Today's update, incoming!
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I devoured an Adjuchas, yet I didn't evolve. I was beyond frustrated. What the hell was I missing? I racked my brain, but I couldn't reach a definitive conclusion. In the world of Bleach, information regarding Hollows was even scarcer than what the Soul Reapers knew. Since there was barely a trickle of lore, comparable to the limited info on the Quincy, I assumed evolving into an Adjuchas followed the same 'just eat it' logic as becoming a Menos Grande. Judging by this result, I was dead wrong.
'I don't know what's lacking yet. To find the reason, I need to observe more Adjuchas.'
I had accidentally stumbled into the territory of Tier Halibel, but she was a Vasto Lorde—a rank far above my own. She couldn't help me in my current state. I had to seek out other Adjuchas.
'First, move. I can't just keep standing here.'
Having finally cleared my head, I took a heavy step forward.
Eight months had passed since I began my journey to become an Adjuchas. Before I knew it, a full year had gone by since I was reincarnated in this desert. Ironically, while I had reached the Menos Grande stage in just a month, I had remained stagnant as a Gillian for a whole year. At first, the shock was immense, but I've mostly made peace with it now.
During that year, I wandered throughout various regions of Hueco Mundo. I saw countless Hollows. One of the most dangerous moments—a true brush with death—was when I encountered Baraggan Louisenbairn. I viewed him from much further away than I had with Halibel, yet the sheer terror he radiated far surpassed hers. Emitting a Reiatsu that justified his title as the King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan was truly a creature of pure horror.
Aside from Baraggan, most of the other Hollows I encountered were Adjuchas. I could confidently say I had crossed paths with the majority of the Adjuchas in Hueco Mundo by now. I even spotted Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. I nearly bit the dust then; Grimmjow charged straight at me with such ferocity that I froze, unable to even think of fleeing. Luckily, another Adjuchas appeared and clashed with him, giving me the window to escape.
After meeting several more Adjuchas, I finally began to grasp the clear distinctions between a Menos Grande and an Adjuchas.
The first difference was thought. Adjuchas possess individual consciousness and hunt with intent. They have a purpose. In contrast, the standard Menos Grande are mindless drones. They move solely on primal instinct.
The second difference was gender. Menos Grande lack any gender identity. Adjuchas, however, have distinct genders. While I'm not sure of the biological specifics, they differentiate themselves as male and female. Furthermore, the males are generally stronger than the females.
The third and most decisive difference I felt was individuality. Every Adjuchas has a unique ego. As if stemming from the first point about thought, each possesses a characteristic combat style, appearance, and personality. Conversely, all Menos Grande share the same mask and the same predictable behavior. This was the most critical divide. And once I realized this, I finally understood why I hadn't evolved yet.
'I didn't know who I was.'
That was it. I was reincarnated from a human into a Hollow by God's whim. Because of that, I overlooked the most vital aspect of being a Hollow. A Menos Grande is born when hundreds of Hollows merge into one mass; an Adjuchas is the ego that refuses to be erased within that ocean of souls, becoming self-aware and forcing an evolution. The act of cannibalizing surrounding Menos Grande is merely a means to secure the spiritual power—the Reiatsu—necessary to fuel that transformation. I hadn't evolved because I was only remembering my existence as a human rather than defining my existence as a Hollow.
The moment that realization clicked, I evolved. And it wasn't just a standard growth. I truly shed my human skin and was reborn as a genuine Hollow. As I became an Adjuchas, a name echoed within me.
"My name is Lucifer La El! The name of the one who will eventually become the King of this world."
The moment I became a true Adjuchas and embraced my Hollow nature, a goal formed. It was to surpass Baraggan, the self-proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo, and even the Soul King himself—to become the absolute Sovereign ruling over all of existence.
To do that, I needed more power. I needed to become a being strong enough to defeat Aizen, Ichigo, and even Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. I needed to transcend Soul Reapers, Arrancars, Quincies, and Humans alike. And the only object that could facilitate that transcendence was the Hogyoku.
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Please give me lots of recommendations, bookmarks, and comments~
Incoming! Incoming! Incoming!
With this, the protagonist has finally evolved into an Adjuchas! On top of that, he desires to become a being that surpasses Soul Reapers, Arrancars, Quincies, and Humans! Ooh! And for that, he wants the Hogyoku! Anyway, I'll see you in the next chapter on Monday.
The method for evolving into an Adjuchas is just my own headcanon. Because of that, I'm still agonizing over how to handle the evolution into a Vasto Lorde. Kehehehe. I'm thinking of basing it on the 'aspect of death' or something similar, so I might go with that. Well, if you have any good suggestions, let me know, and I'll take them into consideration~ Please leave comments~
Oh, the protagonist's Adjuchas form is close to a human's but not quite; it's an awkward, intermediate form that isn't quite a Vasto Lorde nor a typical Adjuchas, which is why I didn't describe it in detail. The fact that he's a reincarnator is the big reason for that form. That doesn't mean he won't look human when he reaches Vasto Lorde, though. I'll post an image when he hits Vasto Lorde. It's likely an image those of you 'in the know' will recognize.