Hueco Mundo, New Territory.
As the name suggested, this vast expanse was the roaming ground for Freshman Hollows, lying at the outermost edge of the desert.
Roar!
A savage roar echoed across the dunes. Yekawa's gaze fixed on the source, where a figure, still faintly human, was instantly engulfed in a white fluid, transforming into a half-human-tall Spider Hollow.
Clearly, this was the final struggle of a partially Hollowfied soul, the moment it finally succumbed to Hollowfication in Hueco Mundo.
At first, Yekawa thought he had encountered a human, but closer inspection revealed the truth: the being had already lost sanity and was only one step from complete Hollow transformation.
With a lightning-fast burst from beneath the sand, Yekawa's massive body lunged, swallowing the half-human Spider Hollow like a snack.
"Rather than losing your mind and surviving like a beast, it's better to become my nourishment. Let me take you to eternity!" he murmured, patting his belly as he absorbed the Spider Hollow's essence.
For the following days, Yekawa prowled the desert of the New Territory, hunting Freshman Hollows. With his status as a Powerful Hollow and his methodical approach, the endeavor was virtually risk-free.
Unlike ordinary Hollows, Yekawa retained his human consciousness. At this stage, he was still weak. Challenging much stronger opponents without strategy would be madness, for he had no sealed powers or external advantages.
Unnoticed, ten days passed. His body had grown to nearly ten meters. He continued hunting Freshman Hollows, partly for sustenance, partly to see if any others retained human consciousness like himself.
None appeared. Yet his body had grown substantially.
By testing, Yekawa realized that his Cero power had multiplied several times compared to when he first mastered it, reaching roughly seventy percent of that of the abnormal Gillian. Crucially, he was no longer a one-shot wonder. His current spiritual pressure allowed two consecutive shots before exhaustion.
This meant that against formidable opponents, he could hide with Camo, strike first with a Cero, then move in to finish the job. Almost no Hollow below Menos Grande could withstand such a tactic.
Though still a Powerful Hollow and not yet a Giant Hollow, Yekawa estimated that with careful concealment and a first strike, even a Giant Hollow could be defeated.
As for Menos Grande-level Gillians, they remained beyond his reach. Memories of the abnormal Gillian that day still sent shivers down his spine.
But that anomaly was extraordinary; most Gillians lacked its intelligence and power.
…
The Land of Hundred Hollows, site of mutual devourment. After more than ten days of fierce struggle, the hundred Giant Hollows were about to determine the ultimate victor. Limbs littered the wasteland, sand soaked with blood of every hue.
Only two black Hyena Hollows remained. One had long teeth, the other short. These were the very same Hollows from which Yekawa had stolen food.
Yet both were larger now, scarred and battered, looking nearly pitiful. Normally, they would fight one final battle, the victor devouring the loser to ascend into a Gillian. But instead, they approached each other, licking wounds in an unusual display.
Then, a bizarre transformation occurred. Their bodies melted simultaneously into puddles of black liquid, which merged into a larger pool.
Gurgle… gurgle…
The black liquid boiled like water, rising into a giant cylinder. A deep white bone claw pierced it, tearing open the shell to reveal a massive Gillian head. Its mask bristled with sharp teeth.
That was not all. As the black shell peeled away, a second massive head emerged, this one without sharp teeth.
Twin-headed Gillian. Another abnormal Gillian.
Roar!
Both heads bellowed in unison, celebrating their advancement.
Clap… clap… clap!
Applause rang out, accompanied by a feminine voice.
"Oh my, such an unexpected gain! An abnormal Gillian! Presenting you to the great Baraggan Louisenbairn will surely earn me reward!"
The Twin-headed Gillian turned toward the voice. On a distant sand dune stood a humanoid Hollow, seven to eight meters tall. Its pink body contrasted with a bone-white mask decorated with rose patterns. Thick limbs, a slender waist, and a pure purple flower bud sprouting from its back made it look peculiar.
For a human, it was colossal. Yet for the nearly hundred-meter abnormal Gillian, it seemed tiny.
Still, the Gillian dared not move. They felt a terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from this 'small' figure, a suppression instinctively recognized as a superior being over an inferior one.
The Twin-headed Gillian had identified this being as a superior existence—an Adjuchas.
"Who… are… you?" the sharp-toothed head slowly asked, speech halting as it struggled with newly acquired vocal control.
"I am Charlotte Chuhlhourne, great general under the supreme King of Hueco Mundo, Master of All Hollows, Baraggan Louisenbairn!" The feminine voice resounded again.
"Greetings… Charlotte… sir!" The Twin-headed Gillian, intelligent and obedient, immediately flattered the Hollow before it. Newly speaking, its pronunciation was clumsy and slow.
"Hehehe, do not be nervous, child. Baraggan favors promising juniors. Come, follow me to meet the King!"
With that, Charlotte Chuhlhourne flashed using Sonido, appearing beside the Twin-headed Gillian. The 'tiny' Adjuchas dragged the massive Gillian's body, heading toward Las Noches, the heart of Hueco Mundo.