Chapter 71
The Menos slowly rip apart the sky like a piece of paper. From the head then came the neck. When the neck came out, its black shroud was slowly getting bigger and bigger. This time almost half of the body came out of the hole and around the neck was a row of thin white spikes.
Yun Che and Retsu bore a relax expression but not the same can be said for Little Fairy and Cang Yue. Hollows should exist around year after it appears and their existence was common in the pract.i.tioners' eyes. However, Menos type hollows are even rarer compared to normal hollows.
"What in the world is that?" Jasmine's voice suddenly sounded in his head.
"Jasmine, feast your eyes. This is the hollow even normal s.h.i.+nigami in our world had troubles of fighting. The great hollow realm hollow, Menos Grande." Yun Che said with a grin in his mind. Startling Jasmine in one go. As for Jasmine, this is her first time seeing the Menos Grande in front of her.
"Menos Grande?" She said while confused. Looks like she will learn a new word again today.
"Menos Grande or Lesser Great Hollow. These hollows exist only in the realm of the hollow. They are usually formed when hundreds of hollows pile themselves up and form one single ent.i.ty back in our world. But, different case for this world. Based on the system, hollows in this world could cultivate by consuming the strongest being and elevate their cultivation. The system also told me that once hollows broken through from the boundary of True Profound Realm, they will enter Spirit Profound Realm and evolved into a Menos Grande. That explains the disappearance of the demonic beast in this area." Yun Che explains while pulling Zangetsu from the ground and put in on his shoulder.
"So, its strength is only at Spirit Profound Realm?"
"Sort of, in the Spirit Profound Realm, they have their own cla.s.s as well. These giant great hollows are also known as Gillian cla.s.s hollows. Basically Menos Grande and Gillian are technically the same."
"So these are Gillian cla.s.s hollows?"
"Yeah, Gillian cla.s.s hollows are divided into two types. One is a Lesser Gillian and another is an evolved Gillian. In short form, evolved Gillian are Menos that broken through into Earth Profound Realm. The only difference between a lesser and an evolved are the mask."
"I see, so are these things weak in the Spirit Profound Realm?"
"I won't say that either. Their strength is at Spirit Profound Realm but they have attack power can harm even an Earth or Sky Profound Realm cultivators. These things might be dumb or mindless, but even a normal Spirit Profound Realm cultivators have trouble causing a major damage to their body."
As Yun Che was staring and explaining at the same time. The ladies immediately moved to his side and on their guard against the giant Menos. As for Retsu, this is her first time seeing a Menos in this world as well. Even if she was used to it in her previous life but she was born in a clean slate. Seeing this up close still amazed her.
Drawing her sword, Little Fairy suddenly asked him "Rascal, what is that thing?" Little Fairy never actually saw a Menos before. One thing bothers her that the size of that thing.
"My dear, that thing is a Menos." Yun Che replied without batting an eye on her.
"Menos?" She said while looking at him. "How did he knew about this? No wonder he had no reaction." She said in her heart.
"I'll explain later. Right now, we need to keep that thing from the barrier."
"H-How strong is that thing?" Cang Yue asked while stuttering. He knew she was scared the moment she saw that thing came out. Well, its an expected reaction.
"Its strength is….." Before Yun Che could finish, the Menos is almost half way through the barrier. This time, they can finally see the large hole on the center of its body. From Yun Che's explanation and their observation, they knew hollows have white mask and holes on their body. But this is the first time they could see the large hole on its body.
When the Menos fully came out, everyone could see the appearance of that thing. As for the villagers, some of them scared out of their wits and fell down on their back witnessing the towering giant overlooking their village. This Menos is at least 2-6 stories tall and its height are almost the same as the height of the barrier. They saw its white mask with an elongated nose before and its body are covered from their head to their feet with a black covering reminiscent of a cloak. Around its neck is a row of thin white spikes. The Menos also have large, pointed feet wrapped in white bandages. They have large white hands with long, sharp, white nails, but they are hidden in their cloak after using it to rip the s.p.a.ce.
'Stomp'
'Stomp' The Menos slowly walk the field before finally stopped in front of Yun Che's party.
"Man, that's one big Hollow." Despite seeing it in his past life, it was still impressive seeing it up close. Especially when he's standing underneath it.
