Sombravida's promotion was no accident.
Since evolving into an Adjuchas, he had used Jekain's position inside the Great Forest of Menos to quietly siphon resources.
He consumed the majority.
Those beneath him were allowed the remainder.
And because of this structured hierarchy, loyalty followed strength.
Unlike other territories, Sombravida reorganized the Gillian ecosystem with deliberate precision.
Resource Doctrine
All conscious Gillians were located and contacted.
Those unwilling to submit were eliminated early.
Those who complied were cultivated.
Unconscious Gillians became rations for Adjuchas units.
This prevented ecological collapse caused by sudden predator concentration — a common failure among less disciplined lords.
Pre-Gillian Cultivation
Hollows below Gillian rank were separated into controlled zones.
Those possessing consciousness were placed into training grounds stocked with:
lesser Hollows
mindless prey
controlled combat stimuli
This allowed them to develop predatory instinct and battle awareness.
If they evolved into conscious Gillians, they were permitted to continue hunting.
If they devolved into mindless Gillians…
they became rations.
Special Ability Preservation
Certain Hollows possessed rare traits:
sensory perception
regeneration
terrain manipulation
structural shaping
If such Hollows lost consciousness at the Gillian stage, Sombravida assigned an Adjuchas to protect and cultivate them until evolution restored awareness.
Upon regaining consciousness, they were evaluated for:
intelligence
• ability
• loyalty
Those unwilling to submit were eliminated immediately.
No one was permitted to escape through Garganta or migrate inward.
Wayward power was future disaster.
Military Philosophy
Regardless of the inner realm's situation, Sombravida intended to cultivate a force from the Forest itself — one capable of accompanying him into Hueco Mundo's deeper hierarchy.
Unlike traditional lords who favored Hollows resembling themselves, Sombravida valued loyalty and capability above form.
When his elite core matured, the so-called Holy War would become trivial.
Even thousands of Gillians could be annihilated by a handful of disciplined Adjuchas.
At that point, victory would be inevitable.
Incoming Enemy Force
"My King," said a bat-winged, ant-headed Adjuchas — the most perceptive Hollow in Sombravida's ranks.
"I detect seven Adjuchas approaching. Three possess mid-tier reiatsu."
Sombravida looked toward the distant ridgeline.
"Ascend. Search for natural caverns nearby."
"Yes."
The Hollows launched into the air with synchronized Sonído bursts.
Terrain Selection
"My lord — to the north," Nel indicated, pointing toward a mountain slope.
Even without a cave, the rock mass could be hollowed quickly.
"Let's inspect it."
They arrived within minutes.
A natural cavern existed at the mountain's base.
Sombravida concealed his reiatsu and entered alone.
After confirming depth, airflow, and absence of hidden Hollows, he signaled the others.
The cavern extended deep into the mountain — large enough to allow full-speed Sonído and Cero discharge.
An excellent stronghold.
However, without reinforcement using Hollow bone or mineralized reishi deposits, sustained Cero bombardment could collapse it.
Tactical Deployment
"Nel, remain here."
"I'll greet them outside."
She tilted her head but did not question his wording.
"My lord, what should I do?"
"Coordinate with Jekain."
"Use spatial sealing."
"If they fire Cero inside, use Cero Repetition and return it."
"Yes, my lord."
"Jekain — if three enter, you can contain them. Hold them in place. I'll eliminate the remainder and collapse their formation."
"Yes, my King."
Sombravida vanished.
Cave Strategy
After he left, Jekain turned to Nel.
"Lady Nel, shall we ambush them?"
She tapped her cheek thoughtfully.
"Lord Sombravida told me to stand here."
"So I will serve as bait."
"If they fire Cero, I return it."
"If they enter for close combat, you seal the space and engage."
Jekain nodded.
He withdrew with the sensory Adjuchas and concealed himself.
Enemy Arrival
Hours later, the seven pursuers arrived.
One resembled a giant hound, sniffing the ground.
"This is the last reiatsu trace."
"They entered the cave."
"Resting?"
"Unlikely. They killed Shūji's unit instantly. Stay alert."
"Do we enter?"
"Should we return for reinforcements?"
"No," said the mid-tier leader.
"The lord entrusted us with this mission."
He pointed.
"Four of you. Advance first."
Three low-tier and one mid-tier Adjuchas entered cautiously.
Energy Compression
Outside, Sombravida raised a finger.
Reiatsu condensed silently.
He continued compressing.
There exists, among high-level Hollows, a technique surpassing Cero:
Gran Rey Cero — often called the King's Flash.
Few can use it.
Sombravida had not yet mastered it.
However…
through extreme compression, his Cero output already approached its destructive threshold.
A standard Gillian Cero = baseline.
Early Adjuchas Cero = several times stronger.
Mid-tier Adjuchas Cero = exponentially greater.
Gran Rey Cero could exceed these magnitudes dramatically.
Sombravida's compressed discharge had already surpassed the destructive range of standard Adjuchas Cero — yet lacked the spatial distortion signature typical of Gran Rey Cero.
He suspected his spatial attribute stabilized surrounding reishi, preventing distortion and energy leakage.
Still, the condensation speed remained slow.
Without concealment, enemies could easily evade it.
So he continued refining.
The Hidden Strike
When he sensed the cave engagement begin, Sombravida fired.
A colorless Cero streaked forward without visible reiatsu flare.
Impact.
The explosion engulfed the three remaining Adjuchas outside.
One low-tier Adjuchas disintegrated instantly.
The two mid-tier survivors were critically wounded.
Sombravida exhaled softly.
"…too much output."
He had intended to preserve the body.
"Waste of resources."
Shock and Realization
"…that power…"
"…it rivaled a Gran Rey Cero…"
They stared in disbelief.
They had sensed nothing before impact.
Sombravida manifested Rift in his left hand.
"Intelligence is useful," he said calmly.
"You simply failed to use it."
Interception
"Retreat into the cave!" one shouted.
Sombravida would not permit it.
Two rapid Cero bursts struck their path.
A spatial slash followed.
One Adjuchas was pinned to the rock wall, blade piercing through his torso.
Blood sprayed across the stone.
Sombravida fired a point-blank concealed Cero into the other's mask.
The skull shattered instantly.
"I adjusted the output this time."
He withdrew his blade.
One final stroke severed the remaining Adjuchas' neck.
Final Words
"How… can you be this strong…?"
The dying Adjuchas stared in disbelief.
Sombravida looked down at him.
"Adaptation," he said simply.
The head fell.
He removed both masks and consumed them.
Then he turned toward the cavern depths.
Four more high-quality rations waited inside.
And the hunt was not yet finished.
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