Just as Sombravida had predicted, Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Hinamori Momo woke in the early hours before dawn. Though the terror of the Hollow still lingered in their minds, under the calm supervision of their grandmother and Sombravida, the two children managed to eat properly.
The two bluefish were divided into four portions and salt-grilled over charcoal. They were served with white rice, sweet nattō, bits of tofu, and miso soup lightly seasoned with soy sauce that Sombravida had bartered from a nearby food stall. In Rukongai, trade was often done in goods rather than coin, and fresh produce held far more value than currency.
The four of them shared a warm meal.
"As expected, Big Brother, you really are amazing!" Momo said between bites. "You defeated that Hollow so quickly!"
"It wasn't quick," Sombravida replied calmly. "And it wasn't strength. Hollows rely heavily on their masks to stabilize their spiritual bodies. I struck at the weakest structural point. If I had missed, the outcome would've been different."
He deliberately avoided glorifying it.
In the Soul Society, Hollows are purified by Zanpakutō. What he had done was destruction through force — a far less stable method.
"Luck is still part of strength!" Momo smiled brightly. "Then… can Big Brother take the entrance exam for the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy with me?"
"Theoretically, yes," Sombravida nodded. "But today's battle drained my spiritual power completely. If that Hollow had been even slightly stronger, I might not have won."
That part was true.
His control was precise.
His reserves were not.
"I'll help you grow stronger!" Momo declared earnestly. "We'll gather more food!"
"Bedwetting Peach," Tōshirō muttered dryly, though without real malice. "This time was already reckless. Next time, are we just going to gamble again?"
Momo fell silent.
Tōshirō continued more evenly, "If we go fishing again, we stay near the patrol routes. Closer to the Seireitei perimeter. Hollows rarely approach where Shinigami frequently pass."
Tōshirō's thinking was already more measured. Despite his age, he instinctively assessed risk like someone far older.
Sombravida nodded slightly.
"That's correct. Until your spiritual pressure is sufficient to defend yourselves, caution is the best option."
He ruffled Momo's hair gently.
"And when you awaken your Zanpakutō one day, maybe I'll be the one hiding behind you."
Momo laughed again, reassured.
Dinner ended peacefully. The grandmother and Tōshirō cleaned up while Sombravida escorted Momo home.
The night air in Rukongai was cool and quiet.
"Big Brother," Momo said softly, "I really felt my spiritual pressure increase after eating."
"That's because food containing reishi supplements your internal spiritual circulation," Sombravida explained. "When reishi is consumed, it integrates into your konpaku. Over time, it strengthens your spiritual foundation."
"What about you?"
"A little," Sombravida replied lightly.
In truth, the spiritual particles he absorbed were compressed immediately upon entry. The quantity was small. The density was high.
That was a remnant of his prior combat discipline.
Back home, Momo quickly fell asleep. The shock had exhausted her more than she realized.
After ensuring she was breathing steadily, Sombravida quietly rose.
He took the handcart he had borrowed earlier that day.
And stepped into the night.
Unlike Seireitei, Rukongai had no enforced curfew. However, most residents avoided traveling at night, especially beyond the inner districts. Lighting was scarce, and the further one moved from the Seireitei's walls, the thinner patrol presence became.
But District One remained relatively secure.
Sombravida exited the town and entered the forest beyond.
The canopy blocked most of the moonlight. Visibility dropped sharply.
He removed his blindfold.
Then closed his eyes again deliberately.
Spiritual perception expanded.
Though still crude compared to his former Hollow state, he could sense fluctuations of reishi within several dozen meters. Trees appeared as stable, calm presences. Small animals emitted erratic, flickering signatures.
The soil itself pulsed faintly in certain patches.
"There."
He pushed the cart toward an area where reishi density was noticeably higher.
He crouched and grabbed a handful of soil.
Closed eyes.
Open senses.
This patch contained steady spiritual flow — likely suitable for cultivation.
He loaded several shovel-fulls into the cart, carefully marking the area in his memory.
If the soil retained its reishi density overnight after relocation, it would confirm viability for farming.
After securing the cart, Sombravida ventured deeper.
Now came the second objective.
Hunting.
He moved quietly, controlling his breathing.
A rabbit.
Small.
Calm reishi signature.
He adjusted his stance and attempted to circulate spiritual energy through his legs in imitation of Sonído — the high-speed movement Hollows use.
The result was immediate backlash.
His internal reishi flow destabilized.
He lost balance and stumbled backward, scraping his knees.
The rabbit bolted.
Sombravida exhaled sharply.
"As expected… Hollow circulation pathways don't translate."
Hollow spiritual pressure flows differently from Shinigami reiryoku. The structure, distribution, and externalization mechanisms are incompatible.
He could not simply reuse old techniques.
Not even crude approximations.
After the failed attempt, his already limited reserves were nearly empty.
He leaned against a tree.
Recovery was slow at this stage.
"I underestimated the gap."
To reclaim even his former Adjuchas-tier combat proficiency would require far more resources than expected.
Entering the Shin'ō Academy was no longer optional.
It was necessary.
The Seireitei controlled information, kido instruction, structured training, and regulated spiritual development.
Self-cultivation in Rukongai was inefficient.
His thoughts drifted briefly to Aizen.
If this timeline aligned correctly, Aizen and Tōsen would have returned to Seireitei injured but alive.
Gin Ichimaru…
Sombravida's expression darkened slightly.
Even Gin, bound by Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis, had limited options.
Breaking Aizen's control required touching the blade before hypnosis activation — something only Sombravida had exploited through prior knowledge.
Future interference would require precision.
And timing.
He calculated again.
If this was the 2066th class intake year, then Rangiku Matsumoto would already be in the Seireitei. Aizen's early Hōgyoku experiments were likely underway in secrecy.
Time was moving.
Sombravida clenched his fist.
"What kind of Zanpakutō will I manifest…?"
Spatial attribute?
Concealment?
Or something entirely new shaped by his dual history?
Regardless of form, the objective remained constant.
Freedom.
And eventually—
Confrontation.
He pushed himself upright again and resumed cautious exploration, carefully feeling the flow of reishi through his body while searching for manageable prey.
Step by careful step.
Measured.
Controlled.
Just as he once hunted in Hueco Mundo.
The cycle repeated itself.
Like reincarnation.
He hoped that this reincarnation would allow Sombravida to finally find his own freedom.
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