Apacci.
After some recollection, Kazuya recognized the name. She was one of the Tres Bestias, Tier Harribel's Fracción. The tanned Espada with golden hair — easily one of his most favorite female characters ever — led Apacci and her two friends.
'This is rather bizarre.'
Somehow, he found himself in a timeline preceding the moment when Apacci encountered Tier Harribel and transformed into an Arrancar under Aizen. A timeline where the cunning Aizen had not yet seized control of Las Noches.
'Maybe he already did.'
He couldn't be entirely sure about the convoluted chronology of Bleach.
"What about yours? Don't expect to take mine without giving yours!" Apacci snapped at his silence. "Cat got your tongue or what?"
Perhaps it was Kazuya's even temper and obliviousness to Hueco Mundo that put her at ease. She felt no danger, allowing her true character to shine through; while polite on the surface, she was a Hollow with a fiery demeanor.
"Kazuya," he answered, his fingers brushing the skeletal mask that concealed most of his face. "It's…"
This prompted him to observe the other changes in his body. He was wearing the same clothes during his death — a white shirt and jeans, both of which were torn in embarrassing spots, showing his pale white skin. One of those holes exposed the gaping hole in his thighs. Two holes, to be precise.
'Hmm. I think I remember this.'
Every Hollow's hole, at least in higher evolutions, symbolized an aspect — what a Hollow lacked in most cases before their death or the cause of their death. He remembered that much from the material. For example, a Hollow hole near the stomach signified a craving for strength, whereas one in the eye meant blindness to certain things.
'What is mine supposed to mean?'
He gently punched his thigh, then tried moving his legs. He could use his legs just fine.
"Terrified of your holes?" Apacci asked. "We are Hollows. Why tire out your legs walking when we can fly instead?"
"Haha, indeed." He chuckled at her indirect attempt to comfort him. "So, Apacci, where are we headed?"
"How would I know?" she retorted. "Someplace I don't have to constantly run away from those damning incarnations of gluttony."
As if by instinct, Kazuya tenderly stroked her crest, his fingers trailing through the velvety fur that extended down her head. It was a habit he had acquired while horse riding as a gesture of affection for his steed.
"Watch where you touch! I am not your pet."
Despite her irate tone, she didn't order him to dismount. He glanced at his legs and smiled, touched by her subtle kindness. Even in a perilous world, she extended her compassion to a stranger. Perhaps she was relieved to discover someone reasonable in Hueco Mundo, a companion who wouldn't betray her and transform her into food.
'And they say Hollows are evil.'
He would have considered seducing her if she was in her Arrancar form. He had always harbored a fondness for tomboys. Regrettably, she wouldn't attain her human form anytime soon.
'A shame. Oh, right! I almost forgot about that pop-up window. Character System, wasn't it?'
As if responding to his curiosity, a colossal gray box materialized, obstructing his vision.
{Character System}
…
He skimmed past the status and focused on the three-dimensional model to the side, which displayed his current appearance as if he were a character in a video game. His clothing alone served as ample evidence that the model represented him. Disregarding his newly elongated silver hair and pallid white skin, his gaze fixated on the pair of black, feathery wings. He reached towards his back and grasped the soft bones protruding from his shoulder blades.
He gently rolled his shoulder blades, sensing the muscles of his wings stretch and awaken. The wings, stirring from a profound slumber, appeared delicate and shadowy, as though they possessed a life of their own.
'I have wings!'
He widened his eyes with anticipation and took a deep breath. His wings fluttered almost hypnotically and then, with an inner strength that he never knew he had, he began to vigorously flap them up and down.
The wind generated by his efforts captured Apacci's attention. "So, can you fly?"
Kazuya ceased his winged antics and patted her back. "I don't know."
"..."
He returned his gaze to the status and discovered that his half-mask bore a striking resemblance to a demonic skull. Its oversized holes revealed his striking blue eyes, and a menacing set of teeth aligned with the mask where it overlapped his lips. Even the twisted horns appeared as though they belonged to a demon.
'Am I some kind of demon?'
