A Virtual Circle, A New Place
As the name suggests, the Virtual Circle is an expansive and boundless territory, a realm that exists on the outermost edges of the Void Circle Desert. It is a vast and desolate place, where survival is dictated by raw power and the unrelenting hunger of the void creatures that roam its dunes. This land, though barren and devoid of any conventional life, teems with entities in various stages of transformation—beings caught between the remnants of their former selves and the abyssal force pulling them into the depths of void existence.
A sudden, violent roar echoed through the eerie silence, reverberating across the shifting sands. Turning toward the source of the sound, Ren caught sight of a figure writhing in agony. At first glance, it seemed humanoid, but its form was grotesquely distorted. Within seconds, it convulsed violently, enveloped in a burst of thick, white liquid that encased its flesh like a cocoon. As the transformation completed, the being emerged, its body reshaping into a grotesque spider-like creature, standing half the height of a human. Its hollow eyes gleamed with a primal hunger—yet another soul succumbing to the inexorable pull of the void.
This was the final struggle of a once-human entity, its last desperate attempt to resist complete virtualization. But resistance was futile. In this realm, one either evolved or perished. As Ren observed the scene unfold, a grim realization set in—this unfortunate soul had reached the point of no return.
With the swiftness of a predator well-versed in the art of the hunt, Ren burst forth from beneath the sand, his massive form emerging like a specter of death. In one fluid motion, he lunged at the spider-like creature, his jaws clamping down with crushing force. The creature let out a brief, pitiful shriek before being swallowed whole, its essence becoming nothing more than fuel for Ren's growing power.
"Rather than losing your mind and wandering these lands like a rabid beast, it is far better to become my nourishment. In consuming you, I will carry your existence into eternity."
Patting his stomach with satisfaction, Ren sighed, feeling the surge of energy coursing through him as the consumed entity disintegrated into pure spirit particles. This was the way of the void—absorb and grow, or be consumed and fade into nothingness.
For days, Ren remained hidden within the dunes of this strange new land, stalking the newborn void creatures that emerged from their final transformation. With his superior intellect and calculated approach to hunting, he thrived where others floundered. Unlike the mindless beasts that fought and perished in reckless battles, he wielded strategy as his greatest weapon, ensuring that every hunt carried minimal risk.
What truly set Ren apart from the common void creatures was his retained human consciousness. Unlike most who succumbed entirely to their void instincts, he retained his memories, his reasoning, and, most importantly, his ambition. Despite his current weakness, he understood that survival was a marathon, not a sprint. He would not foolishly challenge adversaries far beyond his strength, as some battle-crazed hollows did. Instead, he would grow methodically, increasing his power until the time was right to dominate.
More than ten days had passed in this manner, and Ren's body had expanded to nearly ten meters in length. Though still a powerful holow and not yet classified as a true giant hollow, his presence in the Virtual Circle had become undeniable. He continued his hunt, not just for sustenance but also in search of others like himself—hollow creatures that retained their human consciousness. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, he found none. It seemed he was alone in his awareness, a singular mind navigating a world of instinct-driven entities.
Through constant battle, his abilities had strengthened significantly. He had honed his ability to unleash powerful bursts of energy, increasing the force of his attacks by nearly seventy percent compared to when he first mastered them. Where he had once struggled to unleash more than a single powerful strike, he could now fire two in succession before his energy reserves depleted. This increase in stamina and power granted him a significant advantage—he could attack from the shadows, striking his prey with precision before they could react. In the hierarchy of the hollows , such an approach was deadly; few entities below the level of a true great hollow could withstand his ambush.
Still, despite his growth, he remained cautious. Though he could handle ordinary great hollows, there existed anomalies—beings far beyond the norm. He had witnessed one such creature before, an alien Gilian whose power dwarfed that of its kin. The mere memory of its towering figure sent a chill through Ren. He knew he was not yet ready to face such a foe. For now, he would continue to bide his time, steadily amassing power until the moment arrived when he could stand at the pinnacle of the void.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Virtual Circle, a brutal battle had reached its climax. More than a hundred giant hollows had engaged in relentless combat over the past several days, each one striving to be the last standing. Now, only two remained. The battlefield was a wasteland of severed limbs and splattered blood, the sand dyed in varying shades of crimson and black.
