Chapter 21: Hueco Mundo
The group of five managed to pass through the rift with little effort. When they got to the other side they found themselves falling through the air. The Garganta had opened about thirty yards above the ground. Tsuin didn't get much of a view as they fell as he was preoccupied trying to save himself. But he still hit the ground with a thud while the others managed to catch themselves and flash-stepped to the ground. Tsuin got up with a groan. He looked around.
He saw grey. A lot of grey. They stood on a vast desert of sand, and above them was a dark sky with no stars, but a crescent moon, yet it faced the wrong way. There seemed to be dead trees dotting the sandy landscape, but upon closer inspection they were made of quartz-like material, not bark. In the distance was a massive grey domed building with towers around it.
"So this is Hueco Mundo?" Tsuin said.
"That's correct," Urahara said. "Rather depressing isn't it? In the distance you can see Las Noches. That's the palace of the King of Hueco Mundo, but now I believe it's the main base of operations for Sōsuke Aizen."
"The traitor?" Tsuin asked.
"That's correct, and it should also be home to the Arrancars as well…or at least the Espada. And Ichigo should be headed in that direction if he isn't already there."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Tsuin said and began to run.
"Wait Tsuin!" Yoruichi yelled, but it was too late.
Just as Tsuin began to run, something rose from the sand causing Tsuin to fall on his back and watch as the creature grew. It seemed to rise from the sand itself, and Tsuin realized it was made out of sand. It rose at least eight stories high. It had massive arms, the forearms being bigger than the upper arm. Its head looked like a sand castle, and it wore a hollow mask. It also had a massive cloth wrapped around the bottom of the body where it connected with the sand itself.
"Who intrudes into Hueco Mundo?" it said, its voice booming. "You are not Hollows or Arrancars. You appear to be Soul Reapers. Soul Reapers are not permitted here."
"You are correct," Urahara said. "We are Soul Reapers. Who are you?"
"I am Runuganga, Guardian of the White Sands, and your death," the Hollow answered.
"Yeah right," Tsuin said. He flash-stepped in front of the creature and slashed across its mask. The creature collapsed. Tsuin put his sword back on his back. "Let's go." Suddenly the ground shook, and Runuganga rose back up. Tsuin's face was one of absolute shock.
"You cannot kill me," Runuganga said. "I'm made of the sand you stand upon therefore I have infinite bodies and you cannot hurt me. Now you will all die." He raised his right hand and slammed it down on to the ground where the five stood. All five Soul Reapers flash-stepped away as the fist hit the ground.
"We can't hurt it physically," Yoruichi said.
"No, we can't," Shunsui agreed. "Jūshirō, get everyone out of here. I'm going to have to use Kageoni." Jūshirō nodded as if he understood what Shunsui was talking about.
"What's Kageoni?" Tsuin asked.
"I'll explain in a second," Jūshirō answered. "But right now we have to leave or face death." Then he flash-stepped away while Tsuin, Urahara and Yoruichi followed. They appeared on a hill about a mile away, but while they couldn't see Shunsui, they could see Runuganga.
"It seems your friends have left you alone," Runuganga said. "But no matter where they go, I will find them and kill them. In fact, I know that they're on a hill a mile to my left watching us. But first I must kill you."
Shunsui lowered the brim of his hat over his eyes, "You know, I really don't like fighting. But the fact that I'm the only one with the ability to defeat you out of our group means I must face you. They didn't leave because they were scared of your abilities. They left because they were scared of mine." He drew both of his swords. One was shorter than the other.
He crossed one over the other and said, "Flower Wind Rage and Flower Wind God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer." Both sword suddenly became black scimitars, but the shorter one remained shorter still. "Katen Kyōkotsu. She's a fickle one, and normally I wouldn't use her because she decides whether or not to fight at full strength. Let's play a game called Kageoni. Here are the rules: the first person to step on a shadow wins. The winner lives and the loser dies…but you've already lost."
Runuganga laughed, "What are you talking about? If your rules are true then I'm the one touching your shadow. My shadow is behind me. You are the one who lost at your own game."
"While it's true you're touching my shadow, you are not stepping on it," Shunsui said. You're only touching the sides, but you have no discernible legs to step on my shadow with."
"I'll fix that," Runuganga said. Suddenly something started forming next to Shunsui, and Shunsui realized it was a leg, but it was forming much too soon.
"I'm sorry, but you're too slow," Shunsui said. Then he flash-stepped on top of Runuganga's shadow before the leg was even partially formed. Runuganga roared and his mask exploded. His body collapsed into the ground. Shunsui sheathed his blades and flash-stepped to the others. Jūshirō had explained Shunsui's Shikai ability.
"Let's go," Shunsui said. They began to run toward Las Noches.