Cang Yue was quite scared when she saw the true size of the Menos and hide herself behind Retsu. Little Fairy was on her guard and prepared her Frozen Cloud Arts beforehand. If this thing is huge then it must have some strength to back it up.
As for Yun Che, he was quite excited when he sees this hollow up close. He always wanted to fight a Menos to see its capabilities. But when one is towering him right now, he'll spare no effort in getting rid of it instead of letting it escape back to Hueco Mundo.
"This thing is huge." Jasmine sounded in his mind.
"Yeah, it's common for them to be in this size. But their weakness is still the same. Smash their mask and everything will be over. When I said even normal cultivators have trouble dealing with it, I mean it. That thing's cloak is far stronger and can withstand a lot of attacks. However, their mask is their only weak point.
"Then smash the mask to pieces."
"Its not easy though."
"Why?"
All of a sudden, the Menos's red eyes suddenly s.h.i.+ft down to Yun Che's party as if it was looking at an ant. Not before long, the energy around them started to flow towards the Menos and immediately caught the attention of Yun Che.
"That's why." As soon as he said that to Jasmine. The energy disturbance around them started to converge on the hollow's mouth forming a charged energy ball. Aware of the situation, he asked
"Retsu, take Cang Yue and get away from here. Little Fairy, follow her as well." Retsu didn't say anything because she knew him that well. She gave him a nod before picking up Cang Yue by her shoulder.
"Rascal, what are you doing?" Little Fairy asked him with a worried tone. Even if Yun Che was strong, she was still worried about him.
"I am going to test that thing's power so we know what are we're up against."
"But, we didn't even know its current strength." She said while keeping an eye towards the charged red ball of energy in that thing's mouth. Even if she wanted to do something, that energy could explode and harm her along with the others.
"Its strength is around third level of Spirit Profound Realm but don't underestimate it. That thing on its mouth could even harm an Earth or a Sky Profound Realm cultivator. Just go, I'll be fine." As he said that that we walked slowly to the front holding Zangetsu on his side.
"Rascal…" She said slowly before flying towards Retsu as well. Like he
Yun Che looked at her retreating back in one go. He didn't tell her that when a Menos fired a cero, it shot with absolute accuracy even if that thing is mindless. Even if she can help, she couldn't react on time if that thing shoots it at her.
"Come on, show me what you got." He said slowly before holding Zangetsu as a s.h.i.+eld. As the Menos finished charging. The energy ball slowly getting smaller in front of its mouth opening its mouth. All of a sudden, a stream of red energy suddenly came out from its mouth towards Yun Che.
BOOOM!!!
The cero overwhelms Yun Che as he blocks it with his sword, separating the beam of energy like separating a stream of water. Little Fairy looked from a distance with eyes of worry. But she saw Retsu's relaxed expression and she breath a breath of relief. Even if that thing can harm high rank cultivators but she knew Yun Che wasn't a normal one to begin with.
The Menos shoot endless amount of energy towards Yun Che. Instead of worrying for his life, he was feeling blissful underneath it. Part of the reason he wanted to fight the Menos was to test its cero strike. He wanted to see how much damage that thing can cause him.
[Ding…. Great Way of the Buddha Experience points +5000]
[Ding…. Great Way of the Buddha Experience points +5000]
[Ding…. Great Way of the Buddha Experience points +5000]
Notification started ringing on in his mind as the cero's energy started to hit him. The energy wasn't as powerful as Little Fairy's full powered strike, but it continuously ringing in his mind.
"Man, that stings. The system was right. Menos might be weak but that cero must not be underestimated." Yun Che said as he looked at his experience bar for the Great Way of the Buddha.
It slowly climbs up under constant attack of the cero. After a while, the experience points achieve full experience bar and…
[Ding…. Great Way of the Buddha Experience body cultivation state level up. Host current body is now Sky Profound Realm Second Level]
The energy beam slowly dies down and created a cloud of smoke. The villagers looked at the cloud of smoke feeling despair and hoped that powerful cultivator didn't perish under that attack. All of a sudden, the smoke suddenly cleared up and a figure emerge from it holding a sword on his side. Right now, he was feeling blissful after his body state went up. He jumped and stands on the air same level as the Menos's head.
