After his battle with Grimmjow, Sombravida experienced a brief period of relative calm.
Within his trap-laced grove, no Hollow posed a threat comparable to the swift predator he had barely survived.
Because of the funnels he carved into the forest edge and the use of bait, many wandering Hollows began entering through the same approach corridor. Over time, this altered the hunting flow of the entire woodland.
With Sombravida monopolizing a large portion of the available prey, territorial conflicts erupted in neighboring zones. Competing Hollows clashed more frequently as food pressure increased.
Some high-density Hollows even ventured into Sombravida's territory, drawn by the concentration of prey — and by the aggressive reiatsu signature of its new apex predator.
Most left wounded.
Others never left.
Not long after the encounter with Grimmjow, Sombravida's accumulated spiritual density triggered another evolution.
He crossed from elite density into the lower threshold of high-density Hollow development, a stage approaching the Menos boundary.
During this transition, his spiritual power surged dramatically — nearly an order of magnitude greater than before.
The keratin layer covering his body fully condensed into hardened bone plating. It resembled heavy armor, yet moved seamlessly with his body.
His right claw blades did not lengthen; instead, they shortened slightly, becoming more compact and efficient. Their density, however, increased tremendously.
With his current strength, Sombravida was certain he could sever Grimmjow's tail if they met again.
Newly Developed Spiritual Techniques
During post-evolution dormancy, instinctive combat patterns crystallized within his awareness.
High-density Hollows often develop techniques through instinctual shaping of spiritual pressure rather than deliberate invention.
Shattering Slash
Condenses spiritual power into the right claw, unleashing a rapid sequence of destructive strikes.
Current limit: three successive executions before strain destabilizes his reiatsu flow.
Shadow Strike
Channels spiritual power through the entire body, propelling Sombravida forward in a piercing charge.
• tremendous penetrative force
• ideal for breaking lines or creating distance
• burst speed vastly exceeds normal movement
• high spiritual cost and limited directional control
This technique held clear potential for refinement as his control improved.
Thunder Field
Releases a radial surge of spiritual pressure, striking all targets within roughly ten meters.
A high-consumption technique suited for area clearing rather than dueling.
Unlike a Menos-class Cero, this ability is an explosive discharge rather than a focused beam.
Power Context
High-density Hollows still rely primarily on:
physical combat
• Hierro durability
• instinctive energy shaping
True ranged devastation becomes dominant only at Menos evolution.
A Gillian's Cero could annihilate groups of high-density Hollows.
Against such power, numbers alone rarely suffice.
Evolutionary Growth
Following his advancement, Sombravida's body expanded to over five meters tall.
Increased size was a natural byproduct of spiritual density expansion.
Unfortunately, it created new disadvantages.
Branches that once supported him now snapped beneath his weight.
Mobility through dense woodland became cumbersome.
"I need to refine my structure," Sombravida thought.
Compression of spiritual density — rather than expansion — would be necessary for higher evolution.
He experimented with reiatsu control for days without success.
Then opportunity arrived.
Sombravida sat beneath a massive white tree, digesting the mask of a recent kill, contemplating the burden of his enlarged form.
A deep, unfamiliar howl echoed through the forest.
He looked up.
Approaching him was a towering Hollow nearly two meters taller than himself.
It possessed four thick lower limbs and a humanoid upper torso, its structure reminiscent of draconic morphology. Its lower body was plated in white bone, while its upper torso retained exposed, flesh-like reishi musculature.
Sombravida prepared for combat—
But the Hollow spoke.
"Are you the ruler of this sector?"
Sombravida did not lower his guard.
"…Who are you?"
"I come from the core region of this forest," it replied calmly.
"My name is Lephas Linster. And yours?"
"…Sombravida."
Lephas tilted his head.
"An unusual name."
Sombravida paused briefly.
"It is abbreviated. My full name is Ace Sombravida."
Lephas accepted this without hesitation.
"Then Sombravida it is."
It continued:
"I did not come to devour you."
"I came to seek cooperation."
Sombravida's eyes narrowed.
"Cooperation?"
Lephas nodded.
"We detected your advancement when your spiritual pressure surged. You evolved from elite density into high-density classification. That grants you qualification."
"Join us, and the damage you caused to the forest ecosystem will be overlooked."
So you want my hunting efficiency, Sombravida thought.
He asked calmly:
"Do you have a Hollow named Grimmjow among you?"
Lephas paused.
"No."
Then, without warning, he tossed two masks.
Sombravida caught them.
High-density signatures.
Low-tier high-density Hollows.
A significant offering.
If they intended to eliminate him, they could have done so through coordinated force. This gesture signaled negotiation.
Sombravida consumed the masks immediately.
Warm power spread through his core.
"Speak."
Lephas's eyes narrowed beneath his mask.
"We noticed you the moment you entered this forest. At first, you were insignificant."
"But gradually, lesser signatures disappeared, and yours grew stronger."
"When you were still elite density, you repelled a high-density intruder."
"…That caught our attention."
"And recently, your reiatsu evolved again. Inora — our strongest sensor — confirmed it."
"So?"
"We believe your intelligence is exceptional."
"That is advantageous for hunting."
Sombravida studied him carefully.
"If your group dominates the core region, why seek me?"
Lephas chuckled softly.
"Because dominance is temporary."
He gestured forward.
"Walk with me. We have little time."
Sombravida considered.
They had monitored him for weeks without interference.
If they wished to destroy him, they would have done so.
And escape remained possible unless he faced multiple peak high-density Hollows simultaneously.
He nodded and followed.
The Situation in the Core Region
"Our group consists of eighteen high-density Hollows," Lephas explained.
"We control the core hunting grounds."
"We recruit intelligent Hollows when advantageous. We eliminate those too weak… or too dangerous."
Sombravida listened silently.
"Recently," Lephas continued,
"our strongest member, Mirot Zacroir, approached Menos evolution."
"Soon after, his spiritual pressure destabilized. His cognition became erratic."
Sombravida understood immediately.
Pre-Menos instability.
Loss of individuality.
Predatory frenzy.
"He realized what would happen," Lephas continued.
"That we would unite and devour him before he lost himself."
"So he struck first."
"He killed four of us."
Sombravida's eyes sharpened.
"We wounded him," Lephas said.
"He fled with two masks."
"If he devours them and completes evolution…"
"…he may become a Gillian."
A Gillian emerging within the forest would destabilize the entire region.
If consciousness were lost, it would devour indiscriminately.
If retained…
it could return with vengeance.
"What does this have to do with me?" Sombravida asked coldly.
"If we fail, I risk annihilation."
Lephas answered without hesitation:
"Because we lack a leader."
"If he has not evolved, we can defeat him."
"If he has… and we act without coordination…"
"…we die."
"We need a Hollow capable of directing the hunt."
He stopped walking.
"Inora proposed you."
"You may not be the strongest."
"But after seeing your territory…"
"…even I doubt I could traverse it unscathed."
"Your strength is useful."
"Your intelligence is essential."
Before Sombravida could reply—
A deep, resonant voice echoed through the forest.
Multiple powerful reiatsu signatures surged into awareness from every direction.
"Lephas speaks the truth."
Sombravida turned slowly.
He was surrounded.
Not by enemies.
But by the forest's true apex predators.
And they were waiting for his answer.