is that a threat?" Nnoitra scoffed.
Technically, Neliel was a Vasto Lorde, while he remained an Adjuchas — but Nnoitra never cared for rankings. He believed only in battle.
And so, he lunged.
The two clashed — blade-arms against blinding speed.
The fight was vicious, primal, lacking the precision of Shinigami duels. But their destructive power was overwhelming — each strike shattered trees, tore up the land, and sent shockwaves throughout the Menos Forest. This was the reason Hollow incursions in the World of the Living were taken so seriously — the devastation they caused was immense.
Despite Nnoitra's aggression, Neliel's superior power soon turned the tide. She battered him down, and stood victorious.
But unlike other Hollow, she didn't devour him. That wasn't her way.
Instead, she looked down coldly and said, "Leave. Now."
She let him go.
This stunned Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who had watched the fight unfold. "You're Neliel, correct? You've proven your strength. Would you consider joining me?"
Neliel's eyes narrowed with disgust.
Tokinada's smile faded into a sigh. "I see."
Raising his Zanpakutō, its eerie glow pulsed — and with a flash of pink light, he unleashed a devastating attack.
Cero Inch — a compressed, high-impact variant of Cero, erupted from his blade.
The forest exploded.
Countless white trees disintegrated. Dozens of Gillian and lesser Hollow were incinerated. Tokinada's power — amplified by the cursed blade he carried — was terrifying.
The Hollow who refused him would face annihilation.