When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a desolate and terrifying place. The sky was a pale yellow, and the ground was cracked and barren. Ruins of buildings that looked as if they were once a city lay scattered everywhere. There was not a single trace of life—only a deathly and oppressive silence.
"...Is this Hueco Mundo?"
I muttered to myself. This was definitely the world of Hollows I knew from the manga and anime. The endless white desert... but this place was different. It felt like a ghost town. Thinking about it, Hueco Mundo is vast, and there are likely many such forgotten corners.
I tried to move, and my body felt strange. I looked down; I had a physical form, but it wasn't human. My body was covered in a white, bony substance, and instead of a face, I wore a white mask. My hands had transformed into sharp, wicked claws.
"I'm really a Hollow now."
Strangely, as I touched my face, I realized I had no eyes or ears at all. The mask was solid and featureless in those areas. Yet, I could see everything with perfect clarity, and I could even hear the faint whistle of the wind through the ruins.
It wasn't a matter of traditional physical senses. I felt something akin to an invisible "Wheel" turning within my consciousness. Just like Mahoraga from the anime, my senses were an innate ability to perceive and adapt to my surroundings instantly. I didn't need eyes to see; I "felt" reality and the spiritual essence of everything around me, as if the world were printing itself directly onto my mind.
I felt no pain or discomfort. Rather, I was filled with a strange sense of power. It was a primitive instinct, fundamentally different from my life as a human.
'First, I need to figure out my situation.'
As I walked, a small Hollow creature appeared before me. It resembled a lizard, about the size of a dog, wearing a white mask. It must have sensed my presence and crawled out to investigate. I thought it would be easy prey because of its size, but I was dead wrong.
In the blink of an eye, the creature lunged at me with a speed I hadn't imagined. Before I could even raise my claws, a sharp, sudden pain flared; its teeth sank into my arm, tearing away a chunk of my white bony plating like paper. I recoiled, staggering, as black blood began to seep from my mangled limb.
'So fast... I'll die if it bites me in a vital spot!'
My breath grew ragged, and confusion began to seize my mind. But in that moment, amidst the terror, a shocking thought struck me: Is this creature really that powerful? No, it's just an ordinary Hollow. The bitter truth is that I am the weak one... I am the helpless party here.
"GUOOOOOH!!!"
The small Hollow stared at me with empty eyes, preparing to lunge again to finish the job. In that moment of absolute terror, amidst the rising dust and the silence of the ruins, a single word surfaced in my mind:
"Adapt."
Yes, it didn't matter how weak I was now, or how fast this opponent was. The only rule in this new world was: I must adapt to this fight, or I am finished.
Click—
In the depths of my consciousness, I felt the phantom "Wheel" turn once. Suddenly, the scene before me began to slow down. The lizard-Hollow's movements were no longer just a fast blur; I began to perceive the spiritual trajectories of its attacks.
The small Hollow lunged to bite my leg this time, but I didn't panic. I dodged—
Switch!!
Its head passed right under my arm, and in that tiny opening, my instinct surged.
'Now!'
I plunged my claws with all my might into its back (Craaaack!). The creature let out a muffled shriek and tried to twist around to snap at me, but the Wheel turned a second time in my mind.
Tick—
I felt the density of my bony armor increase in the areas it was targeting. My movements became fluid, and my "fear" transformed into a lethal coldness. I began to match its speed, dodging its bites with a skill I didn't possess seconds ago, leaving deep gashes in its body at every opportunity.
After a bitter struggle, I managed to seize its head and completely shatter its mask. The creature fell and collapsed, then began to dissolve into thick black dust.
I stood there, panting heavily, my body covered in black blood and dust. My hands were shaking.
'I did it...'
At that moment, I felt a rush of something strange—a small amount of spiritual energy (Reiryoku) flowed into me. It was a faint sensation, but undeniable.
'Is this how Hollows evolve... by devouring one another?'
I recalled what I knew of the Bleach universe. Hollows are beings that consume human souls and each other to grow stronger. When they become powerful enough, they can tear off their masks to become Arrancars.
So, that god sent me here to survive by cannibalizing other Hollows.
I let out a hollow laugh. The world was cruel, but giving up wasn't an option. As I had resolved in the first chapter, I would become stronger and survive by any means necessary.
For now, I needed to find a safe place to hide and grow slowly. I was just a very weak Hollow. If I encountered anything truly powerful, it would be the end of me. Caution was my only ally.
As I navigated the ruins, I occasionally sensed other Hollows. I steered clear of those that felt oppressive and only hunted the small, weak ones when I was certain of victory. Each time I defeated one, that faint spiritual energy nourished me. My body was gradually changing, and I felt myself becoming stronger and sharper.
After some time, I found a collapsed building that remained relatively intact. There was a hollowed-out space underground that would serve as a perfect lair. I decided to settle there for the time being.
"This is my new life. I'll start by growing here, then I'll move on to greater things."
I looked at my clawed hands once more. They were the hands of a monster, but they were also my only tools for survival.
"I'll become stronger. And someday, I'll become an Arrancar and surpass even the Vasto Lorde."
With this determination, my life as a Hollow in Hueco Mundo truly began.
_______[End of chapter]_______________
I will publish picture of Mahoraga in the comments and also tell me what you think about the chapter.
_____
Hello... yesterday's chapter was short, wasn't it? Therefore, I decided to compensate you with 1500 words.
And since I spoiled you today, don't I deserve to be spoiled too
🤧