[General Information]
Name — Kazuya Ishihara
Gender — Male
Race — Hollow (Vasto Lorde)
Reiryoku Level — Great Level (Captain-Class)
Alignment — Neutral Evil
Affiliation — None
…
Racial Abilities
[Cero: Reiryoku offensive technique
Mastery level - Yet to learn.]
[Sonido: Movement technique
Mastery level - Yet to learn.]
[Garganta: Limited Spatial Distortion technique.
Mastery level - Yet to learn.]
Innate Abilities
[Silvery Voice: Your voice can influence people's state of mind. The ability works best in persuading or seducing someone.]
[Unnamed/Undiscovered: Manifestation of your Hollow Heart]
[Crumbling Heart (Hollow): Living beings classified as 'Hollow' receive nourishment and enhancements.]
[Regeneration: Your wounds regenerate automatically. The time required depends on the severity of wounds.]
Acquired Abilities
[Seduction: The ability to seduce those of the opposite gender.
Mastery level - Basic]
[Riding: The ability to ride a mount.
Mastery level - Intermediate]
[Arithmetic: The ability to process arithmetic problems.
Mastery level - Intermediate]
[Equipment]
Fine cotton shirt
Denim jeans
'Did I lose some memories?'
This certainly wasn't the status of a Hollow who had just been born. A Vasto Lorde with Reiryoku rivaling a Captain-Class — such power placed him near the apex of Hueco Mundo's hierarchy. In the grand scheme of things, however, he remained little more than high-class fodder. He simply couldn't measure up to endgame villains like the Quincy Sternritters.
'Neutral Evil. It… makes sense.'
He had always sought freedom, regardless of whether it violated laws. Not to mention the disdain he harbored for his grandfather, who risked his life for the greater good of society. Indeed, he never quite fit the mold of a Lawful individual.
Next came the racial abilities — a set of unlearned skills inherent to all Vasto Lorde. Nothing extraordinary there. The truly exceptional aspects lay within his list of innate abilities. People had always complimented his voice, which also granted him an easier time with women. He couldn't fathom that this turned out to be one of his innate abilities.
'Crumbling Heart.'
Despite its menacing name, it appeared to be a team-oriented ability that offered no tangible benefits to him personally. It could prove useful should he find trustworthy Hollow allies. Scratch that — he would either seduce Hollow women into trusting him or subdue them through the natural law of Hollows.
'Unknown Hollow Heart.'
He relegated the unknown aspect to the back of his mind and perused the remainder of his status. His skills were hardly extraordinary. In fact, they wouldn't be considered overpowered in a world where a Quincy could bring his imagination to life and another could glimpse the future and manipulate it at will.
'This can't be it. There have to be other functions.'
A thunderous roar snatched away his attention before he could embark on another exploration of his System.
Apacci trembled, recognizing the owner of the roar. "It's back. Argh, we're dead. SO DEAD."
A few days prior, she had encountered the giant Adjuchas; her Sonido and natural agility had enabled her to escape its ravenous maw. However, her current Reiryoku wasn't sufficient to use her rudimentary-level Sonido for more than thirty seconds — not enough time to evade the Adjuchas hellbent on consuming her.
"An enemy? This is troublesome."
He had yet to master basic Hollow techniques, such as controlling his Reiryoku, or spiritual power. While he could rival an average Captain-Class Shinigami in terms of Reiryoku quantity, he possessed no experience in controlling it.
"You bet it is." Apacci kicked the ground, accelerating her pace. "Learn to fly, dammit. I can't carry you everywhere like a slave."
Their predator appeared atop the hill behind them — a colossal snake-like beast with eight arms and the lower body of a caterpillar. The skeletal mask on its head and the bone-like armor on its shoulders detracted somewhat from its fearsome appearance. The monster seemed right at home amidst the desolate, agony-filled landscape of Hueco Mundo.
The Adjuchas leaped down the hill and pursued them with its numerous writhing legs, kicking up a sandstorm in its wake. "There is only one fate awaiting you, little deer. Cease your resistance and become a part of a greater Adjuchas like me."
Kazuya remained oddly unfazed by the situation, as if his mind refused to acknowledge the massive beast as a threat.
He patted Apacci's back. "Buy me some time. I'll kill him."