Yamabuki was completely wrapped in spider silk, being dragged deeper into the mountain by the Spider Giant Hollow.
After a series of stumbles, Yamabuki was brought into a cave.
There were also many cocoons woven from spider silk in the cave, which seemed to be people captured by the Spider Giant Hollow.
"Self-righteous Shinigami, just wait to be eaten!" The Spider Giant Hollow opened its large mouth, revealing two rows of sharp venomous fangs, preparing to inject venom into Yamabuki's body.
Suddenly, a flash of blade light sliced through the cocoon, and Yamabuki easily broke free from the spider silk's restraint.
"Looks like this is your lair! Good feng shui, suitable for your grave." Yamabuki looked at the Spider Giant Hollow with a chuckle.
The Spider Giant Hollow looked at Yamabuki with a terrified expression: "My spider silk has a strong anesthetic effect, why are you fine?"
"You don't even look at how much higher my spiritual pressure is than yours. A Shinigami's battle is a battle of spiritual pressure, and this applies to Hollows too. If it weren't to rescue people, do you think I would intentionally let you capture me?" Yamabuki said mockingly.
"But you still maintain the spider's habit of storing food."
"You tricked me! How dare you trick me!" The Spider Giant Hollow let out a sharp roar, its eight spider legs moving in unison as it charged towards Yamabuki.
Yamabuki used Shunpo to instantly appear above the Spider Giant Hollow's head, and with a downward slash, he split the spider in two. This time, the battle was truly over.
The two halves of the Spider Giant Hollow's body twitched on the ground for a moment, then lay completely still, ending its sinful life.
Yamabuki, holding his Zanpakuto, cut open a spider cocoon. Inside was a middle-aged woman in a semi-conscious state, still breathing. As long as she was alive, that was enough.
The Spider Giant Hollow's venom had an anesthetic effect; these people would wake up in a while.
There were a total of over a dozen spider cocoons in the cave, including men, women, and children, but it was unknown if Hanako was among them.
Freed from the spider cocoons, the stronger individuals woke up first. When they saw they were still alive and Yamabuki with his sword nearby, they thought the nobles of the Seireitei had rescued them.
This was a great opportunity to advertise for the Gotei 13, so Yamabuki quickly seized the chance to promote the Gotei 13.
"Everyone, you don't need to thank me. I am a Shinigami of the Gotei 13. Slaying Hollows is our duty. Is there a girl named Hanako among you?" Yamabuki asked.
The youngest girl raised her hand and timidly said, "I am Hanako."
This girl was only six or seven years old, very cute, with two pigtails and wearing a pair of ill-fitting large shoes.
"Your brother is waiting for you at home, let's go home together." Yamabuki said.
Upon hearing they could go home, everyone was very excited.
But only Hanako said with a terrified expression, "But, but..."
"What's wrong, Hanako? Is there anything else? Don't be afraid, the Hollow has been killed by me." Yamabuki said gently.
Hanako whispered, "But, what if we are eaten by a stronger one when we leave the cave? The day I was captured, I saw this spider kneeling before an incredibly huge Hollow!"
At these words, the cave fell silent.
Yamabuki frowned deeply.
"I should have thought of it earlier. How could a Hollow resist eating food right in front of it? A higher-level Hollow must have ordered it to gather the food here." Yamabuki forced himself to stay calm. If even he panicked, these ordinary people would surely panic even more.
"It's okay, I'll protect you all. That Menos Grande might not come at this time, let's take this opportunity to leave here first." Yamabuki said to the people.
As the group just left the cave, Hanako suddenly said, "Look at the sky, why is there a red moon?"
Everyone's attention was drawn by Hanako's words and they looked up, only to see a scarlet moon in the sky, falling at an extremely fast speed.
Yamabuki's face turned extremely grim; that was not a moon at all, it was a Cero!!!
"Everyone go back, quickly, back into the cave." Yamabuki drew his Zanpakuto, gathered all his spiritual pressure, and leaped into the air, slashing towards the Cero.
If that Cero were to hit the ground, everyone but himself would die!
An unprecedented sense of crisis struck. The blade struck the Cero, and the immense pressure made Yamabuki clench his teeth. Finally, with all his strength, he managed to deflect the Cero.
The Cero turned into an arc and landed in the distant forest, and the massive explosion instantly leveled the forest.
"This is the power of a Cero?" Yamabuki's expression was solemn. He looked up and saw a Menos Grande staring directly at him.
"A Menos Grande has appeared in the Soul Society!" Yamabuki had thought there were only ordinary Hollows in the Soul Society.
But then he slapped himself on the head. How could he be so foolish? Years ago, an ancient Menos Grande came to the Soul Society, defeated a young Yamamoto, killed its way to the Soul King Palace, and even swallowed the Soul King.
Thanks to the Zero Squad and the Monk's intervention, the Soul King was rescued, and the ancient Menos Grande's name was taken, eventually forged into a Zanpakuto by the Sword God, Ōetsu Nimaiya.
Since that level of Menos Grande could enter the Soul Society, then this type of basic Menos Grande, a Gillian, could naturally also enter the Soul Society.
"Fortunately, it's just a Gillian. I can handle it." Yamabuki breathed a slight sigh of relief.
With his Vice-Captain-level strength, dealing with a Gillian was not difficult. It seemed this Gillian was the final boss of this mission.
Just as Yamabuki was about to fight the Gillian, he suddenly noticed that this Menos Grande was actually smiling at him.
In an instant, Yamabuki felt a chill down his spine.
He was actually smiling at him!
Did this Menos Grande possess intelligence?
Most Hollows have no intelligence and can only act according to biological instinct. After devouring a certain number of Hollows or spiritual bodies, they evolve into low-level Menos Grande, Gillian.
The general intelligence of Gillian is also very low, but among thousands of Gillian, there are always one or two that develop intelligence. They will devour their own kind, and after devouring hundreds or thousands of their own kind, they can evolve into Adjuchas.
Adjuchas possess Captain-level strength.
Further evolution from Adjuchas is Vasto Lorde, possessing strength beyond that of an ordinary Captain.
This Gillian actually smiled at him, which meant that this Menos Grande likely possessed intelligence. If left unchecked, it would most likely evolve into an Adjuchas, and by then, it would certainly become a great threat.
In that case, he couldn't let it go!
"Sekienton!"
Yamabuki released Kido, concealing his tracks, then used Shunpo to appear behind the Menos Grande, preparing to finish it with one strike!
....
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