"Hey, ugly. That stings. Then again you pushed my body state up. Can you do that again?" He said while taunting the Menos. The villagers were dumbstruck seeing that man taunting it to attack him again. As for the others, Cang Yue was quite speechless while Little Fairy sighs immediately. No wonder he wanted to fight it alone. He wanted to use its attack to elevate his body.
The Menos charged up another cero and fired it towards Yun Che again. However…
[Ding…. Great Way of the Buddha Experience points +2500]
[Ding…. Great Way of the Buddha Experience points +2500]
[Ding…. Great Way of the Buddha Experience points +2500]
The power of the cero is now halved and it took him another shot before finally achieving another breakthrough on his body.
[Ding…. Great Way of the Buddha Experience body cultivation state level up. Host current body is now Sky Profound Realm Thied Level]
After a while, his body state leveled up once more. But the Menos's cero was getting weaker.
"Chee, it's getting weaker. Maybe due to my body state leveled up. Tempting it might be but it's still far from the fourth level boundary. Sorry, I couldn't afford to wait any longer. Thank you for your services then." Yun Che then empowers his sword with spirit force and immediately shot a Getsuga slicing the cero in half. The Getsuga traveled towards the hollow and sliced its left shoulder.
The villagers were gaping once more seeing that young man slicing the giant being easily just like that. As if this being was a joke to begin with. The hollow lost its balance for a while before regaining back its bearing. Seeing its shoulder was ripped apart by Yun Che. It immediately gives out an intimidating roar.
ROOOAAARRRR
With that roar, it suddenly grabs the air using its right hand and pull it like a blanket. Stunning the villagers and him at the same time. For them its impossible for the air to be pulled like a piece of clothing. Yun Che knew this thing was opening up a garganta back to Hueco Mundo. Looks like the hollow was making a run for it. Yun Che immediately flashed step towards the hollow to give it a killing blow but as soon as he arrived near it. As soon as he swings his sword towards it,
CLANG!!!!
Yun Che was stunned seeing his sword suddenly hit a yellow barrier suddenly covered the hollow. The most annoying barrier used by Sosuke Aizen to escaped from Soul Society.
"d.a.m.n it, I was too late. It managed to use Negacion on itself." If Yun Che was fast enough, he could easily kill the hollow but it managed to open up a garganta just now. Thus, enabled it to use the Negacion skill to save itself. After a while, the giant Menos managed to cover itself with the air and escaped back to Hueco Mundo. Leaving Yun Che standing on the air.
"What is that barrier?" Jasmine suddenly asked.
"That is the Negacion or counter membrane. Gillians used it to escape. I didn't tell you this but the only way to kill a Gillian is when it closed the garganta just now. That's why I didn't attack it the moment it came through the hole. The hole must be closed for a successful attack or else they will be invulnerable. When they came through, they also couldn't attack as well."
"So, these things are invulnerable in their realm?"
"No, only pa.s.sing by gates. If we managed to get in there. I can easily kill it. d.a.m.n, I was too late."
"Ohh, just relax, we can get them next time."
"These things are getting stronger by the minute. Looks like we might have a lot of trouble in the future." Yun Che said with a serious face towards Jasmine.
"Its really that bad huh?" Jasmine was quite stunned seeing Yun Che serious for some reason. If that thing managed to get away. Then how strong is it in the future?
"Hollows might be weak but they are stronger once they evolved. Next time, remind me to kill it instantly." Yun Che wraps Zangetsu back in its straps and placed it on his back before falling back to the ground.
He was rejoined by Retsu and the others. Cang Yue and Little Fairy asked a lot of question about that Menos and Yun Che explained briefly about it just now. However, he left the details about Hueco Mundo from them. All he did was telling them about Spirit Profound Realm hollows and their capabilities. As for the garganta part, he only said those things have the capabilities to tear through s.p.a.ce to travel in which shocking the ladies in the end. A hollow able to learn spatial art isn't something they could see every day. He told them about the capabilities of the cero as well. The ladies learnt a thing or two about Menos Grande and possibly knew how to counter if it ever appears in the future.
"Rascal, how do you know a lot about this things?" Since Little Fairy was straightforward, she just asked him on the spot to satisfy the curiosity.
"My master spends a lot of time studying these things in the past. It's my first time fighting that thing as well." Yun Che said with a grin. In fact, he hides all the data he gained from the system behind his so called 'master'.
