Hollows are classified into many different types, but the broadest division is between ordinary Hollows and Menos Grande.
Unlike ordinary Hollows, which are composed of individual human souls, a Menos Grande is a sort of collective entity formed when a multitude of souls merge together.
Because their danger far exceeds that of a typical Hollow, they are entities handled directly by the Royal Guard's Zero Division rather than ordinary Soul Reapers.
Menos Grande are further subdivided into three categories.
Gillian: mindless Hollows that exist as massive soul aggregates.
Adjuchas: the second stage of evolution, smaller than Gillians but possessing higher power and intelligence.
Vasto Lorde: the final form of a Hollow, of which only a few have existed over a million years.
Gillians are mostly concentrated in an area called the 'Menos Forest,' while Adjuchas live within similar radii of each other to engage in cannibalism to prevent regression.
Consequently, in the outskirts, one mostly encounters scattered ordinary Hollows that survive simply by breathing the Reishi-rich air, rather than Menos Grande.
This is the basic theoretical portion of the 'Basic Manual of Anti-Hollow Extermination Tactics, 6th Edition (written by Zeidritz de Castolania).'
The 7th edition could never be released, as the author perished during the Thousand-Year Blood War while it was being written.
Nevertheless, it remains one of the most trusted theoretical texts to this day, so its contents are beyond doubt.
"For that reason, since this area has the lowest population density per unit area, there should be no problem scattering in three-man cells."
Immediately after parting with the lead officer, the 10th Squad began their search, adopting the formation suggested by Nachahmer.
"However, stay within range of our communication equipment for a smooth regrouping in case of an emergency. We'll place Squad 1 in the middle of the three cells to act as the central hub."
Nachahmer and Belmaia were assigned to the lead cell.
"Let's assign one of the four members with the highest combat power to each cell and divide the rest appropriately."
As Nachahmer was evaluated as having the highest base stats among the squad members, he moved with the vanguard cell.
They moved for about twenty minutes, cautiously scanning their surroundings.
Wuuuung— Wuuuung—
"It's the central cell...! A Hollow must have appeared in the middle!"
"Damn! Let's move. The other cells will regroup soon."
If the other cells encountered Hollows while the central cell was in trouble, communication would be impossible and the entire squad could collapse. Thus, they had agreed that if an incident occurred in the center, all three remaining cells would converge.
Thirty seconds via Hirenpyaku.
All twelve members gathered.
"Crazy... why is it so big!"
Krrgaaaaaaaagh—!
A long, centipede-like Hollow, easily over ten meters tall, had emerged from beneath the sand.
Including the body still hidden below the surface, it was likely even longer.
"This thing dug its way under the ground!"
"Stop it from going back in! Pull it out first!"
Squad Leader Kiril quickly issued orders.
"Nachahmer, Hux, Adnan—draw its attention near the head! Belmaia, Ken, Uwe—cover those three! The rest of you, pull the body out completely!"
Even as the squad members moved to their positions, the creature continued its assault, slamming its head down.
Thump! Thump! Sand scattered, beginning to obscure their vision.
'Hollows prefer prey with high spiritual pressure. Since I'm objectively the strongest here, I need to monopolize its attention.'
The other members had already manifested their weapons and were bombarding the creature's head.
They were faltering under the relentless attacks as the creature swung its head wildly.
In that case—
"Look over here, Hollow."
He bent one knee and pulled back the arm holding the arrowhead.
In the most textbook posture, with the most efficient movement, he compressed his power.
And released.
Since it was a Reishi arrow, there was no sound of it cutting through the air.
Only a dry crack as the Hollow's carapace shattered.
...! Krr-geeeeee!
Recognizing the only weapon capable of piercing its armor, the creature finally locked onto its target and lunged at the culprit behind the wound.
He heard someone calling his name, though he didn't know who.
"Keep attacking! I'll draw its gaze!"
The long head flailed haphazardly, chasing after Nachahmer.
Every time he dodged by a hair's breadth, a deep crater formed in the sand.
'It'll be dangerous if I get pinned by that mass.'
Then he would go up.
It would be easier to pull the creature out of the ground if its power was directed upward.
He created blue footholds, soaring through the sky as if riding an airboard.
The sound of snapping jaws echoed constantly as the creature pursued him, opening and closing its maw.
He displayed acrobatic movements—spinning, darting in straight lines, and sometimes even running along the creature's body upside down.
'Hm?'
Below, the squad members had gathered to create a massive rope.
It followed the same principle as the Heilig Bogen, but instead of a bow, they had formed a giant cord and net.
It draped over the entire upper body of the creature that had emerged above ground.
"Pull!"
Kyag-ak...?!
Boom!
Like a snake with its neck stepped on, the creature was pinned to the ground, only its head thrashing about.
Now it was nothing more than a restrained target.
He could hear the reason for the change in tactics later.
For now, he simply adapted—.
'Now's the chance.'
He instantly vanished his footholds and fell vertically.
Gathering Reishi into the shape of a large spear, he aimed for the hole in the mask he had broken earlier.
