Years passed.
Since Sombravida's rebirth in Hueco Mundo, he and his subordinates had hunted relentlessly, fulfilling the promise he once made — to lead them all toward evolution.
Now, under his guidance, every one of his followers had advanced into Gillian.
Every one… except Jacain.
And unlike Jacain, none of the others retained their consciousness.
Only Inora remained beside him.
Feslina had already descended into the pit, awaiting her own evolution.
"Inora… you sense it, don't you?" Sombravida said quietly.
The fluctuations in his reiatsu betrayed his thoughts.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Inora replied softly. "You seem troubled."
Sombravida did not deny it.
"For this final advancement… we have nearly exhausted the entire forest. If Feslina also loses consciousness, we may need to abandon our original path."
Inora hesitated.
"My King… once Feslina advances, there is something important I must tell you."
Sombravida looked at her.
"…Then we wait."
The Howl of Evolution
Half a day later, the pit echoed with the unmistakable howl of a Menos.
A massive head rose from the crater.
The long-nosed, blank grin of a Gillian mask.
Sombravida's reiatsu surged violently.
"…Again."
His claw lashed out, snapping a thick dead tree in half.
"My King," Inora said urgently, "we should leave."
Sombravida exhaled slowly.
They withdrew.
Hours later, Feslina's distant howl faded as she began her instinctive march toward the Forest of Menos.
Silence returned.
The Conversation Begins
They stood in the quiet wasteland.
Sombravida spoke first.
"Now it is only the two of us. Speak freely."
Inora bowed deeply.
"My King, please forgive my boldness."
Sombravida nodded.
"Speak."
Consciousness and Failure
"First," she said, "please do not blame yourself for Fares and Feslina losing consciousness. Whether a Hollow retains awareness during evolution is largely determined by constitution and internal spiritual structure. This was never within your control."
Sombravida's self-reproach eased.
She continued:
"As for your concern… about losing consciousness during your own evolution…"
Sombravida's gaze sharpened.
"Continue."
A Hidden Ability Revealed
"My King… I concealed something."
Sombravida did not react.
"My primary ability is spiritual pressure detection. But after becoming a high-level Hollow, I awakened a second ability."
"I call it Spiritual Energy Detection."
Sombravida's interest sparked.
"Explain."
"If spiritual pressure detection senses external reiatsu," she said, stepping closer, "then spiritual energy detection observes the internal structure of a being's power."
She lowered her head.
"My King… the spiritual power within you is immense. It has already surpassed the threshold of a high-level Hollow. In density and volume, it rivals — perhaps exceeds — that of a low-tier Gillian."
Sombravida did not deny it.
"If you had not suppressed yourself," she continued, "you would have evolved long before Fares."
Sombravida's eyes narrowed.
"But…"
"But you feared losing consciousness."
Silence.
"You allowed the others to advance first," she said softly, "hoping to learn from their transformations."
Sombravida's reiatsu flickered sharply.
Inora immediately prostrated herself.
"My King, forgive my presumption."
After a long silence, Sombravida sighed.
"…You are correct."
The Hidden Fear
"I wanted to help them evolve," he said.
"And I did."
"But I also hoped to discover how to avoid becoming a mindless pawn."
He clenched his fist.
"Watching them lose themselves… one after another…"
His voice dropped.
"…I began to feel powerless."
Inora listened quietly.
She understood the weight he carried.
What She Observed
"I carefully observed each evolution," she continued.
"Jacain… and the others."
"There was one critical difference."
Sombravida looked up.
"After evolution, only Jacain's spiritual pressure was solid and dense. The others reached Gillian-level volume… but their power was diffuse and unstable within their enormous bodies."
Sombravida's eyes sharpened.
"You believe this determines consciousness?"
"Yes."
The Key Factors
"I believe two conditions increase the probability of retaining consciousness."
She raised one tentacle.
"First: superior soul density — a strong spiritual foundation."
Second.
"The ability to compress and solidify spiritual energy before evolution."
Sombravida's pupils contracted.
"Jacain possessed extraordinary compression ability. His internal power density far exceeded the others. I believe this allowed his consciousness to survive the transformation."
Sombravida frowned.
"All Hollows can compress spiritual energy."
"Yes," Inora said. "But few choose to."
The Hollow Dilemma
"Advancement is survival," she explained.
"No Hollow willingly delays evolution to accumulate density. A Gillian's Cero can annihilate entire groups of high-level Hollows."
"They evolve quickly… or die."
"Some retain awareness through luck."
"Some through extraordinary constitution."
"But only those with both high density and compression mastery have a true advantage."
She lowered her head.
"My King… you possess both."
Sombravida's Reflection
Sombravida felt the immense power within him.
His compression ability already exceeded all others.
Though her conclusions were theoretical, even a one-percent advantage was worth pursuing.
"Inora," he said quietly, "thank you."
Relief softened his tone.
"It is my honor to serve you, My King."
Sombravida gave a faint, self-mocking laugh.
"If not for you, I might have exploded from spiritual overload long ago."
He turned away from the empty pit.
"Come. We leave this place. We will find a new area and prepare for your evolution."
Inora's Decision
"My King," she said gently, "that will not be necessary."
Sombravida paused.
"My compression has nearly reached its limit. Within two to five days, my reiatsu will naturally reach the threshold."
"So hunting is unnecessary?"
"Yes."
She paused.
"The sensation is… unbearable fullness. As if the soul itself is about to rupture."
Sombravida listened carefully.
Sombravida's Potential
"My King," she continued, "your body is extraordinary. Your capacity and compression surpass anything I have witnessed."
"I believe you could defeat a Gillian alone."
Sombravida considered.
"If it were mindless… I could escape. With terrain advantage… killing one may be possible."
Inora nodded.
"Based on my observation, your body can still contain at least one-third more spiritual energy. With deeper compression, perhaps double."
"Even consuming multiple Gillians would not cause your body to rupture."
Sombravida stared at her.
"…You are certain?"
She met his gaze.
"I have no reason to deceive you."
The Path Forward
"If you remain at the high-level stage and compress your spiritual power to the utmost limit," she said, "your chance of retaining consciousness will far exceed that of any Hollow."
"And even if you fail…"
"…your Gillian form will be vastly superior."
Sombravida laughed softly.
"Then I will accept your blessing."
He turned back toward the pit.
"If you are nearing evolution, return to the chamber. I will bring you prey."
"Thank you, My King."
She hesitated.
"My King… there is one more thing."
Sombravida stopped.
"Speak."
Her voice became resolute.
"If I lose consciousness… do not allow me to leave."
Silence fell.
"…Kill me."
"…and devour me."
Sombravida froze.
"…What?"