"Hoo, so that's why you knew a lot about these hollows?" Cang Yue asked him.
"Sort of, Come. I bet the villagers are dying to meet us." With that, Yun Che and the others travel into the village. The village chief allow the array to open a path for them to enter the village. The village was not that large as it is located on top of the hill facing the mountain. It was still a long way on foot to the top of the hill. So, Cang Yue deployed her eagle and all of them instantly arrived at the top of the hill. They finally found the village and quite stunned with its beauty. This village, despite being far away from the city but they could create something this beautiful. Moreover, it was surrounded by green as far as the eye can see.
As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by the village's chief along with the other villagers. Eyes of adoration are everywhere as they climb down from the eagle to the village's square.
When the villagers saw them, some of them actually thought Yun Che's party as a party of immortals because of their performances and their looks. Where else could they see a handsome young man surrounded by three peerless beauties. They could only dream to be in his position right now.
"Greetings immortal, I am Feng Baichuan. The Phoenix Clan head of this village. We of the phoenix clan would like to thank you for saving us from those things." With that, he cupped his hands and continued to bow followed by the rest of the villagers.
"No..no..no.. Village chief, please don't bow. We just normal cultivators, who happen to pa.s.sed by this place. We're not immortals." Yun Che started to hold the village chief to prevent him from bowing. They're just doing it for fun, not for appreciation.
"How come you're not immortals. You descended down from the heavens to aid us in our time of need. You must be the savior sent by the heavens to us." The village head while looking at the sky. Probably thinking his jump from the eagle as help from the heavens.
"Like we said, we're just normal human beings. Not immortals." Yun Che sighs immediately. These folks really thought them as immortal beings.
"Then, we're thank you again immortals." The village chief didn't bow but still calling him immortal again.
"Dang it, let's just leave at that." Yun Che pinched the bridge of his nose and sigh once more. There's nothing he could do about the perception. With that, Yun Che and the others followed the village chief to the village edge. From his view, the village was quite beautiful and community was peaceful. Unlike those from the city. As they were walking, every eyes on the village looking at them with adoration. Females of the villages stealing glances at him with red faces while males do the same for Retsu, Little Fairy and Cang Yue. Their beauties outs.h.i.+ne the females in the area. They weren't annoyed just felt a little awkward at some times.
"I never knew this kind of place exist within the empire." Cang Yue muttered slowly.
"A lot of place exists Cang Yue, you just need to look deeper." Yun Che said while his hands behind his head. As they were walking, Yun Che couldn't help asking some questions to help Retsu and the others gain insight of this place.
"Village chief. You people are cultivators as well. Why can't you fight those beasts attacking the barrier?" Even if he knew the reason, he still asked the questions to avoid Little Fairy from being curious about him again.
The village chief suddenly stopped and looked at them with eyes of despair. As an old man, Feng Baichuan had his share of despair as long as he lived. The barrier is the only thing protecting the village from outside invasion. Thank G.o.d the clan was secluded or else they would perish under the attacks of greedy cultivators. Taking a seat on one of the rocks, he turns to Yun Che with heavy expression.
"Sigh, it's not like we didn't want to fight immortal. It's just we couldn't. Those things are far too strong for us. I've watch those things rip apart the village's men like they were nothing. We couldn't go out to get resources. Demon beast are slowly disappearing since a year ago and we couldn't get any meat because of those things. Good thing the village had a small farm and it was the only thing that could sustained us. In the end, we lived in peace. However, a year ago. Those things started attacking us. They couldn't get through at first but the next few months they came with numbers. The highest cultivation we could achieve in this village is the tenth level of the Elementary Profound Realm. There's no way for us to defeat those in the Narcent and True Profound realm."
"Impossible, even the slowest cultivator could achieve at least fifth or sixth level of Narcent Profound Realm after achieved the age of thirty. How come you're still stuck on the pinnacle, village chief?" Little Fairy suddenly asked. She really changed once she started following Yun Che. A girl never speaks before is now asking question to others.
"Immortal maiden, this lowly chief told you before that we are from the Phoenix clan. However, that name is nothing more than a burden to us." He said while looking downwards to the ground.
"Burden? How can such a name be a burden?" Asked Retsu while playing with her braid.
"The truth is, immortals. We are cursed beings." Feng Baichuan said with a serious expression.