The two survivors were nearly identical, both resembling massive hyenas with pitch-black fur. However, one bore longer fangs, while the other had a more compact frame. Ren recognized them—these were the same creatures he had encountered previously, the ones that had fought over prey before his intervention.
Yet, something was different now. Normally, the final confrontation between two giant voids would result in one devouring the other, ascending to the rank of Gilian. However, these two did not fight. Instead, they moved toward each other, their dark forms pressing together as they licked each other's wounds in a strange display of unity.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
Their bodies began to liquefy simultaneously, melting into two pools of inky blackness. The pools merged, forming a single, larger mass of swirling darkness. A deep, guttural bubbling sound emerged from within as the liquid convulsed, rising into a towering column of shifting void energy.
Suddenly, a bone-white claw burst forth from the swirling mass, gripping the air with an unnatural strength. With a violent motion, the claw tore apart the surrounding darkness, revealing a colossal head with a gleaming mask. But this was no ordinary Gilian—this one had a row of jagged, razor-sharp teeth protruding from its mask, a feature unheard of among its kind.
And it wasn't alone.
From the shadows of the first head, another massive skull emerged, its mask pristine and without teeth. A second consciousness dwelled within this entity—two minds, two wills, sharing a single body.
'A double-headed Gilian… Another anomaly among anomalies.'
The monstrous being lifted its dual heads toward the sky, and in unison, they unleashed a deafening, guttural roar—a declaration of its newfound existence.
Ren, hidden within the dunes, watched in silent contemplation. The Virtual Circle had just birthed another aberration, an entity that defied the natural order. And in this realm where only the strong survived, such an anomaly could either be an opportunity… or a harbinger of disaster.
"Smack!"
The sudden roar had barely faded before it was met with the sharp sound of applause, accompanied by a voice dripping with amusement.
"Oh my, what a pleasant surprise! I never expected to stumble upon such an anomaly during my outing. A rare alien Gilian, no less! If I bring you as an offering to the great Lord Beligang, I will surely be rewarded handsomely!"
The double-headed Gilian turned in unison toward the source of the voice. Standing atop a distant sand dune was a figure—tall by human standards, towering at nearly seven or eight meters. Though humanoid in shape, its appearance was anything but ordinary. Its entire body was covered in a pale pink hue, and a delicate rose pattern adorned the white mask concealing its face. Thick, powerful limbs contrasted sharply with its slender waist, from which sprouted a pure purple bud, giving it an eerie, otherworldly elegance.
To the newly ascended Gilian, whose colossal form neared a hundred meters in height, this being should have seemed insignificant—an insect in comparison. And yet, an overwhelming spiritual pressure radiated from the small figure, pressing down upon them with an undeniable force. More than just strength, there was something deeper, something primal—the unshakable authority of superior bloodline suppressing the lesser.
The twin heads of the Gilian stiffened. They knew instinctively. The being before them was no mere void—it was an Adjuchas, a higher form of evolution within their kind.
"Who... are... you...?" The head adorned with jagged teeth parted its maw, its speech slow and cumbersome, as though unused to forming words.
A soft chuckle echoed across the dunes, carrying an air of arrogance.
"I am a general under the great Lord Beligang Louisenbairn, the supreme king of the Void Circle. My name is Charlotte Zen , of the grand Ten Knights of Xueyue."
The double-headed Gilian flinched. Their instincts screamed at them—this was no ordinary being. Even in their fresh transformation, they could sense the immense gulf between their power and that of the being standing before them. Though their kind was born of bloodshed and endless devouring, survival also meant recognizing when submission was the only path forward.
With stiff movements, they forced their towering forms into a bow.
"Meet... Charlotte... Lord..." Their deep voices rumbled in imperfect unison, the effort of speech evident in their halting pronunciation. Though their intelligence had significantly advanced with their evolution, mastering language was still a struggle.
Charlotte let out a lighthearted laugh, his voice lilting with amusement.
"Heh, no need to be so nervous. Lord Beligang values young ones with such promise. You should consider it an honor." His tone shifted, growing silkier, but beneath the surface lay an unmistakable command. "Now then, come along. It's time to meet the King."
Before the Gilian could process his words, Charlotte vanished in a flash of movement. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared beside them, as if the distance between them had never existed. Then, without hesitation, he seized the massive Gilian—despite the stark difference in size—and, with unnatural ease, dragged its enormous form across the desert.
Their destination was clear.
They were heading straight for Las Noches—the very heart of the Hollow realm.