Adding the force of his swing to the acceleration of gravity, he pierced straight through the creature's head.
With a crunching sound, the head was crushed, fluids sprayed, and the ground caved in.
Vrrr—
The massive body, which had been twitching slightly, soon went completely still.
Twisting the embedded spear, he performed a definitive finishing blow.
The sinking dust of the sand signaled the end of the battle, and the other members walked over from a distance.
Belmaia ran over, cheering.
"Nachahmer—! I knew I could count on you!"
"Great work, Nachahmer. You understood the signal well."
Kiril approached, stumbling slightly as he brushed dust off his cap.
"I just saw a good opportunity since the thing was completely restrained."
"Well done. Honestly, it was too hard to pull the rest of the body out of the ground. I figured it was better to aim for one big blow rather than failing to meet the time limit."
"You're the best, Nachahmer!"
Smiles were plastered across the squad members' faces.
Nachahmer felt something being filled deep within his chest.
He didn't know exactly what it was, but it felt like a positive emotion he had never experienced before.
"...You all worked hard too. It was thanks to everyone."
They all put their arms around each other's shoulders, celebrating their victory.
The squad's atmosphere soared with brightness.
"Good job, everyone."
"...? Whoa!"
Startled by the sudden appearance of the officers, everyone turned around.
"To achieve victory even against a Huge Hollow... the overall level of this squad is quite excellent. However, you lose one point for failing to remain alert to your surroundings before regrouping with us."
"Ah..."
Small smiles played on the officers' faces.
It was as if they were looking at juniors who had grown better than expected.
"Nevertheless, you did well. You'll likely be competing for the top spot in this class. So, let's head back—"
Squeltch—
However, his words were never finished.
A Hollow's head, which had emerged from the ground without warning, swallowed the officer's upper body.
"......Huh?"
The hollow sound of bones being crushed echoed through the air.
Limbs that had already lost their soul dangled limply in the air.
"...Everyone, scatter!!!!"
Slash!
Before the remaining officer could even draw his weapon, the Hollow's body flew in and sliced him in half.
"What are you doing!! Everyone, run!!!"
Kiril shouted desperately.
But even his eyes were shaking uncontrollably, unable to find focus.
'What? We clearly pierced its head and I even performed a finishing blow—?'
Was it Hollow regeneration? What was it? What on earth—
'...Ah.'
He checked the Hollow's body.
When he connected the points where the movement continued.
'That wasn't the head.'
The part they had defeated wasn't the head, but merely a tail of a similar shape.
Or perhaps, it was a centipede with two heads—
"What are you doing, Kiril! Get out of the way!!"
Someone called out to him.
He just stared blankly at the countless teeth in the mouth descending toward him.
A hollow "Uh..." was the only sound he could muster in his final moment.
CRASH—
*****
He squeezed his eyes shut.
The sensation of a fresh breeze on his skin.
'I'm not dead...?'
"Snap out of it, Squad Leader!"
"Nachahmer...?"
He opened his eyes and looked forward.
Had he been saved just before death?
"Take the others and call for backup. I'll buy time."
"What?! No! At least a few of us should stay—"
"No. Objectively, you're in the way. It's more of a disadvantage because I'd have more people to look after."
"More importantly, that thing isn't just an ordinary Huge Hollow. It's an Adjuchas."
What did that—
He turned his head to look at the Hollow.
It looked exactly the same as before, it truly did.
But something was alien.
The beast-like aura... had weakened.
"Hahaha—"
"That's not the sound of a beast howling... is it?"
"Right. That bastard was acting like a low-intelligence creature on purpose to lure the officers in."
"To bait prey with higher spiritual pressure."
"No way..."
Even though it wore a mask, it was clearly visible.
The creature was looking at this feast with pure delight.
*****
"Kyahahaha!"
The ground was invisible beneath the sand kicked up by the relentless bombardment.
But it didn't matter.
In the end, everything down there would be scattered as mere dust.
Skreeee—
A single insect struggling beneath the earth lunged toward the pit of fire.
It was an instinctive action to eliminate the cause and stop this catastrophe, but—
"Bang!"
KABOOM!
An explosion and wind pressure disproportionate to a human-sized figure swept the surroundings.
The creature was thrown in the opposite direction of its flight, drifting through the air.
The headless beast plummeted downward.
It disintegrated into powder before it even touched the ground.
Hollows, Huge Hollows, and even the occasional Adjuchas.
All were returned to ash equally.
A woman spread wings of red Reishi in the air.
Bambietta Basterbine.
Yet, even after creating such a scene, Bambietta looked full of energy, without a single drop of sweat on her.
"Hehe, are there no more~?"
Once the dust settled and nothing moved, she turned her gaze elsewhere.
"Maybe they're gathered over there this time?"
Cutting through the air, she moved toward another swarm of Hollows.
"...Doesn't seem like there's much for us to do, does there?"
"I guess not."
"This is a bit of an outing anyway, shall we just take a slow walk?"
"I'm in~."
The others were leisurely soaking in the moonlight.
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