"The… King of a Gillian?"
Erolrot stared at the newly arrived Hollow in disbelief.
If the newcomer were an Adjuchas, he would have fled without hesitation.
Against an Adjuchas-class Menos, resistance was meaningless. A single surge of reiatsu could immobilize weaker Hollows, and one pull of absorption pressure could drag them helplessly into its jaws.
But the figure before him—
its reiatsu still hovered within the upper limits of a high-level Hollow.
Suspicion hardened into anger.
"Hmph. Delusional fool! You dare boast so arrogantly!"
Realizing the intruder had appeared while the Gillian was weakened, Erolrot's fury ignited.
"You outsider will take nothing from my territory!"
Sombravida sneered.
"Ignorance truly is comfortable."
"If you doubt me… try."
He beckoned.
Erolrot's reiatsu flared, sand and debris spiraling outward.
"Attack together!"
His three remaining subordinates lunged forward, unleashing spiritual attacks.
Sombravida did not move.
BOOM
A massive hand descended.
Jacain intercepted them.
"You insects dare strike at my king?!"
Though his Cero reserves were nearly depleted, the Gillian's immense physical strength remained overwhelming. He swept the attackers aside and engaged them directly.
Sombravida flicked his claw.
"Well then… now it's just us."
He surged forward.
Five bone blades flashed toward Erolrot's mask.
CLANG
Scythe met claw.
The collision blasted sand outward.
Both slid backward, creating distance.
Sombravida's stance remained relaxed.
Erolrot's reiatsu fluctuated.
Inside, alarm surged.
How can a high-level Hollow possess such density?
He had used nearly eighty percent of his strength.
The intruder appeared effortless.
If not bluffing—
this Hollow was dangerous.
He did not realize Sombravida's reiatsu density rivaled Menos-class levels, compressed and refined through Gillian absorption.
"Damn intruder!" Erolrot snarled. "One day I will repay this humiliation!"
He turned to retreat.
Sombravida smiled faintly.
"Oh? Already running?"
He vanished.
Reappeared ahead.
Blocked the path.
At this stage, Hollows lacked true high-speed movement techniques. Mobility depended on physical strength and reiatsu bursts.
Sombravida's Shadow Step gave him a decisive advantage.
Erolrot changed direction.
Sombravida appeared again.
Again.
And again.
He did not strike.
He shepherded.
Like a predator guiding prey.
Eventually, Erolrot burst toward the forest perimeter.
Sombravida slowed, allowing distance.
Erolrot's eyes gleamed.
"Reiatsu depletion…?"
He smirked.
"Then I will show you what it means to lure the hunter."
He sprinted toward a ridge and leapt to higher ground.
Sombravida followed.
Stopped below.
"Oh? Finished running?"
Erolrot roared skyward.
Echoes answered.
Shapes emerged from every direction.
Dozens.
Elite and lesser Hollows encircled Sombravida.
Sombravida exhaled softly.
"You held back this entire time… even while facing a Gillian."
"You intended to secure it at any cost."
Erolrot sneered.
"If not for you, that Gillian would already be mine!"
He seized an elite Hollow, tore off its mask, devoured it, and flung the body aside.
His reiatsu surged.
"My abilities include accelerated recovery and low-intelligence domination."
"Beast Hollows with weak will submit easily."
"These were my reserves."
"They were meant to fuel my evolution."
"But they will suffice to kill you."
Sombravida glanced around.
Dozens of controlled beasts.
No panic.
"So this is your last hand."
Erolrot's spiritual pressure rose to full intensity.
The surrounding Hollows shrank back instinctively.
"You may be strong," he said coldly, "but exhaustion will claim you."
Sombravida tilted his head.
"Then let's test that theory."
"ATTACK!"
The controlled Hollows surged forward.
Lightning began gathering along Sombravida's claw—
Then he stopped.
A new surge of reiatsu entered his perception.
Sombravida smiled.
"They've arrived."
Suddenly—
Seven powerful spiritual signatures erupted.
The elite beasts shrieked in terror.
Dust exploded outward.
Limbs scattered.
Screams echoed.
When the dust cleared, seven high-level Hollows stood before Sombravida.
The controlled beasts lay in pieces.
"My lord," they said in unison, bowing.
"We are late."
Sombravida nodded.
"Perfect timing."
He surveyed the battlefield with satisfaction.
Then looked back up at the ridge.
"Well?"
"Do you have another trump card?"
Erolrot stared in shock.
"…Impossible."
"…You planned this?"
Sombravida's voice remained calm.
"Otherwise, why do you think I stopped pursuing you?"
"You chose the only path I did not block."
Realization dawned.
It had never been escape.
It had been herding.
"…Attack!"
Sombravida did not allow retreat.
Seven figures surged forward.
Seven converging reiatsu signatures engulfed Erolrot.
He did not escape.
Seconds later—
He was torn apart.
Silence returned to the ridge.
Sombravida turned away.
"Move out."
"Secure the forest."
Seven voices answered in unison.
"Yes!"
And just like that—
the forest changed rulers.