The sky above Hueco Mundo was an endless void, a vast expanse of darkness that seemed to consume everything. In the heart of this darkness, a frantic battle unfolded among ravenous Hollows, dominated by an insatiable hunger. The air was thick with dense, suffocating spiritual energy, while the sound of growls and breaking bones echoed through the desolate expanse.
In the inhospitable regions of Hueco Mundo, there was a being that defied all logic known to the creatures of this world.
"Hollows."
The being was clearly a powerful Hollow, yet different at the same time. The creature was smaller than usual when compared to a Menos Grande; it had taken a form akin to that of a Vasto Lorde, both grotesque and beautiful. However, only from the perspective of a carp looking up at a human could it be called a strange beauty. Certain things stood out.
"It seems something has been accelerated... haha... ha..."
The young man laughed. His words were quiet, yet they seemed to rise from the depths of the earth—perhaps a prayer.
Now, his form, woven of flesh and bone, was recognizable both to himself and to anyone else.
His skin was a lifeless bluish-gray. Though there was something grim about it, like a skeleton, it was not ugly. His sorrowful eyes were stained with a demonic red, and these strange symbols only enhanced his enchanting beauty. He was tall and well-built, with dark brown hair adorned with ornaments.
He was a sensual blend of beauty and the grotesque.
He was like Shuten Dōji. But the truth lay beyond distortion. His beautiful appearance was subtly warped, exuding a perverse sensuality, yet at the same time, a sinister guilt emerged from him. However, only from the perspective of the carp could he be called a strange beauty.
Unlike humanity, Hollows can grow large enough to pierce the skies. Even if an advantage is gained through equipment or technique, once a threshold is crossed—one that cannot easily be surpassed—they obstruct the path of progress that lies before the Shinigami. However, the reason it is described as "some kind of advantage" depends on the fact that it is not omnipresent.
Hollows also grow by consuming one another, eventually becoming enormous beings referred to as "Menos Grande," capable of hindering Shinigami at every step. However, from this point onward, their growth tends to diverge.
In the process of evolving from Gillian to Adjuchas, and even further into Vasto Lorde, the Hollow's stature shrinks, as if the Reishi once used to expand its body were gradually being condensed.
Even though this cadaverous being seemed stagnant, it was possible to feel—among the nearby entities—the wave of PRIMAL FEAR that his mere presence unleashed.
Was he calm?
Was he a peaceful being?
A Hollow different from the others, seeking something greater than his wild instincts?
No!
Sometimes, a person's rage becomes so immense that they become calm, and a calm fury is far worse than an explosive one.
A calm fury tends to be more controlled, methodical, and calculating. While explosive fury manifests immediately and visibly, often without much strategy, calm fury is cold and rational, allowing the person to analyze the situation, plan their actions, and strike with greater precision and efficiency.
That is why—
"That damned god..."
A cold, emotionless voice, as if reverberating from the depths of the earth, escaped from the being who stood in a state of furious calm.
He was, in truth, a soul FORCED to reincarnate when a god decided to play. He was just a random soul, chosen to become the new consciousness of this body. One that did not belong to this world, but that mattered little to the gods in their game.
Even the voice escaping from him made the atmosphere vibrate so intensely that it caused disturbances in the eardrums. A sharp, piercing pain spread through the inner ear, and a sensation of my brain rotting began to take hold.
That being was Akuro, the Great Tomb, a true graveyard monster. Any contact with him would lead to death.
The fact that the enemy was a mass of poison was, in every way, a problem.
Even if I managed to repel the distortion of his presence, it would probably be pointless. Because, even if the logic of "poison against poison" were applied, the probability of it only amplifying the venom was still much higher.
Therefore, I needed a completely different approach. Yes, for example...
"Damn..."
Even his voice made the atmosphere tremble, causing disturbances in the eardrums.
That being was Akuro, the Great Tomb, a true graveyard monster. Any contact with him would lead to death.
All at once, his mass exploded, multiplying by the hundreds.
The sludge flowed. The darkness advanced.
Like a tsunami that drags everything in its path, it consumed everything in its direction, expanding at a speed faster than sound.
This, so to speak, was the very idea of extinction. Everything it touched—land, trees, even stones—disintegrated and turned into rotting sludge.
This was nothing more than the manifestation of pure, unaltered rage, condensed into a putrid layer of venom.
This was the power of a being that transcended the notion of "scale" in the Western sense. He was the demon god who brings all things to an end.
This is Akuro, Tenma.
---
[MEANWHILE]
In the depths of Hueco Mundo, where silence was broken only by the howling wind that passed through the white forest, something had changed. The explosion of Reiryoku unleashed by Akuro shook the essence of all beings inhabiting that barren world.
Above the desert, the Adjuchas wandering in search of weaker prey felt the impact. The energy released by Akuro was something they could not ignore. It was as if a blood moon had appeared on the horizon, its overwhelming presence forcing them to make a choice. Those with intelligence or self-preservation instincts retreated, moving away from the epicenter of power like prey fleeing from an ancient predator. The less rational ones, driven by hunger or curiosity, cautiously approached the area—like flies drawn to the light.
In the Menos Forest, beneath the desert, where the giant quartz trees stood like pillars of a dark temple, the Menos Grande and lesser Hollows reacted as well. Some cowered in panic, disappearing into the shadows of the trees. Others, consumed by their basic instincts, advanced toward the epicenter of power, as if expecting to find something to satiate their insatiable hunger.
However, others were drawn by the Reiryoku released by Ikomikidomoe. Normally, Vasto Lordes remain isolated from each other, but a manifestation of raw power like this would attract eyes to a potential new predator in this ongoing struggle.
---
"Hmm... this energy... ha... how many millennia has it been since I last felt it? Perhaps... things will become interesting very soon..."
An ancient Hollow mused while leaning on his throne.
---
"Ah! Kukukuku, such great power~ I would love to dissect him and see all his potential!"
A mass of tentacles trembled with euphoria at its master's excitement.
His assistant merely observed with indifference.
---
"What terrifying power... It seems to me that... the darkness of war... will consume Hueco Mundo once again..."
A dark-skinned Vasto Lorde thought while gazing at her beloved companions.
---
"What... is this?... Is it... emptiness?... Could it be... emptiness like me?"
In a sea of colorless thorns, a certain solitary Vasto Lorde pondered.
For the first time, he emerged from his cocoon, drawn by the void he had sensed expanding for a fleeting moment.
The things were about to change all over Hueco Mundo